"I really thought that was the end for me. If it weren't for you two, I'd have been dissolved alive. Thank you."

Although my summoned slimes were merely globs of ooze, I expressed my gratitude as though they were aware of their actions.

To my surprise, they seemed to respond: they began to quiver and bob in a manner that suggested excitement or perhaps acknowledgment of my thanks.

Their movements were unexpectedly endearing.

"Adorable..."

It was oddly comforting to acknowledge these simple creatures, which had just played a key role in saving my life.

But even though the immediate threat was neutralized, I was still far from safe.

Looking down at what was left of the Viscous Fiend, its body had dissolved into a mere puddle. Despite my victory, the encounter had exacted a harsh toll on me.

"Aghr!"

The attempt to move sent a sharp jolt of pain through my right leg.

The searing agony from the melted skin on my leg was a grim consequence of the battle I'd just survived.

While my face bore only a few bruises from the quick dip into the creature to retrieve its core, it was my right leg, which had been submerged in the fiend's corrosive body for a significant period, that suffered the most.

The damage was considerable, the skin raw and sensitive.

I knew I had to assess the injury seriously—leaving such wounds untreated in the dungeon could lead to infection or worse, necessitate amputation if it deteriorated further.

Given the environment's inherent lack of cleanliness, even a small wound could become life-threatening if not managed properly.

I had to act swiftly to prevent my condition from worsening.

With no medical supplies at my disposal, my basic first aid knowledge was my only resource.

First, I carefully inspected the wound on my leg, assessing the extent of the damage and cleaning it as best as I could with some water from my supply.

Next, I needed to protect the wound from further exposure.

I found a relatively clean section of my cloth, which I tore off carefully.

I used this piece of cloth to wrap around the injured area, trying to create a barrier against the dungeon's dirty environment.

I wrapped the cloth tightly enough to secure it but not so tight as to cut off circulation.

This was the best I could manage under the circumstances.

Now that I had managed my wound as best as I could, my attention turned to the next matter.

Beside me lay the core of the slime I had extracted, the very source of its life.

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But it wasn't just any core—it was a 'Crystallized Heart', a fundamental resource in [Dungeon End].

In the dungeon, everything could be used as resources for trade, and Crystallized Hearts were the primary commodity exchanged for credits to pay off government dues.

Every monster in the dungeon, instead of having flesh hearts, possessed these magic stones filled with mana and their life essence, known as Crystallized Hearts.

These hearts came in various sizes and colors, denoting different values.

The one I held was a basic Crystallized Heart, also known as a grade 10, which was small and had a clear reddish hue.

The more intense its hue and the larger its size, the more valuable these items were.

"With this i can get around ...1 credit."

Although the value was small, every credit in [Dungeon End] was vital.

Knowing the importance of managing these resources wisely, I tucked the small crystallized heart securely into my bag.

Right now, I'm dealing with two major issues.

First, my injury is serious, and if I don't find a way to treat it soon, it could get a lot worse, maybe even fatal.

if I could reach the exit and get back to the city, I could heal up there.

However, there was a catch: leaving the dungeon without enough credits to settle my debt with the government would just put me in an even worse spot than I started.

Plus, getting medical help, whether from a cleric or buying supplies, costs credits, which I didn't have right now.

This means my only real choice was to stay in the dungeon, even if I do find the exit, until I can scrape together enough resources to cover both my debt and the cost of treating my wound.

The problem is, the creatures on this floor, the Viscous Slimes, only really provide their Crystallized Hearts when defeated.

Their bodies dissolve into a useless liquid that I can't use for anything else. So, I need to focus on gathering as many of these hearts as possible to build up enough credits.

I had to tread carefully: my mana was depleted, leaving me unable to summon any more slimes.

Although using my remaining two slimes as lookouts while i rested was an option, the searing pain in my legs and the urgency of my condition made true rest unlikely.

Time was not on my side, and the window to address any injuries before they worsened was rapidly closing.

This meant i had to act decisively. My objectives were clear: find the dungeon exit and gather enough Crystalized Hearts to both settle my debts and cover medical expenses.

Navigating this dual challenge required careful balance.

On one hand, i needed to explore aggressively enough to find the exit and hunt for resources. On the other, i had to avoid unnecessary risks that could lead to further injuries or waste precious time.

"You're Slime One, and you're Slime Two. Nod if you understand."

Wobble.

Wobble.

"Great. Slime One, you stay a few meters behind me. Your job is to alert me of any dangers coming from behind. Slime Two, lead the way and warn me of any dangers or enemies ahead. Nod again if you've got it."

Wobble.

Wobble.

With their task understood, the slimes positioned themselves according to my instructions - Slime One trailing behind me and Slime Two moving ahead to scout.

Now, there was no benefit to remaining stationary. I had to press forward, actively seeking the resources i needed.

They weren't going to come to me: i had to find them.

With my slimes set up as basic alert system, i was ready to strategize and respond to threats on the fly.

This setup wasn't just about moving through the dungeon: it was about managing risks and opportunities as they arose.

"Ha...Ha~.'

I took a deep breath and readied myself to step into the uncertain darkness of the grotto. The situation pressed heavily on me, but i had to thread with hope that things would work out.

As this was the only thing i could hold onto, otherwise fear would eventually consume my sanity.

"Let move, Slime One, Slime Two!"

Wobble!

Wobble!

Together, we moved as a unit, a trio of shared purpose.