Chapter 187: Monster Slime.

The Alchemy Slime was not a human, but a monster.

The <Slime> items he sold were not made through alchemy; they were simply parts of his own body that he cut and sold.

People felt betrayed and became angry.

“Burn it all!”

People burned the <Pack Slime>, <Insole Slime>, and all other <Slime> items sold by the Alchemy Slime.

Those who cared more about money than anger flocked to the Alchemy Center.

“Give us a refund!”

Some people threw away the <Slime> items as if they didn’t even want to touch them; those were the relatively reasonable ones.

“Selling parts of a monster’s body? I’ll sue all of you!”

“The use of alchemy products is at your own responsibility….”

The Alchemy Center side tried to argue, but it was useless.

“How can selling a monster’s cut-up body be considered an alchemy product!”

The Alchemy Center was embroiled in a large-scale lawsuit and lost due to judges who considered public opinion.

The Alchemy Center had to spit out all the money it had earned thanks to the Alchemy Slime.

Besides the Alchemy Slime, there might be other monsters hiding among us.

Investigations fueled by hostility and anger were conducted, but no new discoveries were made.

In the end, the scam by the human who became a monster burned out in an instant and was buried under articles about celebrities who caused accidents.

<Slime> appeared with a flash and shone brilliantly.

Like a shooting star, it vanished into the back alleys of history in an instant.

Ten years passed after that.

The existence of <Slime> faded from people’s memories.

And Earth was slowly heading toward destruction.

“The expansion speed of the dead land is unusual.”

Researchers and scholars warned that the dead land must be dealt with, or it could become dangerous.

“Let’s research ways to suppress the dead land.”

Departments to deal with the dead land issue were newly established in each country.

However, their scale was small.

It didn’t go much beyond assigning projects to universities.

Time passed without any significant solutions emerging.

“The dead land problem has reached a very serious state.”

Once the dead land reached a certain size, the surrounding areas began to die rapidly.

Like cells necrotizing and causing decay to spread.

It reached the point where it felt impossible to leave it unattended, so a high-level meeting was held.

The national leaders did not see the situation as particularly serious.

Because they had something they believed in.

“Let’s commission S-rank Alchemists.”

Over time, the number had decreased to only five S-rank Alchemists left in the world.

Commissioning them was very expensive, but they were worth the price.

S-rank Alchemists always provided good solutions.

It was certain they would provide a solution this time as well.

The S-rank Alchemists, whom they trusted completely.

Among them, the top Alchemist sought an answer.

But that answer was not a hopeful one.

“Is this really the only method?”

“Yes.”

The solution proposed by the world’s top Alchemist consumed enormous resources.

For places that became dead land due to dungeon breaks.

To revive them, an amount of magic stones equivalent to what was there had to be invested from dungeons of the same size.

Only then could it barely be revived.

In the first place, obtaining all the magic stones from a single dungeon was impossible.

Subjugating every monster without leaving any was too inefficient.

Moreover, consumables used in dungeons require magic stones to make.

Considering losses and consumption, preparations to use magic stones from five or more dungeons were needed to purify the dead land.

Given that the dead land is currently spreading like an epidemic, humanity has already exceeded its limits.

“Is there really no other way?”

“That’s not in the realm of alchemy. Look for an Awakened who can convert mass into mana.”

“This isn’t the time to say that so casually! At this rate, the entire Earth will become dead land!”

“That might be the case.”

“As someone living on Earth, don’t you feel any responsibility?”

“In this world where I’m the only real one, I don’t care how it turns out.”

Even consulting other Alchemists didn’t yield an ideal solution.

“The dead land is a place where Earth blocked mana supply because it didn’t want to be sucked dry by dungeons. To revive it, at least as much mana as was taken must be put back in. And there needs to be a way to keep that mana from escaping. It’s similar to turning a desert into greenery. If everyone works together, we can definitely figure it out.”

One S-rank Alchemist told a dreamy story.

“I’ll protect my area.”

One S-rank Alchemist limited the place they would protect.

“There are D-rank or lower Hunters, right? Those useless ones. If we grind up about ten thousand of them and make them into medicine, we could revive the dead land. If you’re interested, let’s talk. I’ll give you a special discounted price.”

One S-rank Alchemist suggested a vicious and cruel solution.

None of the solutions were viable.

In the end, many countries abandoned their territories.

They barely managed to defend areas near densely populated regions.

The regions where living beings could survive decreased day by day.

All sorts of natural disasters raged.

