Chapter 119 - Episode 7: "A Most Satisfactory Outcome"
Good day! I am Violia Nico Fortesia!
I have just unleashed Pink Slimes on the people in the players' waiting room!
They probably haven't noticed, but the room above the waiting room is packed tight with Pink Slimes! It's only a matter of time before the slimes fall through the cracks in the floor!
Now, now! What will the noble brats, who were trying to win by the power of their equipment alone, do!? I'm looking forward to it! Ohohohoho!
For now, once the release of the Pink Slimes is over, I'll make a quick getaway.
The reason Onii-sama melted the window and cracked the floor was to create the pretext that the Pink Slimes came in from the outside. It wouldn't do if we stayed there forever!
Onii-sama and I left the room packed with Pink Slimes and quickly closed the door.
I left things like clothing that humans had worn, which would serve as bait for the Pink Slimes, in the room, so I'm sure the Pink Slimes are multiplying even more inside. Yes.
"Let's leave here for now. We can find out the results later."
"Hmm. That's true. ...I want to confirm that Doran has returned. Can you check the spectator seats?"
"Yes. What about you, Onii-sama?"
"I have one more job. After that, I'll take advantage of the Pink Slime commotion to do a few more tricks at the venue."
Oh. I'm looking forward to that!
Then I'll leave Onii-sama's part to him and return to the spectator seats!
"Welcome back. ...What did you do?"
"The preliminary preparations to make the noble brats stark naked."
When I returned to the spectator seats, Keeb immediately suspected me, but setting that aside... yes. Doran had properly returned here.
"Doran. You didn't leave anything behind in the waiting room, did you?"
"Yeah. Nothing in particular."
Good. Then it should be fine.
...If I accidentally caught Doran in the wave of Pink Slimes, there would be no point in him wearing that full-face armor... This was the one thing I had to make sure of. Ohohoho.
"Then, all that's left is to wait!"
"Make them stark naked... what did you do?"
"I just set up some Pink Slimes!"
Keeb and Giovan are making faces like 'Ugh,' but Chesta was just cackling. Personality really shows in these things, doesn't it?
"...Oh, is it about time?"
Now then. As we were watching the players' entrance... from there, we saw several players whose equipment was half-melted running away!
It's a great success!
...Naturally, due to the sudden massive outbreak of Pink Slimes, the Martial Arts Tournament was temporarily suspended.
Dealing with slimes is difficult unless one has properly fought slimes before. The adventurers seemed to have dealt with them quite well and escaped... but the noble brats who relied on their equipment were beset by Pink Slimes and had their equipment half-destroyed.
In even worse cases, those fools who didn't run away immediately after the Pink Slimes fell from the ceiling are apparently still trapped inside the Pink Slimes in the waiting room.
Pink Slimes basically only eat human equipment and grass. Therefore, it's not a matter of life and death... but well, for the time being, a rescue team was formed to go and rescue the players left behind.
...Yes. In this place, there's no shortage of warriors.
Naturally, the rescue team was formed from the players! I was made to work too! Well, it can't be helped! Since it can't be helped, I'll go and see the noble brats who are in a pathetic state in the waiting room!
"Slimes tend to fear fire. I want to solidify the front row with those who can use fire magic. Is there anyone who can use fire magic?"
...Now then. We players were gathered on the stage, and there, in a somewhat irritating turn of events, we were forming ranks under the command of Chris Bay Clarino.
Yes. It's truly irritating. Why this guy? Well, I understand! I understand, but still!
"I can use magic!"
Now, Lital immediately responded to Chris's call. It seems he can use not only water magic but fire magic as well.
"Me too. Just a little."
On the other hand, Keeb also quickly raised his hand. He's a good boy...
"I can use it too."
Now, I'll volunteer as well. Keeb's eyes are wide open, but yes, it can't be helped. If I don't declare it here, I won't be able to use fire magic during matches later. It's irritating to show my hand, but I'd rather not have people making a fuss later.
I quickly stepped forward to the front row and took a position right at the end, next to Keeb.
"...Was it okay to come out?"
