Chapter 32. Sensory Deprivation Trap (1)
Splash, splash.
I pushed forward without hesitation, parting the sewage water that rose up to my knees.
When I'd first entered this place, I'd gotten lost, wandering around and toyed with by the monsters. But things were different now.
That was because I'd used my [Insight] skill to copy the entire map of this section straight into my head.
"Keeek!"
From the darkness, a single roper lunged out, swinging its disgusting tentacles.
If it had been before, I might've panicked and stumbled back. But to me now, this thing was just a walking chunk of experience points.
Shing, slash!
With a single swing, the roper's body split cleanly in two along with its core.
It sank into the sewer filth without even a scream.
"Doesn't even give experience anymore."
My current level was 8. And with A-grade skills and gear to boot. Considering the appropriate level for the Sewer Dungeon was 1 to 10, I was already over-specced.
Sneaking slimes were the same.
A slash of my sword or a mana bullet dodging their fluids, and they'd pop like balloons.
About thirty minutes of smooth progress like that, and I arrived in front of the one dark room on the maze-like dungeon map that I hadn't uncovered yet.
The boss room.
A creepy mana seeped out from the tightly shut door's cracks.
Inside was probably Doctor Slime, the one trying to turn the sewers into a monster den.
"Hoo…."
I took a deep breath and did a final status check. Mana and stamina over 90%, gear all good.
I'd cleared the monsters on the way here, so even in the worst case, my escape route was secured.
Of course, I have zero intention of running away!
Bam!
I kicked the heavy iron door open with a satisfying crash.
Inside, as if it had been waiting for me, Doctor Slime glared with glowing eyes.
"Kuhuhu… You've finally come, you bitch who ruined my grand experiment!"
In the center of the wide cavern, amid flasks and tangled machinery, a massive slime monster asserted its presence.
Doctor Slime.
In the original story, he was depicted as a mad scientist who'd remodeled his own body into a slime.
The monster before me was like a mountain of transparent, sticky liquid. At the top, a human upper body was embedded, making it utterly grotesque.
"The academy brat who skulked around the outskirts like a rat, hunting my children—now you've come to die on your own feet!"
"Oh, really? Wasn't it you skulking and squirming in the corner of the sewer like a rat?"
"Shut up! It's because of a wench like you that my experiments aren't progressing! I only had one step left, the live test…!"
I aimed my sword tip at him while scanning the surroundings.
Fortunately, since I'd come early, there were no signs of the women kidnapped to serve as culture plates.
Doctor Slime must've been pacing anxiously, guarding the empty lab, unable to kidnap anyone because of me.
"Kuhm… Better this way. I'll use you as the first culture plate and make you birth as many as I kill you for!"
With his roar, dozens of slime tentacles poured toward me.
Befitting a boss monster, they were far thicker and faster than a roper's.
I calmly sliced the tips off the incoming tentacles, deflecting attacks with minimal movement.
Even when they came in droves, it was no issue. With human-level intelligence, reading their trajectories was easy.
But his real aim was something else.
Hiss—!
Pink mist burst instantly from cracks in the floor, walls, and ceiling.
The deadly aphrodisiac gas began filling the boss room.
"Kuhahaha! Did you think I'd welcome you without any countermeasures?! You'll forget how to even fight and writhe in pleasure! Then I'll specially let you bear my child!"
Delay the fight with his massive size and ridiculous regeneration, then break the mind with aphrodisiac gas to force submission—that was Doctor Slime's strategy.
Of course, with my original knowledge, I wasn't falling for such an obvious trick.
I pulled out two potions Hayeon had made from my pocket and downed them.
Mental Barrier Potion and Sensory Dampening Potion.
Gulp, gulp.
In an instant, my head cooled like ice.
I could feel the hypnotic influence that always gnawed at my consciousness noticeably fading.
My entire skin lost sensation and dulled.
It was a bizarre feeling, like wearing an extra layer of thick rubber clothing, but in this situation, it was the perfect defense.
Confirming my body was fine despite the gas, I charged at Doctor Slime.
"Wh-what?! Why are you fine?! How after inhaling that gas!"
"Who knows. Maybe it's past the expiration date?"
I flashed a cold smile and closed the distance in a flash.
Whoosh!
I poured all my reserved stamina and mana into it.
The blade, with [Mana Armament] pushed to its limit, slashed across Doctor Slime's massive body.
He reattached the severed parts with amazing regeneration, but I gave no respite.
"Hah!"
I shredded his body with [Combat Swordsmanship]. Tentacles flailed in desperation, but I didn't need to dodge every one.
Thanks to the Sensory Dampening Potion, even when they grazed me, I felt no stimulation.
In situations where my bad statuses would've made me moan and collapse, I swung my sword coolly.
As I steadily accumulated damage, Doctor Slime's huge body visibly shrank.
The core I'd had to crane my neck to see was now at eye level.
"Y-you bitch…! How is this possible?! I saw you struggling even against mere slimes!"
"…That was me letting my guard down, you pervert fuck! It's over now!"
I fired two mana bullets at his center, the core maintaining his human form.
Boom, bang!
With chain explosions, slime sprayed everywhere.
His vital spot, the core, was now exposed.
I wasn't one to miss that chance.
The blade, loaded with sharp mana, shattered the core.
Ting!
Like breaking a glass bead, a clear sound rang out, and Doctor Slime's body bubbled furiously.
"I… end up… like this, in a place like this, so pointlessly…."
The human upper body in the center twisted and melted away.
Doctor Slime met his end as slime, sprawled messily across the lab.
Thanks to thorough preparation, the first boss fight ended more anticlimactically than expected.
Level up too, so no need for a mercy kill.
"Haa, haa…."
I panted roughly, looking around.
Research materials of unknown purpose were scattered messily around the lab.
I debated turning them over to the police as evidence, but quickly changed my mind.
I could trust Uncle Cheolho, but the entire police force? Too risky.
Handing over sloppy evidence would just advertise that I'd trashed this place.
"Just blow it all away."
I worked to erase my traces as much as possible.
Wiped footprints, fired mana bullets everywhere to destroy facilities and cover sword marks.
This mess would ensure my name wouldn't come up even if the place was found later.
Then I scoured every corner for anything that could be trouble later.
Maybe grab something useful…
The Sewer Dungeon, being the first, had no hidden items.
Still, checking for valuables, my balance suddenly wobbled.
"Huh?"
The Sensory Dampening Potion's side effects were worse than thought.
Not just sexual stimulation—it dulled my entire sense of distance and balance.
Seems Hayeon, low on skill, made it too strong.
Stagger—.
"Why's my body… uh…?"
With numb foot sensation, I didn't notice the sunken floor in time.
The floor collapsed, and my body started falling.
"Kyaaak!"
I reflexively braced with my arms, avoiding a full plunge into the pit.
Rubbing my stinging elbow, I struggled to pull my lower body out.
But something was off.
"Wh-why… why won't it budge?"
I pushed against the floor with my arms to escape, but my muscles wouldn't obey.
Something as strong as my upward struggle yanked my legs from below.
Splash, slurp.
With disgusting sounds, my body slowly sank into the pit.
"Huh? H-huh?! What's this!"
Straining my arms, I barely halted the fall.
But with numb senses, escaping was impossible.
Damn, stay calm… Hayeon said the potion lasts 30 minutes. Fight took 5…
About 25 minutes left.
Once sensation returned, whatever grabbed me from the floor, I'd shake it off easy.
As I tried to steady myself like that—
Riiip—.
The Virgin Protection Talisman tore.
"……."
I looked down into the sensationless pit below.
I-it's fine… right…?
