Metro Labyrinth - CH 52.2

A/N: 9/24 – One name of the Five Great Beast Kings was changed. [Infinite Elephant Watanabe] → [Omnipotent Elephant Watanabe].

I hope this will help you understand the world and terminologies in my work.

It will be moved to the beginning of the Volume later.

Tokyo Judgement

The layman’s name for the two major disasters that occurred at the end of the Heisei era: [Metro Flood] and [Super Fungal Contamination].

Metro Flood

One of the major disasters that hit Tokyo.

A mysterious mutating phenomenon occurred in the whole area of the Tokyo metropolitan lines.

Through structural changes and growth, as well as loss and cessation, an underground labyrinth called the “Metro” has been constructed throughout Tokyo. The huge wall covering New Tokyo is also thought to be a structure created by the Metro.

Super Fungal Contamination

One of the major disasters that hit Tokyo.

The Super Fungal Contamination phenomenon is said to have originated from the depths of the Metro.

The contamination on the surface lasted for a decade, decomposing all of Tokyo’s civilization and significantly reducing the population in Tokyo, which was trapped due to the Metro Flood.

New Tokyo

A new country was born in the land of Tokyo, which was destroyed by the [Tokyo Judgment]. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government is the main governing organization, and each city and tribe are allowed to have its own autonomy. The head of the government is the Governor of Tokyo, a [Itokuri-shi] who survived the [Tokyo Judgment].

Metropolitan Government

The city houses the central government and other national institutions. It is located in Meguro. The headquarters of Hunters’ Guild and the Metropolitan Bank are also located in the Metropolitan Government. The mayor is also the governor of the city.

Wall

A huge wall, 500 meters high, surrounds the perimeter of New Tokyo. It is believed to have been raised by the Metro, but the material making it up is unknown.

In New Tokyo (partly due to pressure from the church), interfering with the walls—not to mention climbing, even touching, and even getting close to them–is a taboo.

It is said that no one knows what is on the other side of the wall or the world outside of New Tokyo. At least, no aircraft traffic has been confirmed in the sky.

People of Thread

The people of New Tokyo, a new species of humans who survived the [Tokyo Judgment]. They have resistance to the Super Fungi, and about 10% of the population has the ability to manipulate mycelium in their bodies. In rare cases, Demi-humans, [humans with the characteristics of beasts] are also born.

Free Folk

The [Free Folk] are the unregistered People of Thread. They do not belong to any city or tribe but live individually or in villages.

Metro

The countless labyrinths that spread beneath the New Tokyo. The interior is infested with mycelium and Metro Beasts, which hold a variety of valuable resources. The water supply, sewage system, and hot springs that use these resources support the civilization of New Tokyo.

Metro Beast

Metro Beast is a general term for beasts that inhabit the entire New Tokyo area and the Metros (excluding small animals, insects, and other helpless and harmless creatures). They are said to have emerged from the depths of the Metro after the flood, or those existing animals were mutated by the Super Fungi, but the truth has yet to be determined.

Like humans, some have the concept of levels and use Fungal Skills. The mature individuals that have repeatedly preyed for many years are considered to be evolved versions of the existing species.

Magic Beast

A general term for beasts that speak human languages. Some species are as intelligent as human beings and communicate with the People of Threads. Like humans, there are many individuals with Fungal Skills. Like Carbuncles and Cait Sith that appear in works of fiction.

Mycelial Plant

Plant-like organisms inhabiting the entire New Tokyo area and inside the Metro. Like Metro Beasts, their origin is still unknown.

They reproduce by spores. Some species are photosynthetic, while others are like basic fungi that decompose organic matter. They are an important resource that supports the civilization of New Tokyo.

Tribe Territory

A feudal territory ruled by a powerful [Itokuri-shi] in the old days. The number of tribe territories has been reduced through conflicts and the “Demon War”, and now there are eight remaining tribe territories.

Existing: Ikebukuro, Senju, Kamade, Akabane, Nerima, Setagaya, Shinagawa, Suginami

Destroyed: Shinjuku, Shibuya, Akasaka, Gotanda, etc.

Metro Church

A religious group that regards the Metro as sacred and believes in the “God of Threads”. They are an absolute authority in New Tokyo along with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. The headquarters is located in Akihabara.

They believe that the [Tokyo Judgement] is divine retribution for the environmental destruction of the ancient civilization, and advocate “harmony (symbiosis) with the metro,” “protection and preservation of the natural environment,” and “warning against the development of civilization that goes beyond the bounds of what is acceptable”. The Founder is an [Itokuri-shi].

Fungal Power, Fungal Skill, Fungal Ability

Fungal Power, or level, is a numerical indicator of the strength and growth of the mycelium in the body. It is commonly referred to as [Level] because it is confused with physical strength. [T/N: I might have to change Fungal Level to Fungal Power depending on the next chapter.]

Experience is accumulated by ingesting the sporangium of Metro Beasts, and when the threshold is exceeded, the level increases. The signal is the “tingling of the body”.

Fungal Skill, or skill, is the ability to manipulate the mycelium in the body to produce various effects. The number of skills that can be acquired depends on the individual’s qualities. The signal for learning is the “warmth in the back”.

