Chapter 149: Friends.

Ash suddenly told me he was disappointed in me.

It wasn’t a joking or playful atmosphere.

He seriously judged that there was a problem with the Road.

“What’s wrong?”

Ash looked down below.

“I think this island was well made. I haven’t explored it all yet, but from what I’ve seen so far, I can feel the intent to stimulate and develop a person’s curiosity.”

“Thanks for the praise.”

“But what is this?”

Ash looked up at the Road again.

“There’s no exploration, no thought, no development, no discovery. There isn’t even a clear concept. How is this any different from just placing Tunnel Slimes on top of it?”

The world’s greatest alchemist looked at me with piercing eyes that saw through everything.

With those eyes, he asked me about my intention in presenting this shoddy work to the world.

Ash’s words are correct.

The Road is a space orbital elevator.

It can transport people and goods between the ground and space.

It can extend tentacles to snatch up floating space trash and deploy Glutton Slimes.

But that’s it.

It’s far too lacking to be called a space station.

If you say it’s no different from Tunnel Slimes, I have no rebuttal.

“There’s no need to finish it all at once. Even in this state, it can handle space trash. We can set it up now and develop it slowly over time.”

“Sure. If it’s just a means to deal with space trash, this might be enough. But is this what you present after grandly declaring you’d usher in the space age?”

“I told you. We can develop it slowly over time. Adaptability is a major strength of Slimes.”

“All of your Special Slimes have a purpose. The ones tasked with slime production have the role of delivering Slimes to more people. The one in charge of Slime Land has the role of making people happy. The one controlling Tunnel Slimes has the role of leading people to happiness. The one under the sea has the role of connecting the world, and the one forming this island has the role of helping people develop.”

“But what about this one? Is it just a spectacle? What exactly do you want to do by giving it a hollow role?”

Ash asked with a voice trembling with excitement.

In contrast, a cold, detached answer came from my mouth.

“Space trash disposal.”

“Is that something so urgent that you can’t delay it?”

“If the problem is right in front of me, should I just let it be?”

“If it’s not your responsibility, it’s natural to let it be.”

“Everything I do is something everyone should solve. And of course, I’m included in that ‘everyone.'”

“Are you planning to solve every problem you see?”

“If there’s no one else to do it.”

“That kind of attitude will only make you take on more and more tasks. At the same time, it robs others of the chance to grow.”

I hesitated as I tried to respond.

The time of the Curse of Lust came to mind.

“What’s so urgent about this? If you interact at the other’s level and take your time, you can develop together. Wasn’t it you who taught me that? So why are you giving up on interaction, stopping waiting, and trying to handle everything on your own?”

I had no answer.

Because I couldn’t find the answer within myself.

“I recommend taking a break from work for a while.”

Leaving those words behind, Ash departed.

Am I once again being consumed by a curse and starting to act strangely?

In truth, there were signs.

Not long ago, I reached level 65.

At that time, the Status Window gave me experience points instead of a skill.

If my condition is good, the Status Window gives me a new skill; if it’s bad, it gives me experience points to level up faster. And it gave me the latter.

Back then, I brushed it off as no big deal.

Because I thought I was doing well.

The Curse of Arrogance is properly isolated with the Barrier☆ skill.

The only effects the Curse of Arrogance has on me are ‘I am right’ and ‘I am correct.’ That’s all.

What’s wrong with thinking I’m right?

Confidence and self-esteem are things humans should naturally have.

You can only get things done well if you proceed with conviction.

Look at public opinion. Everyone thinks what I’m doing is right.

Ash is impressive, no doubt, but I’m also an S-rank alchemist.

I have my own standards.

I acknowledge the fact that the Road isn’t complete.

But with public opinion on my side after dealing with the Undersea Dungeon and ocean trash, it was the right move to push forward with this now.

My standards aren’t wrong.

As time passed, letters arrived from countries around the world.

They said we can now handle space trash.

See?

I was right, wasn’t I?

***

Chuseok, the nation’s biggest holiday.

I don’t plan on meeting relatives, but I should see my family.

Conveniently, Chuseok falls on a Tuesday, and the holiday lasts for 5 days.

I went home on Sunday when the whole family would be there.

I’ve put a lot of effort into the security of my family.

Though not to the level of my house, which is like Emergency Rations, various Slimes are prepared for intruders. I’ve also given them personal protection Slimes to carry around normally.

