Chapter 171: The Remaining Special Entities.

How to save (subjugate) the arrogant vampire king.

The old stories that had given decisive hints so far did not provide a clear answer.

It seemed that falling stars were the weakness, but obtaining a star was difficult.

People thought of feeding it poison, as they had done before.

<Mummy Slime> and <Goblin Slime> had the nasty property of stealing others’ things, which could be used to feed poison.

But <Vampire Slime> did not steal anything.

The spirits were asked what <Vampire Slime> ate and if it had something to suck blood from.

-It makes it itself with an artificial blood manufacturer.

Then, put poison in that manufacturer.

People concluded that and asked the spirits about the location of the artificial blood manufacturer.

-If the location hasn’t changed, it should be here.

The spirits created a map of the castle based on their memories and indicated the location of the artificial blood manufacturer.

-But reaching there will be extremely difficult.

The palace where <Mummy Slime> was had become dilapidated with holes everywhere.

But the castle of <Vampire Slime> was thoroughly managed without even a single hole.

Instead, the main gate was wide open.

As if inviting those who would enter.

But when anyone tried to really enter, living armors blocked the way with spears.

The method to infiltrate the castle was revealed.

There was candy that could temporarily transform into a monster.

If you ate candy that turns you into a ghost type, the living armors did not stop you, and you could enter the castle.

However, the effect of the candy was extremely short inside the castle, unlike outside.

The effect disappeared after a few minutes, and immediately the living armors rushed in and drove you out.

There was a way to endure by bringing multiple candies and eating them.

But the more you ate, the shorter the candy’s effect became.

The effect, which initially lasted 10 minutes, halved each time you ate a new candy.

“This is too tight on time?”

The castle was vast, and the place with the artificial blood manufacturer was far away.

Even if you endured by continuously eating candy, it was hard to reach there within the limited time.

You couldn’t run either. If you ran, the living armors would immediately stop you.

Moreover, except for the path leading to the center of the castle, everywhere was guarded by living armors.

If you tried to enter that area, they blocked you.

“Like when we subjugated the mummy, if a large number of people rush in, won’t it work?”

A team of 20 people entered the castle.

As soon as they tried to enter an unrelated area, the living armors blocked them.

“Push through!”

When they tried to force their way in, the doors from all sides closed.

“Well…. that makes sense.”

The palace of <Mummy Slime> was poorly maintained with broken doors.

The vampire’s castle was intact, and the doors were sturdy.

In the end, it seemed difficult for people to force their way in and tamper with the food by adding poison.

“What about just killing the vampire king?”

A hunter seeking fame attempted a foolish method.

Holding a stake made of silver, he walked quickly inside the castle.

No living armor stopped him until he reached the audience chamber.

The vampire sitting alone on the throne said briefly upon seeing the hunter.

“Leave.”

The floor moved and chased the hunter out of the castle.

Afterward, even if you ate candy that turns you into a ghost, you were immediately detected by the living armors and chased out.

-It seems there’s no way unless we drop a star.

└OK. Let’s try with the spaceship first.

A spaceship appeared above the vampire’s castle.

Enormous energy gathered in the main cannon, and a beam was fired toward the castle.

The beam was instantly weakened and dispersed before even reaching the castle.

“This was as expected.”

There was no way Alchemy Slime would have left the possibility of wiping out ground monsters with a spaceship.

The spaceship was very weak inside the atmosphere.

“But they won’t be able to stop a physical charge.”

The spaceship, which had risen to a high altitude, charged toward the castle.

A rainbow barrier enveloped the castle.

The spaceship that fell there bounced off completely.

Those watching were astonished.

“Rainbow reflection?”

“You can’t break that at all?”

“You can’t break it. If it were a breakable barrier, they wouldn’t have made it rainbow-colored. That’s Yeonseul’s warning to give up breaking it.”

“Then we have to break it.”

“We have to.”

There were twisted people who, if the creator said not to, were determined to do it.

“Why do we play games?”

“To overcome difficulties!”

“To achieve seemingly impossible achievements!”

“If the creator says not to”

“We must do it!”

“Let’s go!”

Those who had acted as the gamer pirate crew in the previous event led the spaceship and headed to the ground.

Even though they said it was to embark on a new challenge rather than fleeing, the outcome of the space war was already decided.

This space war was a victory for the group that bore the name Space Empire.

