The Strongest in the Game by Dominating Monster - Chapter 33

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Monster Domination: Game’s Strongest Episode 33

 

“Is this really happening…?”

 

Ryu Sia, who had emerged from the VR Capsule, blinked her eyes and muttered blankly.

 

It was as if she had just awakened from a dream.

 

To that extent, she couldn’t easily believe what had just happened.

 

“I… actually had such a good conversation with a stranger?”

 

That action, which was routine for others, was something she couldn’t even imagine doing for the past year.

 

Malicious rumors and the social anxiety that resulted from them.

 

It was a trauma that had tormented her terribly for the past year.

 

Because of that, conversations with strangers were few and far between.

 

She couldn’t even properly talk to employees at convenience stores, cafes, and restaurants, and it was the same in New World.

 

Not only with Users, but even conversations with NPCs made her heart pound.

 

Cold sweat would flow, and she couldn’t make eye contact.

 

“It was comfortable.”

 

Ryu Sia smiled gently as she recalled her conversation with Kairen.

 

At first, she was nervous and scared.

 

Her heart sank as the public who had cursed at her overlapped in her mind.

 

However, he was somehow different.

 

He was calm, quiet, gentle, and didn’t boast about his kindness.

 

Though she still stumbled in that strange atmosphere, words came out.

 

When she learned that he was the User she had recently admired, her mouth opened completely.

 

Someone who was strangely comfortable somehow.

 

Her benefactor who had saved her.

 

The User she had admired.

 

When all these elements came together, words flowed out surprisingly well.

 

An ordinary conversation with a stranger for the first time in a year.

 

Recalling that precious memory, Lucia hugged her chest.

 

What others would consider a conversation that would fade with time became a memory she would cherish for life.

 

“Thank goodness…”

 

Ryu Sia muttered quietly with relief.

 

Deep down, she had been afraid.

 

What if she had to live her whole life unable to even talk to others?

 

Heavy worry had weighed down on her chest.

 

Fortunately, today Kairen had lifted half that weight.

 

Let’s hunt together often from now on.

 

Let’s be close friends.

 

He had spoken warm words and requested to add her as a friend.

 

For a moment, she hesitated, but Lucia gladly accepted.

 

He seemed like a good person, and her profession was Starlight Bard.

 

As a support-type hidden profession, party hunting was essential for her.

 

“I hope he continues to be a good person.”

 

They had only known each other for a few minutes.

 

She didn’t know everything about him.

 

Though a hint of worry arose.

 

As she picked up Rookie’s leash, her expression showed a vitality that hadn’t been seen recently.

 

* * *

 

Returning to his territory and settling into the Royal Throne, a faint smile crossed Kairen’s lips.

 

In his friends window, three names were now simply displayed.

 

[Friends Window] Park Jinwoo Rain Lucia

 

Just one unfamiliar name had been added, yet the barren friends window somehow felt a little more filled.

 

“Hmm. It wasn’t a bad choice.”

 

Reviewing their brief encounter, he nodded.

 

Lucia.

 

Though it felt somewhat hasty to form a connection, he would have made the same choice if he could go back.

 

Without Monster-Exclusive Potions right now, she was the only means to heal injured monsters outside the territory.

 

If they had just parted ways, he would have regretted it for a long time.

 

“Besides, her profession was good too.”

 

As he recalled her profession, the smile on his lips deepened.

 

She had a precious support-type hidden profession.

 

There was nothing bad about staying close to her.

 

Well, she seemed shy at first but then suddenly poured out admiration, and even teared up at the friend request – she was somewhat unpredictable.

 

“Well, it should be fine.”

 

Scratching his chin, he headed toward the Outer Castle.

 

Now that he had returned to his territory, it was time to focus on his duties as a lord.

 

After organizing his thoughts, he headed to the Outer Castle.

 

And the moment he opened the door.

 

A completely different magnificent scene unfolded before his eyes.

 

Kieek! (Brought wood!)

 

Kruung! (Mined stones too!)

 

Outside the Castle Gate, Goblins and Kobolds were straining as they carried logs and stones.

 

“Chwiek! Be careful not to let fragments fly!”

 

“Chwiek! You got too close!”

