Chapter 18 –– Avram Arnevet

Old man Hubal just revealed his true identity that he kept from me all this time. The truth was, he was the spirit of the Sacred Giant Mushroom all along.

“You are the spirit of....?” I asked him in doubt.

“I am the spirit incarnation of the Sacred Giant Mushroom. The reason why I am vanishing is because my life depends on the mushroom’s life. It is true that the mushroom is absorbing the minerals and gnox energy from the district. However, by absorbing most of the gnox in the district, the mushroom prevents monsters from coming to the village for generations.....” he explained.

That being said....all this time.....I was trying to destroy him.....?

“Why didn’t you tell me from the beginning?”

“I don’t want to take away your calling and dream away from you. I can see that you have bigger, better things waiting for you out there. This day was bound to come.”

Making a decision for me without even asking me....that’s just.....

“But I wouldn’t want to trade it by separating with you....you’ve been with me all my life.....”

Even though I could not touch him, I could feel that our feelings were connected. He taught me so many things. He was like a father to me, more than my real father.

“You must take down that monster. Whatever it takes. This is your final calling.”

Suddenly, I sensed something warm in my pocket. I took it out and realised that I still had one last pellet. It felt like it was surging with energy all of a sudden. I believed that this might be the only way that could take down the slime once and for all.

I went out of hiding to face the slime. Turned out, the slime had already absorbed the Sacred Giant Mushroom, dominating the blue slime and merging into one big black slime. It looked impossible to defeat.

“You can do this.”

Old man Hubal touched the gnoxichalc ore that I was holding in my hand and overflew it with gnox energy he had left.

“Go get it, Avram!”

“Take down that monster!”

The villagers who had been watching me from afar cheered for me on the side. Their cheer and support added more energy into the ore, making it more powerful than ever. The ore started getting warmer and warmer to the point that it started feeling hot.

Suddenly, I recalled the memory of meeting the boy whom I met when I was young, under that Sacred Giant Mushroom which was currently inside that slime’s body. I was supposed to use this ore and have it forged into a matching pair of collars for us to wear. However, by using it to take down the slime, I guessed this was me saying goodbye to my soulmate. I had to sacrifice my dream in exchange for the safety of my people.

“I’m sorry that you had to trade your dream for this, child,” old man Hubal told me, while holding my paw.

Even though his hand was intangible, I could somehow feel his paw touching mine.

I started drawing my slingshot and aiming it at the slime, with the gnoxichalc ore as the bullet. I only had one chance and this was my last one.

“Thank you, old man.”

I let loose of the ore and let it fly towards the slime. It accurately stuck to the head of the slime. The slime started shrieking in pain as the ore started to suck out its energy from within. The slime then started to dissolve and disintegrate, along with the Sacred Giant Mushroom.

Beside me, old man Hubal disintegrated as the Sacred Giant Mushroom did. His upper body started to vanish, leaving only his head visible.

“Old man!”

I tried to grab him but it was no use. His body was intangible no matter what I did. Tears started to drip down my face uncontrollably. I did not expect today to be my last day with him.

“Thank you, child. It was nice knowing you.”

He smiled at me for the last time. I couldn’t help but cry as he vanished.

“Farewell.”

He said his last word and vanished for good. He brought along the slime and the Sacred Giant Mushroom with him, vanishing into the unknown.

“Goodbye, old man.”

I sat on the ground, grieving for my lifelong mentor.

The next day, people talked about my heroic act for having saved the district from the giant monster in addition to having finished my calling. The rumour had spread so quickly just within a day, even reaching to other districts of Lapinus Village. The District Ruler then decided to hold a ceremony at the district square to celebrate my victory against the monster.

Before I went to the square, I visited the woods to see the remains of the Sacred Giant Mushroom. I was curious to see if there was any residue of the slime nor the mushroom in case I missed anything.

The Sacred Giant Mushroom was completely gone. There was nothing left there, not a single mushroom nor any remains of the slime. The gnoxichalc ore had completely absorbed them and dissolved into thin air, returning the gnox energy back to the groundsphere.

However, despite the fact that they were all gone, I noticed there was something on the ground. I walked towards it to see what it was.

It was a blue feather. I didn’t know what that was, but it was placed right where the Sacred Giant Mushroom was. I picked it up to take a look closer at it.

“This was my last gift for you, child.”

I just heard old man Hubal’s voice in my head. I immediately turned my head around to see where voice was coming from.

“Old man!!!”

I turned around but there was nobody there. It was as if he was speaking inside in my mind, telepathically. I put the blue feather on my paw. It then pointed at a certain direction, like a compass. I didn’t know why but I got the feeling that it was telling me where to go. I clenched it tightly, keeping it safe as it was the last thing old man Hubal gave me.

At noon, I returned to the village to attend the ceremony conducted specially for me at the district square. Everyone from the district came to watch as audience, including my family. To my surprise, the Chieftain of Lapinus tribe also came to see me in person. She came onto the stage and announced my achievement for the sake of the village.

“With this, we announce you–– Avram Arnevet–– as the Slime Slayer of Arnevet Clan.”

That sounded like such an exaggeration, honestly. Well, at least I made my parents proud.

“To commend you for your achievement, you are now free to choose your own calling.”

Oh. I didn’t know that was what happened after one finished their calling. In that case......

I stepped forward and took a look around the audience. This was it. This was the moment I had been waiting for.

“I choose to be......

an explorer!”

Everyone from the audience gave a round of applause, commemorating my new calling. The chieftain smiled as she approved of my request. Today marked a new beginning for me.

Later that day, I packed my bags to start my new calling immediately. I packed all of the things that I would need in a large backpack. I didn’t know how long this journey of mine would take, but I was sure that it would be a long one.

I put the blue feather on my paw to see the direction I was supposed to go.

“That way, huh....”

Just from the direction it pointed, I could already tell where I was supposed to go. Later in the evening, I departed from my district to the direction the blue feather pointed for me.

“Here I come.....

Burrow Town!”