'Don't be mad at my beastmaster! The little jellyfish's beastmaster is showing concern for it.'
The little jellyfish cheerfully waved its tentacles.
The body of the Double-Body Box Flower Jellyfish suddenly became moist.
Asher's expression toward the Double-Body Box Flower Jellyfish grew subtle.
'Could it be… crying?'
Asher thought uncertainly.
'Kind of looks like it.'
'Let's observe a bit more.'
"Gu—Gu—Gulu—"
Compared to earlier when answering Asher's questions, the Double-Body Box Flower Jellyfish was speaking much more now.
Hurried and fast.
It seemed to be explaining something, but there was also a bit of flustered frustration in it.
'Damn mutated species.'
'Damn black sludge.'
The Double-Body Box Flower Jellyfish cried out several more times in succession.
Even Asher's ears were starting to hurt from hearing it.
Asher rubbed his ears, frowned, and from the fragmented speech of the Double-Body Box Flower Jellyfish, pieced together its meaning.
"You're saying… the mutated species here, oh, that is, the black sludge that transformed into that appearance, there weren't only three of them originally?"
"There were more?"
"They secretly gathered strength, taking advantage of the fact that the king had just been born and was still weak without self-defense ability, some ambushed, some broke through space, and sent the king away?"
The Double-Body Box Flower Jellyfish, which had always been indifferent to Asher, upon hearing his words, wished it could nod its head like crazy with every sentence he said.
"Mm…", Asher touched his chin, and a strange expression appeared on his face.
At this time, the Double-Body Box Flower Jellyfish still hadn't sensed a problem.
It continued waving its tentacles angrily, expressing hatred for those guys.
"But…", Asher deliberately dragged his tone, immediately attracting the attention of the Double-Body Box Flower Jellyfish, "To speak frankly, this was still your dereliction of duty, wasn't it?"
"Tier 8!"
"You're an Tier 8 Box Flower Jellyfish."
'Though that unicorn or whatever is also an Tier 8 beast…'
'But a Box Flower Jellyfish, shouldn't it be able to crush beings of the same level like a biscuit?'
The Double-Body Box Flower Jellyfish: "..."
'Ouch, right in the heart.'
The Double-Body Box Flower Jellyfish wanted to explain.
But explaining is just making excuses.
And thinking carefully, Asher's words weren't without reason.
It should've dealt with those ten Tier 8 black sludge monsters in one go back then.
'Ptu!'
'What holy unicorn act?'
'Shouldn't have given them a chance to ambush.'
'Who would've thought their species could expand that fast and that many in such a short time.'
'There was even a Sea Mirage among them…'
The Double-Body Box Flower Jellyfish thus fell into a self-shutting state.
Double-Body Box Flower Jellyfish: 'Wuwuwu! King! Wuwuwu! I'm not worthy! It's all my fault! Wuwuwu!'
Little jellyfish: "..."
Even though it had no eyes.
Asher still got the illusion that the little jellyfish was staring at him.
Little jellyfish: 'Be a decent human, my beastmaster.'
Asher smiled, his expression as serious as serious could be.
'What?'
'What do you mean not being a decent human?'
'Ain't I doing just fine as a person?'
Little jellyfish: "..."
Alright then.
What else could it do? This is its beastmaster, it can only spoil him.
The little jellyfish extended its long tentacle, rubbed against Asher, then rubbed against the Double-Body Box Flower Jellyfish.
'It's okay!'
'Jellyfish have many tentacles.'
'Rub you all, I can handle it!'
'Even more of you won't be a problem.'
Looking at the little jellyfish soothing both sides, Asher couldn't help but show a gratified smile.
'Ahem!'
It reminded him a bit of the old little jellyfish, carrying water for the other pet beasts in the house.
"I didn't mean it," Asher coughed a couple of times at an appropriate time, interrupting the emo-ing Double-Body Box Flower Jellyfish.
He said sincerely, "This isn't your fault, the fault lies with those black sludge monsters."
