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Two weeks have passed since the day we first met the man who was obsessed with killing goblins.

When we emerged from the burrow, we dispersed and came to an understanding with Deirdre that he would be in charge of bringing down the population of the tiny vermin.

Despite encountering numerous goblins, wolves, and other low-level monsters, we have explored roughly 70% of the forest and have found no evidence of people passing through.

What we did find were several soldier corpses near what had to be a destroyed monster nest. The feathers left on it identified it as a griffin's nest, but there was no sign of the monster or its eggs.

And, while those bodies had to be from Vector's group, we found no evidence of where the survivors of the fight went. If there are any survivors...

In any case, we're still looking.

...

We have arrived at the mouth of a cave that is situated on the hill that is the origin of the forest's name.

The hill is a large mound of earth that is approximately 10 meters in diameter, and must be between 5 and 6 meters in height.

I know this is the location that gives its name to the forest because there are no trees near the hill, resulting in a clearing between the trees. The only one we've seen since we started exploring.

The area without trees extends for several meters around the hill. This gave us the idea to camp here tonight so that we can see if any enemies are approaching.

However, while looking for a quiet place to camp, we discovered the entrance to a cave hidden behind several dead plants on one of the hill's slopes.

From the cave entrance, we see what appears to be a gelatinous monster that is located in the center of the interior of the small cavern.

"Let us proceed with caution, Deirdre. We don't even know if it's hostile," I say as I walk cautiously towards the monster, which we've never encountered before.

"Look at how it's shaking and crawling on the ground! It's just a weak monster! You're being overly cautious! You should follow the example of the guy we met in the goblin den a little more, master!" she exclaims as she rushes to attack the monster.

In the end, the stranger never told us his name. So, we didn't tell him ours either. It's really silly, though...

But yet Deirdre keeps thinking of him as if he's some kind of celebrity...

I do not understand why, but it seems like the stranger is going to bother me even when he's not present.

With that thought, I dart after her as I quickly use my ability to inspect the monster.

'Corrosive Slime'

Crap! That name gives me a bad feeling...

Hmm, I think I've been cursing a lot since I've known Deirdre.

And, as that thought crosses my mind, I watch as Deirdre tries to attack the slime with her daggers.

As soon as the metal of her weapons comes in contact with the monster's gelatinous surface, they begin to spew stinky smoke and deteriorate at high speed.

And, although the monster doesn't seem to have suffered any visible damage, it must have sensed something. Since it begins to counterattack, throwing some of its liquid body in Deirdre's direction.

I pull Deirdre by one arm towards me and, hugging her, I cover her with my body, turning my back towards the slime…

A terrible pain assaults my back moments later, but I ignore it and run away from the slime.

As I'm walking away, Azur attacks the monster with a flare, and a notification alerts me to the activation of my Survivor skill.

"Y-your back..." says Deirdre in a whisper as I drop her to the ground and turn towards the monster, having moved several meters away.

She falls to her knees as soon as I let her go, looking at my back with horror with her hands covering her mouth. It seems like she can't get to her feet.

Is my back that bad? My skin must be raw because it certainly feels like I am being cooked alive over a fire. But I can still move, so it can't be that bad.

"It's nothing," I say, trying to get over the pain and seeing my health bar, which is almost empty, slowly start to refill thanks to my skill, "stay here! I'll take care of it!"

It's useless the advice I gave to her, as the little therian seems too impressed to move. But I tell her anyway.

As I speak, I pull a potion from my interface and drink it, taking advantage of the fact that the enemy seems to be very slow, and that Azur's flare has knocked it back.

Instantly, my health bar begins to recharge with more speed and the pain begins to subside.

It seems that fire is the answer to this monster...

I've never been so glad before that this is my affinity and no other. And, with that thought, I join the attack, firing mana bullet after mana bullet at the monster as fast as I can.

The magic seems to be effective, but the slime regenerates at the same rate as we burn it… At least we can keep it away with this method, though.

We're at a stalemate, but I can't think of what else to do at the moment.

After several minutes of continuous attack, I see that inside its body is what appears to be a small stone.

I guess that will be the core, since I don't think the monster is simply liquid with a conscience...

While I keep attacking with mana bullets with one hand, I prepare a piercing mana bullet with the other.

It has to be this way, because the normal bullets melt before reaching the monster's core, although they inflict some damage.

The pain makes it difficult for me to concentrate, so I take a little longer than usual to prepare the projectile.

But, when I have it ready, I fire it in the direction of the stone in the center of the monster.

As soon as the projectile goes through the stone and breaks it, the slime begins to lose shape and spill out onto the ground. Where, after a short time, a small puddle of the corrosive liquid forms.

When I see that the threat has been eliminated, I turn to Deirdre to check if she is okay.

I see her on her knees on the ground, in the same spot where I left her, crying uncontrollably.

"I-I'm sorry. Forgive me, Xelean," she says between sobs, pointing to my back. Which, although it must not be raw anymore, still hurts quite a bit "because of me..."

Now I understand what Agustin was saying about the pain persisting for a while, even if you heal the wounds with a potion...

"It's nothing," I say, downplaying it and moving closer to help her stand up. "Just don't throw yourself like that again."

"I-I promise, master," she says, rubbing her tears with the back of her hand.

Azur reaches down to perch on the girl's shoulders and starts rubbing her snout against Deirdre's neck, trying to comfort her.

"Shit, I liked this cloak..." I mutter while absently touching the tiny pieces of my cloak that are still hanging around my neck.

It was a souvenir from my first trip with my old group... Anyway, it's trash now.

I don't think my interface will repair it in this state. There are only a few shreds of fabric left... And the same goes for my armor and the clothes I used to wear from the waist up.

"I'm sorry," she says again, crestfallen, with a somber tone I've never heard her use until now, and tears again furrow her face.

"I already told you it's okay. Things can be bought back, people can't," I tell her, giving her a gentle pat on the head to snap her out of her depressed state. There's no point in feeling that way when, thankfully, no one has died.

"Hmm, ok," she says, but remains quiet and stares at the ground as we make camp for a bite to eat.