Chapter 112
Chapter 112
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 112
Chapter Title: Since When Did I Start Thinking I Was Just a Regular Slime?
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Dispel is the technique of colliding identical magic circles to neutralize an opponent's magic.
I had thought it was nearly impossible to pull off in actual combat unless one possessed special eyes like mine.
“…What a shame. I really wanted to see the face of the mage once called the strongest on the continent in despair.”
“I don’t live steeped in the arrogance of being called a genius like some people.”
The Memoria before me now was demonstrating it with far too much ease. She had probably absorbed the memories and experiences of countless mages by devouring them.
“…Hahaha! I also greatly admire that aspect of yours. Mages who reach a certain level tend to be strongly intoxicated by their own power.”
“That’s why so many fools fall into black magic or become liches, and it’s widely spread that being a mage is a job for madmen.”
The red-haired Astal was showing a demeanor before Memoria that was no different from my usual self.
So much so that I could easily mistake him for speaking my thoughts aloud or acting on them.
Deliberately provoking the opponent with words and trying to separate the comrades from what seemed like the belly of Memoria were exactly the same.
“Indeed. I have studied humans endlessly, compared memories after consuming them… but mages are beings whose individual characteristics shine through most vividly.”
Snap—!
As Memoria flicked her finger, every being in the museum began glaring at me and my comrades with sharp eyes.
“Do you know? I find human beings so lovely and precious.”
“And yet you grew your body by indiscriminately sucking up others' memories and abilities? An ordinary slime wouldn’t need to do such things to survive.”
The red-haired Astal was trying to use up all the scrolls and pre-prepared magic he had to escape this place.
It was as if we were inside the slime’s mouth; not only the surroundings but even the human-like beings moved freely like mucus.
“When I was a newborn fluid, about to be eaten by other monsters, it was a nameless human who saved me.”
Memoria, seemingly excited, showed a slight, wriggling movement, unable to properly maintain her form.
Seeing that no slime core was visible anywhere, even this being before our eyes was not the main body.
“Repaying kindness with enmity, is that it?”
“Correct. If such an event truly happened, shouldn’t I have refrained from preying on humans?”
Kyle and Victoria swung their weapons to block the other slimes rushing toward us, and Memoria smiled bitterly as she spoke.
“No matter how much I imitate humans, my essence is that of a monster with instincts for strife and slaughter.”
“…Disgusting. So you even devoured the human who saved you?”
The red-haired Astal looked at Memoria with eyes as if gazing at trash.
Seeing that neither scrolls nor the magic circles pre-drawn on his palm were activating, it seemed something had been set up.
“Yes! That’s right! The expression, the taste, and the memories of missing his beloved wife and children when the human who first saved me was being devoured—I still can’t forget them!”
“You damn pervert. Can’t remember the name, but you remember that part vividly.”
“Aha, you’re trying to buy time with conversation to help your comrades escape, aren’t you? There’s no need for that.”
As if confirming my prediction was correct, Memoria swelled her body again and flicked out a giant tongue.
“I’m quite the gourmet. I won’t devour you until I fully confirm what emotions you hold and what abilities you possess.”
“Astal…! Spirits won’t come out here…! It seems this place is inside Memoria’s mouth….”
“I know that much! This bastard covered the entire territory with his body from the start!”
For the first time unable to summon the Spirit Kings, Anima began trembling in panic, and the red-haired Astal shouted at her.
This entire territory was a trap from the beginning.
She had placed other slimes only at the entrance as guards to make us think they were separate enemies.
“This is amazing. It’s my first time seeing the expression of a hero who contracted with four Spirit Kings trembling in fear.”
Memoria freely changed her appearance while giggling.
“Astal, I think we’ll need magic. Swords and weapons aren’t working properly on these things.”
“…From what I saw earlier, magic doesn’t seem to work either. Shouldn’t escaping here be our first priority?”
Her composure stemmed from the fact that, as my comrades said, Memoria’s body was impervious to strikes or slashes.
No matter how much we tried to knock down the slimes rushing at us, their fluid, water-like bodies kept ensnaring us.
“…Using Idea here will drag you all in. Even if I blow Memoria apart, it might not be her main body.”
The red-haired Astal gritted his teeth. Since he hadn’t fully mastered the transformation yet, even using Idea wouldn’t prevent serious injury.
Last time, my condition was so severe I had to stay in bed for days; it was too risky for everyone here to end up like that.
“As expected, your insight is sharp. I wouldn’t reveal my true form to meet you all like some fools.”