Double-Body Box Flower Jellyfish: "!"
'Well said!'
'It's all the fault of those black sludge monsters.'
Rather than internal blame, better to find the true enemy and carry out precise strikes to eliminate them.
"So can we talk now about the relationship between Mirage Pearl and Sea Mirage?", Asher asked again.
He hadn't missed it. Just now, during the emo episode, the Double-Body Box Flower Jellyfish mentioned the Sea Mirage.
The fact that the black sludge monsters transformed into the Sea Mirage's form must mean that the Sea Mirage, as a beast, holds some very unique significance.
But, Asher recalled what he had seen on the panel earlier.
'The species is clearly listed as Sea Mirage?'
This time, the Double-Body Box Flower Jellyfish didn't ignore Asher's question.
After this round of what could be called friendly communication, it finally looked directly at Asher.
———
"I wonder how Professor Asher is getting along with that Box Flower Jellyfish…", Sitting on the island, a few people had bored and anxious expressions on their faces.
After all, they couldn't leave here right now.
And they had no idea what the situation was like on Asher's end.
Their feelings were especially complicated.
Freya picked at the grass on the ground, muttering.
Felter: "It shouldn't be too big of a problem?"
Felter spoke with an unsure tone.
'Yeah, probably no big problem, right?'
Freya: "Hard to say."
"That's an Tier 8 Box Flower Jellyfish, after all."
One sentence, instantly silenced Felter.
'Yeah, forget just a Box Flower Jellyfish. It's a Tier 8 one.'
Even in domestic sea, it would be a dominant force.
How could they not worry about Asher?
"What good will our anxiety do?", Prince, on the other hand, was rather calm, "But isn't Professor Asher's pet also a Box Flower Jellyfish?"
"A mutated Box Flower Jellyfish is still a Box Flower Jellyfish."
"Not to mention that big oaf is the guardian or something of Professor Asher's jellyfish… it's fine. Definitely fine!"
Saying this, Prince gave a thumbs-up and laughed cheerfully.
Freya and Felter: "..."
"Well then…", Seeing this, Prince rubbed his chin, "Shall we take a walk around this island?"
"Huh?", Freya and Felter both let out a questioning sound.
They looked at Prince in surprise, as if they hadn't expected him to suggest this at such a time.
Prince blinked, feeling nothing wrong, "What's the problem?"
"I think it's a great idea."
"We're just sitting here worrying, and can't do anything else."
"In that case, why not use our abilities to do something within our power? Maybe we'll feel less anxious."
Freya listened and thought for a moment.
Under Felter's shocked gaze, she nodded.
Felter: "?"
'Seriously?'
'Someone actually thinks my bro's idea is good?'
Freya immediately saw what Felter was thinking. She thought for a moment, then decided to explain. Prince's image wasn't important.
But Freya definitely didn't want her image in the eyes of younger ones like Felter to become unreliable.
"I think we really can take a look around the island, especially that cave the black sludge monster led us to before."
'Hmm?'
Felter seemed to realize something.
"Though we don't know exactly what's going on with that black sludge mutant thing, this island must be their base camp… or rather, they were forced to use this place as a base camp."
Want to move camp? See if the Mirage Pearl agrees first.
"Therefore, they must've left traces here."
"What we need to do now is find those traces. And see if there are any remnants. If not, great. If so, we'll eliminate them all!"
As she spoke, Freya made a fierce beheading gesture.
Felter: "!"
"Good! That's the spirit!"
Without hesitation, the three of them sprang into action.
Before acting, they glanced up at the massive Box Flower Jellyfish looming halfway over the island.
They didn't know if it had heard them.
Its enormous tentacles twitched a couple of times, but didn't attack.
Looked like it wasn't going to interfere.
In any case.
They breathed a sigh of relief.
"…Tier 8 Box Flower Jellyfish, just looking at it makes my heart go thump-thump-thump," even Prince couldn't help but mutter, clutching his chest.
