Monster Taming Broadcast

Day 74 of the Labyrinth.

Today was the day I decided to use the Vending Machine Tracking Ticket.

And for this exploration, I had to go in person.

Because only I can use the vending machine.

So, I decided to bring along all the monsters with exceptional combat abilities.

No matter how much I claim to be S-Class right now.

Even if I’ve become somewhat comparable to SSS-Class monsters in terms of actual danger level…

I cannot let my guard down.

There’s no telling when and what variables might arise.

As I always say, it’s best to be as cautious as possible regarding safety. There’s absolutely no downside to that.

So, early this morning.

I turned on the broadcast as usual.

【Mysticism】─ Good morning!

【Yumi】─Did you sleep well?

【Pururu】─Hey, you started early today.

【Boglebogle】─Looks like we got up at the same time. Did we share a connection?

【Rize Nova】─Don’t fool yourself; we were not connected at all.

【Mirstin】─What is up with these people? Why are they all coming in as soon as the broadcast turns on?

【Luna-chan】─We arrived just after it started, didn’t we? o_O

I immediately summoned all the headquarters monsters.

[Summoning complete.]

[Ready for departure.]

[All clear.]

[Slightly sleepy.]

Beginning with the orderly gathered Iris.

[I’m ready, Father.]

[Dad! I woke up early and drank lots of vending machine juice!]

Kinogine Aracne.

Blood Jellyfish Princess.

[Sniff~]

[Bee bee!]

[I don’t really have anything to prepare. I can leave right away.]

Black Magma Slime.

Medical Mushroom.

Bastet Daong.

“I’m ready too.”

[Our son looks handsome even in the morning. Hehe.]

Azelas and Niarah Nepensys.

[Explorer, I’ve prepared the necessary items for the data collection.]

Artpega Unibacon.

【Luna-chan】─It feels reassuring seeing everyone gathered! >_< 【Mirstin】─A small elite force looks cool! 【Pururu】─Here’s a shocking fact. 【Pururu】─Among them, Gun is the strongest. 【Mysticism】─ 【Yumi】─That’s right. Gun is now at the 3rd stage of seal release, so he was S-Class, right? 【Boglebogle】─Still, you need to be careful. Being strong due to a seal is different from being naturally empowered. 【Rize Nova】─The seal is a higher concept, you see. Hedgehog Summoner. Japan, Melody Fox, Merino Ula. Since today’s not an ordinary exploration, these four were to be left in another town. They wouldn’t be much help in combat and could become a burden, especially Merino. 【Pururu】─Isn’t Japan’s combat power fine? 【Boglebogle】─More than fine; it’s excellent. He’s S-Class. 【Pururu】─No, I mean, can he measure up to those I'm taking along? He can use Black Magma’s magma after all. “While he can handle Black Magma’s magma, he also has weaknesses unlike Black Magma. No matter how powerful his attacks might be, if the main body is destroyed, it’s game over, so I’m not taking him.” Japan is sturdy. He boasts solid and tough defenses that can easily withstand attacks from S-Class. However, he can’t endure SS-Class attacks. That’s why he was excluded from this expedition. As we get further away from the hideout, it seems we encounter SS-Class monsters more frequently. Melody Fox isn’t a battle-specialized monster, so he was also omitted. Hedgehog Summoner was designated to stay with Melody Fox for evolution buffs, hence was excluded as well. And. They were sent to a construction site in an underwater village today instead of the desert town. [doo doom bar! Can we help with the construction?] [Kyuu!?] “Yeah. If you go there, there’ll be Nekro. I’ve already told him you’d be there, so just follow him and help with odd jobs.” [Got it! I’ll work hard! Be careful not to get hurt!] [Japan! Construction sounds fun!] [Kyuu······.] As the three monsters headed to the Warp Device. Merino, following behind them, turned her head slightly and looked at me with a distant gaze. “I... want to go with Gun.” “It’s too dangerous.” “Aw...” Merino’s shoulders drooped. She headed back to the Warp Device, muttering aloud where I could hear. “To stay next to Gun, I need to become stronger quickly. I’ll work hard to be as strong as Gun.” 【Pururu】─Impossible for a lifetime. 【Boglebogle】─Merino, you should aim high. 【Mysticism】─But Merino is probably stronger than Pururu! 【Mirstin】─That’s obvious. 【Luna-chan】─Even if you’re F-Class, a gap exists. 【Pururu】─?? Why are you all suddenly attacking me? 【Yumi】─I’m not sure about raw power, but ability-wise, Merino is definitely superior to Pururu. Merino possesses a special ability beneficial to everyone. 【Rize Nova】─It’s hard to consider Merino as purely F-Class. Judging solely by her abilities, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say she’s above S-Class. 【Pururu】─Who do you think you are judging? Don’t speak of S-Class with your A-Class self. 【Rize Nova】─Pururu. 【Pururu】─Sorry. 【Rize Nova】─? 【Mysticism】─Detecting Pururu's killing intent. After sending Merino and the three monsters to the underwater village. I promptly used the Vending Machine Tracking Ticket. *

Like the Wandering Merchant Tracking Ticket.

