episode_0032

‘It’s not easy… ‘

After hearing Vivian’s information, I immediately started investigating and headed to the area where students were prohibited from entering where the special evaluation took place.

Of course, I was digging a tunnel using this pseudo-earthworm that I named ‘kernel worm’.

Of course, it would be easiest to coax Carla, who can walk at a human pace, to move around, but the no-student zone is not a no-go zone for no reason.

Moreover, Carla had recently been exercising self-control and working hard to prepare for final exams, to the point where she was minimizing the fun feeding time, so it was inevitable that it would be difficult to coax her.

‘Because he has to do his job too… … ‘

So, I had no choice but to solve this problem myself, and since spiders need to recharge in order to move for a long time, there was nothing like this kernel worm in scouting.

As the kernel worm, which had been digging a tunnel for quite some time, stuck its face out of the ground and twisted its body, clinking its circular jagged teeth, the waves of the surrounding wind were shaking, brightening the surrounding view.

The sight of the green forest in harmony with nature was so wonderful that it made you forget that this was an artificially created environment.

It was definitely a no-go zone for students, so it seemed like there was barely any pretense of popularity.

‘If you were born in a place like this… …

It definitely would have eased my worries at first… … ‘

How did it happen that it bloomed in an academy flower bed instead of a forest like this, and that I ended up living a sleepless life worrying about being caught?

‘But how do I find the dungeon in this wide forest… … ?’

Having put aside self-pity, I began to worry about how to resolve the current situation, which in some ways felt a little vague.

The place I was looking for was the dungeon where the practical evaluation I heard about from Vivian was taking place.

Special evaluation was something that could bring me quite good benefits.

‘If Vivian says so, this may be a unique opportunity for me.’

A rough special evaluation that emphasizes practicality.

According to Vivian’s description, it is said that there are not many cases where life is in danger, but it is said that monsters and beings called demi-humans are mobilized.

‘Then doesn’t that mean that no matter what happens, it could be worth it?’

No matter how weak a monster is, it will still be a monster.

No matter how weak I was, I was still capable of secretly fighting a defenseless girl.

If that were to be considered in real life, a dog like ‘Tochi’ next door would never be used for evaluation.

‘I might have to take some risks, but…

If we do it well, it might be an opportunity to secure something.’

I was already anxious about growing up.

A situation came up that might have been an opportunity for me.

‘Then let’s go a little further… ‘

It’s good to breathe the green forest air, but now is the time to move forward.

That was the moment when my kernel worm wriggled back into the tunnel.

– Crumbling-!!

‘Wow!! Wow!!’

The moment the kernel worm’s head is immersed in the tunnel, something heavy hits it.

I was startled by the presence of something unidentified that was trying to dig up the ground as if it was trying to dig up a tunnel I had dug, and I ended up squirming and being pinned to the spot.

‘what!! What!!’

Feeling like my heart was sinking, I bit back the kernel worm and quickly turned around and dug a tunnel to avoid the being that seemed like it was going to dig up the ground and catch me if I continued like this.

I couldn’t come to my senses and was running away by digging a tunnel. Only after running through the ground for a long time was I finally able to stop in one place.

‘Is that…? … ?’

I was finally able to find some time to gather my thoughts, and I began to think carefully about the being I had just met.

Maybe it’s one of those monsters that were just said to be used for special evaluations.

I didn’t know if they were just trapped in this forest for some reason.

Suddenly, after encountering the presence that made me realize that I was weak, I was able to once again feel the danger of this incident, which I had only vaguely thought about until now.

‘It’s not just a matter of getting something or not… …

If you do something wrong, it’s a problem that will set you back… … ‘

Right now, only one worm was sent for reconnaissance, but the plan was to mobilize one more kernel worm later.

Therefore, if he made a mistake, he could lose all of the power he invested in, including all ten precious eggs collected from Vivian.

Of course, we should be able to collect eggs again from Vivian and Ranie, who will be ovulating again next month…

‘No one knows what will happen in the meantime… … ‘

Isn’t that why I try to rush no matter what I do?

