Monster Zoo # 3
Monster Zoo # 3
—Ding.
The quest sound. Been a while.
Looks like it's about time for quests again. There hasn't been much, so I've been raising my stats with training alone. Time to level up again.
[Main Quest: Assault]
"Huh?"
The instant I saw the window appear in front of me,
I freaked out.
Assault?
Just the quest name is ominous as hell. Don't tell me monsters or monsterkin are about to attack this facility. The thought crossed my mind for a second, but I calmed down right away.
Instructor Lee So-ra is here right now.
Monsters, smonshters, once the instructor steps up they'll all be blown to mush. I dunno the exact details, but it feels like they'll end up like the milk I chucked out the window back in elementary school.
And isn't this place heavily guarded? There were soldiers outside earlier, and defensive turrets set up too.
Even if monsters do show up, this place'll be safe. Just look at the building. It's well protected with bulkheads like these.
[Multiple monsterkin are attempting to assault the facility. Stop them.]
[Reward: 2,500 Coin]
Shit.
It actually is an assault.
"Otherworldly intelligences—monsterkin—have one goal. To take this planet. We've been at war with them for decades, and their objective has never changed once."
Invading Earth.
Instructor Lee So-ra explained about monsterkin.
"Every attempt to form a treaty with monsterkin has failed. If you don't want a hole drilled through the back of your head, don't even think about negotiating with them or any of that. The monsterkin's goal is to drive humanity to extinction and to take Earth."
The instructor said that without hiding her disgust... Should I interrupt her explanation and say monsterkin are about to attack? No. Even if I did, they'd just treat me like a weirdo.
And even if it turned out to be true, that'd be a problem. I'd have to explain how the hell I made a prophecy. I don't wanna be the guy who spouts ominous prophecies.
So what else can I do? All I can do is wait. While I'm at it, I might as well resolve a curiosity.
"Instructor. I have a question."
"Go ahead."
"There are lots of different types of monsterkin, right? From what I know, they're hostile to each other too. Do they seriously all share the same goal?"
The instructor nodded.
"Yes. They have the common goal of eliminating humanity. Monsterkin are sometimes hostile to each other, but they also form alliances very often. Taking Earth comes after humanity is removed, after all. They can at least join hands for that."
In the end, to monsterkin, all Earthlings are a common enemy. Well, makes sense that those bastards would come charging in.
"Anyway. Even at this very moment, monsterkin are scheming to take Earth. From trafficking lethal drugs into each nation in collusion with villains on the small scale, to outright terrorism. They constantly attack humans."
Hearing that, I looked at the Antillery trapped beyond the glass wall again.
—Pfft.
Such a vicious monsterkin...!
"Actually, there's a fair amount of monsterkin power in Eastern Europe too."
"Eastern Europe?"
"Yes. Russia fell, you know? The monsterkin who've coiled up there come over."
Leona's European current-affairs channel began.
"That's exactly the work of us Mister Dominators. Keeping those monsterkin powers in check. Sometimes they even use nuclear bombs if a monsterkin force gets too big, but that has environmental issues, you know? So they conduct regular subjugations."
"Whoa. That's something."
Crushing the monsterkin that try to spread their power from Eastern Europe into Western Europe. That's what Europe's rulers do.
"So, Leona. What about those Antillery?"
"They breed fast and adapt well, so they build nests anywhere. That's how dangerous they are. You're supposed to exterminate them on sight. Plus, they carry subversive ideology, don't they? There's no choice but to deal with them."
True.
"Can't forgive Red Ant bastards."
I said, nodding.
"Wow, but Leona. Just listening to you talk makes me feel like I'm getting super smart."
"The moment you say that, you're not smart at all. Anyway, I'm telling you so you can build up some common sense. Kim Geun-cheol? Memorize everything I tell you. It's necessary information."
"Yep."
"You ought to know the European situation at least."
While answering, I kept wondering when the assault was coming. Ha, what the hell do I do about this. Even knowing about the assault, there's nothing I can do.
"Ah, Instructor!"
"What is it?"
"You said monsterkin commit terrorism. Wouldn't a facility like this be the most dangerous, then? Seems like they'd hit a place like this."
"Well... you're not wrong. A facility like this can be a terrorist target at any time. But don't worry. This is a critical national facility. Even if a gate were to appear, it would be resolved quickly."
Fair enough.
"What, Geun-cheol. Worried a gate's gonna pop up all of a sudden like last time?"
Si-hoo poked his head out and asked.
"Nah, just. There's a monsterkin locked up and all. Who knows. They might come charging in to rescue it."
—Pfft.
The Antillery locked inside looked like it had completely lost the will to live. I don't know for sure, but if these things have intelligence, they must have some feeling for their own kind.
If so, it wouldn't be weird for them to come rescue it.
"Heh-heh, Geun-cheol's a scaredy-cat."
