Chapter 44 - Outside The City Was Dangerous

I moved my eyes to observe the surroundings, my ears searched for unnatural sounds, and my nose tried to find the smell of Blue Little Slime that was vanishing.

I'm holding my Bleed Fair tighter!

I'm ready to parry a surprise attack!

...

And the silence came.

I could only hear the sound of wind and the sound of dancing grass.

Honestly, it scares me! Especially when I can't feel the presence of the Blue Little Slime that a few moments ago there was in front of me!

...

Swosh!

A voice came from my left. I turned around to see what was coming to me but I was too slow.

Duag!

Something hit me!

Receiving an attack as a powerful kick directly in the chest throw me for several meters.

"Cough! Cough! Argh! It hurts!" I cursed as I got up...

I scanned the surroundings, I tried to find Blue Little Slime or something that attacked me but I couldn't find it.

Swosh! Duag!

The events that just happened repeated. Something hit my stomach strongly and I was thrown once more!

My body bounced several times, hitting the ground before finally stopped.

I was helpless because I couldn't see the monster's attack. Then, all of this got worse. The monster continued to attack me without ever giving me a chance to give rise to a fight.

My body was thrown around because I was constantly being hit by attacks that I couldn't see or block.

For the first time in my life, I became a ball.

And it continues for some time.

...

"Argh! Cough! Cough!"

Blood came out of my mouth every time I coughed. I felt like my body was broken. Unbearable pain bit most of my body. I tried to push my body up but I fell straight away.

Why can't I do anything?

Why am I so weak?

Boing!

I froze.

My ears stood up straight and my tail lost its energy. I can't think of anything when a Slime jumped up and down in front of my face.

Dread enveloped my body.

In front of this cute-looking Slime, I'm nothing. The monster gave me another feeling that squeezed my heart so strongly.

I'm so familiar with this feeling.

It's despair.

Is there no place for a weakling like me in this world? "Am I going to die?"

Boing! Boing!

The slime didn't answer my question and it jumped into my face.

My eyes became blurry and I had trouble breathing. The Slime that enveloping my head went into my mouth and nose.

The monster strangled me.

"Hiik!"

I pulled and gripped the monster to save myself. I managed to steal a few breaths but I didn't manage to get rid of the Slime out of my face.

"Haa... Haa..."

Encountering the failure to get rid of that Slime, I tried to look for its Magic Stone. I can kill the monster if I manage to pull its Magic Stone out of its body.

Unfortunately, I didn't manage to kill the Slime! I can only get a few breaths from my struggle.

I don't want to die! There are so many things I want to do! That's why I will never give up! I will survive!

"Haa... Haa..."

I continued to fight the Slime event though it was futile.

And ugh! I swallowed a part of Slime's body. Surprisingly enough, Slime's body has the same taste as vanilla pudding.

"Cough! Cough!"

The monster was quite delicious but now was not the time to think about the taste of Slime meat!

Right now I have to-

Wait a minute… That's it! Swallow Slime! Or more precisely, eat that monster!

I still have a chance!

The die had been cast, I started eating the Slime as the monster strangled me with its body.

Time passed and I was still eating the Slime. None of us want to give up! Therefore, our fight continues!

I kept going to eat the monster until in the end...

< Endurance, Agility, and Stamina up! END + 5 | AGI + 15 | SP + 10 >

I've eaten a big chunk of the monster's body. But, it's not dead yet! It was still trying to kill me by forcing its body parts into my mouth.

I don't know how long the time has passed since the notification appeared. But, finally, I managed to seize the Slime's Magic Stone! And without hesitation, I gulped it.

< Acquired a Unique Skill! Doppel?????? >

"Cough! Cough! Hiikk! Cough! Cough!"

For a while, after the Slime was dead, I coughed violently. My throat and the inside of my nose hurt so much. They're like they're on fire! And I had a hard time spitting out the sticky liquid that was the Slime's body parts from inside my nose and throat.

Then, after I could breathe normally. I was just sitting right there, in a meadow not far from the highway.

I didn't say anything then I hugged my knee and buried my face in it.

I can't explain the chaotic emotion I'm feeling right now. It's just, I... I...

"Hiks, hiks, uwaa..."

I can't do anything but cry.

...

...

Time passed as the magic of the potion healed my body. The injuries I got were pretty severe. Therefore, I need two bottles of potions for my body to heal and be able to move properly.

I wipe my tears.

Then, after my body was fixed and I regained my composure, I picked up my belongings that were scattered on the ground.

The things that happened were completely shocking and so dreadful.

Why? Just, why?

I know that adventurer is a dangerous profession. But... Does something like this happen so often?

No one answered my question.

And I know death can come in many forms.

That phrase was the truth and I won't deny it. After all, I've experienced it firsthand.

All of this made me physically and mentally exhausted.

Yeah... I also thought that all of this was so unfair that it made me raise a question; What mistakes did I make?

And, this! Why did I get a Unique Skill like this?

[Doppel?????? - ? ] [MP - ???]

[ + ????? ???

+ ????? ??? ]

There are lots of question marks! What kind of error is this?

"Haa..." I sighed as I picked up my water bag on the ground.

"I think, this was the last of all my belongings," I said in a weak and hoarse voice.

I looked around once more to look for my belongings. And yes, it seems, I've collected all of it.

After packing all the items into a Leather Bag, I continued my journey to the northern forest. There's a quest I need to complete.

Don't I feel scared?

Of course, I feel scared. And not only that, but I'm also in distress. Slime or whatever the monster is, it told me the harsh reality.

There is no place for the weak in this world.

I might think overboard by always assume that I'm weak. This accident was also awful or may be unreasonable. However, I can't deny that I learned a few things from this incident.

I have to be vigilant wherever I am.

I had to learn how to measure the strength of the monsters I was about to hunt.

Lastly, I need to be strong as soon as possible.

And... If I can't do all that anytime soon, joining a Party or making it myself isn't a bad idea.

Playing solo when someone isn't strong enough is scary.

"..."

After tracing the highway for some time, I finally reached the northern forest.

This forest is so vast. It had tall trees with dense leaves. Those trees make this forest darker furnished with a cold atmosphere.

A VR Game will not be able to gove experience like this when someone is standing in the forest. The game cannot mimic the cold under the shadow of the trees, the strange noises of the forest dwellers, the smell of trees and grasses, and the mysterious vibe in the air caused by the hidden presence here.

And all of those things remind me of a forest in a horror movie, a forest where people die because of a Witch.

There was only terror and horror in the forest belonging to a Witch!

"Stupid! I shouldn't think about things like that. Because of that... This forest now looks even more terrifying."

Right, terrifying. I'm not ashamed to admit that I'm afraid to enter this forest, I'm afraid that there's a powerful monster like that Slime hiding in this forest.

What I'm dealing with right now is different from the adventure in the VR game. When I die then I will die, there is no Respawn system in this world.

But... If I remain to be scared, I won't grow stronger.

"Keep going with belief! Don't hesitate!"

After gathering my courage, I stepped into the forest.