Chapter 33: Train (6)

Deep Sea Fish Hunting Specialty Broadcast – 33

EP.33 Train (6)

─That thing looks freakishly bizarre.

─Is that even a fish?

─Isn’t that something from a gate?

The chat reactions were explosive. Compared to the other monsters they had seen so far, this ㅜ-shaped monster was exceptionally bizarre.

Unlike the other monsters that at least looked like living creatures, this one was ambiguously un-lifelike.

It lacked that certain something that only living beings possess, a sense of vitality. Even though it was clearly ‘seeing’ with its eyes.

The inexplicable sense of unease Parang felt when she first encountered this monster stemmed from this very ambiguity.

If Parang, who had encountered all sorts of grotesque monsters, felt uneasy, how much more so would the average viewer?

─What is that thing?

─Is it a monster?

─There aren’t even any Umoos around it.

Their curiosity was naturally exploding.

And Parang wanted to provide them with a clear answer if possible.

She didn’t want to give a vague response like, ‘This is a ㅜ-shaped monster… It’s a recent discovery, so I don’t know much about it either.’

As a person, she naturally had the desire to appear impressive in front of many people. Having shown a clumsy side earlier, she also wanted to make up for it.

But she couldn’t pretend to know what she didn’t. Just as she was about to speak with a sense of regret—

– Bzzzz! –

Her phone vibrated.

“Ah, just a moment. I have a message.”

No viewers made comments like ‘Is it your boyfriend?’

Those who would say such things had already been weeded out along with Galecus’s eggs in the first broadcast.

Parang took out her phone and opened SiloTalk.

Given the first-person perspective of her broadcast, the viewers should have seen her phone screen, but it appeared as a black screen to them.

Thanks to Silo’s built-in broadcast screen filtering.

Additionally, Silo put a lot of effort into protecting Parang’s personal information. For example, automatically erasing the ‘departure’ hanging on her ear or preventing certain angles from being viewed in third-person broadcasts.

This was beneficial for Parang.

Anyway, she checked her phone and saw a message from Vertea.

[Capulus: Latin for handle.]

It’s not a mutated Earth fish. Biologically impossible structure. Since it doesn’t drop magic stones when killed, it’s not a gate monster either. Possible explanations include…

The message contained Vertea’s research based on the materials Parang had sent earlier.

‘Handle….’

Vertea had a peculiar sense of naming things.

At first, it seemed absurd to call it a handle, but upon reflection, it did resemble one.

In any case, the information arrived at just the right time. Parang also realized that the person who had donated 1,213 won earlier was Vertea.

Vertea had probably finished researching Capulus a while ago but got distracted by other tasks and only remembered it now while watching the broadcast.

Parang didn’t reach the conclusion that the earlier disruption was also Vertea’s doing.

Regardless, with Vertea’s support, Parang’s words flowed smoothly, like a clear stream through a green mountain.

“This is called Capulus. It was recently discovered, so not much is known about it, but I’ll explain as much as I can based on what I know.”

─We can see you looking at your phone, teacher.

Parang quickly put her phone away.

“I was just checking the time.”

─Why are you scrolling to check the time? (Really don’t know)

─My phone’s clock also needs scrolling to see, no cap.

─Is this for real?

─Do you think it’s real?

Parang ignored the fiery chat and continued her explanation.

“The reason we don’t definitively call it a monster is that it hasn’t been confirmed to be a living organism yet. Researching creatures that are tens of meters long found in the deep sea is extremely difficult. Especially when they have such… um, indeterminate forms.”

─ ‘oo’ donated 10,000 won! –

[ It would be weirder if they could figure it out immediately after discovering something like that. ]

─True.

─If it were me, I’d be too scared to research and would just run away.

─For real, haha. Then I’d hide under my bed and never come out.

─I’d never dive again, haha.

The viewers chimed in with their own comments.

Seeing some endearing messages, Parang smiled slightly.

“You’re kind.”

The chat exploded again.

─Hold on a second.

─Ddu-ddu… ddu-ddu-ddu… ddu-ddu-ddu….

After a little time, Parang was able to continue her proper explanation.

“Capulus looks bizarre, but it’s currently assumed to have no special abilities. My mental barrier skill isn’t activating.”

That was also the case when she first saw it.

“And regarding whether it’s a living organism, opinions are still divided. Those who claim it’s alive base their arguments on… like this.”

– Thunk. –

Parang moved to the right side of Capulus and gave it a nudge, causing its eyeball to spin around and lock eyes with her.

─Ah, damn, that scared me.

─Use your turn signal!!!

─Teacher, are you making a habit of being mean now…

“Oh.”

This time, it really wasn’t intentional, but she had inadvertently taken another step in her pattern of teasing.

“I’m sorry about this one. It wasn’t on purpose.”

Parang was quick to apologize when necessary.

─So all the previous ones were intentional?

─Fact: It’s true.

─Damn, it’s scarier that all the previous ones were intentional.

“Uh, well.”

She realized there was no need to apologize for this.

