Slime Slayer
"This... is fun!!"
It felt totally new. In the game, battles followed the classic turn-based flow—you hit once, they hit once. But this was reality. And in reality, there was no such thing as turn-based combat.
Whoooosh!
The low-level slime charged with another body slam. But I'd already figured out its pattern. I immediately backstepped, dodging the attack.
"Hyaaaaah!!"
Riding the momentum, I swung the steel pipe hard. Splat!
The pipe smashed right into the slime's body. It looked squishy on the outside, but the impact felt solid. Something inside the slime shattered, and its body burst apart.
"Come at me!!" I bellowed.
Gurgle gurgle!
The slime surrounded me in an instant. Thanks to the status window, I could see its level floating above its head. Level 1s? I could take them down without getting hit once. Level 2s... took a bit more effort. I'd have to brace for one or two hits. I didn't even try Level 3s.
But no need for risky plays. Get cocky, and I'd be dead meat.
Yeah, that's right. I'm cannon fodder. Once I accepted that, things started looking up. The key was playing the optimal move for a nobody like me.
Splat! Thwack!
I bashed my way through the charging slimes with gusto.
"Gerurgle..."
Did the weakling slime call for backup? A pack of strong ones—Levels 3 and 4—popped out. The Level 1s and 2s were wiped out.
My decision was instant.
"Adios!!"
No point sticking around. Time to bail. It was already 1:30 a.m. anyway—closing time.
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After sneaking home like a pro burglar outdoing even a snake sergeant, I showered and crashed.
The next morning, I checked the news on my phone. Weirdly, even though it was a different model from my old world, I knew exactly how to use it. The lock screen pattern came naturally too. It was like Arikiri Shota's memories were blending with mine.
'No missing persons or casualties... good.'
I scrolled through the news timeline. No one had been attacked by monsters overnight. Creatures from the Other Side were invisible to anyone without Psychorobo awakening potential. Nighttime strollers who got unlucky just turned up as heart attack victims.
The Other Side invasion started early this year, per the game's lore. And the first victim? Me, Arikiri Shota.
'Gotta dodge that event no matter what.'
I steeled my resolve.
'That aside... no level up.'
I'd taken down a ton of slimes, but no dice. Honestly expected Level 3 by now.
'Perks of being an extra, huh...'
Unlike the protagonist, my levels didn't skyrocket. Two weeks until the first week of March. I felt the pressure, but I had to focus on what I could do now.
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After breakfast with Mom, I headed straight to the dojo.
"Shota, I ran into Mr. Kiryu last time. He was talking about you."
Mom said.
"Said you're training really hard. Good boy, Shota."
She gazed at me with misty eyes. Well... the shut-in rotten son was finally stepping out. From a parent's view, it was heartwarming.
"Wanna change, y'know."
I smiled. If I didn't, I'd die.
"I see..."
Suddenly, Mom burst into tears. I hurried to comfort her. Then I punched my attendance card at the dojo.
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After that, I trained hard at the dojo.
Shwaaang!
I struck a tire target with a head blow.
"Hmm... impressive."
Gonzaemon stroked his chin watching me.
"Oh. Something wrong?"
I asked.
"Nah... how to put it. It looks like you've actually hit a person before. Anyone'd mistake it for real combat experience."
Gonzaemon said.
"Haha! Must be talent, right?"
I joked with a grin. Guess we'd gotten close enough for banter.
"Uhahaha!! Look at this cheeky punk!!"
Gonzaemon roared with laughter.
"Good!! Keep it up!"
He slapped my back, chuckling.
The second week flowed the same: dojo by day, slime-bashing by night. Busier than ever.
Level 3 reached.
Luck and Magic? Dump stats anyway—ignore 'em. The top ones had climbed nicely. Strength, Agility, Durability—all up. Perfect setup for close-quarters slime fights. Until I awakened Psychorobo powers, physical stats were all I had.
Heavy Strike
Deals weak impact damage to enemies. (Beginner skill—usually ditched early game.)
Hey, beggars can't be choosers.
"Boing boing leh whoo~."
I basked in my newfound power right away. Come nightfall, I headed to Old Town to test it out.
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Meanwhile, as Arikiri Shota hustled...
The Kiryu family was having a late dinner. No matter the fights, they ate together. Family motto.
"Speaking of, that Shota kid's a gem!"
Gonzaemon's topic was, of course, Shota. Polite, quick learner—perfect disciple. It stirred ambitions in Gonzaemon.
"Train him hard, and he could compete."
Gonzaemon grinned.
"You're not pushing the poor boy too hard?"
Gonzaemon's wife, Asuna Kiryu, playfully smacked him.
"It's been years since I saw talent like that. And he's eager—gotta grind him as his master."
Gonzaemon said sternly.
"........."
Daughter Umi Kiryu ate silently. Lately, she'd grown distant from her parents. Ever since she quit kendo, family vibes had cooled.
"Heard Shota went through something bad in middle school. From a dojo mom."
Asuna sighed.
"Ah, the bullying. Poor kid—so sweet and polite. Rotten bullies."
Gonzaemon sighed.
"He's turning weakness into strength. Real man."
Gonzaemon nodded firmly.
"Umi, date a guy like Shota. Men need growth potential."
Gonzaemon suddenly floored it.
"What the hell?"
Umi snapped, annoyed.
"Honey, get a grip."
Asuna smacked her hubby affectionately.
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After dinner, Umi retreated to her room. A prime high school girl should've gossiped with friends, but she wasn't feeling it.
'Arikiri Shota, huh...'
She knew his face, of course. Lately, he was glued to the dojo, training like a monk.
'Annoying.'
The thought bubbled up. Umi knew she was a knockout. Modeled for fashion mags for pocket money; scouts hounded her downtown. She was on another level—no arrogance, just facts. Dojo students stared when she entered. Some threw flirty glances.
But not Shota. Eyes only for his sword, ignoring her completely. She'd stared him down multiple times—he acted like she was invisible.
A huge ego bruise for a confident beauty in her prime.
'Thinks he's too pure for me?'
That pissed her off more. Made her bitter about quitting kendo—talent wall hit hard, made her feel small.
'Should talk to him. Make him notice.'
'Rip off that pure mask.'
Umi smirked. She posed in her uniform before the full-length mirror. Perfect. Flawless beauty. Pride restored.
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Back to Arikiri Shota.
"Achoo!!"
I sneezed big. Someone talking about me? Anyway, same routine. Old Town slime hunt. Prey pool expanded—could tangle with Level 3s, even 4s now.
"Kkieeeek!!"
I charged the slimes with a soul-deep roar of power.
"I'm the Slime Slayer!!!!"
I swung the pipe wildly, slimes popping one by one.