episode_0036

The moment I discovered the peculiarity of [Steel Slime]…

Ride, ride, ride!!!

Surprised by a mysterious sound coming from nearby, I quickly put on my arms and began to prepare for alert.

＇Is there someone..?＇

＇It’s not the sound of human footsteps… Then is it a monster?’

Was he surprised by the sudden release of magical power? The [Steel Slime] right next to it also became angry and began to sharply extend its long tentacles.

‘fire?’

What came into my field of vision was not the glowing green light of [Extria], but the movement of a completely different orange light. Like a torch fixed to the wall.

But I could tell right away that it was no ordinary light.

‘in action?’

The light, moving at such a fast speed, quickly entered the pile of stones that appeared through a small gap.

‘Is that a [Flame Lizard]?’

＇Now that I think about it.. it’s slowly becoming an activity base.?＇

It was none other than the [Flame Lizard] seen in [The Book of Monsters] and used in [Portable Hand Warmer].

Just as I was about to let go of my tense mind and body and look around again…

Slippery!!

Unlike me, who had let down his guard, the [Steel Slime] seemed very excited, and immediately plunged its long tentacles into the rubble without mercy… and as if that wasn’t enough, it started thrusting in various directions so that it couldn’t escape.

Deep!! Puff!!

“It’s okay to stop, Cheol.”

just as expected. As the [Flame Lizard], which had barely escaped the attack of the [Steel Slime], ran away as if charging towards [Extria]… the movement of the [Steel Slime] suddenly began to stop.

As if he was conscious of something.

When the [Flame Lizard] touches the moss of [Extria]…

Perhaps it sensed the monster’s magic power… A plant that looked like a stem grew rapidly from the moss part of [Extria] and instantly bound the fleeing [Flame Lizard], and then stabbed a large number of stems into the monster’s body without mercy. I threw it away.

Kkiii!!!!

The desperate scream of a [Flame Lizard] struggling in pain…

“Kangcheol.. let’s step back for now.”

“I don’t know what will happen..”

[Steel Slime] and I, who made a split-second decision and took a step back, began to observe it carefully.

A [flame lizard] that dies so helplessly that it is difficult to see with the naked eye.

The [Flame Lizard], which was emitting bright orange flames, seemed to have its magic power sucked out by the stem of [Extria] that was relentlessly embedded in its body. Soon, all of its magic power must have been absorbed… It turned into gray dust and its shape was difficult to recognize. It has been completely destroyed.

‘It’s gone..’

if..

If you recklessly reached out to [Extria] without knowing anything about it…

The sight of that [Flame Lizard]… the fact that it could have been me gave me goosebumps and I couldn’t help but feel extremely nervous.

When the [Flame Lizard] completely disappeared, a small flower bud appeared from the stem of [Extria], which had cruelly absorbed the magic power.

“Is it possible that by absorbing magical power like this, the fruit I ate earlier will grow?”

just as expected. Red flowers bloomed in an instant, withered quickly, and soon began to bear mysterious, square fruits.

I wasn’t surprised because I didn’t expect this result, but the situation unfolded so quickly that I just stared at it in bewilderment, as if I couldn’t hide my bewilderment.

no..

Maybe I was fascinated by the sight of the fruit growing on the stem of [Extria].

“This is my first time seeing this fruit…”

What a beautiful fruit.

A square red fruit about the size of an adult’s fist.

As if I was possessed by something, I began to reach out for the fruit that showed off its bright beauty.

Tuk..

When I came to my senses, the fruit was already in my left hand.

That moment..

The light of the luminous green moss, which was the only light in this dark cave, was instantly engulfed and disappeared into pitch-black darkness.

Yes.

The green moss that was brightly illuminating this cave was all part of [Extria], and when I took the result of its source like this… it immediately began to fall asleep.

[Extria], which bore fruit in this way, also lost its vitality as if in a deep sleep and began to hide its presence.

I almost got lost in a deep, invisible cave, but fortunately, I was able to secure a brighter view than before thanks to the light of this red fruit that was showing off its freshness in my hand.

