The Shut-in Vampire Does Business in the Labyrinth - Chapter 10

Chapter 10: Mongmo

TL: DDTL

One month since awakening.

Even I had to admit my growth speed was insane. In just one month, I’d completely demolished Labyrinth Layer 1.

Now Layer 1 was my personal farming mine.

The problem was the real world.

I’d used two ether and still had two left unused, and the reason I was holding onto them was the negotiation with the Association.

One ether to sell to the Association, and one emergency escape ether just in case things went sideways.

You never know what even the Association might pull.

“Haah… this is really gonna be fine, right?”

Other than the fact that my thralls could come out into the real world, I was just an ordinary person out here.

What if the Association recognized my value and tried to take me by force?

I’d get dragged away whimpering like a kicked puppy.

Even if I summoned all 550 goblins into the real world, they’d just get suppressed by the military.

Not that I had any intention of doing that.

I wasn’t some terrorist.

Of course, Korea was a nation friendly toward Awakeners, so that probably wouldn’t happen.

But worrying was worrying all the same.

And beyond selling the ether and registering as an Awakener, there was something else I needed to discuss with the Association.

Something truly important.

If I wanted to smoothly enter Labyrinth Layer 2, the Association’s help was essential.

“…Should I use an ether?”

The universal substance.

Ether, which turned the system into a wish-granting genie.

I’d been saving one ether to sell and one for emergencies, in case I needed to visit the Association.

Fine. Let’s test the waters.

“Use ether.”

[Please state your intended use.]

“An ability or method that lets me sell items and ether in the real world without going to the Association in person. Ideally something that handles errands too.”

[….]

“…?”

[…]

“What? What is it?”

[Request summary: a way to handle all bothersome tasks without leaving your room.]

“…I didn’t put it quite like that.”

Even you’re looking down on me now?

This is being cautious! Cautious!

[Calculating method.]

[Selecting ability matching requirements.]

[Estimated cost: 1 ether.]

[Would you like to use the ether?]

“Oh? There’s actually a way?”

I hesitated for a moment.

Was this really worth spending a whole ether on?

I could just suck it up and show up at the Association once.

But….

“Yeah! Use ether!”

If I were just some ordinary Awakener, maybe. But who knows what the Association might do once they investigate me.

The only things I could trust were my abilities and my thralls.

[Using ether.]

[Skill acquired: Familiar Summon (S).]

“…Familiar?”

One ether spent, one S-grade skill gained.

[Familiar Summon (S)]

-Summons a familiar with transformation magic.

“…What is this? That’s the whole description?”

An S-grade skill with a single line of explanation.

I did know what a familiar was, at least.

Something like a wizard’s summoned companion.

And this was supposed to be the solution to all my problems?

Well, either way, one ether was already gone.

All I could do now was hope this skill actually solved my problems.

“Familiar Summon.”

The moment the skill activated, I felt something leaving my body.

Pop.

No, something really did leave.

Blood gathered in midair, clumping together until it condensed into a fist-sized mass.

And what appeared was something that fit in the palm of my hand.

“…A flying squirrel?”

It was a flying squirrel.

“How dare you! A flying squirrel, you say!!”

The flying squirrel spoke.

“This one is Ludwig Alexandros de Montmorency the Second!”

The flying squirrel puffed itself up and spat out that ridiculous name.

“…Lud-what?”

“Your ears fail you! Allow this one to repeat: I am Ludwig Alexandros de Montmorency the Second!”

“…Yeah, okay, Mongmo.”

“Wh-what did you just say?!”

“Who’s got time to say all that? From now on, you’re Mongmo.”

“Insolence! This one is of noble blood, Ludwig Alexan…”

“Reverse Summon.”

Whoosh.

The flying squirrel vanished before my eyes.

“…What the hell was that.”

A flying squirrel that just popped up out of nowhere claiming to be Lud-whatever.

And that was supposed to be an S-grade skill?

After eating a whole ether?

“Familiar Summon.”

Whoosh.

The flying squirrel reappeared before my eyes.

A light brown flying squirrel, bobbing gently in midair.

This time, the re-summoned flying squirrel took one look at me and,

“Gyaaah! Do not put me back in there!!”

bared its fangs and raised both paws threateningly.

