The Necromance of Love and Death: Defeated Early in the Game, I Reincarnated as a Tragic Villainous Noble and Rebel Against the Scenario with My Beloved Using My Modern and Game Knowledge - Chapter 39

“Sei-ya!”

The swung-down mithril sword sliced through a brown, jelly-like creature.

There was no resistance—like cutting real jelly with a spoon.

However, from the tip of the blade that sank into the slime, there was a sensation of something hard. It was the slime’s core.

But even though it was hard, it was no match for the sharpness of the mithril sword. It sliced clean through, like a hot knife through butter.

The slime, its core cleaved in two, gave a final tremble before collapsing into a puddle of brown liquid.

“Alright…”

That should take care of the slime.

I felt my body heat up slightly. I must have gained experience points.

As I turned around with a sense of accomplishment, I saw Vio standing in front of a similar puddle, Charles grooming himself, and Carla looking bored.

Looks like everyone’s fine.

Well, slimes are weak monsters to begin with.

But the slimes here are different from ordinary ones. These are Rust Slimes—slimes that consume and dissolve ancient airships from a lost civilization. Their brown bodies are proof that they’ve been feeding on the rust of the airships.

Rust Slimes aren’t quite as valuable as Metal Slimes, but they still give a lot of experience. This dungeon is full of only Rust Slimes.

In the game, you couldn’t access this dungeon unless you had an airship. It was a bonus dungeon not tied to the main story.

People mostly used it to power-level low-level party members.

Getting to come here from the start is a huge advantage. All thanks to Baltzarek—no, to Carla.

I don’t want to die, which is why I’m after the Elixir. But as much as I don’t want to think about it, even the legendary medicine might not cure the terminal illness I’ve contracted.

If that happens, I’ll have no choice but to follow the game’s story: seek the formula for the Black Orb, betray humanity, and face off against the protagonist.

I need to be strong enough to win when that time comes.

Of course, I have people I care about. People I don’t want to lose.

But even compared to all of them, Vio is more important to me.

They’ll say I’m crazy. They might call me unhinged.

But this is my honest, unfiltered truth.

“Shaaa!”

Charle’s warning cry echoed.

Another Rust Slime?

But what emerged from the rusty corridor corner wasn’t brown—it was a sleek, shimmering silver.

“What the—!? ”

“What is that!? ”

Vio and I exclaimed at the same time.

But my shock was just beginning.

Another creature with the same silvery sheen appeared.

“No way…!”

Metal Slimes!?

They’re ultra-rare monsters with less than a 1% appearance rate!

Just encountering one is a miracle—how can there be two!?

But of course, Metal Slimes don’t explain themselves.

The two Metal Slimes quivered—and in that instant, they launched part of their bodies like spears with blinding speed.

“What the heck are these things!?”

I saw Vio easily dodge one of the spear attacks beside me.

But I…!

“Kh…!?”

I can’t dodge it—!

At that moment, something black flashed at the edge of my vision.

“Kuhah!?”

The Metal Slime’s spear pierced my right shoulder.

But the impact wasn’t as strong as I feared—it didn’t sever my arm.

Why?

Because—

“Charles…?”

It was Charles. It had slipped between me and the spear, taking the blow in my place.

His sleek black fur was now slick with bl00d, glistening.

With his agility, Charles could have easily dodged that attack. But instead, he used his small body to shield me.

“No…”

The realization was so painful it felt like my chest was going to burst.

But I could grieve later. First, we had to deal with the Metal Slimes.

“Carla! Take the one on the left!”

“Understood!”

“Vio! We’ll take the one on the right!”

“Got it!”

Gently placing Charles’ lifeless body on the floor, I stood and charged toward the Metal Slime.

“Burn!”

Carla’s clear voice echoed through the corridor, and in that instant, the left Metal Slime was engulfed in black flames.

Metal Slimes are resistant to physical attacks but weak to magic. Enveloped in Carla’s black fire, the Metal Slime rapidly shrank and then evaporated.

“Ugh!”

At that moment, I felt a burning sensation erupt deep in my core. If I let my guard down, I’d collapse from the overwhelming heat surging through my body.

It must have been a massive level-up from the experience we gained by defeating the Metal Slime.

I felt like I had become something entirely new—my very cells transformed.

My mind cleared, and power surged through me!

As I stepped forward with my left foot on the rusty corridor, an explosive force shot through the sole, propelling me toward the Metal Slime like a rocket.