Previous Chapter

Next Chapter

---

An eerie city built on top of linked-together wooden ships floating on the surface of a fog-shrouded sea.

This was the “Foggy Sea dungeon”.

It was a C rank dungeon. And as to be expected of that rank, there weren’t many adventurers exploring the place…it should be noted though that even among dungeons of a similar rank, this place was exceedingly unpopular.

I had researched about it after accepting Uoyama-kun’s request and my reaction could be summed up to: well, of course it’d be that kind of place. It was no wonder Uoyama-kun was drawn into this dungeon.

“The fog here is thicker than I expected…”

I uttered so as we walked along.

Connecting the ships to one another were wooden suspension bridges. Each bridge was about 3 meters wide and had no railings. Our positioning was as follows: myself, Uoyama-kun, Yukine, and then Layla.

“Just in case anyone of us falls into the water for whatever reason, don’t worry, I’ll use my [Blue Magic] to do something.”

“Okay, we’ll be relying on you then. Like, really.”

I was wearing gear different what I usually had, so to be frank, I was quite anxious. At present, I had my zweihander still sheathed on my back and I was instead wielding a tower shield in my left hand. Uoyama-kun gave me this shield so that I wouldn’t accidentally kill the monster he wanted to tame.

“Say, how much did this shield cost?”

“1.5 million yen”

“…where the heck did you get that kind of money?”

“It’s most of my earnings as an adventurer. The rest went to your payment.”

“Don’t overdo it, man, seriously.”

“I’m not. I just think it’s worth taking risks for this.”

“That so?”

I’ve done my fair share of being reckless, especially with money, so I wasn’t really one to talk.

At any rate, visibility in this dungeon was really poor. Even with my improved vision thanks to the fact that I possessed a Magic Eye, I couldn’t see more than 10 meters or so ahead of me.

And the moment we stepped into a ship with a western-style building, the aforementioned Magic Eye activated.

“Left! Magic!”

I turned my tower shield toward that direction, while the others crouched down and used the wall of the ship as a shield. Soon enough, a lump of water the size of a balance ball hit the shield. Against my resistance stat though, it was…not nullified. It was greatly weakened, sure, but it still made contact against the shield and caused a great impact. Moreover, it also flooded my surroundings.

The ship we were in shook terribly and I even staggered for half a step.

“It’s Blue magic…!”

At the other side of the fog, on top of the water, was a monster with only its top half out. For a moment, it looked like a Shinto priest wearing his vestment. However, my eyes soon revealed to me, even through that thick fog, a form that I could only sum up as aberrant.

The thing that looked like a tall hat was actually something that was akin to the dorsal fins of sharks and dolphins.

It had large, googly eyes. In combination with its flat face, it really was what one might imagine when hearing the term “half-fish man”.

The vestment-looking thing, meanwhile, was actually scales.

And to finish it off, it held in its hand a creepy looking staff.

This monster was called a [Sea Bishop]. In my opinion, it looked too unpleasant to be called such a thing.

Anyway, it launched another water ball attack at us. This time though, it came in a set of 3. The first one I intercepted, but the other two went to hit the building. The impact caused the wooden wall and roof to easily shatter, which then scattered chips of wood along with water.

“It’s not our target! Yukine, Layla, go!”

“[Heat Javelin]”

“[Ice Fang]!”

After Layla and Yukine swung their wand and fan from the hole of the damaged wall, spears of fire and ice rapidly flew toward the monster.

The Sea Bishop naturally tried to dive back into the water, but before it could, the ice spear hit the water around the monster and froze even the splashed water. Of course, that meant the aberration was also stuck to the surface of the water. And before long, the fire spear also made contact.

“Gyoooooooo!?”

Just hearing that scream sent a shiver down my spine.

Before the flames could melt the ice, another ice spear flew at the monster, went past the flames, and pierced the monster’s throat, or at least what looked like its throat.

This time, there was only silence. After a few seconds of keeping an eye on it, we got confirmation of its demise when it finally became particles of magic power.

“We beat it. Well done, you two”

“It was nothing. More importantly though, are you alright, Master?”

