Chapter 33: The Dwelling of High-Risk Assets
"Consider it an administrative fee for us taking these 'ticking time bombs' off your hands," I pulse, the vibration of my voice leaving a faint hum in the heavy air of the Academy hallway.
Yuuki Kagurazaka doesn't reply immediately. He just watches as I glide past him, a dark, silent orb of obsidian efficiency. He's smart enough to know when a bad debt has been successfully offloaded.
The trek to the northern forest was a logistical nightmare. It wasn't just the distance; it was the "inventory." Five children with magicule densities higher than most mid-tier bosses, all crammed into a carriage. Rimuru sat in the center, acting as a spiritual dampener, while I hovered outside, maintaining a [Transaction Domain] over the vehicle to ensure no stray sparks of mana ignited the local flora.
Notice. We are approaching the coordinate threshold for the Dwelling of Spirits. Ambient Magicule density is rising. Notice: Spatial distortions detected. The entrance is shielded by a high-level illusion barrier.
Azathoth, find the frequency. I'm not in the mood for riddles. If we have to wander through a forest of illusions, I'm billing Rimuru for the extra processing time.
"We're here," Rimuru says, stepping out of the carriage as we reach a massive, vine-choked stone archway hidden deep within the mist. The children pile out behind him, their eyes wide with a mixture of awe and the twitchy, nervous energy of five people who know they're about to undergo a "system upgrade."
"It looks... spooky," Alice whispers, clutching her teddy bear.
"It looks like a poorly maintained portal, Alice," I pulse, floating toward the archway. "But the energy signature is authentic. This is a direct pipeline to the Spirit Realm."
Suddenly, the mist shimmers. A massive, mechanical entity—a Golem constructed of enchanted stone and reinforced by ancient magic—rumbles into life, blocking the path. It doesn't breathe, and it doesn't negotiate. It simply radiates a directive: No Trespassing.
Analysis. Target: Elemental Colossus. Grade: Special A. Nature: Automated defense system. It is powered by a central Magic Core and possesses [Physical Attack Resistance].
A security guard. How quaint. Azathoth, I'm sitting at 48.5% Soul Capacity. I can't afford to Copy its structure, but I can certainly audit its mobility.
"Shinji, wait! We should try talking to it!" Rimuru wobbles forward, but the Golem raises a massive stone fist, the air whistling as it prepares to crush the "squishy blue intruder."
"Negotiations are for those with time, Rimuru," I pulse. "I have a schedule to keep."
[Transaction Domain]
I snap the domain into place, focusing the "Economic Pressure" directly onto the Golem's joints. The stone screeches as the atmospheric weight forces its gears to grind. It's a battle of pure density. I've integrated the [Density Laws] of an Orc Lord and the [Beast-Skin Hardening] of an Animal Kingdom general; I am no longer just a slime. I am a pressurized anchor.
"Your movement is inefficient," I pulse, my voice a cold, resonant frequency. "Every swing you make costs more energy than your core can replenish. I'm declaring your defense protocol... insolvent."
I [Spatial Motion] myself directly behind the Colossus.
[Law Manipulation – Copy]
Error. Soul Capacity at 48.5%. Replicating the Golem's [Physical Attack Resistance] will push the User to 50.5%. Warning: Overcapacity will initiate system instability. Blocked.
Fine. I don't need its skin. I'll just take its 'Balance'.
[Law Manipulation – Copy]
Acquiring [Equilibrium Law: Stone Anchor]... Success. Soul Capacity usage: 49.5%. (CRITICAL).
I don't destroy the Golem. I simply overwrite its center of gravity. The massive stone entity tips forward, its mechanical logic unable to compensate for the sudden shift in its own weight. It hits the ground with a thunderous crash, pinning itself under its own mass.
"Path cleared," I pulse, my obsidian membrane shimmering. "Rimuru, get the children inside. The Queen of Spirits is waiting, and I'm starting to feel the 'noise' of my internal systems. We need to close this deal quickly."
Notice. Magicule Reserves: 52.3%. Location: Entrance to the Spirit Labyrinth. Status: Golem neutralized. Soul Capacity: 49.5% (DANGER). Note: I am one data-point away from a total system reboot.
Chapter End.