Chapter 69

< Blue (2) >

The number of monsters that arrived was three, but we were only two. Inside the large cage, the baby monsters were huddled together.

[Level 3 Unicorn Type ? White Shadow Unicorn (Fluid)

Current Stat Grade E

Possible Growth Stat Grade A

Optimized Initial Skill

Shadow Run (A) Acquired after growth

Powerful Charge (A) Acquired after growth

Enhanced Gallop (B) Acquired after growth

※Growth possible only in specific areas]

In one cage, two monsters were huddled together, and they were none other than the Shadow Unicorns, known for traveling in black and white pairs. The status window of the black Shadow Unicorn was the same as the white one.

Growth possible only in specific areas. The conditions for these creatures to grow into adults are quite strict. Most likely, it would be within the dungeon, and finding the location, as well as the time and manpower required to keep them there, would be considerable.

"Thought it was something else, but it's a Shadow Unicorn! For a high-level monster, they have really good charging power! Guild Master Hae-yeon, can't we have one?"

Moon-hyeon-a was disappointed, saying that despite being high-level, they had just the right stats for a mount. With the Enhanced Gallop buff, they might be better for a grand charge than an intermediate top-tier monster. Not all top-tier monsters are fast, after all.

In the other cage, a small, medium-sized dog-sized monster was looking around with curious eyes.

[Level 2 Griffin Type ? Golden Griffin (Fluid)

Current Stat Grade C

Possible Growth Stat Grade A~S

Optimized Initial Skill

Wind Dominator (S) Acquired after growth

Golden Arrow (A) Acquired after growth

Wind Resistance (A) Acquired

Sharp Roar (B) Acquired after growth

※Grows when a certain amount of a specific monster is consumed]

The specific monster is probably a type of demon. If my guess is correct, the growth conditions for a top-tier monster are relatively easy. It would depend on the amount and the level of the specific monster.

The species was a Golden Griffin, but it still seemed to be a baby, with soft cream-colored fur. It had a small eagle's head and a plump, cat-like body rather than a lion's, with large wings relative to its size. It was wind-attribute. There was an S-rank Hunter in that category, though he was a foreigner.

"The Griffin is good too, but I'm more drawn to the charge over the dive."

Even as she said this, Moon-hyeon-a's eyes were gleaming with desire as she looked at the Golden Griffin. Griffins are strong and have excellent abilities. In aerial combat, they have no match except dragons. Wyverns might be a bit faster, but they can't withstand a direct collision with a Griffin.

"Here is the owner's emblem."

The A-rank Hunter, who had worked hard to capture and guard the monsters, took out three emblems from his inventory.

Yoo-hyeon took them and immediately handed them to me.

"Please take good care of them this time too."

"Leave it to me."

The black and white unicorns are herbivores and gentle, so there's no major worry, but the Griffin is a problem. Still, with Peace, it should be fine. As soon as I held the emblems, the babies looked at me simultaneously. The unicorns still seemed a bit scared, but the Griffin's eyes were bright and clear. Its eyes were a beautiful blue, like deep, blue gems.

"The unicorns are a male and female pair, and the Griffin is female," Yoo-hyeon said. They have clear genders. Our Peace is still unknown, and so is Piyak. Maybe I should take Piyak to a chick identifier or a bird expert.

Squeak

The door to the Griffin's cage opened first. The baby Griffin, fearlessly, hopped out and shivered once.

- Squeal!

Then it made a joyful sound.

- Squeal! Squeal!

It seemed happy to be out of the cage, hopping around and spreading its wings to stretch. After loosening up, it looked at me and the unicorns alternately, tilting its head as if deciding which to approach first.

"Don't attack the unicorns."

Even though they can't understand, I said it anyway. The Griffin, like the dungeon monsters, likes to eat other creatures. Given the level difference, the black and white unicorns and the Griffin should never be together.

As the number of baby monsters increases, these kinds of problems will become more difficult.

- Squeal!

The baby Griffin turned to me, wagging its fluffy lion's tail. Its blue eyes were still sparkling, and its slightly open beak looked like a smile. Despite being kidnapped and brought across the sea, it had a completely innocent and happy expression.

- Squeal! Squeal!

With a high-pitched, excited sound, it hopped over. Its wings were quite large, but it couldn't fly yet. Suddenly, its pale, milky white wings spread wide.

Flap

The Griffin flew up lightly, eye level with me. Just like with Peace, a message window appeared.

[The title 'Perfect Caretaker' enhances the effect of the item 'Owner's Emblem.'

The tamed subject shows affection towards the caretaker.]

"You're really cute, little one."

Not only its appearance but also its playful puppy-like expression was truly adorable. I put the owner's emblem in my inventory and opened my arms.

"Come here."

- Squeal?

It tilted its head, spun a circle in the air, and then jumped towards me.

"Be careful!"

"Ouch!"

Yoo-hyeon quickly grabbed the Griffin's wings, but its strong beak grazed my chest quite hard. If he hadn't caught it, my ribs might have been broken, given the C-grade stats.

"Here, drink this."

Moon-hyeon-a opened a potion and offered it to me.

"I don't need an intermediate potion."

"I won't raise it with a low-grade one."

Ah, I see. I understand, but it's still a bit wasteful. I'm trying to move away from F-grade expenses, but it's not going well. Still, it's free, so I drank it.

"The Griffin can't be handled by you right away."

Yoo-hyeon narrowed his eyebrows slightly.

"Unlike Peace, it's not good at controlling its strength, so it might hurt you badly."

- Squeal!

The Griffin, with its wings held, kicked its legs in the air. Its innocent appearance suggested it had no intention of hurting me.

"It's not that it can't control its strength. It flew up smoothly. It probably doesn't know how weak I am."