Still, humanity survived.

Even as other animals and plants died out, humanity secured spaces to live.

There were also hopeful predictions that as technology advanced, the dead land could gradually be revived.

True destruction came from the sea.

The dead land that had been left unattended for a long time on the ocean floor caused problems.

The sea gradually lost its purification ability.

As the food chain collapsed, death spread at a rapid pace.

The atmosphere and water stopped being purified.

The sea began to rot away.

It wasn’t just that.

As the land on the ocean floor died, the fixed-type dungeons, which were thought not to cause breaks, triggered breaks.

The monsters emerging from the fixed-type dungeons that had feasted on mana for ages showed a level of strength different from anything seen before.

Humanity became unable to avoid extinction.

Only then did all of humanity unite to deal with the extinction.

But by that time, it was already too late.

-Simulation end.

Makina closed the virtual reality where Earth met its destruction.

Just one person. Because of the absence of that one person, Earth rolled into the pit of destruction.

Makina felt no particular emotion about it.

Because she had no interest in a world where that child was gone.

She thought it deserved to perish, so it perished.

This simulation assumed ‘What if the Alchemy Slime had lost to the first curse.’

If that child lost to the first curse, he would be subjugated by a Hunter with flames that kill monsters.

At that time, <Slime> had gained some popularity in Korea.

People, seeing it as part of the <Slime> monster, disposed of it without hesitation.

The same for the second curse.

And the same for the third curse.

The ending was similar.

People rejected <Slime>.

Having seen these simulation results, Makina was surprised by the fact that the child had revealed his own appearance this time.

If things went as expected, by now he would have obtained the [Transform] skill and could pretend to be an ordinary human.

That child is fully aware of the risks involved in revealing his true form to people right now.

He was extremely afraid of being discovered and was very cautious about it.

Even now, he never shows his unmasked form except to his family and the closest associates.

He even didn’t show his true form to his trusted aide who had figured out his identity.

Yet, that child boldly revealed his true self to the entire world.

Of course, there must have been various calculations behind it.

He must have been certain that he wouldn’t be rejected, which is why he did it.

But fear is an irrational emotion that leaves cold, sharp thorns deep in the heart.

No matter how much you prepare and tell yourself it’s okay, facing the source bleaches your mind white with emotion.

It’s an emotion that renders all calculations meaningless.

How much courage would it have taken to show that form, which he couldn’t easily reveal even to his family, to people around the world?

If things went as expected, he wouldn’t have revealed it in this way at this time.

Even if he did reveal it, it would have been in a different manner later on.

The reason that child took such a sudden action is.

‘It’s because of me.’

Makina knew that the child was looking for her.

The more he searched for her, the more Makina hid herself.

In the end, since he couldn’t find her.

“Since I’ve mustered this courage, you should muster yours too.”

That’s how he’s urging her.

‘Not everyone in the world can do what you did.’

According to the simulations, the child had a much higher probability of losing to the curse rather than winning.

Even though she had helped, the probability of losing was still much higher.

That’s how powerful the curse was.

Yet, that child overcame everything.

No other person could have done that.

Only he could overcome it.

Makina closed her eyes.

And she began running a new simulation.

If that Elder Lich, instead of cursing the child.

[By you, calamity will descend upon this world!]

Had cursed other people, what would have happened?

***

The Alchemy Slime was a monster.

This fact came as a huge shock to people.

The <Slime> items he sold weren’t made through alchemy; they were just pieces of his body.

People who felt betrayed were angry.

“Burn them all!”

In that anger, a man who was about to throw a <Pack Slime> into a burning drum hesitated.

The squishy <Pack Slime> in his hand seemed to speak to him.

-Are you really confident you can live without me?

In that brief hesitation, a cold wind blew and hit the man’s face.

It was a sharp pain like being cut by a knife, something he hadn’t felt while using the <Pack Slime>.

His anger was suddenly controlled.

‘If you think about it, alchemy products are made from monster materials, right?’

Upon thinking about it, there was no problem at all.

Why burn something so valuable?

The man put the <Pack Slime> back on his face.

Not everyone controlled their anger this quickly.

[The astonishing identity of the Alchemy Slime. (Red Pill)]

[America is shocked, Japan is shocked, China is shocked by the identity of the Korean alchemist!]

[If you eat this wrong, you could turn into a monster too.]

All sorts of videos were uploaded to WTube, and various posts appeared on bulletin boards.

-Yeonseul is a scammer bastard. He deceived us by selling things that aren’t alchemy products as alchemy products!