Fungal Ability, or ability, only a few people can acquire this special ability, and only one person can acquire it. It is difficult to distinguish from Fungal Skills, but it is said that it mainly appears as buff and passive effects. The signal for acquiring it is “butterflies in the stomach”.

Fungal Class

Also called the class. The ability to learn systems of Fungal Skills.

There are six types of basic Fungal Classes and five types of High-Rank Fungal Classes. The High-Rank Fungal Class is a hybrid of the basic Fungal Class and other Fungal Classes, and the maximum level and the number of Fungal Skills that can be learned are higher than those of the basic Fungal Class.

Basic Class: [Knight], [Fighter], [Craftsman], [Illusionist], [Healer], [Sniper]

High-Rank: [Holy Knight], [Beast Warrior], [Puppeteer], [Mage], [Sage]

It is said that there is no Higher-Rank Fungal Class of [Sniper].

The majority of people who do not have a Fungal Class and therefore cannot learn Fungal Skills are sometimes called [Peasant], but this term is now considered a slur among Hunters because it is considered discriminatory.

Itokuri-shi/Thread Weaver

Legendary Fungal Class. They possess [Immortality], which combines Super-Regeneration and Ageless, and there is no limit to the fungal abilities that they can acquire. After the [Tokyo Judgment] twelve [Itokuri-shi] was born, and they eventually became the heroes of the founding of the Twelve Tribes during the beginning of the new era.

After that, no other [Itokuri-shi] emerged. Most of them lost their lives during the [Demon War] and there are only four [Itokuri-shi] in existence: the Governor of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, the Founder of the Metro Church, the Chief of the Nerima Tribe, and Shuu Abe.

Hunter’s Guild

“A group of adventurers who make their living by exploring the Metro”, only individuals with Fungal Class can become a guild member, it is an organization that manages those people. The founder is an [Itokuri-shi]

The headquarters is located in the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, with branches in each city and tribe territory. The minimum age requirement to register as a member is 15 years old and level 10 or above, and the screening process is somewhat rigorous since it is possible to obtain a Family Registry in the area to which you belong.

Hunter

A person who belongs to the Hunter’s Guild and makes a living by exploring the Metro and killing Metro Beasts. Or an individual who engages in the same activities even if not affiliated to the guild.

In the guild, a guild member is called a hunter, but usually, only those who have a Fungal Class can be employed as a hunter. The main sources of income are rewards from quests (commissioned missions) and harvests from explorations.

There is a ranking system from 3rd to 5th dan.

Also, as a conventional approach, depending on the level

-10 to 30: Novice, beginners, etc.

(Especially those under 20: greenhorns, weaklings, etc.)

-30 to 50: Mid-rank, etc.

-50 to 60: Advanced, veteran, etc.

-Over 60: Master, experts, etc.

and so on.

Sumo

The national sport of New Tokyo (meaning “a widely known sport”). Players collide with each other’s strength one-on-one within a ring, and the winner is determined by whether they push the enemy on their knees or push them out of the ring.

The rules of the ring vary according to local conditions, such as “the presence or absence of strikes, kicks, and grappling techniques”, and “the use or absence of Hypha Weapons and Fungal Skills”. The Shinto ritual part is lost, and only appears when it is performed by the Church, it imitates the old sumo during these times.

Demon

Demons are intelligent, deformed creatures that resemble humans. They have more intelligence than humans, control more Fungal Skills than humans, and boast a higher level of intelligence than humans. They are cruel in nature and take pleasure in killing people and bringing chaos to the human world.

(From the notes of Noa’s great-grandfather)

They have not been seen since the “Demon War” 50 years ago. They are a mysterious group, but the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the Hunters’ Guild regard them as dangerous, “a calamity that will soon come upon the ruined nation.”

People who suffer from a strange disease called [Demonic Disease] sometimes mutate into monstrous figures, but this is only due to the fact that they are “strong and terrifying like demons,” and there is no known connection to actual demons.

Three Major Taboos

The Three Major Taboos of New Tokyo as determined by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the Metro Church in order to prevent the return of the [Tokyo Judgment] and the arrival of the Demons. It is forbidden at both the individual and the city level, and any infringement of this prohibition will result in a crackdown by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.

– Interference with the wall – coming in contact with it, going over it.

– Overdevelopment of the Metro and excessive waste of resources.

– The Revival of Ancient Civilization

Five Great Beast Kings

The five most powerful Metro Beasts in New Tokyo, of which are estimated to be over 200 years old. All of them are intelligent and can speak the human language.

Some of them live deep in the Metro, while others live on the surface. Some are hostile to humanity, while others have signed a non-aggression pact with humanity. Although they are grouped together as the Five Great Beast Kings, they are unrelated to each other and rarely interfere with each other.

The following names are given by the founder of the Hunters’ Guild, but some of the Beast Kings themselves do not approve of the names.

・Dark Purple Dragon Yamamoto

・Fresh Blood Weasel Suzuki

・Freezing Snake Satou

・Heavenly Lion Tanaka

・Omnipotent Elephant Watanabe

A/N: Subject to additional information and revision.

The style is to keep the world-building somewhat open.

T/N: The name of the Beast Kings might change depending on what they look like or their descriptions, etc.