Chapter 15 Although It's Super Strong

Flame Slime.

The first condition to clear for immediate evolution was to absorb medicinal herbs, and while I was singlemindedly engaged in doing so, at that moment a goblin had appeared, but was instantly killed.

At point-blank range, the new skill that I acquired, [Flame Breath],* easily burnt it down.

Even though it’s described as breathing flames out of the mouth, in fact, it had the same feeling as simply exhaling, and the fact that such a skill could be so easily enacted was ridiculous, when I carefully gave it thought, skills really are amazing.

"Splendid!"

The Butcher said that with a smile while removing the meat from the goblin corpse.  Although it was roughly charred it seems he was able to remove the meat.  Well, might as well scavenge the body for what can be taken..

Nevertheless, one goblin was no longer enough to give me a level-up, I also have a feeling that the amount of power I could acquire had lessened. It seems proof enough that the overall amount of my power had increased from before.

"Just saying but don't forget the compensation for the meat of the goblin that I defeated from a while ago. It's not free you know."

I reminded the Butcher while earnestly eating the medicinal herb.

There were conditions added to the contract when it was formed regarding the partic.i.p.ation of the Butcher.  The terms are that the meat from enemies that I defeat will be submitted to the Butcher unconditionally.  Accordingly the Butcher will provide me support to match that — a contract with mutual benefit.

It would seem that the meat of the goblin is worthless, but as they say, "even dust would become a mountain if it builds up". I do not have to eat the meat of the enemies I defeated, I cannot preserve the meat for the future so it is best to give it to the butcher. There was no reason to complain.

When I think about it, the Butcher and I have a weird relations.h.i.+p. It is not that we don't have mutual trust, after all the trust that we have is due to the contract so it is hard to lower one's guard no matter what. However, despite this there is also the fact that we are getting along considerably well.

(As I thought, self-interest is the most important thing after all.)

While I was working in a company before, I had not thought deeply to that extent. No, although many things were seen, should it be said that there was no free time to think about it?

Thus, I calmly thought about that and came to see what I had been overlooking, so it became a lesson.

(While there is no disadvantage — let's not betray each other, for now that is fine right?)

Of course, I also need to consider the matter when the relations.h.i.+p falls apart. In any world someone who just blindly trusts a person will be looked at as a fool, this is an ironclad rule.

At the moment when I thought so and put the next medicinal herb in my mouth,

"Ah, it came"

『 Evolution requirement “Medical Herb Absorption” cleared within the skill's time limit,

"Chance for Immature Evolution" activated.

As a result of satisfying the conditions, it is now possible to evolve into a different type*

Currently the only possible evolutions are Herbal slime. (Herb slime?)

Evolve?

YES

NO』

Naturally I chose NO.  There were still the remaining skills of a Flame Slime that had not yet been acquired.

『The evolution refusal was confirmed

You will not evolve and the status quo will continue to be maintained

Yet, because you have met the evolution's requirement, it will be possible to evolve at any time』

The announcement disappeared and the world began to move.  Though time was stopped the Butcher somehow saw through the change in my state and ran to my location.

"Though this one already done picking up, from that look did you also succeed?

"Yeah, but I haven't evolved yet.  After I finish acquiring skills, I plan to evolve."

However, if it continues like this then it will be hard to increase my level from now on. Should I invade a den of monsters like before? There will be a lot of opponents in there, and I can also gain considerable power.

It won't become a problem now if it's just to the level of goblins..

"Hey, do you know of any monster dens around here?"

I ask the Butcher about it. I thought the Butcher would know something like that, but…

"This skeleton is only a butcher you know?! Even though I also deal in information, I don't know that kind of information."

"Eeeh, isn't it because you are a butcher that you should have know the places to get better meat?"

"The compensation is not enough to give you that information right now."

This b.a.s.t.a.r.d. It's not that you don't know, but that you won't tell, isn't it?

However, I could not be convinced that the compensation was insufficient. For now, the compensation that I have been paid for is only one goblin. I had already used up the compensation from my own meat in order to hear the evolution conditions.

Well then, should I think of a way on how to get information that is worth just 1 goblin?

In my head several ideas popped-up, and among them I looked for the best possible way to get information.

"Then, can you tell me the location of a stream or river around here?"

"I see, what an interesting idea. If it’s just that then I can tell you because that information is worth one goblin in compensation."

Aside from slimes like me, monster–type animals living near a river such as goblins needed meals several times a day.  Of course they needed to replenish their water too.

I thought that if I waited there then I would be able to obtain prey.

