Ju Noeul’s explanation was extremely shocking.
“Because they’re closer to plants, slimes don’t specifically eat anything …. instead, they get their nutrients through photosynthesis…….”
“Why isn’t this widely known? There’s no such information on Hunter Channel at all.”
“That’s because there’s been so many fights over this bait…….”
“Aha.”
According to Ju Noeul, the ‘slime is still an animal-type monster’ faction and the ‘slime is a plant-type monster’ faction fought to the death in the past. It’s a golden apple that would tear any community apart if brought up, so it’s tacitly agreed not to mention it now. So, no matter how much I searched for Lime’s food, I couldn’t find any information. That’s also the reason why I got called a troll when I posted this question on the Hunter Channel.
“Seriously, people who don’t know slimes will never understand …. how can you say slimes are animals!” Ju Noeul’s anger flared briefly as she remembered the history of past struggles.
Yes, it photosynthesised. Photosynthesising, that’s why it didn’t eat, hmmm, hmmm. I nodded, then realised something odd.
“Wait a minute. Our Lime ate regularly until recently. Noeul-ssi, you also saw Lime eating coffee berries. If slimes do not eat, just photosynthesise, why was it eating back then?”
“That’s not eating. More like playing….”
“What?”
“It’s just munching on berries because it’s fun, not because it’s taking in nutrients …. it’s like, ah, yeah, it’s like dog chew.”
Dog, dog chew…….
“Oh my……”
“Kkyuuu!” Lime cried innocently, as if it didn’t know any better.
Tiling! A quest completion notification popped up in front of my shocked face.
[Congratulations! You have completed ‘Sub Quest: What Does Slime Live On?’.
Please collect the rewards.]
[Experience: 500 EXP have been acquired.]
[You have acquired 1 Random Skill Point.]
[Dungeon Exploration After a Cup of Coffee (B) level has risen to 2.]
[Dungeon Exploration After a Cup of Coffee (B)
Details: (Lv.2) When making drinks in the dungeon, the level of perfection is increased.]
[You have acquired a wealth of knowledge about slimes.]
[Lime has a deep crush on you.]
“Kkyuuu….”
How worried have I been?! I’m glad to know that Lime is healthy, but what is this feeling of despair? Regardless of whether I’m puzzled or not, Lime just bounced its soft body next to me.
Raising animals is really … no, I mean, raising plants is really difficult work.
***
Just when Kwon Rieul was in a state of shock after learning the truth about the slime.
James was exploring the inside of the Great Dungeon Abyss. A giant stone tower on the outside, a multi-layered dimension on the inside. The end of it was still beyond human reach. There is only one dungeon like this in the world. It’s natural for him to be intrigued.
The American Hunter Association was not happy about James’ trip to Korea. The pretext is that they don’t want to send a major force into a place where they’ve already come close to death once. In reality, it’s because of the power dynamics within the American Hunter community.
‘How foolish.’
He shook his head. The last thing they need to focus on right now is the inner conflicts between the American Hunters.
But James really wanted to come here again.
The reason for this was his near-death experience a few months earlier when he was attacked by a cave black bear in Cafe Rieul. Why and how did the monster jump out of this tranquil Great Dungeon, and what was it afraid of?
After long negotiations, the visit to Korea had finally been granted, but with a string attached. James glanced behind him. He could see his companions following him. What a nuisance.
James picked up his drink from Cafe Rieul and sipped it in one hand, while writing down notes about the dungeon in the other.
“Hmm….”
Was it mugwort? The drink was very delicious. He could feel the softness seeping deep into his heart. The scent of mugwort was different from coffee mix and had a unique charm. He poured the last drop into his mouth.
Swiish! Several monsters appeared from nowhere and lunged at James. An unexpected attack. Their front paws struck him directly.
“……!”
But he didn’t feel any pain.
[Item: Damage is reflected due to the effect of Mugwort Latte. (Remaining counts: 2 times)]
“Heuk, whoa….”
Taking advantage of the monster’s staggering from the reflected damage, James drew his weapon. The group that had been following him quickly approached and formed a formation.
“Hey, James, what’s going on? I thought this area was safe?”
“This is no time for complaining. We need to get out of here fast.”
“What? What do you mean…..”
The group turned their heads to follow James’ gaze and stiffened.
The space they were in was crumbling as far as the eye could see, and a horde of frightened monsters poured out.
***
I held Lime’s carrier in my arms and trudged home. The discovery I made today was deeply shocking.
‘Our Lime was actually a plant-type monster.’
Was that why Mieum and Ash were indifferent to Lime’s changes? Then they should have told me in detail!
“Wait, Lime, then why did you cry for food every morning before?”