"Yes. It can't be helped. If anything happens, I'm counting on you."
While conversing with Keeb at a volume only the two of us could hear, I... observe Chris to fulfill the second reason I came to the front row.
Yes. The reason I came to the front row was... to observe Chris Bay Clarino.
And, if there's an opening, to stick a Pink Slime on him too!
"Is there no one else who can use fire magic? ...Then it can't be helped. From now on, we will suppress the players' waiting room area! The target is Pink Slimes, estimated to be over 100! Refrain from using extermination agents indoors, and spray the extermination agents after driving them outside as much as possible. Therefore, this time we will surround the slimes with fire magic and guide them to the windows. If any slimes escape the range of the fire magic, exterminate them as appropriate!"
Chris is indeed a professional soldier. He's perfect as a commander in times like this.
The reason he's doing this specifically on the stage is... rather than because there was no other place to gather, it's probably to show the figure of this brave commander to the people.
Chris isn't bad-looking, and he has a certain level of ability and status. He might be perfect as a 'hero.'
...Well, I'll have that 'hero' expose his backside, though!
"I will also use fire magic in the front row. If anything happens, I entrust the command to the rear... Prince Dactor Fila Orchesta."
Now, Dactor-sama makes his appearance here.
The fact that a royal is participating in the Martial Arts Tournament mixed with commoners is enough to gain a certain amount of favor, but if he also participates in the slime extermination here, Dactor-sama's popularity will surely rise. Yes. Of course, I'll have him expose his backside too!
"That is all. Any questions? ...It seems there are none. Then, we shall begin the assault! Everyone, do not neglect your caution!"
Now, now. Finally, the Pink Slime extermination squad began its advance.
Without knowing what tragedy awaited them there. Ohohoho.
"Now, just in case, let's use the extermination agent on ourselves."
I spray the slime extermination agent on myself so that others can see it too.
The nobles who saw this looked at me with eyes as if they were mocking me, but the adventurers followed my lead and began to spray the extermination agent on their own equipment.
...By doing this, any slime that attaches to the equipment will die, so the equipment won't be ruined. For adventurers who live day-to-day, this is a natural precaution, unlike for rich nobles. Yes.
However, this extermination agent has a unique smell and is a bit slimy, so well, it's something one doesn't really want to use. Yes. Therefore, the nobles don't seem to have any intention of using the extermination agent on themselves.
"Um, could you share some of the extermination agent with me too?"
However, Lital was different.
Since Lital came asking for the extermination agent, I silently handed him the bottle. Then Lital was covered in the extermination agent while being looked at strangely by the surrounding nobles, and even his own relatives.
...He has truly become resilient...
Now then.
With the preparations finished, the advance finally began.
Led by Chris, we opened the door to the players' waiting room.
...Yes. It was 'only' slime extermination. No major problems should have occurred.
That's probably why Chris did something like coming to the front row himself, but... how naive!
The moment the door opened... an incredible amount of Pink Slimes poured out!
"Wha!? What is this amount!"
Yes. There's an amount of slimes that exceeds common sense. An amount that wouldn't happen just by repeating division inside the room.
...That's only natural. Right now, Onii-sama is replenishing the Pink Slimes. With Pink Slimes being poured in even though the room was already packed, the room was on the verge of bursting!
What happens if you open the door to that... it's simple, isn't it?
...Slimes fly out with incredible force!
"Fire!"
Chris was still calm. Even as the slimes flew out, he properly used fire magic to prevent any more slimes from leaking out.
Beside Chris, Lital and many other mages were using fire magic to try and hold back the slimes.
Naturally, I'm using fire magic too, focusing on protecting myself and Keeb!
Chris also admirably didn't do anything like thinning the defense of his own post...
...Unfortunately, by that time, the rear had already been taken out by the Pink Slimes. Yes.
Onii-sama's setup was superb.
He had arranged it so that not only the waiting room but also the ceiling of the room two doors down was broken, and Pink Slimes would avalanche from there as well.
Then naturally, Pink Slimes would pour out from doors other than the waiting room, so since those who could use fire magic were concentrated in front of the waiting room, it was inevitable that the rear would collapse.
