Chapter 20. Black Magma Slime
Cracks appeared on the golden egg, and a black substance seeped out.
Soon, the egg split completely, revealing the creature inside.
［Ssss…］
A sticky black mass.
Red cracks and bubbles moved vividly on its surface, while two glowing red eyes gleamed at its core.
【Pururu】─Wow······.
【Yumi】─That’s terrifying···.
【Mysticism】─😰
【Pururu】─What on earth did it evolve into?
【Yumi】─Since it evolved from fire, maybe it’s magma? The black stuff on the outside looks like some kind of shell.
I agreed with Ha Yumi’s thought.
That thing inside definitely looked like magma.
I wasn’t sure what the black outer layer was, but it seemed to be a substance not found on Earth.
［Ssss!］
The creature gave me a friendly look.
It seemed that taming wasn’t undone after evolution.
Since there was no hostility, I didn’t feel any heat either.
Or was it possible that a shield was surrounding it?
To check, I asked the Jellyfish to briefly deactivate the barrier.
‘Not hot.’
It still wasn’t hot.
It must have been carefully controlling its power.
It was ensuring that its heat wouldn’t harm its comrades.
As long as it didn’t lose control and go berserk, it probably wouldn’t hurt me or the other monster companions.
I stroked the slime’s head as it clung to my leg.
［Ssss…］
【Pururu】─Don’t get all emotional, you perverted slime.
【Mysticism】─😡
【Pururu】─But the more I look at it, the cuter it seems.
【Yumi】─Is it cute though···?
【Pururu】─You say that now, but later you’ll be like, “Aww, it’s so cute!” I know it. ‘You said the other monsters were cute earlier, too.’
【Yumi】─I said their actions were cute, not their appearance.
Anyway.
Since it evolved, I decided to update the Monster Index and give it a new name.
■Black Magma Slime
─Actual danger level: SS-rank.
─Current (nerfed) danger level: A-rank.
─Ability: Magma.
【Yumi】─Its danger level has increased.
【Pururu】─SS-rank!!! Higher than the Demon King!!!
【Mysticism】─🤩
【Yumi】─For now, it’s A-rank.
Black Magma Slime.
That would be this creature’s name from now on.
***
After finishing the update on the Monster Index.
I briefly went to Passage No. 5 to replenish some food supplies.
This morning’s breakfast was, as usual, an apple.
【Pururu】─We’re filling up on apples again. It’s good for hydration, but if we keep eating only apples, won’t we get malnourished?
【Mysticism】─😔
【Yumi】─Geon, should I send you some food?
“If I can’t find anything else to eat today, I might ask for that favor.”
I had originally planned to ask only Pururu for this kind of help.
Pururu had my money, so I thought I’d just ask him to support me with it.
But I changed my mind.
I realized the need to save money, so I decided not to refuse the support of my assistants.
If I recklessly spent money, I wouldn’t be able to buy an Evolution Ticket.
That’s because the price of an Evolution Ticket was insanely high.
‘But evolving to SS-rank···.’
As I munched on an apple, I looked at the Magma Slime.
SS-rank monster.
A dangerous classification known to very few even in the other world.
Most people in that world knew S-rank as the highest danger level.
To them, SS-rank was like something out of legend.
And I had evolved such a monster with just one ticket.
I still couldn’t believe it.
Was it really that easy to create an SS-rank monster?
When you think about it, it hadn’t even cost me that much.
Because the value of an SS-rank couldn’t be measured in money.
‘I still can’t believe it, even seeing it with my own eyes.’
The abilities of a Labyrinth Explorer were far more absurd than I had thought.
Almost as absurd as the abilities I had randomly acquired in the other world.
【Yumi】─Geon.
While I was lost in thought, chewing on my apple, Ha Yumi’s chat popped up.
Pulled out of my reverie, I took another bite of the apple and replied.
“Yes?”
【Yumi】─I’m curious about something. Would it be okay if I asked you a question?
【Pururu】─It’s not okay.
“It’s fine. Go ahead.”
