Chapter 188
Chapter 188
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 188
Chapter Title: Capturing the Melting Slime
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It had been ages since I last left the imperial capital.
Without opening the shop, no less.
Since setting up shop, how many times had I even ventured outside the capital?
"Almost never?"
I'd lived every day in a frenzy, no days off.
All for the sake of making money, naturally.
Even in my spare time without customers, I'd taken on side gigs—alchemy and magic research requests from various guilds and the magic department, helping with papers—to earn extra cash.
Even my rare days off were spent recharging at home. That was it.
No point going out; nothing to do anyway.
I wasn't exactly rolling in money.
Nor did I have a ton of friends.
Locked away in my research room day in and day out for magic studies, the only person I knew personally was my mentor, Meiko. Aside from her, not many.
The few I knew professionally were all too busy with work or their own fun.
Naturally, all that was left for me was work and quiet rest.
Of course, I didn't always laze around on breaks.
When funds got tight, I'd double the side gigs.
Going out cost money too.
To save even a little, I'd minimized outings as much as possible.
But today, even though it was a business day, I'd closed up shop and headed out of the capital.
Why?
Several reasons.
First off, my finances were more comfortable than expected.
Enough that skipping one day of business was fine, and I could afford travel expenses for a trip.
Second, I had a new employee to help out.
A lust demon succubus with considerable power, no less.
Things an illusion mage with zero combat prowess couldn't handle alone? With her, I figured we could manage. So out I went.
"B-Boss, where are you going?"
Prelia, unable to contain her curiosity, trailed after me and asked.
"Out to procure something essential for a new service at our Fantasy Shop."
"But didn't you say we were heading to a dungeon?"
"Yep."
Dungeon.
Spaces teeming with monsters that began appearing across the continent after the Demon King emerged in the world.
Ruled by laws slightly different from normal ecosystems, they became treasure troves.
Back when the Demon King was at full strength, they spewed monsters. But after his subjugation, most vanished, and the remnants weakened—turning into business ventures for adventurers.
'Some dungeons still get maintenance, though.'
I planned to hit the nearest surviving one to the capital.
"If you tell me what you need, I can fetch it right away."
"It's fine. We'll get it together. Faster that way."
"You're not gonna tell me what it is?"
"If I did, you might bail."
"......"
Prelia's eyes narrowed.
She probably thought I was dragging this out over some tough item.
Truth was, the thing I wanted from the dungeon today was a slime.
Slime secretions?
Nope.
A real, live slime.
You might wonder why fuss over a low-level monster like a slime, but hey, did I want it this way?
Even a single slime could beat me one-on-one. That's an illusion mage for you.
No—specifically because it's a slime.
Illusions only work on intelligent beings with sapience.
Even orcs, driven purely by instinct, have enough smarts for illusions to stick.
Goblins? Obviously.
But slimes? No dice.
How do you illusion a single-celled blob that just jiggles around?
Useless.
To me, scarier than dragons.
Dragons, drakes, wyverns—you could at least try an illusion.
Slimes? Forget it.
Of course, I wasn't after your standard green slime.
I wanted one that shimmered blue.
Commonly called a Melting Slime.
Unlike others, it could freely control its shape.
My plan: Cast a specific spell to strip out all its poison and acidity, turning it into a truly "safe" slime.
'If this works, tons of uses.'
For instance, for someone like Niki who wants to get ravaged by a slime.
Tame it, and all sorts of services open up.
If I'd had help from others, I'd have tried domesticating one sooner.
Why not till now?
'Couldn't answer why I'd bother with a slime.'
Even my mentor Meiko never got the full explanation.
What can you do?
"This is a beginner dungeon. Can't believe one's still active here. No strong monsters around, right...?"
"Used by novice adventurers to gain real combat experience."
"Why come to a place like—"
I walked ahead instead of answering.
"Let's go."
"Oh, okay."
Prelia and I entered the beginner dungeon where slimes lurked.
Finding one wasn't hard, honestly.
Squeee.
A green slime wriggling along.
Most slimes were like this—spewing acidic fluids.
"You're not here to hunt slimes, are you?"
"Close enough. Here for a slime."
"Oh... Then I'll grab one right now."
She raised her hand.
Ready to wipe out every slime in sight.
"Stop. Not that one."
"Not? Then what—"
"Your job now: Find a blue one."
"Blue...? But blue slimes don't exist."
"No chatter. Find it. It's here."
"...Got it."
