Episode 171 Shadow Puppet

"The 31st floor of the Suigetsu Dungeon, is it. It's a little far."

When I hesitated, Metis said she wanted to make a Shadow Puppet.

"Metis, you say you want to use a Shadow Puppet?"

[ Yes, is it no good? ]

"It's not that it's no good, but what will you do with it?"

[ I'm thinking of studying in the middle of the night. ]

It seems that she's going to study while I'm sleeping. Metis does not sleep, so it seems that she had free time.

[ If Grimm-sensei says that the exploration of the Narukami Dungeon is a priority, then I will wait. ]

Metis calls me 'Grimm-sensei'. At first she called me 'Grimm-sama', but I stopped her. As a result of discussion, it was decided to be 'Grimm-sensei'. I said it would be fine to drop the honorifics, but it seemed to be no good.

When exploring the Narukami Dungeon, I had decided to rest for two days after exploring it once. So it wasn't a problem to pass once. I decided to go to the Suigetsu Dungeon. I myself had a great interest in Shadow Puppets.

The next day, I bought some food and went to the Suigetsu Dungeon. I proceeded to the 20th floor by the shortest route and stayed overnight in the Mid-boss room which was a safe area. No one was there that day.

The next day, I also used 'Wing' and tried not to fight as much as possible until I reached the 30th floor. After eating lunch on the 30th floor and taking a break, I went down the stairs to the 31st floor.

This was a forest area. While search for a DarkCat, I encountered a SilverAnt. It was a large ant about 80 centimeters long. Since these ants also had a habit of coming in swarms, it was said that it was better to run away without fighting.

I proceeded while avoiding the shining silver ants. And, I found a DarkCat. The DarkCat was lying on top of a huge anthill.

"Don't stay in such a bad place."

I looked up at the silver anthill and said. SilverAnts were numerous and had an attack that shot formic acid. I didn't want to fight if possible, but what should I do.

The distance from the giant tree where I was hiding to the anthill was about 20 meters. Javelin and PileShot wouldn't reach it.

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I came up with two methods. One was to fly away with 'Wing' and kill it, and the other was to form a Slash Strengthened Blade with 'Flying Blade' and shoot just the Slash Strengthened Blade to kill it.

[ What will you do if there are dropped items? ]

"I guess I'll have to fly with 'Wing' and collect them."

[ In that case, wouldn't it be better to fly and attack with 'Wing' from the beginning. ]

"That's right. Before that, let's check it out."

I picked up a stone from at my feet and threw it at the DarkCat. The stone flew in a parabola and landed on an anthill. At that moment, SilverAnts emerged from the countless holes in the anthill and started searching for something.

The DarkCat was lying on the anthill as if nothing had happened. It seemed to know that the top of the anthill was the safest place. If it was a monster, it would be fine if it noticed humans and attacked them.

After the SilverAnts returned to the anthill, I activated 'Wing' and saddled the D-Particle Wing. I jumped onto the saddle and fastened my seat belt.

Seeing me flying, the DarkCat stood up and took a fighting stance. I approached and fired a QuintPileShot at the DarkCat.

The D-Particle Pile pierced the DarkCat's body. That blow became a fatal wound to the DarkCat, and the DarkCat disappeared from the top of the anthill, leaving behind a black magic stone and a black clay-like thing on top of the anthill.

"DarkCat ... It's weak for a monster on the 31st floor."

[ This monster has a special skill in close combat. ]

It seemed that the DarkCat jumped into the enemy's shadow in close combat, and if there was an opening, it jumped out of the shadow ant attacked. It looked like a monster that should never be approached in close combat.

I collected the black magic stone and Shadow Clay. The Shadow Clay was about 5kg of black clay. It was lucky to drop from the first one.

I flew around looking for DarkCats and defeated them. One in four DarkCats seemed to drop Shadow Clay. I defeated thirteen DarkCats and got thirteen black magic stones and 15kg of Shadow Clay.

"I wonder if this is enough."

When I checked with Metis, she said it was enough.

I decided to go back to the 30th floor and camp. In addition to the FireDrake, CrimsonRabbits lived on the 30th floor.

A ferocious rabbit that attacked with headbutts and kicks. With a body length of about one meter, its attacks were powerful enough to knock out adventurers.

I pitched the tent and set up the monster detection device. After eating dinner, when I was lying down, the monster detection device sounded an alarm. I jumped up and went out of the tent.

Two CrimsonRabbits were approaching the tent.

"Even though I was sleeping soundly ..."

I activated 'Auto Shield'. The CrimsonRabbit was a monster with no power but it was an agile monster.

Two CrimsonRabbits attacked while working together. They were pretty fast. This speed was enough of a threat to wake me up.

One CrimsonRabbit aimed a headbutt at my head, I dodged in a hurry and shot a QuintArrow. The D-Particle Cone pierced the CrimsonRabbit. But, it didn't seem to pierce deeply. Surprisingly, the CrimsonRabbit's defensive power seemed to be high.

I defeated the CrimsonRabbit with a TriplePileShot.

"Fuuh, I need a sentry after all. Can the Shadow Puppet be a sentry?"

[ You can't make a large Shadow Puppet with only 15kg of Shadow Clay, so I don't think it can function as a monster detection device even if it's a sentry. ]

"Then, should we collect some more?"

[ No, this should be enough for the start. It seems that people who make Shadow Puppets are called 'Magic Puppeteers', but they won't be able to create excellent ones from the beginning. ]

I had thought I could make an amazing Shadow Puppet as long as I had the materials, but when I heard Metis' words, I thought 'I see'.

After spending two days returning to the surface, I bought two each of Sorcery Eye and Sorcery Ear at the magic tool store. Metis said she needed both for the Shadow Puppet she would operate.

After returning to the apartment, I slept for about three hours and then started making Shadow Puppets. From the 15kg of Shadow Clay, I set aside about 3kg and started manufacturing according to Metis' instructions.

First, I took out five black magic stones from DarkCats and used them to make a magic core and a ring. These were made by pouring magic power into the black magic stones, and they were troublesome procedures.

Next, I used the Shadow Clay to make the body of the Shadow Puppet. I poured D-Particles into the Shadow Clay to create a shape. Being a Magic Puppeteer seemed to be a job suitable for Life Wizards.

The result was a black cat with a body like a dachshund. I thought it was cute.

"Metis, what do you think?"

"..."

Metis didn't seem to like it.

Still, I thought I'd try and complete it. I made a cut in its head with a razor, embedded a magic core there, and cleanly erased the cut.

Then, I began pouring in my magical power. The dachshund-shaped black cat began to glow, black hair grew on its body surface, and parts such as mouth/nose/eyes/ears took shape. I took a deep breath and continued pouring magic power while watching.

The moment I thought I had succeeded, there was a cracking sound and the dachshund-shaped black cat cracked.

[ It seems that the D-Particles were not evenly mixed. ]

The first Shadow Puppet failed.

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