Monster Taming Broadcast

Somewhere in the Ancient Labyrinth.

Inside a prison made of mud.

Nineteen Drifters were trapped in a place where the damp air hung heavily.

“Ugh, sniffling…”

“Mom…”

“Please… let me live…”

People were weeping in despair.

They were all Drifters from a planet called Normalia, which was similar to Earth, and they were just ordinary folks with no special abilities whatsoever.

Initially, thirty-five of them had crossed into this world.

But not everyone knew each other.

College students, families, couples, etc.

Various people were enjoying a picnic in a park when suddenly they were sucked into a Dark Portal and swept into the Ancient Labyrinth.

When they first landed here, there were thirty-five of them.

But now, only nineteen remained.

What happened to the other sixteen?

Naturally, they had died.

They became food for the Pig King that trapped them.

The reason the remaining nineteen were alive was simply that the Pig Kings had left them as spare food.

Shishik. Shiiik.

Shiiiiiik.

The sounds of the Pig Kings’ breathing echoed around the muddy prison.

The weeping humans shut their mouths tight upon hearing those sounds.

If they drew attention, they’d be the next meal.

Although they knew they would eventually die.

Still, they hoped their turn would come as late as possible.

Shiiik, shishisishik.

Shihihihik!

The Pig Kings looked at the humans with licking lips.

Their eyes shimmered with greed, and a sinister smile curled on their lips.

Shishik.

Soon, the mud prison door creaked open.

Damp air poured inside.

As the rough breaths of the Pig Kings echoed into the prison, the Drifters’ fear was ignited.

Shishisik. How many this time?

Nine… shishisik.

Nine.

The moment that word fell, the prison turned into chaos.

“Hik…!”

“Help me!”

“Don’t push me, you bastard!”

“I don’t want to die!!!”

A young man, seeming to be a college student, elbowed the face of the person next to him.

Blood dripped from the hit person’s nose, but no one cared.

Others just struggled to avoid being dragged away by the Pig Kings.

None would voluntarily choose to sacrifice themselves.

“Y-you go! You’re old anyway, you don’t have long left!”

A young woman grabbed the hair of a middle-aged woman and pulled her back.

Some crawled on the floor to hide in corners.

Some threw young boys toward the Pig Kings.

While some could do nothing but tremble, others begged for their lives, clinging to the legs of a Pig King.

Amidst such chaos, one man acted bravely to protect his beloved.

He didn’t choose sacrifice but positioned his lover behind him and fiercely glared at the Pig King.

But the man soon regretted that choice.

Thunk!

His lover pushed him forward into the Pig King’s path.

The pale-faced man turned back.

“W-why…?”

The woman averted her gaze and hurriedly tucked herself into a corner.

A scene filled with blood, tears, and sweat unfolded.

People stepped on each other to preserve their own lives.

Someone’s glasses fell, shattering on the floor, while another’s clothes tore, exposing flesh.

Friends and family were now enemies.

To survive, they cast aside their humanity.

The Pig Kings watched the ugly scene with delight.

Shishishik!

Shishisik!

At last, the Pig Kings selected nine as their prey.

A thrown child.

A man who tried to protect his beloved.

Someone who could do nothing and trembled.

Someone who was forced to sacrifice to others and had become too weak to resist.

These were excluded.

The ones chosen as food were those who struggled desperately to survive.

“Ahhhh!!”

“Darling! Save me!!!”

“W-why! Help me! I’m sorry for pushing you! It was a mistake!”

The desperate screams of the chosen echoed through the prison.

They were soon dragged out of the prison.

As the prison door closed, darkness settled inside.

The remaining faces reflected a mix of small relief, guilt, betrayal, and fear.

*

The Pig King’s habitat.

A little distance away.

Seven people were hiding, watching the scene as the Pig Kings dragged the humans out for slaughter.

They were Drifters who had flowed in from a world called SageWorld.

One was known as the Hero.

The rest were called the Sage.

The remaining five were students at a talent development institution called the Academy.

The five students were elite from the Academy and had the honorable opportunity to learn under the Hero and the Sage while undergoing monster subjugation training. However, they got sucked into the Ancient Labyrinth through a Dark Portal.

“Hero! We have to save them immediately!”

