Episode 13: Encounter
I, Fue Toukouya, was sent flying after a clash with a centaur-type crayfish, a mutual knockout of sorts.
Beyond where I landed, there was a single girl.
“Kyaaaah!”
The girl, with hair the color of a midday sky, was in a state of utter confusion.
Realizing she was in the forest, she quickly covered her mouth with her hand, but her legs had given out, and she was trembling while clutching a basket.
“A s-slime…”
I was analyzing her, but honestly, I was pretty confused myself.
W-what should a slime do in a situation like this…?
If we were humans, I could apologize for startling her and explain the situation, but a slime can’t speak human language.
I wanted to do something, but she was so scared that me getting closer would probably be counterproductive…
While I was thinking that, the girl cautiously stood up and approached me.
“…Are you, perhaps, hurt…?”
The girl asked, kneeling in front of me and peering in.
She must have thought that I was injured since I had fallen from a height and stopped moving.
Then, she rummaged through her basket, grabbed a herb, and offered it to me.
? What is she thinking…?
I’m a Demon Beast, you know? A monster that attacks humans?
Well, I’m a former human, so I wouldn’t attack, but a normal slime would be spitting out Dissolving Liquid in this situation.
Yet, she’s approaching so defenselessly and even offering me a precious herb.
I have no idea what she’s thinking.
“This is a herb. If you eat it, your injuries will heal faster. Here, eat it.”
The girl pushed the herb towards me.
While I was becoming suspicious, wondering if she had poisoned it, I decided to cautiously digest it, trusting in my Perfect Defense.
Inside my clear, azure body, the herb gradually dissolved.
Frankly, I wasn’t injured, so the healing effect didn’t activate, but instead, I was able to absorb the Mana contained in the herb, and my power surged.
“Slurp slurp!”
“Hehe, that’s good.”
The girl smiled as she watched me bounce around energetically.
However, seeing that, I became uneasy.
If this girl sees an injured Demon Beast, will she do the same thing again?
Maybe she helped me because I’m a slime and she figured it would be okay even if I went wild, but even so, it’s reckless.
I have to warn her properly.
“Sluurp slurp, slur, slurp slurp slurp!”
“Are you thanking me? You’re welcome!”
She returned a refreshing smile.
Damn it, it’s not getting through!
I was using gestures too, but she completely misunderstood.
“Slurp!”
“?”
I made an X with my body, intending to convey that her thinking was wrong.
However, it seems that people around here don’t have a common understanding of X meaning incorrect.
“Good boy, good boy.”
For some reason, she started patting my head—around the valley of the X.
I was twisting and turning my body to convey my meaning, but it didn’t seem to be getting through at all.
~ Unidentified Information Log ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
…
Fue Toukouya (Jewel Slime) has acquired Skill: Gesture.
…
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In the first place, was it a mistake to try to convey such an abstract idea without words?
Just as I was starting to think that, the girl’s face lit up as if she had realized something.
“Could it be, are you saying it’s dangerous to approach carelessly?”
“Slurp slurp!”
Uoooh, it got through!
A miracle happened! So, if you put your heart into it, your feelings can get through to other species!
“You’re so kind, pretty colored Slime-san. You’re right, I’m weak, and if I get poisoned, it’ll be dangerous… Okay, I understand, I’ll be more careful from now on.”
“Slurla.”
It seems like it got through, so I was relieved.
“!”
Just as I was thinking that, the girl’s body trembled.
She stood up quickly, slung the basket on her shoulder, and said,
“I’m sorry, I have to go now. Slime-san, this place is dangerous, so you should leave too.”
“Slur?”
What happened all of a sudden?
“See ya.”
The girl waved her hand slightly.
It seems that the culture of waving goodbye is the same in this world.
I also transformed a part of my body into something like a hand and waved it.
~ Unidentified Information Log ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
…
Fue Toukouya (Jewel Slime) has acquired Skill: Telepathy.
…
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‘Yeah, see ya.’
“…Eh?”
The girl turned around with wide eyes.
“…It must have been my imagination, right?”
But, looking like she was in a hurry, she quickly left.
Well, I thought I should follow her advice and run away, but I shook my head in my mind.
If she said it was dangerous in the forest, it was probably because of Demon Beasts.
To repay the kindness of receiving the herb, I’ll buy some time so that the girl can escape safely.
Besides, if things go well, I might be able to raise my Level even more.
—While I was thinking that, a Demon Beast appeared, crushing the bushes.
“Fushuuu…”
“…Slurrr.”
It was a giant bear Demon Beast.
Its fur was black, as if it absorbed all light. Only the two white lines crossing between its eyebrows were an exception.
The Great Bear, easily taller than an adult, was walking towards me on all fours.
Its direction was, coincidentally, the same direction the girl had escaped.
I was overwhelmed by its massive body, comparable to a tree.
Since slimes are short, I often look up at enemies, but this Great Bear had an even greater sense of intimidation than any enemy I had faced before.
The thought that I should just run away since the girl had already escaped crossed my mind.
…No, I’m a slime who doesn’t forget his debts!
I’ll stop this guy here so that she won’t be attacked, even if it’s just in the unlikely event!
Besides, with my Toughness, I might be able to get through this unscathed.
~ Unidentified Information Log ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
…
Fue Toukouya (Jewel Slime)’s Folly has been activated.
…
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When I stood in front of the Great Bear, my body felt lighter for some reason.
I don’t know why, but it’s convenient.
With this power, I’ll beat this Great Bear down too—
~ Unidentified Information Log ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
…
Kubema (Negate Grizzly)’s Claw of Nullification has been activated.
…
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—The Great Bear closed the distance in an instant and swung its arm with vicious claws carelessly.
And before I knew it, I was flying through the air at high speed.
“(Ouch!?)”
Before I could figure out the cause, pain assaulted me.
It was a little different from being overwhelmed by sheer Power.
There was a sensation that my Toughness was being slipped through by the Great Bear’s claw attack.
Amidst the pain and floating sensation that filled my body, I thought.
Somehow, I’ve been getting blown away a lot today…