Re:Zero - Starting Life in Another World as a Skeleton Chapter 168 168: Bochi

Iron Fortress, Deep within the Sewers.

A blue Sli, significantly larger than its mindless brethren, lay perched at a damp corner of the pipes. It used its two black, bean-like eyes to peer cautiously through the iron grate at the world above.

He was... well, he didn't need a cumberso thing like a "na" yet.

He was a King! The Sovereign of this dark, humid, and aromatic subterranean realm!

Recently, he had felt a surge of power swirling within his core—a biological pressure as if sothing were about to crack out of its shell. He knew the signs: Advancent. He was on the verge of becoming a legendary Tier 1 powerhouse!

When that day ca, he would no longer be a low-tier mabeast that could be bullied by a common Novice Skeleton. He would burst from these gods-forsaken sewers and make those arrogant, two-legged at-bags pay.

And that skeleton? The one who had unceremoniously jamd him back down here? He would pay double.

"Thirty years in the east, thirty years in the west... do not despise the potential of a poor Sli!" (Note: A classic webnovel trope localized here for codic effect).

The Sli King vibrated with a self-assured intensity, his body inflating by ten percent in sheer pride.

Lately, the world above had beco unnervingly loud. Through the grate, he could hear the at-bags discussing a place called the Evernight Mall.

"Did you hear? The Mall got a fresh shipnt today!"

"For real? Anything good?"

"I heard they got Ice-Crystal Trout air-lifted from Freeport. The scent... gods, it's divine."

"And Moonlight Berries from the Great Forest! So sweet they'll rot your teeth out!"

Ice-Crystal Trout? Moonlight Berries?

As he listened, the Sli King's body involuntarily secreted a massive amount of digestive fluid. What are those? They sound a hundred tis better than sewer rats and roaches!

He couldn't wait any longer. He needed to taste the world above. He would infiltrate this "Evernight Mall," devour every delicacy within, and use the nutrients to fuel his ascension!

He waited until the dead of night, when the clamor of the streets finally faded into a peaceful hum. The Sli King took a deep breath—taphorically speaking—and compressed his body into a thin, liquid ribbon. He squeezed through the narrow gaps of the iron grate with a grunt of exertion.

POP—!

Success! He had returned to the land of opportunity and danger!

The Sli King reford into his naturally round, jiggly shape and scanned the area. The streets of Iron Fortress were bathed in the soft, amber glow of the Evernight Lamps. Empty. Silent.

Perfect. Operation: Buffet is a go.

He wiggled his body, using his innate sense of direction to navigate toward the scent of the Mall. Just as he was about to cross a major intersection, a lazy, familiar voice drifted from the shadows.

"A Sli? It's been a while."

The Sli King's gelatinous fra went rigid. His bean-eyes bulged in terror.

That voice...

He whipped his "head" around. A skeleton was standing beneath the glow of a streetlamp, wearing a battered straw hat and carrying a fishing rod.

It's one of those 'Pests'! One of the high-tier bone-racks!

The Sli King began to shiver violently. It's a predator! A very, very dangerous predator!

His mind defaulted to a single command: NIGERUNDAYO! (RUN!)

However, before he could lurch away, the terrifying skeleton did sothing entirely unexpected. He knelt down and extended a bony hand. In his palm lay a small fish, still twitching with a sliver of life.

"Caught this today. I was going to sell it at the Mall, but they've already closed for the night. You look hungry, so consider this a tax rebate."

A fish?

For ?

The Sli King froze. His shivering subsided. He looked at the fish—which slled intoxicatingly fresh—then up at the skeleton in the straw hat.

This bone-rack... he doesn't radiate malice.

He isn't hunting . He's... feeding ?

The Sli King's worldview suffered a massive system error. In his mory, this species was a "Pest" that treated him like trash. But now...

The fish slled better than anything in the history of the sewers.

"Be-Be-Beneficial Insect! This skeleton is a Beneficial Insect!"

Old terror was instantly overwritten by new, gluttonous devotion. The Sli King lunged forward, his soft body engulfing the fish in a heartbeat. The succulent at was dissolved and absorbed, sending a wave of unprecedented satisfaction through his core.

Delicious! Gods, it's so good!

