Chapter 10
[ Breaking News ] Government to Completely Reexamine Magic Beast Pet Regulations… “Closing the Barn Door After the Horse Has Bolted?”
[ Exclusive ] “We’re No Longer Falling Behind the Continent”… Korea’s Magic Beast Pet Industry Bill Passes the National Assembly!
[ Analysis ] “China Is Flying While Korea Is Still Learning to Walk”… The Grim Three-Year History of Korea’s Magic Beast Pet Industry
[ Issue ] After Losing Everything While Crying Only “Safety”… Industry Reaction to Korea’s Declaration of Eased Pet Regulations Is “Chilly”
[ Economy ] “The U.S. and China Are Flying Ahead…” Korea’s Magic Beast Pet Industry, Hobbled by Regulations, Finally Announces Easing Measures
[ Special Report ] “What’s the Point of Easing Them Now?”… The Bitter Reality of K-Pet Industry Technology and Capital Being Snatched Overseas
*
“Oh… Magic beast pet regulations are being eased!”
*
At long last, regulations concerning magic beasts had been eased across the board.
*
The news that Hunter Yeon Harim had recently begun making waves thanks to her magic beast pet had probably spread, prompting the government to view the matter more favorably this time.
The ‘Ceraunos model,’ which had played a decisive role in Yeon Harim’s performance and might make her the next S-Rank Hunter.
Even if I wanted to keep its existence hidden, it possessed a presence that couldn’t easily be concealed.
Perhaps it was because it was a bird of prey wreathed in thunderbolts, but it was certainly rather conspicuous.
In any case, the biggest problem—magic beast pet regulations—had been greatly eased thanks to it, so it was a win for me.
‘Of course… Public opinion is still bad despite the easing of regulations, but that’s not my problem.’
After the government had made such a huge mess of magic beast pet policy, Korea had fallen seriously behind in the pet industry. You could call it karma.
From the public’s perspective, this was an industry whose stock had been soaring, only for the government to step in and smash everything to pieces… How frustrating must that have been? This was an age when the Hunter industry was practically synonymous with national power!
‘Well, even when they smashed it all to pieces, they probably never imagined the pet meta would arrive.’
I hadn’t imagined the pet industry would grow this large back then, either.
*
“Pant, pant….”
The spotted Jelly Dog entered the unfamiliar space and wandered around, sniffing at its surroundings.
“That’s right, Happy. This is our new workshop. It’s spacious, isn’t it?”
“Pant, pant….”
I used the large sum of money I’d received from Hunter Yeon Harim to expand the shop first.
As it happened, the second floor directly above the shop had been vacant for some time, so I rented it to use as a workshop.
I tore down the walls of the old workshop on the first floor, doubling the shop’s floor space. The newly rented second floor became a cultivation room, enhancement room, warehouse, and workshop, and was currently awaiting the brand-new equipment I’d ordered.
Technology had improved so much these days that interior renovations could be finished in the blink of an eye.
“Let’s see….”
I placed one Jellykko on the temporary workbench and pondered.
“…Pant, pant… Pant, pant….”
[ Name 》 Undecided ]
[ Model Name 》 Jellykko MK - 1 ]
[ Magic Core Rank 》 F ]
[ Lifespan 》 6 months ]
[ Traits 》 None ]
It was great to provide Hunters with custom-made pets, but I wanted to make household pets, too.
Moonshadow was in the process of building a system for me, so I didn’t have any custom-made pet commissions at the moment. I had been thinking about improving the Jellykko model for some time, and I decided to use this opportunity to do it.
Jellykko was my very first creation, and one of the reasons my shop had managed to survive until now was precisely this Jellykko model.
Besides, there was the ‘God of the Jelly Dogs’ who had given me my EX-Rank ability…
When I thought of that existence, I could never neglect the Jellykkos.
“First, I need to solve the lifespan problem.”
Happy, the prototype Jelly Dog, had a lifespan of only four months. Now that my proficiency had risen considerably, creating one with the same design gave it a lifespan two months longer.
But even so, its lifespan was far too short.
The cause of its short lifespan was the F-Rank magic core, which could be considered the lowest grade.
The lower the rank of a magic core, the lower the difficulty of its design and cultivation.
Since it was my first creation, I had based Jellykko’s design on an F-Rank core… The materials were cheap, and the difficulty was low, after all.
‘That’s why Jellykko’s existing design can’t contain a higher-rank magic core.’
Jellykko’s frail physical specifications couldn’t even withstand an E-Rank magic core. Ordinary magic beasts had their core rank optimized from the design stage, so there was no taking a shortcut by replacing the core with a higher-rank one after completion.
‘Although replacing a magic core is practically an insane procedure on the level of severing and reconnecting every nerve in the body.’
【 Enhancement 】
“But… with my ability, I can find another way.”
“Pant, pant….”
Normally, it was practically impossible, but…
What if I could make Jellykko’s magic core ‘grow’ together with its body?
