Chapter 3 - Meeting Karl the Barbarian (2)
Chapter 3 - Meeting Karl the Barbarian (2)
003
"I think we're fucking screwed. Let's bolt, fast."
The average size of a slime is around that of a snail.
Sure, they can absorb moisture to bulk up their size, but even that has its limits depending on the individual.
Usually, at most they grow to about 1 meter. Anything bigger than that is rarely seen.
If they could grow infinitely, every living creature near rivers or oceans probably would have been crushed and driven to extinction by slimes.
"Kkureureureuk!"
And the bastard in front of me looks well over 2 meters!
At this size, they can easily crush trees and suck up their sap.
What if the target they pounce on is a human? Need I say more.
"Why should we run?"
"That thing requires at least a C-rank adventurer!"
A 2-meter slime is hard to kill even with a sword or an axe.
Because its body is so massive, you get engulfed before your blade can even reach the core.
"A northern hunter does not run."
The barbarian suddenly spouted some bullshit and pulled out the axe slung across her back.
What the fuck! If we get caught, we'll end up like crumbly mummies.
"Kkureureureu!"
The slime let out a horrific screech and hurled its obese body toward the barbarian.
Because the bastard was so fat, it was slow, but it could sweep away all obstacles in its path.
"Get lost, you fat piece of shit."
Calmly rolling to the side to dodge the charge, the barbarian swung the edge of her axe and shaved away the creature's flank.
"Kkuruk!"
The sheared-off body part regenerated in no time.
Showing how tough it was, the slime immediately spun around and charged at the barbarian again.
"Huuuup!"
However, that attack didn't deal any significant damage.
Like a cat dodging about, the barbarian rolled here and there, continuously chipping away at the creature's body.
'Is that even possible?'
Such agility with a build like that!
If slimes weren't a species capable of regeneration, it would have died long ago.
"Kkureureu...."
Surprisingly, the first one to tire out from the relentless attacks was the slime.
Moving a bit away from the barbarian, it continuously made kkurureu sounds while keeping an eye on the situation.
"Already tired, lump?"
"Kkureureu!"
Did it understand her words...?
"Kkureureureuk! Kkuruk! Kkureureureu!"
As if understanding the barbarian's words, the slime began to howl loudly.
However, from all around the forest, other slimes came creeping out.
Their sizes were similar to the ones I killed. The problem was that there were a hell of a lot of them.
'I have to help.'
Right now, the fight was ongoing because the barbarian could roll around here and there, but if a number like that joined the fight, we'd definitely lose.
Then naturally, the next target would be me. I don't have agility like that barbarian.
"Damn it!"
I should've ditched her and run away sooner.
Chewing on my curses, I readjusted my falchion and sprinted swiftly toward the slimes.
"Die, you jelly bastards!"
-Paak!
After stabbing and killing the core of the first visible slime with my falchion, I kept swinging it right through to cleanly slice down the one next to it in a single stroke.
Not satisfied with taking out two in a row, I swung my sword downward to split the core of yet another bastard.
"...So you didn't run away."
Thanks to that, perhaps? The barbarian flashed me a grin and could focus entirely on her fight.
"Kkur!"
"Kkreu...!"
A few slimes came slithering toward me. They must be thinking of changing targets.
Goddammit.
No matter how much I know the tricks, fighting a bunch of them at once without proper gear is pushing it a bit.
'Besides, swinging a sword is pretty exhausting work.'
Was it because I swung it without any finesse? My arms were aching and my shoulders were stiff as hell.
If it weren't for the stamina and strength I built up as a porter, I would've been out of breath by now.
"Fuck off!"
Still, I can't die here!
Rushing forward, I kicked one of the slimes hard.
-Cheolpeodeok!
The bastard went flying straight into a tangle with the others.
Taking advantage of that opening, I wildly swung my sword, cutting slimes in half one after another.
My swordplay was so sloppy that a few didn't die outright, but by stabbing them in the middle of their regeneration, I could kill them easily.
"Ack!"
But that was only for a moment.
Because something heavy struck me in the back, I sprawled face down onto the ground.
"You little asshole!"
I immediately spun around and slashed with my falchion, splitting the bastard's core.
