48 : Venomulard After – 2

“Now then, onto the dismantling.”
“Chuu… Chu!?”
I returned to the safety area, took Venomulard’s corpse out of the fur bag and set my Poison Rat’s Pointed Hat on the floor.
All because I didn’t want to waste whatever would spew out starting now.
With that in mind, I began the dismantling.

“Nomnom…”
I peeled the skin off of Venomulard and let the blood soak into the Poison Rat’s Pointed Hat. I partook in his flesh and arranged the bones as neatly as I could.
In addition, I also collected as many special parts as I was able to, like his tail and claws.
His internal organs… aside from the brain, everything else was no good.
The tiara that was on top of Venomulard’s head had vanished too.
There was nothing I could do about it so I moved on. My Poison Rat’s Pointed Hat was stained in red from all the blood it had bathed in and I further smeared Venomulard’s brain on it, plastering it all over.
By the way, compared to the meat from the regular rats, Venomulard actually tasted good even though his flesh contained toxins and gave me food poisoning.
Does this mean that the stronger the monster is, the better it’ll taste?
It seems there’s still hope for the future when it comes to good-tasting food inside『CNP』.

≪Title『If You Eat Poison, Lick The Plate・２』,『Iron Stomach・2』,『Gluttony ・2』has been acquired≫
“Nomgh!?”
I ended up getting 3 titles somehow after completing the dismantlement.
Actually, it’s rank up of the previous titles, so it’ll overwrite them.
For the time being, I’ll just take a look at their details.


△△△△△
『If You Eat Poison, Lick The Plate・２』
Effect: Weakens the effects of ingested poison. (Small)
Requirement: Eat more than a certain amount of poisoned food.

Poisonous or not, it’s still edible so who cares.
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△△△△△
『Iron Stomach・2』
Effect: Weakens the effects of food poisoning. (Small)
Requirement: Eat more than a certain amount of food that causes food poisoning.

Between dying from an upset stomach and dying from hunger, I’d pick the former.
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△△△△△
『Gluttony ・2』
Effect: Gain resistance to attacks that directly reduce one’s satiety. (Small)
Requirement: Eat more than a certain amount while satiety was at max.

I wonder where all the food I ate disappeared off to.
▽▽▽▽▽


“Well, not bad, I guess.”
I might as well check out Venomulard’s corpse with the『Appraisal Loupe』too.
Though, with that being said, the text that popped up was pretty much the same as all the other rats’ parts.
This was likely because『CNP』didn’t have a separate field for rarity or quality.


△△△△△
『Leader Of The Poison Rats』’s Pelt
Level: 7
Durability: 100/100
Interference: 110
Corruption: 100/100
Abnormalities: 10

A pelt belonging to Venomulard, the『Leader Of The Poison Rats』
Gray fur with dark green blotches throughout. Even with a sharp blade, it’s hard to damage unless the wielder swings while putting their mind to it.
▽▽▽▽▽


“Nn… For now, let’s prioritize upgrading the Poison Rat’s Pointed Hat and processing Venomulard’s tail.”
I wonder if it was because its interference strength was higher, but the fur was weightier than it looked, which might make it difficult for a blade to pass through.

“Mm, hmm hm ♪.”
I stuck the『Leader Of The Poison Rats』’s Bones that came from Venomulard onto the Poison Rat’s Pointed Hat using the vines of dangling meat fern flowers.
The brim of the hat was now lined with ribs and the inner part where the head fits was furnished with the lower jaw bone while the pointed top was aligned with the spine.
Then, I went over to place it on the grudge table but… I mean, if I were to make what I was envisioning, without a doubt, it would have to be a special item created in a similar fashion to the『Magic Eye Of Poison』Sake Cup.

“But that’s what makes it interesting. Because I’m creating something unknown after all.”
I set the Poison Rat’s Pointed Hat, which was completely covered in red onto the grudge table.
Upon doing so, the red, black and purple fog aggressively began gathering.

“I desire one who accompanies me.”
My 13 eyes aim intently at the sphere of fog.

“Not a mere servant that obeys my bidding, but a follower that understands its role and stands by me as an equal.”
Several complex geometrical figures form and fill the inside of the safety area.

“Thy name will be Zarichu, representing thirst, the counterpart to my fever as Taruwi.”
The fog was being absorbed, as if following the geometrical shapes.
My HP was slightly drained.
Which brought along discomfort.

“Reveal thyself. Manifest thyself. Appear in front me as my opposition.”
Next thing I knew,『Taruwiveno』was being casted into the fog as a dark green glimmer was fired from my eyes.
However, that light was immediately drowned out and swallowed up by the fog.

“Come forth, my other half”
Then, the absorption of the fog stops for a moment… and in the following instant, a gale violently blew through the safety area.

“Hfuu, looks about done.”
≪Title, 『Item With Sentience』,『Item With A Title』has been acquired≫
What appeared was a pointed hat, dyed in a pretty sappan-wood color.
The bones used in its creation had flawlessly disappeared.
Although the design was fundamentally no different from the Poison Rat’s Pointed Hat, the sense of menace that it exuded was clearly more potent.
No wait, if you look closely, there were folds in the hat that resembled eyes and a mouth?
At any rate, I gave it an appraisal.