Some Magic Beast Alchemists had been researching magic beasts capable of growing alongside their Hunters over long periods of time.
But the more they researched, the more they realized that it belonged to the realm of fantasy with current technology.
However, I possessed an EX-Rank trait, as well as data on Happy, a Jellykko who had transcended the boundaries of ordinary magic beasts.
That was why I was confident I could achieve an absurd enhancement—but only for Jellykko, with its simplest possible F-Rank structure.
The first growth-type magic beast in history.
I intended to make that first magic beast a Jellykko.
*
A new banner hanging outside Yoo Hyun’s shop
[ Grand Reopening Event! Slime Puppy ‘Jellykko Model’ Discount Sale! ]
[ Revolutionary Lifespan Increase: 6 Months → Up to 10 Years! ]
[ Guardian God of the Family! Comes with the Jelly Barrier Trait! ]
[ This Puppy… Sure Pants a Lot! Feel the Bounciness Beyond All Limits! ]
“Wow… Boss, did you solve the Jellykkos’ lifespan problem? Come to think of it, Happy’s still going strong, isn’t he?”
Kim Jia, a regular who often came to feed the Jellykkos, had visited the shop and was petting them as she spoke.
“Well, yeah. Since we’re at it, do you want to take a Jellykko home, too? I’ll give you a special discount on one.”
“Hmm… I’d love to take one home, but my parents really hate magic beasts.”
Ah, that explained it… She visited the shop every week to see the Jellykkos, but she hadn’t seemed interested in buying one. Apparently, her parents hated magic beasts.
Magic beasts ultimately originated from monster materials, after all… People who had gone through horrifying experiences during the Gate Crisis hated them intensely.
‘That can’t be helped….’
I understood that much, too.
Ding—
A young mother entered the shop with her child.
“Boss, um… I heard you’re having a sale on Jelly Dogs… Could we buy one? My child really wants to take one home.”
“Oh my, you came to the right place! Do you see one you like? Go ahead and pick one.”
The shop had been renovated, and thanks to the discount event, the Jellykkos sold extremely well.
They didn’t bark, didn’t shed, were easy to train, and even their waste was jelly poop, so it didn’t smell at all. Their teeth and claws were jelly, too, so they weren’t dangerous.
Thanks to the solution to its lifespan problem, Jellykko had become the perfect pet.
As for the details of Jellykko’s enhancement…
The enhancement had been a tremendous success.
[ Name 》 Undecided ]
[ Model Name 》 Jellykko MK - 1 ]
[ Magic Core Rank 》 F+ ]
[ Lifespan 》 1 year 6 months ]
[ Traits 》 Jelly Barrier (E+) ]
[ This magic beast has undergone a special enhancement process. ]
First, I drew out its potential as a slime, raising its feeding ability and regenerative power to their limits.
Jellykko could now absorb magic cores and repair its own core.
Of course, in an ordinary household, its owner would feed it snacks specially made for Jellykkos rather than magic cores.
In any case, in theory, Jellykko could live for several decades or more if it consistently ate my snacks.
After more than ten years had passed, the people who had bought Jellykkos would probably begin to find it strange…
By then, my first creation would likely be reevaluated.
EX-Rank Magic Beast Alchemist Yoo Hyun…! The Truth Revealed After Ten Years! His First Creation Was an Immortal Jelly Dog!?
“Heh heh….”
With those thoughts in mind, I sold Jellykkos one after another.
That day, more people visited the shop than ever before.
“Excuse me! How can you sell magic beasts to people when they’re dangerous!? If that thing attacks my Minho, are you going to take responsibility!?”
Of course, there was also an entitled middle-aged woman. She was a familiar nuisance who visited often, so I didn’t pay her much attention.
*
That night, I had my regular call with Yeon Harim, which had by now become part of my daily routine.
[ Yeon Harim ] : A-a growth-type magic beast!?
She sounded extremely shocked. Well, from her perspective, it was understandable. I’d decided not to do anything conspicuous for the time being.
[ Yeon Harim ] : Mr. Hyun… I think you should be careful until the system is ready. Are you sure there won’t be any problems?
[ Me ] : Even if they’re growth-type magic beasts, actually making them grow requires expensive magic cores… And the Jellykkos are F-Rank, so there shouldn’t be a problem.
They were technically growth-type magic beasts, but the Jellykkos raised in ordinary homes couldn’t grow enough to increase in rank.
Their true growth ability remained dormant, so without special conditions, the enhanced Jellykkos were simply Jelly Dogs that lived a long time.
In other words, to everyone else, they would look like nothing more than panting Jelly Dogs.
Even if someone with the Magic Beast Alchemist trait saw a Jellykko, there would be no problem, since its dormant growth ability wouldn’t appear in the status window.
Besides, they were household Jelly Dogs whose only notable feature was how pleasant they felt to touch… Since they weren’t combat pets, there was no way they would attract much attention.
