Hatoken experienced some Technical Difficulties.
Chapter 151: Camping Plant
“It’s going quite well.” (Naofumi)
“Naofumi-sama…” (Rafatalia)
It’s been two days since then. Rafatalia is facing me with a serious face.
I had tried to modify the Bioplant with Rat’s help. Because of this, quite a few people are watching our work.
Having a specialist really helps.
Rat has already been registered as one of my slaves. I have set the crest to punish her if she tries to lie to me.
I can’t be negligent. Though for now, she seems to be satisfied while being immersed in research.
The real work starts from here on out.
Rat takes out some complex machinery and begins to perform further modifications on the plant.
As we plant the seed, the Bioplant begins to come to life and move as commanded.
The Bioplant we tried to make today was one that would be able to act as a house.
Which is why we began working on this interesting project.
The experiment was a success. As long as we issued the order, the Bioplant would take the shape of a house.
The new creation was dubbed, ‘Camping Plant’.
Rat went off and arbitrarily named it on her own. I don’t really care so I’ll leave the name as is.
Flowers bloom to form an effective roof, and as long as we give a specific layout, the plant can take on the form of any building.
The slaves had high adaptability, so they readily moved into the dangerous-looking house.
I planned to use them for temporary lodging, but Kiel enthusiastically claimed the house as her own, so I guess it is what it is.
Are you sure you want the house of your dreams to be one built so easily?
A strength of these houses is that they can be easily cleared with herbicide and rebuilt if they got in the way.
And… Rafatalia is currently questioning me on the influx of green houses in the village.
“I’m sorry.” (Naofumi)
“The village you lived in now looks like the dwelling of an evil sorcerer.” (Naofumi)
“I think she’s the one trusting me way too easily.” (Naofumi)
She had been staring at me intently while I modified the plant.
(TL: as in how he can change entire attributes without taking the steps leading up to that into account)
It seems I can only make general modifications, so I have to leave the finer details to Rat.
The next thing to work on is a plant to produce medicine.
Up ‘til now I have made no progress in this field.
By the way, the prototype house we made was carnivorous.
I continually cautioned Rat not to enter it, but Firo and Taniko suddenly rushed in only to get eaten. Rafatalia and the rest had to cut it open and rescue them.
The villagers have been eyeing me with strange looks since then.
I also had Rat check the identity of the Monster eggs we had collected.
Additionally she checked the growth of the monsters I had under my watch. I explained my Monster User Shield’s ‘Growth Correction’ ability, and she began examining the Legendary Shield with zeal.
It seems that the Monster User seal had awakened, but I didn’t get any extra growth enhancements from it.
I was hoping for something that would raise my monster’s intelligence.
“I had heard that the Hero of the Shield’s monsters had abnormal strength. So this was the cause?” (Rat)
“Probably. And I’m quite sure the other heroes should be able to unlock these abilities as well.” (Naofumi)
It’s not like I had this function from the beginning. The others should be able to unlock a Slave Series and Monster Use Series as well.
However plants like this are hard to come across.
I’ve only ever seen them in the Bioplant’s origin town, and this one.
“I won’t claim to be an expert, but I’ve never heard of such abilities coming from the other heroes.” (Rat)
“I see.” (Naofumi)
To put it bluntly, we don’t get along.
It seems that modifying monsters goes against the Church. Such straight-laced heroes probably wouldn’t delve into such subjects.
… If you look at this village objectively, how many laws are we breaking?
Now then, our food supply has become quite steady. The taste is also guaranteed, and it seems that Rat will be able to produce some variation in the fruits.
The slaves have all passed level 30, so our fighting prowess isn’t a problem either.
In just a few days, we’ve made quite some progress.
“I was able to create a research lab so easily. This seed really is miraculous.” (Rat)
Rat’s lab… it is a large building made of Camping Plant.
From the building, I can hear the screams of a monster. It’s reminding me of a few Science Fiction stories.
At that moment, I had a few doubts about letting her set up shop here.
By the way, Taniko and Rat have become rivals in their treatment of monsters.
Taniko believed that monsters should get strong through battle and experience, while Rat opted for strengthening them through modification. Their opinions often clashed.
Due to their differing ideals, they often argued. It appears that they hate each other.
However, Taniko’s education is severely lacking so most of the time it seems that Rat is just toying with her.
“Then I shall work on the Bioplants until I get bored. After that, do you agree to assist me in my goals?” (Rat)
“Yeah, I also hold an interest in Monster Modification.” (Naofumi)
If we have monsters that can stand on equal footing with those brought by the wave, then fighting will get a lot easier.
I learned from that incident with the Spirit Turtle that having more comrades is always useful.
If they’re strong then even more so.
It seems there was a Balloon egg mixed in with the rest.
No… It wasn’t an egg. It seems that a hibernating Balloon had been mistaken as an egg and carried off.
According to Rat, Balloons usually fly. They break off from a larger being called Balloon Legios, and can henceforth freely float in the sky.
Though Balloon Legion rarely come to the ground, the numerous Balloons born from come down quite often.
They become completely independent after separating from the Legios.
After the Balloon awakened, I quickly had a monster seal placed on it, and it is now my subordinate.
With this, it is connected to the carriage and will receive a portion of the EXP gained by Firo, who is pulling it.
The banner on it read ‘Hero of the Shield’s Peddling’
What sort of bad joke is this?
It seems that Ad Balloon had previously been cared for by a human.
Taniko readily mounted the Balloon and rode it into the sky with both arms outstretched. Seriously, what Valley did she crawl out of?
It’s really slow, but I guess I can assign it to guard duty.
I hold Balloons in high esteem.
I haven’t forgot my debt to them from when I first fought Motoyasu.
“You are hereby deemed Test Subject #1.” (Rat)
“Quiet.” (Naofumi)
Perhaps due to the Shield’s influence, this monster seems to possess a higher level of intelligence than other Balloons
“… Now then, I will be leaving for peddling.” (Naofumi)
“Then I will be continuing with my research. If you need me, you can find me in my lab, Count.” (Rat)
Count… That’s right, I got a title.
I had completely forgotten.
“Hmm? I had heard that you were a Count. Am I wrong?” (Rat)
“Anyways, if you have any business, please stop over.” (Rat)
“I know. I won’t do something that foolish.” (Rat)
“I wonder.” (Naofumi)
I think about how to produce a medicine generating Bioplant as I call Firo over. I get on the Carriage and set out for the neighboring village.