121
Chapter 121
I originally planned to ride the Little Yellow Dragon to get there.
However, it seemed I wouldn't need to.
The Lake had personally sent a means of transportation.
The Frog pointed at the massive Centipede waiting in front of the Dungeon entrance and spoke.
"This one will safely and comfortably guide you to the Lake, ribbit."
"Yong? Why didn't you mention anything about being fast, yong."
"Jiii, jiiiiii."
Smile.
Along with a gesture telling us to hurry up and get on,
the Centipede glanced at us and smiled.
Giant Centipede.
That guy was the very mount that would guide us to the Lake.
No, was calling it a mount a bit rude?
Let me correct myself.
I should call it a distinguished mount.
For reference, the Giant Centipede had a surprisingly cute appearance.
Its face was adorable, and even with all those legs, it wasn't really gross at all.
And its level was a whopping 99.
It was surprising. Although its power was on the lower side due to its low racial grade, the Ultimate Realm was right around the corner. If it reached Max Level, its power wouldn't just become 100; it would gain a Unique Skill. Then, it might even become stronger than I currently was.
This was actually my first time seeing a monster on the verge of reaching Max Level.
Out of sheer curiosity, I subtly brought it up to the Frog as I climbed onto the Centipede's back.
I asked if he knew that the Giant Centipede was only one step away from the Ultimate Realm.
"Gom-gom, gom-gom-gom."
I also had an Information Window open for everyone to see.
Before the Frog could reply, everyone who checked the Information Window made a surprised face.
"Woong?!"
"Woooom? Your level is incredibly high, yong. Though it's lower than mine, yong."
"Yooooong! It's my first time seeing level 99, yong!"
"Ohh... To think the Ultimate Realm is right around the corner, you were a great one, unlike your appearance."
"Kyuhuhu! Amazing, right?"
While the Giant Fist Lesser Panda was shrugging its shoulders.
The Frog, who was checking if everyone had gotten on, replied belatedly.
"Ribbit, of course I know. Sir Centipede is also affiliated with our Lake, so there's no way I wouldn't know. He made his information public a long time ago."
"Gom-gom? Gom?"
He made it public?
How?
"Ah, come to think of it, I've never mentioned it. There is someone in our Lake who has an Appraisal skill. Everyone affiliated with the Lake gets an Appraisal from them."
"Gom-gom, gom-gom-gom-gom?"
I see.
But why don't you know the race of your master?
"You don't necessarily have to reveal it after checking the information. If you want to make it public, you do it like Sir Giant Centipede, and if you are reluctant to make it public, you don't have to reveal it."
"Gom."
I understood.
The Master of the Lake must have received an Appraisal and kept it hidden.
"Originally, it's common for large-scale groups to have at least one person with an Appraisal skill."
The Vampire chimed in and spoke.
Weren't there any in the Rabbit Dungeon?
When I asked her that, she said there were always exceptions.
I heard they had an Appraiser before forming the Alliance, but unfortunately, they lost their life a long time ago.
And currently, the Rabbit Dungeon is said to be conducting Appraisals with the help of the Vampire Castle.
"For reference, Sir Centipede reached level 99 a long time ago, ribbit."
"Gom-gom-gom?"
A long time ago?
When was that?
When I asked, the Frog said he couldn't remember exactly and asked the Centipede.
"Sir Centipede."
"Jii?"
"How long has it been since you reached level 99, ribbit?"
"Jii, jiii."
The Centipede replied.
It had been 300 years since he reached level 99.
Wow, that's a really long time....
But he hasn't been able to Level Up once in 300 years?
I heard it was difficult to achieve, but not reaching Max Level in 300 years... wasn't there some kind of problem?
"Woong, woong, woooong?"
"Isn't 300 years too long, yong? Even if reaching the Ultimate Realm is incredibly hard, 300 years is way too long. Is there some kind of curse placed on you, yong? It's weird, yong."
Tosuni and the Little Yellow Dragon had the same doubts as me.
However, the Vampire and Tosun's Mom didn't find it strange.
"There's nothing strange about it. I feel a bit sorry saying this in front of the person in question, but... it's entirely possible if you lack talent. Or perhaps you just weren't fated to reach the Ultimate Realm to begin with."
She keeps bringing up fate lately.
Did she decide to become a fatalist?
"Woooom. You must not have realized the condition yet, yong. The Ultimate Realm isn't a state you can reach just by absorbing Mana like when you normally raise your level, yong. There's a specific requirement for every soul to achieve it, yong. No one else knows what it is; only the individual can figure it out, yong. But you have to realize it on your own, yong. If you have no talent, you won't be able to realize it, yong."
"Gom-gom, gom-gom-gom."
I see.
Then, could you tell me what Tosun's Mom's condition was?
I asked carefully.
Tosun's Mom answered willingly, as if there was no problem telling me.
"Mine was to go to the moon and consume the Natural Mana Stone there, yong. It was a simple condition, yong."
"Gom?"
"Ah, I'm not talking about the moon in our Dungeon, yong. I'm talking about the actual moon in the outside world right now, yong."
"Gom-gom, gom-gom-gom...?"
"You're asking how I got there, yong? The Ancestor safely took me there, uhuhum."
That's not a simple condition at all.
Without the Luna Rabbit's help, wouldn't that condition be virtually impossible?
Even with Flight, I don't think you could get there with ordinary flying abilities.
More importantly, I guess there are Mana Stones on the moon too.
Then are there monsters as well?