“This is my first time seeing a fruit that emits its own light..”

[Birch fruit]▽ – {Conditions not met}

It is about the size of an adult’s fist, has a perfect square shape, and is opaque red in color.

The skin is so thin that you can eat it whole. The outside is crispy and the inside is full of juice.

The taste is a combination of refreshing and sweet, like a mixture of apple and strawberry, and although you can consume a lot of water, it has no nutritional value.

When you take it, you gain strength. {Strength+3}

＇As expected… I’ve never seen anything like this, not even in a book.＇

After finishing {checking the information} about the shining red [Birch Fruit], I am once again surprised by its efficacy and begin to think for a moment.

Anything… is a living thing.

I knew that it was the providence of nature that I would gain useful strength and knowledge through my various experiences and hard efforts.

Of course, I also thought and lived that way, so it was like a belief I took for granted.

However, with the appearance of a fruit with such strange effects…

The beliefs I had firmly believed in for a long time became an opportunity to be greatly shaken once again.

The existence of this fruit that increases [stats] just by taking it without any effort or small achievements… In some ways, it was happy, but it was also infinitely unfamiliar to me.

After looking at the [Birch Fruit] for a while, I prepare to get out of the cave using the red light of the [Birch Fruit] as my friend.

***

Grrr..

I quench my thirst for the last time with this clear yet cold spring water that has helped me quench my thirst, and fill the bucket with water.

＇From now on.. it’s the real beginning..’

After tying my shoelaces as tightly as possible so they wouldn’t come undone, I carried Jane’s leather bag and headed toward the cave entrance.

Turf.. plod.. plod..

Now that I’m used to it… the eerie sound of the eerily quiet cave sometimes irritates my nerves.

As I found hope in being able to return to my family, I no longer hesitated.

Hwiiii..

As I head from inside the cave towards the entrance, I frown as the cold bites my bones.

‘It suddenly got cold…’

As expected… Just like [Extria] lost its vitality as soon as it bore [Birch fruit]… There was no place to retreat anymore, so I just kept moving forward in silence, enduring the strong wind.

＇Still.. because I have this.. ＇

If it hadn’t been for Jane’s [portable hand warmer] and this thick blanket… it certainly would have ended his life quickly.

‘It’s warm…’

I wrapped myself in a thick blanket like a cloak, holding the [portable hand warmer] in which Janes’ magic power was still maintained. As I withstood the cold wind and advanced for a while, I saw Janes’ blood leading to the entrance of the cave. Colored footprints greet me.

‘Shall we go…?’

Her desperate steps that never came back lead me. So I was able to go out to the cave entrance.

＇Dazzling…＇

The sky is bright and blue enough to sting your eyes.

Unlike the cloudless sky, the temperature outside was so cold… I felt the warmth of the [portable hand warmer] again and soon started looking around.

‘I can’t even see any traces of people.’

What greets me is a field of pure white snow with no traces of monsters and tall tall trees growing thickly.

Strangely, the surrounding trees were not hibernating in the winter, but were showing their magnificent and upright green leaves as if they had adapted to living in this cold.

‘I don’t feel anyone nearby…’

As I was watching the surrounding situation, I was able to see the [Steel Slime] coming next to me and repeatedly rubbing my hard body.

Slippery!!

‘You probably want to go together..’

Now is the moment to choose.

Although I clearly knew the meaning of [Steel Slime]’s actions.

All I could do was look at [Steel Slime], who was gently acting cute.

Obviously, unlike ordinary [Slime], if it is a [Steel Slime] with considerable intelligence…

Maybe I can control myself and not lunge at others or show aggression.

Above all… I, who had been living in the cave all this time, could vouch for it.

But no matter how much I say that…

That’s just my opinion.

Even if the [Steel Slime] did not display aggression towards others, moving with monsters as a human would never be allowed in terms of the order or ethics of this world.

if..

Even if we moved together with [Steel Slime], I instinctively knew that it was a reality that one day we would definitely hurt each other greatly.

no..

Perhaps it was the conclusion of a confirmed future.

Therefore, I had to make up my mind again and make a choice.