66
Chapter 66
After joining up with the Vampire we had happened to meet.
We followed the shortcut with Star Fox guiding us.
The place we arrived at was a wide, open cave.
It was a vein brimming with pure white Mana Stones.
"Look! There's no one here!"
Star Fox was right.
There really was no one around.
To think there wouldn't be a single guard in this place full of top-grade Natural Mana Stones!
Wow, what a totally sweet, free farming spot!
...Did you think I'd say that?
I almost fell for it myself for a second.
Is there really no one here?
I actually thought that for a brief moment.
If I didn't have the Helper skill, I would still think we were the only ones here.
But we aren't the only ones here.
Take those ordinary rocks scattered all over the place.
They're actually monsters using Camouflage to look like normal rocks.
I can see it.
The information on those rocks.
[Guardian Stone lv.48]
┗Pw.288
┗Rnk.Elite
I couldn't feel any Mana from them at all.
It seemed those guys called Guardian Stones were using a skill similar to my Teddy Bear Camouflage.
Let me just praise you first, rocks.
It was a perfectly flawless Camouflage.
But even if you fool the eyes of others, you can't fool mine!
...No, actually, you did fool my eyes.
Let me correct that.
Even if you fool our eyes, you can't fool Helper!
Our Helper is an invincible skill that ignores even skill seals!
Well... there might be a Camouflage skill out there that can trick even Helper, but at least the one these guys are using has been completely seen through.
But hold on a second.
Looking at it again, all these rock guys are Elite rank?
On top of that, the strongest one is level 48?
Its power is a whopping 288?
.......
...Oh.
We're in big trouble.
"Have no doubt about my words! Hehe!"
You crazy Fox.
Where exactly did you bring us?
What are we supposed to do after you dragged us into a hellhole like this?!
The situation isn't looking good.
Less than half the rocks are weaker than the Vampire.
More than half of them are on the same level as the Vampire, or even stronger.
In other words, this was a demon cave swarming with terrifying monsters.
I have no idea why they're using Camouflage.
Are they waiting for an opportunity to ambush an Intruder?
Or are they scared because Star Fox killed the Guardian before?
If it's the latter, that's a relief.
It means we can mine with peace of mind.
Since they won't have any reason to attack us.
And that was actually the most likely guess.
Seeing as the Fox never encountered anyone whenever she came here, it means those rocks have been trembling in fear under their Camouflage all this time.
However, this guess could be wrong.
Maybe those guys are in a Sleep state.
There's a possibility they're just sleeping safely while using their Camouflage skill.
If that's the case, accidentally poking them and waking them up would be a disaster.
Although there isn't a single entity stronger than Star Fox.
If that many of them rush at us all at once, I don't think even Star Fox could handle it.
"To think there are this many top-grade Natural Mana Stones... What an amazing place...."
The Vampire slowly stepped forward.
Whoa there! Save your admiration for later!
First, stop right there for a second!
I hurriedly blocked her path.
"Hmm? What is the matter?"
The Vampire expressed her confusion.
Just then, the Fox and Tosuni grabbed their Sacks and tried to walk past me.
"Hehe! I'm going to take a lot today."
"Woooong."
You guys stop too!
I blocked their path as well.
"Eh?"
"Woong?"
We can't mine with peace of mind here.
How could we mine comfortably when there are landmine-like dangers lurking everywhere?
If there's another vein, we should go there.
Otherwise, we have to deal with those rock monsters somehow.
First, I need to let the party know that those aren't ordinary rocks.
The rocks that Helper was showing information for.
I pointed at them one by one and made a fierce expression.
"Woooong? Woong?"
"What about those rocks?"
"Stupid Gom-jjang! Those aren't Mana Stones, they're just ordinary rocks!"
Grrr!
I flicked the Fox's forehead.
"W-why did you hit me...."
"Woong...?"
"Hmm. Now that I look, the Teddy Bear keeps pointing at specific rocks. Are they perhaps not ordinary rocks?"
The Vampire was the quickest to catch on.
I believed in you!
The Vampire narrowed her eyes and stared intently at the rocks I was pointing at.
"Umm... They just look like ordinary rocks no matter how I look at them? I thought you were sending us a danger signal, but I guess not."
Ugh, so frustrating.
I was sending a danger signal!
Just as I was flailing my arms around trying to use body language.
"Ah! I know what it means!"
The Fox raised her hand high and shouted.
"It's obvious that Gom-jjang doesn't like the way those rocks look!"
"Woong!"
The Fox was way off the mark.
I hadn't expected anything, so I wasn't disappointed.
Though I was a little disappointed in Tosuni, who was nodding as if agreeing with the Fox.
"Hehe! Just wait! I'll smash all the rocks that Gom-jjang doesn't like!"
The moment the Fox said that.
The star pattern engraved on her forehead began to shine.
And it was then.
"Please spare us!!!"
"We're sorry!"
"Please, just spare our lives!"
The Guardian Stones hurriedly released their Camouflage.
They transformed from ordinary-looking rocks into Human-shaped stone monsters in an instant.
So they had even been disguised.
Now I could clearly feel their Mana as well.
"Woooong!?"
"W-what are those guys?"
"Hwack?! They look exactly like the Guardian I sent to the stars before!!!"
Hmm.
The process was a bit weird, but the result is good.
***
One of my assumptions was correct.
The reason the Guardian Stones had been using Camouflage was none other than because they were terrified of Star Fox.
What a relief.
It seemed we wouldn't have to fight those dangerous guys after all.
I finally felt a little at ease.
"To think the new Guardian and its kin were hiding using Camouflage... How did the Teddy Bear notice such a perfect Camouflage?"
