Monster Taming Broadcast

A multitude of preserved specimens displayed on the shelf. Among those presumed to be parts of monsters, two human fingers particularly caught my eye.

“This is…”

I carefully picked up the fingers.

“They look like my fingers.”

The shape of fingers varies from person to person. Size, thickness, joint positions, and even nail shapes are all unique.

And these fingers perfectly matched the length of my own nails.

The probability that a human who drifted in this place before I was dragged into the labyrinth had fingers exactly like mine, and that those fingers were precisely cut off and stolen by a monster, was extremely low.

So there was no doubt.

These were definitely my fingers.

【Mysticism】─

I put the fingers back in their place. There was no point in picking them up again now.

After that, I slowly browsed through the other preserved specimens on the shelf.

‘Nothing is decayed.’

There was a peculiar power in this space. It felt similar to psychic abilities, but I couldn’t be sure. Probably, corruption was being prevented by psychic power.

【Mysticism】─

I picked up a large spider leg.

“This looks like a Dog Spider’s leg.”

［Sssss…］

After putting the spider leg down, I picked up a pink object displayed nearby.

“Is this the cap of a Medical Mushroom?”

［Beeep.］

“Hey Mushroom. Did your cap get torn off during a monster attack?”

［Beep beep.］

The Medical Mushroom shook its head. It was a negative gesture.

“Then it must be the cap of another Medical Mushroom.”

［Beeep.］

There were no preserved specimens that looked like parts of slimes. While I continued to look around the shelf…

［Kirik?］

An unfamiliar voice called out.

We turned around simultaneously, looking towards the entrance.

［Who are those guys!］

From the direction of the entrance, I could see a small figure.

It was definitely a humanoid monster.

It must be the owner of this space, the one who cut off my fingers and stole them.

［Kirik! Get away from my precious children right now!］

The monster approached us step by step.

Only then did the features of the monster, which I hadn’t properly seen yesterday, become clear.

【Mysticism】─

It did look similar. The difference from normal goblins was that it was dressed like a clown and had black wings sprouting from its back.

It might be one of the highest evolution types of goblins.

By the way, among the goblins I had seen before, the strongest one was the Infinity Evolution Goblin.

It grows by consuming its opponents and has a danger level of A-Class.

And that one in front of me was stronger than that.

No, to be precise, it was a strong individual.

‘I’ve never seen an S-Class Goblin before.’

The current danger level of the monster was B-Class. But its actual danger level would be S-Class.

For now, it was at B-Class, so I could definitely handle it with my power.

［Did you not hear me! If you don’t want to get hurt, stay away from my children!］

The monster’s eyes were filled with hostility.

It appeared to cherish these preserved specimens dearly.

The more I looked, the more it seemed like a monster that had lost its sanity.

“Calm down for a second…”

I thought I’d try talking first.

After all, this was a being I could communicate with; there was no need to fight right away.

Of course, it wouldn’t work with ordinary conversation.

I picked up the two fingers from the shelf.

Preserved specimens that were once my fingers.

“Stop moving and hold them above your head. Before I melt your precious loot.”

I brought the fingers close to the Magma Slime while speaking.

［Ah, no!］

The threat worked.

The monster stopped in its tracks, trembling as it lifted its hands.

“Good. And from now on, you must never use your psychic abilities.”

［…Kirik?］

“You can use psychic abilities, can’t you?”

［………］

If my guess was right.

There was likely a psychic ability flowing throughout this space that prevented decay.

So it had a high probability of being a creature that could wield psychic powers.

That unnaturally fast speed the other day must have been powered by those abilities as well.

“If I notice any sign of you using your abilities, the life of these fingers will be over. Understood?”

The monster clenched its hand which was raised while biting its teeth, nodding.

［I understand… I swear, I won’t use my powers as long as my children are safe. So please don’t hurt them.］

Now I could rest easy and converse.

*

I asked the monster several questions.

Starting with why it took my fingers.

［Collecting body parts of other creatures. That’s the purpose of my life.］

Then I asked why it didn’t kill me when it certainly could have gone for my heart.

［I can’t kill you. If the owner of my children dies, my powers won’t reach them.］

“When the owner of the preserved body parts dies, the specimens decay, right?”

［That’s correct.］

“Your psychic power is not about preservation, then?”

［It’s a power that maintains the connection between the children and their owner even when they are apart.］

“If you’re maintaining that connection, does that mean I could move these fingers?”

［Kirik. Since they are your fingers, it’s possible. But I cannot permit it to my children unless I allow it.］

After questioning the monster some more, I finally asked the most important question.

Does it have the ability to track someone?

If it has that ability, could it track someone it had never met before?

It responded.

［I have tracking abilities. I can track someone even if I’ve never met them, but I have to have a body part of that person.］

“Can’t you track a creature just by having a body part of a similar race?”

［Kirik? A body part of a similar race? I can broaden the scope and track the entire race, but I can’t pinpoint individuals unless I have their body part.］

“That means…”

I pointed to the Dog Spider leg on the shelf.

“With just this leg, I could track all Dog Spiders? Even if I can’t pinpoint one?”

［What’s a Dog Spider?］

“The name of the race with this leg.”

［…That species doesn’t have that name, but in any case, you’re right.］

“Alright, that’s all I needed.”

The reason I asked these questions was to find the drifters.

And with its powers, it could definitely track them down.

Drifters are of the same kin as Rize, and there shouldn’t be any kin of Rize in this labyrinth.

［Is that all the questions? Then return my child now.］

“Not yet.”

［Kirik?］

I slowly approached the monster.

“Don’t move and stay still. I’ll return it after this is over.”

I pressed my index finger against the tip of its thick nose.

It was where the spots were located.

【Mysticism】─

“I have a use for it.”

“Exactly, plus I think I could also utilize its abilities for taming.”

“You’ll find out later.”

“That’s after taming it.”

While conversing with my assistant, I checked the speed of the discoloration on the spots.

As expected, the speed of turning green was remarkably slow.

“Hey. Remove any hostility you have towards me.”

［K-Kirik?］

“What are you doing? Hurry up and remove your hostility! Can’t you use something like mind control? A Demon Lord-level monster that handles psychic powers should definitely be able to use mind control.”

［I can do that. But you told me earlier not to use my powers…］

“Just use that ability.”

［Alright… but I can’t maintain it for long.］

“I don’t care. A moment is all I need.”

The monster closed its eyes slowly.

Then, the speed of discoloration began to noticeably increase.

Still, it was on the slow side.

“Concentrate more on mind control.”

［……］

The monster squeezed its eyes shut, looking like it was trying to focus even harder.

Only then did the speed of discoloration rocket up.

And soon after,

<Tamed Monster>

The list now included 005.

I had successfully shortened the taming time dramatically using an unconventional method.

［Kirik. I feel weird.］

I was about to release the hostage soon.
Even if the mind control wore off, it wouldn’t feel hostility towards me.

［That’s strange. I was only trying to remove hostility, but suddenly I feel fond of that guy. I like him just as much as my children. It’s really bizarre.］

I placed the two fingers gently back on the shelf.

［Kirik? T-Thank you. For keeping your promise.］

Now that taming was successful…

“Magma Slime.”

［Sss?］

“Just melt those two fingers.”

［Sss!］

What’s done must be repaid.

---