Grave of Death ② – Curse Slime.
Early morning. We left the Abandoned Village and wandered through the withered plains.
The sky was perpetually twilight; without the Day-Night Stone, we would have gone mad.
The endless expanse of withered grass was tedious and uninteresting.
We scattered Bone Wolves, Bone Boars, and Bone Rabbits.
Juicy-san did most of the work. She took the initiative, chasing down the bones to defeat them.
I was slightly on edge, wondering if she’d pick one up in her mouth and bring it back.
“It’s all inedible stuff, isn’t it?”
“Well, we have plenty of food in the pouch.”
Agaro-san’s pouch could hold the contents of an entire warehouse.
Though, more than half of it is alcohol…
“I know, I know. I understand the feeling.”
The Witch’s pouch, with its unknown storage capacity, also held supplies.
It contained food, six sofas gentle on red and black tails, medicinal herbs, and more.
It probably held a ton of other useless and unnecessary things too. What could she possibly use them for?
The Witch has a collecting habit. In fact, she’d been picking up things like Undead bones and putting them in there.
Eventually, a broken tower came into view.
The tower, the remains of some kind of facility, was snapped in the middle, its debris scattered around.
Near the tower, something huge was moving. What was that? A slime?
A massive, translucent black slime writhed, absorbing large numbers of skulls and zombies.
Faint, fine red text was inscribed within the slime, and various objects floated inside it.
Does this slime have a collecting habit too? Or is it omnivorous, or perhaps just an indiscriminate eater?
“A slime?”
“Na?”
“Um, um, it’s eating the Undead!”
“Ho ho. Oh my, oh my. That’s a Curse Slime.”
“The one they say is cursed?”
“Yes, yes. It’s a slime created by a Yomido Follower, using Undead as nutrients.”
“An artificial Monster?”
“Look, look, see the text inside its body? Those are curse characters. The creation method is simple. You feed a normal slime a Relic Plate containing a curse Relic, turning it into a Curse Slime.”
“They use a Relic Plate?”
That seemed far too extravagant.
It’s probably only possible because it’s a slime, I thought.
“Hohh, but this is the first time I’ve seen one. A Curse Slime.”
“Even for you, Agaro-san?”
That was surprising. Agaro-san scratched his eyepatch with a finger.
“Of course it is. After all, this is my first time entering the Grave of Death. Who’d willingly enter a crappy Dungeon like this?”
He glanced sarcastically at the Witch. He had a point. The Witch gave a wry smile.
“Um, um, I can’t see any weaknesses at all.”
“Does that mean it’s stronger than you, Juicy-san?”
Juicy-san’s Relic, [Weakness Detection], couldn’t detect weaknesses unless the target was weaker than her.
“Still, still, that thing is way too big. Curse Slimes are normally the same size as regular slimes, so that’s probably a subspecies.”
“A subspecies? I thought that size was a Curse Slime. Hey, hey. I don’t want to fight that thing. It looks seriously bad news.”
“Ah… Agaro-san. Look inside the tower.”
I saw it. The crumbling tower where the Curse Slime lurked had no door.
So I couldn’t help but notice the stairs leading down inside.
“…You gotta be kidding me.”
“Oh my, oh my, there are stairs over there.”
We could search for other descending staircases, but these withered plains were larger than expected.
We were short on time and didn’t want to waste it unnecessarily. Besides, we were still on the upper levels.
“Um, um, there’s a Treasure Chest inside the Curse Slime!”
“Eh? Ah, you’re right!”
“Na!”
There was a box within the Curse Slime’s body.
It was a metal box adorned with decorations. It definitely looked like a Treasure Chest.
“Oh my, oh my, look what we have here.”
“Stairs and a Treasure Chest, huh… Hmmm.”
Just in case, I checked the Treasure Chest with [Wheel of Fortune]. Oh, that’s surprising. It’s yellow.
Super Rare, the category currently becoming a source of contention for me.
So my enthusiasm dropped. Ahh, troublesome yellow.
Then, the Witch gave me a wink like a prostitute’s. What was that for?
Ah, I see. She wants to know the rarity.
“That looks like quite a nice Treasure Chest.”
“Wof. You know?”
“Yes, that’s a good one. It’s a yellow light.”
“Ho ho. I see.”
“Oi. Isn’t it gold? Though it’s just the decorations.”
“Um, um, woof. I… I’m looking forward to seeing what’s inside!”
“Na!”
Juicy-san. She’s already assuming we’ll get it. Though I admit, I am curious about the contents.
Agaro-san asked the Witch.
“Do you know the Curse Slime’s weakness?”
“Of course, of course. Holy Water and healing-type items. However, if they’re too strong, it’ll rupture, so moderately potent Holy Water and Potions are recommended. By the way, fire is strictly forbidden. It’ll explode.”
“Agaro-san. Have you decided to fight it?”
“Yeah, ignoring a Treasure Chest isn’t something a Seeker does.”
“Also, also, ordinary blades will melt.”
