The air was heavy with an acidic stench that made Yukio's throat burn with every breath. The closer they crept toward the field of slimes, the worse it became. Each step landed on spongy, damp earth that gave beneath their boots like rotten fruit. He swallowed, forcing himself not to gag.
Yukio crouched behind a massive oak, pressing his back against its rough bark. His hand trembled slightly as he reached for his sword. The sheer number of enemies had his heart beating like a drum.
Michibiki leaned close, her expression serene despite the situation.
"Don't worry,"
she whispered, her voice as calm as a summer breeze.
"I'll give you a hand."
Yukio barely nodded before a small sun appeared in her palm. It blazed orange and gold, casting shadows across her sharp features. She flicked her wrist with casual grace, and the fireball streaked across the clearing like a comet. It struck the nearest slime, which hissed and writhed before bursting into white, sparkling particles that drifted away on the air. The force of the blast carried through, popping another slime behind it like an overripe water balloon.
Yukio exhaled a shaky laugh.
"Looks like they have two hit points."
The thought slipped out before he realized it, his gamer brain analyzing the battle like a familiar system. The tension didn't vanish, but it transformed—fear into excitement. His body remembered the rhythm of risk, the high of the gamble.
He drew his silver-blue longsword, the blade gleaming like liquid lightning in the afternoon sun. He could feel the hum of its balance in his hands, a perfect extension of his will. His pulse steadied.
"Alright, let's do this."
The first slime noticed them. Its quivering body pulsed as it bounced closer with surprising speed.
"Keep your distance!"
Michibiki called.
But Yukio, adrenaline rushing, charged forward. His sword slashed down—only for the slime's body to split, the blade sinking in with a revolting slop. Acid hissed where it touched his armor.
"Wha—?!"
Yukio yelped, stumbling back as smoke curled from his vambrace.
"Idiot! Don't cut into them like that! Aim for the core!"
Michibiki shouted.
"The core?!"
"Dead center, the glowing orb! Pierce it!"
The slime lunged, splattering across his boots. Yukio kicked frantically, trying to shake it off. A sizzling pain shot through his calf where acid kissed exposed leather.
"Gah! It burns! This is not beginner-friendly!"
Michibiki facepalmed.
"It's literally the weakest monster in existence!"
"Then why is it eating my armor?!"
He stumbled, rolling backward as the slime reformed and surged again. Desperate, he slashed wildly. Acid sprayed across the grass, hissing violently. His armor smoked.
Another slime joined, bouncing with grotesque glee.
Yukio's eyes widened.
"Oh come on! They have reinforcements?!"
"Focus, Yukio!"
Michibiki's tone hardened.
"Breathe. Watch its movements. Strike the core."
He forced himself still. Sword raised. The slime lunged. He sidestepped clumsily and thrust straight forward.
The blade pierced through the gelatinous body and struck the faintly glowing orb inside. A sharp crack echoed as the slime burst apart, dissolving into harmless puddles of goo.
Yukio collapsed onto the grass, panting.
"One down…"
The second slime was already leaping. It slammed into his chest, knocking him flat. Acid spread across his armor, burning hot. He shrieked.
"Michibiki! This thing's trying to digest me alive!"
She pinched the bridge of her nose.
"You're hopeless."
But despite her exasperation, she raised her hand, purple runes glowing faintly along her sleeve. A blast of wind magic struck the slime, peeling it off him just long enough for Yukio to scramble up.
"Don't save me!"
He barked.
"This is supposed to be my XP grind!"
"Then act like it!"
He snarled, tightened his grip, and charged the slime again. This time, he ducked under its leap, rolled, and drove his sword straight up through the core. The slime burst apart in a shower of goo, splattering across his face.
"Ugh, gross!"
He gagged, spitting slime from his mouth.
Michibiki laughed, the sound light and teasing.
"You're adorable when you're covered in slime."
"Not the adjective I was hoping for…"
Yukio muttered, wiping his eyes.
Another slime pulsed ominously, almost as if it were mocking him.
"Oh, you think you're funny?"
Yukio growled.
"Come on, you jello reject. Let's dance."
He steadied his stance. When it lunged, he sidestepped more cleanly this time and drove a dagger into its orb mid-air. The slime burst apart spectacularly, splattering goo across the field.
The other slimes reacted like a hive, wobbling in unison before rushing him with eerie coordination. A glistening green one puffed, launching a jet of acid.
Yukio's body moved before his mind caught up—years of instinct for reading tells, diving away in time to dodge. Acid splattered against a tree, the bark melting in seconds.
His gambler's grin returned.
"Alright. Let's raise the stakes."
He pivoted, sword slicing in a wide, precise arc. The blade cut clean through a slime, the creature bursting into steam. Its crystal-like core clattered onto the dead earth. Yukio's heart surged with triumph.
"I did it!"
He laughed, the thrill washing over him. His chest swelled, adrenaline sparking.
"Idiot! Focus!"
Michibiki's sharp voice cut him down to size. Another slime lunged from above. Yukio froze for a fraction of a second—but a streak of flame cut it apart before impact. Michibiki lowered her palm, eyes narrowed.
Her hands went to her hips.
"What would you do without me?"
Yukio blinked at her, awe stealing his words. The fire had danced in her hands like it belonged there, natural as breathing.
He clenched his fist, shut his eyes, and thought fiercely: Fireball!
A tiny flame sputtered into life in his palm. For half a glorious second, Yukio felt triumphant. Then it flickered out with a pitiful puff of smoke.
Michibiki covered her mouth to hide her laugh, but her eyes sparkled with amusement.
"Casting magic isn't that easy, you know."
Before Yukio could pout, her voice rang sharp again.
"Earth Spikes!"
