Monster Taming Broadcast

The Dune Strider turned to ash and scattered in the air.

At that moment, the Necro Puppetmaster stretched out his arm.

Then, the drifting ashes were sucked into the palm of the Puppetmaster’s hand.

[Gauntlet. This one is already dead, so I’ll turn it into a puppet and use it for the Desert Town residents.]

It seemed that any creature turned to ashes could be absorbed and then reborn as a puppet.

“Puppet, didn’t you say you would gather the ones you made in a separate Puppet Town later on?”

[A few won’t matter. I’m planning to gather only elite puppets in that town anyway.]

The Puppetmaster pulled out the corpses he had stored in his body.

[I will synthesize some of the corpse materials left by the Dolmaker.]

He began to recreate the Dune Strider as a puppet.

I waited for him while looking up at the Solorb, who had killed the Dune Strider in one blow.

“…Solorb.”

[Sorry about that. I originally tried to refrain from interfering so that you, the Explorer, could tame him, but… his attitude was too arrogant, and I couldn’t hold back my anger.]

“No, I’m not blaming you for that. If it doesn’t sit well with you, it’s only natural to kill him.”

[Hmm… That’s true. Thank you for understanding.]

If I were a tamed monster, I would have said something.

Even if tamed monsters are not my subordinates complying with my commands, I had clearly communicated the plan to recruit townsfolk and prioritized capturing them.

However, Solorb is not a tamed monster.

Moreover, he is an SSS-Class monster that shouldn’t be trifled with.

I can’t complain to such a being.

Even if I have grievances, pretending not to have them is the only answer.

That way, favorability will slowly build up.

[But then, why did you call me?]

“Ah. Didn’t you mumble something before that Dune Strider appeared? I called to ask about that.”

[······.]

“Why the silence?”

[Did I mishear? I didn’t say anything.]

“…”

I hadn’t misheard.

I’m sure I recall him muttering something.

I distinctly remember that his words were cut off with the appearance of the Dune Strider.

But I didn’t pry any further.

He seemed unwilling to bring it up again.

Solorb really has a subtly tiring personality.

“Right. I guess I misheard.”

[It seems like you’re quite tired lately. Your current body is exceedingly weak, so don’t overdo it and take breaks frequently until all the seals are lifted.]

“Thanks for your concern.”

But did I ever mention anything about the seals to Solorb?

…I don’t remember clearly.

Maybe I found out through Bastet Daong.

*

─[The monster database has been completed, Explorer.]

[Gauntlet. The puppet manufacturing is complete.]

The voices of the Centauress and the Necro Puppetmaster echoed at the same time.

First, I checked the drawing of the Centauress.

It depicted the Dune Strider sitting against the desert backdrop.

It was a flawless drawing.

“The drawing speed is getting faster every day. The quality is noticeably improving too.”

─[You are too kind. The speed is increasing, but the skills are still terrible.]

Next.

I examined the puppet corpse created by the Puppetmaster, the Dune Strider.

It hadn’t changed in appearance.

“Puppet. What’s different from when he was alive?”

[The appearance hasn’t been changed, but I’ve added an ability through synthesis.]

“What ability did you add?”

[An ability to temporarily weaken the opponent’s strength. There was a monster among the corpses left by the Dolmaker with such an ability.]

“That sounds similar to the Explorer’s ability.”

[It’s much weaker than the ability the Explorer possesses.]

Anyway, he picked a fitting ability to match the Dune Strider.

It seems the Puppetmaster’s intelligence is gradually increasing over time.

Finishing the short conversation with the Puppetmaster, I turned my gaze to the Dune Strider and spoke.

“Dune Strider. Go to the Desert Town and help out. I’ve shared your story with them via Iris, so if you run straight there, a robot will come to meet you.”

[Hait!]

The puppet Dune saluted sharply to me and then quickly dashed in the direction I pointed.

*

The Tower of Life.

A structure that draws up oasis water for purification and supplies water to the entire city via underground waterways.

Omega suggested that it would be good to assign a monster that can handle water there, ideally one that can even generate water.

And then…

[Nyaaah!]

Fortunately, I discovered a monster that met Omega’s criteria.

Actual Danger Level: S-Class.

Nerfed Danger Level: B-rank.

A monster with a crab body and a cat’s face.

Not only could it spew water from its mouth, but it also had the ability to generate water by swinging its pincers in the air.

I named it ‘Cat Crab.’

Anyway.

The Cat Crab was subdued instantly.

It fearlessly charged at us, but was neutralized and bound up tightly by the thread spat by the Kinogine Aracne.

[Now, I will use Mind Control.]

The Necro Puppetmaster stepped forward and said.

I nodded and approached a nearby puddle of water in the sand, crouching down.

The water that the Cat Crab had splashed on us.

I carefully touched it with my finger.

As soon as my finger made contact, the puddle trembled and burst like a balloon, releasing an enormous amount of water.

As if springing forth from a hot spring.

“…This isn’t ordinary water.”

I don’t know the principle, but.

This liquid created by the Cat Crab seems to be heavily compressed water.

This compressed liquid would likely penetrate the opponent’s body and explode from within, making it the Cat Crab’s typical attack strategy.

Most creatures would probably drown with their bodies filled with water.

“Ellis is right. Perhaps it could create a tsunami large enough to cover an entire nation with this ability.”

Well, it might be a relatively weak one for an S-Class.

But that didn’t matter to me at the moment.

Just having the ability to create water was more than enough.

Combat ability was less important than that.

─[Explorer! The monster database has been completed!]

“…No, I was going to draw this myself.”

─[Ah, I’m sorry!]

“Nothing to apologize for. Just show me the drawing.”

─[Yes! I’ll display it to Iris!]

On Iris’s screen.

The drawing of the Cat Crab by the Centauress appeared.

■Cat Crab

─Actual Danger Level: S-Class.

─Current (Nerfed) Danger Level: B-rank.

─Ability: Water Generation, Water Compression.

“Nice work. Thanks for your effort.”

─[Thank you!]

─“Yangyang! When will Gauntlet return? Make sure to come back early with lots of delicious food!”

As the Centauress cleared the drawing and showcased her face, Merino suddenly jumped in and spoke.

“I won’t be back right away… but I won’t be too late either.”

─“Yangyang!”

Afterward, the Cat Crab was tamed very quickly.

It had quite the spirit, but thanks to the Puppetmaster’s Mind Control, its color-changing speed was significantly fast.

And just as I was about to mount the Giant Caterpillar again…

[Explorer, did you take a liking to that one?]

Solorb spoke to me once more.

He’s talking a lot today. Is he bored?

“I’m talking about the Cat Crab? I like it. We need a monster that can generate water in the Desert Town.”

[If you ask earnestly, I might tell you the location where they gather, just for you.]

“Really? Where is it?”

[I don’t like your manner of asking. Show me your earnestness.]

“Forget it. I’ll just find it myself.”

[······]

Solorb went silent for a moment before he started talking again.

[Well then… since you’re so earnest, I guess I have no choice but to tell you. Just pass by the rock in front of you and go straight.]

With that, we headed toward the location where the Cat Crabs were gathered, guided by Solorb.

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