Whatever is coming sounds powerful.

[Quick get behind me!]

"T-that alright."

We are close to the end of the tunnel. There are holes that lead to the surface but those are made to let the water go through. Humans won't fit. I'd rather avoid destroying the whole sewer infrastructure.

It is coming closer. Quickly and surely. I can already see some light in the distance coming this way. It is glaring in the dark area where we are. I can see… flames! What is this?!

Then it appears. Some extremely huge lizard-looking thingy. Just the scales will likely be hard to pierce. Just looking at the size of the thing it must be close to rank 4.

We are screwed!

*ROAR!*

[Any way to bypass it? Any idea?]

I'm grasping at straws right now, but I really hope he has some kind of plan. Hopefully, one that would be using the knowledge he has as a city guard. There are no secret tunnels here by any chance, right?!

"None…. we are …. wait! I know this creature! It is the tamed monster of the strongest tamer in the city! We are saved!"

We are saved! Nice!

The gaping maw that is coming at us quickly doesn't scream saved at all, however. Is he 100% convinced it's the same one? What if it's another one that just looks the same?

I really hope not.

Just as I'm getting ready for the impact it stops dead in its tracks. It looks at me like I am some tasty snack. Why is it that it is always monsters looking at me like that? Why can't it ever be some cute girl? *sigh*

Comes a stern voice in the back.

"No trace of a king slime at all. This seems like a false alarm."

It is that guy from the examination! The 4 stars one! Somehow, he looks the exact same as last time. Except right now we are in a sewer and he was supposed to be rushing to our rescue…

I wonder what kind of hair gel he uses for it to stay that awesome. That might be somehow more impressive than the rank 3-4 creature.

A creature that is still looking at me with fire dancing in its eyes and mouth. This thing can definitively breathe fire! Well, I think anyway.

[Hey there!]

He snorts.

"It's you. Not surprising. Only one such as talentless as you could mistake many slimes stacked together for a king slime. Or perhaps, did you simply try to exaggerate the issue? Such a lack of character could be the case for your previous failure."

He squints at me. Why is he watching me when the king slime is exploded all over the place?

"S-sir, I saw it too it was definitively a king …"

"Shut up! I will be the judge of that."

And he does shut up. Gotta love the military, but only when there are decent superiors. Otherwise, it can become a shitshow quite easily.

The big lizard moves a bit to let him go through. Would have been funny if the lizard got stuck in the tunnel or something and he had to squeeze in.

He observes the residues for a while.

"No trace of any slime king nucleus. This is all from normal slimes."

[That, well I ate it.] *Bashful*

"Of course you did. Of course."

He turns around and leaves. The monster follows him giving me one last look. That was it? He left just like that?!

[This was a weird encounter. Am I the only one that thinks he didn't believe me about the Nucleus?]

" *Sigh* This is too insane a tale to believe. We will both have trouble coming our way for sure."

[Why? Whoever tasked you with leading this party obviously didn't know about the slime king! If anything we handed the situation perfectly! Not even a single casualty!]

"Except that now they will be doubting our reports in the first place."

I see.

[You are telling me he will use his authority to lie about this case?]

"Well, he truly did not find any sign of it."

[I fucking ate it of course he didn't find any! How dumb can he be!]

He is looking at me like I am some kind of freak. He doesn't seem scared of me anymore. Even if I am still completely naked.

We backtrack until we finally reach the surface again. At the entrance, the gang is awaiting our triumphant return.

Wolfie and the unicorn are there waiting patiently, not worried in the least. They come forward for a hug and some headpating.

I can see all the others nearby showing extreme curiosity but restraining themselves from asking.

[Turns out there was a nucleus in the slime. Once destroyed from within it just got destroyed instantly. We were able to just run.]

"How was it inside of it?"

"Did you see your life flash before your eyes?"

"How did you managed to destroy the nucleus?"

[Juicy and wet. No, but I saw some bones of some unlucky sobs in there. I simply grabbed it as it happened to float right next to my face.]

"This is a miracle! Killing a king slime!"

[I was lucky!]

Sure I had divine power the whole time to protect me, but it just happened that I was its natural counter.

It swallows and paralyzes its prey. Right next to its one obvious weakness. Any normal guy would have been turned into food end of the story. A little divine protection and that stomach turned into a pool for me.

To be honest, I did spend a little time getting used to the water inside. Also, the danger of drowning isn't a big issue either.

Really just coincidences.

I am not faking being humble at all. I did claim credit with that other guy too.

[Now where do we get paid for the job?]

The guard shakes his head.

"As there are special circumstances they won't hand out the payment before getting to the bottom of it. It isn't in my hands anymore. If anything I will probably be investigated too."

Wait this is bad! Won't I end up on the street then!? I was so looking forward to a comfy bed too!