Freya and Felter simultaneously turned to him with surprised expressions.
As if to say: 'No way? This guy actually feels fear?'
Then they saw Prince reveal a silly grin, eyes sparkling as he said:
"Really wanna spar with that Tier 8 Box Flower Jellyfish once."
"Preferably the kind where I don't die afterwards."
"Wonder if later, Professor Asher can give me that chance."
"If possible…"
'This trip would be totally worth it!'
Though Prince didn't finish that sentence.
Both Freya and Felter instantly got his meaning.
They both showed a speechless expression.
'As expected of you. Still keeping your weird character intact at a time like this.'
"Let's ignore this guy, let's move!", Freya turned away, completely shifting her gaze off Prince.
Though…
She hated to admit it.
Maybe because she'd spent too much time with Prince, hearing his words, Freya felt a nerve in her brain stirring with the desire to challenge something.
But unlike Prince who voiced everything openly, Freya was a bit more rational.
Freya: 'Restrain that impulse! Calm down! Don't let yourself go neurotic first!'
"This is still a time when moving together is better. Don't think about splitting up," Freya sighed deeply as she looked at Felter, who was about to walk off first, and spoke helplessly.
"Didn't you hear what Professor Asher said about his earlier experience?"
"Who knows if there are similar traps on this island?"
"At least if we move together, it'll be safer."
The Sterling brothers who had started off in different directions: "..."
"Alright."
"Alright, alright."
Prince and Felter mumbled, then reluctantly grouped together.
Freya led the way, not caring about how sulky the two behind her were.
With Asher absent, she was the brains of this team.
Just follow her lead.
Prince and Felter had no major objections to this.
———
[Star City]
Out of a sense of responsibility, Professor Hubert and Professor Desmond decided to try contacting Clyde.
When Clyde got the call, he looked surprised.
Especially after hearing Professor Hubert report his name, Clyde's surprise deepened.
["National Research Institute?"]
["Ah, hello Professor Hubert, I've heard of you."]
In theory, as an Tier 8 ace beastmaster, Clyde's status was higher than Professor Hubert's.
But whether out of innate politeness or genuine sincerity, Clyde's attitude toward Professor Hubert was excellent.
Hearing Clyde's polite voice, Professor Hubert didn't exactly feel great affection, but at least wasn't put off.
"It's like this, I made a small discovery and guess… I'm not too sure, but after thinking about it, I felt I should tell you."
"Mainly…", Professor Hubert paused, "I hope you can do something about it."
Before Clyde could offer more pleasantries, Professor Hubert began rattling off his discoveries and connections without pause.
At first, Clyde looked calm.
But the more he listened, the more his brow furrowed.
'Wait?'
'Wait! Wait! Wait!'
'Folded space? Small secret realm? Which one?'
'Oh, it is that one Prince invited me to.'
He hadn't gone in.
But his sister did. Professor Asher did too.
["Professor Hubert, this is a serious matter, can you be responsible for what you're saying…"]
Before Clyde could finish the last two words, Professor Hubert interrupted from the other end of the line.
"Of course not!", Professor Hubert said loudly, righteously.
Professor Desmond: "..."
Clyde on the other end of the call: "..."
Professor Desmond just twitched his mouth, showing a look like he wanted to laugh but couldn't.
Clyde, on the other hand, pressed his fingers to his forehead in frustration.
"I can't guarantee it."
"Because I have no evidence. My chat logs with my old friends can't serve as solid proof."
"And much of what I'm saying is based on personal experience and inference. Understand?"
Professor Hubert continued sipping tea.
"That's exactly why I'm worried about this, but I can't publicly bring it up before anything actually happens."
Hearing Professor Hubert's words, Clyde fell silent too.
'Yeah, there is not enough evidence.'
Before something actually happens, the authorities also cannot strongly defend against anything.
Who knows whether it's just overthinking.
What if by accident it turns into empty-targeting, then what?
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