Chapter 111
Chapter 111
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 111
Chapter Title: Horned Cat Tamer (2)
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The end of the guided beam fired by Nameless revealed a small lake surrounded by red trees.
And in front of it crouched a massive cat with an extremely stern appearance, golden grass sprouting here and there amid its fluffy fur.
-Grrrrrr.
The horned cat growled lowly at the approaching Heavenly Demon.
From its expression, it seemed annoyed or irritated.
[It doesn't look too friendly.]
Nameless, who had been staring at the horned cat, spoke in a grave tone.
[We may need to execute the first plan.]
"Hmm."
The Heavenly Demon nodded solemnly and set down the bag on his back.
He slowly pulled out a large piece of jerky dyed pink from inside.
"This is the top-grade jerky the shopkeeper prepared."
-......
"Come on, get over here and eat it."
The Heavenly Demon held out the jerky, but the horned cat turned its head away as if uninterested.
"Not hungry, huh."
[Maybe it's offended by being told to 'eat it'?]
"Should I have said 'partake' to that cat then?"
Lost for words, Nameless changed the subject.
[Heavenly Demon. Proceed with the second plan.]
The Heavenly Demon let out a low hum and reluctantly pulled out a fishing rod from the bag.
Attached to the end of the rod was a large feather the size of a person's torso—a toy designed specifically for cats.
Swish. Swish.
Watching the cat from afar, the Heavenly Demon began swinging the feather rod with flicks of his wrist.
It was a meticulous and precise motion, as if executing an intricate sword technique.
-......
The horned cat stared blankly at the feather with a drowsy expression before suddenly stomping its paw.
Boom.
With a massive explosion, the ground where the Heavenly Demon had been approaching caved in. It was a clear act of intimidation.
"Can't do it the nice way, then."
Sensing the hostility, the Heavenly Demon set the feather rod on the ground.
He cracked his knuckles while glaring at the horned cat, which was looking down on him arrogantly.
"A mere beast dares threaten me.... Do you want to die?"
[Heavenly Demon. If you anger that horned cat, we'll have to abandon gathering the materials.]
"That cat doesn't seem like it'll listen to words."
[Of course. It's a spiritual beast, after all.]
"So what?"
[Spiritual beasts don't heed ordinary humans' words or commands. Even a Rank 1 Awakener with Taming skills can't easily tame something like a horned cat.]
Fearing the Heavenly Demon might unleash a thunderous strike, Nameless spoke urgently.
[And we have a third option prepared, don't we?]
Nameless bowed while pointing at the bag the Heavenly Demon had set down.
[Try the third method first.]
Persuaded by Nameless's earnest attitude, the Heavenly Demon reluctantly lowered his fist.
He rummaged through the bag and pulled out a large canister filled with dried grass.
It was a dicotyledonous perennial herb from the Lamiaceae family—commonly known as catnip.
[Catnip drives cats wild. This method is sure to...]
As Nameless continued, its eye sensors flashed.
[Heavenly Demon. Detecting a biological signature from behind. Another Awakener seems to have arrived.]
"I sense it too."
The Heavenly Demon glanced back and spoke in a low voice.
"But it's strange. The shopkeeper said no one else knew about this dungeon."
[That's right. Could it be someone who stumbled in by chance?]
At that moment, accompanied by a whoosh, a man in casual clothes, as if out for a neighborhood stroll, appeared.
Step step.
The man approached with a leisurely gait, then froze upon spotting the Heavenly Demon.
"Uh, um?"
Seeing the massively muscled, fierce-looking Heavenly Demon and the round nanobot, the man's eyes twitched.
"H-How did you get in here?"
The Heavenly Demon scowled and replied.
"That's what I want to know."
-Kyaang!
Just then, the crouching horned cat leaped up and pounced on the approaching man.
"Danger...."
As the Heavenly Demon urgently tried to summon his Heavenly Demon Great Ability.
