---

Since returning from the Count’s Territory to the Empire, we spent a week without any significant incidents.

For a whole week, we didn’t work; we just played around.

One day, I even possessed my past life’s body and slept all day long.

The reason that was possible was because the reward money that was originally 15 silver coins had ballooned to three times that amount, and we unexpectedly received a 3 gold coin urgent request.

What? You think that without working hard, if I get money, I’ll spend it all quickly?

There’s no bank in this world, no interest accruing, and no savings accounts—what’s the point of working hard to make money?

Most people here live day to day, earning just enough to eat.

Anyway, since I’ve loafed around for a week, it’s time to get back to work.

So, after a long time, I went to the Adventurer’s Guild.

“Welcome…”

“Why are you so down?”

Adela seemed a bit deflated.

“Yeah… I was quite comfortable because of it.”

“Who’s bothering our Adela? Just say the word. As an aspiring C-Rank adventurer, I’ll take care of them!”

“…”

Adela stared at me intently.

What’s up? Did I unconsciously emit some hormones or something?

Unfortunately, I can’t control this hormone, and it seems I won’t be able to stop the allure.

“Adela. Sorry, but I’m not really into defenseless people…”

“I don’t understand what you’re saying, but I feel a bit offended.”

Feeling offended for some reason…?

“Is it that time for you, Adela?”

“…Are you out of your mind?”

“Not that time, huh.”

Why is she so sensitive if it’s not that time?

“More importantly, what did you do at the Count’s Territory that you came back with a girl?”

“A girl?”

I turned around to look behind me.

The usual Luna was back there, along with our newly acquired high-class slave, Yui.

But it seems Yui looks young at first glance, so maybe they thought she was a kid.

They don’t even know she’s the oldest here.

“She’s not a newly acquired high-class sl… but a party member.”

“We don’t say we picked up party members…”

What can I say?

“By the way, we defeated an Iron Golem, so we can take the C-Rank exam, right?”

I bet during the week we were playing around, news must’ve come back that we properly solved the Count’s missing person investigation request, along with the Iron Golem story.

In my opinion, that should be enough to go for C-Rank.

“Yes. I heard the news from the Count’s envoy. Even though it was in raid form, the results were good, so the Guild Master believes the conditions for promotion are sufficient.”

“Really? That’s a pity.”

“…What’s a pity?”

“If you had said we couldn’t do it, I would’ve beaten up all the C-Rank adventurers here to prove our abilities.”

Looking around for a tasty C-Rank adventurer, I noticed that every adventurer I made eye contact with suddenly looked away.

Adela shook her head.

For some reason, it felt like one more wrinkle appeared on her forehead than before.

“I’ll explain it to you, so go on quickly.”

“You don’t doubt I’ll fail anymore?”

“Haha… true. It’d have been better if you had no skills at all.”

“Just kidding.”

Because we’re friends, I guess she can take jokes like that now.

But with the lack of vitality in her eyes, I wonder if she’s not feeling well.

Just like last time, Adela took out a large book from the shelf and opened it.

This time too, she flipped through the pages so quickly that it seemed she had memorized everything about where something was in that big book.

“This is the easiest request, just like last time.”

“The hardest one would be better.”

Choosing only the difficult ones is the secret to rapid promotion.

“…Just take a look before you speak.”

“Okay.”

“This time, since the party went from two to three, I recommend checking again.”

“Okay.”

The first monster.

Salamander. Also known as the Fire Lizard.

It surrounds itself with flames and attacks up close.

The easiest hunting method is to bring someone who can use water.

As a backup plan, hiring a pack mule to carry a barrel of water is also an option.

“Adela, I think this information is wrong?”

“Huh? Where?”

“Do we really have to use water? Can’t we just kill it while it’s hot?”

“…If that worked, everyone would do it. When a person touches fire, they get burned, you know. Luke.”

“No, it just felt a bit hot.”

“Yeah, sure.”

“I’m serious.”

She doesn’t believe me.

Since Salamander is the easiest, it’s true that the overall level is higher than the monsters we saw during the last promotion exam.

“What’s the next monster after Salamander?”

I’m not going to do it anyway, but I’m curious.

There are plenty of monsters in this world, but still, the Academy monsters are common and, with monsters lacking intelligence, there are often more Demon or Devil types around.

The protagonist’s growth usually comes from defeating them.

Because of that, even the Ogre or Iron Golem we defeated last time didn’t appear in the storyline.

“It’s a Ghost.”

“A ghost? Is it the ghost I know?”

“I don’t know what ghost you’re familiar with, but it’s probably right.”

