Chapter 224:

Chapter 224:

Dungeon Stampede 2.0 Stealth

[Splash... splash...]

7:30 PM.

[Kaboom! Squeeee... clunk]

"Phew, finally made it down to the river mouth..."

Already been confirmed with the periscope. But when I peeked out from the rock salt hatch of the hull, it was already pitch dark around us. The deep green color of the river had turned pitch black, and in the wide expanse of the river, only we were floating alone.

"How's it going, Egetsu-san?"

"Yeah, looks fine around here. We're almost home, so let's dock soon."

Responding to Serai-san who couldn't wait from below, I gave instructions for a slight forward movement towards the red slime that was propelling our main ship. With a sluggish movement, the hull began to move towards the shore.

Attacked by the Self-Defense Forces and hastily constructed ‘fake escape capsules' to take refuge in the river. Along the way, it underwent various modifications and transformed into a slime submarine.

The trigger was when it flowed from a tributary into the mainstream, caught in the river's swell and violently shaken.

The shape of a mere slime ball was greatly distorted, unbalanced, and shaking violently. So we formed an internal skeleton with rock salt in the slime capsule and installed weights at the bottom. This stabilized the intense shaking.

Serai-san, who had been surprised by the violent shaking, was smiling. "Wow, amazing!", she praised me. Encouraged, she suggested, "Next, shall we add windows?" Feeling closed in by its seal, Serai-san agreed eagerly. Thus, small transparent rock salt windows were installed on all sides of the slime capsule, improving visibility.

By carefully infusing magic, even rock salt can be made transparent.

Yes, pure salt crystals are naturally colorless and transparent. So, using this property, I tried creating small windows and periscopes. However, mirrors were difficult to create using the same method, so I borrowed Serai-san's favorite hand mirror for the periscope.

"Wow... but it's full of trash, huh?"

Yeah, unfortunately, the riverbed in the city center was a rather unsightly view filled with mud, broken bicycles, scooters, and such. But even so, the feeling of claustrophobia was considerably eased.

So, just drifting around and bored, I started creating rock salt pipes to bring in air and installed periscopes, and even managed to attach a rudder.

For propulsion, we relied on the power of the red slime.

They were housed in a cylindrical space from the bottom to the rear of the hull, sucking in water from the front and expelling it backward, using a ‘fake hydrojet' system. This allowed for quite agile movements.

The armament consisted of acid-filled slime capsules attached to the sides of the main body.

Well, more like chaff or flares... no, it was more like the ink of octopuses or squids. The purpose was to repel aquatic monsters that took interest in us with its sour sting.

I didn't know what kind of monsters they were, but when something strange approached, I would detonate them, and they would retreat without further pursuit, perhaps deterred by the smell.

Such a slime submarine. Yes, yes, quite a splendid creation.

But this was not simply a product of mastering skills like [Salt] or [Slime]. It was thanks to the underrated yet crucial skill, [Art].

The skill [Art]. I acquired this skill while feverishly making the Bug King suit. However, its origin can be traced back to a significant event in my life before that.

Why? Because I was always a lonely otaku.

Thus, while classmates during my school days went out to karaoke and had fun singing, I spent endless hours alone meticulously modifying plastic models.

"Yeah, no signs of monsters or rampage by the Self-Defense Forces. This area seems relatively peaceful."

"Then shall we hurry back home before something weird happens again?"

"Yeah."

Yes, indeed, they are professionals when it comes to the Self-Defense Forces.

Even when shot, I could tell the direction, but I had no idea where they were hiding and shooting from. Maybe members of Trident would understand this military aspect, but at least I couldn't figure it out.

Gunpowder?

It's not like a matchlock gun using black powder, so if they were 100 meters apart, I couldn't see them at all. When I saw the sparks of shooting, the muzzle flash, I had already been shot, so I couldn't afford to confirm.

Even now, I can't see anything in my field of vision, but there may be Self-Defense Forces coming from Ariake around here, so it's best to go back home soon. Yes.

....

Click

"Ah, I'm home! It's been a long journey!"

Opening the front door and entering the room, Serai-san stretched out and rolled onto the floor.

"Haha, you must be tired. You should take a shower. It seems the electricity and gas are still on."

"Aww, you're always trying to peek at me naked!"

"What!? I was just greeting you!"

"Hehe, I know. So, should I take a shower now?"

"Yeah, go ahead. I'll just toss the luggage into the fridge while you do."

"Oh, wait a minute... mmm..."

Stopping me as I bent down to open the fridge door, Serai-san reached out to me.

"Hmm, what is it?"

"Help me take this off..."

"But you can manipulate magic, so can't you undress by yourself?"

"No, I'm too tired! Please help me undress!"

"But if I undress you, won't I see you naked?"

"Come on! Don't look, just help me undress!"

"Fine, you always ask for the impossible..."

Taking off my Worm King suit, I tossed the luggage into the fridge.