Inside the Cave of Obscenity

Chapter Volume 8 8: Vol8 Final - Those Who Return and Those Who Do Not

"Uu..."

A few hours later.

After enough time had passed for the sun to tilt slightly from the middle of the sky, a small voice echoed through the forest.

"I... was saved?"

Julia, a beastwoman with golden hair, tail, and ears, was the one who raised her body as she said that.

She knew from the tattered black military uniform that what had just happened was not a dream, and she knotted the remnants together to at least hide her chest and lower body.

They were stained with slime mucus and foul-smelling white fluid, but she was also...... well, lucky that her panties were still intact.

Dressed only in a ragged, torn military uniform cloth and bright red panties, Julia looked around.

She immediately saw the person she was looking for―― her beloved childhood friend and her expression softened, if only slightly.

"Anri!!"

"......"

There was no reply.

Julia rushed over to her childhood friend, who had been thrown carelessly to the ground, and picked her up.

Anri was in just as bad a state as Julia, with dirt all over her body, and it seemed as though no part was clean.

"Thank goodness......"

Despite her condition, however, Anri was breathing.

Her chest, which was two times bigger than Julia's, was gently rising and falling, and she did not appear to be injured.

After checking on Anri, Julia breathed a sigh of relief and thought about what she had to do next.

Her entire body was stained with slime and white fluid, especially her lower body.

Julia's face contorted as the half-dried liquid spilled from her vagina and asshole, and she wiped her skin to clean it as best she could with the remnants of her military uniform, which was now just more than a rag.

"Nhh... Julia...?"

"Ahh, Anri―― thank goodness you're all right."

When Anri regained consciousness while she was wiping her body, Julia couldn't resist and hugged her petite body.

The limbs of the two almost naked beauties overlapped, and Julia and Anri's breasts bumped into each other and changed shape.

It was a touching scene, but they quickly pulled away, remembering that they were both in a terrible state of defilement.

"It stinks."

"I couldn't care less, since you're safe."

Anri smiled wryly, and Julia returned to her strong usual tone.

......and bowed her head.

"I'm sorry. I jumped out on my own."

"Yeah. You should reflect on it, okay? But don't mind it―― I hate the slime, too."

Anri said no more.

Then, following Julia, she gathered up the remnants of her military uniform to cover a minimal amount of skin and looked around.

"What about everyone else?"

"I don't know... the goblin-shaped slime was gone when I woke up."

"I see."

Julia and Anri searched their surroundings and found their weapons.

No weapons or armor from their allies.

Knowing that the slime could not melt metal, they were relieved to find no weapons and no armor.

No one else had been sacrificed here but themselves, they decided to think so.

"Let's go back to the camp, Julia. We have to join Fiana-sama and the others."

"Yes."

Anri tried to wear the metal breastplate over the remnants of her uniform that hid only her chest and crotch but thought it was just cold and gave up.

The metal fittings to fasten the armor had been broken, and whatever the goblins had done, there was a puddle of white fluid in the deep part that was not on Julia's breastplate.

She couldn't bring herself to wear it after seeing such filth.

"It's so quiet."

"Yeah."

The forest was oddly quiet.

No birds were chirping, no insects singing...... nothing like that.

The forest looked completely different from when they came, and it felt eerie.

Moving through the forest was led by Anri, and they were able to get through the forest without being attacked by the slime.

"This is......"

Julia gasped at the sight.

She saw a writhing structure that could only be described as a "slime castle" showing before her.

The grayish-black liquid that made up the structure was familiar.

It was a damn slime.

The slime had gathered into a castle-like shape, covering an abandoned temple that had been used as a goddess's resting place long ago.

The sight rendered her speechless for a moment, and then a sudden gust of wind cooled her mucus-soaked skin, bringing her back to awareness.

"Julia, over here!!"

Anri, who had been looking for Fiana and the others while Julia was shivering in the sight of the "Slime Castle", called out from a distance.

