Chapter 6
'Information Window.'
[Slime: F]
A regular slime.
So weak that it can't even use camouflage.
This was the first monster I encountered in the game world.
I should have been scared, but strangely, I wasn't. I was surprisingly indifferent.
'Is it because of the Mental Defense skill?'
Being unable to feel fear.
It was the moment I realized this skill wasn't entirely beneficial.
'I need to find a weapon first.'
Looking around, I found a fairly thick branch.
Not too long, not too short, and not too heavy.
Easy to swing without any hindrance.
It was perfect for a club.
I had the sword Rodelin gave me at my waist, but using a sword on a slime would be wasteful and extravagant.
I had just asked for it because I wanted a weapon.
"Keke, historically, this has been the best approach."
Plop-!
With a satisfying sound, the slime burst open.
After swinging it two or three times, the core hidden inside revealed itself.
This core was both the slime's weakness and its main body.
'As long as the core exists, the slime can regenerate.'
Crack!
The moment the core was crushed, the slime collapsed.
All it left behind was sticky mucus and its shattered core.
I rubbed the club against a tree to clean off the mucus and pocketed the broken core.
Even though a broken core wouldn't show up in the information window, it was still a necessity for me.
After defeating about three slimes, I leveled up.
My health didn't recover, but I could feel a bit more strength in my body.
This is because game players get a special reward of increasing all stats by 1 with each level up.
They also get 10 points for stat upgrades, but these points should be saved for using the hidden pieces in the stat window.
Effectively, in this exam, points were as good as nonexistent. But still.
"Keke, this is quite doable."
There was about 1 hour left until the end of the test when I needed to head towards where Luna was.
Until then, my only task was to swing that club.
* * *
"1 hour remaining in the first exam! Students who haven't found the exit yet, hurry up!"
The loud voice of the instructor rang in my ears.
Desperate movements could be felt from beyond the bushes.
The confusion was intensified due to the mixing of several groups.
You think the first groups to enter have an advantage due to more time?
Not really. In fact, the maze is so simple that if you touch one wall and keep moving, you could find the exit within 30 minutes.
'Whether you pass or fail the first test is the only criterion.'
The supervisors in the first test only wanted to see problem-solving skills, judgment, endurance, perseverance, and an unyielding spirit.
The slimes were just a sort of trap.
'If you showed off your skills by killing every slime you saw, you'd quickly run out of stamina.'
Losing track of your path while showcasing your skills against slimes.
Sweat pouring down, fatigue building up, and the elusive water.
Depleted stamina slowly eats away at your concentration, and the maze seems endless.
Gradually falling into despair, and then...
'You're compelled to give up the test.'
Although I killed every slime I encountered, my situation was different.
I knew all the paths in the maze and the location of the only spring in it.
Even now, I was gulping down water from that spring.
"Phew... that's refreshing."
A smile came naturally.
I had achieved more than I expected.
[Zero]
Lv: 7
Strength: 16
Agility: 16
Intelligence: 16
Stamina: 16
Magic Power: 16
Potential: 6
Owned Points: 60
Owned Skills: [Translation S], [Interpretation S], [Mental Defense S], [Information Window S], [Twisted Speech S], [Ominous Aura B], [Eye Opening F]
Owned Titles: None
I managed to raise my level by six.
I could have gained even more levels if I had increased my stats in the middle, but I couldn't afford to do that.
'To gain just 2 or 3 more levels at the expense of hidden pieces? That's not an option.'
And there's more to it than that.
As with most games, the higher you grow, the less significant levels become.
Not only does the experience required for each level-up increase, but the difference in stats also becomes less impactful.
For instance, let's assume all stats are poured into strength.
At level 1, the strength is 10.
If all the stats gained from leveling up are invested in strength, at level 11, it becomes 110.
10 and 110.
The difference in stats between level 1 and level 10 is significant enough to be noticeable.
But it's different at higher levels.
'If the strength at level 200 is 2,110, then at level 210, it's only 2,210.'
The same difference of 100, but it's negligible.
The outcome of battles becomes dependent on the difference in skills and items.
My goal is the final boss. I can't afford to waste points here.
'I must use them efficiently. Unless it's a crisis, I'll save the points until the end.'
I clenched and unclenched my fist a few times, checking my body's condition.
I was a bit tired but not to the point of being immobile.
"Well then... shall we get going?"
Shouldering the club on my right, I started walking slowly.
After about 5 minutes, I saw a child and an instructor standing in front of him.
"I, I give up. I can't do it anymore..."
"Understood. Have some water first."
The child almost snatched the water bottle from the instructor and gulped down the water.
The instructor's eyes briefly shifted towards me.
I could easily guess his thoughts.
'That guy will be out soon too.' Because.
'This way is the exact opposite of the exit.'
Considering the remaining time, passing seemed difficult.
His judgment was accurate. At the same time.
'That's the reaction I wanted.'
My current destination was where Luna and the hidden piece were.
I couldn't afford to lead the instructor there.
"Are you okay?"
"As you can see, I'm in good shape. I've had enough water... Hehehe, just need to find the way."
The instructor's gaze changed. It was like looking at a bug.
Really, it's a troublesome appearance and manner of speaking.
Well, I can't help it since I look similar to those who've ruined continents several times.
"Well then, hang in there. Don't give up until the end."
That was the moment the instructor completely lost interest in me.
The ability to easily subdue slimes.
Having confirmed that I still had plenty of energy, he saw no need to follow me.