【Pururu】─ㅠ
【Yumi】─So, about monster rankings. I roughly understood the lower rankings from the table that Mr. Pururu showed, but I’m having trouble grasping the higher ones.
【Pururu】─I guess someone’s a bit slow.
【Yumi】─F-rank is for regular people, E-rank is for strong regular people, and D-rank is for those at the Superhuman Realm, right?
I nodded in affirmation.
Ha Yumi continued her questions.
【Yumi】─It said that the gap in strength widens significantly as you go from D-rank to C-rank, and from C-rank to B-rank···.
【Yumi】─I can kind of imagine how strong an A-rank would be, but I just can’t wrap my head around how powerful an S-rank is. Especially since your monsters are currently nerfed, so I can’t guess.
【Pururu】─S-rank is on the level of a Hero, a Demon King, or the Demon Lord. ㅡㅡ
【Yumi】─Just saying that doesn’t tell me how strong they really are. It’s not like I’ve ever seen a Hero or a Demon King in person.
I could understand why she’d ask a question like this.
It was natural for her not to be able to estimate that level of power.
After all, Ha Yumi was from peaceful Earth, where there were no superhumans, wizards, or monsters.
“To put it simply, an S-rank can destroy a world all on their own.”
【Yumi】─Ah···.
【Yumi】─So, in the world you visited, S-rank monsters must have been pretty rare?
“No. There were actually quite a few S-rank monsters there.”
【Yumi】─What? Monsters capable of destroying worlds? How did that world survive?
“A dimensional wizard told me that world’s human level was far higher than most. There were many heroes capable of standing up to S-ranks.”
【Yumi】─Ah. So when you say ‘world-destroying,’ you meant a world like our Earth. I see.
【Yumi】─In any case, S-rank is much more dangerous than I initially thought.
【Mysticism】─🤭
It seemed like Ha Yumi’s curiosity had been satisfied.
【Pururu】─Geon, I’ve got a question too.
“Don’t ask.”
【Pururu】─ㅠ
“I’m kidding. What do you want to ask?”
This time, Pururu asked a question.
It was a bit annoying, but since he was an important assistant, I decided to answer sincerely.
【Pururu】─You haven’t told us about SS-rank or SSS-rank yet. You briefly mentioned them when explaining the ranking table but didn’t go into detail.
“SS-rank is the level where they can destroy the world I visited.”
【Pururu】─Weren’t there any SS-rank monsters in that world?
“There were a few, but most of them didn’t run wild and were hiding. The more violent ones were subdued by the First Hero and the Great Sage, who were in hiding.”
【Pururu】─Oh, so because there were SS-rank humans, the world didn’t get destroyed.
【Pururu】─Now explain SSS-rank.
“Me.”
【Pururu】─?
【Yumi】─?
【Mysticism】─😉
“That’s as far as I’m explaining. It’s time for exploration.”
I wrapped up the Q&A session and stood up.
Today’s destination was Passage No. 8.
Once we finished exploring Passage No. 8, I planned to start re-exploring from Passage No. 2.
***
Twenty minutes into Passage No. 8.
As we walked through a wide cave, we encountered a monster blocking our path.
［Shiiish!］
【Pururu】─Ahh! A pig!
【Yumi】─Oink!
【Mysticism】─😋
With a golden crown on its head, gray armor covering its arms and groin, and a red cape fluttering behind it, the monster stood before us.
It was a giant, bipedal pig with sharp tusks.
I decided to name it Pig King.
【Pururu】─Why’s a pig wearing a crown?
【Yumi】─What’s the danger level of this monster?
“Its nerfed danger level is B-rank.”
I pulled back Dog Spider and the Jellyfish.
I also stepped back.
It was time to test the power of the Black Magma Slime.
We decided not to intervene at all.
The Magma Slime could easily handle it alone.
［Ssss.］
【Pururu】─Go, Black Magma Slime!!
【Yumi】─Is this a joke to you? This is a life-or-death battle for Geon, take it seriously.
【Mysticism】─🤔
【Pururu】─Is she a psychiatrist or a psych patient? She was oinking around just now, and suddenly she flips.