But falling down in battle is practically inviting another crisis. The bastards slithered right toward my prone form.
I tried putting strength into my legs to stand up, but a terrible pain shot through my leg, as if something was injured.
'No way.'
Did they think I was finished?
Nearly half of the slimes turned away from me and headed back toward the barbarian.
She was still fighting, after all.
'I have to stop them. Otherwise, we both die!'
Though my own death was practically a given at this point... if the barbarian died right here, my death rate would hit 100%.
Fuck. To raise those survival odds, I had no choice. Filling my lungs with air,
"You fucking gelatinous pieces of shit! I'm gonna chew you up, so crawl over here right now!"
I loudly provoked the bastards.
They don't have ears, but judging by the way they reacted with irritation to the barbarian's words earlier, they should understand me.
"...Kkureureureuk!"
My guess was spot on. The slime bastards made a U-turn to come kill me.
Good... My situation got worse, but the barbarian's end cleared up a bit.
Now I just have to hold out.
"Alright, bring it on!"
Screaming in defiance, I swung my blade fiercely from a sitting position.
Unless luck was entirely against me, one bastard got struck by the slash and its core split right open.
I tried desperately to halt their advance by swinging almost recklessly like this, but
"Kkuruk!"
before I knew it, they had closed in within a 3-meter radius.
There are too many. My hands ache so badly I'm losing all sensation.
"Ah!"
Was it because I swung it so weirdly?
The sword I swung with all my might drove deep into the ground and stuck.
I struggled to pull it out immediately, but the slimes lunged at me in a charge first.
"Kkureureureu!"
Fuck! If I knew this would happen, I shouldn't have made that useless provocation!
"You. Braver than you look, little man."
-Whooooosh!
Accompanied by the sound of parting air, an axe flew in and struck precisely into the core of a slime that was about to pounce on me, causing it to burst.
It was the barbarian.
Drenched in slime fluid all over her body, she rushed over this way at high speed.
"I like you, man."
The barbarian stomped on slimes with her feet or smashed them to pieces with her bare fists.
Not a single bastard could withstand more than two hits. She was so fast that even afterimages lingered.
By the time she reached me, there were no slimes left around us.
"You were like a warrior of the snowfield. A fine choice."
"Haha...."
How on earth did she kill that 2-meter slime so quickly?
"That lump of fat. I chipped it away to death. It regenerates, but you just have to beat it to death faster than it can."
"There aren't many people who can pull that off..."
What kind of person is this woman?
"Turns out you're a fine warrior."
Looking at me with makeshift splints clumsily tied to my leg, the barbarian said as much.
What a joke. If I could've run away, I would have bolted without looking back.
Risking my own safety to save her was merely a gamble; it was by no means a brave action.
"Forget it. Anyone would've done what I did."
"Throwing your body into the fray for victory is something not everyone can do."
The barbarian flashed a grin and dusted off her axe, which was stained with slime fluid.
Then, hoisting it onto her back, she scooped my body right up.
"Wh-What are you doing!"
My chastity, forged since coming to this gender-reversed world, reflexively caused a sense of revulsion.
"Little warrior. You are injured. With that leg, there's no way you're making it back by today. I'll carry you."
"Never mind, put me down! I'll walk back on my own even if it takes all night."
"I cannot do that. You are my comrade. A warrior of the snowfield does not abandon their comrade."
With that, she carried my body off as she pleased.
Even with the falchion adding considerable weight, the barbarian strode forward in long strides.
Just how strong is her strength...?!
"My name isn't little warrior. It's Dennis. Dennis."
"Dennis."
"Yes, exactly. Dennis. That's my name."
At my words, the barbarian scowled. Is she mad at me or something?
'You're the one who laid hands on me rudely first!'
Surely she's not getting pissed off over this...? If this ignorant woman decides to harm me on purpose, I won't be able to endure it.
"Karl."
"Pardon?"
"That is my name. Call me that. Little warrior, Dennis."
She had explicitly said earlier that she doesn't tell her name to anyone who isn't a friend.
Anyway, she must have liked what I did.
To think she considers me a friend.
"Alright, Karl."
The barbarian grinned broadly.
Her healthy teeth were striking.