Ch.3Slime Slayer

“This… is fun!!”

It was a new feeling.

In games, battles typically followed a standard turn-based format of exchanging blows, but this was reality.

In reality, there was no such thing as turn-based combat.

Whoosh-!

The low-level slime launched another body slam.

But I had already figured out its pattern. I immediately stepped back to avoid the attack.

“Hyaaaaaah!!!”

Riding the momentum, I swung my steel pipe with full force.

Splat-!!

The pipe struck the slime directly. Though it looked soft and squishy, hitting it definitely gave a solid feeling. With the sensation of something breaking inside the slime, its body burst apart.

“Come at me!!!”

I shouted loudly.

Gurgle!!

The slimes immediately surrounded me.

Perhaps thanks to the status window effect, I could see levels above the slimes’ heads.

Level 1 slimes were easy enough to dispatch without taking a single hit. Level 2… was a bit more challenging. I had to be prepared to take a hit or two.

I hadn’t tried Level 3 yet. I decided not to take unnecessary risks. Acting recklessly would mean saying goodbye to this world.

That’s right. I’m a weakling. Accepting this was the first step. The correct answer was to make the optimal move a weakling could make.

Splat-! Splat-!

I enthusiastically beat down the approaching slimes as I advanced.

“Grrrrrr….!”

Had the weak slime called for backup? Level 3 and 4 powerful slimes appeared.

The Level 1 and 2 slimes were no longer an issue. If that was the case, my judgment had to be quick.

“Adios!!”

What else could I do but run? I immediately took off. It was already 1:30 AM anyway. About time to head home.

——–

After sneaking into the house with stealth that would put Sergeant Snake to shame, I immediately showered and went to bed.

The next morning.

I opened my phone to check the news. Despite the unfamiliar model, I knew exactly how to use it. I even subconsciously remembered the screen lock pattern. It felt like Arigiri Shota’s memories were mixed with my own.

‘No missing persons or casualties… good.’

I said while scanning the news timeline.

Fortunately, no one had been attacked by monsters during the night.

Monsters from the other world were invisible to anyone who wasn’t a Psychorobo awakener or someone with potential. People who were unluckily killed while wandering around at night would simply be found as corpses that had suffered heart attacks.

According to the setting, the invasion from the other world would begin early this year. And the first victim was supposed to be me, Arigiri Shota.

‘First… I need to avoid that event by any means necessary.’

I made a firm resolution.

‘By the way… my level didn’t increase.’

Despite defeating what felt like countless slimes, my level hadn’t gone up. Honestly, I thought I’d reach Level 3 overnight.

‘Maybe because I’m just an extra…’

My level wasn’t rising rapidly like a protagonist’s would.

There were about two weeks left until the first week of March. Honestly, I was feeling anxious.

However, I needed to focus on what I could do now.

———-

After eating breakfast with my mother, I headed straight to the kendo dojo.

“Shota. I met Mr. Kiryu the other day, and he mentioned you.”

My mother said.

“He said you’re learning very diligently. I’m proud of you, Shota.”

My mother looked at me with somewhat wistful eyes.

Well… a formerly shut-in, good-for-nothing son was finally engaging in outside activities. From a parent’s perspective, it must seem admirable.

“I want to change.”

I said with a smile. Because if I don’t change, I’ll die.

“I… see.”

And suddenly, my mother burst into tears. I quickly consoled her. Afterward, I headed straight to the kendo dojo to mark my attendance.

———-

After that, I trained diligently at the kendo dojo.

Thwack-!!

I delivered a head strike toward the target made of tires.

“Hmm… interesting.”

Gonzaemon stroked his chin as he observed my movements.

“Ah. Did I do something wrong?”

I asked Gonzaemon.

“No… how should I put it. Your movements are like someone who has actually struck a person before. Anyone watching might mistake you for having real combat experience.”

Gonzaemon said.

“Ahahaha! That must be my natural talent, right?”

I laughed and joked. It seemed we had become close enough for me to joke around.

“Uahahaha!! Look at this cheeky brat!!”

Gonzaemon roared with laughter.

“Good!! Keep it up!”

Gonzaemon laughed heartily and patted my back.

The second week continued in the same pattern.

Kendo training during the day. Slaying slimes at night. I couldn’t possibly be busier.

Ding-!!

The status window wasn’t generous, but it didn’t lie.

My level had become 3.