That’s dangerous. I thought the Elixir Knife might work.
Then again, using an Elixir would make it rupture, right?
“Then what should we do?”
“Oh my, oh my, Agaro of the [Ruinblade]. Have you forgotten the basic way to defeat a slime?”
“Huh? Slimes die if you destroy their core… Ah, I see. So that Curse Slime has a core too.”
“Um, um, I found the core. But, woof. That core is troublesome.”
“Troublesome… Hey, hey. Is that the core?”
“Hmm hmm. I see.”
“…Why?”
“Na?”
We quickly spotted the core Juicy-san had found.
It was located above the Treasure Chest, where the skulls were clustered together.
However, it was exquisitely surrounded by thick armor plating. An incredibly precise arrangement.
Is the Curse Slime guarding it itself? Does it have that much intelligence? Or is it just a coincidence?
“Hey, Witch. How big is the explosion?”
“Let’s see, let’s see. With that massive body, this whole area would definitely get caught in it. And since it’s a Curse Slime, it’d be a cursed explosion. Furthermore, the curse would be scattered by the blast wave, and these entire plains would surely be cursed. Of course, we would be cursed too. Rupturing isn’t quite on that scale, but we’d still get cursed.”
“We’re screwed, aren’t we?”
“Um, um, woof. Does that mean we’ll be cursed if we touch the Curse Slime?”
“Yes, yes. It’s a different story if you have a Relic or Legendary that can resist curses. Incidentally, I don’t have one. Holy Water can’t remove curses, you know.”
“Me neither.”
“Um, um, I don’t have one either.”
“I don’t have one either.”
Agaro-san muttered, disheartened.
“…Then how are we supposed to beat it?”
How, indeed.
Blades don’t work. Fire is forbidden. Elixirs that are too strong risk causing a rupture.
On top of that, touching it curses you. We’d probably gain a debuff Relic.
Its weaknesses are liquids like Holy Water and Potions. And its core.
But the enemy is protecting its core with iron plating.
“……….”
The iron plate is a problem, but the body itself is thick too. That Curse Slime.
A way to defeat it… huh. Hmm, let’s see.
Simply put, we need to shave away the slime’s thick body to expose the iron plate.
Then cut through the plate and pierce the core. That’s the only way.
For shaving it down and exposing it, that’s a job for the trusty [Vanish] when in trouble.
Cutting the plate and piercing the core will have to be done by someone else.
“Ho ho. Wof (boy). Have you thought of something?”
“Eh? Uh, well, yes, but…”
“It’s fine, it’s fine, let’s hear it.”
“But there are missing elements…”
“Even so, even so, if you say it, we might figure something out.”
“Right now, we’re stuck. Anything is better than nothing.”
“Um, um, Lord Wof, please lend us your wisdom.”
If they were going to put it like that, I had no choice but to speak.
“Err, I can handle the Curse Slime’s thick body somehow. After that, we need someone who can cut the iron plate and someone who can pierce the core from a distance.”
“You can handle that cursed body? Ah, a Relic?”
“Yes. A Relic.”
When I stated it plainly, Agaro-san said.
“Alright, I guess I’ll cut the iron plate.”
“Then we just need someone to pierce the core.”
“Easier said than done.”
“Um, um, I… I can use a bow.”
“Eh?”
“Hmm hmm. I’ve heard of it. That the Marquis Tasan Family is a renowned hunting family.”
“Come to think of it, Rell-san used a bow too.”
“You can use one too, lass?”
“Um, um, woof. Yes. I’m not as skilled as Brother Rell, but I can handle one. However, I don’t have my own bow and arrows.”
“I’ve got arrows.”
“Hmm hmm. As for a bow, I have one.”
As she spoke, the Witch pulled a pure white bow from her pouch.
Agaro-san also produced several arrows.
“This should be enough.”
“Um, um, thank you very much.”
“Sure thing.”
“Why did you have arrows?”
“Dunno. They just end up in there somehow. Feels like more appear every time I get blackout drunk.”
That… reminded me of something similar. Ah, it’s a memory from my past life.
When I worked at that Black Company, we had drinking parties about once a week.
Attendance was mandatory, of course. My manager would get plastered then. Yeah, the manager.
He often tried to take home the mascot figure from the front of a hamburger chain restaurant.
I stopped him, of course. Apparently, he already had three mascot figures from a pharmacy at his house.
And other things like signs, traffic cones, poles… Man, I really thought, “Seriously, return those.”
No, but seriously, even if she was dead drunk, how did her arrow count increase? It’s not like arrows just lie around on the roadside in this world either.
“Ho ho. Hmm hmm. Uh-huh, uh-huh. Hmmm hmmm.”
“Um, umm, um, woof woof. Um…?”
“Na?”
What was this? The Witch was staring intently at Juicy-san, scrutinizing her from head to toe.
What was she doing? I watched, ready to step in if things got dangerous.
After a moment, the Witch looked away from Juicy-san and unstrung the bow she had produced.
