kscans

Chapter 308 - Named Monster

After their information exchange with the Bandit clan was over, Hayato and his friends returned to their campsite.

On the way, Maris was in high spirits, saying the exchange had been very worthwhile. It turned out that Raptors could only be tamed by male players. However, they also learned that the monsters could be transferred, so if someone desperately wanted one as a pet, they could have a male tamer catch it for them and then hand it over.

In return for that information, she had taught them a method for pulling flying monsters out of the sky with a whip. The members of the Bandit clan seemed fired up, saying they would have to practice since whips were difficult to handle.

They exchanged a great deal of other information as well. As expected of the Bandit clan, their wealth of knowledge was vast, and they knew many things that even Maris and Surya did not. Maris commented that she wanted to hire them for the Tamer Guild.

However, both Maris and Surya were considered aces of the Tamer Guild. They didn't just take without giving back.

"That one says he wants to eat vegetables, not just meat. Five-star quality. This one over here seems to want something shiny. He says he’s not particular about the quality. Um, and this one… he says, ‘If you’re going to confess, hurry up and do it, watching you is frustrating.’ Does that ring a bell for anyone?"

Maris was said to be able to converse with pets. Normally, this service would require getting on a long waiting list at the Tamer Guild, but this time, as thanks for the information they provided, she resolved the pets’ troubles right on the spot.

Some of the comments seemed a bit much for a simple AI to say, but they were apparently accurate, as the other clan members nodded emphatically. It must have been a well-known fact among them. Even Jolt, who had stepped aside to speak with Hayato, seemed surprised, crossing his arms and staring intently at Maris.

Surya had no such special ability, but she lectured them on how to raise pets efficiently. Maris, however, looked a little dissatisfied, as the method placed a considerable burden on the pets.

And with that, the information exchange concluded. When they arrived at the campsite, only Noat was there, wrapped in a futon. The other members had not yet returned.

Wanting to hear more details about the exchange, Hayato led the two of them to a room they used as a recreation hall. After they sat down around a circular table, Hayato served coffee for everyone.

"Maris said it was worthwhile, but what did you think, Surya-san?"

"Of course it was. There was quite a bit of information we didn’t know, and I think it was a major plus that we learned the habitats of some special rare monsters. We couldn’t find out the conditions for them to appear, though."

A rare monster refers to a superior version of a regular monster. While they don't appear often, there is a certain pattern to it. The system is designed so that if you keep hunting normal monsters, their superior version will eventually spawn.

There are other ways, like summoning an Elder Griffon by offering an item at an altar, but there are others still. Some appear only under very specific conditions. Fulfill the conditions, and they are guaranteed to appear, which is why they are called special rare monsters. Information about them is scarce, and even the Tamer Guild has little accurate data.

This time, thanks to Maris’s help and the information they traded, the Bandit clan had shared what they knew.

"We’ll have to try a few things at the location they told us, but I think we can trust that clan’s information."

The Bandit clan must be quite trusted, Hayato thought, as he turned to look at Maris.

"By the way, Maris, do you have some kind of special attachment to rare monsters?"

"Um? What are you talking about?"

"Well, during the information exchange just now, you were really eager when asking about rare monsters."

"Oh, that. Hayato-san, do you know about Named Monsters? They’re a type of rare monster."

"Of course I do."

A Named Monster is a monster that has a specific name. Most monsters only have a species name, but a select few are named. An example would be the superior version of the Kraken, which is named Poseidon. Players also treated the Genesis Dragons, like Agres Berion, as Named Monsters.

"Actually, there are some Named Monsters I’m looking for. I was hoping I might get some information about them, but it seems there was nothing."

"This is the first I’m hearing of it. So you had a goal like that?"

As Hayato said this, Surya sighed and gave Maris a sidelong glance.

"You’re still looking for them? But do they really exist? No one’s ever seen them, right? It’s strange to think such a Named Monster exists if no one has ever seen it."

"They do exist! Sieg said so. Besides, Sieg is a Named Monster himself, and they are all high-ranking vassals of the Nyanko Kingdom. It’s my dream to gather them all and rebuild the kingdom…!"

Maris’s eyes sparkled as she spoke. Sieg, sitting on the table, looked at her as if to say, "I’m counting on you," and gently tapped her left shoulder with his right forepaw.

Hayato’s only thought was that Maris and Sieg had some strange lore attached to them, but they both seemed completely serious.

