“This seems like it would be good training for fighting Abominations, don’t you think?”
“True enough. And it's reassuring to know that if things get out of hand, we can just finish it off with lightning magic.”
Lowell nodded in agreement with my assessment.
I certainly thought it had potential as an Abomination Training Ground, but for some reason, Garna’s expression remained gloomy. Curious, I watched as she looked at me and let out a heavy sigh.
『It might be fine for training, but... normally, no one is going to look at a Silver Abomination and think it’s the same type of monster as a Slot Mimic.』
That was a fair point. Usually, monsters that shared a weakness also shared similar traits or appearances. At first glance, no one would ever suspect that the same tactics used against a Slot Mimic would work on a Silver Abomination.
“Well, even so, if we practice now, it’ll be easier to react once we actually figure out the weakness, right?”
When I pointed that out, Garna muttered, “I suppose so,” before shaking her head.
『However, there is another problem. Halfa, you should try defeating the next one.』
“Me?”
『Umu. With Shock Voice, you should be able to target the core with precision.』
As if to say I would understand once I saw it, Garna fell silent. With no other choice, we pushed deeper into the dungeon in search of another Slot Mimic. When we reached the third small room, a fresh Mimic appeared from ahead, clattering loudly as it approached.
“Leave the binding to me, Halfa-chan!”
“Thanks! Okay, here I go!”
Spira pinned the monster down, and Halfa unleashed her Shock Voice. The Slot Mimic’s spinning reels ground to a halt under the sonic assault. The icon displayed was a cherry—a Cherry symbol. It looked like the symbols on these reels were all things I recognized, like cherries and plums.
“And... finished!”
With the fifth Shock Voice, all of the Slot Mimic's reels were still. Unfortunately, the symbols didn't match at all. Not that it really mattered; our goal wasn't to win a jackpot... or so I thought. Even so, the Slot Mimic didn't disappear immediately.
“Don’t tell me we actually have to match the symbols to kill it...”
『No, that is not the case. It should vanish shortly,』 Garna said, immediately dismissing the anxiety I’d voiced. A moment later, as if to prove her right, the Slot Mimic's body began to fade away, melting into nothingness.
“We beat it, but...”
“Is this magic stone the only drop...?”
『It’s really tiny!』
The drop item was the real disappointment. All that remained was a single magic stone, no bigger than a pinky fingernail. It was even more pathetic than the stones we got from Goblins.
Normally, a monster that required five hits from Halfa’s Shock Voice would be C-Rank or higher. While Slot Mimics were a bit of a special case, they were still incomparably stronger than a Goblin. Yet, for all that effort, we’d received a stone that was worth less than a Goblin’s. The math just didn't add up.
“Garna, what’s going on here?”
『The Slot Mimic is a monster where the drop rank changes based on whether or not the symbols align when the core is struck. Most of the time, you end up like Halfa—with nothing matching. In short, they are monsters that simply aren't worth the risk. Since adventurers can earn a steady income on the First and Second Floors, almost no one bothers descending to the Third Floor where the rewards are so unreliable.』
Garna explained the situation with a weary shake of her head.
I see. I’d assumed the luck element was part of the combat gimmick, but it actually determined the loot.
As Garna pointed out, with drops this stingy, it was unlikely any adventurer would want to explore the Third Floor. They’d have to pass through it to reach the Fourth Floor eventually, but even then, they’d probably just blast through any Mimics with lightning magic and move on. It wouldn't serve as Abomination Countermeasures Training at all.
It was a shame; I’d thought we’d found a great training spot.
However, while I was feeling disappointed, Halfa seemed to have a different idea. A smirk spread across her face.
“But if you hit the jackpot, you get great stuff, right?”
『A king's ransom in gold and silver should drop. However, the probability is astronomical. It is effectively impossible to hit.』
“Wouldn’t it be possible for Tort, though? If we could pull off a win like that while other people are watching, wouldn't that get adventurers interested?”
『...I see.』
Both Halfa and Garna turned their gazes toward me. Spira and Lowell were nodding along. I wondered if things would really go that smoothly... though, to be honest, I couldn't even imagine myself failing.
『You’ll know if you try it!』 Shiroru suggested, wagging its tail excitedly.
“Well, she's right. I'll take the next one.”
“Yeah! If it’s Tort, I know you can do it!”
With Halfa’s cheering at my back, I scouted for our next target. We moved into the adjacent room and found one almost immediately.
“Want me to bind it?”
“No, I think I’ll be okay.”
I declined Spira’s offer and closed the distance. Based on what I'd seen so far, they weren't particularly fast. While their large mouths were dangerous, they didn't seem to have any other way to attack. As long as I stayed away from the front, the risk was minimal.
Every time I slashed the monster, Halfa would call out, “The reel stopped!” I was just swinging my blade, but I seemed to be hitting the core consistently. After my fifth strike, a mysterious fanfare suddenly echoed through the room—coming straight from the Slot Mimic.
“Amazing! A whole row aligned!”
『What’s happening? Is this a good result?』
『Umu. It is the best possible result.』
I’d successfully hit the Jackpot. Moving around to the front, I saw the reels: a perfect row of 7 Symbols right across the center.
With the fanfare still playing, the Slot Mimic vanished. Simultaneously, a mountain of dazzling gold coins, silver coins, and gems poured out of thin air with a heavy clatter. This was going to be a massive haul.
However, what caught my eye even more than the treasure was a specific magic stone. Pushed aside by the mountain of loot and rolling across the floor, it glowed with a brilliant golden light, unlike any normal stone.
It had to be a Mutant Magic Stone!