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Translator: penny
Chapter: 83
Chapter Title: Growth
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'Mana stones are incredibly useful items.'
In workshops, they're used as materials for magical engineering. When using them directly, they restore mana, and sometimes they're used to 'lure' monsters or as emergency tools.
They're not rare items, but they're versatile in so many ways that both demand and supply are high.
I had stockpiled a ton of mana stones from hunting giant bats overnight.
I pulled one out and dangled it in front of the harpy.
Gulp.
The creature's throat bobbed dramatically, showing clear interest. When I held out the thumb-sized black stone, the harpy instinctively opened its mouth.
I popped it right into its maw.
「?!」
The harpy's eyes lit up instantly. It sucked on it like a hard candy for a moment before crunching it up and swallowing.
And then the change came.
Whoosh!
A shimmering light enveloped it, settling into the harpy's body.
'Its height grew a tiny bit...? Or not?'
I couldn't be sure. The change was too subtle to detect with the naked eye.
It couldn't be helped since the mana stone was low-grade. I pulled out another one.
「!!」
No sooner had I done so than it snatched and devoured it with a snap.
It must really love the taste. Its cheeks puffed out happily. I quietly observed it while feeding it yet another mana stone.
'Physical manifestation coming first wouldn't be ideal.'
All creatures undergo physical growth through repeated evolutions. Being strong doesn't just mean intellectual growth.
In any case, when evolving with mana stones, it splits into either physical growth first or mental growth first.
The odds are fifty-fifty, with each stone causing one or the other.
'If physical growth hits first, it'll be a headache.'
In simple terms, if it gets stronger than me, it'll be hard to control.
'Hard to tell from appearance. Guess I need the info window.'
I opened the harpy's info window with Full Appraisal.
Name: Harpy
Strength: 10
Agility: 27 (+2)
Stamina: 25
Intelligence: 1 (+1)
The harpy had just devoured a mana stone, boosting its intelligence by 1.
For reference, this intelligence stat has nothing to do with intellectual growth. Getting smarter doesn't translate to stats. Even high intelligence doesn't rule out being a blockhead.
So, if I feed it a mana stone and a stat goes up?
That means physical growth. No stat increase? Then it's gotten smarter.
'Fed it 10 stones, 3 stat ups.... So far, so good.'
This is nerve-wracking.
Feels just like gambling. I'd seen others evolve pets plenty of times, but doing it myself was a first.
And who feeds something this expensive to a monster...?
'I get now why everyone's so obsessed.'
I kept feeding it mana stones, watching for changes. Since they were low-grade, progress was glacial, but after surpassing 50 stones, visible differences emerged.
'Height's increased a bit, and feather colors changed.'
The dull browns and blacks faded, replaced by vibrant, parrot-like plumage.
Its short bob haircut remained, but the color shifted to a rainbow ombre. And, uh.... its pubic hair matched.
'Eyes look sharper, at least.'
No other major changes. It was already pretty in face and figure.... Oh, one thing: hands sprouted where there were only wings before, and feather count decreased slightly.
'Feeding mana stones inevitably brings external changes.'
These are pure combat grade boosts. With each evolution, all demi-human monsters edge closer to humanity.
They think like humans, form groups like humans, and sometimes wield human tools and magic.
Their bodies adapt accordingly.
'But they never fully become human.'
If I had to compare, it's like the Basta race from some game—human-like, but with distinct features screaming "not human."
That's how we judge them.
If it doesn't look human yet, it's not much threat. If it eerily resembles one, run.
'Last mana stone.'
The harpy finally polished off all 97. Thankfully, stat growth wasn't excessive.
Name: Harpy
Strength: 18 (+8)
Agility: 36 (+11)
Stamina: 35 (+10)
Intelligence: 10 (+10)
Out of 97, only 39 converted to stats. That meant substantial mental growth. The key question was whether it met my expectations....
"Hey, wanna come home with me?"
"?"
It tilted its head. Natural reaction since it hadn't learned human speech yet. But the harpy cocked its head at me and continued.
「Go homee?」
Not stopping there, it startled itself and practiced babbling.
「Gonna... go home...?」
「Home... go....」
It mumbled words it'd heard from me often.
Didn't seem to grasp the meaning.
'Voice softened too.'
Used to be shrill and grating; now it's smoother, cuter.
「Kyaaang! H-how? How'd I say go home alone?」
It mimicked my words repeatedly, even nailing a dead [Human Hunter] impression.
Seeing that, I relaxed.
'This level means it knows who's boss.'
If it can mimic speech, it can distinguish its owner.
Sure enough, the babbling harpy toddled over, rubbing its head on my shoulder.
It messed up my hair, peeked at my face—clearly aware I wouldn't hurt it now.
Its eyes brimmed with curiosity.
'Harpies love messing up their owner's hair.'
Taming success.
Whew. I let out a satisfied sigh. Wasting that many mana stones would've sucked.
I brushed off my butt and stood.
「Kyaaang. Go home.」
"...Man, this thing got heavy."
Breasts and butt didn't grow much.... Nor did its height explode.
'Bone density, maybe?'
No interest in biology, so I couldn't pinpoint why, but it felt a quarter heavier.
Sudden worry hit. Could it still fly at this weight? Some evolved harpies couldn't.
'Ended up waddling like fat chickens.'
Please not that.... I eyed it worriedly, then spotted a new ability in its info window.
Name: Flight
Grade: Advanced
Description: Manipulates surrounding air currents to levitate the body and fly in desired directions. Consumes mana.