If there was even a sliver of hope left, they would try to break through, but given the opponent’s ability, even that was difficult.

All that remained was to wait persistently for variables or to fight fiercely and become space debris.

There were only two paths.

A new path opened there.

The gamer kingdom mobilized all their spaceships.

1 rank charge!

“1 rank charge!”

Four spaceships charged toward the castle from all four directions: east, west, south, and north.

“2 rank charge!”

Next, the following spaceships also departed.

“1 rank main cannon fire!”

The main cannons of the 1 rank spaceships were fired just before collision.

If the main cannon’s power decreases due to the atmosphere, fire from close range!

The fired main cannons were reflected back, destroying the spaceships.

Even so, the spaceships’ forms remained and collided with the rainbow barrier.

The main cannons fired, the spaceships exploded, and debris soared.

A spectacular fireworks display continued.

They threw in the entire force that had been a pillar of the space war.

Yet, the rainbow barrier remained firm.

That barrier…. isn’t it too much?

“It seems like an object set to be absolutely indestructible unless conditions are met. Contact the empire. Ask them to deliver an asteroid. Since we’re out, they should have some breathing room.”

“OK.”

The empire, as the loser of the space war, accepted the request from the gamer kingdom.

An asteroid fell on the vampire’s castle.

Thud.

The asteroid disappeared back into space.

“….”

“Couldn’t we just drop a star?”

“Does that mean we have to drop a real star (a sun)?”

“No, that can’t be. If it’s the scale of a star, it wouldn’t fall; we’d be the ones getting swallowed.”

“Then?”

“Somewhere in this world, there’s a star that can be dropped.”

The journey to find the star began.

***

“Why is the scarecrow mister here?”

“Because he asked to be sent to a corner since he doesn’t want to work.”

“Why doesn’t he want to work?”

“Because taking responsibility is annoying.”

“Why is taking responsibility annoying?”

“Because it increases the things I have to do.”

“Why does it increase the things I have to do?”

“Because taking responsibility means also fixing the results of what happened.”

“Why do I have to fix it?”

“Because things often don’t go as planned.”

“Why doesn’t it go as planned?”

Why, why, why, why.

The <Scarecrow Slime> continued to answer in a lazy tone to the endless questions from the child.

Was that voice making him sleepy?

After shouting ‘why’ for a while, the child leaned on the scarecrow and fell asleep.

The scarecrow bowed its head.

The hat that fell from its head suddenly grew larger and covered the child.

“How lazy do you have to be to come up with the idea of leaving a child with a scarecrow?”

The child came with the irresponsible guy, and that guy left only the child and departed.

There are really so many strange humans in the world.

Among so many places, why on earth leave the child in a place like this?

There must be circumstances. There must be a reason for reaching that conclusion.

It’s probably not circumstances worth considering.

It’s clear that it’s not an answer derived from a desirable way of thinking.

“A world full of guys like that, honestly, who cares. Why bother with such trouble?”

The scarecrow grumbled towards its main body and then expanded its field.

<Scarecrow Slime> is also a special entity. There are many things it can do.

It just doesn’t because it’s bothersome.

The irresponsible guy was in the deep sea, battling with fish.

The fish covered in nets struggled not to give up and tried to escape.

The man desperately hung on until the fish tired out.

“….”

Eventually, the fish ran out of strength and stopped moving, and the man rose to the surface with the fish.

“Hajun-ah!”

The child who had been asleep suddenly opened his eyes.

“Dad!”

“Dad caught a huge fish! Bigger than the one your friend bragged about, right?”

“Yeah! So big~! Dad’s the best!”

The child jumped around joyfully, and the dad also felt rewarded and smiled brightly.

The scarecrow quietly watched the scene.

“Were you good?”

“Yeah! The scarecrow mister told me fun stories!”

“Really? Thank you for watching the child.”

The man bowed to the scarecrow and then rode away on his horse.

The child wasn’t abandoned.

It was just a simple conclusion that he couldn’t take the child into the sea, so he left him briefly with the trustworthy <Slime>.

It’s something that happened because of the credit built up by the main body.

The Sloth’s Scarecrow grumbled.

“That’s why you shouldn’t meddle in other people’s affairs.”

The wind blew, lifting the hat on the ground and placing it back on the scarecrow.

The scarecrow on the remote island spent time bored again.

“That scarecrow on the island, I heard from the child that it takes care of things indifferently?”

