WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Haruto
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ I Became the EX-Rank Pet Maker Hunters Obsess Over ◈
Chapter 74: EVO Series
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The 156 Hunters from Cheonseong began carefully choosing their first-generation starter magical beasts.
“Ugh... What should I pick?”
“I didn’t think we’d actually have options...”
“Hmm, realistically, I feel like that green amphibian would be a good matchup against Merfolk.”
“I’m picking Ppa-iri!!”
The first model to become popular was the red lizard-shaped magical beast, EVO - Salamander.
Its defining features were its tough red scales and ability to breathe fire.
As its abilities suggested, it was a type of magical beast one could find anywhere. Bluntly put, magical beasts like it were everywhere in shops that sold combat magical beasts.
The sample on the platform flicked out its tongue.
Grrr...
[ Model Name 》 EVO - Salamander ]
[ Mana Core Rank 》 B ]
[ Lifespan 》 9 years ]
[ Traits 》 Excellent Adaptability (B+), Flame Breath (B+), Steel Scales (C+) ]
I brought up a display board showing its basic information.
“Hmm... It’s more ordinary than I expected.”
“Still, it has three Traits! That’s incredible for a B-rank!”
“And it can evolve! If these are just its starting stats, it’s amazing!!”
The EVO Series was a complete model in its own right, with no consideration given to synergy with its owner.
Its abilities were typical mass-produced abilities, and it was only B-rank, but the EVO Series had excellent compatibility with Essentium and evolved faster than other magical beasts!
Its essence arrays also held ample potential for branching evolutions, so if raised well, it would grow more useful than most A-rank magical beasts.
‘Of course, essence doesn’t always manifest in a good direction...’
For example, say a Jellykko evolved through Essentium, then became as hard as a stone because of environmental factors.
That would be difficult to call a positive evolution.
If a Jellykko became as hard as a stone, its owner might sit down and burst into tears.
Beside that owner, the Jellykko Golem Edition would be panting away without understanding how its owner felt.
‘It’s horrifying just imagining it.’
Essentium evolution, which determined its direction through environment and experience, was ultimately a double-edged sword.
Since the first-generation EVO models were early-stage models, those issues would likely be even more apparent.
I would use this opportunity to clearly identify the first-generation models’ flaws and points for improvement. Essentium itself needed to keep developing too.
Anyway, while I was thinking about that, the Hunters chose which magical beasts to take and formed lines...
“Luise, what do you think about this?”
Pant. Pant.
“...Why is the Salamander model so popular?”
Of the three lines, only the Salamander model’s line was suspiciously long.
About seventy people had gathered there, nearly half of them.
“I didn’t expect this.”
Pant. Pant.
“Why, though? We’re about to go hunt fish-headed monsters, and they’re choosing a magical beast that breathes fire...?”
Researcher A, Asagiri, reported the number of people in each line.
“Director, there are seventy-two for the Salamander model, forty-five for the Terrapin model, and thirty for the Axolotl model. The remaining nine are still undecided.”
For reference, I had Cultivated only fifty-two magical beasts of each type, taking the number of people into account.
I had Cultivated exactly enough for everyone because I wanted to obtain information evenly from each magical beast type...
‘But I never expected the difference to be this large.’
What was the cause?
I walked over to the Salamander model’s line.
“Gasp...!! It’s Director Yoo Hyun!!!”
“Could you sign my Jellykko...?”
“Ooh... I’m a fan, sir.”
I asked them why they had chosen the Salamander model.
“Why did I choose the Salamander model? I just liked how it looked.”
“I... Well... I thought that if I raised it well, maybe it would grow wings and I could ride it around. It’s the dragon dream, you know?”
“I thought the fire attribute would be useful in the field in a lot of ways.”
“As you can see, I’m a pure tank, so I thought it would be nice to have a magical beast that could make up for my lack of firepower.”
“I like dinosaurs... I picked it because I thought it might grow as big as a dinosaur if I raised it well.”
Everyone had different reasons, but appearance was one of the most common.
I asked them the question that puzzled me most.
“But you’ll be fighting at sea from now on. Are you sure that’s all right? Isn’t that a battlefield where the fire attribute is reduced by half?”
The Salamander model breathed fire. Water was not exactly its weakness, but it was not a particularly good choice for that battlefield environment.
The Hunters seemed to choose their words for a moment before speaking.