Was that supposed to be scary?

This was the first time since red pandas that something raising its paws at me was this utterly non-threatening.

As I stared in disbelief, something caught my eye: slightly pointed canines.

No way…

“Are you a vampire?”

“Indeed! This one is of the storied vampire noble House of Ludwig…”

“I’m a Progenitor.”

“What?”

“I’m a vampire too. A Progenitor.”

I grabbed the flying squirrel by the scruff of its neck and pulled it close.

Then I casually opened my mouth and showed my fangs.

“I’m a Progenitor. And you’re nobility?”

“Uh…? Uh?”

“Want to get Reverse Summoned? I’m your Master.”

“A, a Progenitor? You’re a Progenitor?”

“Yeah. What’s your name?”

“M-my name is Ludwig Alexan…”

“Mongmo.”

“Lud…”

“Mongmo.”

“Mongmo it is…”

And so our vampire flying squirrel Mongmo was subdued after a brief rebellion.

Mongmo went limp in my hand, dangling limply from my grip.

“This cannot be… the Progenitor who appeared in this age is merely….”

“Hmm? Mongmo, wanna go back in?”

“N-no! It is dark in there! There is nothing at all!”

“I’m your Master. So?”

“M-Mongmo will be good….”

“There’s a good boy.”

I stroked Mongmo’s head with my finger.

The fluffy texture tickled my fingertips.

Okay, this part alone might be worth S-grade.

I checked Mongmo’s stats.

[Mongmo]

-Class: Familiar

-Strength: 5

-Agility: 10

-Intelligence: 70

-Skills: Transformation (A) Return (B)

“…Our Mongmo’s a smart one.”

“Obviously! This one is a flying squirrel of the storied House of Ludwig!”

I thought you said you weren’t a flying squirrel….

I didn’t know what Ludwig was supposed to mean, but an intelligence of 70.

Wasn’t that smarter than most humans…?

But judging by how he acted.

“…Mongmo. This one of great dignity shall not answer to such a lowly name….”

Just a weird flying squirrel.

“Mongmo.”

“…What do you want.”

“Hey. I’m your Master.”

“…sir.”

Mongmo drooped his plump tail in a sign of surrender.

Even when I let go, Mongmo continued bobbing gently in midair.

“Mongmo, the system says you’re supposed to solve my problems?”

Setting aside how cute he was, Mongmo was a summon that had cost a whole ether.

Could Mongmo really solve my problems?

“What problems?…sir?”

“I need to go outside and meet people, but I think it’d be dangerous if my identity got out, you know?”

“…A Progenitor who descended upon this world is a scaredy-cat coward….”

“Hey! I’m being cautious! Cautious!”

“…So what are you trying to make me do!…sir.”

“I mean, I don’t even know? The system sent you because you’re supposed to be able to handle it.”

“Hmm…”
I explained the whole situation to Mongmo.

My powers, the Awakener Association, selling ether, building a supply and logistics network.

After hearing everything, Mongmo nodded as if he understood.

“Understood! Then!”

Fwsshhhh.

Mongmo’s fur suddenly began to puff up.

What had been fist-sized expanded vertically, growing until it was roughly the size of a Hob Goblin.

The fur gradually took on a human shape.

“This should work!”

“…Huh?”

“So you need to sell ether, find a dealer for miscellaneous loot, and set up a food supply line, correct?! Got it! I’ll take care of it and be back!”

“…Oh?”

Mongmo had transformed into a human.

***

The Korean Awakener Association, located in Gangnam.

It was a place where all sorts of people gathered.

The occasional fans hoping to catch a glimpse of a star Awakener.

Awakeners looking to sell magic stones and items.

And dealers there to buy goods that came out of the labyrinth.

Into the bustling first-floor lobby of the Association, a young boy walked in with steady steps.

He looked about middle school age. The boy glanced around, then headed straight for the information desk.

The receptionist saw the boy and smiled slightly.

“What brings you here, kiddo?”

The words came out reflexively at the sight of his baby face.

But the boy said something entirely outside the receptionist’s expectations.

“I’m here to sell some ether.”

“…Huh? I’m sorry, what?”

“I said I’m here to sell ether.”

The boy pulled something out of his pocket.

A softly glowing white orb.