The ground split with a rumbling crack. Jagged spears of rock surged upward, skewering the remaining slimes. They burst in rapid succession, leaving behind a battlefield littered with glowing cores.
Michibiki tossed her hair back with mock pride.
"Now that's how it's done."
"Show-off,"
Yukio muttered.
But a sudden squelch snapped both their gazes to the ground. One slime, smaller and trembling, wriggled out of the earth where it had hidden. With a terrified wobble, it bounced toward the treeline, fleeing desperately.
"You missed one!"
Yukio shouted.
"Stay together…!"
Michibiki began, but he was already sprinting after it, sword flashing in his grip.
The slime darted left and right, bouncing erratically between trees and rocks. But to Yukio's trained eye, its frantic movements were nothing but a pattern—a bluff. He saw the rhythm, the next move telegraphed like a card trick.
"It's gonna leap left,"
He muttered, eyes narrowing.
Without hesitation, he drew a dagger and hurled it. The blade sang through the air, striking the slime mid-jump. It fell helplessly, and Yukio finished it with a sharp slash. Its core dropped with a satisfying clink.
"Now that's a great play."
He smirked, retrieving his dagger.
The smirk faded when he looked up. The forest loomed darker, quieter here. He'd chased too far.
Then came the prickle. That instinct—like the shuffle of bad cards at the table. Danger.
He spun, just in time to deflect a crude stone dagger thrusting toward his ribs. A goblin snarled at him, its green face twisted with malice. Yukio's foot lashed out, kicking it into a tree.
But before he could finish it, an arrow sliced past his cheek, drawing a thin line of blood. He froze. The treeline stirred. One goblin became ten, stepping from the shadows, their cruel grins sharp, their crude weapons raised.
Yukio exhaled slowly.
"Looks like this hand just went bad."
The goblins cackled, mistaking his measured retreat for fear.
Yukio's smile returned—slow, sharp, dangerous.
"Outnumbered, huh?"
He licked his lips.
"Good. Time to test my trump card."
His hand rose.
"Wheel of Providence!"
The air vibrated. A colossal golden jade wheel burst into existence, taller than Yukio himself. Its surface was divided into twelve glowing runes, numbers etched in blue fire, while sixteen segments remained marked only with shifting question marks.
The wheel spun lazily at first, then faster, the hum building to a roar. Goblins froze, their confidence melting into raw fear as its aura pulsed across the clearing.
Yukio's eyes widened, breath stolen.
"It's… real."
With a gambler's grin, he shoved his hand forward. The wheel spun violently, glowing brighter, runes flashing like dice in mid-air. The goblins trembled.
It slowed. Stopped.
On a question mark.
The mark flared, and letters burned into its place: BOOST.
Golden-green light flooded Yukio's body. His strength doubled. His vision sharpened. Every nerve felt alive, humming with possibility.
"I feel… unstoppable."
But before he could charge, the wheel ripped forward of its own will, spinning like a buzzsaw through the clearing. It howled past him, shredding the goblins in a single sweep. They dissolved into mist before their screams could finish. Weapons clattered uselessly to the dirt.
The wheel hovered, pulsing with power, before dissipating into nothing.
Yukio stood frozen, chest heaving.
"…What the hell just happened?"
"You reckless idiot!"
Michibiki appeared, striding forward with fury in her eyes. Relief softened it, but only slightly. She grabbed his collar, shaking him.
"Don't you ever run off like that again! You could've gotten killed! Did that truck teach you nothing about valuing your life?!"
Yukio blinked at her tirade, still dazed.
"Wait—you saw that?"
"Of course I saw it! I was waiting to see how you'd react. And… you didn't break. You grew."
Her expression softened. She pinched his cheek, exhaling.
"You're reckless, but… not hopeless."
Yukio grabbed her cheeks back, stretching them.
"You call that help? You were just watching me struggle! What if I died, huh? What if your brilliant experiment backfired, you idiot?!"
Her eyes watered from his grip.
"I promised I wouldn't let you die! Let gooo!"
She yelped, slapping at his wrists.
They stumbled back, both panting. Then, without meaning to, they both laughed—half from adrenaline, half from absurdity.
---
Later, the sun bled into the horizon as they walked back to town. Michibiki carried a pouch filled with fifteen slime cores and goblin ears.
"Even with turbulence, we made it,"
She said softly.
Her stomach rumbled loudly.
Yukio burst into laughter.
"Guess someone's hungry."
Her face went crimson.
"Shut up."
---
At the guild, Emera listened carefully, brow furrowed at the mention of goblins venturing outward.
"That is troubling. Thank you for the report."
She handed them a plate of coins, 85 silver and 43 copper coins.
"Here's your reward. Rest well, both of you. Tomorrow will bring more challenges."
---
As the sun disappeared below the horizon, Michibiki was at the inn, soaking in an outdoor bath, looking up at the now star-filled sky.
"Well, Lord Fukui,"
She murmured softly to herself.
"I don't regret coming here. You were right; he is a lot of fun."
Later, she found Yukio waiting for her at dinner.
"Done with your bath?"
He asked.
"Yep,"
she replied with a smile.
"Now, let's eat."
They enjoyed a casual dinner before heading up to their room on the third floor. Yukio opened the door, his eyes lighting up at the size of the space. As they both walked in, they noticed the room's only furnishing: a single, large bed.
Both stared.
"…I call dibs," Yukio said instantly.
Michibiki's face turned scarlet. "Absolutely not. You're on the floor."
"No way!"
Yukio snapped.
"I'll catch a cold!"
Michibiki sighed, running a hand through her hair.
"Don't do anything weird, you perv."
With a flick of her wrist, the mana lamps went out, plunging the room into darkness. They both got into bed, sleeping side-by-side, each feeling a quiet sense of embarrassment as they began their first night in their new life.