“Yeah! That attack looked quite strong…”

“I’m fine. My stats weakened it quite a bit, plus I have this shield.”

I said so and slightly raised the tower shield. This plain, lead-colored thing had suffered nothing but the slightest of dents. It seemed to be considerably sturdy. It was worth the 1.5 million yen price tag and maybe then some.

“Thanks for that. I’m really glad I asked you for help.”

“It’s too early for that. I mean, we still haven’t got what we came here for.”

I shrugged my shoulders and helped him stand up.

Still though…when I looked back at where the Sea Bishop perished, fog quickly obscured my vision until the ice in the water surface was no longer visible.

These were the reasons why this dungeon was so unpopular.

Visibility was poor; the monsters that appeared here were creepy; you can get attacked with magic from far away; and when you defeat an enemy and get lucky enough to get an Item Drop, the mere task of retrieving your prize was risky.

If it were not for this request from Uoyama-kun, I would absolutely not have come to this dungeon.

And because it was so unpopular, there was no telling when this dungeon would overflow. The municipal office here did seem to make efforts to thin out the monster population through the [Quest System], but…yeah, I would guess only those who were confident in their underwater combat ability would really accept those quests.

Given that I wasn’t here for that kind of quest, I planned to focus on taming our target monster and only kill the monsters we had to kill. Thinning out the monster population just wasn’t worth the effort.

“Alright…let’s hope our target shows up soon”

I said so and signaled to resume our exploration. As soon as we did, we found a treasure chest in one of the ships.

“Oh?”

Unlike those in other dungeons, this treasure chest had acorn barnacle-like things clinging to it.

In fear of it being another Mimic, I was on my guard.

“Alright, I’m going to check. Please keep watch of our surroundings”

“Yes, master”

“Understood”

And so, I approached with my shield up. I moved my hand to open it, but then my Magic Eye…didn’t activate.

“It’s real?”

To my surprise, it wasn’t a Mimic.

And inside is…a seashell? Or rather, it looks like an ocarina made of an oblong shell. It feels like it contains magic power.

“We got something, but does anybody know what this is?”

“Huh? It was a real treasure chest?”

“Since Kyotaro found it, I thought for sure it was going to be yet another Mimic”

“You guys are awful”

I frowned under my helm, but I couldn’t really deny what they said.

Actually, instead of blaming my luck, I feel like it’s more to do with there being more Mimics than treasure chests.

“This is…a catalyst for [Summoning Magic], maybe…”

I let slip a soft “ohh” upon hearing Layla’s guess.

The term Summon Magic implied that it allowed the caster to call forth something from somewhere. In practice though, it didn’t transport something from faraway and that “somewhere” was a place that was really nearby. After all, what Summon Magic actually involved was: preparing a catalyst; using that to gather the magic power nearby and make a [vessel]; and then, have the monster data from the Akashic Records place or something possess that vessel.

Moreover, even though the summoned monsters would vanish after some time, you could simply summon again as long as you have the catalyst and enough magic power. Depending on how you went about it, Summon Magic could possibly singlehandedly build you a fine combat unit.

Or so I’ve heard. Everything I knew about Summon Magic was from the overview about all the different magic types provided by the government. I had no detailed knowledge of the matter.

“Now that I think about it, what are we going to do with Item drops and items from treasure chests? Sell them and split the money? Or use them for ourselves?”

“Since I’m not really going to fight and instead preserve my Magic Power for the familiar contract, I think it’s only fair for you to keep the whatever we earn along the way.”

“I feel kinda bad, but…alright. Thanks.”

I deposited the odd ocarina into my Item Bag. It was only a tiny bit, but this unexpected profit made me glad I came to this dungeon.

…but then, when I thought about what I had to do from then on, I felt depressed. After all, our target monster, much like the Sea Bishop, was another reason this dungeon was so unpopular. And I had to grapple with it. Really depressing stuff indeed.

A few minutes after we resumed our exploration, my Magic Eye activated again.

This time, instead of a magic spell, it showed me…tentacles.

“Right side! It’s our target!”