There are many children collapsing from exhaustion, he would be busy attending to them.
"Keke, I will be on my way then."
And so, I took a vigorous step towards the first hidden piece.
Wasn't I supposed to be helping Luna, who has a poor sense of direction?
Oh, her...
I'll save her along the way.
* * *
Countless slashes marked the trees and bushes.
Peeking through the intact bushes, I emerged.
"Keke, just as I expected."
Vroom- Vroom-.
Luna was frantically swinging her sword in the air.
Well, not exactly at the air.
There were moments when the speed of the sword noticeably slowed down.
As if it was hitting something.
'Invisible slimes... harder to see than I thought.'
That's right. The creature Luna was facing was an 'Invisible Slime.'
Focusing on the area where she was swinging her sword, I used the [Information Window] skill.
[Invisible Slime: S]
Lv: 20
Strength: 45
Agility: 17
Intelligence: 8
Stamina: 100
Literally, a transparent slime.
An experimental creation of an unnamed magician.
Creating this creature was a challenge, but it became invisible to the eyes, even eluding its creator, the magician.
Fortunately, it settled in a crevice of the maze, feeding on other slimes to grow.
Owned Skills: [Rapid Regeneration S], [Predation A], [Gluttony B], [Digestion B]
The predator of the maze and the reason Luna didn't make it into the advanced class at the beginning of the semester.
'She was tormented by this thing until she exhausted all her stamina.'
It was only at the very end of the first exam that she narrowly found the exit.
Barely avoiding failure in the second and third exams due to lack of stamina, she managed to enroll.
Her abrasive personality led to a difficult life at the academy, eventually resulting in her losing an arm and going missing.
"Damn it!"
Luna cursed.
A sword is an inefficient weapon against slimes, but not for someone of her caliber.
Yet, Luna was struggling because:
Firstly, it's hard to attack something that's invisible.
Secondly, the Invisible Slime's stamina is abnormally high for its level.
Thirdly, its [Rapid Regeneration] skill allows it to recover quickly.
'It's hard because not only the body but even its weak core is invisible.'
Luna, who had been moving incessantly, suddenly leaped backward.
A move, presumably, to escape the range of the Invisible Slime's attack.
"What the hell is that? It's definitely a slime, but... if it's a secret test hidden by the academy, I should figure out a strategy..."
"I can't see a way out... This is really troublesome."
"Right. It's really trouble... Aaah! What, what is that!"
Oh, she still screams like a little girl.
That was a new discovery. Despite her cute appearance, Luna had a pretty foul mouth.
"You, where did you suddenly come from! Or, have you been following me? You, you perverted stalker!"
"Keke, it's a misunderstanding."
"Misunderstanding my foot... Get lost! I found this thing!"
Luna seemed to think the Invisible Slime is a secret test set by the academy.
But there's no time to explain the truth, so I had to act quickly.
"Let's make a deal."
"...A deal?"
"I'll tell you how to defeat it. You can take the credit. Just give me the byproduct that comes out after killing it."
Luna's eyes rolled wildly.
She seemed confused about what exactly was going on.
There was no time for a lengthy discussion, so I quickly got to the point.
"Here's the question! What's the weakness of a slime~ Huh?"
"Its core. I know that! But it's invisible, what do I do?"
"I'll make it visible. The killing part is your job. Do we have a deal?"
"...Explain your method first."
It was simple, really.
I pulled out the collected slime cores from my pocket.
Then, I threw them towards where I assumed the Invisible Slime to be.
After about 5 seconds, the cores floated up into the air.
"...Such a method!"
Luna exclaimed in surprise.
Slimes typically feed on microorganisms, but they also grow by consuming each other.
The stronger one covers the weaker one, destroys its core, and eats it.
The important thing here is that regular slime cores have color.
"Keke, that slime will unwittingly lead us to its core while trying to absorb these, revealing its fatal weakness."
"Damn!"
Seemingly displeased about needing help, Luna rushed in.
Her swordplay was splendid, but...
"Ugh!"
Her sword failed to reach the Invisible Slime's core.
Her attack power wasn't enough to cut through both the membrane and the core.
'She could easily win if she used her family's secret technique.'
But she wouldn't use it carelessly with onlookers around.
Like me, she was probably conscious of the instructors watching from somewhere.
However, contrary to her belief, there are no instructors here.
'This is a space that doesn't even exist on the maze's map.'
A place reached because of Luna's notoriously poor sense of direction.
The very setting of the game was that this was where the Invisible Slime, having escaped from the magician, resided.
'If she gives up now, it's me who will be in trouble.'
In the game, Luna gives up on the Invisible Slime and chooses to break through the maze.
Admission to the academy was that important. No, it was the only way.
'It's the only path for the revenge of her family.'
The reason Luna hides her family's swordsmanship, her secret.
She's the descendant and the sole survivor of the 'Lester Family', which was implicated in a rebellion.
But, having played through multiple times, I know the truth. Luna is...
'A poor child struggling to restore the honor of her falsely accused and destroyed family.'
Her goal in entering the academy is to grow stronger and find the family that framed hers.
Therefore, she will soon flee from the Invisible Slime.
Considering the value of the hidden piece that could be obtained from the Invisible Slime, it's a bigger loss for me.
I had to persuade her.
"Use the secret technique of your family."
"...Family? What nonsense is that? I'm a commoner."
"Don't lie. You are the sole survivor of the Lester Family, Luna de Lester."
Luna's eyes widened tremendously.
--TL Notes--
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