A ghost at C-Rank?

And stronger than a Salamander?

I can’t wrap my head around it.

“Isn’t the Salamander stronger than the Ghost?”

“Only in singular combat, yes. But Salamanders act alone, while Ghosts appear in groups from abandoned cemeteries.”

Oh, I see. The conclusion is that numbers beat strength.

“Moreover, Ghosts are incorporeal, so physical attacks won’t work. The only way to attack is by using magic or magical tools, but it’s not cost-effective to use magical tools just to catch a Ghost, so parties without Mages usually just skip it.”

Salamanders are difficult because they’re engulfed in flames, and Ghosts are hard because physical attacks don’t work.

Is there some kind of warrior phobia in C-Rank? Why can’t you do this or that?

Anyway, I wasn’t planning to catch them, but there’s no way for me to do so.

If I had to catch one, would I have to dance with a torch?

What am I even pondering about? I’m not planning to catch one anyway.

“The last monster is on the next page.”

“Let’s go, last monster!”

The long-awaited final monster.

With my heart racing, I flipped to the next page of the book.

The name of the monster immediately caught my eye.

King Slime.

I blinked once, wondering if I had misread it.

Still, King Slime.

I rubbed my eyes, thinking I might be hallucinating, but it was still King Slime.

I even looked at the picture drawn below, thinking it might be some other monster that’s just named Slime.

It’s round, and even from the image, it looks smooth.

No arms, no legs, no mouth, no face—just a slick, smooth form.

It was really the Slime I knew.

“C-C-C-C-COMG SLIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!???????!!”

The Slime that goes side by side with Goblins as a trash monster?!

Nowadays, there are worlds where Slimes aren’t pathetic, but why did I have to land in one of those worlds!?

“Wh-what’s wrong with you…?”

“Luke, calm down a bit.”

Adela was startled by my sudden outburst.

And Luna was there, trying to calm me down from behind.

“It’s just—how is it that after taking down an Ogre and Salamander, we suddenly face a mere Slime?!”

“W-Wait, a ‘mere’ Slime? King Slime is a very dangerous monster, you know!”

“That’s exactly my problem!”

Ah, I really want to slap the author in the face right now.

Sure, depending on the setting, Slimes can be strong.

But why is it that while other monsters are made into formidable foes, we’re suddenly tossed a Slime here?

Did they make it just as dummy data since it wouldn’t show up in the storyline?

“I don’t know why you’re upset, but King Slime is much more dangerous than you might think.”

“What do you mean?”

I felt deflated, unable to respond to anything that came to mind.

“The weakest regular Slime is entirely composed of acid, so if you touch it, your flesh melts away. Moreover, unlike Golems, it doesn’t have a core, so most physical attacks don’t work.”

Wait… that’s a common setting, but for some reason, the serious explanation about a mere Slime feels different from what I know.

Is it possible that the Slime’s name includes ‘Tempest’ at the end?

In that case, I’d admit it’s strong.

“By ‘most,’ does that mean there’s a chance it could work?”

“Even that would only be true for slashing attacks like swords, while blunt attacks like hammers are more effective.”

What they call blunt weapons are basically hammers, right?

It wouldn’t work out if my fist is melting by its acid.

I do have the best bludgeoning weapon, but sadly, that wouldn’t work without the heavy machinery in this world.

“By the way, the Metal Slime was E-Rank last time, right?”

“Metal Slime is closer to a solid than a liquid, so even a person without magical power can sufficiently catch it.”

Typically, a Metal Slime is an evolved form of a Slime…

How the heck did it regress here?

I belatedly read the explanation section in the book.

A Slime that can reach several meters in size.

Completely composed of acid, it poses an extreme threat to humans.

It ensnares opponents with its body and melts them to death.

The typical weakness is magic, especially fire-based magic, while water-based magic should be used cautiously, as it absorbs water to swell in size.

Despite its appearance, it’s quite a knowledgeable monster, requiring caution during battle.

“Geez, if this is the strongest, I guess we’ll have to go with it.”

“Umm… Luke? Don’t we have a Fire Mage in our party?”

“Nope.”

“But how do you plan to defeat it…?”

“We’ll manage without one. What can’t we handle? There’s no such thing as impossible in this world, Luna.”

I guess you haven’t heard of soldiers in your world.

Moving fortress.

In this world, there’s nothing impossible.

“Honestly, I want to side with Luna on this one. The main fighter is Luke, after all.”

If you tell me not to do it, I’m just the kind of person who wants to do it even more.

“There’s no time to hesitate!!!”

I burst out of the Adventurer’s Guild.

 

---