Chapter 68: Mochi’s New Power

"Interesting, you say..." For some reason, Warren gave him a look of disbelief. But Qiu Nuoya could not help it.

The more he learned about slimes, the more fascinating they became.

Before he realized it, slimes were gathering not only inside the barrier but also outside of it.

They bounced against the barrier wall one after another, happily playing as they went.

"W-Wait... how many are there? Are all of these your slimes?"

"Um... I’m not really sure, honestly."

The only slime Qiu Nuoya could clearly recognize as an individual was the slightly green one, Mochi.

He could hear the voices of the individual slimes, but he could not tell which one was which.

[ Heyyy, Nuoya. This wall is in the way. Can I break it? ]

Another slime bounced off the barrier and rolled back toward him.

This one was probably Mochi’s main body.

"No, you can’t. This wall is important. It’s protecting us."

[ But we can do something like this too～ ]

The moment Mochi said that, the slimes inside and outside the barrier began merging together.

Before Qiu Nuoya could react, they transformed into two enormous slimes.

The Mochi inside the barrier continued expanding.

And soon, it began taking away the small space where Qiu Nuoya and Warren were standing.

"W-Wait, stop! Stop, Mochi! We’re going to get crushed!"

The barrier wall was behind them.

The transparent flesh like wall of the slime was in front of them.

With nowhere left to escape, Qiu Nuoya and Warren were pressed tightly against the barrier as they instinctively held onto each other.

The horrifying image of the goblin that had been crushed by Mochi’s attack flashed through Qiu Nuoya’s mind.

The barrier that was supposed to protect them had become a trap, leaving them with no way to escape.

Warren desperately tried to create more space by pushing against the slime’s seemingly soft body while holding Qiu Nuoya.

However, the slime’s body was far too flexible.

Even the smallest gap they created was immediately filled by the expanding slime.

"Mochi!!"

[ Slime Barrier, here we go～ ]

[ Okay～ ]

!?

Slime Barrier!?

What was that!?

The moment Qiu Nuoya had that thought, the pressure squeezing them suddenly disappeared. Then, while still holding onto each other, Qiu Nuoya and Warren were thrown inside the slime’s body.

"Eh..."

The inside was a strange space.

Floating right in front of them was what was probably the slime’s core.

Wait.

Did they just get eaten by a slime!?

But strangely enough, Qiu Nuoya could breathe.

There was no pain and his body was not melting either.

Nothing felt dangerous at all.

So what exactly was happening?

The slime’s body continued to swell.

Cracks began spreading across the defensive barrier that Viktor had created.

Through those cracks, the slimes waiting outside slipped into the barrier one after another.

The swelling only continued.

At last, the barrier shattered completely, breaking into countless fragments of light that scattered into the air before vanishing.

Qiu Nuoya and Warren could only stare in stunned silence.

"What... what’s going on?" Warren muttered.

"I... I’m not really sure either."

They had been thrown into the slime so suddenly that they were still tangled together.

Warren had instinctively shielded Qiu Nuoya, leaving him sprawled on top of him.

Neither of them could keep up with what was happening, and they remained frozen in that position.

Then a furious shout echoed from outside. "What in the world is going on here!?"

Looking toward the voice, Qiu Nuoya saw Viktor.

When had he gotten back?

Without waiting for either of them to explain, Viktor immediately raised his staff and launched a spell at the giant slime.

Warren instinctively threw himself over Qiu Nuoya to protect him.

They braced for the impact. But no matter how long they waited, nothing happened.

Huh?

[ This is nothing at all～ ]

[ Yeah～ ]

The carefree voices echoed inside Qiu Nuoya’s mind.

Looking around, he saw the giant slime’s body wobbling like jelly.

Despite Viktor’s attack, neither he nor Warren had suffered even the slightest injury.

"Damn it... What exactly is this thing!?"

"V-Viktor, stop! I think we’re probably fi..."

Before Qiu Nuoya could finish his sentence, Viktor unleashed another spell at Mochi.

However, instead of damaging the slime, the attack bounced harmlessly off Mochi’s gelatinous surface.

Then it shot straight back toward Viktor.

"Viktooor!!!"

Viktor collapsed after taking the full force of his own spell.

Meanwhile, Mochi and the other slimes still sounded completely carefree.

[ We’re fine, we’re fine～ ]

[ See～? ]

This was no time for that!

"Mochi! End this barrier right now!"

[ Ehh? ]

[ Already? ]

[ But we were having fun～ ]

The slimes all complained at once. But Viktor was lying motionless right in front of them!

Just how powerful had the spell Viktor cast been?

And more importantly, what kind of body did Mochi have to be able to reflect it?

As Mochi’s massive body rapidly shrank, Qiu Nuoya and Warren were pushed out from inside the slime.

Qiu Nuoya immediately rushed over to Viktor and checked whether he was still breathing.

He was not.

No...

That could not be right.

Someone, please tell him this was a joke.

"Viktor! Viktor, open your eyes! You can’t die!"

There was no way Viktor could die from something as absurd as his own reflected spell.

And if it had happened because of Qiu Nuoya’s contracted slime, how could he ever face Viktor’s parents?

What should he do?

Then it hit him.

CPR!

Qiu Nuoya quickly took off his robe and folded it beneath Viktor’s head and neck to open his airway.

He pinched Viktor’s nose shut and breathed into his mouth.

Then he immediately began chest compressions.

Thank goodness he had taken first aid training back in his previous life.

He had never imagined it would become useful in a place like this.

After repeating the process several times, Viktor finally began breathing again.

He still had not regained consciousness, but at least he was alive.

Relief washed over Qiu Nuoya, and his legs nearly gave out beneath him.