Mistress Of The Evil Forest

Case 151: Not a deer.

SCP-6448, otherwise known as Not Deer.

It is... not a deer. Yeah. It's something other than a deer, which even I, who decided to summon it, don't know anything about. True to its description, I truly didn't find anything weird when looking at it the first time.

Just a deer?

Something like that.

Of course, at this stage, I do realize that it isn't ordinary confusion that I have experienced there, but rather a phenomenon. After all, the creature does look weird if we see it through an objective lens. Aside from that, it is quite docile toward me and indifferent toward others in our crew. It's not conventionally cute, but the way it tilts its head while staring blankly at me whenever it doesn't understand what I say is similar to a dog or a wolf.

I say 'doesn't understand,' but I'm pretty sure it does. It is very intelligent. I'm certain it did understand most of our conversations yesterday in the Backrooms.

However, its tendency to act bizarrely, like suddenly standing up with its hind legs, does weird normies like Ariel out.

I decided to name it 'Blob' since I thought I vaguely saw something like a murky, gooey blob leaked out of its torso one time.

Anyway, I let it roam the forest yesterday, and apparently, it scared the academy peeps so much they reported the 'Not Deer' to the imperial palace.

''So?''

''So?''

''No, I'm asking, what the hell is that thing beside you...?''

Which leads to this situation where I'm being questioned by Sierra. This is one of our regular meetings, and just earlier, she brought up the topic and asked me if I was the one who summoned the creature.

Which I did, so I brought it out from the Backrooms.

''It's not a deer,'' I reply, stroking the creature's back.

''I... look, I know that already, but if it's not a deer, then what is it??''

For a moment, Sierra's silvery eyes narrow, making her expression sharper. It seems she has had a good rest, considering her energy today. But even if she shows this kind of enthusiasm, I can't really answer that question.

Because I, too, don't know what it is.

As I shake my head, the princess grabs her head and lets out a sigh.

''It won't attack people?''

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''No.''

''That's good. Doesn't it have a status screen?''

Yes, actually. Like Ash, Blob has a unique status window.

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Name: Blob             

Race: Not Deer                    Title: -

Level: 2

HP: 55/55                    MP: 44/44

STR: 4.5                     INT: 6.0

AGI: 6.8                    STA: 4.1

Skill: [Not Deer].

State: Normal.

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[Not Deer: Not a deer, but poses as a deer. Wouldn't it be nice if everybody was a deer?
Prevent the user from acquiring additional skills] [Unique]

I don't know what that skill is, either. Did the developer get lazy designing these creatures?

Nevertheless, if compared to conventional monsters, Blob's stats are quite impressive, and the sheer unpredictability, eeriness, plus intelligence it shows are also amazing. Honestly, the quality of this summons is so good that I can't believe it is only at level 2.

This is a trend I've seen recently, with Ash being incomparably strong despite its low level.

''By the way.''

''Hm?''

While I am deep in my thoughts like that, Sierra suddenly calls out to me.

''You still don't have any plan to join us officially?''

Ah... there's still that, too. She and her father have been trying to get me under their rule, although the efforts have been thinning lately thanks to my fame as a powerhouse. They are likely thinking that 'Silaerob' is too big to contain now.

Is this a last-ditch effort?

''As I said, no.''

Either way, I reply firmly. Instead of shaking it off lightly like I expect her to act, Sierra instead pouts her mouth ever-so-slightly,

''Tch. It wouldn't be so hard if you just listened...''

''...''

After uttering that sentence, the princess suddenly widens her eyes before narrowing them down. A sense of discomfort oozes out from her confused expression.

''...Sorry, that was out of line.''

...I see.

Sierra might seem brass at times, but she is actually quite respectful if we only look at her words. She wouldn't say something like that normally, which means... Efil's influence is already spreading.

Efil, the Bane of Existence.

Thanks to Chloe, I now know that this particular demon is adept at manipulation—incredibly so. Worse, its disguise is virtually indistinguishable, so identifying it is tantamount.

This is the single most annoying enemy in this whole game, aside from the Heavenly Demon himself. It is the reason I have to wear this mask even in Zircon. Why? I can feel it faintly whenever I'm being observed because it is my territory. Fortunately, the Backrooms is safe.

I really should have chosen another identity when coming to the human world.

''Hah...''

''Waah?! W-What the hell is that?!''

''...''

I take a look at the trembling Becky, who's shielding herself with one of her drones, and I take a look at Blob, who's staring at that creature intently.

My eyes meet Blob's for a moment.

'Do it,' I signal with a nod. Blob also responds with a nod, and then—

''Gyahh?!!? Get away...!!!''

Becky's reaction to Blob's sudden switch to a human-like stance is hilarious, to say the least. This is what I imagine will happen if the opponent is Chloe. They're the same in this regard.

I wonder, why do I always have the itch to tease these girls with horror, or even the teachers, but not Nydia in particular?

I feel like she'd cry, and that is... not something I want to see.

Anyway, I actually have something to ask of Becky today, which is why we're here in the lake where the hydra lived.

''T-Treasure...?''

''Yes.''

''What treasure?''

Wiping the tears that have rolled out of the corners of her eyes, Becky adjusts her glasses and asks with a weak voice.

''I thought there would be something.''

Really. Dragons are generally depicted as hoarders. In other words, they like to collect treasures, typically storing them in their lairs. I'm not too sure about Hydras in particular, but it's worth a check.

''Hm...'' Becky scratches her cheek. ''I mean, it's doable, but I'll have to measure the depth of this lake first. I didn't make my—sorry; my master didn't make these babies with diving capabilities in mind. We'll have to use magic to protect the machines against water pressure, and... you know, it's not easy to maintain against that kind of force at low depth.''

...Is she still going with the 'assistant' premise?

''Anyway, let's try it.''

With that, Becky summons a disk-like object with a display out of her inventory. Then, with her short, slightly chubby legs, she trudges near the water.

''Heave... ho.''

Soon, the object floats itself toward the very center of the lake before a magic rod shoots out of it downward, like the Golden Cudgel piercing the heavens but reserve.

''Err... woah, that's pretty deep.''

Both she and I watch as the number on the tool's display skyrockets by the second. Eventually, it stops at just shy of three hundred meters.

''Can your drone reach that depth?''

''Nope. Its magic battery isn't nearly enough. We'll have to bring out something else.''

''Thanks a lot, Becky.''

''I-It's nothing. This kind of work is nothing to me, you hear?!''

''Alright, alright—ah.''

''What are you—ah.''

Both of our gazes follow a certain figure in the air. 

Before I realize it, Blob has somehow disappeared from its previous spot, now diving straight down from the air.

And with a light splash, it plunges into the dark, cold water of the lake.