One student exclaimed, watching the people being dragged toward the Pig Kings.

“…”

The Hero remained silent.

Without answering, they just bit down hard and clenched their fists.

Frustrated, the student called out to the Sage next to them.

“Sage!”

“…You know, don’t you? The monsters here possess powers beyond common sense.”

The Sage was right.

They had already felt firsthand the amazing strength of the monsters in this realm.

And they realized they couldn’t defeat any monster with their current powers.

By Kang Geon’s standards, they rated the Hero as B-rank, the Sage as C-rank, and the Academy students as D-rank.

As a side note, the Hero was known as the strongest woman among humanity in SageWorld.

“Haah.”

The Hero sighed deeply after countless internal struggles.

Then, taking a step forward, they spoke.

“There are times when one must fight even knowing they can’t win.”

“Hero…!”

The Hero stepped forward again.

“Especially, I cannot turn a blind eye to those in danger.”

The Hero turned and looked at their companions.

“I am a Hero.”

“Indeed, Hero!”

“You’re amazing!”

“Yes! That’s the duty of a Hero, right?”

“I’m moved, Hero.”

“Hero…”

Turning back, the Hero boldly strode forward, speaking to their party.

“Honestly, this is akin to suicide. So don’t follow me.”

Despite saying that,

“No way, Hero! We’ll stick with you!”

“I can’t ignore those in trouble just like you, Hero! I came to the Academy to help the weak!”

“We might as well die than turn our backs on those in need.”

“Hero, don’t discard us as trash. I will always be with you.”

The Hero felt slightly moved.

Thinking they were indeed blessed with good companions.

“…If that’s what you all want.”

The Academy students and the Sage followed behind the Hero.

They didn’t stick too closely but maintained a little distance.

Thus, the Hero revealed themselves before the Pig Kings, took a deep breath, and shouted in a loud voice.

“Hey, pigs!”

Shiiik?

“Release those poor people immediately!”

Shishisik?

“Or else, my Magic Sword will judge you—”

Boom!

The Hero was defeated.

In just one second.

It took that long for a Pig King to approach the Hero and slam their head into the ground.

The response of the Hero’s party was incredibly quick.

“Crazy! How is that pig so fast!”

“R-run away!”

“W-what about the Hero?”

“I don’t know!!! Let’s bail!”

“Sorry, Hero…”

Their decision was simply to ‘run.’

Without looking back, everyone began to cast speed-related magic and escape.

The Pig Kings didn’t bother chasing them.

They were too lazy to move, plus they still had some food left.

The abandoned Hero thought while watching their fleeing companions.

F*ck, those bastards…

*

Day 46 in the Labyrinth.

─[Pig King detected. Very many.]

Iris, who was out exploring alone in the morning, spoke up.

Looks like she discovered another Pig King habitat.

Oh, by the way, today was supposed to be a resting day for exploration.

What Iris was doing was more like a walk than an actual exploration.

Iris just enjoyed wandering around.

─[Drifters suspected to be present as well.]

“Hmm? Drifters?”

─[Very weak individuals. High probability they are Drifters.]

“Let’s zoom in a bit.”

─[Confirmation.]

Pururu—Hey! Did we find some Drifters?

Mysticism—

Rize Nova—Ooh, finally I can see my successor.

Boglebogle—You already saw your successor. Merino is also a Drifter.

Rize Nova—I don’t want Merino as my successor; she’s just too dumb.

Yumi—She may be dumb, but her one ability is outstanding.

Boglebogle—Right? We have to acknowledge her ability. She wiped out all the poison possessed by an S-Class Monster with ease.

Iris zoomed in on the screen.

Inside a mud prison.

Eleven trembling individuals came into focus.

Ten were F-Class.

One was B-Class.

Not the danger level; the actual danger level.

Because Iris wasn’t holding a severed arm.

“Hmm. I think we should check it out.”

“Should I go too?”

“Merino, you stay here.”

“Baa!”

I stood up from my spot.

“Alright, guys. Let’s go.”

“Baa baa!”

“You’re staying here.”

“Baa!”

Heading towards the location of the Drifters with the SS-Class Monsters.

To meet the Drifters and also gather a bunch of Pig King meat.

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