"Look, what’s the plan? We can’t just rot here in the basement; it’s a dead end."
"What about the Senior Researchers? Aside from the one who died the other day, there should be two left, right? Do you think they evacuated without us?"
"They’re supposed to be in their respective research labs... but if they haven't moved despite the alarms, they might already be dead."
"...Haha, well then, does that mean those of us left get to be promoted to Senior Researcher? Right?"
If we were anywhere safe, I might have actually been happy to hear that.
"Wait a second... where exactly did the Senior Researchers die?"
"Hey now, we don't know for sure they're—"
"No, it's safer to assume they are. Think about where their research labs are... They're right here in the basement, aren't they?"
I felt like I was going to burst into tears.
"So—so—so what you’re saying is... those red slimes... no, those things are already crawling around down here? Somewhere we can't see them!"
"It's... a possibility."
"Hey! Whose idea was it to hide in the basement?! It was yours, wasn't it!"
"Shut up! It was the only choice we had at the time!"
"Keep it down! Slimes react to sound!"
Everyone went dead silent.
"They don't even have ears. How can they hear?"
"Did you already forget how that researcher just died? He was shouting, stomping his feet, and the second he stepped through that door, he was slaughtered. I’ve heard that wild slimes track their prey through vibrations."
"...That's true."
If that was the case, making noise was a terrible idea.
I instinctively moved to cover my mouth, only for my hand to clank loudly against the visor of my protective suit.
"...! Wait, I just had a great idea. There are some perfect decoys on the Basement 3rd Floor."
"The slave brats? That’s not a bad plan—assuming they’re still alive."
"Look at it this way. If they are alive, it means there aren't any slimes there yet, right? It's worth checking out."
But that raised the question of who would go.
"Hmph. I’m the one who came up with the idea. One of you in the disposal squad should go."
"...No, splitting up is a mistake. We all go together."
"I agree. That’s the best way."
"No way! I’m staying here. The door is locked and I have my protective suit on. I'm not going further into the basement where it’s probably even more dangerous!"
The researcher who had first suggested the idea dug his heels in.
"...Then why don't you just stay here by yourself?"
"I—I didn't say that! A few of us should stay behind, that's all!"
"But everyone except you is going, right?"
"Y-yeah. I'm going down too."
"...Fine! Fine, I'll go—"
He was cut off mid-sentence. Because his back was turned to the hatch, he didn't see it.
The metal panel of the hatch slid aside without a sound... and a red tentacle snaked out from the opening.
"Run!"
At the Disposal Squad Captain’s shout, we bolted. Downward. Toward the Basement 2nd Floor.
We left the researcher caught in the tentacle's grip behind.
"Stop! Gyaa—hyee?! A-ah, ah... AAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!"
I didn't look back to see what was happening to him.
Only his death throes echoed through the dark corridor.
Then, they were abruptly cut short.
"H-Hey?! How did it get through the door?! Kill the slime! That's your job, isn't it?!"
"Shut up! Attacking just the tentacles is useless, you moron! If you’re so damn smart, figure that much out at least!!"
One of the disposal squad members barked back at me.
Damn it! Damn it all! How did things get this bad?! We threw ourselves onto the Basement 2nd Floor and slammed the door shut.
"Hey, look... what the hell is happening? Goddammit..."
"...My guess is that these hatches were designed to stop things coming from the bottom up. ...Which means..."
"They never expected an attack from above? What a bunch of idiots... They should have made the damn things work both ways!"
The remaining researcher sat on the floor, hugging his knees.
"We don't have time to sit around. We need to get to the Basement 3rd Floor and secure those decoys."
"...I can't do this anymore. I want to go home..."
"If you want to go home, get up! If we don't move now, that thing is going to open the hatch again!"
"Waaaaah... I studied so hard, I worked so hard... why is this happening to me?"
Forced to his feet by the Disposal Squad Captain, the man wailed from inside his protective suit.
What a pathetic brat. Damn it, I wanted to cry too.
Wait. Does this mean he and I are the only researchers left...?