“...I don’t think we can expect much immediate help from them anyway. Since they’re evolution-type magical beasts, they’ll probably need to grow to a certain point before they can properly do their job...”
“I... I thought that even if we chose other magical beasts, they probably wouldn’t be much help in a fight against the Merfolk.”
Mindless Merfolk were considered to have combat power in the upper range of B-rank.
Since even ordinary fodder monsters were that strong, did they think B-rank magical beasts would not be much help?
Like in a game, did they think the magical beasts would be weak because they were Level 1...?
Listening to the Hunters, it felt as though they had chosen with the distant future in mind rather than this upcoming battlefield.
I should correct that assumption first.
“I’ll demonstrate each magical beast’s performance, then give you a chance to choose again after watching.”
They seemed to think these were ordinary B-rank mass-produced magical beasts. I needed to change that perception a little.
* * *
A little later.
The loud sound of metal striking something rang out.
Claaang!!!!!
The Hunter who had swung their sword down at the magical beast with all their strength stumbled back in surprise.
“...This can’t be!!!!”
The one that had blocked the Hunter’s sword was the turtle-shaped magical beast, EVO - Terrapin.
Hiss...
It looked completely relaxed, as though nothing had happened, and reactions soon burst out around it.
“Ooh...! That level of defense!!”
“A B-rank magical beast can withstand Hunter Choi Deok-su’s sword strike with that much sturdiness...?”
“...This makes me reconsider. It’s more of a power pick than I thought!”
The eyes of ranged Hunters who lacked the means to protect themselves at close range particularly lit up.
[ Model Name 》 EVO - Terrapin ]
[ Mana Core Rank 》 B ]
[ Lifespan 》 10 years ]
[ Traits 》 Excellent Adaptability (B+), Mana Shield (B+), Water Cannon (C+) ]
The Cheonseong Hunters seemed to be thinking of the B-rank magical beasts on the market, but these magical beasts were much stronger than they looked!
Their initial mana core ranks were low only to ensure the stability of their essence arrays and evolution. Their actual performance was best considered top-tier even among B-rank magical beasts.
After the magical beasts’ demonstrations ended, the Hunters formed new lines.
57 : 59 : 40
“Now that’s fairly balanced.”
The order was Salamander, Terrapin, and Axolotl. Compared to before, the distribution was much more balanced.
Still, there was something I did not understand...
“The Axolotl model is still less popular?”
These were the magical beasts with the advantage in a fight against Merfolk.
Why?
As I stared at the lines in confusion, Luise spoke.
“...It’s probably because of how the Axolotl model looks...”
“How it looks...?”
Pant. Pant...?
The green amphibian Axolotl model’s appearance...
I looked at the Hunters standing in front of the Axolotl model.
“It’s ugly...”
“This is way too ugly...”
“Even for a combat model, this is a little much...”
Even the performance-obsessed Hunters who had resolved to choose it shook their heads at the magical beast’s appearance.
It was crying with a stupid-looking face that seemed devoid of thought.
Croak... Croak...
An axolotl, or a wooper looper.
But it looked no different from a toad.
The cute pink image of axolotls commonly known to the public came from leucism, while this one had normally expressed pigmentation. Its mottled green skin had a glossy texture that made one uncomfortable.
It was the kind of appearance that made even people who did not dislike amphibians think they would not want to touch it.
Surprised by something I had failed to notice during Cultivation, I vigorously kneaded Haengbok.
“Ah...!! Of course people won’t want one if it’s ugly, no matter how good its performance is...!!!”
Pant. Pant!!
I usually considered only performance and never appearance when Cultivating magical beasts, so this problem...!!!
‘Ha, it would be perfect if only six or seven people from each of the Salamander and Terrapin lines moved to the Axolotl model...’
There were only fifty-two of each model, so a few people would ultimately have no choice but to receive an Axolotl model. But if they were forced to take a magical beast they did not want because they missed out on a first-come, first-served basis instead of choosing it themselves, they would feel far less affection for it.
That was not what I wanted.
Could I change their minds somehow?
As I was considering that...
“...Director, I have a good method.”
Researcher B, Tanaka Shinichi, who had said they were quite knowledgeable about games, approached me.
“A method?”
“Well...”
After hearing the method, I smacked my knee.
Smack!
“There’s a method like that...!! You’re a genius, Tanaka!”
“Haha... This is my specialty!”
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