“The tone is curt, but like a grandfather who gives things one by one?”

“Yeah.”

“Uh.”

“It might be hard to fish with the child, so should I leave him there?”

The kids can play among themselves there.

***

Caw! Caw!

At the sound of the crows cawing, the child jumped in surprise.

The child looked like he was about to cry.

Tears were welling up in his eyes.

‘I’m scared. I shouldn’t have come. I want to go home.’

This forest was scarier than he thought.

He regretted coming in so confidently to show off to his friends.

But he couldn’t go back.

He had said he was fine so confidently.

He had said he wasn’t scared at all.

It was too embarrassing to go back in fear.

“Where is this….”

In fact, he had been lost for a long time.

He didn’t even know which way to go to get back.

“Sniff. Sniff. Mom….”

Eventually, when the child burst into tears.

The forest brightened.

The trees that had been blocking the light faded, and the child came out into a clearing.

There was a large pumpkin house there.

A very pretty sister came out from inside it.

She was much prettier than the prettiest teacher at school.

“Hello, little one.”

The child forgot about crying for a moment and looked up at the pretty sister.

The sister lightly picked up the child and took out a handkerchief to wipe his tears.

“There, sniff.”

As he blew his nose as told, a sweet scent that made his heart feel at ease came from the pretty sister.

The sister’s embrace was very warm, and he wanted to stay in it just like that.

“What brought you to this forest?”

“Uh….”

It was too embarrassing to say that he tried to show courage to his friends, especially since he had been crying until just now.

“Did you come to see me by any chance? It must have been hard to find your way. I’m very happy.”

The witch held the child and entered the pumpkin house.

The inside of the house was surprisingly sophisticated. There were various strange and unique decorations, but they were all neatly organized.

The witch placed a cushion on the chair at the table to adjust the height and then sat the child on it.

“Tell me what you like. Sister will prepare it for you.”

“Do you have something sweet and sour?”

“Of course. Do you like hotcakes by any chance?”

“Yes!”

“I’ll make some, so wait just a moment.”

The witch went into the kitchen, put on an apron, and prepared snacks.

The child, curiously looking around, couldn’t resist the sweet and savory scent coming from the kitchen and went in.

The witch was grilling hotcakes on four frying pans at the same time while squeezing juice from fruits to make juice.

The child absentmindedly leaned in close.

“It’s dangerous, so could you step back a little?”

The witch tore off a small piece of hotcake, dipped it in honey, put it in the child’s mouth, and gently pushed them away.

Since she was handling four frying pans at once, the hotcakes were finished quickly.

The witch poked holes in the hotcakes, drew faces on them, filled the inside with chocolate and syrup, topped it with ice cream, and placed it on the table.

“Eat up and enjoy.”

The child immediately dove into the incredibly delicious and fun-looking pancake.

Strangely, no matter how much the child ate, the pancake kept going into their stomach without filling up.

As the child ate enthusiastically and got their face dirty, the witch wiped their cheeks from time to time.

The child emptied the plate clean and drank all the beverage in the glass.

The witch placed a bowl full of snacks in front of the child and refilled the glass with a new beverage.

“Shall I hear your story now?”

Having eaten delicious things and feeling good, the child forgot they had been crying just moments ago and excitedly started talking.

The witch leaned forward, smiling brightly, and listened to the story.

“How brave.”

“How amazing.”

She didn’t forget to add encouraging words.

While doing so, she steadily kept refilling the glass and bowl so they wouldn’t empty.

“Uh….”

As they talked excitedly, suddenly no words came to mind.

The child instinctively changed the subject.

“Why are you in a place like this?”

“Sister just wanted to make everyone happy. But a bad man locked me up here.”

The child got angry.

Locking up such a nice sister in a place like this.

“I just wanted to make them feel that they don’t need family, friends, or anyone else, as long as they have me.”

The child slightly changed their mind.

This sister was a bit scary.

“I just wanted to make their bones go soft so they couldn’t move, and their heads melt and become gooey so they couldn’t think useless thoughts, and only enjoy happiness.”

The child changed their mind again.

This sister was scary.

“I tried to change everyone in the world like that. But a bad man locked me up in this place.”

No, this sister was very scary.

“Isn’t that mean?”

That man wasn’t bad.

He was a kind and right man.

Locking up this sister was the right thing to do.