If I didn’t have anxiety about this uncertain future in the first place, I could just leisurely kill time and slowly grow the colony.

However, as we tried to improve the current uncertain situation more efficiently and in a timely manner, it was inevitable that we would encounter a situation like the current one.

‘If you do it well… If we do it well somehow… … ‘

You can make great profits by taking advantage of this situation, called special evaluation.

For now, I just do what I have to do.

As I was about to gather my thoughts again and start digging the tunnel, a thought suddenly popped into my head and I began to shed cold fluids.

‘This place… Where… … ?’

It was some time later that I, who was already feeling a sense of crisis, realized that if I wanted to go back, I just had to go back through the tunnel I had dug.

.

.

.

.

.

.

‘I was really surprised… …

Am I really human? … ?

No, it’s Enic now… …

Just because you become a monster doesn’t mean your intelligence deteriorates…?’

I wasted a lot of time on foolish things that felt like darkness under a lamp.

Since I had been randomly digging through the ground without any sense of direction, I first began to dig into the ground to check my surroundings as carefully as possible.

‘Watch your face… Something will come out of my head again… … ‘

When I thought about how careful I must have been at this moment, I was so nervous that I wondered if I had ever been this careful in my life.

I was so scared that I gently raised my head and looked around, and this time I was able to relax a little after confirming that there was no danger.

‘but… It’s one thing to know this place… …

It doesn’t seem like there’s anything in particular… So now… … ‘

If you’ve found a way so far but haven’t found anything, now the only thing left is to go back.

It was a moment when I was about to plunge my head into the tunnel again with a slightly heavy heart, thinking that maybe it would be better to just pursue steady, slow, and steady growth.

I flinched and raised my head again as I felt a subtle sensation flowing into the tiny vibration-sensing cilia on the kernel worm’s body.

‘what?’

Cilia are basically used to detect vibrations in the ground, but because they are so delicate, they also respond to wind and sound.

Although I doubt whether what I just felt should be considered a ‘sound’, I was starting to think that it was at least clear that I had sensed something.

‘It’s different from the guy who attacked me earlier.’

That’s right, this sound was coming from a bit far away, but it was far from the ferocious feeling from before.

‘I’m not sure, but… … ‘

An unstable but promising path.

As if I was possessed, I started walking towards that road, and despite my confidence, I worked hard to dig into the ground and made my way towards that place.

‘there is. I don’t know what it is, but it’s there… ‘

A subtle vibration continues to echo through the ground.

And the surrounding scene is reflected by the reflection of that vibration.

Although that soft and blurry vision felt frustrating, it was telling me one thing.

At least whatever I was looking for, I had it right around the corner.

‘here… That’s right… This is the place called the dungeon… … ‘

Even though I was chased as if I was running away, I was eventually found.

I don’t know if it’s preparation for a special evaluation or something, but this dungeon seems to have something going on.

‘Let’s take a look around and be careful… Things like that from earlier might be going around here too… … ‘

Feeling nervous again, I began crawling through the ground of the dungeon, paying all attention to the slight vibrations.

However, one thing I learned was that in this dungeon, which felt similar to a maze but was organized more like a human hand than expected, there was nothing in particular moving around.

Rather, only the subtle vibrations that had brought me here seemed to be tempting me, as if I could discover their identity if I searched a little more.

‘Let’s do it…’ Because there is nothing dangerous…

You just have to be careful… … Come to your senses… ‘

This time, I started digging into the ground in a straight line toward the place where the vibrations were coming from. How long did I swim underground toward the vibrations that seemed to be getting louder and louder?

As if I had reached the end of the earth, I felt the earthen wall in front of me crumbling helplessly. I was thrilled when I realized that I had finally reached the place I was aiming for.

‘come… I’m here… … ‘

I couldn’t help but wonder about the identity of this vibration that seemed to be tempting me.

When I realized that my surroundings were safe, I was like sticking out a hole in the upper wall of a large room, and as I looked around, an incredible sight was unfolding before my eyes.

‘This… … !!’