That thought suddenly crossed my mind.
Maybe the Rabbits called the Moon Tribe were actually a race that descended from the moon a long time ago.
"Jii, jiiiiii."
When Tosun's Mom finished answering.
The Giant Centipede announced his departure, as if he had been waiting.
Swish-swish-swish, swish-swish-swish-swish-!
The Giant Centipede carrying us began to move forward, its countless legs moving dazzlingly.
Its Speed wasn't as fast as I thought.
Still, the ride quality was quite decent.
Well, as long as the ride is good, that's enough.
The Speed didn't matter anyway.
It wasn't like we were in a hurry.
Of course.
I did feel a little frustrated.
But I decided to think positively.
It's just moving a little slowly, so what does it matter?
Let's not live a rigid life complaining about such trivial things.
Rather than riding a fast guy who doesn't know the way, it's better to ride a slightly slower guy who knows the path perfectly. Without any separate guidance, he'll take us there on his own as long as we sit still.
So let's just relax and enjoy a comfortable trip.
If we leisurely appreciate the ever-changing natural scenery as we move, we'll arrive in no time.
***
The Giant Centipede ran diligently.
He entered a lush, wooded forest.
Chirp, chirp.
A pleasant Wind brushed against my face, and the sound of Sparrows could be heard from all directions.
The weather was nice, and the scenery was great.
I felt a little excited as it felt like I was going on an adventure for the first time in a while.
"The weather is incredibly nice today, yong. It feels like we're going on a picnic, yong."
"Woong, woong!"
"I'll be taking a nap. Wake me up if anything happens."
"Papa! I'm curious about the name of that race too, yong! Can you open up the Information Window, yong!"
Our Little Yellow Dragon sure has a lot of curiosity.
I gladly decided to bring up the information on the Sparrows.
It wasn't a problem even if they were far away.
The Analysis Module was an upgraded version of the Cane skill.
It could be used without making contact with the target.
In other words, it meant I could now bring up an Information Window for everyone to see without needing to directly touch the target I wanted to check.
[Sparrow lv.5]
┗Pw.5
┗Rnk.Normal
[Domain: Wind]
┗Grade - Rare
"Sparrow! I memorized it clearly, yong!"
She didn't laugh at them even if they were trivial monsters.
She was a child with a very upright personality.
No, since she's a Dragon, should I call it a dragon-ality?
Anyway.
After that, just as I was thinking about bringing up the information for every single monster we encounter without missing any for the Little Yellow Dragon's sake.
"Ooh-eek-eek!"
"Ooh-eek-eek-eek!"
A new monster immediately appeared.
It was a monster that looked like a monkey.
I immediately activated the Analysis Module and brought up the information for one of them.
[Dancing Monkey lv.33]
┗Pw.66
┗Rnk.Uncommon
[Domain: Dance]
┗Grade - Uncommon
"Dancing Monkey! I memorized it, yong!"
Race name, Dancing Monkey.
They were moving in a group, swinging through the trees.
But they weren't just moving.
Looking closely, it seemed like that troop of monkeys was chasing after us.
Do you have some business with us?
The moment I tilted my head while looking at them.
"Eek!"
"Eek-eek-eek!"
The monkeys started throwing Bananas wildly.
What the, are they actually attacking us right now?
"Yoooong?!"
"Kyuuuak! Don't throw Bananas if you don't want to die! I am a terrifying and brave Dragon!!!"
Jumping from tree to tree,
grabbing branches with their hands and flying around,
the monkeys that had been continuously chasing us made a flustered expression and stopped throwing Bananas all at once.
"Eek?"
"Eek-eek...?"
The monkeys were still following us.
But now, not a single one of them was throwing Bananas.
It seemed to be because of the Red Panda's threat just now.
As I said before, it was just a flustered expression, not a scared one.
Who would get scared looking at a Red Panda.
"Ugh... An ambush as soon as I try to sleep... Hmm? Dancing Monkey?"
The Vampire sat up.
She took in the sight of the monkeys chasing us from the trees, and turned her head to look at the Bananas that had fallen on the Centipede's back.
"It wasn't an ambush."
What does that mean?
The moment I was about to ask, Tosuni and Tosun's Mom raised a hand at the same time to greet the monkeys.
"Woong!"
"Woom!"
They were truly polite Rabbits.
"Eek!"
"Eek-eek!"
The monkeys also raised their hands and greeted back.
They actually responded to it.
"It seems they've taken a liking to us."
"Gom?"
"That race has a habit of throwing Bananas as a gift when they find a race they like."
Ahh.
It wasn't an attack.
They were merely giving us a gift.
I guess it means they want to get along well from now on.
Or it could mean not to be hostile to them the next time we meet.
Anyway.
Since I received a gift, I should give something in return.
I can't just be on the receiving end, after all.
[Module Activated - Dragon Doll Pattern Module ON.]
Clack-
One hand transformed into a Dragon's head.
Its appearance was different from before.
It was a combination of machine and Doll.
[Module Executed - Luck Breath.]
Whirrr-
A muzzle slowly popped out from inside the Dragon head's mouth.
Now, now, anyone!
Come get a Luck Buff!
"Eek? Eek-eek-eek-eek!!!"
"Eek-eek, eek-eek!!!"
When I fired the Luck Breath, the monkeys in the trees were startled and all ran away.
Wait... Why is everyone running away?
I was just trying to give them something good.......
I suddenly became a wicked Teddy Bear.