"Could you call me a rigorous analyst instead of a scaredy-cat?"
"How does a rigorous analyst average a 25."
"You're being a real shit, Si-hoo! The second I get a little stronger, you'll see! I'll grind you into pulp!"
"Anytime!"
Anyway, I'm worried about the main quest, but we've got hero cadets, soldiers, and the instructor here.
The school attack last time was resolved smoothly, so this should be the same. No need to be that scared.
"Everyone observe the monsterkin well? Then we'll move to the next sector. From now on, you'll be experiencing the disposal of restrained monsters."
Ohh.
Finally, today's main content.
"Follow me."
We moved right after the instructor.
"Fufufu, the most important time has come. Kim Geun-cheol? Focus during this session. A beginner like Kim Geun-cheol needs to see and experience firsthand how to dispose of monsters."
"Of course!"
Let's stack up some experience here.
"Ah. Leona. Have you done all this training too?"
"Of course. I have status, you know. I've received support from my family and undergone various training ever since I awakened as a child."
Figures.
"That included directly disposing of subdued monsters, just like now."
"Heh. Total top-tier woman."
"What's a top-tier woman now?"
It's a thing.
* * *
A considerably wide space.
—Whirrrrr.
A gigantic mechanical arm moved a steel cage.
Inside it, a subdued monster.
—Thud!
We'd dropped back, and the door opened.
Then an E-rank monster, bound in chains, crawled out sluggishly.
—Kyaooo.
Fairly threatening in appearance, but it'd been processed in various ways for use as training material. That thing could never threaten us.
—Shing.
Instructor Lee So-ra drew her sword.
"From now on, I will demonstrate how to kill monsters like this."
—Gulp.
This is naturally tense.
"Watch."
Having manifested her sword aura, the instructor stood in front of the monster. Then she explained the monster's traits. Its specialty is a short-distance charge, so you just have to dodge left or right at the right timing and slice it up.
"It can't run now, so I'll skip that. Well then."
—Slash!
Really, so simply.
The instructor cut the monster.
"Kyaooooooo!"
It felt like watching a classic bullfight. The thing was in pain but didn't die. Because she'd cut shallowly. And it was a monster covered in carapace. Since she'd wrapped her blade in sword aura, the sword went in like tofu, but a shallow cut was useless.
"With sword aura at your level, you can easily cut through E-rank carapace. Come up one at a time. It might be a bit gross and unpleasant, but you must know what it feels like to plunge a weapon directly into a monster's body. Kim Geun-cheol? Come up."
"I'm the leadoff again? Got it."
I went right up and stood in front of it.
—Whoosh.
And I applied an enchantment to my sword. I'm the guy who's killed monsters plenty of times already, after all. No real aversion here.
—Slash!
I cut it lightly and returned to my spot.
"So you just have to cut deeper in this state, right?"
"That's right. Well done. Next."
One by one, my classmates came forward and attacked the monster. This is actually the most important part: whether or not your own attack actually works. You have to know that to be able to attack aggressively.
That kind of sense is more important than anything, I guess.
Anyway, once one cycle went around like that, class was over. And when class is over, what happens? Time to go home. We moved right away to head outside.
"Hm."
[Main Quest]
The quest window is still up. When the hell are these bastards planning to show? Class is already over and it's time to go back.
Don't tell me they're planning to assault the bus on the way back?
That'd be dangerous.
"Geun-cheol? Did you drop something?"
"Seriously, so sloppy. Did you drop your wallet or something?"
Since I'd stopped, my friends came over to me.
"Ah, no. Not that I dropped anything. Just. I was reorganizing today's class material in my head for a sec."
"What...! Kim Geun-cheol is being diligent, so diligent! This is exactly the payoff of teaching you! Exactly that attitude! Very excellent! I'll give you praise!"
—Pat, pat.
Sincerely delighted and impressed, Leona immediately patted my head...!
"Huhuhu!"
This feels way too good!
"Hey! Hurry up!"
While I was doing that, Yu-ri yelled from up ahead.
Looks like I fell behind.
"Uh! Yeah. Let's go soon."
"It's great to see Kim Geun-cheol reviewing. Ah. I know a good place. Shall we go there for dinner tonight?"
"No more spicy food!"
I can't do spicy!
That was the moment I thought that.
—Bweeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
An emergency alarm suddenly rang out, and blood-red lights turned on inside the facility.
"Uh."
At the same time.
—Clang!
A heavy bulkhead slammed shut with a boom, as if crashing down!
—Clang!
—Clang!
—Clang!
"Huh?! Whoa! Wait!"
"What! What on earth is going on!"
"Wait! Geun-cheol! This way!"
What the hell is this!
I'm trapped in here!
—Bweeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
The moment I heard the emergency alarm, I knew.
The main quest had begun.