I explained that to Yeon Harim.
[ Yeon Harim ] : Come to think of it, that means there’s no problem at all. What a relief.
Still… although it was F-Rank, it did have a defensive trait called Jelly Barrier.
“Hmm, it’s an E-Rank trait, but… it shouldn’t cause much trouble, right?”
It was common for household magic beasts to possess defensive traits.
*
“Good grief… People have all gone mad, paying money for monsters like that… This is the end of the world.”
The famous regular on the Gaepo-dong moms’ café, ‘Minho’s Mom.’
She was on her way home after filing a complaint at Yoo Hyun’s shop.
As an influential figure who even held an official position in an anti-magic beast civic organization, she was extremely displeased that the government had eased magic beast regulations.
And now there was even a pet shop holding a discount event as though it were celebrating the easing of regulations…
Magic beasts were no different from monsters. Were all these people out of their minds, bringing such creatures into their homes?
She waited for the signal at a crosswalk, and her son Minho happened to be standing across the street.
However…
“Wait, who’s that child beside him…?”
It was a familiar face—Youngmin, who often played with Minho.
No, that wasn’t important.
That disgusting magic beast panting near Youngmin…!!
“That’s the magic beast from that shop…!! I told you to stay away from magic beasts!!!”
She would have to tell him to stop playing with Youngmin, too.
For the sake of her child’s safety.
Minho was petting Youngmin’s Jelly Dog when he spotted his mother standing across the street.
“Mom!”
“Pant… Pant…!”
As soon as the signal changed, Minho ran toward his mother.
The panting yellow Jelly Dog ran after him.
“Mom!! I’m gonna buy a Jellykko, too─”
CRASH—!
But then a truck slammed into Minho.
Whether the driver had entered recklessly to save time or simply hadn’t been watching the road… The reason didn’t matter to Minho’s mom.
“Aaaaahhh!!! Minho!!!!”
Minho’s mom panicked when she saw him fly more than ten meters after being hit by the truck.
The truck driver climbed out of the cab with a dazed expression.
The child had bounced several times as he flew, and considering the impact, it should have been impossible for him to survive.
“Ah… Aah….”
Minho’s mom’s mind went completely blank.
She approached Minho on trembling legs… and soon noticed something strange.
A yellow mass of jelly was completely enveloping Minho’s body.
“W-What is this…?”
Boing—!
The jelly covering Minho’s body contracted again and reshaped itself into a dog.
“…Pant, pant.”
“Mom…!!”
Minho, without a single injury, threw himself into his mother’s arms, crying.
*
The next day
The neighborhood mothers gathered at a café in Gaepo-dong and chatted.
“That’s why I filed another complaint yesterday. Is it really acceptable for people to walk around with dangerous magic beasts? What if they bare their teeth at our children?”
“Exactly! People really don’t understand how frightening magic beasts are, do they? Shouldn’t we take this opportunity to wipe out every magic beast in the neighborhood? What do you think, Minho’s mom?”
Minho’s mom elegantly raised her teacup to her lips, then leisurely opened her mouth as the other parents watched her.
“What do you think? My opinion is a little different.”
“…Pardon?”
Only a few days ago, Minho’s mom had been leading the group by aggressively listing all kinds of examples of how dangerous magic beasts were. Now, her attitude seemed strange.
A sudden change.
Minho’s mom looked around the group and said,
“Have you been following international affairs lately? The magic beast industry is attracting attention as the next-generation Hunter industry. If we step in and hinder it, we’ll be causing a national loss.”
“B-But there have been cases of magic beasts attacking ordinary people and seriously injuring them….”
“That was the case where an ordinary person secretly smuggled in and raised a combat magic beast. There were even signs that it had suffered severe abuse. Cases of household magic beasts causing trouble are extremely rare. If we’re only talking about danger, large dogs are similar. No, properly made magic beasts will become dependable shields protecting our homes. The age of magic beasts is coming—soon, every household will have one.”
“Whaaat……?”
“Uh…….”
…Why was this woman suddenly acting like this…?
*
The next day
Yoo Hyun woke up in the morning and stared blankly at the online articles.
“What the…?”
[ Breaking News ] “Shocking” Magic Beast Saves Child at the Moment a Truck Strikes!
[ Issue ] “Is This Real?” Seven-Year-Old Nearly Crushed by Runaway Truck Saved by Magic Beast’s Protective Trait!
[ Video News ] Dump Truck Charges! Seven-Year-Old Boy Protected by ‘Pudding Shield’! “Video of the Accident Released”
[ Hot Topic ] “I Went to See What the Bang Was and Found a Child Inside Jelly…” The Miracle of Magic Beast Pets Shakes Korea!
Bzzzt—
Just then, my smartphone vibrated.
When I checked it, as expected, I had received a message from Hunter Yeon Harim someone I knew well by now, Yeon Harim had sent me a message.