An intruder would end up filming a horror movie scene as a seemingly ordinary house suddenly turns and attacks.

It wouldn’t be much different for an attacker.

Because a seemingly ordinary person would suddenly swing tentacles in counterattack.

Slimes are the last line of defense.

It’s best not to experience being attacked in the first place.

That’s why I’ve also entrusted security to the Peace Guild.

On top of that, Hans is making sure no attacks happen to begin with.

Thanks to that, not a single problem has occurred so far.

“You’re here.”

“Come on in.”

I took off my mask as I entered the house.

Though this mask feels almost like part of my body now, Mom prefers seeing me without it.

“Have you eaten?”

“I can eat endlessly, so not eating is pretty much the same. This is a gift for the relatives.”

I’m not particularly close with my relatives.

It’s not that we’re on bad terms, just not close.

I see them less often than a handful of times a year, so how could we be close?

Still, they’re family, after all.

I’ve been giving out personal protection Slimes as gifts.

I doubt there are any idiots who would dare take my family or relatives hostage.

Even so, I have to prepare for the worst-case scenario.

“What about Mom’s gift?”

“Of course, I have one.”

The classic Chuseok gift.

I took out several Fruit boxes.

I send Slimes often anyway.

These are much larger and more luscious than the daily fruits from Slime Land’s Orchard. The taste is, of course, top-notch.

“Take a rest.”

As I sat on the sofa watching TV with Smartphone Slime, my younger sibling came out of her room and plopped down beside me.

“What’s up, kin.”

“Can you really go to space?”

“I can go, but you can’t.”

“Hey! Why not!”

“Because you don’t have the money.”

“Isn’t this enough?”

My younger sibling shook the arm wearing the bracelet I gave her.

“That’s an unlimited pass for Slime Land. Road to Space is separate.”

“How much is it?”

“Oh, look at you. Planning to pay with the pocket money I gave you?”

“It’s my money now, so how I spend it is my business.”

“Were you always this interested in space?”

“More than space, I want to see Earth from up there. So, how much?”

“Priceless. Can’t put a price on it.”

“Don’t mess around.”

“I haven’t set a proper price yet.”

“What? I thought you said everything was ready.”

“Yeah, I did say that. But I also said it’s still dangerous because of space trash.”

“Can’t you clean it up quickly like you do with the ocean?”

“Go study how vast space is and how much space trash there is first.”

“Tch.”

My younger sibling clicked her tongue and tapped on the Smartphone Slime.

Why did I say no?

Using it to deal with space trash is fine.

Using it to send resources to the space station is also fine.

But when I thought about sending someone full of expectations to space via Road, I hesitated.

The reason became clear soon enough.

Ash’s nagging echoed in my mind.

Currently, Road is no more than an observation deck without even interior design work done.

I can send people to space to show them the view, but that’s about it.

I haven’t prepared anything special that can only be done in space.

Space experience? You can do that inside Slime Land too.

As for the view, I can just show it on a display. Weightlessness can be reproduced by dropping a room.

I haven’t made any plans to take advantage of the unique environment of space.

How can I accept tourists in a place like that?

I thought about contacting the employees but held back.

I may be a boss who works my staff hard.

But I don’t bother them during holidays.

“Come eat.”

After that, we ate, talked, and spent time normally.

I’m not exactly following Ash’s advice, but I’ll take it easy during the holiday too.

***

Today is Chuseok.

My family must have gone to meet relatives, and I waited for a guest at my house.

My friend Gisu, who’s been busy slaughtering monsters and smashing a doomsday cult in America.

That guy is currently in Korea.

His pattern is to spend time with his mother and then come to see me.

Since Gisu really hates Slime, I have to prepare normal food.

“Come to think of it, this is the first time since then.”

It’s the first time meeting Gisu since he found out he’s one of the reasons I became a Slime.

I have no intention of blaming the wrong person.

The bad ones are the Ribbon cult that performed the weird ritual and the lich that cast the curse.

Gisu, who defeated them, is on the side of justice.

Still, can’t I vent a little frustration?

When it comes to messing with someone, food is the best way.

Since it’s Chuseok, a day for eating songpyeon, it’s perfect for surprising with hidden fillings.

But it’s not that easy.