“I had to make sure you didn’t fall asleep. It couldn’t be helped.”

The chat flared up again, but Parang continued her explanation undeterred.

“Anyway, the fact that it reacts to stimuli is one of the reasons some argue it’s a living organism. This applies to its eyeball, but if you poke it, it also bleeds.”

A mysterious entity living in the deep sea. Moreover, it had a bizarre appearance and was recently discovered, so even experts didn’t know much about it.

The viewers began to feel a strong desire to explore this monster.

The joy of discovering the unknown appeals to everyone, regardless of age or gender.

Although there were no experts, the collective intelligence of the group couldn’t be ignored, and many novel ideas were proposed.

─What if only the eyeball is alive and the T-shaped part is just a shell, like a clam?

─How about giving it some food?

─To see if it’s alive, why not just put that jelly in it?

And one interesting chat caught Parang attention.

The suggestion to try inserting a Sakis.

Both Parang and Vertea felt a spark of inspiration.

This way, they could determine if it was a living organism without having to bring out the Kraken.

“Trying a Sakis, that’s a good idea. I’ll mention it to someone I know.”

─Please say ‘good job’ just once.

“Good job.”

That viewer didn’t type in the chat again after that moment.

Parang wondered if they had something urgent to attend to.

Anyway, the ‘someone I know’ was, of course, Vertea. As the world’s leading authority on monster research, there was no one better.

Not that there were many people researching monsters to begin with.

Give it a try. It sounds like a good idea.

As expected, Vertea, who was watching the broadcast, sent a message immediately.

“They says to give it a try. So, let’s try it.”

Parang grabbed one of the nearby Umoos and placed it near Capulus, rubbing it around.

It looked quite cute, squished between Parang and Capulus like a flat rice cake.

“Hmm, it doesn’t seem interested in entering the body. It’s recognizing it as a non-living object.”

Parang then brought the Umoo to Capulus’s eye.

This time, the reaction was different.

As soon as Parang rubbed the Umoo against Capulus’s eye, the Umoo bit into it.

The viewers were horrified at the thought of the earlier scene happening inside the eye.

─Ah, damn.

─Ugh.

However, contrary to expectations, Capulus’s eye remained perfectly intact. It simply maintained its clean, spherical form.

─?

─Huh?

─What?

So, it bit into it thinking it was a living organism, but it wasn’t. It was like it tasted it and then spat it out.

Neither the body nor the eye was organic.

Therefore, Capulus was inorganic. In other words, it wasn’t a living organism.

“Thanks for the good idea.”

Parang felt good because, for the first time, they had reached a clear conclusion after a series of vague explorations.

But that feeling was short-lived as an undeniable donation came in.

─ ‘ㅇㅇ’ donated 1,000 won! –

[ But who is this person who is so knowledgeable about monsters that the host even takes advice from them? ]

“Ah, that’s…”

Parang hesitated for a moment. This could potentially reveal Oceanos.

─Right, who is it?

─Someone similar to the host?

─Is there anyone similar to the host?

─There could be.

─I can’t imagine it.

Meanwhile, the chat was exploding with curiosity.

─ ‘ㅇㅇ’ donated 1,000 won! –

[ I noticed Capulus isn’t even registered in the academic database. What’s up with that? ]

The ‘academic database’ referred to here is the Hunter Association’s database. Most monster information is registered there for public safety reasons.

Even many monsters are registered, although the depth of research on them is significantly less than that on terrestrial monsters.

‘Hmm….’

After a brief moment of contemplation, Parang made a decision.

“They’re just an acquaintance. It’s a bit difficult to explain since they’re not related to the broadcast.”

No matter how curious the viewers were, some things couldn’t be shared. She spoke briefly and concisely.

Surprisingly, the viewers seemed to accept it readily. They didn’t push for more information.

Most simply accepted it with an “I see,” and the remaining few also responded with “I see.”

After all, they couldn’t openly say they wanted to dig into the personal details of someone unrelated to the broadcast right in front of Parang.

In this calm atmosphere, Parang continued to look around under the seats a bit more, and then her broadcast ended smoothly.

“Then, we’ll stop here for today and explore two more cars tomorrow afternoon. Goodbye, everyone.”

─ Today’s broadcast was packed with content.

─ So, is ‘three days’ three days or four days?

─ Oh no, don’t go.

– Pop. –

“Hoo….”

Parang’s vision went dark. It was natural since the synchronized broadcast had ended.

In the end, they didn’t find any signals from the Slayers in cars 4 and 5.

Parang hadn’t expected much. You can’t be satisfied with the first attempt.

When she took off the device from her eyes, the Sakis that had appeared as an Umoo returned to its original form.

‘Ugh….’

Parang grimaced and quickly exited the train at top speed.

“Kraken.”

―――――!!

The tentacles that entered through the train windows exterminated all the monsters.

Complete eradication was impossible, but this would help control the population to some extent.

Parang returned to her home.

#

Meanwhile, Vertea.

“A broadcast… huh.”n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

She stroked her chin in thought, staring at the blank computer screen.