I pulled down Uoyama-kun—the target of the attack—with my right hand and raised my shield. At almost the same time, something jumped out of the water with great force. It was a tentacle. And in the next moment, it hit my shield.

Ghh, so heavy…!

I was able to absorb the blow, but my shield was still pushed back against my body. In terms of raw strength, it was stronger than even a Spartoi!

The monster soon landed on the pathway ahead of us. I glared straight at its silhouette.

“[Oh, Wind]!”

Layla swung her staff and the fog several meters around us was dispersed, allowing us to see the monster clearly.

This one also had scales that looked like a priest’s vestment, but that was pretty much its only resemblance to a Sea Bishop.

Firstly, this one had a face like that of an octopus, but with beard-like tentacles squirming around. Furthermore, in what would have been its arms, there were tentacles as thick as logs. There was no way the term tendrils could apply to those. As for its lower half, there were multiple tentacles that were also thick. Not as thick as its arms, but thick nonetheless.

It was the very picture of an aberration.

“Pshurrrrr…”

The aberration then took a pose as though it was some kind of martial artists.

This C+ rank monster that appears in this dungeon was called a Sea Monk. It was our target today.

Wait, is it our target?

“Uoyama-kun, our objective is to get a female Sea monk, right? …but can you tell the gender?”

Some monsters did have parts that looked like male or female genitalia, but since they basically couldn’t procreate, it wasn’t so strange if they had no gender.

I mean, even some normal creatures didn’t have genders and reproduced in some special way.

“No, it’s a female! I’m sure of it!”

“Ohh, can you tell by the way the suckers are lined up?”

“No, it’s because my lower half tells me it’s a female!”

“Ahh…”

When I asked so as I kept a watchful glare at the Sea Monk, Uoyama-kun replied with an answer that just left me speechless.

…oh well, if he says we should catch it, that’s it, I guess.

“Then, let’s do as we planned”

““Right!””

“Haa…! Haa…!”

Along with Layla and Yukine’s replies, an excited, horny panting was mixed in.

I wish I didn’t see my friend in such a state…whatever, I should just focus on the enemy ahead.

I readied my shield and charged ahead. The path to the enemy was relatively straightforward, but the problem was the monster could quickly get back under the water. I would rather not let it get away.

In response to my approach, the monster extended one of its tentacles as though it was letting loose a jab. Even though there was still 5 meters between us, the extended arm still hit. It was a powerful blow, but this time, I was not pushed back. Surprise attacks were one thing, but I had no problem withstanding head-on attacks of this level!

As I kept closing the distance, the monster launched successive attacks to follow up on the previous jab. It felt like I was facing a boxer. I stood to receive the flurry of blows, but by the second hit, I felt something was off.

“Ghh”

Then, the suckers on the Sea Monk’s tentacle adhered to my shield. I put strength into making sure my shield wouldn’t be taken away, but in response, the monster charged toward me instead.

“Ghh, ooooo…!”

I felt the strong impact through the shield as the monster slammed against it. Including my armor, I weighed nearly a hundred kilograms, yet the monster was still able to push me diagonally back. Moreover, that caused the suspension bridge to make an unwelcome sound.

Crap, if I continue to stand firm here, the bridge is going to get destroyed. But if I don’t, I would get thrown into the water, no question. Guess it can’t be helped; I’ll have to use Magice Power Disch—

“[Ice Jail]!”

Six pillars made of ice appeared and surrounded me and the Sea Monk. Those pillars froze our surroundings—the sea, the bridge, and whatnot—and provided a solid foothold.

Thanks, Yukine! Layla too, for keeping watch of our surroundings with not only your eyes but also with wind. Alright, time to pin this guy down until Uoyama-kun completes the contract!

Right when I was thinking that, the Sea Monk adhered its tentacle on my shield again, but this time it wrapped its tentacle around the shield. It then made its other tentacle arm wrap around my body, plus used its tentacle legs to wrap around my limbs. Not only that, it even used its beard-like tentacles to slip past my armor, with my neck as those tentacle’s objective.

Ewww! But it’s so strong, the heck!?