Maris smiled and stroked Sieg’s head. Then she turned her smile to Hayato.

"I’m really hoping to get that kind of information during this event! We’ll be going to all sorts of places with you, Hayato-san, and it’s a huge help to be able to pursue clues for my dream while doing my Tamer Guild work!"

"So you had that objective too? As long as it doesn't involve camping out for days on end, I’m sure everyone would be willing to help."

The timing of a rare monster’s appearance is based on probability, but often there’s a timer set as well. For example, once one is defeated, it might take three days for the next one to appear. Since they often drop rare items, players will sometimes stake out the location before the spawn time, leading to fights over the first-attack privilege.

Hayato looked at Sieg.

"So, Sieg was a Named Monster? I just thought your naming sense was bad, Maris. Calling a female cat Siegfried."

Sieg walked across the table until he was in front of Hayato, then turned his back and struck him with his tail. It wasn’t a gentle ‘peshi,’ but a solid ‘bashi.’ The damage was 1.

(Is it possible for me to be defeated by Sieg…?) Hayato wondered.

As he was worrying about this, Maris crossed her arms and fell into thought for some reason.

"What’s wrong?"

"Well, Sieg’s name was Siegfried from the moment I met him, but I also feel like I might have been the one who gave him that name. That’s strange, I feel like it was a name I put my whole heart into…?"

"You know that just means your naming sense is bad, right? Ah, no—"

Hayato stopped himself, reconsidering that this might be one of Maris’s old memories. It was possible that Maris before she lost her memory was also a tamer, and had made Sieg her pet and named him then. Why he was now a Named Monster, however, was a mystery.

"Master, is the information exchange finished?"

Just as Hayato was thinking it was best not to prod Maris’s memory too much, a voice chat from Esha came in. Hayato told the two in front of him about the call before answering.

"It’s over. We’re at the campsite with Maris and the others now. Is something wrong?"

"While I was fishing at the lake, I caught a Tiamat, the superior version of a Megalodon. I want to defeat it, so could you bring Noat over?"

"I thought this during the treasure hunt too, but who exactly is the one drawing all these rare monsters?"

The Kraken they had caught while salvaging during the treasure hunt had been the superior version, Poseidon. To now have another superior version with a god’s name appear was quite a stroke of luck.

"Diite-sama says it has nothing to do with my negative Taming Skill, so at least it’s not my fault. Well, that doesn’t matter. Please bring Noat. If you can, bring the members from the Bandit clan as well."

"I guess fighting alongside them once won’t be a problem. I’ll go ask them. As for them, it should be fine, but convincing Noat-san might take some time."

"No convincing is necessary. Just wrap her up in her futon like a burrito and bring her here."

"Both you and Cecil are merciless with Noat-san, aren’t you?"

"I am merciless with you as well, Master."

"Ah, right…"

"Master, please bring as many potions and food items as you can fit in your Item Bag. I only came here to gather, so I’m running low on supplies."

"Got it. I’ll get ready and head over, so hold out for a little longer."

Hayato ended the call and explained the situation to Maris and Surya.

"Can I try to tame it!?"

Surya nodded vigorously in agreement with Maris’s question.

"No, you can’t. It’s strong enough as it is. If you make it angry, it’ll get even stronger, so no."

"Just a little bit, at the very end!"

"…If they give you permission over there."

Next, Hayato sent a voice chat to Jolt.

"Oh? Did you forget to ask something?"

"Not exactly. Are there a few people available who can fight right now?"

"Of course, but are you inviting us to explore together?"

"It seems someone caught a Tiamat, the superior version of a Megalodon, at the lake, so I was thinking we could fight it together. It seems pretty strong. You in?"

"…Of course I’m in. This is the first I’ve even heard of a Megalodon being caught in a lake, let alone its superior version. We’ve only ever caught Coelacanths and Ammonites there… For such valuable information, I’ll have to give you something in return."

"You don’t have to be so formal about it. We could use the extra firepower. Let’s meet there. Oh, and just so you know, there’s a chance someone might try to tame it at the end, so be careful."

"I can’t believe you’re even thinking about that—ah, right. Make sure you tell those gothic lolita girls that we’re allies now, okay?"

Hayato agreed to Jolt’s request.

Next, he loaded the reluctant Noat, still wrapped in her futon, onto the Griffon, Lancelot.

Then, with their Item Bags filled to the brim with potions and food, Hayato and his party set off for the lake.