She ran in the direction of the voice and found a camp set up there, with the supplies they had been carrying...... but no sign of anyone.

Anri was the first to check inside the tents, but there was no one in any of the dozen or so tents.

In addition.......

"This is......"

"The sword that Fiana-sama had?"

They picked up the mithril sword from the ground and checked it.

The familiar shape was the sword used by Fiana, the female elven knight who led the group.

The sword, which was said to have been newly made to fight the slimes, was filled with a large amount of mana, so much so that even the beastmen, who could not trace the flow of mana, could feel the mighty power that was contained in it.

But now, the sword had no mana.

With its mana exhausted, it was a mere metal sword.

"What happened here..."

Julia looked around the empty camp with Fiana's sword in her hand.

There was no sign of anyone―― it was no use staying in this place, and after a while, they went back into the forest.

"We should go back to the relay point where Alfira-dono is."

"Yeah, that's right."

And so they walked through the forest all night, going back to the relay point that Alfira was managing.

The two, who were accustomed to the forest and had good instincts, took the shortest distance without getting lost and were able to return to the relay point by the time daybreak came.

Although they were able to rest a little after passing out, the two had been tormented for so long that they had reached their physical limits, but they still walked.

There was no one but themselves―― they wanted to forget such anxiety as soon as possible.

"Ah."

But when they returned to the relay point, it was hell.

"Fuguuu!? There, that's the wrong placeee!?"

What reached their ears was a familiar voice―― Alfira's voice.

However, the violet-haired human female knight, who had not lost her dignified expression in front of Fiana, was being violated by an orc at the edge of the relay point.

No, by a slime in the form of an orc.

Its body was made of mucus that made it look slow and obese, and its face could only be described as ugly.

The fact that the face was not changing like a mask was bizarre but other than that, it was no different from the orcs that Julia and the others know.

The slime was a perfect copy of the monster.

"We have to help."

"Yeah, alright."

Fortunately, Alfira was the only one being violated.

There was no one else and no slime.

There was no man.

Did they retreat while Alfira was being violated, or have they already been preyed upon?

"There should have been other women besides Alfira-dono at this relay point......"

"Yeah, but let's think about it later."

"Yeah."

Without time to think about it, Julia and Anri turn their attention toward Alfira, who was being violated.

"Kuh!? Again, why always that placeee!"

The violet-haired knight, protected by the knight's armor except for her groin, screamed, but Julia and Anri did not panic and calmly approached the orc, using the trees in the forest as cover.

Using mithril with mana would be noticed by the slimes, so they would use a non-magical weapon to strike the orc's "nucleus".

The two move to a distance where the blade could reach with just one step and observe first, narrowing the superior eyes of the beastmen to find the "nucleus".

"Higuu!? Don't make it strange anymore!? The hole you're putting it iiin!?"

Alfira's voice was mournful, but not, however, in a way that caused pain or suffering.

She was clearly experiencing pleasure, and her body was convulsing and climaxing from the orc's powerful penetration.

As a woman, they wanted to help her as soon as possible, but if they failed here, Julia and Anri would be caught and they would not be able to help everyone.

The two of them search for the "nucleus" to kill the slime in the form of an orc and make preparations.

"I'm going."

"Yes."

And when she found the orc's "nucleus", Julia bent down and leaned forward so low that she seemed to fall straight to the ground.

Her skin was barely concealed by her tattered military uniform, and her bright red panties, stained with slime and white fluid, were in full view.

Anri threw a pebble near the orc.

"――?"

Only the orc heard the small sound.

The three countries of Fonteau, Grabalt, and Lishlua.

Since Lishlua had a strong religion, the word temple was used instead of a castle, but a castle was originally a place where royalty live.

However.

"There are no castles beyond this point."

"Yeah. That's what the map confirms―― so what if we think a castle was built?"

