I summoned Lucky the giant red panda without any issues.
But what now? It’s afternoon already, so I don’t really have time to go mine ether crystals. So I’m about to leave, but the issue is Lucky.
Lucky stands at two meters tall, making it smaller than when I first encountered it. That doesn’t make it any easier to take it outside with me, so I want to undo the summoning, but the moment I think that, Lucky becomes small.
“Kyuru.”
“Yes. You’re not heavy, so it’s all right, Lucky.”
“Kyurururu.”
It’s now about the size of a regular red panda, but it looks young too. This is just a feeling, but if I were to put what I’m getting from Lucky into words, it would be that it turned itself into what it was like when it was younger, so it consumes less magic energy. Are summon beasts really this convenient? Strange.
But then there’s no problem, right? Asks Lucky while tilting its head, and I have to nod. Apparently Lucky doesn’t want to undo the summon, and wants to move around freely.
Then it climbs on my back and stays there. Maybe it’s because I’m its master, but I barely feel any weight.
There is a bit of a fuss as I exit the dungeon, but that is down to Lucky’s adorableness. I never thought I’d hear high school girls go kyah kyah around me at this age.
Then I present the video to the AI for analysis, and Lucky is now treated as a tamed beast. An employee gives me a collar with the Seeker Association’s mark, and a car sticker that says tamed beast on board.
The collar is made using technology from the dungeon, so it will stretch even when Lucky turns big again. The first one is free, but if it breaks, I have to buy the next one.
I figured the analysis would show it’s a summon beast, but it didn’t really mention it. Maybe there is a restriction in place. This AI typically doesn’t leak personal information, so it’s said that’s no reason to be concerned, but I believe it.
In any case, after exiting the Yoshikawa Gate, I reach the parking lot where my dear automobile is parked. Ah, I need to put that sticker.
And then I drive with Lucky.
“Kyuru? Kyurururu!?”
Lucky starts looking all around from the backseat. It can’t hide its excitement over a world it’s never seen. I focus on driving, with Lucky in my peripheral vision, and start thinking about the dungeon.
First of all, I can carry about forty ether crystals.
The money I get from them depends on the ether in them, but it’s about fifty thousand yen. If Lucky helps me carry them, I should be able to get four times more. That means if I work hard, I should be able to get two, three hundred thousand per exploration or more… But I don’t intend to do that forever.
Lucky is weaker than when I first found it, but that big body should make it an excellent fighter. And the searcher drone already proved its worth. Then you add my cannons, and I should do quite well in this dungeon. There is no reason for someone aiming to be the greatest seeker to stop.
I’m curious about what lies beyond the other pipe, but when I’m done with that, I want to start planning to go to a more profitable dungeon.
Having more to do boosts my motivation.
———————————
You can’t run from it.
You can’t turn away from it.
It is a thing that dishes out death. Robs life.
And the sad howl of beasts will echo underground.
Thanks.