[Quest Reward: Slime Coagulant ×1, Blessing of the Slime King!]
"Hm?"
Kurose Akira paused, genuinely surprised.The event quest… had changed?
Was it because of his involvement?
[Slime Coagulant (Common): A viscous secretion produced inside a slime. Can be applied to one's body to reduce monster hostility.]
"A one-time item that lowers monster aggression?"
[Blessing of the Slime King: Are you the slime? No! I am the slime! Gain one instance of the Slime King's protection!]
"?"
Akira couldn't help but doubt the usefulness of this so-called blessing.Protection from the Slime King? What exactly was that supposed to mean?
"Kurose Akira! That slime is huge!"
Just as the question surfaced in his mind, Liu Xue's shout rang out sharply.
Akira lifted his head—and there it was.
Behind the swarm of smaller slimes, an absolutely massive slime had appeared.
A crown rested proudly atop its gelatinous head, and a red cape billowed behind it, fluttering dramatically in the wind.
[Slime King (Elite)]Level: 10 (0/2000)Race: SlimeStrength: 100 / Agility: 100 / Magic: 100 / Vitality: 200Growth: 8 (Gains +8 to all stats per level)Skills: (Expand)
"So cool…" Akira blurted out despite himself. "A Slime King!"
This thing was absurdly distinctive. A crown? A cape?And its body burned with a blazing crimson hue, as if flames were raging within its translucent form.
It was… oddly beautiful.
"How is this possible?" Liu Xue panicked the moment she saw its status panel. "Isn't this supposed to be a beginner event? Why is there a level 10 Slime King here?!"
According to the event description, only level 5 slimes should appear—fodder meant for new players to grind experience.
Then what the hell was this?
Her heart sank.Her female elf, Vinnie, was only level 6. Taking on a level 10 elite monster was pure fantasy.
"Don't worry," Akira said calmly. "I'll handle it."
At the same time, he knew Liu Xue hadn't seen the system notification that popped up earlier.
So it really was his participation that had altered the event quest.
He didn't know the precise cause—but the outcome was undeniably pleasant.A level 10 Slime King posed no real threat to him.
"Ivsha, move."
"Yes, my lord~"
Ivsha gave a slight nod. Bringing her hands together, she began softly chanting the incantation of holy light.
In an instant, a dazzling radiance bloomed outward from her body, spreading across the battlefield like a rising dawn.
Wherever the holy light touched, entire clusters of slimes were instantly reduced to ash.
And as they vanished, experience notifications erupted in rapid succession.
[Slime defeated ×1, EXP +50!][Slime defeated ×3, EXP +150!][Slime defeated…]
"S-So strong…!"
Liu Xue's beautiful eyes widened in shock.
She knew the adventurers from Akira's guild were stronger than her—but she never imagined this kind of gap.
One spell.The entire field—cleared.
This was leagues beyond any player she'd encountered before.
An expert.No—a monster.
"Holy light…" Ivsha murmured softly, her voice almost melodic.
Above the Slime King's head, a massive golden greatsword materialized out of thin air.
As the chant concluded, the blade plummeted downward—
—and pierced straight through the Slime King's blazing crimson body.
Gurgle… gurgle…
The Slime King let out a strange, bubbling sound.
Then—
BOOM!
Its massive form detonated into a sea of fire.The red cape burned to ashes, and the crown atop its head was blasted free, spinning through the air before landing neatly at Akira's feet.
[Slime King defeated ×1, EXP +500!]
Oh?
Akira bent down and picked up the crown, examining it closely.
[Slime King's Crown (Common): Charisma +1]
"Hmm…"
He turned it over between his fingers. He'd assumed it was made of gold—but the material felt strange, almost indescribable.
By the time he finished inspecting it, Ivsha had already wiped out the remaining slimes.
Akira did a quick tally.
This run yielded a total of 10,500 EXP—200 normal slimes, and 1 Slime King.
Including previous reserves, it was just enough to raise Ivsha and the others by a combined five levels.
Still…
Not enough experience.
"That's… it?" Liu Xue murmured, disbelief flickering in her eyes.
This event quest was far easier than she'd imagined—
No.Akira was far stronger than she'd imagined.
"Since the quest is over, I'll be heading out," Akira said, giving a casual wave.
A one-hour event, cleared in five minutes.Easy money.
"Wait!"
Liu Xue suddenly ran over and thrust an item into his hands.
"Please take this—as thanks!"
"Hm?"
Akira accepted it.It was a slender, jade-green sprout.
"This is…?"
[Elf](Common Trait! When used for combination, guarantees recruitment of an Elite-quality adventurer!)(Trigger condition: Branch of the World Tree)
Whoa.
An elf trait!
"This is something I obtained during the quest," Liu Xue explained. "It doesn't have any combat effects, but it can purify turbid mana and make the air in the guild much fresher."
"Thanks."
Akira smiled faintly and stored the World Tree branch in his inventory.
It wasn't a rare trait—but the race it guaranteed suited him just fine.
"Oh, right," Liu Xue added before he left. "My sister asked me to tell you—you don't need to come to the noodle shop this weekend. We're going to the amusement park."
"Oh? Got it. Have fun."
Akira waved goodbye and left the event area with Ivsha.
Liu Xue lingered for a moment, watching his figure fade into the distance, before stepping into the teleportation circle with her female elf, Vinnie.
White light flashed—
—and Akira returned to the guild.
The first order of business was leveling up Ivsha and Loserine.
Ivsha gained two levels.Loserine gained three.
EXP -10,800!
Loserine's gains were slightly higher overall, but Ivsha's level progression couldn't be neglected either.
"Hm? A letter?"
Akira's gaze suddenly fell upon the guild counter.
A letter lay there—adorned with a familiar rose emblem and carrying a faint, intoxicating fragrance.
Her…?
Akira opened it and read.
[Letter:Tomorrow night. The church.I want to see you.]
Akira: "?"
It had to be important.
"Kurose Akira~ who's the letter from?"
Ivsha suddenly hugged him tightly from behind.Soft, snowy fullness pressed firmly against his back, her sultry voice tinged unmistakably with jealousy.
She'd seen letters bearing that rose emblem twice now—but she still couldn't identify the sender.
More importantly—
She could smell it.
The unmistakable aura of another succubus.
Someone was stealing her prey.