Chapter 18, Evolution Materials Are Being Steadily Acquired

Translator: Lizz

  

“Did I… do it?”

 

I blurt out something that sounds like a death flag and glance around nervously.

 

Looks like I’ve chopped down all the demon trees with my axe. The scene, overflowing with apples of all colors, feels strangely refreshing. Is this chirashi sushi or what?

 

<The demon trees have all been defeated. Retrieving items.>

 

“Oh, thanks! By the way, how many items can fit in the box?”

 

<I can’t give you an exact number right now, but there’s still plenty of space.>

 

“Hmm.”

 

While I’m chatting with Miria, the colorful apples get sucked into another dimension all at once. That high-speed collection is always impressive.

 

Speaking of which, what’s going on in the chat? I sneak a peek and it’s absolutely flooded with comments.

 

: No way! You wiped out a whole swarm of demon trees solo!?

: And you’re not even out of breath

: So strong…!

: Honestly, you’re ranker-class, right?

: What’s that dimensional hole thing they keep disappearing into?

: All those apples? They’re just… gone

: E-eh?

: Too mysterious!

: Please explain the box!

: Oh yeah, what about carrying capacity?

: Where are you storing everything?

: This stream needs way too much prior knowledge lol

: Maybe thirty enemies? No, you definitely took out more

: Are you even human?

: Uooooooooh

: Nah, any explorer should be able to handle demon trees

: Amazinggggg

: These rampage scenes are addictive

: That flag wasn’t even a flag lol

 

“Oh, right! The box explanation… Wait, does no one else have one? I got mine as a subscription perk. I always have it store the items I pick up in dungeons.”

 

It felt normal to me, but maybe it’s not?

 

: Subscription??

: Never heard of it

: Huh?

: So you’re depositing stuff?

: First time I’ve heard of this

: That mysterious hole that keeps popping up… is that the box?

: Nah nah nah nah

: What do you mean, subscription?

: I want a whole just chat stream just to explain this

: Too mysterious! : This is gonna summon the theory squad

 

“Miria, looks like no one knows about the subscription thing.”

 

So I’m not the only one who didn’t know. After a slightly longer pause than usual, Miria finally responds.

 

<It’s still not widely known. However, that’s not a problem. The real challenge of the Evolution Cave begins now. A swarm of Evolution Slimes has appeared ahead and is heading this way. Let’s defeat them all.>

 

“Evo… huh?”

 

A swarm of slimes, huh. Well, if it’s just slimes, it should be fine, right? Thinking that, I move forward through the winding corridor.

 

Just as I reach an open area and notice some dust clouds, a bunch of colorful slimes with weird things on their heads come rushing toward me at a terrifying speed!

 

“Uwoooooah!?”

 

Looking closely, they’ve got strange stones on their heads. Different shapes, different colors, kind of pretty… Not that I have time to admire them.

 

There’s gotta be more than thirty of them, right?

 

Obviously, getting surrounded would be bad, so I end up fighting while running away again.

 

<Summon cards are effective.>

 

“Summon… right!”

 

After taking a few hits and countering with my axe, I pull a card from my pocket and hurl it forward.

 

With a flash of white light, a pixie appears, flashing a carefree smile.

 

“Pixieeee! Target them all!”

 

“Too much work-”

 

“What!? You talked!?”

 

I’m stunned by the casual reply. So there are monsters that can talk, huh… Just as I’m thinking that, thick bolts of crackling lightning start flying across the floor, and in no time, the slimes are charred black.

 

<Victory achieved. Evolution materials are being steadily acquired.>

 

Before I know it, the slimes vanish with a hiss, and the stones that were on their heads tumble to the ground.

 

I mean, she totally targeted and took out all of them. Pixie’s amazing.

 

: I seriously can’t keep up with what’s happening!?

: What were those slimes even?

: That was so satisfying

: The items are getting sucked away again

: Eeeeeeeeeeh

: By the way, isn’t Kage Channel’s fighting style kinda good?

: That’s straight-up pro level

: I’d have been wiped out on the first move

: His defense is surprisingly solid

: The way he used Pixie was textbook perfect

: Is he doing this on instinct?

: Kage-kun is amazing

: Ahhhh! Everything’s vanishing into another dimension again

: That’s my first time seeing Evolution Slimes

: I don’t think I’ve seen those slimes in any other stream

: Hieeeee

: This is kinda fun

 

Oh? Are they… complimenting my fighting style?

 

<Kagetora-sama, your combat skills seem to be improving steadily. However, there is a boss waiting just beyond the next descent. It’s significantly stronger than anything you’ve faced so far, so please be cautious.>

 

“Sounds like something dangerous is ahead. Got it.”

 

Nah, judging by Miria’s tone, I’m probably not that strong yet.

 

If I get cocky now, I’ll end up getting wrecked by the boss and never make it back. Better stay sharp.

 

After walking for a while, I do find the staircase.

 

At the bottom, for some reason, there’s a lake and an altar.

 

“Wait… this is still a dungeon, right?”

 

Something’s off. The atmosphere feels different somehow. But the truly strange part comes right after this.