My enemy this time is his bizarre palate that finds Marmite songpyeon and peanut butter songpyeon fine but thinks Gochujang songpyeon is weird.

Putting Slime inside the songpyeon would be a direct hit.

But since a real punch might come flying, I’ll pass on that.

I prepared various songpyeon like handmade mint chocolate songpyeon, pineapple pizza songpyeon, fermented skate songpyeon, cucumber songpyeon, kimchi songpyeon, and more, and waited.

The doorbell rang.

“You’re here.”

“Yeah.”

“What’s that?”

Gisu, who usually just brings alcohol, was holding a bunch of bags.

“My mother said to take food since she’s always thankful for the gifts.”

“Ah… so that agreement is broken.”

Gisu’s mother kept trying to give me things, saying she’s grateful for hanging out with Gisu.

I had firmly refused, saying, ‘I hang out with Gisu because I like him, not because I expect anything in return!’ and ‘My wallet isn’t in a state to exchange gifts!’ That’s the agreement we made.

I guess that agreement broke when I sent Slime as a gift.

“I’ll enjoy it.”

Among the food Gisu brought, there was songpyeon too.

“Did she make it herself?”

“Yeah.”

“…If I suggest eating my surprise food instead of this, what would you do?”

“I’d fight you.”

“Alright… let’s just eat this.”

I let Gisu inside.

He sighed when he saw the house covered in Slime.

“Looks like you’re set on covering the whole world with Slime.”

“I will cover it. Oh, then you won’t have a place to live, huh? Give up and enjoy Slime.”

“No thanks.”

I set the food Gisu brought on the table.

“What you prepared is songpyeon anyway, right? Give it here.”

“Here.”

Gisu paused after putting the green songpyeon in his mouth.

“…What kind of life do you live to make something like this?”

“Tasty, right?”

“Wanna die?”

Gisu put the purple songpyeon in his mouth.

“This one’s a bit better.”

“I think your tongue needs fixing. What on earth did you do to it in America?”

He hates kimchi songpyeon but is fine with butter songpyeon.

I got a bit worried about the food Gisu’s mother made.

I tried it, and her taste was perfectly normal.

“Wow, this is good. Your mom’s cooking skills are as great as ever.”

“Of course.”

“But why is your tongue like that?”

We ate and drank, throwing casual jabs at each other.

It’s about time to wrap things up.

Gisu downed the remaining alcohol in his glass in one gulp and called out in a slightly lowered voice.

“Hey.”

“What?”

“Be careful.”

“About what?”

“You’re starting to show your old self.”

For a moment, I was at a loss for words.

“…Is that so?”

“Yeah. It’s not a bad thing. I’m definitely not saying it’s bad.”

“No, thanks.”

After seeing Gisu off, I returned to my room and sat leaning against the wall.

I looked up at the ceiling and let out a sigh.

Me… I’ve been consumed by arrogance more than I thought.

***

Click, click.

I pressed the controller buttons.

Today is the day I hang out with my friend Makina, who is full of unknowns.

Today is also the day I play the game Makina picked.

What is Makina trying to tell me by choosing this game?

The protagonist on the screen rolled and rolled again.

To be more precise, I’m the one making them roll.

It’s a simple game where you send the protagonist and colleagues on missions.

The success rate of the mission changes depending on who you send.

I kept sending the protagonist on missions without giving them a break.

Because including the protagonist increases the chances of success.

It’s an obvious choice.

The more the protagonist rolled, the more people were saved.

The world became happier.

Except for the protagonist.

An epilogue appeared on the screen.

It unfolded the story of what happened after the protagonist, who tried to shoulder everything, disappeared.

[Makina: What do you think?

Me: They sure wrote an ending like this. If it were a web novel, people would flip out saying it fed them nothing but sweet potato frustration till the end.

Makina: Doesn’t the protagonist remind you of someone?

Me: It does feel similar to my friend who’s trying to clear out an entire dungeon alone.

Makina: Birds of a Feather.]

Birds of a Feather, huh.

There’s no one else who matches Gisu but me.

Am I really like that?

I’m different.

I only take on things I can handle.

I’m only doing things I can manage among the tasks I need to do.

[Makina: I dislike people who think they have to solve the world’s problems.

Makina: People who think only they can solve them.

Makina: People who try to carry everything on their shoulders.

Makina: Because the end for such people is usually sad and tragic.]