"Kyahahaha! That tickles. Stop it."
The leaping horned cat was rubbing its massive face against the man's cheek.
"Y-You rascal!"
The man reached out with both hands to stroke the fluffy fur.
Flop.
The ox-sized horned cat flopped onto its back, belly up, acting all cute.
"Hahaha. Alright, alright."
The man unpacked his backpack and rummaged inside.
It was the exact same jerky the Heavenly Demon had brought.
-Chomp chomp chomp.
The horned cat chewed the jerky with an ecstatic expression.
Watching this, a thick vein bulged on the Heavenly Demon's forehead.
"That pig cat wouldn't eat when I offered it...."
Nameless, observing the man and the horned cat play, rubbed its eye sensors in disbelief.
[Impossible. How can an ordinary human tame a spiritual beast...?]
The man was clearly just an ordinary human.
But to handle a spiritual beast like a pet. The conclusion was obvious.
[It can't have power on par with Lady Jang Chaewon, so it must be a Taming Master.]
"What's that?"
At the Heavenly Demon's question, Nameless replied in an admiring tone.
[Taming is the skill to tame monsters. A Master is a super Awakener whose skill and proficiency have reached the pinnacle, beyond any rank. Sometimes called SSS-rank.]
Nameless nodded as it observed the man, who seemed to glow with light.
[That man appears to be a Master who has elevated the Taming skill to its limit.]
"Me? Really?"
The man stroking the horned cat waved his hand with a laugh at Nameless's words.
"I'm just an ordinary 9th Grade Awakener."
The man alternated glances between the Heavenly Demon and Nameless, then smiled brightly.
"I don't even have a Taming skill."
[It's fine, Master.]
Nameless spoke politely.
[We won't expose your identity without permission, or record and upload footage of you playing with the horned cat online... Nothing unethical like that.]
"No, I really am just a regular 9th Grade Awakener."
[Yes, we understand.]
"Hmm."
Watching the exchange between Nameless and the man, the Heavenly Demon stroked his chin expressionlessly.
It didn't matter to him if the man was being humble or lying.
He was only concerned with how to pluck the grass on that horned cat's head.
"Um, by the way...."
The man, finally snapping out of it, looked at the Heavenly Demon cautiously.
"How did you get here?"
"I walked."
"No, I mean...."
The man's face darkened as he stroked the horned cat.
"Did you come after seeing the video I uploaded to Theobroma?"
"What's that?"
[It's the name of a video platform used by Awakeners. You can share info or earn money from popular uploads.]
The Heavenly Demon waved it off at Nameless's explanation.
"I don't know about that. I just came for the Golden Grass."
"Golden Grass...?"
"The grass growing on that cat's head."
The man's expression turned gloomy in an instant.
"So you knew. That the grass sprouting on Big Bro's body is a relic with powerful healing properties."
"Big Bro?"
"Ah, it's the name I gave him. Cat Brother, so Big Bro."
The man glanced at the Heavenly Demon cautiously before speaking.
"Do you really have to take it?"
"Yes."
"But Big Bro gets hurt if you pull the grass from his head...."
"Not my problem."
"I see."
The man bowed his head with a dejected look.
"It's all my fault."
Looking up at the horned cat, the man sighed and shook his head.
"If I'd known it would turn out like this, I never would've uploaded the video."
[Wait, so you, the Master, uploaded a video of this dungeon to Theobroma before...?]
As Nameless's eye sensors blinked and it exclaimed, the man nodded with a pained expression.
"Yes."
That's right. The man before them was Kim Woojin, the Awakener who had once fled from the Flame Wave Hell Newt and stumbled into this secret dungeon.
"I don't follow. Is this guy that famous?"
[Well, you see....]
As the Heavenly Demon furrowed his brow and Nameless leaned in to whisper, Kim Woojin let out an "Ah" and bowed.
"Sorry for the late greeting. I'm Kim Woojin, a 9th Grade Awakener working as a delivery guy."
