Chapter 33

And so, a new resident (or so it seems) was added to our home.

The anthropomorphic monsters I brought from the teacher's dungeon were ten in total: five orcs and five goblins.

When it comes to anthropomorphic monsters, it seems that ogres and trolls are more common, but they didn't appear in the teacher's dungeon.

However, for the tasks I wanted to carry out, these two types of anthropomorphic monsters were more than sufficient.

Orcs and goblins.

Both are the most common species among anthropomorphic monsters, and even among all monsters in general.

In this world, when people think of monsters, these are the first to come to mind, even before slimes or dragons.

However, dragons, in this world, are a different species from both monsters and humans.

They are born in other places, not in dungeons.

But that's a side note.

Orcs are large and strong, suitable for rough, physical labor.

In contrast, goblins are smaller than orcs, with long, dexterous fingers, making them nimble.

I decided to assign tasks that matched their respective characteristics.

The orcs would enter the mountain dungeon to cut down trees for building materials.

With the permission of the dungeon master, Veil, the work proceeded smoothly.

I asked the goblins to take care of the fields.

They were as reliable as they looked, and I could trust them to pull weeds and harvest crops.

At first, I was anxious about whether it would really work, giving them instructions through the teacher.

But when I actually entrusted them with the tasks, they worked much better than I had imagined.

They sometimes failed at complex instructions, but when I patiently taught them, they gradually learned and could complete tasks on their own.

It was heartwarming to see them grow and become capable of tasks they couldn't do before.

Is this what it feels like to nurture people?

However, compared to teaching and educating regular people, there was a sense of insufficiency.

After all, these creatures lack will or heart.

They are, in essence, pseudo-organisms materialized from concentrated mana in mana pools.

When given orders, they follow them, but they are like robots programmed to move.

There is no sense of working together with a shared heart, no unspoken understanding.

This lack of feedback caused me more emotional damage than I had imagined.

Anthropomorphic monsters are inherently like this.

They are nothing more than heartless robots mimicking human forms.

The most prominent users of anthropomorphic monsters, the demon race, use orcs and goblins as disposable forces, assuming they will be wiped out by the hero.

They can be used and discarded without any regret, as they can be quickly replenished from the dungeon.

This is what orcs and goblins are.

Even after being taught this by Plati and Veil, and even by the teacher who occasionally came to check on us, I still felt uneasy.

Perhaps it was because they resembled humans so much that I developed feelings for them.

If they had a more robotic appearance, I could have treated them as tools from the beginning.

Teaching them how to farm, how to cut trees, and how to hold sickles and axes, and seeing them gradually master these skills, was truly gratifying.

However, this was the limit of our interaction.

They are heartless robots.

I tried to accept this fact.

* * *

"…W, Waga Kimi"

One of the orcs suddenly spoke.

No, one of the orcs.

"Huh? Whaaaaat……!?"

An orc spoke.

After never saying a word before!?

They could only nod or shake their heads, and we couldn't communicate at all.

"Waga Kimi, I want to work harder for you. What should I do next?"

"Me too"

"Me too"

"Waga Kimi, I want to grow more vegetables. I want to grow tomatoes. They are delicious."

Even the goblins!?

They were in charge of the fields!

What's going on?

When I sought advice, Plati, Veil, and even the teacher, who often came to check on us, were greatly surprised.

"It's hard to believe, but it seems the monsters have developed a sense of self."

"Can a sense of self just sprout like that!?"

But it seems this was the first time in history.

In other words, it was an unprecedented situation.

I was so moved that I hugged the orcs and goblins and cried.

I felt like a teacher in a drama.

If you keep trying, your efforts will eventually be understood.

Thinking back, I believe the orcs and goblins developed a sense of self due to the effects of the "Bearer of the Supreme."

When teaching them, I often touched their bodies.

I guided their hands to hold farming tools and axes, and I taught them the proper form for swinging them while touching their bodies.

With my hands, which were the "Bearer of the Supreme."

The core effect of the "Bearer of the Supreme" might not be to become a master of the tools I hold, but to maximize and even exceed the potential of the things I touch.

As a result, the monsters that came into contact with my "Bearer of the Supreme" developed a sense of self.

They evolved to the next stage.

I never imagined the "Bearer of the Supreme" had such an effect.

I should have suspected it when I could make crops grow just by touching the soil, but it is indeed a terrifying power.

It is wonderful, but I must be careful not to misuse it.

* * *

Thanks to the development of their sense of self, the orcs and goblins no longer needed indirect instructions through the teacher.

They now recognized me as their master and worked together with a shared heart to build the house.

Now, finally, the house is complete!