Day 51 of the Sea Labyrinth

I've paused regular exploration for now and assembled a new scouting team. Up until this point, I'd been blindly probing every nook and cranny to map the labyrinth's terrain and monsters. But this time is different. We have a clear destination.

"Neo Hyung-seok. You know the way there for sure, right?"

Our target: the Ancient Labyrinth's mechanical factory. A habitat for machine-type monsters with body modification abilities.

By the way, "mechanical factory" was just a name Min Hyung-seok slapped on it. Not an actual factory—just a spot crawling with machine-types, so that's what stuck.

Anyway. Naturally, I'm not going ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠myself. As usual, I'll send Iris along for remote scouting.

And here's the scouting team lineup:

SS-grade: Kinogine Arachne.

SS-grade: Blood Jellyfish Princess.

SS-grade: Bastet Daong.

S-grade: Three Irises.

SS-grade: Necro Puppeteer.

Plus:

SS-grade: Jellyfish Queen.

S-grade: Curse Devil Gentleman.

S-grade: Neo Hyung-seok.

S-grade: Ignis.

S-grade: Lilith.

And five of Puppeteer's puppets.

The other puppet, Niara Nephensis, sat this one out.

"...Get some distance."

She refuses to leave my side for even a second.

Whatever. Doesn't matter. The more SS-grades guarding me, the better—even if her clinginess is annoying and a bit much. Her skills are reliable, at least.

Besides Niara, I've got Black Magma Slime, Anubis Dragon, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Azeras, and more.

The rest will stay at the shelter, supporting me and taking turns on short local scouts.

Arachne and Princess paced in front of me, shooting envious glances at the ones left behind. Probably because this is a long-term scout, not a quick jaunt. The factory's pretty far from our shelter—days at best, weeks at worst round trip. Not months, but still.

The scouting monsters looked a tad downcast as they prepped. They grabbed severed arms, paper for maps.

"Made lots and lotsyang! Eat if hungry on the wayyang!"

Merino's breakfast spread, prepared with dawn-to-dusk zeal. Plus assorted gear.

Blood Jellyfish Princess was stocking blood—specifically, chugging the blood Zapan the vending monster was spewing.

Zapan can regurgitate any liquid it's drunk—infinitely. Side note: the blood flowing now is Pigking's.

With Jellyfish topped off on blood, the team was ready to roll.

"You guys take care out there. Come back safe."

We'll stay in touch via Iris, but it'll be a long separation physically, so I gave them a farewell-ish sendoff.

The non-scouts saw them off too.

"Bye-bye, come back safe yang! Don't forget meyang!"

Merino came running late, hugging Melody Fox tight, waving goodbye.

Crunch crunch. I chewed on Merino's snacks, lounging on the plush natural heated bed—Black Magma Slime—watching the Iris feed.

About six hours in. The team was shoving open a massive door.

Blood Jellyfish Princess asked while pushing.

Neo Hyung-seok shook his head.

Arachne backed him up.

Princess grumbled, flinging the door wide. Beyond the cave: a tiny sandy beach. The team stood on what looked like a deserted islet, vast ocean stretching endlessly around.

One Iris shot skyward. From above, the isolated isle came into full view.

"Guess the space structure's different from Earth's."

Another Iris scanned the sky, catching a sun-like orb hovering high.

"Nah, not a Solorb. A-grade monster, SS-grade threat."

I dubbed it Little Solorb on the spot. No need to poke it—unlike the prairie one, no tiptoeing required.

Neo Hyung-seok dipped a foot in the surf. Puppeteer followed suit.

Puppeteer turned to the team, relaying the info.

Then, as they geared to dive—

Splash!

A monster burst from the water—gray muscled body, shark head. Sharkman.

I whipped out my notebook.

Neo Hyung-seok spoke like he knew it. Bastet Daong sidled up, head tilt.

Ah. Was gonna name it, but Sharklord's taken—fine, sticks.

Sharklord shook off water, eyed the team...

Sensed something off. Clamped mouth, turned tail casually.

Sploosh! Dove back into the sea, vanishing into the depths amid churning waves.