If we didn't snag it now, I'd have to come back later.
Might as well get it today.
Prelia and I roamed the dungeon.
And after some time...
"Knew it'd be here."
Dungeon corner.
A remote spot adventurers rarely checked. A blue slime jiggled there.
"It really exists...?"
Prelia stared in shock.
Like she'd never seen one.
Surprising.
Thought demons knew all about monsters.
"Prelia."
"Yes?"
"Catch it. Alive, no killing. Drain every drop of acid."
"Understood."
Since meeting Yuris, she'd been surprisingly obedient.
Figured she'd balk at using her power on a slime.
But she charged at my order.
"Don't underestimate it. Not like other slimes."
"Even if it's different, how much?"
She shouted with a laugh.
That's when it happened.
Squeee!
Sensing hostility, the blue slime retreated a step and swelled up.
"Huh?"
It ballooned to orc warrior size.
"I-It grows this big...?"
Prelia hesitated at the sudden change.
Squeee!
The slime swung a massive fist.
"Prelia!"
I tackled her, rolling aside.
Boom!
Its blue fist smashed the floor.
"B-Boss...?"
"Told you. Not your average slime."
"Ah..."
Maybe from rolling with her.
My arm was around her soft waist.
"Uh, Boss? Your hand on my waist..."
"Oh, sorry."
I stood up.
"Anyway, capture alive and drain the acid—won't be easy."
"...Don't worry. I'm no weak demon like you think, Boss."
Prelia rose, declaring.
"Got startled by the sudden growth. Not the strength."
Squeee!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
She thrust her hand at the charging slime.
It shook the ground, looking too vicious for a slime now.
Definitely a monster I couldn't handle solo.
Squeee!
Before its fist swung.
"Scatter."
Navy light flashed from Prelia's hand.
The slime's shoulder exploded off.
Squeeeee!!!
It screamed, acidic fluid leaking.
"I'll handle it properly."
Prelia, resolute.
Time to pin the fleeing slime and drain it? Not long.
'She's got skills.'
That light, though.
Could I have survived it...?
Why not use it on me?
Pushing doubts aside, I pulled a basin and reagents from my spatial expansion backpack.
Potions to permanently neutralize slime toxicity, calm ferocity, add elasticity and softness—every alchemical brew.
I'd mix them all in this basin and dunk the slime.
Ratios? Tested plenty before. No issue.
Thirty minutes soak, and I'd have my versatile slime.
"Starting the process. Block if it resists."
"Got it, Boss."
I dumped the reagents into the basin and added the captured blue slime.
A slime that could reshape at will.
Imagining the possibilities, I submerged it.
Squee......
Core intact, it tried resisting, but acid-free? Not scary.
Illusions not working was the scary part.
'With half its body gone, even I could overpower this blue one.'
Splash splash.
Squeeeee~!!
I worked to transform the resisting slime into a pleasure-exclusive one.
Prelia watched quietly from behind.
When he said we were catching a slime, she was disappointed.
The Demon King personally moving for a mere slime?
Absurd.
No way.
Sure, it was a bit different from regular slimes, but still a slime.
How much help could it be?
He must think I'm awfully weak.
"Prelia!"
Throwing himself at a big slime's attack.
Means he doesn't trust me much.
I get it.
A lust demon who couldn't even seduce him once.
So she was pissed.
'I'll show him proper.'
She unleashed serious attacks on the slime.
Subdued in seconds.
But separate from that, she wondered.
Why go to the trouble himself for this slime?
Can't handle one alone, so brought me?
'Maybe I misjudged?'
Perhaps not the Demon King?
No way this weak.
But seeing the slime absorb all those reagents changed her mind.
Squee!
Fully soaked, its blue body turned pale pink.
No acid—now slippery fluid instead.
Looked like a harmless regular slime, danger down.
But as a lust demon, Prelia instinctively knew that fluid.
Arousal-inducing for women.
A state no normal slime could handle, but strength depends on the wielder.
The one holding this aphrodisiac-spewing slime? The Demon King with the demonic cock that conquered the Goddess of Victory.
'As expected, the Demon King had a plan.'
To amplify his strengths even more.
Crafting a new weapon so powerhouses like Yuris kneel deeper.
Using a shape-shifting slime, no less.
'Ah, Demon King, forgive my disloyalty.'
The slime's scent?
Or awed by his foresight?
Prelia felt her lower belly heat with excitement.
Ahh, I want him to ravage me again.