“Kyuuuu?” Lime trembled with an expression that said, ‘I don’t know anything.’ It’s our house slime, but it’s really shallow.
From now on, should I put it out in the sun to photosynthesise instead of feeding it? The matter of peeling the coffee berries … well, since I’ve made a lot of money, I might as well get a machine.
[The Fully Automatic Coffee Pulper (★★★☆☆) has been updated in The Dimensional Shop.
It’s a great item that makes it easy to peel the coffee berries!
We hope you enjoy it.]
Before I knew it, the system popped up this notification. I opened the dimension shop to see what it contained.
“What the…..”
It was ridiculously expensive, and even though it was just system text, I could clearly feel its willingness to rob me of my hard-earned rubies.
Well, I’ll think about it later. If I don’t buy it and hold on, they may give me a discount. I closed the dimensional shop and started walking again.
It was around the time when I could see the appearance of Cafe Rieul in the distance,
“Kkyuuu!”
Lime opened the carrier on its own, jumped out, and bounced around. Since when you knew how to open the carrier! After a moment of surprise, I pulled out my slime language translator.
“Kkyuuu! Kkyuuuuuu!”
‘What does slime live on?’
Was it the same conversation again …. but the next words were different.
“Kkyuuuu! Kkyuu!”
‘Slime lives by eating fragments of Casuality.’
“Uh? Fragments of causality? Wait, Lime, don’t tell me it’s the coffee … do you mean the fruit of Yggdrasil?”
“Kkyuuuu! Kkyuuu!”
‘Sufficient fragments of causality have been gathered.’
“Kkyuu! Kkyuuu!”
‘It is time for a new story to begin.’
“What’s a new story?!”
“Kkyuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!”
‘Heir of the rightful power, it is time to move on to the .’
“Lime, don’t speak so meaningfully like the Saintess, please give me more details……!”
Rumbling─
Just then, I heard a thunderous noise.
At first, I thought it was thunder. But the sound came from somewhere other than the sky. Somewhere far away from here … no, it was somewhere close.
Thud. A huge boulder came flying out of the air with a cloud of dust. It’s almost as big as I am. If it hit me, I would go straight to the next life.
“Ugh!”
But the boulder was already close, and it was too late to dodge. I panicked and reflexively wrapped my arms around my head. Then…….
“Kkyuuuu!”
Lime stepped in front of me, spreading its body like a thin membrane. This membrane wrapped around me and became a shield.
Thump! The boulder that hit Lime shattered into pieces and rained down on the ground. Lime, returning to its original shape, bounced as if seeking praise.
“Kkyuuu!”
And when I saw the scene before my eyes, I gasped.
“What happened……?”
The Great Dungeon <Abyss> that always exuded such a formidable presence was gone. The great dungeon had collapsed as if a bomb had exploded.
“Was that …… collapsing?”
The sky was filled with black clouds. In the place where the Great Dungeon had fallen, a gate-like structure had risen, emitting a red glow. It resembled the Faceless One’s gate that had appeared in the sky during the Yongsan incident, but it looked much more ominous.
Beep. Just then, the mobile phone in my pocket vibrated for a long time. Before I even had a chance to check the contents, the system issued a warning.
[Warning! Grade A Rift occurred
Coordinates: 37°32’xx.x”N 126°57’xx.x”E
If not dealt with within the time limit, a Dungeon Break will occur.]
It didn’t take long for the chaos to spread throughout the city.
***
Kim Jina looked at the small machine in her hand. A yellow light flickered on the screen.
“Over there.”
She turned to follow the light, and the machine beeped. The signal was getting stronger. As expected, her decision to search this way was correct.
As she followed the signal and strode boldly inside, the Hunter behind her spoke in a panic, “Agent Kim Jina, do you really think it’s in a place like this?”
The land around them was barren, with only one empty building standing. Discarded materials and bags of cement were piled up, as if the construction had stopped long ago. Records show that it was once owned by a religious order, but then forgotten.
“I don’t know, but we have to consider all the possibilities.”
“I-I heard it was dead…..”
Kim Jina glanced at the Hunter at her side and decided to show him more kindness. This hunter wasn’t trying to complain, it was because he really didn’t seem to know.
What exactly ‘Aeon‘ was.
Searching for Aeon is tedious work. Having to rely on a machine the size of their palm to probe for reactions. It must be boring for her companion.
“Once an Incarnation is summoned to this world, it does not die easily.”
With her eyes still scanning the rising and falling numbers on the machine, Kim Jina made her way into the bare steel building. The Hunter followed close behind and asked,
“An incarnation … what is it?”
“A high ranking being, commonly referred to as The Great One … you could say he is a God from the Otherworld.”
“A God?”
