Soul Monarch: The Eclipse Feast Online

Between Monsters and Dungeons

I looked at Megaera with a look 'explain the meaning of all this'.

Looking at my gaze, Megaera said, "Originally you know, Ratfolk is not from a natural mutation."

Then what does that mean? I still need more explanation, yeah.

"Yes, so is it possible that it's all caused by what looks like a strange building in the middle of it?" reply with a little joking tone. However ...

"It's unexpected that you've expected it, then it'll all be shorter."

... Megaera agreed with my answer.

Hey, is what I said jokingly true?!

"Wait a minute, explain everything from the beginning, yeah. And that strange building, what exactly is it?”

Megaera showed an interested tone with my question, I could not see her face —because of mask— but I think she was smiling playfully.

"Isn't that obvious, Disciple. It's a Dungeon."

Okay, well, I still need more explanation. So far the word mutation, natural, and Dungeon are words that seem to be important from now on. But it was clearly incomplete, it still lacked a single piece that connected them all if likened to a puzzle.

"I asked how it worked, yeah. It wasn't about whether it was a Dungeon or not. Relationships, I need to know what the correlation is between them."

"Hmm .. I think you're right too. Even if you can understand it comes from a Dungeon, because what it is happening is very unlikely to be known by someone who does not even understand the aura."

Ugh. Yes, I can hear one of my heart voices screaming in pain from crying tofu. Is that how happy you are to bother me?

"Dirae."

"Yes," I answered reflexively, this is the first time Megaera has called my name.

"Are you aware of why the monsters inside the Dungeon are stronger than the monsters that roam freely?"

Ya? I have never even entered a Dungeon during play, but if told to guess then ...

"... Well, it's a mutation, isn't it?" answered doubt. That's all I can think of from the key points I got from Megaera earlier.

"For this time, this self will give you one clap. That's right, the concentration of mutations within the Dungeon exceeds the natural level for any creature and cannot be permanently inhabited."

"Yes, then why do the monsters even live there more often?"

"Are you really stupid? Listen to this self-explanation."

Yeah, yeah, it's my fault.

"Actually the monsters were just a mutated form of another creature. But because of the interference of such a large number of Curses in a being, its life form becomes unstable and do you know what will happen after that?"

Megaera looked at me with interested eyes, I knew she was deliberately stalling but it still managed to hold my breath. Yes, nine out of ten was because he mentioned the Curse.

"... It forced the creatures to undergo an evolutionary leap" he said.

"Even if the creature after him is very unstable, it is not a problem. After evolution, the monsters became stronger so they could survive, and also had a new ability to adapt to support their new bodies.

"However, that also does not mean without cost. As long as you know, mutations do make themselves stronger monsters. But it also does not mean without any reply at all.

“Unlike natural mutations that change slowly step by step, mutations in Dungeons that occur so quickly make the physique of one being change so often. And of course, the controlling organs of the whole body, the brain, are also undergoing major changes.

"Hmm .. After all, it made the monsters behave very differently than before. All because they experienced some circumstances. Not only is it physically altered due to the presence of a new limb, but what happens is actually more than that.

“Their mental condition has also been greatly disturbed. Severe confusion and difficulty thinking. It is also a mess in thinking, remembering, and concentrating. It makes them experience hallucinations, delusions, behavioral changes, and reduced awareness of the surrounding environment.

"In a nutshell, those— monsters can barely discern their own reality and thoughts."

I don't know why that sounds like a really bad mental disorder. Before that, what mental illness had been found in the EFO world? Well, I still don't know either. But ...

"Hmm? Did you mention this name directly? This self will be kind and ignore it this time."

So he's still very attentive to it, huh?

"That's because this self has seen it directly with its own eyes, about how one experiences change because of it. Um, someone ...."

"Yeah?"

I want to ask you again. However, yes, it looks like Megaera has entered a strange phase so ... Good. Just let go now, after all he'll talk again later.

"Do you understand it?" megera asked me after she recovered.

"I understand. But if it's within a Dungeon, why are those Ratfolk outside?"

"Hmm? This self I think I missed it."

Yeah, you missed it, you know.

"These selves have said that monsters can hardly tell which is reality and which is their own mind right?"

Megaera glanced at me who gave a small nod before continuing her explanation.

"That is the basis for why monsters born within Dungeons cannot enter and exit freely. Their minds had been muddled, in such confusion, this self felt impossible they could find a way out unless luck sided with them."

What was the basis of the mechanism where monsters remained within the Dungeon and did not escape out?

"However, there is one form of exception," said Megaera teasingly. "That is when a new type of monster is not formed again for a certain period of time and a balance is created. It might take a long time, but monsters would naturally breed with each other and after hundreds or maybe touching thousands of generations, that was when their minds were clearer and not the origin of a wild rampage.

"That's what caused the monsters to come out of the Dungeon on a large scale. In common terms you may hear a lot, this is called Overhelm.

"Therefore, if a territory finds a Dungeon, they are required to clean it periodically for security. Although the higher the level of a Dungeon the chances of an Overhelm happening the lower it was, but if it really happened, it was only a disaster.

"Just be honest. This self thought that in the absence of valuable materials that were faster to form within the Dungeon, the, those nobles would not bother to take care of it and surely an organization like the Alliance on the surface would not be formed voluntarily."

I feel that Megaera has discussed many important things from the point of view of this world. However, my priorities have not changed much.

"So, you're saying those mice are the generation in which they entered the Overhelm phase?"

"As expected, you understand it immediately. Even if they haven't entered it, they will. But it's just as dangerous to leave, so you don't have to hesitate to slaughter them all. They would only be a serious matter if not cleaned up immediately."

Ugh, he saw it. Well, I was indeed a bit hesitant to attack, my conscience did not allow it

You know, even though I was aware that they (Ratfolk) were considered Demi-human monsters. But yes, when you see them form a settlement like humans— People in EFO. It still bothers me.

I'm not a stone-hearted person, yes. Quite the contrary, my heart is so soft as tofu. Uh, chewy tofu instead of soft. Ice cream alone, it is soft but also cold. Is it cold-hearted?

Ugh, I got hungry when I talked about food.

"Then, I'll do it as you wish."

Looks like I have to let go of this mentality for a while, I thought seriously while still drifting, imagining some other kind of food.

"alright. Then, this self will move first and Disciple, stay behind and support myself."

It's a bit unusual for Megaera to choose to appear from the front, but that's just the request.

———

Hah ... finally finished also this Chapter. This has been delayed quite a while since there was little sentiment to the rats. They have become the second favorite character (as far as I've written) after Reena. The megaera? He's still in the back far behind the rat :|

Yeah, just in EFO okay, not in real. Anyway, this has to be what it can do.

So leave the likes, comments to keep the spirit, share and favorite not to miss. Okay.