Using my shield, I tried to create some space between us, especially between my head and the beard-like tentacles. Thanks to the beard-like tentacles needing to circumvent the shield first, it was just barely out of reach, its tips just grazing the front of my helm.

However, I was surprised that each of the many tentacles were more powerful than I expected. If I lost focus even for a second, I could see the monster sticking real close to my body and coiling around my head.

Moreover…there was the matter of the mucus from its tentacles. It was so disgusting! And slippery! Ack, it got in between my clothes!

“Kyotaro!”

“Hurry it up, Uoyama-kun…!”

“That’s so unfair! I’m so jealous!”

“Want me to kill the both of you!?”

If you don’t act anytime soon, I’m gonna use Magic Power Discharge, you hear!?

“Uoyama-sama, if you’re not going to make a contract with the Sea Monk, I’ll go ahead and burn its tentacles to ashes.”

Perhaps sensing the danger I was in, Layla said so with blank look as she pointed her wand toward the monster.

“Guess it’s about time!”

Despite looking flustered, Uoyama-kun took out a rugged-looking collar from a bag.

It might not be how I intended it to go, but the Sea Monk was locked in place, seemingly giving its all to strangle me. As such, it should be safe for Uoyama-kun to approach.

I couldn’t see a neck on the monster but that collar didn’t really have to be attached to an actual one to work. It worked more on a conceptual level.

As soon as Uoyama-kun pressed the collar on its head, an intense light shone for a moment. And then, many chain-like patterns appeared on the Sea Monk’s head. That collar was a bundle of magic power created over a number of days using the superpower called [Familiar Contract]. Although the principles behind them were different, considering that monsters were also bundles of magic power, it was possible to directly insert another bundle of magic power inside the monsters.

With a start, the Sea Monk made efforts to escape. However, in a reversal of roles, I was now the one grappling the tentacles. It was still so slimy but I thought I should have no difficulty in stopping it for a few seconds.

Still, the Sea Monk desperately tried to get away. So, I decided to ditch the shield, do what essentially was a front kick, and stomped on the monster to pin it to the bridge. And then, with my left hand, I grabbed hold of a tentacle.

The Sea Monk even spurted out octopus-like ink, but Layla dispersed it with her magic.

But when Uoyama-kun finished his chant, the Sea Monk’s body all of a sudden lost all energy, sprawling lifelessly over the frozen bridge. I shook off the tentacles that had wrapped around me and took up my shield again.

While I kept a wary eye, the Sea Monk slowly stood back up. There was no hostility from it though. Its yellow eyes only stared blankly into space.

“The contract…it’s a success!”

Uoyama-kun exclaimed so and proceeded to laugh maniacally.

Yeah, that laugh creeps me out.

“Right tentacle!”

The Sea Monk raised its right tentacle.

“Left tentacle!”

This time, its left.

“Give me a hug!”

The Sea Monk then gave Uoyama-kun an embrace.

Err, is that still a hug though? Looks to me like someone being assaulted.

I was unsure whether to put a stop to it—you know, for safety reasons—but then I saw Uoyama-kun’s face.

“Woooh! Tentacles!”

I heard for the very first time Uoyama-kun talk in a falsetto. Not that I wanted to hear any of this.

With effort, I endured taking a step away from him. I was here to act as a guard as well after all.

A few seconds later, the two parted. Uoyama-kun approached me with a self-deprecating smile.

What, don’t tell me you reached sage mode.

“Phew…do you perhaps despise me, Kyotaro?”

“Err…”

“I get it, you know. I go on and on about my love for tentacles, but here I am, committing what essentially is sex slavery through brainwashing. I’m the worst, aren’t I…”

“Nah, that’s not what I think”

Appearance-wise, the scene earlier was like a development in some lewd doujin. If I had to specify, I would go so far as to say that it looked like the moment when an evil wizard makes a contract with a monster.

…actually, minus the evil part, that was exactly what happened.

But that wasn’t he was talking about. Rather, it’s about if you take a picture of that scene earlier, show it to a human rights organization, and tell them its a master and slave scenario, then they would likely think he was the victim.