Then the Butcher informed me that there was a stream.  As I was told, I went there to have a drink.

"Un, it's normal water."

Although it was not exceptional it was relatively nice. Though I had eaten before, it was the first time in a while since I had drunk water.

Rather, how many days could a slime go without drinking water? I forgot it until now, but I had overlooked an extremely important thing.  I did not welcome drying up and then dying.  I should be careful from now on.

Oh well, at least I had already proven that it will be alright if it is only for a few days.

By the way, even if I ask the Butcher, it truly doesn't know about that. I was told that the Butcher doesn't understand the nature of other races and their personal traits. Now that I mention it, it was a reasonable talk.

After hiding and waiting for 30 minutes, I had begun to think on whether it was a failure, when suddenly the prey appeared.

There were two goblins. I don’t know if I should I say it again*, but both of them were stark naked and neither of them carried a weapon.  The tough fellow from before** had worn clothes on its body even though they were rag clothes, and had carried a weapon. Probably that fellow wanted to announce itself as a subspecies — an existence that has a different strength than the common one.

When I thought about it, since before I had never felt afraid toward the common ones at all. I could defeat them if I made a surprise attack.

However, I had not yet moved. That was because I thought that even if I defeated these two goblins here there might be a possibility that I still wouldn't level up.

If I must do it, I wanted more prey than this. I decided that I should make these guys lead me to their den.

Since I couldn't wait for them to return to their den I decided to a.s.sault them at once.

Eventually, the goblins that had been watching their surroundings in the beginning gradually became less tense and showed an opening when they drank from the river.  It is often said that someone would show an opening when they have their mealtime.

Eventually one of the goblins came near my hiding place and without missing a beat I grabbed it.  In an instant I had it pulled into the bushes using my tentacles whereupon I wrung its neck until it died.  I held its mouth shut, not giving it time to let out a death scream.

After confirming that I got some power* from it, I let the Butcher harvest the meat, and then I tossed the corpse at the other goblin.

The goblin jumped in surprise at the corpse that suddenly fell before it eyes, and in the next moment its eyes widened at the horror before it.  Well…  that was understandable because if without warning the partner that I was with just a while ago had been killed and then appeared before my eyes then I would be extremely terrified as well, you know?

I shook the neighboring trees and gra.s.s with my tentacles to make a sound as I sneered at the goblin who was cautious of the surroundings.  Of course I did not reveal the place where I was hiding, but…

The goblin was frightened and restlessly looked around at the surroundings. This looked good. Even if its head was a little thick it could still feel fear.

I took a deep breath and then roared.

"GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

Because this is a skill obtained from a goblin*, I was afraid that I would be mistaken for a friend, but presently I am a slime. I think that it is all right because the cries are totally different.

"G, gii!?"

The goblin became so frightened from hearing that sound -yeah, I feel you- that he let out a squeak and started running at full speed. I've just one more step to go.

Afterwards, I followed it from behind and whenever it seemed to stop I would provoke it.  After this repeated several times the goblin could not tolerate it anymore and when it finally returned to its den it leapt inside.

"Good job"

Near the den, I saw that there were only goblins in the vicinity — a lot of prey; as expected that fellow did a great job. It had my thanks.

First, I would eliminate those guys near the den entrance.

I forgot to say it, but the Butcher disappeared before anyone noticed it. I guess it hide itself and would be watching as a mere spectator, so I'm not worried. Rather I got irritated slightly.

Leaving aside that tag-along who couldn't fight*, I approached the opponents slowly and carefully and if I saw an opening I would drag those guys down just as I did to the other guys before.

If they were to escape, it would have been a waste and could lead to me being discovered by the others, so I should move slowly and carefully.

『You met the requirements.  [Erase Presence] acquired. 』

The announcement showed up unexpectedly, but I ignored it for now and smoothly carried on with my work.

Before long, all of the surviving goblins came out from inside and began to gather in the same place.  With that the a.s.sa.s.sination play came to end, and from now on it’s the time for the slaughtering show.

I jumped onto the branch of a nearby tree. If it was this distance it would reach them.

"Hissatsu*, PRESS ATTACK."

『 Level Up x5.

Because you reached the required level you acquired [Intense Heat Creation – Small] and [Intense heat Bestowal – Small]

Due to defeating the goblin an ability was seized

You acquired [Possibility for Cross-Species Breeding] 』

Translators Corner:

This has been translated by indra13 over at Re: Translations, corrected by ER-senpai and grammar checked by GoldenOwl.

Cross-breeding skills huh. Who, what or how will he use it? I am getting pumped up for the next chapter.