Chapter-01 · EP-025

Episode 25: Huge Slime

"Level 2?"

Yuno exclaimed in surprise at my level.

"When did you become level 2? We just started exploring the dungeon, didn't we?"

That was true. My being level 2 was clearly abnormal. According to the academy's curriculum, everyone was supposed to reach level 2 over the four months of the first semester. There might be some individual differences, but reaching level 2 on the first day of exploration made me an exception among exceptions.

"You know about my fight with the Acid Slime on the first day, right?"

"…Don't tell me…"

"Yeah. It must have been because the Acid Slime gave a lot of experience points."

The three of them looked convinced by my explanation. The normal way to go from level 1 to level 2 at this academy was by defeating around 100 normal slimes. My fight with the Acid Slime was completely irregular, but thanks to it, I had reached level 2 faster than anyone else.

"So, Shirou, can you defeat that Huge Slime?"

"Probably!"

I answered confidently, though the content somehow lacked conviction.

But it would probably work out.

Before us, the Huge Slime wasn't attacking; it just sat there trembling.

"It might be dangerous, so you three stay back."

Hearing my words, Yuno and Maika stepped back.

But Iori alone stepped forward.

"Iori?"

"Let me help too. I want to test my own abilities."

I thought about it for a moment. It was said that level 2 was appropriate for defeating a Huge Slime. But the academy recommending that meant it was a level where you could defeat it without serious injury. If that was the case, even though there was some risk, there was a possibility that Iori at level 1 could also fight it effectively. I didn't even know how much stronger I had become from going from level 1 to 2. Perhaps there wasn't that big a difference between levels 1 and 2?

Reaching that conclusion, I decided to allow Iori to join the fight.

"Okay. But if it gets dangerous, fall back immediately."

"Got it!"

Iori responded fiercely. She was fired up.

We stepped toward the giant, trembling, jelly-like mass.

First, I swung my wooden sword down. A normal slime would be defeated with a light tap, but against the Huge Slime, I couldn't tell how much damage my sword did just by cutting its surface. And the amorphous slime's body didn't seem to show any wounds.

"Is it doing any damage?"

As I wondered, Iori swung her wooden sword from the side. The reaction seemed the same as my attack.

Now recognizing us as enemies, the Huge Slime undulated its large body and moved toward us.

I lightly stepped back to create distance while repeatedly striking with my wooden sword, one hit, two hits.

But each strike felt like hitting water—splashy—and I couldn't tell if I was dealing any damage.

I glanced at Iori; she was attacking with a hit-and-run style similar to mine.

If we weren't dealing any damage, what should we do? We had no way to attack with fire, the slime's weakness. How were we supposed to fight with only physical attacks?

Actually, I had known from studying that the first-floor boss was this Huge Slime, but I hadn't yet studied how to defeat it. I should have read the textbook more thoroughly.

"Shirou!"

Just then, Iori called out to me.

"It might be better to attack it by shaving it off!"

I looked at Iori. She was attacking by gradually cutting and shaving off the slime's surface. The shaved-off parts fell to the ground and disappeared.

"I see!"

I didn't know the theory behind it, but if I knew what to do, I just needed to act.

To show the strength of level 2, I started attacking the Huge Slime repeatedly, shaving it away.

I struck it again and again, shaving off its surface.

The Huge Slime gradually shrank. But there was no end in sight.

"It's getting smaller bit by bit, but this could go on forever…"

I grumbled as I attacked. Hearing my mutter, Iori seemed to notice something and called out to me.

"Shirou, isn't there something like a core in there?"

Looking into the Huge Slime's body as Iori suggested, I saw a black, lump-like object deep inside.

"I see! That must be its weak point!"

But the slime's body was thick, and my wooden sword wouldn't reach the core.

If that was the case, we'd continue with the previous strategy.

"We'll keep shaving until we reach the core!"

Saying that, I frantically began cutting away at the Huge Slime's body. I'll show you the strength of level 2! I swung my wooden sword repeatedly, thwack, thwack, thwack, thwack. I gradually shortened the distance to the core.

Just when it seemed my wooden sword would reach the core in a few more strikes, something happened.

The Huge Slime's body undulated, and the core moved further inside.

"Ah!"

It must have sensed danger from my continuous attacks. I was stunned.

But in the next instant, Iori, who had circled around to the opposite side, thrust her wooden sword into the core as it moved toward her.

Splash!

With its core pierced, the Huge Slime lost its form, scattered into liquid, and then vanished. We had won.

All the puddles from earlier had been completely absorbed by the Huge Slime, and now that it was gone, only the Huge Slime's Magic Gem remained.

"Iori, that was amazing!"

Yuno rushed over and praised Iori for her great performance.

"Iori-chan, amazing!"

Maika also showered her with praise.

Iori looked happy being praised by her two friends.

And I thought…

"Excuse me. I think I did quite a lot too…"

I found myself speaking in polite language, completely ignored by Yuno and Maika.

Iori landed the finishing blow, but it was because I attacked that the core moved that way…

"Iori at level 1 is more reliable than Shirou at level 2!"

Yuno said it loud enough for me to hear.

Maika looked at me with pity.

"Ugh…"

I couldn't say anything back.

"That's not true. We defeated the Huge Slime because Shirou was there."

Thank you, Iori.

Of course, Yuno was just joking, and she thanked me later as well.

And so, despite a few complications, Maika's Water Magic practice came to an end.