Chapter 72

### Translation

*Plop, plop.*

In the midst of the sound of the slime bouncing, I stood rooted to the spot, at a loss for words.

"You're not doing anything, huh?"

*Adorable*

*Adorable?*

*Not really adorable*

*Kind of interesting*

It seemed to be in a non-active state, just endlessly bouncing. The level difference was almost double, and it didn't seem like physical attacks would be effective, so I didn't really think I could win. This was probably what Aru-chan had mentioned as being deep in the permanent scorched earth.

While I was thinking that its body, which seemed resistant to both physical and slashing attacks, might be weak to magic, Menas began to deform a part of its body and slowly extended a tentacle-like appendage.

Ignoring my caution, Menas poked the Mene Card. It seemed to be trying to communicate something, but I couldn't quite grasp its intent.

"What is it?"

*Touch play?*

*↑ Stop it*

*Kind of cute*

*Wants something?*

*Wants ore?*

"I see."

When I tried to take out some snake metal, the tentacle knocked it away with a slap. Just a light touch reduced my HP by 40%. No way.

"Snake metal doesn't satisfy you, huh..."

If I made two more mistakes, I might die.

Ignoring the increasing number of tentacles poking the Mene Card, I carefully considered what items Menas might want from my inventory. The best choice, in terms of rare materials I had, would probably be red metal.

There was also one more special material, but...

I decided to try all the red metal I had. I only had about three ingots, though.

Red metal is the mineral that is easiest to imbue with fire attributes when making weapons with fire properties.

Given Menas's fiery appearance, this was probably the most interesting thing to it right now.

*Plop, plop, plop.* Menas wrapped its tentacles around the red metal, melted it into a liquid inside its body, and began to absorb it.

It was a bit wasteful, but I could gather about three in three hours. I could always collect more later.

I had no idea what Menas was thinking, but it seemed to have stopped urging me with its tentacles.

Menas was absorbing the red metal slowly and seemed to be enjoying it, at least not showing any signs of displeasure.

Since it would take some time to absorb, and it would be a waste to run away, I decided to drink a potion and wait.

"Ah!"

Even though I was a bit careless, Menas smoothly took the potion bottle from my hand, shook it a few times, and then absorbed the potion along with the bottle.

"Hmm... What are you trying to do?"

*Don't know*

*Such a mysterious creature...*

*Want to touch it*

*Want to be melted*

"Abnormal hobbies are not allowed here."

It really is a mysterious creature. So far, I haven't sensed any malice, but I did take damage.

The listeners are suggesting all sorts of reckless things, like getting closer or touching it, but I want them to understand that one hit would mean instant respawn.

After about ten minutes, Menas finally finished digesting the red metal and generated a gem-like object from the fire inside its body, then spat it out.

Menas grabbed the item with its tentacle and threw it to me.

When I picked it up, I was amazed by the vivid red gem, which felt warm to the touch. It was clearly a fire-attribute gem.

I put it in my inventory and checked the item details from the Mene Card.

---

**Item: Crimson Jewel**

**Rarity: High Rare**

**Effect: A translucent red gem. Extremely rare, refined in high-temperature areas like volcanoes where red metal is produced. Enhances the fire-affinity of red metal, allowing the synthesis of fire-attribute or flame-attribute materials with any metal.**

---

From the description, it seemed to have the effect of binding fire-attribute materials to metal. The difference from red metal was that the base metal didn't have to be red metal. For example, it could be used to imbue a snake metal weapon with fire attributes.

While this was not the first High Rare item I had encountered—I had been prepared to use the High Rare Water Dragon Crystal in case of an emergency—it was still quite rare among basic items.

*Mini Quest: Cleared Menas's Hunger*

"What the—"

I was surprised by the sudden small fanfare and couldn't help but exclaim.

What's a mini quest?

*What?*

*What's wrong?*

*Amazing item?*

*So pretty*

*Chikuwa Daimeishin*

"No, I just... got a notification that I cleared a mini quest... What's Chikuwa Daimeishin?"

*LOL*

*Haha*

*It was a quest*

*Good job*

*Mini quest?*

*Mini quests are random, spontaneous quests. As the name suggests, they are usually simple errand-type quests. I've never heard of a quest from Menas...*

*Super fast typer!*

*I see*

"I see."

Everyone couldn't help but say "I see" in response to the listener's quick explanation.

So, did I just get lucky? Well, according to Aru-chan, Menas was supposed to be a monster that would kill you, so I guess I was lucky just to not be instantly killed.

Menas, looking pleased, bounced and patted my head with its tentacle, then started waving its hand as if saying goodbye.

There didn't seem to be anything more to gain by staying, and I wasn't that combative in this situation.

I felt like I had become a little closer to Menas, and I had indeed obtained a rare item.

"Next time I come, it will be to fight."

I lightly touched the waving hand and said this. Whether it understood or not, Menas bounced *plop, plop, plop*.

Thinking it was a cute creature until the end, I decided to leave the permanent scorched earth.

Menas continued to wave its tentacles for quite a while, but when I was about a kilometer away, it started spitting out boulders again.

Perhaps these boulders were automatically launched at anyone who entered Menas's territory.

However, this time they were flying towards the mountain, so it seemed that another player had climbed the mountain in the permanent scorched earth.

Wishing good luck to that unfortunate player, I finally realized that I had had a valuable experience.

**Mini Quest: Menas's Hunger**

*Triggered when you arrive at Menas with more than two red metal ingots. If you don't attack and offer the red metal, you will receive a Crimson Jewel.*

*Note: If you don't meet the conditions or attack, you will face hell.*