"Hey, do you have any weapons? Anything? If we have weapons, we might survive if that thing finds us."
"...Unless it's a specialized weapon, the slime will just absorb it. It looks like our Equipment D can hold them off, though."
"Then give it to me! I'm too important to die!"
"...If we give you our Equipment D, we’ll die. And then you'll be the one surrounded by slimes. You haven't had any training—do you really think you can handle them on your own?"
"Urgh..." The researcher choked on his words.
He was right. Taking weapons away from our guards was the height of stupidity. But we were so cornered that we couldn't think straight anymore.
"Th-then let's find some new ones! Hey, don't you have any anti-slime weapons left in your research lab?"
"There's nothing. When I checked yesterday, the room had been cleared out. ...Ah. But maybe one of the other labs has something?"
"We'll check them as we pass. There might be something useful."
We didn't have much time, but a quick glance wouldn't hurt.
With that in mind, we scoured the rooms on the Basement 2nd Floor... but a glance was all it took.
The rooms were empty.
Stripped clean. Nothing but bare floors and walls. Even under the glare of our lights, all that remained were the faint outlines where furniture used to be.
"There's nothing..."
"Does this mean the slimes ate everything? ...Then going to the Basement 3rd Floor is going to be a waste of time..."
"Weren't there dungeon weapons on the Basement 4th Floor?"
"Would those even work on slimes?"
"Hey! There’s something left over here! Come look!"
Just as despair was taking hold, one of the disposal squad members found something.
We hurried over to what looked like a containment cell. A branched, red, rod-like object was lying on the ground.
What was this...? It looked like it was growing out of the dirt—no, the stone. A mushroom?
"This is the experimental lab for the Artificial Majin Project. Why is this the only thing left...?"
"! I've got it! This must be the slime's weakness! Alright, weapon secured!"
My colleague shouted as he snatched up the red rod.
"H-Hey! Don't touch it so carelessly, it might be dangerous!"
"It's fine! I'm wearing a protective suit! ...Huh? It's stuck to my glove. It won't come off."
"I told you so!"
"You said it too late! ...Whatever, I'll just take the suit off later."
"We don't have any spare protective suits."
"..."
My colleague was forced to keep moving while clutching the red rod.
Since it might actually be a weapon against the slimes, leaving it behind felt like a waste anyway.
Finally, we reached the Basement 3rd Floor. ...Where were the slaves? ...There! Thank god! We're saved!
"Alright! Perfect! Now we just use these brats as decoys—"
"Are you stupid? They’ll resist if you tell them that. Let me handle this."
The Disposal Squad Captain took the keys and opened the cell.
"Hey! Are you kids okay? We've come to rescue you."
"Rescue...?"
"Yes. Some monsters escaped and are going on a rampage. It's not safe here, so come with us. We're getting out."
"Monsters... Ah, I—I understand. Everyone, can you walk? We're leaving!"
The beastman slaves filed out of the cell, completely deceived by the Captain's lies.
Stupid animals. No wonder they ended up as slaves.
"The monsters are coming from below. We'll watch the rear, so you kids stay in front."
"...Okay. Thank you, mister."
Success. We had our shields.
Now all we had to do was run for the exit while the slimes were busy devouring these kids!
Finally, a glimmer of hope.
We retraced our steps with our meat shields leading the way. The light magic didn't reach very far, leaving the path ahead dim. But we'd be able to spot a red slime instantly.
"Keep moving! We need to get out of here fast!"
"Hey, watch it with that red rod. If it sticks to anything else, you're going to have to peel yourself out of that suit."
"I—I know!"
My colleague, who had been swinging the red rod around like a whip, finally settled down.
The slaves walked on, blissfully unaware, proving the path ahead was safe.
Walking the path of safety is a privilege reserved for us humans. Finally, we’re going to make it!
Oh, that’s right... there were some servants on the Basement 4th Floor, weren't there? We don't have the resources to save them, so we should just leave them.
The slaves are more than enough as decoys. Their survival rate will probably be higher anyway if we just call for a rescue team once we're safe.