 

At the completed mining site, Orcs struck down with pickaxes accompanied by vigorous shouts.

 

“Kieek. Stick to the Lower Magic Stone Mine.”

 

“Kieek. We need to imbue it with magic power.”

 

Whenever the magic power at the mining site dropped even slightly, Hobgoblins would rush over to replenish it.

 

The quiet and desolate Black Giant Castle was full of vitality, and he stopped for a moment to watch the scene.

 

If it was like this now, what would it be like later?

 

As he imagined the distant future in his mind.

 

[Lord Kairen!]

 

Garuda, who had been roaming the sky above, was the first to notice his master’s return.

 

Quickly cutting through the clouds and descending, Garuda lightly perched on Kairen’s shoulder.

 

“Garuda. Have you been well?”

 

[Yes. Following your orders, Lord Kairen, I completed the Lower Magic Stone Mine. Thanks to our new friends lending their strength, we finished faster than expected.]

 

Garuda rubbed his head as if seeking praise, and Kairen gently stroked him.

 

He had expected this.

 

Orcs and Hobgoblins, and even Kobolds on top of that.

 

When they were added to the territory, they would be deployed to construction sites and complete things quickly.

 

However, I hadn’t expected it to be completed so soon, which brought a satisfied smile to my face.

 

“Good work, Garuda.”

 

[Not at all. I merely did what was expected of me.]

 

Kieek! (Master has come!)

 

Kruung! (Master!)

 

“M-Master is here!”

 

“Kieek. We greet our master.”

 

Just then, the other monsters who noticed their master’s return all stopped their work at once and rushed over to surround me.

 

Goblins and Kobolds, Orcs and Hobgoblins too.

 

A total of twenty low-grade monsters.

 

Looking at them with their bright, sparkling eyes was so cute and endearing that I couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

 

Kieek! (Master, thank you!)

 

Then, one goblin stepped forward and grinned, showing its teeth.

 

Kieek! (Thanks to master, we can work without starving now!)

 

Only then did I remember who that goblin was.

 

It was the one who had asked when they would be fed before I left the territory.

 

That naturally led my thoughts to the Giant Spider.

 

The one with the unfamiliar aptitude called Breeding.

 

If the food shortage had been resolved as this goblin said, it was likely thanks to the Giant Spider.

 

Shiiik. (I was late greeting you due to egg-laying, Master.)

 

When I turned my head at the voice from behind, I saw the Giant Spider descending from the castle wall on its web.

 

“Egg-laying?”

 

It was the first time I’d heard that word here.

 

Following my puzzled gaze, I saw dozens of transparent eggs neatly arranged in the shadow of the castle wall.

 

“Did you lay those?”

 

Shiiik. (Yes. The friends here seem to like them very much.)

 

“Chweek! M-Master! The eggs taste good!”

 

With the agreement of the other monsters licking their lips, all the puzzle pieces fell into place.

 

The Giant Spider’s Breeding aptitude was laying eggs.

 

And the monsters here recognized them as food.

 

“So that’s how the system works. But…”

 

I nodded thoughtfully and looked at the Giant Spider.

 

“Are you okay with this?”

 

It was a question with many meanings.

 

Her eggs being used as food.

 

For most living beings, this would be a cruel treatment that’s hard to accept.

 

Shiiik. (Those are like excrement for other creatures. They’re just meaningless matter produced by instinct, without any reproductive intent. I eat them too.)

 

Excrement, she said.

 

The comparison was odd, but I felt relieved by that answer.

 

Kieek! (Master, please try some. They’re really delicious!)

 

Then, the goblin who had complained about hunger held out an egg with both hands.

 

Even while drooling, the sight of it offering its own portion was quite adorable.

 

“Thank you. I’ll enjoy it.”

 

A giant spider’s egg.

 

It was food that some might find repulsive, but Kairen didn’t feel much resistance to it.

 

When he was young, he ate so many silkworm pupae that a spider egg like this was nothing.

 

When he bit into the egg-sized orb halfway, a jelly-like bouncy texture spread in his mouth along with a subtle sweetness.

 

“…It’s really delicious?”

 

The children’s claims about it being tasty weren’t lies.

