I became an antagonist teacher in RPG WORLD

Chapter 9: The Hunt for Ingredients

The next morning, the soft chirping of birds echoed from the forest, their melodies blending with the rustling leaves.

Slash. Slash.

A blue slime was split in an instant, dissolving into shimmering gooey as Iris moved swiftly, her blade slicing through the air.

Slash. Slash. Slash.

More slimes fell in quick succession, each cut triggering a faint window in her peripheral vision:

[EXP 1+] [EXP1+] [EXP1+]

"Good thing I've practiced sword skills in countless games," Iris thought, recalling how many times she'd mastered combat in her favorite RPGs. It was as though her hands already knew what to do, the muscle memory kicking in from all those hours of gameplay.

Fifteen slimes down, and Iris finally paused, panting heavily. "Huff... Huff... This body's stamina is so weak..." she muttered between labored breaths, leaning on her knees for support.

Just as she caught her breath, a blue window screen popped up before her:

[You have reached level 25.] 
[ HP increased: 100  → 120 ] 
[Strength increased: 19 → 28]
[Agility increased: 3 → 12]

Iris grinned, feeling the newfound power coursing through her muscles. "At least my strength is getting better," she muttered, flexing her arms slightly to test the improvement.

Another window quickly followed:

[You have unlocked a skill.]

"A skill?" Iris wiped her brow, curiosity overtaking her fatigue.

[Shadow Butterfly Lv. 1] [ You can now summon butterflies as your assistants. With this skill, you can distract the enemy.]

"Shadow Butterfly?" she murmured, staring at the notification. Her determination flared up again. Let's give it a try.

With a firm grip on her weapon and resolve burning in her eyes, Iris raised her hand and opened her palm.

 "Shadow Butterfly."

A small purple butterfly materialized, fluttering gracefully into the air. It was delicate, its wings a deep violet with shimmering black edges.

"Aww, you cute little buddy," Iris cooed, leaning closer to the tiny creature. "Hello there."

The butterfly fluttered toward a nearby flower, its delicate wings brushing the petals. As it touched the center of the flower, the vibrant bloom instantly withered, turning a dull gray.

Iris' eyes widened in shock. "I take back what I said..."

The butterfly fluttered back toward Iris, gently landing on her left shoulder. She glanced at it, half amused and half wary.

 "You're a little dangerous, my friend," she chuckled, giving the creature a soft pat.

Turning her attention to the goo left behind by the slimes, Iris quickly took out a small bottle from her ether pouch—a special dimensional bag that could store limitless items.
Kneeling down, she carefully collected the liquid, watching as the shimmering substance filled the vial.

"Alright then! That should do it," she said, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she held the bottle up to the light.

The possibilities this slime held were endless, and her mind was already racing with ideas for her new skincare potion.

ꕥ

Suddenly, a rustling sound came from a nearby bush. Iris's eyes darted toward it, and without hesitation, her Shadow Butterfly fluttered toward the source, hovering protectively.