Chapter 94
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 94
Chapter Title: A Strange Guest
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It was a writhing black mass.
About the size of a grown man.
It was in a corner of the Audience Chamber. It would be more accurate to say it was captured.
A cage of iron bars surrounded it.
“No way.”
On a whim, I tapped it.
[Idic of the Void (Main Body)]
[Type: Named Monster]
[Rank: MonMonMak Standard, 7-Star]
[Stats: Strength 120, Agility 140, Stamina 150, Intelligence 120]
[Skills: Devour Lv.1, Multiply Lv.1, Void Bombardment (Authority)]
[This is a captured Idic. It is incapacitated, bound by the authority of the Lord's Castle.]
“So it really was Idic.”
I thought it had been completely reduced to ashes back then, but it seems the main body survived.
‘Even for a 7-star, those stats are insane, aren’t they?’
In terms of stats alone, it was practically beyond 8-star, nearing 9-star level.
Was it because it was a Void monster that it got a boost?
“Does this mean I can hire this guy too?”
Even without considering its stats, Idic was a monster powerful enough to struggle against even after I threw all of the Lord's Castle's forces at it.
If I could deploy a creature like this as a defensive unit for the castle, and even summon and command it in the real world…!
But of course, the world wasn’t that easy.
Suddenly, a large eye opened from the center of the black mass.
The opened eye glared at me, and a new pixel window appeared.
[Idic of the Void is a 「Prisoner」. Captured monsters cannot be deployed or hired. Special conditions are required to recruit a prisoner monster to your side.]
“Yeah, I figured.”
I sighed and crossed my arms.
Even Iramatus required the repetitive, hard labor of stroking its skull.
So what could the special condition for this one be?
Fortunately, I was able to check the condition.
[Special Condition for Recruiting Idic - Collect a Void Monster's Soulstone 0/1]
“…Collect a soulstone?”
Didn’t that mean I had to catch a monster of the same class in the real world?
This condition was a bit ambiguous.
If a creature like this appeared in reality, it would be a monster on par with an S-rank or higher.
“So it’s completely useless for now.”
This thing was nothing but a burden taking up space in the Lord's Castle.
And being trapped inside the Audience Chamber, it was quite an eyesore.
Just then, the Sage flew over to my side with a *poof*!
[The Sage informs you that keeping a special monster as a prisoner can be extremely useful for the Lord's Castle and for you!]
“Why?”
Instead of answering, the Sage tapped the iron cage holding Idic with its body.
Looking closely, I saw something similar to a cylinder installed next to the cage, its gauge constantly filling up.
When I tapped it, new information appeared.
[Primary analysis of the Void attribute is in progress. Current progress: 12.6%]
[Upon completion of the primary analysis, all monsters of the Lord's Castle and the Lord of the present world will be able to inflict additional damage to Void monsters. This buff also applies in reality.]
“Oho.”
Now this was important.
Void monsters had no penalties against other attributes.
That was why it had been able to tenaciously endure the countless attacks from Ru and the special unit.
‘And it applies in reality, too.’
This would be a huge advantage when facing Void monsters in gates or dungeons in the future.
Who was the genius who made this praiseworthy cage?
Suddenly, the bald-headed golem mage in the corner of the Lord's Castle started jumping up and down.
Ah, right. I had a feeling it was you.
I gave the bald head a few pats on the pixel window and turned my gaze back to Idic.
The creature was still glaring at me as if it wanted to devour me.
“Anyway, all I need to do is catch one Void monster.”
Leaning close to the pixel window, I grinned.
“Look forward to it. I’ll make you mine, no matter what.”
[...(ง•̀_•́)ง]
For some reason, it was the Sage, not Idic, that reacted to my declaration of war.
Why are you suddenly so fired up?
* * *
About two hours passed after I took the byproducts collected from Idic to the workshop and turned them into some decent items.
I barely obtained any byproducts.
I did get some Ether, a material for crafting special items, but other than that, there was only enough to make about 1000 potions.
The commentary from someone who was cheerfully summarizing the results was also simple.
[Even the Void's scout dog has knelt before the Lord's Castle. A meaningful achievement. Perhaps.]
That ‘Perhaps’ was a little annoying, though.
One other special reward was that the queen ant Akasha and her legion had evolved.
[Akasha and her legion have evolved through the 「Royal Blood」. They have acquired a new skill.]
And the skill they acquired as a result of the evolution was incredible.
[Burrow - Amur Ants swiftly dig a tunnel to move to a target location. They gain a stealth status while moving. The tunnel can only be used by Amur Ants and the Lord.]
When I checked it in sync with the Lord's Castle, it was a movement skill that was almost instantaneous.
I estimated the maximum distance to be about 1 to 2 kilometers.
It allowed them to move that distance undetected and launch a surprise attack.
MonMonMak itself had almost no concept of ambushes or encirclements, so its use would be limited.
‘But this would be useful if it works with a similar mechanism in reality.’
I’d have to find a deserted lot later and test it out.
The plains of the Lord's Castle were actually the most suitable testing ground, but…
‘Except for special cases, I probably won’t be transferring directly to the Lord's Castle.’
Gazing at the pixelated Lord's Castle on the screen, I recalled the memory from just half a day ago.
The night sky above, the vast plains stretching out below.
The majestic sight of the enormous Lord's Castle and the gentle voice of the Lord echoing in my mind.
As soon as I had that thought.
*Tiring!*
A familiar notification sound rang out.