 

Shiiik. (Seeing you enjoy it makes me proud too.)

 

The Giant Spider seemed pleased, wiggling her eight legs.

 

There was no trace of the fierce resistance she had shown during taming.

 

“Thank you. I’ll be counting on you from now on.”

 

I gently patted the spider’s head, and her five eyes curved into crescents, seemingly enjoying the touch.

 

“Now then…”

 

After finishing the satisfying meal, I surveyed the territory.

 

Having completed the first goal of building the ‘Lower Magic Stone Mine’ and solving the food problem, it was time to move to the next stage.

 

Kairen’s mind worked quickly as he checked the remaining resources and buildable structures.

 

* * *

 

The next day. At a cafe near Hongik University Station.

 

Kang Minki, who had arrived first, looked Lee Chaerin up and down and clicked his tongue.

 

Her perfectly styled wavy hair as if she’d been to a salon, makeup that showed a professional’s touch, and even a flowing dress she would never normally wear.

 

Seeing her completely different appearance from usual, Kang Minki said teasingly.

 

“Senior, didn’t you put a bit too much effort into this?”

 

“Hey, you don’t know him. If I came out looking like usual, I’d just become a forced squid.”

 

Lee Chaerin, who had been constantly checking her face in a hand mirror, answered with a serious expression.

 

“What?”

 

“No, he’s just normally handsome. You don’t know how small his face is, right? Really, it’s this small. I’m not lying, it’s really this small.”

 

Lee Chaerin made a cute little fist.

 

“And his skin too. Wow. I’ve never seen a guy who works out have such good skin. Standing next to someone like that, if I came out looking normal, I’d just become the squid, cuttlefish, and webfoot octopus three brothers.”

 

After chattering for a while, Lee Chaerin wore a confident smile.

 

Still, with this much effort, she might avoid becoming a squid.

 

“Hah… Really, what…”

 

But Kang Minki, thinking her words were exaggerated, let out a hollow laugh.

 

“Just be honest. You have a crush on him.”

 

“Geez! What! I really don’t!”

 

Lee Chaerin slammed both hands on the table and puffed out her cheeks.

 

“Sigh. Fine, let’s not talk about it. You’ll have to experience this yourself to understand.”

 

Lee Chaerin carefully sipped her coffee through a straw and then narrowed her eyes slyly.

 

“But you dressed up quite a bit too? You’re secretly conscious of him too, aren’t you?”

 

“Come on. What would I be conscious of? I just dressed appropriately since we’re meeting a senior and a valuable member of our mercenary group.”

 

Kang Minki naturally told a lie.

 

She must never find out.

 

The reason why he woke up early in the morning to reduce swelling and invested hours in styling his hair and coordinating his outfit.

 

She had to remain unaware of his feelings that had crossed the line.

 

“Ah. Senior. Are you going to invite Yu Baekjin senior to this war too?”

 

Afraid his feelings might be discovered, Kang Minki changed the subject.

 

“Well. Wouldn’t that be too early? He’s still low level.”

 

“That’s true. Actually, I also thought it was too early for now.”

 

Since there was still some time left before their appointment, the two engaged in casual conversation.

 

And one minute before the appointment time.

 

Lee Chaerin suddenly wore a mischievous smile.

 

“Ah. Right. You haven’t actually seen Yu Baekjin in person yet, have you?”

 

“No. I haven’t.”

 

“I see. Then don’t fall for him when you see him.”

 

“…What?”

 

Kang Minki frowned at such an absurd statement.

 

Was that really something to say to him, a heterosexual?

 

“Senior. Really, enough with the exaggeration…”

 

Before he could finish his sentence.

 

“Oh. He’s here! Baek Jin! Over here!”

 

Lee Chaerin stood up from her seat and waved brightly.

 

At the same time, Kang Minki’s gaze turned toward the cafe entrance.

 

No, the gazes of everyone in the cafe were fixed on that spot.

 

“Wow…”

 

In that moment, Kang Minki unconsciously let out a genuine exclamation.

 

The legend that more than half the people at the coeducational school had a crush on him.

 

Lee Chaerin’s absurd warning not to fall for a man.

 

It was the moment when all of it made sense.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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