Kara lifted her black-rimmed glasses with her fingers and pulled a sheet of parchment from the large leather bag at her waist.

It was a piece of paper with a simple map of the forest on it.

"It's impossible to travel in four days from this village to the castle of Fonteau or Grabalt."

"Yeah."

"Then―― that would mean that their group saw something that looked like a castle."

"Something like a castle?"

Meltia asked curiously.

When she said that, no answer immediately came to mind.

Naturally.

It would be pointless for the slimes to build a castle.

Slimes didn't need a place to live―― even if it was for Frederica, with whom it was working, a roof, a bed, and walls to protect her from the wind and rain would be enough.

There was no point in building something so grandiose as a castle, so people usually didn't even think about it.

Without Julia's words, it would be an idea that wouldn't even come to their minds.

"Anyway, it seems that someone named Anri is coming back, and we should wait for her report."

"But Fiana's group..."

"The woman named Julia said they have been wiped out―― that's what we should think about going forward."

"Kara!!"

Unusually, Mariabelle raised her voice.

Her allies were wiped out―― a word she did not want to admit, and her heart was disturbed by her friend's words.

......Her sister, Meltia, grabbed Mariabelle's hand.

"It's dangerous to enter the forest without any information. And the sun is about to set... We'll wait for someone named Anri, won't we, Maria?"

"......"

When she was told that, Mariabelle could not say anything.

In the dark forest where the sun had set, even they, who were of elven blood, could not see what lies ahead.

Even for a beastman with good vision in the dark, it was impossible to advance through the forest at night while keeping an eye out for their surroundings.

Even Mariabelle, who had excellent instincts as a hero, would not be able to fight while protecting her companions in such a forest under the threat of the slimes.

"......Yes."

"More importantly, Fornelis-sama. What are we going to do next..."

"Ah, yeah. Meltia, take care of Mariabelle."

"Yes. Then, Maria. Let's go in the tent..."

"No."

Mariabelle interrupted Meltia and turned her gaze to the dark forest.

"I will stay here and wait for Anri-san to return."

"......I see. Gather up the men and the mages! Some people are coming back, watch out as they might be chased by slimes!"

"Understood!"

Fornelis gave these instructions and looked at Mariabelle's back, who was probably feeling helpless but said nothing more.

(You've matured enough not to go into the forest in a fit of rage.)

The mission as a hero.

The ability to be a hero.

Not only does she have excellent swordsmanship and physical ability, but she also understood that she was the spiritual pillar of the entire continent, and she was able to suppress her emotions.

She disciplined herself not to be reckless.

As Fornelis felt the growth of the person, even though it was inappropriate, Kara let out a sigh.

"Fiana-sama seemed to have resisted to the end."

"......"

"The mana in the mithril sword is empty. She must have resisted and fought until the enormous amount of mana Queen Leticia had put into it was gone."

"......"

"The slimes won't kill her―― you'll be on your way to help her soon, so get some sleep, Maria."

Kara's words took Fornelis and Meltia by surprise for a moment.

For although the words did not seem very concerned, they were sincere in their concern for Mariabelle.

That feeling was conveyed not only to Meltia and Fornelis but also to Mariabelle.

"......Yes. I'll wait a little longer and then I'll take a break. So......"

"Yeah. If you know that, I won't say anything else―― leave the planning to us. Let's go, Fornelis-sama."

"Fufu―― alright. We have to get Jenna and everyone else out of there, and we'll use our heads so we can get some sleep soon."

"...haah."

Perhaps realizing that the words did not suit her, Kara let out a deep sigh and walked into Fornelis' tent.

――It was nearly dawn when Anri and the others returned.

They were joined by about fifty other beastmen who had been lucky enough to escape from the slimes in the forest.

Mariabelle waited until late at night, but following Kara's words, she got some sleep so that she wouldn't be too tired, and it was Méltia who responded to them.

Meltia summarized the information she had heard from Anri, Alfira, and the other beastmen, and gathered them outside Fornelis' tent when she woke Mariabelle and the others.

