Goblins Roll and Slime Dough Tempts
It looked tasty... but a horde of ugly goblins came charging at us, letting out their creepy screeches.
...They looked even uglier up close.
As those hideous faces drew nearer, I quietly stepped back.
With so many of them, they're even uglier together.
"What's up, Arang? Scared of the goblins?"
The guild leader snuck up beside me and playfully pressed down on my head.
"No... not scared, exactly... just, I don't even want them touching me..."
"Sure, sure. Before our little Arang starts crying over some goblins, big sis here will clean 'em up."
The guild leader smirked, then lightly swiped her finger through the air.
Schwick.
In an instant, a sharp blade of mana shot from her hand, slicing through the empty air.
"Kiek...?"
The heads of the dozens of charging goblins dropped with soft thuds, rolling across the ground.
"Whoa..."
I stared wide-eyed at the awe-inspiring sight.
Thanks to the Deep Sea Vision buff from the seaweed salt bread I'd scarfed down before entering the Tower today, I could actually see the guild leader's slash clearly.
She just seemed like a loudmouth at first, but yeah... definitely S-rank.
Pleased by my reaction, the guild leader beamed at me with a satisfied smile.
"How's that? Big sis got your back, right?"
"Hah, unbelievable."
That's when Cheon Yura, who'd been watching from behind with her arms crossed, snorted and stepped forward.
"Killing 1st-floor goblins and showing off for the kid? You'd be wagging your tail too if you had one."
"...Tch, showing off my ass..."
Stung by Cheon Yura's words, the guild leader clicked her tongue and turned away sharply.
They're not kids anymore—where's their S-rank dignity?
Tired of their bickering, I slipped away and examined the goblin corpses scattered on the ground.
Surprisingly... not as gross as I thought.
These were living creatures just moments ago, now spilling guts everywhere, but I felt zero emotion.
If anything, they'd probably be dirty to touch?
Then something sparkling caught my eye amid the goblin bodies.
What's that...?
I picked up a dull green stone about the size of a finger joint, careful not to get goblin blood on it.
"Is this a magic stone?"
Holding it, I could feel faint mana—it had to be.
Seeing something I'd only watched on news or NewTube in real life made it hit home: I'm really inside the Tower.
"...Looks like candy."
[Acquired your first magic stone.]
[Baker skill has been updated.]
[Detailed Description: Bread production now possible with a wider variety of ingredients.]
"Huh...?"
Did I just... unlock some kind of achievement?
I stood there blankly, alternating between the magic stone in my hand and the skill window.
Wait... picking up this magic stone activated the Baker skill properly?
How was I supposed to know without any hints?
"Arang, what're you looking at?"
Kim Hyunah had snuck up and peeked over my shoulder.
"Oh, I picked up a magic stone, and my skill suddenly updated."
"Your skill updated?"
At my words, the guild leader and Cheon Yura approached, looking intrigued.
Cheon Yura patted my head and nodded.
Is my head public property? Why's everyone obsessed with touching it?
"It happens sometimes with hunters. Killing certain monsters or getting new items can awaken or evolve skills."
"But... is it normally like this? Like a hidden quest you clear blind with zero info?"
"Yep. That's the annoying part."
Cheon Yura lightly tapped my shoulder and continued.
"So, what skill updated?"
Everyone stared at me expectantly.
All these eyes on me... kinda embarrassing.
I felt my ears drooping.
"Um... it was the deactivated Baker skill... now it says I can use more diverse ingredients for bread."
"...That skill really lives up to its name."
The guild leader tilted her head.
"Diverse ingredients... how far does that go? Can you shove rocks in there or what?"
"...I could make it now, but no one would eat it."
"Don't talk back."
"Ow!"
I clutched my head where the guild leader had bopped me and shot her a resentful glare.
Now that we're close, she just whacks me? I'm only putting up with it 'cause I can't fight back.
Rubbing my sore head, I pondered the Baker skill.
...Nothing I can figure out right now. I'll bake something at the guild later and see.