Previously pure physical flight; now it mixes stamina with mana.
"Phew, dodged the chicken waddle tech."
Aerial mob that can't fly? Horrifying.
「Chick...?」
"Yeah, something like that. You're different, so relax."
'Time to summon the crew.'
It was well past lunchtime, heading into late afternoon.
I pulled out the letter envelope and summoned them one by one.
"Min-jun!"
The Saintess rushed in first, casting recovery on me. Han So-hee scanned the surroundings warily.
Our area was a bloodbath.
Shin Seo-yeon strode right up, raising her voice.
"Dickhead!"
"?"
"Why am I last?! Summon me before this shorty at least!"
"Tsk tsk, oppa sniffed out your half-dead auntie ending. Give up."
Today's usual bickering between Lee Se-ra and the Crimson Flame Witch.
They were about to escalate in front of me when they spotted the harpy on my lap. Eyes widened in unison.
"My spot!"
"Who the hell is this bitch?!"
Lee Se-ra charged the harpy, shoving to move it. But excluding intelligence, their stats were even.
"My spot! Move!"
「Who this bitch? My spot...!」
The harpy clung atop me, unbudging. While the two sub-150cm shorties tussled, Shin Seo-yeon approached, glaring daggers.
"Dickhead, you keep popping out kids if I look away? And a monster this time?!"
"Cut the nonsense. Destination's close. Let's hit the rest area."
"Hey hey, don't dodge. Where you sneaking off to? Say something, sis! You too, Ha-na!"
The Saintess and Han So-hee gathered. Seeing the harpy wrestle Lee Se-ra, they just looked intrigued.
"Fascinating. So akin to us humans."
"Uh, um.... Sh-should we get it some clothes?"
Shin Seo-yeon stared incredulously.
"What? That's it? Nothing else?"
"What do you mean?"
"Argh, frustrating! Sis, fine, but you too, Ha-na? Dickhead brings her for what? Huh? Am I the crazy one fuming? Me, jealous of this slut... Argh!"
She hopped mad, but the Saintess blinked innocently, clueless, while Han So-hee snorted.
"Just a monster. Why fuss?"
"For real? Wow, only I care? Am I the weirdo?"
"Won't deny you're weird. But jealous of a monster? Have some human dignity."
"..."
Shin Seo-yeon bubbled with retorts but turned away, glaring at me again as no one backed her.
"Still...! No way this flies!"
She rolled up sleeves, flames roaring up her arms threateningly.
"Huh? Why's auntie flipping ou—urk...."
Lee Se-ra recoiled seeing the Crimson Flame Witch's face.
「?!」
The harpy atop me trembled at the fire.
Evolution made it stronger and smarter, but deep PTSD doesn't shake easy.
'...Ah, it pissed itself on me.'
Sighing at the dampness, Shin Seo-yeon closed in, taking her final step.
"Hey, hand it over."
"For what."
"To kill it!"
Whoosh! Flames surged with her rage. The harpy yelped, hopping off my shoulder to hide behind me.
"Leave it."
"Why!"
"Got uses for it."
"Bull! I know your game. Planning to letter it to our dorm!"
I nodded casually; the Saintess's eyes widened.
"Eh? Not releasing it here? It's cute, but...."
"Sis, cuteness ain't the issue!"
Shin Seo-yeon seemed to sniff out even the banging potential.
As queen bee banning party romance, she'd spot that easy.
But I know her well.
Authoritatively, she can't kill it.
To her eyeing a roast chance, I said flatly,
"Seo-yeon, douse the flames. This is a golden goose."
"What?"
"Golden goose."
Killing intent vanished; the Crimson Flame Witch perked up.
"Meaning?"
"Lays eggs. Priceless ones."
"...For real?"
"Yeah. No joke. You'll faint."
"!!"
I eyed her meaningfully; her eyes sparkled.
Arm flames long gone. Classic money-grub switch.
"Lay cycle?"
"Later. But one thing: no stress for egg-laying. No need to baby it, just don't bully."
She grinned sweetly.
"Got it!"
She marched up, slinging an arm around the trembling harpy.
"Hey, let's get along?"
Shivering like a mouse in cat paws. Prodding froze it solid.
Delighted, Shin Seo-yeon toyed: nipple tweaks, pussy pokes, feather plucks.
"...Seo-yeon, you get what I said?"
She beamed back.
"Relax! Sis, one heal please!"
Torture till near-tears, then Saintess heal. Recovery mends mental stress too—smart exploit.
Tears sucked right back in.
Blink blink.
"Good?"
She checked; I shook my head.
'Her cunning's unreal.'
Her torment dragged on; I watched idly.
Thuggish as hell, but not pointless.
'Seo-yeon's a selection process optimizer. Like a novel protag hogging everything, never loses.'
Always ulterior motives.
Like now. Arm-in-arm, she whispered to the harpy.
Thought I couldn't hear, but high stats caught it fine.
"...Anyway, you. Dare bad thoughts near our Dickhead, you're done. Got it?"
Nod nod.
"If harm comes to Dickhead, you die ugly. Guard him, whatever it takes."
Nod nod nod nod.
Oblivious it doesn't understand speech, she menaced for confirmations.
"Be good? Sis is watching?"
Nod nod.
Whatever she said, endless nodding.
That day, it learned: agree with Crimson Flame Witch, survive.
...After that rough rite, the harpy earned party entry.
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