▷ I want to know!
At the mention that there was a way, Slime immediately responded.
‘Good, just as I thought.’
Seeing Slime’s enthusiastic chat message, Troll smiled inwardly.
When Slime first met Godric’s party, Troll had worried he might be an outdated relic, what people call a “boomer.”
Back in the Ludendion Count’s territory, the unique sensibilities of the Count’s daughter meant the local residents wouldn’t dare show dislike or avoidance of the slime.
However, after arriving at another city with Godric’s party, even the townspeople didn’t seem overly wary or hostile toward Slime.
This was only because the subject was Slime—but still, Slime was technically a monster, so Troll couldn’t help but be puzzled.
No wonder, since in Troll’s heyday, the age was plagued by the black dragon of calamity, and anything classified as a monster, including slimes, was viewed with extreme suspicion.
As he wrestled with the idea that he might be obsolete, Troll came to a conclusion.
He wasn’t out of touch.
It was just that public perception had shifted a bit with the times!
Having thus rationalized himself, Troll was now filled with a strong desire to prove that his knowledge wasn’t outdated or buried.
If a warrior boasts of their weapons or techniques, then a lich who was once a human mage like Troll should show off his magic and knowledge.
‘I’ve already pinpointed where Squishy is.’
Thanks to having traveled all over the continent in his prime, Troll had vast geographical knowledge.
Although the scenery had changed a little, starting from the Ludendion estate and observing Squishy’s travel route made it easy to identify the location.
‘Right now, Scarlet Goblins only get Squishy 10 coins. That means they’re not lucrative enough.’
In other words, if Slime wanted to collect more coins, he would need to fight stronger monsters.
And Troll had plenty of information about such monsters.
A culmination of knowledge from his past studies during his travels as a human and further analyses made after becoming a lich.
[Free Spirit] ▶ If you want to hunt stronger monsters, just do what I say.
▷ What should I do?
[Squishy Queen] ▶ What are you trying to teach My kin, Troll?!
▶ He’s encouraging monster-on-monster violence! Chaos! There’s a saboteur here! Impeach! Everyone rise up!
[The Red Sympathizer has been kicked.]
▶ Lolll
▶ LOL don’t mess with the moderator Lolll
Troll first calmed down Squishy Queen, who was most concerned for Slime.
[Free Spirit] ▶ I’m just letting Squishy know where some stronger monsters are ㅇㅇ. Whether to fight or not is up to them.
▷ Tell me! I want more coins!
[Free Spirit] ▶ Okay, then listen carefully.
***
Late at night.
While everyone in Godric’s party was sound asleep at the inn—
boing!
Slime hopped off the bed.
The reason for moving so late was entirely due to Troll’s advice.
The monster Troll had suggested was said to be quite agile and strong.
If he brought the party along, they might get hurt.
So this time, Slime was told to sneak out and go alone.
After getting off the bed, Slime quietly slithered across the floor, opened the door, and slipped outside.
He moved with the same caution as he slipped out of the inn and exited the city.
Because of Slime’s small size, as long as he avoided lit areas, he could stay hidden from human eyes easily.
And by sticking close to the walls and avoiding line of sight at the gates, he slipped away without anyone realizing he had left.
▷ I’m out!
[Free Spirit] ▶ ㅇㅇ well done.
▶ Loll you're creeping around like a cartoon.
▶ But seriously, you’re so much smaller than humans, it’s hard not to sneak around Lol
▶ Aww~ But I worked hard, okay~?
[Free Spirit] ▶ Alright, now go where I told you to.
After exiting the city walls, Slime headed into the forest per Troll’s directions.
boing! boing! boing! boing!
Now that he had left the city, there was no need to be cautious anymore.
Slime picked up speed and dashed forward quickly.
Even a sprinting rabbit or deer couldn’t match his pace, which was far greater than when Godric’s party cautiously traveled together.
[Free Spirit] ▶ Go left.
[Free Spirit] ▶ Keep going, then turn right.
[Free Spirit] ▶ ㅇㅇ you're doing great.
Troll typed in the chat, giving Slime step-by-step directions.
‘Good, at this rate he’ll run into that guy soon.’
The "guy" Troll referred to—
It was a rare mutated monster that appeared near the city where Slime and Godric’s party currently stayed.
The Moon Kobold.
It wasn’t intelligent enough to use the broadcast system, but if it evolved, it could become a Luna Kobold, which could use it.
The Moon Kobold had enough power to toy with a Scarlet Goblin like it was a child’s plaything.
That’s why Troll believed defeating one would earn Slime a sizable number of coins, maybe not enough to fully shop at the store, but still a good amount.
Following Troll’s directions, Slime eventually arrived at a cave.
[Free Spirit] ▶ That’s the place! It should be inside that cave.
▷ Cave!
The Moon Kobold typically holed up in caves unless it went out to hunt, so it was hard to find.
Even more, its appearance cycle could span decades, so by the time one showed up again, people would’ve completely forgotten about it.
‘But if we leave it alone, the city could be in danger.’
Troll remembered.
Back in his days of monster broadcast exploration, he had once come across a Luna Kobold from the Demon Continent.
