Monster Taming Broadcast

The Skull Angel was annihilated by the manifestation of Merino.

The beings from the Celestial Realm saw its appearance and spoke in unison.

“There was a god that looked similar to that in the Celestial Realm.”

It was a moment that solidified the notion that this space was inspired by the Celestial Realm.

—[Explorer, what shall we do now? It seems the chickens have settled in this place after crossing the door. Shall we search for them and return?]

Artpega asked Iris.

I nodded and replied.

“Yeah. Don’t go too deep, just take a quick look around and come back. We’ll have a proper exploration team set up for tomorrow.”

—[Understood.]

If she were an S-Class monster, I would have ordered her to return immediately due to the danger, but since Artpega is now an SS-Class monster, I determined it was okay for her to stay a little longer in this space.

—[Before we go searching, I should generate a few more manifestations. Do you have any drawings you want?]

“A drawing you want…?”

【Pururu】—Draw me!

【Mysticism】— Draw me!

【Mirstin】—I would appreciate it if you could draw me.

【Luna-chan】—Does Artpega know what we look like? o_O

【Yumi】—Of course! She reads all the indexes.

【Rize Nova】—That’s right. I know she often checks the Assistant Index.

【Boglebogle】—Maybe because she doesn’t have to see her own drawing, she checks it out more often.

“Make sure to draw me again! I’m the strongest!”

Several Assistants and Merino Ula were discussing among themselves, wanting to be made into manifestations.

Since Merino had just been drawn once, I decided to exclude her.

“Art, can you draw the Assistants?”

—[You mean the Assistants? Yes, of course, I can generate manifestations of them.]

“You remember their faces, right?”

—[I remember. I’ve seen the index countless times.]

After Artpega answered that, she immediately used her ability, Instant Manifestation.

From her fingertips, paint spread out, and the shapes of the Assistants quickly began to be drawn in the air.

—[I will dispose of any weakly generated manifestations immediately. They lack souls and, unlike Necro’s puppets, they have no self.]

“No self?”

—[Yes. Manifestations created by Instant Manifestation lack self. Only those painstakingly drawn over a long time possess self. And if lucky, a soul may inhabit them.]

“I didn’t know that.”

—[I also learned that fact this morning while practicing drawing. Also, just because a manifestation is carefully created doesn’t mean it will necessarily appear strong. The rank of existence is determined randomly, just like with Instant Manifestation. Therefore, I decided that creating such manifestations should be avoided whenever possible. If there are more existences I have to protect because of me, it will ultimately cause trouble for others.]

I think I understood why Artpega insisted on using Instant Manifestation.

If she painstakingly created a manifestation that has self and then, by chance, it turns out to be weak, managing the aftermath would be troublesome.

In that case, it would be like adding a burden without any benefit.

So, it was clear that she preferred those instants that can be disposed of without issue.

Despite how she appeared, Artpega has a surprisingly gentle heart.

—[Alright. It’s done.]

In the brief moment of discussing with Artpega, seven manifestations of the Assistants were created.

【Pururu】—Ooh! I’m here!!!

【Mirstin】—Haha! I’m here too! Awesome!

【Rize Nova】—These look just like us. It feels strange.

【Mysticism】—Wait? I was made taller!

【Yumi】—Why am I like this? I’m not that short!!!

【Boglebogle】—You looked small in the index.

【Luna-chan】—I just look the same. O_o

—[I’ll dispose of any entity that doesn’t help in combat. If they’re all useless, I’ll have to fight myself.]

I scrutinized each manifestation of the Assistants.

And assessed their danger levels.

Pururu F-Class.

Mysticism D-Class.

Yumi C-Class.

Rize Nova F-Class.

Boglebogle D-Class.

Mirstin S-Class.

Luna-chan A-Class.

Since Artpega made the manifestations, she likely knew their levels of power.

—[Pururu, Mysticism, Yumi, Rize Nova, Boglebogle… I will dispose of you. Goodbye.]

Without a hint of hesitation, Artpega waved her arm, and five manifestations dissolved back into paint.

【Yumi】—Huh?!

【Pururu】—What the heck!?

【Mysticism】—

【Boglebogle】—That’s too bad. I must have been made weak.

【Rize Nova】—This feels strange as well…

Only two manifestations remained.