"In other words, the slimes really built a castle, in the depths of the forest?"

"It seems so. Anri and all of the beastmen who were working with Fiana-sama's group have said so......"

"Not a lie, huh?"

Fornelis said that with a bitter look on her face and turned her gaze toward Kara, who was still standing and looking at the map.

"By the way, what's been bothering you since a moment ago?"

"From the sound of it, they'll attack you if you get too close to the castle, right? And the beastmen that got away from those slimes...... Would the slimes let someone escape once it recognized them as prey?"

"Did they let them go on purpose?"

"No."

Kara then unfolded the map she was looking at so that Mariabelle and the others could see it.

On it, the place where Anri said the "slime castle" was located was marked.

It was an old temple that the goddess used as a place to sleep when she created this continent long ago.

It is also the place where the "Hero's Sword" was enshrined.

"I was thinking that perhaps the slimes in the forest attack anything that comes near the "castle" but ignores everything else."

"What do you mean?"

When Mariabelle asked, Kara pointed to the marked area and then moved her finger to the village where they were now.

"Think about it. It's a four-day walk. A tireless slime can travel half that distance if it travels all night. And now it walked on two legs."

"That's right."

"It didn't attack a village this close, and even though there were humans, it let go of the enemy in front of it―― I was thinking that by getting some distance from the "castle" it might stop its hostile behavior to some extent."

"Hmm, I see."

If they didn't go to the castle, they won't be able to save Fiana and Jenna, and they won't be able to rescue the goddess Fasalina.

"Assuming that's the case...... what do we do?"

"This village is safe, and I've got an idea of what the slime is thinking...... I think we should concentrate all our forces here and destroy the slime castle."

"What do you mean?"

"For now, we will keep our forces in this village and concentrate as many men as we can gather from Fonteau, Lishlua, and Grabalt."

When Kara said that, everyone in the room looked up.

"We will use all of our strength to destroy the castle and save Fiana-sama and the others. If the goddess is there, we will save her too."

"Not a bad...... idea, no, except for this one, if you can think of it now?"

"That being said, I'd like Maria to head over to Fonteau, okay?"

Kara looked at Mariabelle as she said that.

"Me?"

"Princess Meltia's magic is a valuable asset, and I'd like to ask Fornelis-sama to take command of the place, and have someone else head over to contact Grabalt and Lishlua. That way, I think Maria can move the quickest."

In fact, Mariabelle's physical strength, which had been awakened to the hero's power when fighting the Black Ooze, surpassed even Fornelis, who was known among the strongest of the beastmen.

If it was Mariabelle, she would be able to shorten the time from here to Fonteau by about ten days.......

But to do so would mean that the hero would have to leave the front lines―― and that was not a good thing.

"If the slime attacked, we would run away with our tails between our legs. But the real fight, Maria, will come when you return."

"......Yes."

Mariabelle was reassured by Kara's words, even though they may have been inappropriate.

If there was a battle, they would run away―― surely the knights from Fonteau, the warriors from Grabalt, and the priests from Lishlua would never say it.

But her close friend in a white lab coat, who thought rationally, could do it.

She was thinking of the final victory rather than pride and conviction.

Because she was sure that she could see and think much further than the hero Mariabelle.

So Mariabelle nodded, reassured.

"Don't overdo it, okay?"

"I wouldn't push it. I don't like that sort of thing."

Believing her words, Mariabelle rode her horse back to Fonteau.

She would rest in some village along the way, and even if she switched horses, she would probably end up riding out somewhere.

Only the hero with superior physical strength would be able to move constantly.

Messages were sent out to each country.

Like when they fought the Black Ooze, they would gather the forces of the three countries...... to attack the "Slime Castle" this time.

――But Mariabelle, who was at a distance, had not yet noticed.

The slime's evil hands were already reaching out to Fonteau――.