And telling them the truth wouldn’t help them understand any better. If anything, the explanation might confuse them more.

“I’m relieved to hear that.”

“Seriously, I’m not put off the way you think I am”

I wasn’t lying. Rather, I was put off by his tentacle kink itself. Keeping that part to myself, Uoyama-kun gave a relieved smile.

“So…you still want to be friends with a guy like me…?”

“Oh, yeah, sure. I mean, everyone has their preferences.”

It wasn’t a crime, after all. If anything, if you’re going to use familiars to thin the monster population, then making familiars was even a “fairly” recommended act.

Moreover, given that the Familiar Contract superpower basically had no effect on humans plus the fact that it couldn’t affect other people’s familiars, it was as safe as a superpower could be.

Also, yeah, I more or less developed a resistance to it thanks to our regular but still weird talks about tentacles. As long as there was no crime involved, I believed that friendship and kinks should be evaluated separately.

“I see…thanks, Kyotaro.”

“It’s nothing…?”

As I replied, Uoyama-kun tightly held one of the Sea Monk’s tentacles.

Honestly, I didn’t know what to say to him. I didn’t have the energy to think of a response either. I just wanted to get back home as quickly as possible and take a shower.

Come to think of it, were there showers in the dungeon store?

To say nothing of my armor, the clothes I had underneath were covered in mucus-like liquid. As such, I wanted to get out of the dungeon quickly. Even simply walking made strange sounds, so I was really in a hurry.

Will things like this vanish once I get out of the dungeon? Like, will changing from my Magical Attire to my normal clothes get rid of this?

As I was thinking of that, Yukine stood to my side with a serious expression.

“Dear,”

“Yeah, I’m alright. Nothing to worry about.”

“If you cheat on me with a tentacle, I won’t forgive you, alright?”

“Should I suckle on your boobs now to make up for it?”

This wasn’t me being like Uoyama-kun. This was normal.

“Kyaa! Dear…♡ ”

Oh no, I don’t know what to do if you react so cute and embarrassed like that.


“Master, would you like me to wash you with water from my flask before we get out of the dungeon? I should be able to clean you somewhat with my magic…”

“Thanks, Layla…really, thanks…”

I could be surrounded by people of vastly different values but I knew for sure that I could always count on Layla to be my ally.

But man, I really wanna go home…

* * *

On our way back, we encountered another Sea Monk and made it into a familiar as well. Of course, that meant I was yet again attacked by tentacles, but I really didn’t to recall the details to that.

After selling the item we got from the treasure chest for 700,000 yen, I finally went home. And back home and in the otherworld, Layla and Yukine did all sorts of things with lotion. That perfectly healed my heart.

---

Taroppe-sensei(author)’s Q&A corner

Thank you for reading!

Also, please consider leaving some of your thoughts, a review, and bookmark the title over at the narou site (https://ncode.syosetu.com/n7336ie/)

Your support is appreciated and I hope you continue doing so.

Q: What is that collar?

A: People who have the [Familiar Contract] superpower can refine their magic power and make this item over a period of a few days. Once made, it would disappear on its own, so it must be used within a week’s time.

Moreover, beings with intelligence above a certain level and had actual flesh usually resisted the effects. Even non-Awakened beings could resist these effects, so among those with actual flesh, it worked mostly only on small animals.

Kyotaro didn’t think too deeply on this because his friend was the only one with the superpower he knew of, but small animal familiars were now regularly used abroad to commit crimes and as such, the superpower was actually considered to be fairly dangerous to society.

Q: Uoyama is an Awakened One, but he still wears glasses?

A: Actually, when he became an Awakened One, Uoyama’s vision considerably improved. However, because he didn’t feel comfortable to not wear glasses, he decided to wear non-prescription ones.

Q: What would happen to that shield now?

A: Uoyama will display it as a memento of making a contract with the Sea Monk.

---

Please consider supporting me. You can do this either by turning off adblock for this blog, buying me a ko-fi, or via my Patreon page (link here). Thank you.

---

Previous Chapter

Next Chapter