Miruku hesitated, her instincts pulling her back, but as she turned, she caught sight of Ariana cradling Anyi's head, tears streaming down her cheeks.
'Huh…'
Was it wise to return now?
[Thorn Hero: When the tentacles move, the ground rises. I wonder if I can trace the enemy's body along those marks.]
Despite her uncertainty, she felt the need to send a message. 'It’s fine; I can pretend I didn’t see that!'
[Sword Hero: Very likely. Before I recover, can you explore the path along the traces first?]
Anyi, ignoring the tears that dripped onto his cheeks, sent the reply with a calm demeanor.
[Thorn Hero: Okay, I’ll go check it out first.
Sword Hero: Be careful.
Shield Hero: Leave it to me here!
Holy Hero: Anyi… He’s too good!]
Anyi sighed inwardly. 'Please don’t send that!'
But as he read Miruku's message, he silently nodded in agreement. Despite her quiet nature, she had rapidly evolved into a skilled communicator.
Miruku was the kind of girl who could read between the lines and pick up on subtleties without needing explicit direction. It seemed true that those who are less talkative often have a wealth of thoughts swirling in their minds, and Miruku embodied that.
[Tale Third Stage: Pursuing the Slime King]
For heroes in this world, facing a giant monster that could hide underground posed a daunting challenge. If the first two stages had been grueling, the final stage would leave the novice heroes floundering.
After expending themselves in the earlier battles, exhaustion set in, especially for those confronting the Slime King for the first time. Discovering that the creature had a “True Body” was demoralizing; they had no way of gauging its strength or potential tricks.
Most heroes, in their first encounter with the Slime King, felt compelled to unleash their special skills, hoping to gain the upper hand. But even that was no guarantee of victory. The Slime King had a notorious ability to burrow underground, slipping away from danger.
'I almost forgot; I need to remind her about that,'
The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
...
Miruku navigated the muddy terrain, her keen eyes scanning for signs of movement. As she walked, she soon made a significant discovery: the mud in certain areas had not simply been piled up but had been forcefully pushed out from the broken ground.
A thought struck her. 'The tentacles must have burrowed underground, then emerged again, creating a diversion with fake attacks.'
'But why don’t they strike directly beneath our feet?*'
She pondered for a moment, but the reasoning eluded her. 'Could this be part of the enemy's camouflage?'
Resolving to focus, Miruku turned her gaze toward the direction where the mud lay disturbed, her heart racing. A nagging worry crept in—what if these traces were mere bait laid by the Slime King to lure her into a trap?
Suddenly, a message flickered before her eyes.
[Sword Hero: Miss Miruku, if you detect enemies, please inform us as soon as possible.]
It was straightforward, devoid of unnecessary elaboration.
[Thorn Hero: Okay, I know.]
After more than ten minutes of following the trail, she encountered no obstacles or enemies; everything proceeded smoothly—until she reached an open field and halted in shock.
Before her lay the Slime King, its form displayed in the newly unlocked Bestiary:
[Unlocking the Bestiary: Slime King
Strength: 30
Agility: 10
Endurance: ∞
Durability: 10
Prana: 3
Intelligence: 2
Technique: 0]
[Creature: Slime King
Wow! Hero-sama sees the Slime King! It's not normal!
The Slime King is a Class 3 monster, a mother that continuously births ordinary slimes in the forest! Or should I ask, where’s my dad? Still co-parenting?
If a Lv1 Hero encounters it, they should quickly escape the Slime King’s attack range! It actively devours surrounding animals as food. Unlike ordinary slimes, Slime Kings possess strong attacks and enormous bodies.
Recommended level for a Hero: Lv10
Recommended level for a squad: Lv5
If levels are insufficient, Hero-sama should run quickly!!]
Miruku crouched behind a tree trunk, swallowing hard as she processed what lay before her.
The Slime King, a dark, semi-transparent mass, sprawled across the open space, measuring at least ten meters in size. To her horror, she could see its core nestled within!
'Just destroy the core, and it will all be over!'
'Kill it, kill it, kill it, kill it!'
She felt the adrenaline surge within her. She could defeat this foe! She was determined to prove her worth, to be effective for once.
Just as her resolve solidified, a flurry of messages filled her vision.
[Sword Hero: Very good, it seems that Miss Miruku has found the opponent’s body.
Holy Hero: We saw Kami-sama hint!
Shield Hero: Where is the location?! We will come immediately!]
Miruku froze, overwhelmed by the sudden influx of communication.
'Oh...'
The daggers vanished from her hands as reality crashed over her like a wave. She had promised to inform them but had chosen to remain silent, driven by the desire to face the challenge alone.
'What if they were waiting for her to take the bait? If she fell, what would happen to her teammates who knew nothing of the danger?'
[Thorn Hero: Wait a minute... I’ll be back immediately.]
With a heavy heart, she sent the message and fled from her previous location. As she retreated, she felt the Slime King’s gaze upon her, aware of her presence.
The creature lay still, biding its time, ready to strike at the first hint of an attack. It was a shame; the moment had slipped away, leaving it frustrated in the open space.