Chapter 6

6. Entrance Exam (3)

‘Info Window.’

It’s an ordinary slime.

A slime so weak it can’t even use camouflage techniques.

The first monster I encountered in this game world.

It should be scary, but I’m not fazed at all. I’m surprisingly calm, even to the point of surprising myself.

‘Is it because of the mental defense skill?’

The inability to feel fear.

This was the moment I realized that this skill isn’t always a good thing.

‘I need to get a weapon first.’

Looking around, I managed to find a fairly thick branch.

It’s not too long, not too short, and not too heavy.

It’s easy to swing, too.

This is perfect for a club.

I have a sword at my waist, given to me by Rodelin, but using it on a slime would be a waste and a luxury.

I just wanted a weapon, so I asked for one.

“Huh, historically, this was the medicine.”

Splat!

With a satisfying sound, the slime burst.

After a few swings, the core hidden inside its body was revealed.

This core is both the slime’s weakness and its main body.

‘As long as the core exists, the slime can regenerate its body.’

Crack!

As the core was crushed, the slime collapsed.

All that remained was the sticky slime and the broken core.

I wiped the slime off the club on a tree and put the broken core in my pocket.

Even though the broken core doesn’t show an info window, it’s something I need.

After catching about three, my level went up.

My health didn’t recover, but I could feel a bit more strength in my body.

This is because game players get a special reward where all stats increase by 1 with each level up.

I also get 10 points to allocate for stat increases, but I need to save these for the hidden pieces in the stat window.

In practice, this means I have no points to use in this exam. But.

“Huh, this is doable.”

I headed towards where Luna was, about an hour before the exam ended.

Until then, the only thing I had to do was swing my club.

* * *

“1 hour before the end of the first exam! Students who haven’t found the exit, hurry up!”

The instructor’s loud voice echoed in my ears.

Several frantic movements could be felt beyond the bushes.

The confusion was exacerbated by the mixed groups.

You might think that the groups that entered first have an advantage because they have more time.

But that’s not the case. In fact, this maze is so simple that if you keep one hand on the wall, you can find the exit within 30 minutes.

‘The only criterion for the first exam is whether you pass or not.’

What the supervisors want to see in the first exam are problem-solving skills, judgment, patience, perseverance, and an unyielding spirit.

The slimes are just a trap.

‘If you try to show off your skills by killing every slime you see, your health will quickly run out.’

You might lose your way while showing off your all-out techniques to the slimes.

With sweat streaming down and fatigue building up, it’s hard to find water.

Depleted health gradually erodes concentration, and the maze seems endless.

You gradually fall into despair, and eventually...

‘You give up on the exam.’

I also killed every slime I saw, but my situation was different.

I know all the paths in the maze and the location of the only well.

I was drinking water from there right now.

“Phew... I feel better.”

A smile naturally came to my face.

Because I had more gains than I expected.

Lv: 7

Strength: 16

Agility: 16

Intelligence: 16

Health: 16

Mana: 16

Potential: 6

Points: 60

Skills: [Translation S], [Interpretation S], [Mental Defense S], [Info Window S], [Condescending Tone S], [Sinister Aura B], [Opening Eyes F]

Titles: None

I managed to level up by 6.

If I had allocated points to stats in between, I could have leveled up even more, but I shouldn’t.

‘To gain just 2-3 more levels, I can’t give up the hidden pieces. I can’t do that.’

There’s more to it than that.

Like most games, as you grow, the significance of levels diminishes.

This is partly because the experience required for each level up increases, but also because the difference in stats isn’t that significant.

For example, let’s assume you put all your stats into strength.

At level 1, your strength is 10.

If you invested all your stats into strength with each level up, at level 11, it would be 110.

10 and 110.

The difference in stats between level 1 and level 10 is significant enough to be noticeable.

But at high levels, it’s different.

‘If the strength at level 200 is 2,110, then at level 210 it’s only 2,210.’

The same 100 difference, but it’s meaningless.

The difference in skills and items determines the outcome.

My goal is the final boss. I can’t waste points here.

‘I need to use them efficiently. Unless it’s a crisis, I’ll save the points until the end.’

I clenched my fists a few times to check my body condition.

I’m a bit tired, but not to the point where I can’t move.

“Then... shall we go?”

I slung the club over my right shoulder and started walking slowly.

After about 5 minutes, I saw a child and an instructor standing in front of them.

“I, I give up. I can’t do it anymore...”

“Understood. Drink some water first.”

The child practically snatched the instructor’s water bottle and drank greedily.

The instructor’s eyes flicked towards me.

His thoughts were easy to read.

‘That guy will drop out soon.’ Because.

‘This is the opposite direction of the exit.’

Considering the remaining time, passing is difficult.

His judgment was accurate. At the same time.

‘This is the reaction I want.’

My current destination is where Luna and the hidden pieces are.

I can’t bring the instructor there.

“Are you okay?”

“Of course, as you can see, I’m fine. I’ve had enough water... Huh, I just need to find the way.”

The instructor’s eyes changed. They looked at me like I was a bug.

It’s really a troublesome appearance and tone.

Well, I can’t help it; I look similar to those who have destroyed the continent several times.

“...I see. Good luck. Don’t give up until the end.”

The moment the instructor lost interest in me.

I had already demonstrated my ability to easily defeat slimes and confirmed that I had enough remaining health, so there was no need to chase me.

