Isekai Nonbiri Sozai Saishu Seikatsu - Chapter 178

“Even if it got bigger, it’s still just a slime, right?”

“I got tired of gathering bit by bit. It’s a huge help that it got bigger!”

Some adventurers said this while looking at the now towering slime.

It seems the plan is to boldly defeat it and collect materials.

“When it becomes a Big Slime, the danger level jumps to C. Is he gonna be okay?”

“He might not realize that.”

Judging by his equipment, the adventurer who started running looked inexperienced or possibly low-rank.

He might be in for a rude awakening if he thought it was just a regular slime.

“Gah!”

“Ugh!?”

My bad feeling, shared by Lumia, came true as the adventurer who started running was swept away by the Big Slime’s tentacle.

The tentacle, flexible and sharp like a whip, sent the adventurers flying dramatically.

“Ah! My weapon melted!?”

Some managed to dodge the tentacles and attack, but their weapons were dissolved by the strong acid.

“Shuu-san!”

“This could be bad!”

As feared, most of the adventurers there were beginners.

The request this time had a low difficulty, with good earnings, attracting many novice adventurers.

We should have anticipated the lack of knowledge about the Big Slime and the inadequacy of their skills.

The adventurers were already falling apart.

At this rate, there might be serious injuries or even fatalities.

Lumia and I tried to rush to their aid, but we were too far away.

Even if I tried to cast magic, the distance was too great for it to reach in time.

A tentacle of the Big Slime swung towards an adventurer who had lost his weapon.

“H-Help!”

Just as the fledgling adventurer was about to be blown away, someone stepped in to block the attack.

“The Big Slime is a danger level C! Adventurers who aren’t of the appropriate rank, stay back! We’ll handle this!”

It was Leona, shouting as she deflected the tentacle with her fist.

The novice adventurers, who did not know that the danger level was C, obediently retreated even though they were stumbling.

However, perhaps due to their injuries, they weren’t moving quickly.

“Shuu-san, I’ll take care of the injured, so can I leave the rest to you?”

“Understood.”

Lumia, who had potions, would treat the injured and help them retreat.

“And if possible, please keep the materials in good condition!”

As she ran off, Lumia shouted those words.

Even in a situation like this, it was just like her to worry about the materials.

Parting ways with Lumia, I headed towards the Big Slime.

Up ahead, Leona was deflecting the Big Slime’s tentacles with her fists, while Razo was slicing them off with his sword.

I wondered if it was safe to punch it with bare hands, but Leona’s arms were well-protected by gauntlets.

In the back, Erik was shooting arrows to keep it at bay, but they were being absorbed by the Big Slime, likely due to its high elasticity.

“Leona, I came to assist, but do you need help?”

Among adventurers, it’s taboo to interfere and take over another’s fight with a monster.

If Leona and her group could handle it quickly and secure the materials, it was best not to intervene.

“Of course we need help! Hurry and assist us!”

I had considered just watching, but Leona’s response was more urgent than I expected.

“Huh? But aren’t you all C-rank adventurers?”

Their adventurer rank was C.

Defeating a Big Slime shouldn’t be too difficult for them.

“We’re C-rank too, but we don’t have a mage, so we’re at a huge disadvantage! Erik’s arrows aren’t working!”

“Erik is an elf, right?”

Elves are typically known for their high magic aptitude.

“…Don’t assume every elf can use magic!”

“Sorry about that.”

I had asked out of curiosity, but his response was a bit sharp.

Right, not all elves are good at magic.

Everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses.

“Shuu, you can use magic, right? We’ll hold it off, so hit it with something big!”

“No, that would ruin the materials.”

“Come on, you’re prioritizing materials even in this situation!?”

“If we don’t collect the materials, it’s disrespectful to them.”

It’s not just because Lumia asked me; I can’t stand not collecting what I can.

In Monmon Hunter, not breaking parts or cutting tails is considered a sin.

“How are we supposed to prioritize materials in a situation like this!?”

“First, I’ll stop its movement. ‘Freeze.'”

I cast the ice spell carefully, making sure not to catch Leona or Razo in it.

However, I didn’t freeze it completely.

Freezing it to death would degrade the materials.

In a semi-frozen state, the Big Slime’s movements slowed significantly.

With a regular slime, I’d reach in and shock the core, but that wouldn’t work with a Big Slime.