Something the receptionist had only ever seen in videos online, never in person. The real thing.

“E-ether?!”

“Yes. I’d like to sell this.”

It was genuine ether.

“W-wait, no, hold on just a moment!”

The receptionist ran to the back, and the surrounding crowd’s attention locked onto the boy.

A boy actually holding ether in his hands.

People began inching toward him, but the Association’s on-site security team surrounded the boy in an instant.

“Hey, come on, I just want to take a look….”

“Please step back.”

“Hey, kid! Sell that to me! I’ll pay more than the Association…!”

“That’s enough, sir.”

“Donate it and find peace!!”

“Get this person out of here!”

In an instant, the Association lobby descended into chaos.

A reporter who’d been lurking started firing off camera flashes, and someone else held up their phone to record.

Watching all of this, the boy let out a low whistle.

“Now I get why Master didn’t want to come out.”

Watching the scene unfold, the boy, Mongmo, flashed a grin.

“Take all the pictures you want.”

Just then, a man approached Mongmo.

“Please come this way. Will you just be needing help with the sale?”

“Actually, I’d like to meet someone higher up if possible?”

“Understood.”

Once Mongmo went inside, the lobby finally settled down.

“A middle schooler Awakener? With ether? Is this a scoop?”

One reporter, grinning ear to ear as if he’d just hit the jackpot, checked his camera.

“…Huh? What the? Why is there nothing here?”

But his photos showed nothing but the empty information desk, sitting there all by itself.

“I definitely… took the shot?”

***

Upon hearing the news, Kim Min-woo immediately prepared to receive his guest.

An ether sale inquiry, no less.

Normally he would have been thrilled, but right now he felt anything but.

Because the boy he’d briefly glimpsed on the monitor didn’t show up on any footage.

Like a ghost, the boy appeared on not a single CCTV feed.

‘…An artifact?’

It could be an artifact from the labyrinth, so he braced himself thoroughly.

Knock knock.

“Come in.”

A staff member opened the door and a young boy walked in.

“Are you the big shot?”

“Yes. I’m Association Chairman Kim Min-woo.”

“I’m Mongmo.”

Mongmo? What kind of name was that?

“…Excuse me, but.”

“That’s right, I’m not human.”

“…?”

The bluntness of it left Kim Min-woo at a loss for words.

He hadn’t been thinking anything quite that extreme.

He’d just assumed the boy might have an artifact or something…

Regardless, Mongmo plopped into a seat with a cheeky grin.

“In a world with labyrinths and Awakeners, something like me shouldn’t be all that surprising, right?”

For now, Kim Min-woo kept all possibilities open and continued the conversation.

With labyrinths in the picture, a non-human entity showing up wasn’t exactly far-fetched.

“…We’ve never seen anything like this outside the labyrinth.”

“Well, before those things existed, nobody even thought of there being an ‘outside,’ did they?”

“…So what’s your purpose?”

“I told you, I’m selling ether.”

Mongmo smiled and held up the ether.

A glowing white orb.

As Association Chairman, Kim Min-woo had seen ether in person many times before, so he could tell.

This was real ether.

“If you’d only wanted to sell, you wouldn’t have needed to meet me.”

“That’s right. My Master is quite the chicken… I mean, quite cautious, so he sent me to talk on his behalf.”

Master?

Kim Min-woo frowned as he sat down.

“Your master?”

“Yes. The person who sent me. This ether is something he found.”

As Kim Min-woo stewed in frustration, Mongmo rolled the ether around on his fingertip.

“You need a lot of these, don’t you?”

“…Yes, we do.”

“And you need plenty of magic stones too?”

“Obviously.”

Mongmo smiled and looked Kim Min-woo in the eye.

“I’ll sell you one ether every month. Along with a large supply of magic stones.”

“A-are you serious?”

“Yes. But I have a favor to ask.”

“…A favor?”

“Yes. A favor.”

As he smiled, his lips curling upward, Mongmo’s canines glinted faintly.

“Put out a notice to the Awakeners. Tell them not to kill monsters.”

“……Excuse me?”

“More specifically….”

The condition attached to a regular monthly ether sale.

“Tell them not to kill the goblins that appear on Labyrinth Layer 2.”

It was a goblin hunting ban.

****

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