Chapter 151 (1/2)

Walking with quick strides, I look at the notifications.

The advanced skill branching from the skill I most frequently use,

.

However, contrary to its name, this skill doesn’t have an image of being any way more superior.

Far from that, this looks more like a basic skill than—-

[No, that’s not right.]

It’s still too early to measure my Abnormal State Skills based on the standard image.

At first glance, this skill may look useless.

However, this could change depending on how I could use this.

My other skills also held power beyond my preconception.

This is the “Failure Frame” Abnormal State Skill that has already saved me countless times.

There must be somewhere I could use this skill.

However, my first priority right now is to check if those guys are alright.

I rushed towards where Pigimaru and Slei should have been.

▽

Thankfully, Pigimaru and Slei are still alive.

However, Slei had her transformation released and is quite worn out.

Even after releasing her transformation, there’s still her wound on her left hind leg.

Bandaging her wound with a piece of cloth, I carry Slei on my shoulder.

If it’s in the size of her first form, I could still carry her.

Is it thanks to the status correction that she’s lighter than I thought?

I don’t know if it’s the effect of the <Attack> or

status correction.

……Well, both of their numbers were the same anyway.

Either way, having this status correction is quite beneficial for me.

▽

[Paa…… kyuu……]

[That’s enough, just relax and rest already.]

Muddy water piling up on the ground.

I tread through that muddy ground one step at a time.

I was walking in the woods carrying Slei.

Pigimaru is taking some rest while he’s coiled around my waist.

Is it because he’s exhausted?

He isn’t coiled around my waist that tightly.

[I’m sorry for unreasonably overworking the two of you.]

The rain that had been violently crashing down on us has already stopped.

It’s as if the ending rain overlaps with the end of the battle.

The cloudy skies have begun to be dyed in clear reddish color.

It seems that the day is about to end.

Were Seras and the others still waiting in that cave?

……It’s not like I’m reluctant to walk all night when I’m alone.

I’m already used to the darkness.

However, considering Slei’s current state, I can’t afford to do anything unreasonable.

The sound of water dripping down from a leaf.

The sunset finished dying this complex maze-like sea of trees in its color…

“Drip, drop.”

A drop of water fell from the top of my hair down to my toe.

Those toes continued walking forward.

The ravages of our massacre continuously plunge into my line of sight.

Fallen and broken trees.

The ravages of the violent battle telling its story within this silence.

The nearby places I pass by as I walk back is brimming with monster corpses.

Occasionally, I could hear some groans coming from somewhere.

They’re probably some monsters still living even after being poisoned.

[Now then…]

The ruined path that I’ve been following…

I look ahead on this path.

[I wonder where my current place right now matches with the map I remembered…]

As one would expect, it’s impossible for me to be always aware of my current location even in the middle of a fight.

[Well, if I keep following this disastrous path, I should eventually be able to come back.]

[Pakyuuu……]

Then, Slei began waving her tail.

[Hmm? What’s the matter?]

Her tail keeps on swinging towards a certain direction.

[Should I go that way?]

[……Pakyuu.]

[You…… You could still smell Seras and the others’ scent even in this kind of situation?]

[……Kyunn.]

An affirming soft cry.

[—-I understand.]

Following Slei’s directions, I proceeded further.

On the way, Pigimaru asked if I’m alright.

“I’m alright”, I replied.

[I’m still the Hero-sama whose level exceeds Lv 2000 after all.]

I was a discarded one, though.

It’s good that Seras isn’t here right now.

If she were here, she would know that my “I’m alright” reply earlier was a lie.

[As expected, I never thought that I would defeat that amount of monsters unscathed…… However—]

The reason why I survived in that scramble of life.

The differences between the strengths of the Human-Faced were quite large.

Yes— there weren’t any of them that were as strong as the Soul Eater.

That one with the smiling face we met in the ruins we’ve passed by before.

Even that one wasn’t as strong as the Soul Eater.

If that Soul Eater were considered as just average among the Human-Faced I’ve encountered earlier, I would have already died.

[It’s probably because that one is already a veteran in his duty of acting as the lid, preventing the disposed people from coming out… That must mean that guy’s an exceptional one.]

Though I say that, there were some quick-witted monsters among those I’ve fought just now.

I’ve known their quick-wittedness with my own body.

However, those monsters that were drawn in by that scream……

[Perhaps, those ones which are the most atrocious and clever wouldn’t be drawn in by something like that.]

The Demon Zone is dotted with underground ruins.

Human-Faced different from the ones I’ve fought should still be living there, looking at the rampaging monsters aboveground.

I can’t discard such a possibility.

[It might be dangerous to think that the Soul Eater is the most superior among the Human-Faced……]

Absentmindedly walking for a while, I kept moving my feet.

▽

I take a deep breath.

[……………………………..Well, I already expected this.]

If they were to find a weakened prey, they’d naturally come out.

There’s no reason for them to overlook this opportunity.

The monsters gathered.

However, this could also be interpreted positively.

There’s an area where the monsters who deserted earlier carefreely loitered around.

And now, they’ve come back.

[………………….]

The strength of these monsters should be fairly well huh…

I am now carrying Slei.

I’m also quite exhausted.

Pushing through this amount of monsters would be quite tough but—-

[Well, their number and quality doesn’t matter. In that case…… Status Open.]

I could try my new skill.

Its MP consumption is <5000>.

The consumption of my other skills were just <10>.

……That’s quite a big jump there.

However, my remaining amount of MP is more than 60000.

It wouldn’t be a problem even after trying it once.

Whatever its effect is, if it’s no good, I could just deal with them with my other standard skills.

The excited voice of monsters quivered under the twilight.

Slei and Pigimaru tried to take action.

“Leave it to me”, or so I said as I stopped them.

[<Slow>]

Now then, I wonder what would happen—–

[………..,————-Wha!?]

My eyes opened wide.

The first thing that caught my eyes was my status display.

My MP entry.

It decreased at a frightening speed.

[What the heck… is this skill? This is as MP-consuming as Pigimaru’s connection technique… No, it could even be worse—–]

Suddenly, I noticed it.

The decrease rate of my MP is more than I expected.

Moreover, while I’m absorbed looking at it—–

Arrows and spears were flying towards me from all directions.

However, they’re not as skillful as I expected.

More particularly those spears that were completely off target.

I unsheathe the dagger on my waist.

There’s a wide difference if you compare their archery skill to Seras’.

I wouldn’t be killed by arrows like this.

It was at that moment when I finally decided and started moving.

[………….Ah?]

They’re slow?

Whether it’s the spears…

The arrows…

Or the monsters’ movements…

Even the beads of water falling from the leaves were slow.

Yes, it’s as if everything is subtly—-

Slow.

However, only I……

Only I could move normally.

I couldn’t feel any change or discomfort in my movements.

Therefore, it’s just me noticing the changes brought by <Slow> huh.

[Moreover……]

It’s not that slow like that so-called “Slow-motion”.

What about Pigimaru and Slei?