My D Rank Skill is Actually SSS-Rank

Chapter 18: The Slime's Ultimatum and the B-Rank Beast Lair

Alaric groaned, holding the transparent slime at arm's length. This is worse than I thought. It's not just mimicking what it hears; it's mimicking what it perceives from me. It's a telepathic, SSS-tier pervert-exposer! My plausible deniability is officially at rock bottom.

"You are on thin ice, buddy! Very thin ice! One more thought-mimicry, and I'm refining you into a perfectly clear, perfectly silent paperweight that only hums soothing lullabies and has a 'Permanent Mute' condition! And I'll put you on Agnes's desk!" Alaric hissed, his face still pale with embarrassment.

The slime jiggled, then let out a tiny, perfectly pitched, defiant giggle. It then slowly, deliberately, bounced back onto his shoulder, settling there with a contented hum. It knows I won't do it. It's too useful. And too damn cute, damn it. This is a hostage situation, and I'm the one being held captive by my own creation.

Below, Lyra, still under the lingering influence of the 'Droplet of Absolute Persuasion', danced (and stumbled) through the 'C-Rank Agility Gauntlet', occasionally shouting, "For optimal flexibility!" Finn, meanwhile, was still flailing, trying to avoid the swinging blades and muttering apologies to the moving platforms.

"She's... she's still going, sir!" Finn yelled, dodging a blade by a hair's breadth. "And I think I just apologized to a falling rock!"

"Excellent! Keep up the optimal performance, you two!" Alaric shouted back, trying to sound encouraging while internally plotting the slime's demise (or at least, its strategic relocation to a very distant, very boring dimension). This is going to take a while. I need to find something else to optimize while they're... training.

He pulled out the 'Lens of Universal Perception'. Okay, no more pervy research for now. Gotta focus on actual dungeon optimization. Tactical information only. He held the lens up, scanning the cavern. The Dungeon Core pulsed with its serene blue light, radiating pure mana. The meditating Shadow Beast was still purring by the 'Pool of Pure Mana', looking utterly blissful.

System Notification: Dungeon Area: [B-Rank Beast Lair]. Condition: Unexplored, Contains Aggressive Fauna, Suboptimal Resource Extraction Points.

Alaric's eyes narrowed. B-Rank. Aggressive fauna. Suboptimal resource extraction. This sounds like a proper challenge. And a proper source of D-Rank materials. He made his way towards a dark, foreboding tunnel leading off the main cavern.

"Alright, you two! New area! B-Rank challenge!" Alaric announced. Lyra, still dancing, gave a thumbs-up. Finn let out a faint whimper.

The tunnel was narrower, darker, and the air grew heavy with the scent of musk and something vaguely predatory. The walls were rough, unrefined stone, and the floor was littered with bones.

System Notification: Location: B-Rank Beast Lair - Entrance. Environment: Dark, Confining, Predatory Aura (B-Rank). Threats: Various B-Rank Beasts.

"Various B-Rank Beasts, huh? Sounds like fun," Alaric muttered, gripping his 'Staff of Ever-Bright Illumination' tighter. The staff's light cut through the gloom, revealing the true scale of the tunnel.

As they ventured deeper, the growls grew louder. Soon, they came across the first inhabitants. A pack of hulking, wolf-like creatures with glowing red eyes emerged from the shadows, snarling.

System Notification: Monster Detected: [Cave Wolves - B-Rank]. Skills: Pack Tactics (B), Savage Bite (C), Howl of Fear (D).

"Cave Wolves! B-Rank!" Lyra shouted, her lingering persuasion-induced euphoria making her fearless. She charged forward, sword swinging wildly. "For optimal combat performance!"

Finn shrieked, dropping his pickaxe. "W-wolves, sir! I apologize! I'm not good with wolves!" He immediately curled into a ball, apologizing profusely to the floor.

Alaric sighed. One fearless idiot, one terrified idiot. Classic party composition. Good thing I'm here to optimize. He wasn't going to let Lyra get herself killed. He needed her for future 'optimization' research.

He pulled out the 'Net of Unseen Capture'. Pack Tactics, huh? Let's see how you like being optimally contained. As the lead wolf lunged at Lyra, Alaric flicked his wrist. The invisible net shot out, expanding rapidly. It enveloped the entire pack of wolves, binding them instantly and immovably. They snarled, struggling against the unseen bonds, but couldn't move an inch.

System Notification: [Net of Unseen Capture] activated. Target: Cave Wolves (B-Rank). Effect: Bound Immovably (Non-Harmful).

Lyra, mid-swing, found herself facing a perfectly still, snarling wolf. She blinked, then looked at Alaric. "Master Alaric! What did you do? They just... stopped!"

Finn, uncurling from his ball, peered at the wolves. "They're... stuck, sir? But there's nothing there!"

"Just optimal crowd control, you two," Alaric deadpanned, retrieving the net. The wolves vanished as the net retracted, now perfectly contained within the invisible mesh. "They're just... temporarily relocated. For optimal safety. And optimal resource extraction." He winked. I'll deal with them later. Maybe refine their pelts into 'Optimal Warmth' cloaks. Or their teeth into 'Self-Sharpening Daggers'.

He led them deeper into the lair, Lyra now looking at him with a mixture of awe and confusion, Finn still apologizing to everything. Alaric kept his eyes peeled for materials. He noticed patches of strange, glowing fungus on the walls.

System Notification: Material Detected: [Bioluminescent Fungus (C-Rank Material)]. Condition: Common, Mildly Toxic, Suboptimal Light Source.

"Mildly toxic, suboptimal light source. Perfect," Alaric hummed. He carefully scraped off a small piece. What could this become? A perfectly edible, glowing mushroom? Or a 'Flashbang Fungus'? His pervy mind immediately supplied: A 'Luminescent Lingerie' material. For optimal visibility in dark places. For research, obviously.

He focused his skill on the fungus. The mild toxicity vanished, the dull glow intensified, and the fungus transformed into a small, perfectly clear, intensely bright crystal that pulsed with a soft, warm light.

System Notification: [Basic Material Refinement] activated. Material: Bioluminescent Fungus (C-Rank). Result: Perfected 'Crystal of Pure Radiance' (SSS-Tier Artifact). Condition: Indestructible, Infinite Light Source, Purifies Air (Minor), Emits Aura of 'Soothing Warmth'.

"Infinite Light Source? Purifies Air? 'Soothing Warmth'?" Alaric grinned. "This is amazing! No more dusty dungeons! No more stale air! I can make this entire dungeon a perfectly lit, perfectly breathable environment!" He imagined turning the entire B-Rank Beast Lair into a luxurious, well-lit cavern. And it would be perfect for 'optimal observation' of the wildlife. Or any 'wild' adventurers.

The transparent slime on his shoulder jiggled, then in a tiny, perfectly pitched voice that sounded eerily like Alaric's own, it squeaked: "Luminescent Lingerie! For optimal visibility in dark places!" It then giggled, a knowing, triumphant sound.

Alaric froze, his face going pale. "You! You little... you're still doing that?! Even in a B-Rank Beast Lair?!" He grabbed the slime, holding it up to the 'Crystal of Pure Radiance'. "I'm warning you! One more thought-mimicry, and I'm refining you into a perfectly clear, perfectly silent paperweight that only hums soothing lullabies and has a 'Permanent Mute' condition! And I'll put you on Agnes's desk, right next to her badger pelt toupee!"

The slime jiggled, then let out a tiny, perfectly pitched, defiant giggle.

Alaric sighed. This is going to be a long, long dungeon optimization. And a very, very public one, if this slime has anything to say about it. And a very, very well-lit one, too.