└It’s an alchemy product.

└Go check this article. https://-

└The world’s top alchemist acknowledged that <Slime> is an alchemy product.

└You say you’re close to Ash and Yeonseul. Isn’t that just because of your friendship?

└We agreed to call objects that process monster materials to produce special effects as alchemy products.

└But they weren’t processed.

└If <Pack Slime> and <Scarecrow Slime> look the same in shape and function, go to the eye doctor.

-It’s disgusting. We’ve been attaching and eating parts of Yeonseul’s body all this time.

└It’s the best.

└22

└333

└Eat it. This is my body.

└This is my blood. The blood of the contract I shed for many people.

└Ramen.

└Ramen.

-I understand the shock from the <Slime> source, but can you live without <Slime>?

└You can live without it.

└Then live without it. Who’s holding a knife to your throat forcing you to use <Slime>?

└I apply skin toner, lotion, mist, and still sigh over acne and irritated skin. I’ll just end with <Pack Slime>.

└I suffer from bad breath, mouth ulcers, cavities, and gum diseases, and end up getting implants. I’ll just end with <Gargle Slime>.

└I worry about diabetes and gout, so I quit alcohol, chicken, and sugar. I’ll just live eating <Pure Jelsl>.

└And take my old atopy with you.

—

[Really feeling betrayed.]

-All the PengRhyme mukbangs were real.

I thought PengRhyme was the god of editing.

-Lol.

└Lol.

-Good fishing, I admit.

—

[Why Yeonseul is an angel]

-Hey. Could you think of cutting your body and using that money to make a theme park that’s free for everyone to enjoy, even if you’re a slime?

No matter what he looks like, I think Yeonseul is the most human and warm person in the world.

-I admit. In the beginning, all the things he made were helpful for treating incurable diseases.

└And the other things were all meant to make people’s lives more convenient and happy.

└He released them at incredibly cheap prices. He could have raised the price several times over.

-Take down the student post^^. Yeonseul is not an angel; he’s a god.

└Ramen.

—

Currently, 18 months after the release of <Slime>.

Slime was loved.

***

“Alchemy Slime is the true Alchemist.

Not the fakes who churn out alchemy products using alchemy skills based on manufacturing methods made by others.

The one who can explore on its own and create new mysteries is Alchemy Slime, the true Alchemist.”

As soon as my video was uploaded, Ash gathered reporters and strongly defended me.

Thanks to that, the controversy over whether <Slime> is an alchemy product or not was easily dismissed.

Because Chairman Ash Pramel of the world’s top alchemy company acknowledged it.

“Our World Alchemy Organization agrees with Ash Pramel’s claim. -The alchemist rank of Alchemy Slime will remain as is.”

Subsequently, the World Alchemy Organization also defended me.

My S-rank Alchemist license will be maintained as is.

Since the two at the top of the world acknowledged it, I don’t need to worry about my social standing.

The problem is public opinion.

In fact, I was quite worried about whether people would accept me or not.

Now that <Slime> has deeply penetrated people’s lives.

Even because of the worry that <Slime> might become unusable, I thought I wouldn’t be rejected.

But I couldn’t be sure.

In fact, even if I were rejected, I’ve built up a foundation to live on until I die.

All the things I’ve built up so far might become meaningless.

That would be quite regrettable and sad.

Fortunately, public opinion is very favorable towards me.

-Disgusting.

-I will never use it again in the future.

-Compensate for the damages.

And so on, voices full of poison are also visible.

But more than that.

—

[Alchemy Slime-nim. Thank you.]

It was a life where I thought about dying several times.

But thanks to <Slime> and Slime Land, I was able to gather strength and continue living.

Thank you. Thanks to <Slime>, I am alive.

-Thank you. Thanks to <Slime>, the child who was suffering from atopy has become healthy.

└Thank you. Thanks to <Slime>, I was freed from long-term constipation.

└Thank you. Thanks to <Slime>, the grandmother who was suffering from dementia has regained her senses.

└Thank you. Thanks to <Slime>, I had a traffic accident but was unharmed.

└Thank you. Thanks to <Slime>, I reconciled with my child.

└Thank you. Thanks to <Slime>-

└Thank you. Thanks to <Slime>-

└Thank you. Thanks to <Slime>-

—

There are way more words of thanks.

What can I say.

It feels like the things I’ve done weren’t in vain.

<Tear Slime>.

It’s a bit rewarding.

Yum.