“Sounds like you’re taking a dig at someone specific?”
“Isn’t it obvious? Humans are beings who inherently belittle and envy others.”
Seeing Memoria speak as if mocking Velamora and Durahan, I found it absurd.
It contrasted with us that the Four Heavenly Kings under the same Demon King didn’t get along.
“Bullshit. If you bastards had pooled your strength to kill us from the start, you’d have been done for long ago.”
- Hey, what should we do? Magic below Sage-rank isn’t even activating.
The red-haired Astal cursed at Memoria while asking me for advice on what to do.
‘Don’t you have any other items on hand? Not magic scrolls or artifacts, but consumables we can use.’
- There are potions. I always carry them in case Victoria needs to use a Miracle.
This guy, who seemed like me with just a slightly different personality, was showing quick thinking.
‘…If we mix potions in the right ratio, won’t they explode?’
- That’s it! You might not remember, but we saw red mages at the Magic Tower using them for firepower!
Seeing this, it felt like we were combining our intelligence to hold a strategy meeting.
The red-haired Astal skillfully mixed potions behind his back and signaled Taryon with a nod.
“When I heard the Hero’s party was coming to kill me, I hastily prepared, so I made the mistake of not perfectly imitating humans.”
Memoria laughed loudly at us, recalling the time she disguised herself as Thomas and attached the ears incorrectly.
“What voice will you use to beg me for your lives? What memories or abilities do you possess that allowed you to join the Hero’s party, hailed as humanity’s saviors?”
As she spoke, Memoria and the surrounding slimes merged into one, forming numerous mouths.
“Ah, I’m truly looking forward to it. What efforts did you make to become a hero even after Durahan burned your village?”
“How much pain and suffering did you endure to become a saint despite the side effect of your body turning to flowers from the Miracle?”
“I wonder how special the taste will be of the human who drove back a crisis where everyone nearly died by a dragon and was chosen by the Holy Sword to become the Hero—”
At the moment the Memoria ‘horde’ slowly approached to swallow us.
Bubble bubble.
The potions mixed in perfect ratios began making sounds as if about to explode due to a chemical reaction.
“Oh? Then eat this instead.”
The red-haired Astal flipped her off and threw the specially concocted potion into the air.
“Making a path is all we need. Memoria, the Hero’s party grows stronger when we combine our strength.”
Taryon, following the earlier signal, performed the feat of shooting the potion with a flaming arrow.
Kabooom—!
With the sound of a chain explosion, a great flame engulfed us, and in that instant, I relayed instructions to the red-haired Astal.
It was a strategy made possible because the personalities were split due to the transformation.
‘Instead of using Idea to seal the opponent, it would be better to envelop our surroundings.’
Idea could be used not only to seal the Four Heavenly Kings or the Demon King but also as a protective magic for me and my comrades.
And since that Memoria wasn’t the main body anyway, sealing her would be meaningless.
Thus, an explosion so vast it washed our entire vision white mixed with the shockwave emitted by Idea.
Memoria was torn apart into pieces without even screaming.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ How much time had passed? We were being drenched by the slime mucus falling like rain.
“…This is unsettling. We don’t even know where the main body is hiding, and I’ve already used Idea once.”
Immediately, the red-haired Astal was gasping for breath, blood trickling from his eyes, nose, and mouth.
It was probably the price for overusing his mana core. He’d need at least a week of rest to regain his original strength.
“…Damn it, how are we supposed to kill that bastard? A crazy slime that magic doesn’t work on and the Holy Sword can’t touch.”
The red-haired Astal spat out a series of curses, indicating how dangerous the situation had been.
It was fortunate we had potions; without them, we would have fallen into the trap she prepared and all died.
“Don’t be too disheartened. At least we made her retreat once, didn’t we?”
“…That kind of thinking is the most dangerous.”
“Even though it’s a different personality, this habit of always getting hurt is similar. Here, wouldn’t it be better to rest in this big sister’s arms….”
Perhaps feeling pity for me in that state, Victoria tried to support me as she always did.
“……?!!”
At that moment, mucus splattered from the drainage pipe connecting the underground to the surface. Victoria, sensing the attack, pushed me far away.
She had used the method we first entered this territory in reverse.
“You son of a bitch…!!”
The red-haired Astal immediately froze Memoria and shattered her to save Victoria, but….
“…What a pity. I tried to seize the moment of your carelessness to devour your memories or abilities. I’ll have to be satisfied with just a taste this time.”
Even as she shattered into icy fragments, Memoria let out a sinister laugh toward me and my comrades.