Returning to the surface, I pulled the Subjugation Compendium from my item storage.
Now then, let us see whether this book is actually functional. Yes, indeed, I could feel a small spark of excitement building.
"What is that?"
Clinging to my back as usual, Faf peered inquisitively at the thick, lavish tome in my hands.
"It is the book that captured the self-proclaimed Evil God from earlier."
"Self-proclaimed Evil God?"
Faf tilted its head with a blank look, drawing a quiet sigh from me.
That Faf... it had already completely forgotten. Or rather, it hadn't listened to a single word that self-proclaimed Evil God said in the first place. Faf was remarkably clever, but utterly indifferent to anything that failed to pique its interest. Most likely, its impression went no deeper than "a bipedal monster with a big body and an arrogant attitude."
"I mean that bipedal monster with the long trunk."
"Ah! The monster Master slaughtered!"
"Faf, do not say such gruesome things with stars in your eyes. You are a lady, after all."
I patted its little head, giving my usual lecture.
"Yes, it is so!"
The dragon cheerfully thrust its right arm into the air as always.
It clearly didn't understand in the slightest. Well, no matter. Faf loved to imitate me; all I had to do was lead by example going forward.
Now, time to test the Subjugation Compendium. First, let us attempt a summoning.
Flipping to the first page, I found the words "Subjugation Compendium Omega" inscribed in bold letters.
"Hm? Omega?"
Checking the front cover again, sure enough, the title read "Subjugation Compendium Omega."
Strange. I could have sworn there was no "Omega" written there before. Well, I must have simply misread it. I certainly hadn't examined it all that closely.
I skimmed through the next few pages. It appeared to be an instruction manual of sorts.
Let's see here...
―――――――――――――――――――――
★ Compendium Instruction Manual:
Part 1: Subjugate a target to capture its soul within the compendium. If the target submits from the depths of its soul, it may also be captured alive. In either case, the physical form is reconstructed using the wielder's magic power.
Part 2: By infusing the compendium with magic power, the wielder causes the world inhabited by the captured target within the book to expand and specialize. Furthermore, the nature of this generated world is determined by the potency of the wielder's magic power.
Part 3: By willing [Release], the wielder forcibly summons the captured target to their side. Furthermore, so long as the wielder grants permission, the captured target may freely travel between its world inside the compendium and the world where the wielder resides.
―――――――――――――――――――――
I didn't entirely understand the intricacies, but the general concept seemed to be that by channeling my magic power into the tome, I could create a unique world within it for captured targets to live in, summoning them at will whenever necessary.
Shall I try calling him out?
Turning to the self-proclaimed Evil God's page, I saw only [Name: Girimehkala] written there.
(Girimehkala—[Release].)
The moment I recited the command in my mind as instructed, the formidable, long-trunked monster materialized before my eyes—Girimehkala.
He stared blankly at his surroundings for a moment, only recognizing me once he lowered his gaze.
Jerking back as if repelled, Girimehkala leaped away and bellowed:
"You are that fledgling god from before!"
Spouting delusions as grand as ever, I see.
This self-proclaimed Evil God truly suffered from a severe case of make-believe. A pitiful creature, really.
Even so, given that this was a summoning, I had expected some degree of absolute restraint—such as an inability to harm me—yet judging by the combat stance he took, that clearly wasn't the case. Well, using bizarre powers to bend another's will and force obedience turned my stomach anyway. If anything, this was preferable.
Regardless, according to the compendium's manual, this self-proclaimed Evil God was technically my first summoned monster. In other words, something akin to a subordinate.
However, he seemed brimming with pride, and I doubted he would accept that reality meekly. In fact, carrying on a proper conversation with him seemed outright impossible at this rate. He would surely refuse to listen, blathering on about how no one dared defy an Evil God such as himself.
What to do, then? Come to think of it, a book I read recently titled Recruit Training Manual (Hell Edition) mentioned that when dealing with arrogant recruits who fail to grasp their own inexperience, establishing a strict hierarchy right from the start makes it much easier to build a healthy relationship later. A subordinate and a recruit were practically the same thing, so this might serve as a fine test case for breaking in monsters captured by the Subjugation Compendium. Let us put theory into practice.
"Very well. I shall put you through some training."
I drew the [Indestructible Rod] from my item box and raised it into a high stance.
"Tr-Training?! What kind of absurd nonsen—"
Before Girimehkala could finish his roar of outrage, the [Indestructible Rod] cracked across his face. His massive frame spun through the air at terrifying speed, slamming violently into the surrounding canyon walls and kicking up a ferocious shockwave.
"Guh... gah..."
Approaching the mortally wounded Girimehkala, I pulled an Elixir from my item box and splashed it over him. Come to think of it, I had rarely needed to use Elixirs lately.
"There, all healed, yes? Then up on your feet. Next."
I leveled the tip of the [Indestructible Rod] at him.
"...Wh-Who in the world are you?"
Girimehkala squeezed out a hoarse voice, his face utterly drained of color.
"Me? Now that you mention it, I have yet to introduce myself. I am Kai Heinemann. Your new master."
"My master?! Such insolence—"
The moment he tried to rise with a look of fury, I closed the distance in a flash and struck him with a horizontal sweep. Once again, Girimehkala went sailing through the air and crashed into the cliffside. A fellow who never learns.
Walking over to him as he twitched and convulsed like a dying insect embedded in the rock, I splashed another Elixir over him.
"Wh-What is the meaning of—"
Shaking his head, he tried to stand, only for his gaze to collide with mine. A waterfall of cold sweat instantly drenched his face, his jaw working uselessly.
"Have you finally grasped the reality of your situation? Good. From this moment on, I will thoroughly beat that rotten-fruit attitude out of you."
As I enthusiastically recited the lines straight from the training manual, Faf chimed in.
"Beat it out of him, yes!"
Faf thrust its right hand toward the sky, echoing my words.
"Aaaaaaaaargh!"
Hoisting Girimehkala's massive, screaming body into the air with the [Indestructible Rod], I commenced his full-scale 'training'—otherwise known as behavioral correction.