It meant the zoo became a ''military institution'' - a specialized facility under direct imperial control.
Something like the emperor''s personal guard, though even thatparison didn''t fully capture its importance. Even that elevated status brought its own set of challenges and headaches.
Even Daisy, who was once a reckless girl running wild through the grounds, has been stronger than ordinary knights for a long time. Her transformation was just one example of how the zoo''s new status had changed those connected to it.
But the emperor also threw in one task.
"You are forbidden from directly hunting white monsters and ck monsters. Let white monsters and ck monsters breed, prosper, and fight among themselves."
Even Kadam couldn''t endure there.
"Your Majesty, if that happens we won''t be able to manage the monsters. If they escape even my control, I don''t know what disaster might ur."
"Do not worry, Kadam Kazans. A cmity won''t be born as you worry."
"But..."
"Follow the order."
Even Kadam couldn''t get angry at the emperor.
"Observe the white monsters and ck monsters. Research and study white evolution and ck evolution."
He instructed like that.@@novelbin@@
The emperor gave a 3-year deadline.
Find a way to evolve ck to white or white to ck.
Setting aside ''why'', ''how?''
Though the zoo was like an ivory tower of monster studies, even here evolution was wrapped in a veil of mystery.
The deadline promised by the emperor approached.
But Kadam Kazans had achieved nothing.
The ck monsters and white monsters prospered to the point where no one but Kadam could handle them anymore.
And not even a hair''s worth of evolution''s secrets were discovered.
That''s when a savior arrived.
''A ck gori that can talk.''
Speaking monsters are rare.
And monsters that can get along with humans are far rarer.
The intersection of both?
This gori might be Kadam''s savior now.
"There''s a condition."
Kadam said so in front of those watching him.
"Of course I can provide temporary protection. Since you''re such a cute gori."
"Cuute?"
Yes. Cute.
A face just like Kadam''s.
Pitch ck fur and dignified muscles too.
All of it was a monster to Kadam''s taste.
"But if you can help with zoo work. I''ll hire you as staff rather than temporary protection."
"A gori as staff?"
Daisy was bewildered.
But Kadam didn''t care.
The zoo was an independent institution. Everything except the emperor''s words was up to Kadam.
"Yes."
"How much is the sry?"
The one who suddenly raised their hand and asked was none other than Obern.
But Kadam was in such a good mood now he could even smile at Obern.
"I''ll give the same sry as Daisy. Plus incentives."
"Master!"
Daisy protested unfairly.
Daisy''s sry was more than twice Obern''s current sry.
"So what work would Madam R need to do?"
Phili asked the most important thing.
"Monster hunting."
"Monster hunting...?"
"You''ll join the cleaning squad."
Kadam roughly exined about cleaning.
The rule that ck and white monsters can''t be hunted by Kadam and human staff.
And how because of that, their numbers have grown hard to control.
"I can do it..."
When Kadam finished speaking, Madam Gori shed her prosthetic fists together with a bang.
Sparks flew with the loud noise. That sight was very satisfying.
That''s when.
''Is this okay...''
It was slick Obern muttering.
He met Kadam''s eyes and quietly raised his hand.
"Could you hire my familiar as staff too?"
"What...?"
Kadam was bewildered.
Come to think of it, he heard from Daisy that Obern''s familiar was a small cute white snake.
''Small and cute'' aren''t adjectives Kadam particrly likes.
"Saa..."
Soon a snake shyly crawled out from Obern''s sleeve.
The snake stood proudly beside Madam R.
With an attitude like it could pull its weight too.
"Not a summon, but a tamed monster?"
Mages'' familiars are quite diverse.
"Yes."
"Does it listen well? Seems like a specimen with nobat power."
"...It''s very strong."
The snake held its head up high.
Kadam gave an honest evaluation.
"Seems quite useless... What use is something mouse-sized."
"Saaak!"
Then the snake got angry at Kadam.
Kadam''s eyes widened.
"Well, being a familiar it seems to understand human speech. Even a worm has its talents."
And not being scared of Kadam was talent enough. Your next chapter awaits on empire
"Alright, let''s see and judge. If you''re good enough, I''ll hire you with the same sry."
"Yaaay!"
"Sasasa!"
The snake held out its tail and Madam Gori gently grasped that tail.
At least they seem to get along well.
Kadam thought so.
And they headed to Zoo Section 3.
They put the gori and snake inside the enclosure, while Kadam andpany watched from outside.
Daisy muttered.
"Can Snakesnake do well..."
"Snakesnake?"
"It''s the name I gave."
"What a pathetic name."
Kadam evaluated so.
The gori and snake didn''t look scared at all.
As instructed, the gori rang the installed bell.
Ding ding ding ding-
The signal for feeding time.
And hyenas as big as calves started appearingzily.
"Already over ten."
They''re Fang Hyenas.
Dangerous monsters that are ferocious with strong bite force and move in groups.
They barked at the gori and snake.
"Woof, wooof!"
"Grrrr!"
They slowly approach while forming a formation.
They clearly recognized prey.
And the gori muttered.
"Miss Spot too..."
"Sasa."
The snake nodded.
The hyenas charged at them who were so rxed.
The gori just swung her fist.
But, steam burst from that prosthetic and elerated the fist.
Bang!
With a sound like a bomb, one hyena''s neck snapped and flew off.
A broad smile spread on Kadam''s face.
Ping-!
And a sound like an arrow being shot.
Looking to the side, the snake was sitting on top of a hyena.
The hyena staggered, then copsed with a thud.
There was a bright red hole pierced in its chest.
When did it...?
Kadam''s eyes sparkled.
==
''Isn''t this apletely legal hunting ground!''
I sensed that from the moment I heard Kadam''s exnation.
And it actually was true.
The magical energy I absorbed after so long was thrilling.
But what was most thrilling was.
That I might get my first proper job.
''Mom, Dad, I got a job!''
Thinking of Medusa Mom who became a wandering spirit, and Dad who left to find the stars.
I charged towards the approaching hyenas.