"Woong, woooong......."
"I had no idea... Gom-jjang, you're amazing."
The Guardian Stones that had released their Camouflage.
They all groveled flat on the ground and begged for their lives.
There were also some who stubbornly kept their Camouflage on.
But every time I pointed at them, they flinched and released their Camouflage.
"Please spare us!"
"We're sorry! We don't think we did anything wrong, but we're still sorry!"
Despite their appearances, they're serious cowards.
Did they witness Star Fox killing the Guardian here with their own eyes?
Exactly how did Star Fox kill the Guardian back then?
Geez, what did she do to make them this terrified?
If they mustered up their courage and launched an all-out attack together, they would have a chance of winning.
But they didn't seem to have the slightest intention of doing so.
They looked like they had completely lost their will to fight, crushed by fear.
"You bad guys! Deceiving me all this time! I'll send you to the stars!"
"Eek! P-please spare us! We can be friends with the Fox! Please!"
"Friends? I already have a lot of cute friends! I don't need you guys anymore!"
Once again, the Fox's forehead began to shine.
I hurriedly held the Fox back.
No, don't kill them!
"Gom-jjang? Why are you stopping me. Didn't you dislike those rocks, Gom-jjang?"
They aren't even prey, so there's no reason to kill opponents who have lost their will to fight.
It would be a disaster if we fought them for no reason and ended up losing.
Also, keeping them alive could prove useful.
We can make them mine Natural Mana Stones for us, and it will prevent others from digging them up when we leave this place.
To monopolize this vein, it was wise to keep the Guardian and its kin alive.
Anyone could easily take the Mana Stones from a vein without a Guardian.
If a monster stronger than the Guardian invades, well, nothing can be done about that.
"I don't know why you're stopping me, but if Gom-jjang says no, I won't do it. I listen to my friends!"
After calming the Fox down.
I tapped Tosuni on the shoulder.
"Woong?"
Can you tell those rock guys to mine the Natural Mana Stones for us?
I moved my body this way and that, trying to use body language.
"Woong!"
Oh, did she understand?
Tosuni nodded a couple of times, then suddenly shouted towards the Guardian Stones.
"Woooong, woooooong! Woooooooong!"
"E-excuse me? You want us to mine the Mana Stones here and offer them up right now? On top of that, you're telling us to pay you a regular tribute of Mana Stones from now on?"
The Guardian Stones made bewildered expressions.
Tosuni must have misunderstood.
I only asked them to mine the Mana Stones for us instead.
I had absolutely no intention of wickedly making them offer up Mana Stones on a regular basis.
It would be great if they did, but...
Would they really accept such an unreasonable request?
It's closer to a threat than a request, but I didn't think they'd obediently listen to lowly Dolls like us, instead of the Fox.
"......."
"Telling us to offer up Mana Stones regularly... does that mean they're going to use us as Slaves...?"
"...Did that bear-like Doll give the order?"
The Guardian Stones' gazes all turned towards me at once.
It seemed they realized I was the one who asked Tosuni to say that.
Well, it was obvious since I was using such frantic body language.
Oof, I'm a little scared now.
If I didn't have the Fox backing me up, they would be opponents I couldn't even make eye contact with.
Fox!
They're staring at me scarily!
Scold them right now!
I gently tugged on the Fox's arm.
At that, the Fox growled and glared fiercely at the Guardian Stones.
"What are you staring at! If we tell you to offer them, then offer them!"
"U-understood! From now on, we will regularly mine and offer up the Mana Stones!"
"We will mine them right now!"
Phew, I'm saved.
It's nice having good friends.
This is why you need at least one strong friend.
Ah, for reference.
I have no intention of making the Guardian Stones bring the Mana Stones all the way to our Dungeon.
Honestly, that would be too thuggish, right?
I'll just tell them to prepare the Mana Stones in advance, and leave the transportation to the Fake Dolls. We can set up a safe route, then make a Fake Doll as strong as the Old Man Doll to escort the transport team.
Anyway.
Automated farming is so sweet!
Then shall we go sit down somewhere comfortable and take a break now?
"To be looked down upon by even a Teddy Bear like that... I've never felt such humiliation."
"If it wasn't for the Fox, we could kill a Teddy Bear like that in a single blow...."
"Shh! Be quiet, Delilah."
"I think you guys are misunderstanding something, but that Teddy Bear is actually incredibly strong. Don't underestimate him."
"What?"
"What are you talking about?"
"That Teddy Bear is strong?"
"Can't you see that everyone over there is following that Teddy Bear's orders? Seeing how even that Fox is so obedient to the Teddy Bear, it's definitely no ordinary Teddy Bear."
"...Is that so?"
"It does seem like the leader of that group is the Teddy Bear."
"Come to think of it, didn't he see through our Camouflage skill in an instant? He's definitely not an ordinary guy."
"He doesn't look particularly strong... Do you think he's hiding his power?"
"That's highly likely."
"True, that Fox over there didn't look particularly strong either, but she turned out to be a monster...."
"Right. The Previous Guardian was the only one who saw through the fact that the Fox was a monster. We were all scared because we heard a strong guy was coming, but when that Fox showed up, we were bewildered and even laughed inwardly... Who would have thought she'd be strong enough to beat the Previous Guardian...."
"If he's stronger than the Fox, just what kind of monster is he?"
"Looking closely at him again, he does seem a bit scary-looking."
"Don't make eye contact. It's dangerous."
Whisper whisper.
They sure are a chatty bunch.
Since they were speaking in hushed voices, I couldn't hear a single thing they were saying.