episode_0034

How long has it been like that?

“It’s taking longer than I thought..”

＂Right.. Steel?＂

Slippery!

I’m not sure how long it took [Steel Slime] to completely {consume} Janez’s armor made of iron, but it was around 3 hours.

I could tell whether it was evening or day through the temperature inside the cave that I could feel through my skin, so I was able to recognize that almost half a day had passed.

I expected it would take a long time, but honestly, it was difficult to find any significant changes in the appearance of the [titanium] dagger, except for a little corrosion.

The dagger made of [titanium] material has the highest magic resistance among metals.

Therefore, if I slowed down the supply of magic power or reduced its intensity just a little like this… I reached a dizzying situation where the mucus on my left hand, which could not overcome the [titanium] component, just melted away.

‘It’s a big deal..’

＇I’m slowly running out of magic power…＇

The vast amount of magic he gained from the [Slime] magic stone implanted in his left hand has already been depleted.

Since he was barely able to maintain this state with the magic power gushing out of his heart, it was clear that he would soon collapse due to {magic exhaustion}.

＇It takes a long time… and the consumption of mana is more extreme than expected.＇

＇Is there some other way..?＇

If it stopped like this, it was clear that {intake} would not be completely achieved and all future plans would be delayed.

Grumble..

As my extreme hunger showed, I knew very well the seriousness of the situation, so I couldn’t stop there.

Food has already run out.

A temporal situation in which one cannot act leisurely.

Therefore, even if I risked {mana depletion}, I could not stop the mana supplied through my left hand. Moreover, he just had to move forward and execute it quickly.

***

Time passed quickly again, and he had gotten used to it to the point where he was able to control the size of the [slime] fluid that flowed out through his left hand.

‘Unnecessary horsepower consumption has been reduced..’

‘If you do this… you will be able to {eat} it perfectly.’

Just as people become more desperate, they exhibit unexpected powers.

I also considered the best option to avoid losing what little magical energy I had left, and increased my concentration by recovering my magical energy and resting. To be honest, it’s easier said than done… I was having such a severe headache that I wanted to pass out at any moment. But I had to endure it.

＂Hu.. Huh..＂

A pounding feeling that feels like your heart is being squeezed.

Of course… if he continued like this, it was clear that he would collapse from {mana exhaustion} before he could completely {consume} the [titanium] dagger.

‘After all, it can’t continue like this…?’

I dig deep into the leather bag next to me and pull out the last piece of cheese.

Thump.

‘Really.. I wanted to eat it when it was the last time.’

Actually, I had no choice.

The moss on the rock only filled the hunger, not providing nourishment.

What I need most now is nutritious food that can unleash my magic.

Ssss..

The cheese, which boasted a deep yellow color, was white on the outside and looked serious in appearance, but even so, I slowly savored the scent… and gently took a bite.

Suddenly…

A sharp feeling like grinding between teeth.

The last piece of cheese, which was very crumbly without any moisture, was moistening my dry mouth.

I was able to feel once again that this small being was giving me great strength.

‘delicious..’

A salty, umami flavor combined with a tangy yet savory scent.

A rich softness that immediately dominates the mouth and makes its presence felt.

gulp..

“under…”

“If only there was something to eat…”

The brief moment of happiness quickly cooled off, and all I was left with was my now empty leather bag.

Rumbling..

When I regained my appetite, the only signal asking for food came to me in vain.

“Ha..＂

‘Now that I think about it, where is Cheol..?’

It seemed like he was concentrating on the flow of magical power, not even noticing that the [Steel Slime] that had been hovering nearby and radiating its presence just a moment ago had disappeared.

Almost half of the [titanium] dagger contained in the mucus has been {ingested}.

Just when I thought I might soon lose my mind due to {magic depletion}, someone started touching me.

Tuk.. Tuduk!!!

＂Steel?＂

＂Where have you been??＂

Did you understand what I said to myself a little while ago?

[Steel Slime] gently stretched its hard and long tentacles and then began to carefully hand over the mysterious stone.

‘rock..?’

“Did you bring it because I said I was hungry?”

“Do you want me to eat this?”

The consideration of the [Steel Slime] who saved the stone for me was just cute, so I burst into laughter as if all my gloomy thoughts were purged for a moment. Each of these actions makes me less lonely.