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『Strange Rat Hat』Zarichu
Level: 10
Durability: 100/100
Interference: 110
Corruption: 100/100
Abnormalities: 10

A pointed hat crafted from the materials of the『Leader Of The Poison Rats』, Venomulard.
It possess self-will, arbitrarily moving, squeaking, and sniffing by itself. No one but the owner can hear this and it’ll maybe quiet down if you so wish.
Although weak, it’s endowed with physical resistance and poison resistance. These abilities will strengthen against outside forces.
As a non-living thing that’s able to move around, it can be treated as a golem of some sorts, but there is also room for growth.
Caution: Fire resistance will decrease while wearing this. (Small)
Caution: Those with lower abnormalities will feel repulsed upon seeing this hat. (Small)
▽▽▽▽▽


“Uu… My level’s too low.”
As of now, I was at level 8.
The level I needed to reach in order to be permitted to wear Zarichu was 10.
In『CNP』, you could just disregard this and wear it even if your level wasn’t high enough, but it would cause drawbacks.
Still, I don’t think my level will increase for a while considering I just finished my fight with Venomulard.

“Well, whatever. I’ll put it on anyways.”
As I said, I went through the trouble of making it, so it wouldn’t be right to not wear it after all. I decided to place the slightly heavy feeling Zarichu onto my head.
Then, the moment I put it on…

“It’s so heavy…!”
I instinctively uttered the remark as my body pitched forward.
Apparently, the weight increased as compensation for the lack of levels.
Ah, by the way, I don’t really care about the fact that people with low abnormalities will be disgusted when they see the hat.
I’m sort of like that myself.
If anything, I’m more interested in the title,『Strange Rat Hat』

“Chuchuu, Taruwiichuu”
“Ahh, it’s talking now. Though I wonder if it’s just limited to my name.”
“Chuchuu.”
Well, I guess I’ll eventually get used to the weight, and I’ll probably level up in the mean time too.
I fixed my posture as I replied to Zarichu.

≪Title『Cursed Daredevil』has been acquired≫
“Ah, I ended up getting another title.”
“Chuu.”
Something must’ve triggered the requirement for it.
I proceeded to appraise the 3 titles I’d gotten recently all together.


△△△△△
『Item With Sentience』
Effect: None
Requirement: Obtain an item with a certain level of self-will.

Can I really call an item that moves around on its own, an item?
▽▽▽▽▽

△△△△△
『Item With A Title』
Effect: None
Requirement: Obtain a special item that bears a title.

A rare item. However, keep in mind that its usability is a different matter.
▽▽▽▽▽

△△△△△
『Cursed Daredevil』
Effect: None
Requirement: Attempt to use an item that requires a higher level beyond your own.

I wanted to use it, so I used it! I don’t care about such things as curses!
▽▽▽▽▽


“They’re all commemorative titles without actual effects, huh. I mean, as long as they aren’t detrimental, it’s fine.”
“Chuchuu”
The『Strange Rat Hat』title was appraisable too, so I’ll look into that as well.


▽▽▽▽▽
『Strange Rat Hat』
Effect: None
Requirement: Uncertain

A title bestowed to the pointed hat, Zarichu.
The label, ‘Strange Hat’ is quite fitting as it possesses peculiar properties.
▽▽▽▽▽


“Now then, next up was the tail and… the poison receiving bag.”
It didn’t seem like the title had any effects.
Which is why I lost interest and picked up Venomulard’s tail, as well as the poison receiving bag that was packed full of Venomulard’s venom.
Before logging out, I wanted to at least start on this next thing.


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『Spawn of Jugemu』・Taru　Level 8
HP: 1070/1070
Satiety: 100/100
Interference: 107
Abnormalities: 19
‏‏　‎Immortality, Insect Wings ×6, Additional Eyes ×11, Levitation
Titles :『Spawn of Jugemu』,『Rawism Beginner』, 『Unusual Cuisine Eating・1』,『If You Eat Poison, Lick The Plate・2』,『Iron Stomach・2』,『First Cursed Production』,『Poison User』『Insufficient Curse』, 『Gluttony・2』,『First Sorcery Acquisition』,『Hide And Seek・１』,『Dungeon Ruler』,『Item With Sentience』,『Item With A Title』,『Cursed Daredevil』

Sorcery・Evil Eye Arts:
『Magic Eye Of Poison・1＋＋』(Taruwiveno)

Owned Items:
Poisonous Bite Rat’s Fur Clothes,『Strange Rat Hat』Zarichu, Appraisal Loupe, Poisonous Bite Rat’s Tooth Knife, Poisonous Bite Rat’s Fur Bag, Potion Kettle, etc.

Owned Dungeons:
『Tower of Mice』
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TN: This is going to be a bit long so you can skip it if you don’t particularly care about how Taru and Zarichu derive from Zoroastrianism or if you’re already familiar with it. Note that there are multiple interpretations and relatively very little written on these two.

Just like Taurvi/Taruwi, Zarich/Zarichu is derived from Zoroastrianism. The former is considered to be the personification of fever and hunger, whether it be for actual food, knowledge, or more. The latter, Zarichu is somewhat of a parallel towards Taruwi, serving as the embodiment of thirst and aging. They’re regarded as demons that contrast with a pair of deities, Haurvatat and Ameretat. Haurvatat associates with water, representing spiritual wholeness and perfection while Ameretat is often related to agriculture. When the world reaches its end, these two will eliminate all hunger and thirst, ascending humanity into immortal beings. Together, Taurvi and Zarich opposes the both of them. Zarich creates the poison that infects the plants and Taurvi administers it into the water. It’s up to how you interpret it, but these two demons aren’t necessarily evil, at least not without reason. How can you ascend to perfection while not knowing failure? This is sort of how they challenge the concept. Let’s say you’re seeking shelter. How will you obtain it? Will you create one from scratch? Do you persuade someone to allow you to settle in with them? Or, will you pillage and take over another’s home? They’re all valid solutions to the problem at hand and Taurvi doesn’t care whichever one you choose as long as you don’t get it for free. If Haurvatat and Ameretat represent perfection and the ideal, Taurvi and Zarich symbolize the desperation and hunger to get there through betterment of one’s self.