The Vending Machine Tracking Ticket also guided the way with a voice.

Following the voice guidance, we entered Passage No. 5.

In Cave No. 5, a vast underground world awaited us, filled with countless apple trees and inhabited by Poison Apples.

Thus, we arrived at the Apple Farm.

[Woosh! Long time no see!]

The administrator of the Apple Farm.

The Poison Apple that I’ve tamed greeted me happily.

Though it showed no hostility after being tamed, its expression was still toxic; now, however, it appeared much more tranquil than before.

For reference.

To differentiate it from the other Poison Apples, I named it ‘Po-Ae.’

“Po-Ae. Long time no··· or rather, how have you been?”

[Very well! Have you come to pick apples again? I’ve carefully sorted out the most delicious ones! The quality of the summoned beings is excellent too!]

【Pururu】─You traitor, offering kin.

【Mysticism】─Despicable!

【Mirstin】─Seriously, that’s what a scoundrel would do. Typically, those types strike from behind.

【Yumi】─You don’t need to worry about betrayal. Tamed monsters have never been known to betray us.

The carefully selected Poison Apples were eager to recommend themselves to me.

Seeing such a creature, the other Poison Apples ground their teeth in envy.

[That traitor···.]

[Woom, woom···!]

The Poison Apples glared at us fiercely.

But as I cast a sidelong glance, they averted their eyes in a hurry as if they’d never looked.

[…That explorer seems stronger each time I see him. I don’t know their identity.]

[They seem like a monster…]

I withdrew my gaze.

Then I addressed Po-Ae.

“No need for recommendations. I didn’t come here for apples today.”

[What? Then why are you here?]

“I was just passing through. I used the Vending Machine Tracking Ticket, and it guided me this way.”

Currently, the guidance voice indicated to move deeper beyond the apple farm.

It seemed we had to go further from here.

If I had known this would happen, I would have just taken the Warp Device.

I hesitated momentarily before moving my feet.

Then I looked back at Po-Ae and asked.

“Oh right, Po-Ae.”

[Woom?]

“If I keep going straight from here, do you know what’s ahead?”

I thought that I would likely need to move to another location beyond the apple farm to find the vending machine.

In other words, it meant I’d be entering unexplored territory.

So, it was better to gather some information beforehand if possible.

【Pururu】─What could it know? It’s just hanging there, unable to move.

【Yumi】─You never know. It could have a surprising amount of knowledge.

【Mirstin】─Can Poison Apples die if they fall from the tree?

【Mysticism】─They’ll die if too long without the tree!

【Boglebogle】─I heard if they don’t meet the conditions for showing their original power within a certain period after falling from the tree, they die.

【Rize Nova】─Last time Po-Ae said, that condition is based on the panic of another creature or something.

【Mirstin】─Hmm. If they die from being away for too long, it suggests they’ll be fine for a brief time after falling from the tree. So, wouldn’t occasional outings be possible? They can just return to the tree before their life expires and hang again.

【Mysticism】─ Oh wow! That makes sense!

【Rize Nova】─I’m not sure if that’s possible, but I do know they shouldn’t stray too far from the tree. Long-term excursions likely wouldn’t be feasible.

【Luna-chan】─So, it seems Pururu was right to say it wouldn’t know a lot. o_O

Po-Ae seemed to ponder for a moment.

And, not long after, as if recalling something, it answered my question.

[Woom! I believe there’s a door at the end of the direction you’re pointing! But what lies beyond that door, I don’t know… Except that the Rock Makers came through that door, I don’t know anything else.]

No helpful information was obtained.

Unfortunately, it couldn’t be helped.

We just had to check it out ourselves.

I politely thanked Po-Ae, then continued moving with the monsters I was with to the location indicated by the voice guide.

Then time passed.

We reached a dead end.

To be precise, there was a massive door blocking the passage.

【Pururu】─What’s that door? It gives me goosebumps.

【Mysticism】─

【Mirstin】─It’s clearly different from the doors we’ve seen so far. It looks terrifying.

【Yumi】─It looks like a hellish gate…

An overwhelmingly large door filled my sight.

The uneven surface of the door made of black iron and red stone had various shaped skulls and sharp spikes embedded in it.

And the gigantic handle twisted like a snake, with a red gemstone embedded in the snake’s eye, radiating an ominous glow.

Just as Ha Yumi said.

This door looked just like an entrance to hell.

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