“Hey, hey, Wof-shounen. Could you cut this middle part for me?”
“Eh? The bow’s?”
“Yes, yes. It’s wooden, so give it a clean cut, okay? I’m going to adjust it.”
“Here I go.”
“Na!”
I cut the center of the bow with my knife. It was that twin-bladed one. As expected, it cut remarkably well.
The Witch thanked me and took several items out of her pouch.
Materials. She placed them on a nearby rock. Then she took out something else. A toolbox.
With practiced hands, she used the tools from the toolbox on the bisected bow, combining the materials.
Somehow, just somehow, I got the feeling she was making a composite bow.
With a few clicks and clacks, she finished her work and finally strung the bow.
“Well, well, this should do, I suppose.”
Saying so, the Witch handed the bow to Juicy-san.
It was slightly shorter now and had black lines etched into it. Red cloth was also wrapped around the center grip.
Is that all? Well, there probably wasn’t much she could do.
Juicy-san accepted it with thanks and slowly drew the string.
Looking closely, the bow that was initially symmetrical now had limbs of different sizes. The top was shorter, and the bottom was longer.
Did she completely change the bow’s shape with just that brief bit of tinkering? How did she do that?
“Um, umm, um, it’s easy to draw.”
“Hmm hmm. Keep holding it like that, and let me know if you feel even the slightest bit of discomfort, okay?”
“Um, yes. Understood. Um, the top part wobbles a little.”
“Oh my, already, is it?”
The Witch chuckled wryly and made adjustments. She repeated this about three times.
Then, a test shot. Juicy-san’s archery skills were magnificent.
Four arrows were loosed.
All four struck the center of the makeshift target the Witch had fashioned out of bone.
Perhaps because they were both Tasan, her stance and aura reminded me of Rell-san.
However, if there was one difference, it would be her stance, so beautiful you couldn’t help but be captivated.
“This should work.”
“Yes. I agree.”
“All that’s left is to apply Holy Water to the arrowheads, right?”
Hearing that, the Witch grinned slyly.
When the Witch smiled like that, she was definitely planning some mischief.
“Wof-shounen. Could you lend me that thing?”
“That thing?”
“That, that. You know, that Egg-shaped Container.”
“Eh? Ah, but if you use it like that, it’ll burst!”
“No, no. I was thinking, while we’re at it, we might as well coat the entire bow.”
“Coat it…? Well, I guess that’s fine.”
“Alright then, it’s decided,” the Witch declared, pulling an old workbench out of her pouch.
It looked like the workbench the Witch always used, but maybe it was a spare, like the sofa.
“Eh, woah!?”
“Ooh, what’s that?”
“Okay, okay. Little doggy girl. Let me borrow the bow for a bit, okay?”
“Um, umm, understood.”
Taking the bow from Juicy-san, the Witch placed it on the workbench and secured it with the attached clamps.
Next, she took out a thin case. Inside were brushes of various sizes.
“Come, come, Wof-shounen. Hand over the Egg, please.”
Urged on, I retrieved the Egg from the very back of my pouch.
The exquisitely crafted Egg-shaped Container, looking just like a real egg.
It was the Legendary Elixir Sacred Egg. I carefully handed it over.
The Witch accepted it, opened the lid, dipped a small brush into the Elixir, and began painting the bow.
A glittering, viscous liquid coated the bow.
“What are you painting it with?”
“Um, it’s the Witch’s secret stuff. I was holding onto it for her.”
“Hoh, her secret stuff, huh?”
“Um, umm, it’s beautiful. It’s sparkling.”
Juicy-san’s eyes were sparkling just as much.
“Alright. Let me explain while she’s doing that. Both of you, this’ll be over in an instant. Wof makes the hole, I cut the plate, and the young lady here shoots the Core. It’s simple, but we have to nail it in one shot. There’s no second chance. Got it?”
“Yes!”
“Um, umm, understood!”
“Na!”
The Witch finished painting the bow. It was the second Elixir-coated weapon.
However, unlike my knife, which I just carelessly splashed it on, this was coated thoroughly and carefully.
Also, since a bow is a launch platform for arrows, maybe it’s different from a knife.
The Witch handed the bow to Juicy-san. Juicy-san accepted it, deeply moved.
“Um, umm, it’s sparkling. Um, I… I swear, I will absolutely pierce the Curse Slime’s Core!”
Juicy-san’s resolve hardened. Her eyes were burning fiercely.
Alright. Let’s do this. Curse Slime.
“Now, now, how will this turn out, I wonder?”
“Na?”
The Witch would remain behind.
I had her look after Dagaa, just in case something happened.
“We go all at once! Wof, it’s up to you!”
“Yes!”
“Um, umm, Lord Wof. Please, do your absolute best!”
“Right!”
Fired up and ready. First, I channeled maximum 【Vanish】 into my fist and punched with all my might!
“Vanish Knuckle!!!”
A hole opened up in the Curse Slime.