Published: August 15, 2025
Today, two chapters are posted simultaneously.
This story is the first chapter.
After walking for about two hours, occasionally fighting off some undead, we advanced along a rough path so worn that it was doubtful it could even be called a road. We climbed a slope and finally reached the top of a rocky mountain. Below us stretched a plateau covered in rocks, carved over countless years by rainwater into a myriad of valleys.
It was a magnificent sight that showcased the raw power of nature — a view worthy of being a tourist destination... but,
“This is a scene of hell…”
Looking down into the valley from here, we saw countless undead swarming in the route we planned to descend and proceed through. This ruined the beauty of the scenery and would certainly affect our travel. Even the experienced adults wore troubled expressions at the sight of that massive horde.
“What should we do about that?”
“It looks like zombies and skeletons, but their numbers are huge. It wouldn’t be surprising if higher-ranked types were mixed in.”
“I think taking a detour is quicker, but now that we’ve seen them, leaving them be feels wrong.”
“There’s quite some distance to the highway, but these could impact trade with the neighboring country. It’s better to defeat them here.”
“We do have a goal, but this isn’t a rushed journey. Taking some extra time shouldn’t be a problem.”
In this country, undead are considered “corpses that have become magical beasts,” so their extermination is not just about elimination. It is also believed to “release the souls of the dead trapped in this world and send them to the gods.” Since we have the luxury of time, everyone seems intent on hunting them down.
“I also think it’s best to exterminate them. The problem is how to deal with such numbers. From our battles so far, I think we can handle it by relying on my slimes, but... is it okay, religiously or health-wise, to feed the undead to slimes?”
“Clerics and devout people might frown upon it, but that’s probably about it. Few would use the method of feeding slimes, but the important thing is that they’re exterminated. Besides, since it’s part of memorial rites, there’s no reason for us to bear unnecessary risks. At least, I don’t particularly mind. As for the slimes’ health, I don’t know.”
“I agree. Our safety should be the top priority; whether the extermination succeeds comes second, and the method is an issue for later.”
Lord Reinbach and Mr. Sebas agreed with the two. If no one objects, we can ask the slimes to help. We’ll just have to experiment and observe how they react to fighting undead and what happens when they consume them. For now, the scavenger slimes that prefer carrion, acid slimes that eat bones, and light slimes that use light magic will be the main forces. Other slimes can support.
“Lord Ryoma, before entrusting the slimes to handle this, how about we reduce the overall numbers ourselves? I don’t know what happens to slimes that eat undead, but when too many undead gather in one place, ‘miasma’ can occur.”
“That’s the harmful mana, right? Even for experiments, feeding such a large number at once might not be wise, so I agree.”
“In that case, I’ll do it. I’ve had it easy so far and still have plenty of mana. If I bombard them from atop the cliff with fire magic, I can also cause the flames to spread. That should reduce their numbers significantly.”
The undead swarming at the valley bottom were zombies and skeletons, which lacked flying ability. Lord Reinbach’s plan would likely keep us from being surrounded by the horde.
“Oh, right. Lord Reinbach, we have a large amount of oil and gunpowder in the Item Box — should we spread that too?”
“Ah, if we can use it, then let’s do so. With oil and gunpowder, the fire could spread more easily—”
Lord Reinbach stopped mid-sentence, turning to me with wide eyes. The other three also looked at me with questioning expressions.