If it couldn't control its body, it wouldn't have flown so easily. It not only flew but also rotated and hovered perfectly.

"Given that it has only dealt with intermediate or higher Hunters and its own kind, it's understandable that it doesn't realize there are weaker beings."

It's not malicious and is already tamed, so it just needs to be taught. The problem is that I can't communicate with it.

If words don't work, I'll have to use actions.

"Do you have a high-grade potion?"

I rolled up my right sleeve and asked. An intermediate one should be enough, but just in case. Yoo-hyeon reacted first to my words.

"Wait, brother. What are you planning to do?"

"I want to teach the baby Griffin how weak I am."

"What do you mean by 'teach'—"

"Just hold the baby still. Interfering will only make it take longer."

Yoo-hyeon's expression turned sour, as if he had guessed what I was going to do.

"There's no need to go that far. You can ask someone else."

"Why involve a poor F-rank Hunter who has nothing to do with this? It's my responsibility to handle the monster."

Moreover, it would be difficult to teach someone who doesn't have affection. With the title effect, it should be quick.

"Brother, you're right."

Moon-hyeon-a took out a high-grade potion and shook it.

"You'll have to handle various monsters in the future. It's not right to pass the responsibility to others from the start. And Guild Master Hae-yeon, I understand you care about your brother, but he's a Hunter. Being attacked by a monster is a daily occurrence for Hunters. Even in a special position, he's deeply involved in the Hunter world. He shouldn't be so anxious about such a small thing. You might end up hiding him away completely."

He was actually planning to do that. He's improved a lot since then.

Yoo-hyeon didn't argue further, though his expression was still bad. I'll have to comfort him later to prevent any further issues.

"Good, little one."

I reached out to the Griffin, who was looking at me with bright eyes. Despite being held by the wings, it smiled and wagged its tail. It seemed to have a very good temperament.

- Squeal!

It stretched its neck,

Crunch!

"Ouch!"

It suddenly bit my hand. I deliberately cried out loudly, pulled my hand away, and stepped back, avoiding eye contact with the Griffin.

- Squeal

A high-grade potion was sprayed on the wound, which was so deep that the bone was exposed. An intermediate one would have been enough, but it healed quickly. Expensive potions are indeed better.

"Are you okay?"

Moon-hyeon-a asked, closing the potion cap. I nodded and turned back.

The Griffin looked surprised, wide-eyed. From its reaction, it seemed to understand the situation quickly.

"Don't bite. It hurts."

I soothed it and reached out again. Its beak opened reflexively but then closed. Instead, its front paws grabbed my hand, its claws digging into my skin.

"Ouch!"

I cried out loudly and turned away.

- Squeal

This time, it was a clearly subdued sound. I stepped back to treat my hand and gave it some time. After about ten minutes, I looked back at the Griffin. The drooping creature lifted its head.

- Squeal!

I approached with a smile. When I reached out, it neither bit nor grabbed with its paws. I gently stroked its head and under its beak.

- Squeal! Squeal!

"That's right, that's right. Good job."

I stroked the tip of its beak, slowly inserting my finger into the slightly open mouth. It bit gently but then applied a bit too much force.

"Ouch!"

I showed pain, and it quickly opened its beak.

- Squeal

"Good. Don't bite so hard. It hurts."

When I touched its beak again, it bit my finger just enough to hold it.

"Now let go."

Yoo-hyeon released the Griffin's wings. The baby Griffin, instead of charging at me, hesitated and then gently placed one front paw on my chest. It's quite smart.

I reached out and picked up the Griffin.

- Squeal! Squeal!

"Don't be wild. Keep your claws in. That's it. Yoo-hyeon, does this one have a name...?"

He didn't give names to the monsters he had for a month, so he wouldn't have named the new ones.

What should I call it? Looking down, it looked back at me with its bright blue eyes.

"Blue."

- Squeal!

So cute. It's fluffy and warm. The unicorns can be Black and White. Short, simple, and easy to understand. That way, it's easier to call them during battles.

"Take good care of me, Blue."

- Squeal!

I touched my cheek to its yellow beak,

Click!

The sound of a phone camera. It was Moon-hyeon-a, smiling with her phone pointed at me.

"Don't take pictures without permission."

"Come on, don't be so stiff. I just want to pretend to be close. How about a picture together?"

"No, delete the picture."

"Why are you so strict with me? What about your brother?"

Yoo-hyeon, why. I looked back, but I couldn't see his phone. This woman is involving my innocent brother again.

"Give me your phone."

"Want to trade for my picture?"

I don't need it. After forcing her to delete the picture, I approached the unicorn cage. The two calves made identical head movements and looked up at me. They are also very cute. Baby animals are rarely not cute.

- Squeal! Squeal!

Suddenly, Blue flew out of my arms and

Bang!

- Neigh!

- Flutter!

Dove into the unicorn cage. The cage shook with a loud noise, and the unicorns, frightened, ran to the corner.

"Blue! No!"

- Squeal! Squeal!

Blue scratched the unicorn cage with its front paws. When the cage didn't budge, it even looked at me for help. It must see the unicorns as delicious lunch.

"They're not your prey, little one."

I forcibly pulled it away from the cage, and it came to me reluctantly but obediently. I really need to be careful with these three.

For safety, the unicorns were moved separately. Blue's eyes still looked at the calves with a menacing gaze even after the commotion. It would be better to manage the unicorns and the Griffin separately in the future. It's not easy for a baby to suppress its instinct to eat meat.

"Is it really okay to take them home?"

Yoo-hyeon said, looking at Blue, who was clinging to me. When I tried to separate it from the cage earlier, it screamed.

"Since we can't keep them separate forever, let's introduce it to Peace this time."

I hope they get along well. As siblings. Or as sisters?

< Blue (2) > End

ⓒ Geun-seo