I roll.

Oh, I roll.

I roll forwards and back, left and right, pitching around like a marble atop a tilting table.

DUMMY 「KING SLIME」 LV. 1 HP: 20/30 | SP: ??? | MP: ??? This monster relies on [Sticky Bolt]. This [Skill] lets it fire slimy projectiles with a 10% chance of inflicting [Slow]. Protective of its little crown, which it considers a part of itself. Isn't it adorable~? Valeria Fullbright designed the crown herself.

"What kind of useless memo's that!?"

For the umpteenth time, I throw myself to the dirt while jets of blue goop sail overhead. They strike the wall with noisy splats, though I barely hear them over my own shallow, laboured breaths. The 「King Slime」 hops in place while its [Skill] cools down. I scramble to my feet, raise my pistol, and free three cracking shots into its core.

「King Slime」's HP -1!

「King Slime」's HP- 1!

「King Slime」's HP -1!

"You're joking..."

Bright red numbers appear above my opponent with every successful shot. This, plus a humourous 'wobble' sound are my only reward. I expected an easier fight. Two solid minutes have passed since the match began, and I've yet to halve its HP.

C'mon, c'mon, c'mon, me! You can't fail the tutorial! Don't let all your confidence go to waste!

Fresh sweat trickles from my forehead as the 「King Slime」 bounces after me. I kite it as close to the dome as possible before darting away, capitalizing on its clumsiness to put some distance between us.

"Guoooh~!"

My skin crawls at its undulating growl. With an enthusiastic jiggle, the 「King Slime」 launches a fresh volley of ooze across the arena. Dirt sprays up from the ground as I bolt away. Oh, man. I overestimated the value of leveling up! Though the [Attribute] boost helped, I didn't miraculously acquire a strategist's mind.

To think I ever expected that...

"Three minutes left," comes Valeria's voice. "Do your best, Mr. Quinn!"

I duck another blast and retaliate with a [Concentrated Strike]. I would've yelped at the sudden flash from my gun if the SP cost hadn't stolen my breath. I half-stumble through my next dodge.

「King Slime」's HP -3!

Better, but not by much. "Isn't this a bit extreme for practice!?" I turn a desperate stare skyward. "Have some mercy, Ms. Fullbright!"

"Absolutely not~" You can hear the dismissive wave in her voice. "You use ranged attacks; the dummy uses ranged attacks. What would you learn from a stationary target? Regardless, you've technically completed the tutorial by using [Observation I] and [Concentrated Strike]."

"So why isn't it over--?!"

"Preparing you for the trial is my duty, Mr. Quinn. I'd be neglectful to coddle you."

I sputter in disbelief. Is this generosity, or straight-up sadism!?

"Here's a hint," Valeria continues. "All monsters have a hidden weak point. Again, experiment! There must be somewhere you can shoot other than its middle~"

By glitch or design, my opponent pauses mid-pursuit. Finally, I think, taking the opportunity to catch my breath. I wipe my mouth against my forearm and review the 「King Slime」. It's embarrassing to admit, but thanks to my previous occupation, I'm unaccustomed to thinking outside the box. So far as I believe, the entire slime is its 'middle'.

Experiment, experiment...

Courtesy of SP regeneration, my breath grows steadier, my nerves calmer. [Drifters], by default, enjoy a point-per-second recovery rate. Soon I'll have enough to perform another [Concentrated Strike] without bringing myself to the brink of collapse.

"Guu... guuoooh..."

Ah. Break's over.

I dab perspiration from my eyes and activate [Observation I] one last time.

DUMMY 「KING SLIME」 LV. 1 HP: 14/30 | SP: ??? | MP: ???

Despite the mediocre progress, I rejoice. Alright! Health down to half! Now, I've just gotta find its weak spot.

"One minute remaining," Valeria says. The timer in the corner of my eye turned red.

Oh, come on. My eyes narrow in concentration. How many weak points can a giant blob have? No matter how I scrutinize it, nothing stands out except the crown.

...The crown...

The crown!?