Luna-chan and Mirstin.

Artpega carefully examined Luna-chan, sighed with regret, and swiftly waved her hand.

—[Hmm. Regrettably, I will dispose of Luna-chan as well.]

【Luna-chan】—Hiiing! ㅠWㅠ

【Pururu】—Come back!

—[As for Mirstin… it seems you can be kept around. Fortunately.]

【Mirstin】—Ooo! I’ve been chosen! My manifestation must be really strong!!!

【Mysticism】—That’s ridiculous.

【Pururu】—Lucky game of chance.

In the end, Mirstin’s manifestation was the one selected.

—[Alright, let’s slowly head out, manifestation Mirstin.]

—[Mirmir!]

【Mirstin】—It’s all good, but can you change that way of speaking?

【Pururu】—Don’t ask for too much.

【Yumi】—Be happy you were chosen.

Artpega set off with manifestation Mirstin in search of the chickens.

Twenty minutes had passed since exploring the labyrinth’s celestial realm.

Not far away, they encountered a new monster.

—[That’s…!]

What Artpega faced was a chicken-like monster.

However, it looked very different from the chicken we usually hunt and eat.

—[Coo-koodle-do!!!]

—[…It seems like habitat changes have led to a species transformation.]

I thought the same as Artpega.

That creature was indeed a chicken we had seen before, but it seemed the emergence of this new space had transformed its species. There was no other reason to find a chicken in a place like the Celestial Realm.

Of course.

It hadn’t evolved.

Its danger level remained S-Class, just as before.

I named it ‘Neo Chicken.’

—[Mirstin. Capture that creature.]

—[Mirmir!]

As Artpega issued the command, Mirstin’s body stretched like rubber and charged towards the Neo Chicken.

—[Coo-koo?! Coo-koo-koo!!!]

The Neo Chicken immediately spread its wings, creating gusts of wind, and a swirling vortex struck Mirstin’s body.

But it didn’t work.

Mirstin’s body transformed like paint and dodged the attack.

【Mirstin】—Cool!!!

【Yumi】—Is it because it’s painted? It moves incredibly fluidly.

【Pururu】—Whoa, paint human.

【Mysticism】—Gross.

The Neo Chicken soon opened its mouth and blasted immense flames.

Controlling wind and then fire.

It seemed to have acquired new abilities through its species transformation. The chickens we had seen before couldn’t handle fire.

—[Mirmir…!]

Mirstin, now engulfed in flames, began to melt away.

Seeing this from a distance, Artpega released a large amount of paint from her fingertips to replenish Mirstin’s body.

【Rize Nova】—She immediately jumped into support.

【Mysticism】— Isn’t that cheating?

【Mirstin】—Is there any rule against cheating in a fight?!

【Boglebogle】—It wasn’t even a one-on-one battle.

【Mysticism】—That’s true!

Once again, Mirstin returned to her original form.

As soon as she regained her shape, she stretched out her entire body to grow colossal.

Then.

Rainbow-colored paint began to cascade from her body, swiftly engulfing the Neo Chicken.

—[Coo-koodle-do!!!]

The paint-covered chicken let out a tormented scream.

Flames erupted violently from its beak, and strong wings flapped fiercely, causing powerful gales around.

The Neo Chicken’s desperate struggle.

But that struggle wouldn’t last long.

Mirstin’s paint absorbed all its attacks while tightening its grip around the chicken.

—[Coo, coo……]

Squeeze-!

In the end, the Neo Chicken lost its strength and its neck snapped in its final moments.

【Mirstin】—Ooo! I won! I defeated an S-Class monster!!!

【Yumi】—Congratulations!

【Pururu】—If Art hadn’t helped, you would’ve lost.

【Luna-chan】—Mirstin didn’t win; it was paint Mirstin who won. o_O

*

After Artpega captured the Neo Chicken and returned,

Dinner was in full swing at Kang Geon’s hideout.

“Yum yum yum~”

Merino Ula was diligently cooking the Neo Chicken that Artpega hunted.

Each one of her movements emanated a sense of freedom and joy she had never felt before.

As time flowed,

“Yum yum! Dinner is ready! Everyone, let’s eat!”

Once the cooking was complete, Merino distributed the food to Kang Geon and the monsters.

“Good job, Merino.”

