Chapter 14:
You Damned Slug!
"You fucking slug!"
["Jwahhh!"]
"Mibya~!"
An angry Acid Shot hits the giant slug, causing it to die in a cloud of white smoke.
I was angry. I was already pouting. The internet was full of fantasies about goblins and kobolds, but my dungeon was full of unsanitary pests. If the fifth floor were also maggots or flies, I might cry.
I was taking such anger out on giant slugs, or, to use a fashionable English name, giant slugs.
But in the dungeon, you have to stay calm to survive. Still, I'm on a roll because this is still the entrance to the fourth underground level. And I am in a good mood because I have grasped the characteristics of giant slugs to some extent. Let me introduce the results of my analysis of the giant slug.
First of all, it looks disgusting. What the heck is this guy? That's all I can say.
And since the slug size is about a person, it is a hundred times more disgusting. I want to tell it to stop messing around. And the most striking feature of the creature is its silence. It screams when attacked by Acid but otherwise makes no sound.
That is due to the action of the mucus that covers its entire body, which envelops everything, so it makes no sound at all.
Moreover, its force is quite strong. Its body is as heavy as a person's, yet it can move while attached to walls and ceilings. I guess it held its body in close contact with mucus, and created a vacuum with its muscles.
Therefore, the surface of its body is all mucus membranes. In human terms, it is the same as the inside of the nose or mouth. Since mucus membranes are highly permeable, they are very convenient for secreting mucus.
But just because it's covered with mucus membranes does not mean it's less defensible. I tried attacking it with a bat and a spear, but the bat felt like hitting a water bag and was not very effective, and when I speared it, it did not seem intimidated.
But the acid attack was effective, and although I would have had a hard time with it in a normal fight, it was nothing more than a slug to me.
"Ora! Get me out of here! Give me the skill orb!"
A ruthless spear attack is aimed at the slugs, they're dying from the acid bullets. A villainous move I can't show to others. But if you're a bocce, you can do it without hesitation. I did it.
["Bohumph! (smack)"]
Whether my earnest wish was answered or the skill [Snatch] did its job, the giant slug dropped a skill orb. Incidentally, the other drops from the giant slug were "Sludgy Liquid" and a magic stone. I left the sludgy liquid behind because there was no way to retrieve it. It made my foot almost slip, and I was in danger earlier.
After picking up the skill orb dropped by the slug, I went to the stairs back to the top to ensure my safety. Then I examined the skill orb to see what power was sealed in it.
"Hmmm. Oh, I don't even need to think about this anymore. All I can get is a sloppy, sticky image, this skill orb is a [Mucus] skill, right!"
["Kyuwah~…pah~!"]
Skills.
[Strong Acid], [Super Agility], [Disease Resistance 5], [Snatch], [Mucus].
I knew it. I've got all these weird skills. I'm not sure how much I can take it seriously.
Well, whatever, [Mucus]!"]
["Nutaaa~…….pop, pop, pop…"]
I held up my hand and reminded myself to activate the skill [Mucus], and mucus was made in the air and dripped onto the floor.
"Oh, I didn't know I could use it all in one shot. Mm, it doesn't seem to be a bad match."
I'm glad I got the skill [Mucus], though I can hear some people saying, "What's the use of mucus? If I had to choose between [Fire Magic] and [Mucus], I would chose [Mucus]. Because there is already [Strong Acid] for attack magic, and [Mucus] seems to go well with [Strong Acid].
"Acid Bullet Acid Shot! Acid Bullet Acid Shot! Acid Bullet Acid Shot!"
As I proceeded onward, I darted acid bullets at the giant slugs one after the other.
"From no~… orah! Get your skill orbs out of here, you blabbermouth! (BUSHU! (BUSHU!)"
Exactly the way out. But I want more [Mucus], I want it~!
……….
I returned to the front room once because I had reached the end of my floor. Every time I dive into the lower floors, I have to think about the return process, so it's important to return early.
Currently Previous
Level 24 23
Race: Human
Strength 88 81
Stamina 90 84
Knowledge 93 88
Mental Strength 108 99
Agility 100 94
Luck 3 3
Dexterity 94 86
Finally, my ability values reached triple digits! I should be getting much stronger, but I don't feel it since I stay alone in the dungeon and fight against monsters. I've already surpassed the moon's gravity. However, I'm more interested in the dungeon and how efficiently I can defeat the monsters.
Hmmm, have I become fascinated with dungeons?
But if it's fun, that's good enough for me. When was the last time I had such a good time? Maybe for the first time. If I can't remember, it means the dungeon is the best.
"However, a good meal and sleep are essential to conquer the dungeon. I think I'll go to my room and relax for the rest of the day."
After unpacking my gear and briefly cleaning up, I ducked into the pitch-blackness that led to his apartment room.
"Well, let's shower, then I'll have dinner. Oh?"
I stood up from my crawling position. I noticed my communication terminal on the table flickering. I checked it and found a message from my otaku friend, "What are you going to do about your summer event?" The message was something like that.
"Hmm~ summer event…"
Come to think of it, it's that time of year already. I couldn't go at the end of last year because of work. I split up with my otaku friends and went around to buy the books we wanted, take photos of cosplayers, and pick up limited-edition otaku goods at the commercial booths.
[Sorry. I'm working on something big and won't be able to make it."]
I replied to my otaku friend.
I'm sorry, Tomoyo, no, my friend. I can't tell you the details, but I'm unemployed now. If I went to the summer event in such a state, I would lose even my remaining savings. That's why I can't go.
"Hmm, I used to be a big fan of this event at one time, but work and other things have kept me away from it for a long time. But now, I have the fun world of the dungeon. I'll live to see tomorrow with that as my consolation."
In the dungeon, I can beat the crap out of slugs, but IRL, I'm an unemployed shut-in. I feel so empty. To overcome this emptiness, I must become stronger in the dungeon.