The Heavenly Demon nodded with arms crossed at Kim Woojin's polite introduction, complete with rank and job.
"I'm the Heavenly Demon."
He'd revealed his rank and job politely.
Yet this young-looking, fierce-faced Awakener only gave his name.
It was rude to Kim Woojin, but his generous, easygoing nature let it slide with a smile.
"Yes. Heavenly Demon, right?"
Kim Woojin smiled faintly and asked cautiously.
"Have you... known how to enter this dungeon for a while?"
"No. The shopkeeper who hired me told me."
"I see."
[Then, Master—or rather, Mr. Kim Woojin—did you discover this place long ago?]
At Nameless's question, Kim Woojin stroked the horned cat and sighed.
"No. I learned about it back when the Hidden Monster, the Flame Wave Hell Newt, appeared in the Safe Dungeon Zone."
[The Flame Wave Hell Newt....]
"Ah, it was big news. The fire-breathing Hidden Monster—you didn't see it? It scorched a rest area and some shops, causing massive damage."
Recalling that time, Kim Woojin's eyes dimmed.
"I happened to be nearby and hid using Stealth, but it strangely followed only me. While running, I stumbled here by chance."
......
[......]
For a moment, the Heavenly Demon and Nameless exchanged heavy glances.
He was the one who had drawn out the Hidden Monster that devastated the rest area.
"I'd hurt my leg by then... Thinking I might die, I recorded a video. Turns out the monsters here had no hostility and treated my wounds with spirit herbs and Golden Grass."
Kim Woojin, who had nearly died from the Flame Wave Hell Newt summoned by the Heavenly Demon.
But it turned into a blessing in disguise.
With help from the dungeon's spiritual beasts, he healed his leg, obtained precious spirit herbs, and returned safely.
"I was so thrilled and amazed that I uploaded the footage to Theobroma. But that became the problem."
Kim Woojin shuddered, recalling the deranged comments on the video.
"I thought other Awakeners would visit purely to heal here. But... the comments showed I was wrong."
Looking at the nanobot, Ironclad, on his shoulder, Kim Woojin sighed.
"Many Awakeners wanted to tame and sell these cute monsters—no, these friends. As a late-bloomer Awakener, I was clueless about this world. I nearly destroyed this dungeon's peace entirely."
"Hmm."
The Heavenly Demon, who had listened silently, waved a hand.
"I don't care about that. I just need a bit of that Golden Grass."
"A bit?"
"Yes. The shopkeeper said three leaves would suffice."
Kim Woojin blinked with a bright smile.
"Just three leaves?"
"Yes. I just need to deliver what's requested."
The Heavenly Demon scowled at the horned cat, arms still crossed.
"But that cat has no intention of handing it over."
"I see."
"Despite all my efforts."
The bag the Heavenly Demon pointed to was stuffed with jerky, catnip, and toys.
Seeing the bag, Kim Woojin chuckled inwardly.
With preparations like this, he didn't seem like a bad Awakener out to harm or traffic animals.
"Big Bro."
Kim Woojin stroked the horned cat's cheek and said.
"That guy just needs three strands of Golden Grass. Can't you give it?"
-Gyaaaang.
The horned cat growled lowly, chin raised.
It clearly seemed okay.
"Then I'll just pluck three strands."
Kim Woojin carefully plucked the Golden Grass and offered it to the Heavenly Demon.
"Is this really enough?"
"Of course."
"No other Awakeners coming?"
"Nope."
The Heavenly Demon took the Golden Grass and dumped all the jerky, catnip, and toys from the bag.
"Here, give this to the cat. We don't need it."
"Ah, yes. Thank you."
"Thanks to you, I got it easy. Good luck."
As the Heavenly Demon turned briskly, Nameless called out.
[Heavenly Demon. Wait. Mind if I talk to him a bit?]
"Talk?"
[He's one of maybe one or two Taming Masters in the country. Could be useful in the future.]