【Pururu】─And it’s not like we’ll lose. The Black Magma Slime’s rank is higher than the pig’s.
The Pig King and the Magma Slime stood at a distance, glaring at each other.
Tension filled the air between them.
The first to move was the Pig King.
［Shiiiish!!!］
The Pig King’s roar echoed off the cave walls.
【Pururu】─My ears are going to explode.
【Yumi】─I dropped my phone in surprise.
【Mysticism】─😶
The soundwaves shook the cave, causing small rocks to crumble.
Even the Black Magma Slime’s form wavered momentarily.
‘Is this a fear-inducing ability?’
I almost passed out.
Luckily, I had the Jellyfish’s shield around me.
The Pig King crouched its massive body and began spinning like a drill.
Its red cape swirled, creating gusts of wind.
【Pururu】─What kind of pig does a drill move?
【Mysticism】─😮
［Shiiiish!］
Still spinning.
The Pig King charged forward like a drill toward the Magma Slime.
Could it not recognize an opponent stronger than itself?
It seemed either stupid or overly aggressive.
Its sharp tusks struck the Slime’s body.
The Slime split apart for a moment, allowing the Pig King’s attack to pass through, and then reformed.
［Shiiish?］
［Ssss.］
［Shiiish!!］
The Pig King, confused, stomped the ground in frustration.
Boom!
With a shockwave, sharp rock fragments shot up from the ground.
And as if it was trying to cast some spell, a bright light began to radiate from the crown on its head.
Too bad.
The Magma Slime didn’t seem willing to wait.
［Sssss.］
The Magma Slime raised its heat.
In an instant, the entire cave turned into a magma zone.
It was still controlling its power so that we didn’t feel much heat.
But it was different for the Pig King.
［Shi, Shiiish···?］
The Pig King’s armor began to melt.
The light from its crown faded as it melted away.
Its cape burned to ashes, and its tusks melted into liquid.
The Pig King, trapped by the intense heat, couldn’t even take a step.
It stood there, slowly being swallowed by the magma dripping from the ceiling.
［Sssss~］
The Magma Slime, now fluid and flexible, slithered toward the Pig King.
A faint giggling sound echoed.
The Slime touched the melting Pig King with its black outer layer, a childlike smile on its face.
It was like a child playing with a toy.
【Pururu】─The pig didn’t stand a chance. Is this the difference between SS-rank and S-rank?
【Yumi】─You should be comparing it to the difference between A-rank and B-rank.
【Mysticism】─😋
［Sssss.］
The Magma Slime opened its mouth wide.
And then,
Crunch!
It devoured the Pig King’s head in one bite.
***
The magma zone returned to a regular cave.
The Magma Slime’s heat subsided.
I had asked it to adjust its power when around others, so it wouldn’t harm them unintentionally. After all, just by existing, it could launch a preemptive attack.
We then gathered up the headless Pig King’s corpse and headed back to our hideout.
The reason we took it?
Of course, to eat it.
“Finally, we’re getting some protein.”
［Ssss!］
［Pii!］
［Ssss!］
The monsters seemed just as excited about the pork as I was.
I could feel my mouth watering in anticipation.
【Pururu】─??? Are you really going to eat that?
【Yumi】─Well, it’s a pig··· so I don’t see why not? We’ve been eating monster apples, after all.
【Pururu】─True.
The Magma Slime stretched its body into a long, flat surface.
It looked like a dining table, radiating heat.
Like a seasoned butcher, the Jellyfish began skillfully dismantling the Pig King’s corpse.
With its tentacles, it deftly separated the meat from the bones.
Dog Spider quickly grabbed the meat pieces and placed them on the Magma Slime’s hot surface.
Sizzle.
The pork started cooking on the Magma Slime.
This should be safe to eat, right?
Just in case, I’ll make sure to cook it thoroughly before trying it.
As I waited for the meat to cook, I opened the Monster Index.
■Pig King
─Actual danger level: S-rank.
─Current (nerfed) danger level: B-rank.
─Edible.