My eyes widen to saucers. What else can it be but the crown?

The 「King Slime」's mobility returns just as my SP refills. In my mind, the glowing crystal lamps from the entrance hall chime their support. I twirl my pistol 'round my finger and aim for its glittering treasure.

【CONCENTRATED STRIKE】

Blinding gold light. Dramatic 'whoosh'. A kick of hot air, throwing my hair across my face.

Kshh!

With a glorious shattering noise, the「King Slime」's crown bursts into sparkling fragments.

CRITICAL HIT

「King Slime」's HP -6!

The monster squashes and stretches, panicking over its loss. Adrenaline surges through my veins. Bewilderment--satisfaction--pride beyond pride spreads from my heart to every last 0 and 1 of my being.

"Good job, Mr. Quinn! Bring it home!"

"Right!"

30 seconds to go. I dash into position and empty my pistol into its spasming mass.

「King Slime」's HP -1!

「King Slime」's HP -1!

「King Slime」's HP -1!

Even the cost of SP can't break my momentum. My first [Critical Hit]--is this how Heroes feel after their inaugural kill? Tutorial or no, I need to make this victory one for the history logs.

【CONCENTRATED STRIKE】

My last shot rips through the「King Slime」. It pops like a water balloon, buckets of blue goop splashing around us. I shield my face with my gun arm. Even then, some manages to get in my mouth. Gross.

「King Slime」's HP -3!

「King Slime」 was defeated!

O V E R K I L L

The countdown timer flashes 00:00, accompanied by an ear-ringing buzzer. My head swims as I stand breathless before the 「King Slime」's vanishing remains. Breathe in, breathe out. My legs tremble from SP loss. The arena de-materializes around me.

"... I won." I drop on my backside, more stunned than exhausted, and grin at no-one in particular. "Did you see that? [Overkill] on my first try!"

"Gratsy ♥"

"Uwah!"

I startle at the voice by my ear. Valeria's reappeared behind me, and she's kneeling on the blue-streaked earth. She helps me up, straightens my collar, and pats my head. Beams.

"Wonderful performance, Mr. Quinn."

"N-no, that's not true..." I chuckle shyly, looking away. With all that adrenaline fading, I begin to see my victory in a more objective light. "But.. thank you. I probably could've fought smarter at the start, there, and I still lost about 5 HP, so..."

"Shoosh!"

She presses two fingers to my mouth. I stiffen, displeasure tugging my eyebrows towards my nose. Just because I'm small doesn't mean she can hush me like a kid.

I've just opened my mouth to say so when Valeria's foxlike smile grows gentler. Sisterly. She steps back and rests her fists on her hips.

"Modesty is a virtue, Mr. Quinn, but so is knowing when to accept praise. We here at the 1st Class Trial Dungeon don't flatter our examinees." She winks a bright blue eye and says, "Would you care to see how well you did?"

"I can do that?" I slide my pistol back into its holster.

"Of course! You can check your performance after clearing any official [Dungeon], be it an open void like this or a more traditional structure. The prompt should appear in..."

Ding!

A notification with gilded, flowering borders pops up between us.

REVIEW YOUR PERFORMANCE?

YES / NO

I tap to confirm, and the window transforms.

1st CLASS TRIAL ARENA - TUTORIAL DIFFICULTY: Normal TIME --------- D

DAMAGE ----- B-

STYLE -------- B

XP BONUS ---- N/A

Oof. That abysmal time score stings. The world's assessment of my damage and style, though... it might be shallow of me, but I blush. Imagine that! Me, NPC-RND-4394, overlooked newbie quest-giver, stylish? For a first-timer, I did alright. I hope my winning streak lasts through the actual test.

"... Hold on."

I summon the [Screenshot] function and select the performance window. There comes the sound of a camera shutter, followed by the text:

SCREENSHOT ADDED TO YOUR [PHOTO ALBUM]!

"There."

Valeria and I exchange grins. She holds out a pale hand and says, "Shall we return and begin the trial proper?"

I give a decisive nod.

"Let's go."