‘Strength: 18’

‘Speed: 15’

‘Endurance: 12’

‘Luck: 1’

‘Magic Power: 0’

Luck and magic power were abandoned stats anyway, so I focused on the ones above. They had increased quite a bit. Strength, speed, and endurance had grown. It was the optimal condition for close combat against slimes. Without awakening Psychorobo abilities yet, physical prowess was all I could rely on.

‘You have learned Strong Strike.’

Upon reaching Level 3, I acquired a skill. It was a low-level technique that dealt weak damage to enemies. Usually, it’s a basic skill that people use early on and then discard, but I was grateful for even this much.

“Piece of cake.”

I immediately savored my newfound strength. When night came, I headed to the old town to test my strength.

———

While Arigiri Shota was living his life diligently.

The Kiryu family was having a late dinner. No matter how much they fought, they always ate together. That was the family motto of the Kiryu household.

“By the way!! He’s quite a good kid! Shota, I mean.”

Gonzaemon’s topic of conversation was definitely Shota.

He was polite and respectful, and he learned quickly. From Gonzaemon’s perspective, he was a good disciple. Because of that, desire began to stir within Gonzaemon.

“If I train him intensively, I could even enter him in competitions.”

Gonzaemon said with a smile.

“Really… aren’t you pushing the boy too hard, dear?”

Gonzaemon’s wife, Kiryu Asuna, playfully slapped him and laughed.

“It’s a talent I haven’t seen in years. Besides, if the kid wants to work hard, as his master, I should push him even harder.”

Gonzaemon said solemnly.

“……..”

Their daughter, Kiryu Umi, was eating silently. Recently, her conversations with her parents had become noticeably sparse. The family atmosphere had become somewhat awkward since Umi quit kendo.

“I heard Shota went through some tough times in middle school. I heard rumors while shopping.”

Asuna sighed as she spoke.

“Ah. You mean the bullying. My goodness. To bully such a kind and polite kid. What terrible people.”

Gonzaemon sighed.

“He’s trying to transform his weakness into strength. He’s a good man.”

Gonzaemon nodded firmly.

“Umi. If you’re going to date a man, date someone like Shota. A real man should have potential for growth.”

Suddenly, Gonzaemon made an abrupt comment.

“That’s ridiculous. What are you talking about?”

Kiryu Umi said with an annoyed expression.

“Dear, you’re being silly.”

Asuna playfully slapped her husband, finding even his silliness endearing.

——–

After dinner, Umi immediately returned to her room.

Like any high school girl (soon-to-be) in her prime, she would normally spend her free time chatting with friends, but Umi wasn’t in the mood.

‘Arigiri Shota…’

Of course, she knew his face. Recently, he had been practically living at the dojo, dedicating himself intensely to training.

‘How annoying.’

Umi couldn’t help but think.

Umi was well aware that she was quite beautiful. She even worked as a fashion magazine model for pocket money, and talent scouts would approach her when she went downtown. Honestly, she felt different from ordinary people. It wasn’t even arrogance since it was actually true.

She noticed how the disciples’ gazes would fix on her whenever she entered the dojo. Some even subtly flirted with her.

However, Shota was different. He silently swung his sword as if he could only see himself and the sword.

Several times, Umi had stared intently at Shota, but he ignored her. As if she were invisible.

For a young woman in her prime who was confident in her looks, it was quite a blow to her pride.

‘Does he think he’s above it all?’

The thought made her angry. What’s so fun about kendo anyway? Thinking that made Umi a bit bitter. She felt small for having quit kendo after hitting a wall in her talent.

‘Should I talk to him so he’ll definitely notice me?’

Umi thought.

‘I’ll strip away that mask of nobility.’

Umi smiled slyly at the thought.

Deliberately wearing her school uniform, Umi posed in front of a full-length mirror.

Hmm. Indeed. Her beauty was flawless. Only then did Umi regain some of her self-esteem.

———

Back to Arigiri Shota’s perspective.

“Achoo!!”

I sneezed loudly. Is someone talking about me?

Anyway, today’s tasks were the same as usual.

I beat up slimes in the old town.

Now my pool of prey had expanded significantly. I could somehow manage even Level 3, no, even Level 4 slimes.

“Kieeeeeeee!!!”

Letting out a battle cry that revealed my strength from the depths of my soul, I charged toward the slimes.

“I am the Slime Slayer!!!!”

I shouted as I swung my steel pipe. The slimes burst one after another.