I started walking again, taking in the Tower's interior.
It's even more amazing in person.
Despite being inside a building, endless grasslands stretched out, with a cool breeze blowing—hard to believe this was the Tower.
"No fine dust here, either."
I crouched to yank up a dandelion, then perked my ears to listen to the sounds around me while gazing at the clear sky.
For some, this was a life-risking workplace, but for me right now, it was just a picnic spot.
My ears atop my head flapped eagerly, reacting to my curiosity and picking up every sound.
"......Before she turns 20... maybe adopt her."
"For real... she's doing it on purpose."
"...Just wanna lick those ears once."
...I can hear you all.
My sensitive ears perfectly relayed their chatter about me.
Perverted weirdos... Gotta buy a crime-prevention whistle soon.
S-ranks my ass—just pure pervs.
Squish.
As I walked a bit away from them, my foot stepped on something soft and slippery.
"What the...?"
Not mud or grass—something unpleasantly moist and springy.
I glanced down cautiously.
A bluish, translucent blob the size of a soccer ball was squished under my foot, wiggling.
...Condom?
"Eek...!"
The moment it twitched, I yelped and jumped back, shaking my foot off.
But the slippery blob slithered up my leg in a flash and splat—stuck itself to my stomach.
Crazy... a moving condom!
"Gah! Get off! What the hell is this?!"
I flailed to peel it off, lost my balance, and tumbled to the ground.
"Arang!!!"
Kim Hyunah rushed over at my scream. Seeing me collapsed and trembling, she relaxed her killer intent.
A blue slime was calmly oozing on my belly.
...A slime?
Kim Hyunah approached carefully and snatched the slime off my stomach.
"You're safe now. Did it scare you that bad?"
"Hah... hah... Th-thanks... that was a slime... right? A slime?"
As I wobbled to my feet, Kim Hyunah stared blankly at the wriggling slime in her hand.
"Yes, it's classified as a monster... but the lowest-grade slime on the 1st floor has zero attack power. Butterflies and bugs actually suck the moisture out of them and kill them."
"...Then why'd it attack me?"
"Less an attack, more instinct—it likes warm spots. Isn't your body temperature a bit higher than average, Arang?"
"...Yeah, I guess."
I sighed in relief and glared at the slime in Hyunah's hand.
...I really hate it.
I crept closer to Hyunah and poked the slime with a finger.
Squelch.
"Oh..."
I'd expected stickiness and disgust, but it was surprisingly moist and chewy.
This texture... just like brioche dough.
Squish squish.
It felt wonderful, like kneading dough full of moisture, tingling through my fingertips.
Something's stirring in my baker soul.
If I processed this into a toy, it'd sell like hotcakes.
I carefully took the slime from Kim Hyunah's hand.
It jiggled happily in my palm like pudding.
"Neat texture."
I grabbed it with both hands, stretching and squishing it every which way.
It stretched long, then snapped back with perfect elasticity.
Chewy and soft, like bread dough with a flawless gluten network.
Feels better the more I touch it.
"This dough feel is no joke."
While kneading it like bread dough, I absentmindedly looked up at the three of them.
"Um..."
"Yeah? What's up, Arang?"
I pressed the obediently yielding slime and gazed at the guild leader.
"Can... can I eat this?"
No sooner had I spoken than the slime in my hand started thrashing.
"......?"
".........Hyunah, check if she's under some mind skill."
"You okay there, kiddo?"
Suddenly, they all stared at me like I'd lost my mind.
Their gazes hurt my feelings.
No... I can ask, can't I...?
"You're... serious right now?"
The guild leader asked in a trembling voice.
"Yeah... touching it makes it look tasty... and if I baked it, it'd probably puff up like bread..."
At my casual reply, Kim Hyunah stared at me with a blank expression, at a loss for words.
The guild leader rushed over and slapped her hand to my forehead.
"No fever... why's the kid acting up...?"
"...I'm totally fine?"
Is asking if I can eat a slime such a shocker?