— Let’s head to the next area! Hunt hunt hunt hunt hunt! No one can stop meeeee! Yeeeeeeaaahhh!!!
While the Moon Kobold would stay hidden in the corners of caves, once it evolved, its suppressed instincts would burst forth, triggering a dramatic personality shift.
Anything it saw—monster or human—became prey, and expanding its territory became its number one priority.
Troll hadn’t seen just one Luna Kobold—he had seen three in a row.
And all of those Luna Kobolds fearlessly picked fights with any monster they saw, only to be killed instantly by ones far stronger.
In the Demon Continent, monsters that act out excessively are quickly brought under control and eliminated.
But Slime was in the Derxia Continent.
If a Moon Kobold evolved into a Luna Kobold here, it was obvious the city would suffer devastating damage.
From what Troll had seen, there were no adventurers in the guild strong enough to take on a Luna Kobold.
It would take time for capable reinforcements to arrive, and by then, serious damage to the city would be unavoidable.
‘Even if there’s no Moon Kobold in that cave, I can just guide it to where another monster is.’
Boing! Boing!
Slime moved to the cave entrance, then paused and activated Detection.
The spell stretched deep into the cave, searching for any target lifeforms.
...‘It’s there!’
Slime sensed a lifeform crouched deep inside the cave.
▷ Detection! I used it! There’s something in there!
[Free Spirit] ▶ ㅇㅇ That’s probably the Moon Kobold.
▶Lol Now he’s even storming into people’s dens, huh.
▶If someone’s den gets looted, it’s their fault, what’s the big deal?
▶True thatLoll
▶ Oh, wasn’t that what Moon Kobolds do when they evolve? They barge into someone else’s territory and claim it as their own?
▶ Was it that guy?
▶ So it was just a cave-dwelling loser before it evolved?Loll
Without hesitation, Slime ventured into the cave.
Though the nighttime cave was pitch black, it didn’t bother Slime at all.
Boing!
And then Slime stood before the Moon Kobold.
Even in the dark, Slime’s perception allowed him to clearly see the creature.
As befitted its name, the Moon Kobold had white fur and was crouched, hugging its knees with its arms.
– Hng?
As Slime approached, the Moon Kobold lifted its head from its knees and stared at him.
Living in the darkness as it did, the Moon Kobold could clearly see the small, squishy Slime.
The two stared silently at each other.
Slime looked back with innocent curiosity, wondering how the Moon Kobold would react.
And the Moon Kobold—
Grinned!
It wasn’t just looking.
It was measuring Slime’s strength.
▶? That guy’s smiling weirdly?
▶Is he happy to see someone after being alone in the cave?
▶Nah nah, that smile’s not from joy.
Just as the viewer chat predicted, the Moon Kobold wasn’t smiling out of some pure-hearted welcome.
That was the smirk of someone who’d found a new toy to mess with however they wanted.
The moment chat speculated, the Moon Kobold pounced straight at Slime.
Boing!
But the ambush didn’t work.
Before being completely tackled, Slime bounced backward and dodged the attack.
– Grrrrr!
The Moon Kobold, now fully scowling, glared at Slime with a face that was the opposite of before.
How insolent.
You dare dodge my attack?
You’re weak.
A weakling like you dared to dodge?
That’s what his expression said.
Usually holed up in its cave, the Moon Kobold was timid by nature.
But being timid didn’t mean it never hunted.
When it came to prey weaker than itself, the Moon Kobold became vicious.
It would trample and savagely bite already-dead prey multiple times, as if to flaunt its dominance.
Although it instinctively feared stronger opponents and hid in caves—
The personality that would form the base of a Luna Kobold was already there from the beginning.
In short, the Moon Kobold was the ultimate cowardly bully!
– GRAAAH!
Determined to kill the insolent Slime, the Moon Kobold charged again and again.
But Slime nimbly kept dodging, and eventually, the two emerged from the dark cave.
With moonlight shining down, even viewers who couldn’t see in the dark could now clearly see the Moon Kobold’s appearance.
[Noblesse Fire] ▶ Look at that face, he’s pissed.
▶ I’d be mad too if I kept missing my hits on SlimeLol
[Just Slam First] ▶ Hahaha! There’s no way a loser like that could beat my precious student, Squishy!
▶Why are you even awake? Your partner doesn’t mind?
[Just Slam First]▶ I’m doing this secretly, so it’s fine.
– GRRAAAAH!
The Moon Kobold, now serious about landing a hit, got down on all fours and lunged at Slime with full force.
At that moment—
BOYOYONG!
Slime also charged forward using a Bounce Tackle.
– Kraah!?
The Moon Kobold never expected Slime to come charging at him first.
And then—
CRACK!
Slime and the Moon Kobold collided head-first and were both sent flying backward.
Boing!
Thanks to his training with Fenrir, Slime landed smoothly without issue.
The Moon Kobold also steadied itself, but blood was now dripping from its forehead.
Feeling the blood flow down its brow, the Moon Kobold’s eyes turned red with rage.
– Awooooooooo!
A roar of fury burst from the enraged Moon Kobold.