Chapter 23.

Chapter 23. Slime Slayer

"Oh! I've been waiting for you, Akira!"

When I went to the guild counter where the staff member was waiting, I was greeted with a big smile. Rather than being happy, she seemed relieved.

"Well, I came because I was called, but I have no idea why."

"I'm sorry to call you without any explanation, but I want to give you a special role in exterminating the slime horde."

For a moment, I was delighted by the sound of a special role, but I still felt uneasy. Above all, it's weird that I'm being nominated.

There are now many adventurers in the Adventurer's Guild, including many high-ranking ones. What does it mean to be entrusted with a special role? It smells fishy.

Also, slimes have a habit of aiming at a man's crotch. Considering that, it doesn't look like an easy task. I should respectfully decline.

"Um, I'm sorry, I don't know the details, but I'm going to decline that role." 

"By the way, if you accept, you will be paid a special reward." 

"What?" 

"The special reward is 200,000 minas. What do you think?" "We'll take care of it!"

Caught up by the money, I readily agreed before even hearing the details.

That's 200,000 minas. 200,000.

One slime cost 2,000 mina. Killing 100 slimes would give me 200,000 minas, but I can't fight, so this is a huge reward.

With 200,000, I can live quite comfortably. The goal is to collect 100 million mina and return to the original world, but it's okay to have a little luxury in this world.

I'd like to explore more delicious food and unique sightseeing spots if I can afford it.

And with this much money, I can equip myself better as an adventurer. That means a greater possibility of conquering high-difficulty quests.

I want this reward at all costs. I don't know what's in store for me, but I must do it. If I stay here, it's a dream come true to make a lot of money.

I nodded my head in determination.

"So, what am I supposed to do?" 

"Now, I'll explain the details, so please come with me."

A guild official beckoned me, and I followed. For some reason, I stepped out of the guild and was led to a rusty door at the back.

The lock was opened, and the door creaked open. I followed the staff inside. A damp smell hit my nose. I involuntarily covered my nose.

It seemed to be a place that had been neglected for a long time. Quite musty.

"Where is this?" 

"It's a guild warehouse, a place where things that are no longer needed are stored... There's still something you can use."

A large object was covered with a cloth at the back of the warehouse.

When we reached it, the guild employee smiled at me.

"This is the anti-slime rain device developed by our guild!"

With a flourish, the guild employee tore off the large piece of cloth, 

revealing the object hidden beneath.

It was a wooden pedestal.

But not just any pedestal. This one was mounted on a large single board with four long rod-like handles extending from the front and back.

If you carry this big, long pole on your shoulders, you can lift and carry it.

It looked a bit like a mikoshi from my world. The structure was almost the same.

If someone sits on the pedestal and four people carry the sticks on their shoulders, it creates a scene like a mikoshi procession.

What's that? I had a very bad feeling.

"What is this?"

I didn't want to hear it, but I had no choice but to listen.

"As I mentioned earlier, this was developed for anti-slime rain, and it's called the Slime Slayer! We have Akira sit on the pedestal above this, and the adventurers carry it around the town." 

"Why?" 

"Slimes have a habit of targeting men's crotches, so this will gather the slimes in one place, making it easier to wipe them out efficiently rather than searching the entire town."

The guild employee wiped his eyes with great emotion.

"This Slime Slayer was created by our guild to deal with Slime Rain, but it was gathering dust because no man was willing to sit on the pedestal."

Yeah. The Adventurer's Guild staff, whom I thought were serious, also seem to be quite foolish.

"Then Akira, come over here!"

Now, my hand was pulled, and I was made to sit on the pedestal. It was made of wood, but the cushion was carefully placed, so my butt didn't hurt.

"Oh, are we really doing this?"

If possible, I hoped it was all a playful lie by the guild staff. I asked with my last bit of hope, but he answered with a big smile.

"Seriously."

Seriously?

It's not a joke to be carried on a mikoshi and paraded through a town while slime rains down. It's just embarrassing.

However, I was already blinded by the 200,000 mina and agreed. It wouldn't be a good idea to back out now.

This is for the money... I'll be a spectacle around town, but it's an easy job because I get paid just for riding.

That's what I told myself, and I decided to accept everything.

But there's one thing.

This shrine doesn't defeat slimes, so it's not really a slime slayer, right?