[Doo Doom Bar! Well done!]

Kang Geon and Hedgehog praised her for her hard work.

[Ooh! Today’s meal is incredibly delicious!]

[Japaaaaaan! Tastes divine!]

Artpega and Japa were in awe, tearing into the chicken.

[Indeed, Merino’s cooking never disappoints. It’s so tasty.]

[Phew! I could eat Merino’s food every day! I can’t eat anything else!]

Arachne and Princess offered heartfelt compliments.

“Yum yum… eat well…!”

Merino’s face turned red.

She was still awkward receiving compliments.

What was once considered her duty had now become a source of gratitude, bringing her happiness.

As the main meal commenced,

Amidst laughter and conversations, Merino suddenly looked around.

‘Everyone is happy.’

Warm emotions blossomed in her heart.

‘I’m happy too…’

The meal time, shared in a group.

Feeling joy not only from the freedom to play but simply being here brought her happiness.

‘So this is true happiness…’

Her current life was vastly different from her past.

There were no attackers or exploiters here.

Everyone treated her as a comrade, a precious being, and it felt surreal.

‘The happiness I felt until now was fake.’

Merino was gradually realizing.

The days she was exploited due to her special abilities.

The violence that was constantly inflicted upon her whenever she did something wrong.

The times in the fields, falsely labeled as freedom but akin to prison.

Her life in the previous world.

Only after experiencing true freedom and happiness did she recognize how abnormal those earlier days were when treated as livestock.

Though she hadn’t been there long,

Merino found her life here incredibly precious.

She no longer wanted to return to her original world.

She wished to stay forever with the friends she made in this unfamiliar world.

There were kinsfolk in her previous life, but they didn’t treat her as a friend.

‘To do that, I can’t become a burden. I must make even better dishes. Only then will everyone not abandon me. And…’

Merino thought to herself.

She believed she had potential strength that could also assist in battles.

‘I too have sealed power like the Gauntlet. Hehe.’

Finishing her thoughts,

Merino turned to Melody Fox, who was eating next to her.

“Melody.”

[Kyuu?]

“Did you see my power earlier? I defeated that bad monster with one punch.”

[Kyuu!]

“From now on, you can trust me! I’ll protect you, Melody! With one Ula Punch, I can win all fights!”

[Kyuu…]

Melody looked at Merino in surprise.

Just then, Kang Geon approached and revealed the truth to Merino.

“…Merino. You don’t have any power. What you saw earlier was Artpega’s strength, so don’t misunderstand.”

“Yum?”

Revealing the truth was harsh, but it was necessary.

Understanding one’s own limitations was crucial for survival.

Since Merino might dangerously act, believing she was strong, I had to inform her of the cold truth to prevent accidents.

“The Merino Ula that was summoned earlier is a paint human. It has nothing to do with you aside from appearance. Therefore, the strength is entirely different.”

“…Does that mean I’m just weak? I have no potential strength?”

“Yep. Not at all.”

“Yum…”

Merino was engulfed in shock.

Of course, it wasn’t a tremendous shock.

After finishing her meal, Merino stood up and trudged away.

She picked up an index.

“I need to shake off this melancholy by drawing…! I’ll work on the index today!”

To dispel her gloom, Merino began to draw.

Of course, it was her first time drawing.

After a little while,

“I’m done! Everyone, take a look!”

Merino’s drawing was complete. The model for the drawing was the ‘Neo Chicken,’ which she hadn’t indexed yet.

The monsters looked at Merino’s drawing with awkward smiles and clapped.

They complimented her on how well she drew.

Kang Geon also intended to send compliments Merino’s way.

After all, he couldn’t crush her pure heart.

He figured such a little lie wouldn’t cause any issues.

Naturally, he felt awkward lying, fumbled, and complimented her like reading from a textbook.

“…So, you drew well. Merino, you have a talent for drawing.”

“Yum! I finally found my talent!”

After that,

Kang Geon seized the opportunity while Merino wasn’t looking to secretly work on the Monster Index.

Fortunately, he wasn’t caught.

■ Neo Chicken

─ Actual danger level: S-Class.

─ Abilities: Wind Manipulation, Fire Manipulation.

After finishing the index work,

Kang Geon didn’t discard Merino’s drawing but carefully kept it among the Monster Index.

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