Tilo stood in front of the guild board, staring at the newest quest pinned in copper ink.
[Quest: Eliminate the Fangtooth Boar]
[Danger Level: Low-Medium]
[Reward: 40 Coins + Meat Share]
[Location: Eastern Pines]
He swallowed.
He'd fought wild slimes. Helped in the fields. Used Blob to scare off pests. But this was different.
This was a real hunt.
A boar could kill him if he messed up.
Tilo looked down at Blob, who wobbled beside his feet like a jelly guardian. The little slime blinked up at him, loyal and fearless.
"...We can do this, right?" Tilo said softly.
Blob bounced twice.
Tilo smiled. "Okay then. Let's sign up."
They weren't alone. A few other Bronze-ranked villagers joined the hunt—Kiel, a tall goblin with a bow; Mira, a quiet elf with throwing knives; and Fenn, a human with a heavy wooden hammer.
Tilo was the youngest and the only one with a slime.
Some stared.
"Bringing that blob to a boar fight?" Kiel asked, raising a brow.
Tilo looked down but stood his ground. "Blob's stronger than he looks."
Fenn gave a short laugh. "Well, we'll see."
Caelen walked past as they were preparing and handed Tilo a small pouch. "Boar scent repellent. Rub it on your arms. They hate the smell."
Tilo thanked him with a nod, then marched after the group into the forest.
The Eastern Pines were dense, quiet, and full of the smell of moss and bark.
They moved slowly, following the trail: broken branches, hoof prints, and deep claw marks on a tree trunk.
"Fangtooth boars are big, fast, and mean," Mira whispered. "Don't get cornered."
Tilo kept Blob close.
Every crunch of leaves made his heart pound. He wasn't sure if it was fear or excitement—or both.
Suddenly, Kiel raised a hand.
"There," he whispered, pointing through the trees.
The Fangtooth boar stood in a clearing, snorting and pawing the ground. Its tusks were curved like swords, stained dark. Its hide was thick and scarred.
It was huge.
Tilo froze.
"...It's bigger than I thought."
Kiel fired the first shot, hitting its side. The boar let out a sharp cry and charged.
Mira leapt aside, knives flying.
Fenn stepped forward, swinging his hammer and landing a solid hit.
Then it turned toward Tilo.
"Blob—Sticky Trap!"
The slime launched forward, landing in front of the charging boar. Its body splattered and stretched into a sticky net.
The boar struggled, slowed for just a second.
Tilo dashed forward and swung his sharpened stick.
[Tilo: Attack Successful]
[Fangtooth Boar HP -10%]
But the boar wasn't done.
It roared, throwing off Blob's trap and slamming into Fenn, knocking him down.
"Tilo—watch out!" Mira shouted.
The boar spun around, aiming for him.
Tilo's legs locked. The trees behind him felt miles away.
"Blob—Split and Bounce!"
Blob burst into two smaller slimes, each leaping at the boar's face.
The beast stumbled, blinded.
Mira threw a knife into its eye. Kiel fired an arrow into its chest.
And Tilo thrust his stick with all his strength into the boar's neck.
It fell.
[Fangtooth Boar Defeated]
[Quest Complete – 40 Coins Earned]
[Tilo: Level Up! Slime Handler Lv. 6]
[Blob: Lv. 6 – New Skill: Absorb Impact]
[Title Earned: First Fang]
Tilo fell to his knees, panting.
Blob reformed beside him, slightly wobbly but still glowing faintly.
"You... you did great," Tilo said between gasps.
Blob jiggled softly in response.
Kiel clapped his back. "Didn't expect that slime of yours to save us all."
Mira smiled faintly. "You've got talent."
Fenn gave a tired laugh. "I'll take a slime buddy next time, too."
Back at the village, they returned to the guild.
Everyone clapped when they brought in the huge boar body.
The guild staff handed them each their reward coins and a small share of fresh meat.
Tilo's fingers shook as he held the money.
"Forty coins..." he whispered. It was more than he ever had.
The ring on his finger glowed.
[New Stat Unlocked: Courage +1]
[Skill Strength Increased: Command +1]
Caelen passed by again, stopping to glance at the slime sitting proudly beside Tilo.
"You two did good."
Tilo smiled wide. "Thank you, Caelen. I think... I want to be a real adventurer now."
Caelen nodded. "Then keep walking forward. Don't stop."
That night, Tilo and Blob sat under the stars, meat roasting by a small fire.
The stars above twinkled like eyes watching his journey.
"Blob," he said quietly. "One day... let's explore that big tower Caelen mentioned. The one on the map. Let's be the first to reach it."
Blob jiggled once, glowing faintly in the firelight.
Tilo smiled and leaned back.
It was only the beginning.