Chapter 77

"Hmm, there really is nothing here."

Upon entering the dome-shaped building that resembled a collapsed snowman, this was the first impression I had. It felt even more spacious inside than it did from the outside, perhaps because there was nothing in it. It seemed like a small gathering place. There were no windows except for the entrance and exit, and it was dim even with Pantas holding up a lamp. I also produced a light in my hand.

"I think there used to be an altar here."

Lady Nylva pointed to something at the far end of the entrance and exit. The room was paved with stone, and this area was slightly elevated. There was a rectangular mark left behind. Was this where the altar used to be?

Next to me was Lady Nylva, behind her were Nergi and Kokushin. The other members were scattered around the room, keeping watch.

By the way, Rada was staying behind.

"Trimoto?"

"Yeah. I think we've made most of the recovery potions. I thought about making sugar, but it might attract monsters with its scent, and I found something usable yesterday."

As I said this, I took out a round tuber. I had dug it up after finding leaves that looked like wild yam, but it wasn't suitable for eating. However, the appraisal result mentioned that it was "slimy and could be used for traps," so I thought it might be good for making Trimoto.

"To put it simply, it's something slimy that can hinder movement. You know, like the Kiranka we used the other day, which exploded?"

Chili bombs are effective, but they can't be used in a crowd. I've adjusted the amount, and it won't hurt my conscience to use them on bad guys, but the situation is tricky. So, I thought Trimoto would be a bit milder.

I explained this to Rada, who tilted her head.

"Hmm, I think I can make it, but I haven't thought of the materials yet."

"That's why I brought this."

I removed the magic bag from my waist, opened the lid, and offered it to Rada.

"Go ahead and register it."

Rada's expression stiffened. She reflexively extended her hand to take it but tried to pull it back. I grabbed her hand.

"No, no way!"

"Don't say no. It won't curse you. Look, it matches ours! Isn't that great?"

Kokushin held Rada from behind in a headlock.

"Come on, just the tip. Okay?"

I held a knife in one hand and tried to persuade Rada.

"Is it just me, or does this feel weird?"

I heard Nergi's voice. What are you imagining? No way.

After some back and forth, Rada managed to register the magic bag. It's just a small cut, but she's making a big deal out of it. Come on, don't just stand there; try putting your arm in.

"Wh-what!"

A list must have appeared in her head. Rada's eyes were wide.

"There are all kinds of herbs in there, so do your best!"

"O-okay, I'll try."

Rada cautiously attached the bag to her waist. After watching her, we headed towards the ruins.

First, Lady Nylva guided us to the dome. She explained the unusual shape of the building and what it might have been used for. She really loves this stuff. She explained happily as I nodded along.

"So, was this dome made with magic?"

"At least, the material is different from the surrounding houses."

"Would it be earth magic?"

"Or maybe they used alchemy to create special stones. This dome is the only one that survived. It might have served as a shelter."

"It would need to be a sturdy building, or they might have been making something."

"Exactly! When you think about that thing, it changes your perspective!"

Kokushin seemed a bit exasperated by our enthusiastic conversation. Yeah, this is the third time we've talked about this. I'm not trying to steer the conversation, but it keeps coming back to this.

"Still, it's surprising that those large slimes were there in such numbers."

Looking up at the ceiling, Kokushin muttered, and I followed his gaze. There were marks where lights had been. The ceiling was high. The second floor seemed to have been a storage area, too narrow to stand up in. Nergi laughed and stepped on my foot.

"Slimes don't seem to eat each other. It was quite a sight to see them packed into the room."

Katanus laughed. The first ones we defeated had fled to the underground room, where they were tightly packed. They cast spells and exploded, making it quite a challenge.

We also peeked into the underground room. It was cool due to being underground. The walls and floor were exposed earth, as if they had been dug out. There was nothing here. Or rather, there was.

"A slime."

These things are really everywhere.

The slime noticed us and wobbled. However, it didn't try to escape.

Nergi drew her sword.

"Are we going to defeat this one too?"

She glanced at Lady Nylva, who thought for a moment and said, "Leave it." Nergi sheathed her sword, and Kokushin tugged on my arm.

"Have you appraised it?"

I shook my head. Should I?

**Slime**

**A cleaner found everywhere. Although weak, it can dissolve you if you approach carelessly. It gains skills based on what it absorbs, changing its color accordingly.**

**Currently absorbing magic power and is immobile.**

"Wow..."

Is this good information to know?

Kokushin nudged me.

"Is there something around where that slime is?"

I decided to change the topic.

"Ah, by the way, Quen said there was a place with high magic concentration. Could this be it?"

Nergi tilted her head.

"I dug a bit, but there was nothing special."

I see. That's why the soil color is different there.

**Magic-rich soil**

**Something buried underground is leaking magic. Artificial magic is not tasty.**

"Whoa..."

No, I didn't mean to read that. I just glanced away from the slime. "Not tasty" from whose perspective?

"Late?"

Kokushin looked at me with a strange expression. I signaled with my eyes that I had seen something bad, and he took me outside, calling it a bathroom break. But, I could probably go to the bathroom by myself, right? In this case, who would think what?

"There seems to be something buried there."

"Huh? You said you dug, but it's deeper?"

"Probably. And that slime is absorbing the leaking magic."

"Does it evolve?"

"I'm not sure, but..."

Did the evolved slimes evolve at the same time? Or did they grow one by one, with the slime waiting to evolve?

"Let's suggest digging it up."

Encouraged by Kokushin, we returned to the dome.

"How do we say it?"

"Surprisingly, if Late says he wants to dig, it might go smoothly."

No way.

"Then, let's dig."

Such a banana.

Lady Nylva took out a shovel from her magic bag, which seemed well-used. I nodded, "Let's dig."

"Slime, can you move a bit?"

I poked the slime with a stick. It squished and moved away, but with persistent poking, it hopped and slid to the back of the room. It's cute when it hasn't evolved.

Let's start digging.