“Won’t you stay here? Sister will make you happy.”

“I want to go home.”

“Don’t you want to stay here more? There are lots of fun things here.”

“I want to go home.”

The child said firmly.

The witch looked up at the ceiling.

“Alright….”

The witch couldn’t hold onto the child.

The witch took the child and went outside.

A crow flew in and grew larger so the child could ride it.

“This child will send you out of the forest.”

The child climbed onto the crow.

“Come again.”

The child didn’t answer.

They were smart.

The child rode the crow out of the forest.

The friends who were playing elsewhere saw the child arriving on the crow and flocked over.

“How was it?”

“Did you meet the witch?”

“That crow! You met her, right!”

“I met her.”

The child, puffing out their chest, told their friends about meeting a witch far scarier than the one in Hansel and Gretel.

They spun a heroic tale of evading terrifying traps and returning safely.

***

Calling him a bad man is too much.

I admit he’s bad.

But I hate being called an uncle.

I’m still in my 20s.

If we go by the time since I was reborn as a slime, it’s just past infancy.

The island with Sloth’s Scarecrow is showing signs of being used as a daycare, as it’s been revealed that the scarecrow somewhat takes care of children.

Especially, people who like fishing heard the news and their eyes lit up.

There are many places inside Slime Land to leave children.

There are many children playing in such places, but many also throw tantrums wanting to join the Halloween event.

They want to fish, but have to watch the child.

If they fish together, the child gets bored.

For those stuck in this dilemma, the scarecrow’s island is a perfect location to use as an excuse like, ‘I fished near where the child was.’

From now on, children will endlessly ask questions to Sloth’s Scarecrow, cling to it, and cause trouble around.

It will be distressing for Sloth, who hates annoying things.

Good, suffer.

The popularity of Lust’s Witch remains steady.

Just as a mountain peak that no one has conquered appears more attractive to mountaineers.

No matter what, I must get a two-shot with <Witch Slime> before this event ends. Many humans are rushing with that thought.

Of course, there are many people whose goal isn’t just a two-shot.

It’s like watching insects swarming towards an electric bug zapper.

The role I assigned to Lust’s Witch is like a pie in the sky. She must not accept those approaching her.

Especially since Slime Land events aim for wholesomeness, humans approaching with lust must be driven away more firmly.

It will be distressing for Lust, who wanted to embrace everyone.

Good, suffer.

The tentacle monster has become an amusement ride where the fear it gives turns into fun.

Gluttony and Jealousy have been subdued.

The remaining one is Pride’s Vampire.

Arrogance would be more tormented if left idle and neglected further, but I don’t think that’s the case.

Even if we consider whether we’ll succeed in subjugation, it doesn’t seem likely.

What a pity.

I am a human with emotions.

Just because I spit out the curse mass based on emotions doesn’t mean those emotions completely disappear.

While carrying the curse in my body, it influences my original emotions.

So, remnants of the curse remain in my original emotions.

If a dramatic change occurs when I get 7 stars, maybe, but probably I’ll keep carrying it.

It’s not a big danger.

I won even when the curse was at its most intense, so how could I lose to its remnants?

I’m also receiving help from buffs like [+Courage].

All monsters in this event have some remnants of the curse in them, albeit weakly.

Special individuals have a lot more of one type of curse remnant.

Since it’s the remnants of the curse in the Slime, replication was very easy.

There’s no danger.

The base is the country, so it won’t do anything I wouldn’t do.

I didn’t give it complete autonomy.

I’m also monitoring it just in case.

If I remove the part that leads people to ruin, the curse fragment is ultimately a human emotion.

If I mix those and put them in, it becomes more vivid than when Nana or Mother controls it.

Because I put in the remnants of the curse, interacting with monsters on the ground is this popular.

Thanks to the remnants of the curse, monsters aren’t perfectly human-like, but they do have some human aspects.

Because we can empathize, a desire to get along closely must have arisen.

Once you experience the remnants of the curse, you have to carry them for life, like the shingles virus.

I understand that.

But I have no intention of letting them live comfortably in my body.

I can’t just leave those guys who made me suffer so much.

So, work.

It’s not the main body, but remnants?

So what?

Work.

Is there a more suitable role?

You guys shouldn’t work where your aptitudes match.

Work while suffering.

Don’t feel too wronged that one is playing.

Soon, that guy will be added too.