He began to wiggle and bounce in place like an overexcited puppy. Having finished his al, he even scooted forward to rub against Kaito's smooth shin-bone, expressing his joy and newfound affection.

Kaito watched the fawning blob, his Soul Fire flickering. "Smart little guy, aren't you?"

He reached down and gave the jiggly mass a pat. The texture was surprisingly pleasant. "Well then. Since you're so agreeable, why don't you stick with ?"

The Sli King tilted his body, radiating confusion.

Kaito lifted his fishing rod, his voice taking on a persuasive, teacher-like tone. "You act as my 'Chumr' (Bait-Attractor), and I'll handle the fishing. Every ti we land a catch, you get one, and I sell the rest. A fair trade, wouldn't you say?"

Chumr? Fishing?

The Sli King didn't understand the logistics, but the words "You get one" translated perfectly.

More of those delicious little fish?!

He began to bounce so violently he nearly beca a rubber ball. Accepted! Absolute agreent!

Kaito let out a dry chuckle, scooped the sli up, and perched him on his skeletal shoulder. The hard bone wasn't the most comfortable seat, but the Sli King didn't care. He was too busy dreaming of his future nu.

Kaito patted the sli's head. "From now on, you're Bochi."

"Bochi?"

The Sli King—no, Bochi—chewed on the na in his mind. Bochi. It sounds... prestigious.

And so, the great Sli King, before he could even take his first step toward world conquest, had sohow blundered into becoming a professional bait-monkey for a skeletal fisherman.

The Next Morning, Dawn.

Kaito arrived at the riverbank with Bochi still perched on his shoulder. He set the sli down on the grass.

"Alright, Bochi. It's showti."

Bochi looked at the shimring, vast river and felt a bit overwheld. Chumming... how do I even do that?

Kaito applied a protective film of Mana over Bochi to ensure the fish didn't try to eat him instead. Then he pointed his rod at the water.

"You're a Sli, right? Your kind secretes a specific type of pheromone-heavy mucus that other creatures find irresistible. It's basically a biological siren song."

Bochi blinked. Wait... is it?

He rembered using his mucus to lure roaches and rats in the sewers. I guess it works on fish too?

"Go on. Get in there and release your 'charm'." Kaito nudged him with the tip of his rod.

Bochi hesitated for a second, then—PLOP—he dove into the river. The cool water was refreshing against his gelatinous skin. Following Kaito's instructions, he began to release his pride-and-joy: the high-viscosity attraction mucus.

The reaction was instantaneous.

The water around Bochi began to churn. Fish of all sizes, appearing as if they had caught the scent of a divine delicacy, sward Bochi's location in a silver frenzy.

Startled by the sheer volu of the "fans," Bochi launched himself out of the water like a projectile, landing safely back on the bank.

Kaito nodded with supre satisfaction. "Beautifully done!"

He cast his line into the center of the swarming pool. A heartbeat later, the bobber vanished beneath the surface with a violent jerk!

Kaito flicked his wrist, and a massive, thrashing trout was sent flying onto the grass. Kaito unhooked the fish with the ease of a master.

"There. The first one is yours. I told you, I never miss. My hook is a decree of fate."

Bochi stared at the fish—it was twice the size of the one from last night. He felt like he was lting with joy. He pounced, devouring the trout in seconds.

Heaven! This is heaven! This skeleton is a God! He is my new Father!

With his morale peaking, Bochi dove back into the water. He beca a tireless, high-output chuming machine.

Kaito, anwhile, was experiencing the greatest high of his un-life.

Cast. Hook. Land. Repeat.

He didn't even need bait anymore. The fish were practically lining up to be caught. In less than an hour, the wooden bucket beside him was overflowing with pri specins.

"Alright, that's enough for today," Kaito said, retracting his line. If he caught any more, he'd actually start depleting the local population he'd spent so much gold to stock.

Bochi climbed back onto the bank, shaking the water from his body, and looked at Kaito with expectant eyes. Kaito hoisted the heavy bucket and patted the sli's head.

"Co on, Bochi. Let's go hit the market!"

☆☆☆

-> 20 Advanced chapters Now Available on Patreon!!

-> spat-reon.co-m/c/Hollowborn

(Just remove the hyphen (-) to access patreon normally)

If you like this novel please consider leaving a review that's help the story a lot Thank you