The warmth of Maddy's cavern, filled with the scent of roasted meat and the rowdy laughter of a newborn family, felt worlds away from the dusty road leading out of the Slime Village.
The five adventurers tramped along the dirt path, the sun catching the polished edges of their brand new, expensive gear. Not Erwin, his golden armor was dented and worn, his claymore showing the scars of countless battles.
They had spent three days in the village, three days emptying their coin pouches on high-grade potions… and one painfully expensive stone.
Lita held the object between her fingers like it had personally insulted her.
"Why the hell is this rock so expensive!? I could buy a whole plot of land with what we spent on this! And now… we have no savings. I'm not eating slime jam again just because we can't afford a steak! NO and NEVER!"
Erwin glanced at her from the front of the group, already sighing.