There are many students who are about to collapse from exhaustion, and he’s busy taking care of them.

“Huh, then let’s go.”

With that, I took a determined step towards the first hidden piece.

Aren’t you going to help Luna, who is directionally challenged?

Ah, her...

I’ll save her as a bonus.

* * *

Numerous traces of fatal strikes on the trees and bushes.

I peeked out from between the intact bushes.

“Huh, as expected.”

Whoosh, whoosh.

Luna was swinging her sword wildly in the air.

Or rather, not in the air.

Occasionally, her speed would noticeably slow down.

It’s as if something was catching her sword.

‘Transparent slime... It’s even less visible than I thought.’

That’s right. The creature Luna is facing is a ‘transparent slime.’

I focused on where she was swinging her sword and used the [Info Window] skill.

Lv: 20

Strength: 45

Agility: 17

Intelligence: 8

Health: 100

A truly transparent slime.

An unnamed magician’s experimental creation.

A creature that was difficult to create but was lost by the magician because it was invisible.

It managed to settle in a crevice of the maze and grew by eating other slimes.

Skills: [Super Regeneration S], [Predation A], [Hunger B], [Digestion B]

The predator of the maze and the reason Luna couldn’t join the top class at the beginning of the semester.

‘She was worn out by this creature, depleting all her health.’

She barely found the exit just before the end of the first exam.

Due to lack of health, she barely passed the second and third exams and was admitted to the academy.

Her difficult academy life continued, and she eventually lost an arm and went missing.

“...Damn!”

Luna cursed.

While a sword is an inefficient weapon against a slime, it doesn’t apply to someone of her skill.

However, the reason Luna is struggling is:

First, the shape is invisible, making it hard to attack.

Second, the transparent slime’s health is abnormally high for its level.

Third, it quickly regenerates due to the [Super Regeneration] skill.

‘Not only the main body, but the core, which is its weakness, is also invisible. That’s why it’s difficult.’

Luna, who had been moving non-stop, suddenly stepped back.

It was assumed to be an action to get out of the transparent slime’s attack range.

“What is that? It’s definitely a slime... If it’s a secret test hidden by the academy, I need to figure it out...”

“There’s no clear solution... It’s a really difficult situation.”

“Yeah, really difficult... Gah! What, what is this!”

Oh, she still screams like a girl.

A new discovery. Despite her cute appearance, Luna has a very rough mouth.

“You, where did you suddenly come from! No, did you follow me? You, you perverted stalker!”

“Huh, it’s a misunderstanding.”

“What kind of misunderstanding... Get lost! I found it first!”

Luna seems to think the transparent slime is a secret test hidden by the academy.

But there’s no time to explain the truth, so I took action immediately.

“Let’s make a deal.”

“...A deal?”

“I’ll tell you how to defeat it. You can take the credit. However, the byproducts after defeating it will be mine.”

Luna’s eyes rolled.

She clearly didn’t understand the situation.

There’s no time for arguments, so I decided to quickly get to the point.

“Here’s the question! What is the slime’s weakness?”

“The core. I know! But I can’t see it, what do I do!”

“I’ll make it visible for you. Killing it is your job. Do we have a deal?”

“...Explain the method first.”

There was nothing to explain.

I took out the slime cores I had collected in my pocket.

And I threw them in the direction where I assumed the transparent slime was.

After about 5 seconds, the core floated up in the air.

“...That method!”

Luna gasped.

Slimes basically eat microorganisms, but they also eat each other to grow.

A stronger slime covers a weaker one, breaks its core, and eats it.

The important thing is that a regular slime’s core has a color.

“Huh, this slime will try to absorb the core without knowing it, leading it to the location of its own core. To its fatal weakness.”

“...Tch!”

Perhaps she was upset about getting help.

Luna clicked her tongue and charged forward.

A bold sword stroke was etched in the air. But.

“Gah!”

Luna’s sword didn’t reach the transparent slime’s core.

Her attack power wasn’t enough to cut through the slime and the core together.

‘If she used the family’s secret technique, she could easily win.’

But she’s not using it because there are eyes watching.

I’m the same, but I’m assuming an instructor is watching from somewhere.

However, contrary to her thoughts, there is no instructor here.

‘This is a space that doesn’t exist on the maze map.’

The place Luna reached due to her severe directional issues.

The game’s setting is that a transparent slime, which had escaped from a magician, lived there.

‘If I give up now, I’ll be in trouble.’

In the game, Luna gives up on the transparent slime and chooses to escape the maze.

Admission to the academy was that important. No, admission itself is.

‘The only way to avenge her family.’

The reason Luna hides her family’s sword technique and the secret.

Because she is the descendant and the only survivor of the ‘Lester Family,’ which had plotted a rebellion.

But, having played multiple times, I know the truth. Luna is...

‘A pitiful child trying to restore the honor of her family, which was wrongfully destroyed.’

Her goal in entering the academy is to gain strength and find the family that wronged her.

So, she will soon run away from the transparent slime.

Considering the value of the hidden piece obtainable from the transparent slime, I’m at a disadvantage.

I had to persuade her.

“Use your family’s secret technique.”

“...Family? What the hell are you talking about? I’m a commoner.”

“Don’t lie. The only survivor of the Lester Family, Luna de Lester.”

Luna’s eyes widened enormously.