"Wh-what happened!?"
"It seems the rear has been taken out! Slimes are pouring out from other rooms too!"
It's quite nice to see Chris's face turn pale. Since I could see this state up close, it was worth coming to the front row.
...And then.
In the midst of this confusion, no matter what anyone does, it won't be found out.
That's where I, who purposely came to the front row, show my true worth.
Without panicking or making a fuss, I casually grabbed one of the Pink Slimes that flew out and threw it at Chris's butt!
"Wh-what the!?"
Now, Chris was concentrating on the slimes coming from both the front and back, and naturally, he didn't expect his butt to be attacked, so his response was delayed. In the meantime, slimes were pouring out one after another, so well, it was more than he could handle.
Since the opponents were slimes, swords were at a disadvantage. Those who could use magic were concentrated in the front row. The noble brats, including the prince, who were in the rear, were becoming victims of the slimes one after another in a comedy.
...Faced with this, Chris had no choice but to make a decision.
"We can't hold out anymore! Use the extermination agent!"
Yes. Some of the Pink Slimes were blown away by the extermination agent, and the rest fled out the window.
...And what was left behind was the waiting room, the hallway, and all the players covered in the slimy mucus that is the corpse of a Pink Slime.
Those who were left behind in the waiting room were in a miserable state, having had their equipment completely eaten. They are stark naked. Well, I think their skin has become smooth, though.
Furthermore, the damage to those who were in the rear is also immense. Most had their equipment ruined. The Pink Slimes' appetite, or rather their commitment to their hobby, is truly something not to be underestimated.
Furthermore, since they are also in a state of being covered in pink mucus... well, it's hard to say they've achieved a victory!
In the end, the Martial Arts Tournament was postponed until the day after tomorrow!
Well, that's natural. Cleaning up is a lot of work. If you deal with slimes using extermination agents, the cleanup is quite a pain...
...By the way, as for that cleanup, there are actually a few easy ways.
If you bring a large number of docile Blue Slimes and release them in the area covered in slime mucus, they will eat the mucus on their own... no, they will spontaneously assimilate with the mucus and clean the room. I discovered this just recently.
Of course, I have no obligation to tell them such useful information, so I'll leave the cleaning to the royal servants and those involved in the management. Do your best with the cleaning! Ohohohoho!
...And then.
Beside us and other adventurers whose equipment was unharmed because we had sprayed the slime extermination agent in advance, the nobles who didn't use the extermination agent are in a panic. Well, if those who relied on their equipment lose it, they'll naturally panic!
I understand the reason why the nobles didn't want to spray the extermination agent on themselves. It's slimy and has a unique smell. Even I would have tried to get by without using the extermination agent if I hadn't known the slimes would pour out.
But this time, those who used the extermination agent in advance were the wise ones. Ohohoho.
...Among the nobles who lost their equipment, some were complaining to Chris, who was in command this time. Chris also seems to feel responsible since he conducted an incautious advance, underestimating them as 'just slimes.' He remains unable to talk back.
And Chris's equipment has also become a victim of the Pink Slimes. Right where I threw the Pink Slime. In other words, his buttocks.
...Since he is a noble, his servant brought a mantle, so the time his butt was exposed to the public was short... but for Dactor-sama and the many other nobles who were in a state far worse than just their butts, I'm sure deep, deep scars remain in their hearts!
Serves you right!
Thus, the Martial Arts Tournament tournament battle had an ignominious opening, being temporarily suspended by the slime commotion.
With this slime commotion, I managed to pin the responsibility on Chris, made them look pathetic, and snatched the equipment from the nobles who relied on it.
I am very satisfied!
But it's second-rate to end with satisfaction. It's first-rate to strive for the next satisfaction.
And in the Fortesia style, we stretch this satisfaction just a little bit more.
"Yes, yes, then this armor. A masterpiece engraved with plenty of defensive magic, starting from 2 gold coins!"
To squeeze even more from the nobles who pathetically had their equipment eaten, I'll have Giovan earn some money here!