“Really.. I’m holding on thanks to Cheol-ah.”

“Still, I’ll just accept your heart… You eat this, Cheol.”

I handed back the mysterious stone that [Steel Slime] had given me, but he picked it up again, sharpened his tentacles, and started cutting it in half at once.

Sigh..

It was surprising to see the killing power of [Steel Slime] for the first time, but…

From the center of the stone that had been split in half, a soft, banana-like, fragrant, almond-like smell wafted out like crazy and began to envelop the entire cave.

＂This…is this?＂

Pure white flesh flowing out like crazy from inside.

At that moment… all my senses were telling me.

That means you have to eat that right now.

So, without even using my {Check Information} ability, I started digging into the mysterious fruit given to me by [Steel Slime].

Wow!!

A great feeling of fullness with every bite.

A perfect combination of the sweet smell of banana and the nutty taste of almonds.

It is no exaggeration to say that it tastes like heaven. The extreme sweetness and softness were so luscious.

Wow!! Wow!!

‘This is not a fruit of this world.’

I had no idea where [Steel Slime] got this fruit, but I decided to think about it later and fill my stomach first.

***

“It was the best meal of my life..”

It was clearly a small amount of the mysterious fruit, but as if the efficacy felt throughout the body was as clear as the taste, magical energy gradually began to well up.

＇So…the headache is gone?＇

＇I feel like I’m full of magical power…?

It was never an illusion. The satisfaction of magical power felt in real time. The stomachache from hunger had also completely disappeared and he was in top condition.

{Magic Power +3}

The text window that came to mind at that moment…

＇Magic power has increased.?＇

＇That too.. 3?＇

The horsepower level, which had been difficult to raise no matter how hard I tried, rose by 3 in one go.

After enjoying such an unbelievable phenomenon, I couldn’t help but look at [Steel Slime] in astonishment when I checked the information about the unknown fruit with only the shell remaining.

[Olong fruit] ▽ – {Conditions not met}

It is large and hard like a coconut, and its inside is hard like an apple.

The taste is like a mixture of almonds and bananas.

It is a fruit that has a high sense of satiety, but has no nutritional value.

When consumed, magic power regenerates quickly. {Magic Power +3}

just as expected. Eating a fruit with these ridiculous benefits…

The form of the [titanium] dagger wrapped in mucus melted exponentially quickly, and soon its ingredients were absorbed into the body along with the explosively generated mucus on the left hand.

{{The [Titanium] ingredient was completely absorbed using the slime’s characteristic {consumption}.}}

{Magic Power+1} {Intelligence+1}

That’s how I was able to instinctively feel the [titanium] component I had absorbed through {ingestion}. I was also able to recognize that the [Titanium] properties I had just {ingested} could be directly transferred to the [Slime] slime created through my left hand.

There was no way to explain this. It was simply part of a new sensation that came naturally through instinct, just as we cannot explain how we breathe or how our heart beats.

I was able to completely {consume} the [Titanium] dagger with the mysterious fruit given to me by [Steel Slime], and I am going to try using it as a new sensation that I have felt for the first time in my life.

‘It’s a strange feeling..’

＇Is this what it would feel like if a human got a tail?＇

Burns with crack marks around the left hand.

An opaque mucus that seeps through it.

Just as the human body moves through electrical signals from the brain. The [Slime] magic stone implanted in the left hand also became a part of the body and was able to control and react naturally and move naturally.

“Amazing..”

The enormous magical energy that seemed to distort the space around me seemed unfamiliar at first, but I soon got used to it, and as I slowly adjusted the intensity of the magical energy, I easily made it my own.

Slippery…

The mucous on the left hand that has risen up…

Being able to handle new senses freely was something I got used to through constant effort, time, and countless experiences, but in the process of {consuming} Janes’ titanium dagger, I was able to maintain the slime for a long time and at the same time control my magic in my own way. I was able to perfectly master that feeling.

‘It’s not as difficult to control as you think.’

I began to roll the slime around in my left hand, transforming it into various shapes.

＇Is it still too much to create a sharp shape?＇

So, I am about to start something that I had only been thinking about through speculation.

The “nothing” attribute [slime] created on the left hand was spread thinly and evenly, and began to surround it like a glove.

＇And here, the [titanium] material that was just {ingested} is transformed as is..’

‘If only I could refine the shape..’