A yellow exclamation mark appeared above the Lord's head.
The timing was so perfect it made me wonder if my very thoughts were synced with the Lord's Castle.
[You waved your hand in greeting.]
[You did a wonderful job on this wave as well, Lord of the present world.]
No choices appeared.
Instead, new speech bubbles continued to pop up above the Dream Lord.
[Your strategies and troop management were admirable in many ways. You are always teaching me something new.]
I had certainly poured all my strength into the 704th wave.
I had agonized over how to capture Idic without any sacrifices, scrambling to find the best possible way.
Still, I had regrets.
I was confident I could do even better next time.
Next time, I wouldn’t let any of my monsters get into such a tight spot.
*Poof!*
[The Sage acknowledges that you are a true MonMonMak veteran! And it thinks it's truly fortunate to have you as its master!]
The Sage, who was next to me, rubbed its cheek against my face.
What’s with this thing all of a sudden?
I pushed the persistently clinging Sage away and stared at the pixelated Lord.
After a moment of silence, she produced a new speech bubble.
[Next time, I do hope we can speak in a more comfortable setting, Lord of the present world.]
“The feeling is mutual.”
The conversation ended.
[You waved your hand and left.]
Tapping the last remaining option, the pixel window of the Lord's Castle blurred and faded into the distance.
And then, suddenly.
[You have reached 20 affinity with the Lord. The Dream Lord has gifted you a new skill.]
Extremely welcome news was delivered.
“Ooh!”
Already knowing the power of ‘Lord's Swordsmanship - Ordinary Horizontal Slash,’ I let out a cry of excitement.
This was the best reward from this wave.
I wondered what kind of skill the Lord would grant me.
Last time it was an ordinary horizontal slash, so maybe this time it would be an extraordinary horizontal slash?
However, what the Dream Lord gifted me this time was…
“Uh… Huh?”
It was something I had literally never imagined.
*Vwoom.*
No pixel window announcing the skill acquisition appeared.
Instead, a small rift opened right next to my head.
It was even smaller than the rifts that spat out items crafted in the Lord's Castle.
This, then, was the kind of rift that produced the summoning orbs of hired monsters.
And from within, a pearl-like white orb dropped out and rolled across the floor.
I quickly snatched the orb as it was about to roll under the sofa.
“This is…”
Normally, newly hired monsters were registered in the ‘Summon’ skill list.
But this one had no information whatsoever.
Worried that something dangerous might pop out, I requested a special analysis from the Sage.
[The Sage informs you that this orb is in some kind of sealed state, and its information cannot be read through special analysis.]
I patted the dejected rice cake-like creature and stared at the orb.
Well, I guess I had no choice but to check it out myself.
Based on the message, this was definitely a gift from the Lord.
I steeled myself and rolled the orb.
*Tuk, clatter-clatter!*
In an instant, a thick fog filled the living room.
And suddenly, a silhouette emerged from within the fog.
It didn't seem to be a large monster.
The faintly visible figure was quite slender.
Its height was probably a little over 180 cm.
After the fog swept through the living room once more, the silhouette's identity was finally revealed.
“?”
My mouth fell open as I stared at the ‘monster’ that had been summoned before me.
No, this… I really didn't expect this at all.
The moment our eyes met.
“Ho ho ho, so we meet like this, Lord of the present world.”
The monster spoke in a voice reminiscent of Odolph's, but with a bit more experience behind it.
Without answering, I carefully examined the monster that had appeared before me.
He was an old, white-haired man in a fedora and a black suit.
He had a stylish mustache and was even wearing a monocle.
I knew him. How could I not?
He was a basic unit provided without fail ever since I started playing MonMonMak seven years ago.
“…Butler.”
It was the very same ‘Butler’ who always stood by the Lord's side in the Audience Chamber.
A faint smile touched the wrinkled face of the old, white-haired man.
“I am grateful that you recognize me, my Lord. I did not expect to meet you in this manner, ho ho ho. But my master has commanded me to assist you in any way permitted to me, and so I have brought my disloyal and decrepit body to your side.”
The butler said, bowing elegantly.
He looked like an ordinary human. A gentlemanly type who could have jumped right out of a British fantasy film.
But there was one thing that was different from a human.
A black tail, poking through his formal trousers and swaying back and forth.
A slender tail with a pointed, arrowhead-like tip. I had seen that tail before, too.
Not on the butler, but on another monster. A monster of a different gender, at that.
“A succubus…?”
“Ho ho ho, my, my. You even noticed that at a single glance. Your insight is truly remarkable, my Lord. However, you are just a little bit mistaken.”
The butler raised his index finger.
“I am, strictly speaking, a male. To be precise, I am not a succubus, but an incubus.”
I had only said that because the ones in MonMonMak were succubi.
An incubus.
The butler was an incubus.
That old man who fought monsters beside the Lord with a ‘Hwaaargh!’ and disappeared in a single hit because of his pathetic stats was an incubus.
“I… see.”
I felt dizzy. It was a shock on par with Odolph putting on Gandalf’s hat and becoming an intelligent mage.
I still couldn’t quite grasp the situation.
But, there was one thing I knew for sure.
I smiled and extended my hand.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Viewer 1.”
“?”
And then I saw it.
“H-Ho ho… Viewer 1, you say? Whatever could you mean by that?”
From the sideburns of the bowing, narrow-eyed old man, a single drop of cold sweat trickled down.