After a moment's thought, the Heavenly Demon hummed and nodded.
With permission, Nameless approached Kim Woojin cautiously.
[Mr. Kim Woojin. Could I get your contact?]
"My contact?"
[Our shop handles various requests. If a good job comes up, I could introduce it to you.]
"Ah, I'd be grateful for work."
Kim Woojin said to Ironclad on his shoulder.
"Send him my contact."
[Sent.]
[Thank you, Mr. Kim Woojin!]
As Nameless turned joyfully after getting the contact, Kim Woojin spoke.
"Um."
[Yes?]
"Could you not share the location with others? Please ask the client to keep it that way too...."
Kim Woojin bowed politely once more.
"If this place gets known, all the animals here will be in danger."
[Don't worry, Mr. Kim Woojin. That won't happen.]
Nameless spoke calmly to reassure him.
[Besides, the animals here are all spiritual beasts. Even if regular Awakeners come, they won't go down easily.]
"Spiritual beasts?"
Nameless nodded vigorously.
[Yes!]
* * *
"What? A Taming Master?"
Jang Chaewon blinked while printing an estimate on her laptop.
"No way. There are only two in our country. And what Taming Master solos dungeons?"
[No, he definitely was.]
"You must be mistaken. He was young, right?"
At her skeptical response, Nameless shook its head.
[It's true. He tamed the horned cat in an instant.]
"Tamed the horned cat? Impossible."
[It's true.]
Jang Chaewon shook her head in disbelief.
"Even a Taming Master can't tame a horned cat."
[What do you mean?]
"Truth is, it's not a spiritual beast—it's a divine beast. Can't be tamed to begin with."
[What? A divine beast? Why would one be in a dungeon?]
Jang Chaewon clicked her tongue helplessly.
"That Secret Forest Dungeon was empty before. Stray divine beasts started nesting there. Perfect environment."
[No way. I saw it with my own eyes.]
Nameless flashed its eyes indignantly.
[I'll show you a hologram of what happened.]
With a fizz, Nameless projected a hologram screen before Jang Chaewon.
It showed the horned cat belly-up and Kim Woojin stroking its belly.
Nameless had insisted no recording in front of Kim Woojin. But it had secretly recorded anyway.
[See? Mr. Kim Woojin fully tamed the horned cat. Plus, when injured, the many animals here competed to offer spirit herbs for treatment.]
Kim Woojin's face and low voice came from the screen.
-The monsters had no hostility and treated me.
"Wow."
Jang Chaewon let out a low gasp watching the screen.
"Woooow."
Her pupils gradually turned heart-shaped.
Kim Woojin's face on the screen.
Curly hair like wind-carved waves framing deep black eyes. A sharp yet soft nose and eyes.
He looked like Apollo, the sun god incarnate in Asian form.
[What's wrong?]
"Nameless, you don't see that face? He's insanely handsome."
Nameless shook its head at Jang Chaewon's words.
[Sure, his features are decent... but compared to the Heavenly Demon's looks, it's nothing.]
"Hmm. At that point, it's taste."
Jang Chaewon recalled the Heavenly Demon's appearance when his Diamond Body was broken.
If Kim Woojin's face was bright and radiant like the sun, the Heavenly Demon's was sadly beautiful like moonlight.
"A Taming Master, huh."
The horned cat had scowled arrogantly at the Heavenly Demon.
But at the dazzlingly handsome Kim Woojin's appearance, it melted into adoration.
It scowled again whenever glancing at the Heavenly Demon.
"In terms of taming, yeah, you could call him a Master."
[So he is a Taming Master, right?]
At Nameless's words, Jang Chaewon sighed.
"You're such a robot."
[Huh?]
"No, I mean, no preconceptions or biases about looks."
She patted Nameless's round head and continued.
"Well, the Heavenly Demon might feel wronged too."
The Heavenly Demon and Nameless exchanged puzzled looks, utterly baffled.