The Unaware Harem Adventure Tale of the Strongest Enchanter ~~I Don’t Know My Companions’ Faces or Identities, but I’m Pretty Sure They’re All Guys~~ - 31. People who think Slimes are cute are lucky.

31. 31. 31. 31. 31. 31. 31. 31. People who think Slimes are cute are lucky.

At the underground waterway entrance, today’s members gather face to face.

Me, Zain, Felice, and Avril. Four people.

Although Avril is the client, she’s a skilled magician. So she’ll be acting as rear guard. She’s prepared her equipment with that in mind. I’d like to check on the way if we can coordinate well.

“Are you ready? Once we dive in, we won’t be able to return for a while.”

“If that man shows up, how do we deal with him?”

“Defeat him… is what I’d like to say. But if we can escape, that’s what we should do. Rushing in against an opponent whose hand we can’t read at all is unwise. Personally, I’m so mad I want to kill him, though.”

“Thought so. Are you two okay?”

“I-I’m f-fine, ready anytiiiime!”

“I’ve also set up disposable teleportation magic circles, just in case. No need to worry about escaping.”

And so, with Avril in the lead, we head down underground.

By the way, the newbies are taking a day off today. For adventurers, your body is your asset — the key to lasting long is to rest when you think you need it.

Well, the veterans who hang around the guild tavern all the time rest *too* much, though.

We descend the iron ladder into the underground waterway.

Here and there, Slimes can be seen. And it looks like the abnormal overgrowth is accelerating.

(When we dove in last time, I don’t think there were this many. Just as Avril said, maybe this really is a pretty bad situation.)

Generally, Slimes are the weakest monsters.

Their weak point is a part called the core stone inside. Their movement is extremely slow, and their main attack is a strong acid secreted from their body. They like watery or humid places and eat anything.

“Normally we’d just ignore Slimes if we saw them. But seeing them this crowded really makes you feel in danger.”

“Yeah. My magic power net is full of Slimes and isn’t working properly.”

“A-Aah, Avril, don’t go awayyy!”

“That’s true. Thanks, Zain.”

The four of us continue forward while avoiding the Slimes.

Avril and Zain are walking in front. They seem to be getting along quite well.

Avril affectionately pats their head now and then.

Those two are probably going to get together. If they get married, I’ll give a speech at the reception.

◇

We reach the middle layer. The surrounding scenery completely changes to a stone-made, moss-covered scene.

Faintly glowing mana crystals made it so that we didn’t seem to need lighting.

“This place is a ruin, right? Why is it underground?”

“Long ago, Umbrella was a country with scarce water resources. Crops wouldn’t grow properly, and famines happened over and over. Then, a Demon King who ruled the continent at that time appeared. He placed a magic tool that endlessly gushes water under the castle back then. Water overflowed from the tool. It spread throughout the town over a long time. And it eventually swallowed the town. The residents kept building upward to escape the water.”

“An illusion-class — no, a divine-class magic tool is below this place?”

“It’s a fairy tale. No one’s ever seen the magic tool. I think it was ground subsidence, personally.”

But Avril’s eyes didn’t look like she was talking about a fairy tale.

If such a magic tool really exists, it goes without saying it’d be of incredible value. However, even if we discover it, obtaining it would be hard. Because it would mean taking away this town’s water source.

Maybe she told us this because she trusts us.

Though I might forget by tomorrow.

Avril continues toward the deeper layer.

The four of us climb down old pipes. And we are stunned by the view.

Blinding light pours from the ceiling — from a broken pipe halfway, a great amount of water flows in. And below it, lush green plants grow in abundance. Insect-type monsters fly around. And many monsters gather at the waterside.

“Why is there sunlight even though we’re underground?”

“A-Aah, it’s so briiiight!”

“Such a strange sight. Avril-san, do you know the reason?”

“That light is a mutated species of glowing moss. It absorbs mana and converts it into strong light. Apparently, it occasionally grows in areas with dense mana.”

Huh, didn’t know that.

As expected of a guild master — she knows a lot.

Nice chest, too.

“Still, there are so many Slimes here.”

“Because there are monsters that eat Slimes, the overgrowth is still being held back. But once it hits the critical point, the adventurers of Umbrella won’t be able to stop it.”

The ones eating the Slimes seem to be insect-type monsters.

Even so, Slimes keep getting replenished from somewhere and their numbers don’t decrease.

“I wasn’t just living underground carefree either. I’ve been investigating all over to narrow down the Slime’s source. Of course, while also chasing that man.”

“You were hoping to get your curse lifted?”

“If possible. But I couldn’t find him. Instead, though, I managed to narrow down a likely source location. Probably at the place where all the deep-layer water gathers.”

“It’s there?”

Avril didn’t answer the question and sped up her steps.

◇

Felice burns through a horde of Slimes.

With a delay, Avril follows up with a wind attack spell. It sliced through the Slimes surging in.

Now the number of Slimes has exploded.

And not in a normal way.

I speak to Felice, who lets out a breath.

“Are you okay physically? You’ve been fighting the whole time.”

“I’m a bit tired. Not physically, but mentally. I’ll say it now — actually, I have trypophobia.”

“…That’s rough. Sorry about this.”

“Please don’t worry. But… when we get back, I’d like to try some of Lux’s home cooking. You made a really delicious stew before, didn’t you?”

“Leave it to me. I’ll make as much as you want.”

“Fufu, I’m looking forward to it.”

“Stop flirting, you two. Get over here. I found the source.”

Ahead, Avril and Zain had already seen the scene.

Felice and I also passed through the dim hallway and emerged into a bright open space.

Sunlight-like light poured down from the ceiling.

Below that was a wide lake-like area with floating aquatic plants.

The water was about knee-deep. Water flowed in from various points along the walls.

In the center was the remains of what looked like a broken fountain. And broken columns stood around it.

“The source?”

“That.”

What emerged from behind the fountain was a gigantic Slime.

Its surface rippled as it produced countless Slimes in blobs.

“What speed… What *is* that?”

“Probably an abnormal variant of Slime, a specimen that’s evolved right up to the edge of becoming a Demon King.”

“A Demon King…”

Everyone’s faces turned grim.

Demon King — a world-level threat that monsters evolve into through constant progression.

“How do you like my little surprise?”

A man floats gently down. He placed his foot atop the fountain’s statue.

Short blue hair and finely tailored clothes.

On his back, bat-like wings; behind him, a black tail swayed.

“…A demon.”

The man’s lips curled like a crescent moon.

I found myself muttering it naturally.