The core was too far, and the acid was too dangerous.

However, with its evolution, the monster’s durability should have increased.

“‘Lightning.'”

I cast a lightning spell on the Big Slime.

The spell, with its power reduced, struck the Big Slime’s core directly.

The Big Slime convulsed and then stopped moving.

“What!? Shuu, you’re this good at magic!?”

“I knew you took down a Red Dragon and Dvorak, but I didn’t realize you were this strong…”

Come to think of it, this might be the first time I fought a monster in front of other adventurers.

Leona and the other adventurers seemed stunned.

“But is this really B-rank? It feels more like A-rank or higher.”

“With this much skill, you’re just a specialist in material gathering? What a waste!”

Hearing about my stance, Razo shouted in frustration.

As long as I can gather materials to my heart’s content, I’m fine with this.

Well, if I need a higher rank to access certain gathering spots, I’ll have to raise it.

“…Are you secretly an elf, Shuu? You are, right?”

“No, I’m human.”

When I firmly stated this, Erik looked down, crestfallen.

It seemed he was self-conscious about being an elf who couldn’t use magic.

I guess he wishes he could use magic.

However, there was nothing I could do to help with that.

“Now, how to extract this core…”

It’s too big to handle even with Black Slime gloves.

Before that, my clothes would dissolve and my skin would blister.

Even though a potion would heal it, I definitely don’t want to go through that kind of pain.

“If you want to extract the core, I can do it.”

“Can you do it without causing much damage?”

“Leave it to me.”

It seemed Leona had a good method, so I decided to let her handle it.

Leona circled behind the Big Slime, examining the core’s position.

She lightly placed her fist against its body, then slowly pulled back and struck.

She did this three times in quick succession.

The Big Slime’s body rippled violently from the impact, and the core was pushed out from the center.

“How’s that?”

“Impressive. How did you do it?”

“I just infused my strikes with magic to create shockwaves that pushed it out.”

Leona threw a jab into the air with a whoosh.

Even though she was more than three meters away from me, the air pressure reached me.

“Are those gauntlets some kind of item?”

“No, it’s just physical enhancement.”

“That’s amazing.”

“No, Shuu, your magic is way more impressive.”

Though part of it was due to the natural physical abilities of beastfolk, she was undeniably impressive.

The Big Slime was especially tough against direct attacks, but she could probably handle any ordinary monster without trouble.

“Razo’s swordsmanship was remarkable too, and Erik’s arrows were precise. If only you all could be as sharp in everyday life as you are in battle…”

“Exactly! I feel the same way!”

“Shut up, mind your own business.”

Leona nodded vigorously in agreement with my inadvertently voiced thoughts, while Razzo and Erik looked annoyed.

Despite their usual carefree attitude, both of them had the skills worthy of C-rank adventurers.

“Shuu-san, did you manage to collect the Big Slime’s materials?”

As we laughed and talked, Lumia, having finished treating the injured, came over.

She immediately asked about the materials, causing Leona and the others to look exasperated.

“Yes, I was able to collect them just like from other slimes. How did it go on your end?”

“There are no serious injuries or fatalities. Some people had broken bones, but I treated them with mid-grade potions.”

“That’s a relief.”

Even though this job is always dangerous, it’s sad when people get seriously hurt or worse on the same mission.

“Now, about the materials…”

“Well… it was all thanks to Shuu that we managed to defeat it, so we’re fine without any.”

Leona looked a bit awkward as she shook her head, but I couldn’t agree.

“No, Leona, you guys held it off so I could defeat it more easily. And you extracted the core so cleanly. Let’s split it fifty-fifty.”

“Really? If you insist, then I’ll gladly accept.”

“Alright, now the question is how we’re going to transport this.”

If it were just Lumia and me, I would store it in my magic bag, but with so many eyes on us, I can’t use it.

If I did, rumors would spread about me having a magic bag, and that would be troublesome.

“In that case, leave it to us. We’d like to repay the favor for your help.”

“You healed us with potions too. Let us return the favor.”

As I was pondering, some novice adventurers approached and offered their help.

With a dozen or so adventurers, it would be possible to carry the Big Slime.

“Really!? Thank you so much!”

Lumia smiled and lifted her head, and the adventurers, looking a bit embarrassed, collectively moved in to lift the Big Slime.