“…”
Having defeated the monster, I try to absorb the scattered pieces of flesh.
“(…Guess it’s no good.)”
It has no taste. I can’t absorb any 〖Mana〗.
A slime’s absorption ability doesn’t work on the corpses of its own kind.
…So, the monster’s body was indeed that of a slime.
“(…)”
Then, I turn my attention to the roots scattered nearby.
I pick one up and try eating it, but I can’t gain any 〖Mana〗 from it either.
It’s not that I can’t gain any, it’s different from when I ate the slime.
If anything, it feels like the roots themselves don’t contain any 〖Mana〗… It feels exactly like biting into sand.
“(Peh, that’s awful.)”
I spit out the slightly hard and difficult-to-melt root and look around.
That thing should be somewhere.
“(…Found it.)”
After a little searching, I find a single seed.
If the last blow had hit directly, it might have been pulverized, but this time it seems it was slightly off.
Many roots are roughly torn, but the seed itself is unharmed.
“(Is this withered… or something?)”
The seed is slightly cracked, and a sprout is emerging from it, but it has turned brown.
“(This wilted sprout, I feel like I’ve seen it somewhere before…)”
I stare intently.
The number of cotyledons is seven. They are separated to the left and right, with three leaves gathered on one side and four on the other, forming a strange shape that seems to overlap halfway.
“(…Well, it’s fine for now.)”
I crush the seed and dispose of it with 〖Decomposition Liquid〗.
During the battle, there were quite loud sounds.
Adventurers or Demon Beasts might come after hearing them, so I should escape quickly before things get troublesome.
“(…Besides, I have things to do.)”
I scoop up the remaining pieces of the monster’s flesh, and I leave the plaza.
“(Phew, this should be far enough.)”
At the site of the former slime nest. In front of a particularly large tree a little to the west, I mutter quietly.
Before me is a hole about the size of a barrel. Inside are several gels.
Needless to say, the gels are the corpses of slimes.
“(May they rest in peace. Well, I don’t know where dead slimes go, though.)”
After putting my hands together—I transformed a part of my body into something like hands—and praying, I fill the hole.
I pile up a little soil to make it look like a grave.
“(…Farewell, everyone.)”
I say that last thing and leave the grave.
I’m heading deeper into the forest. My goal of becoming stronger hasn’t changed.
“(It’s also a pain to run into humans.)”
The areas with thin 〖Mana〗 are where there are more humans.
…Speaking of humans, I gathered the corpses of the people who died at the slime nest in one place and laid them down.
It would be a problem for the bereaved if I buried them without permission.
I don’t know the religious customs of this country either.
I was able to let the chubby guy escape, and I hope that he will get the bodies recovered.
I collected their weapons so they wouldn’t be taken by Goblins, and I cut down nearby trees and lined them up to make a fence, but I don’t know how much that will prevent Demon Beasts from entering.
All I can do is pray that their bodies won’t be eaten.
“(…Oh yeah, I met the Red Oni.)”
What I suddenly remember is that strange sprout.
The Red Oni, who once had a fierce battle with the Forest Turtle, also had that strange sprout on his forehead.
I wasn’t paying attention at the time, but if I remember correctly, that also had seven cotyledons.
If that’s the case, then the Red Oni too…
“(What the hell is that seed?)”
My frustration grows.
My anger was stronger than my fear of the unknown phenomenon.
“(Could there be others?)”
There are already two examples. So it wouldn’t be strange if there were three or four.
Rather, it would be unnatural if there were only two seeds.
“(Then, is there a source somewhere… ?)”
A tree, a flower, or something completely different.
If there is something that releases seeds that turn those they attach to into aberrations, I can’t leave it alone.
“(…Well, I can’t do anything about it right away.)”
The possibility of that thing being in this forest is low.
If that were the case, I should have seen more seeds.
“(I guess I have no choice but to search patiently.)”
I come to that conclusion and calm my impatient feelings.
In the first place, I don’t even know if I can win with my current strength, so in the end, my goal remains the same as before.
“(Get stronger, that’s all. I just have more motivation for it.)”
To gain the power like the Forest Turtle I saw that day. And to avenge my companions.
With renewed determination, I head deeper into the forest.
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Thank you for reading this far. This concludes Chapter 1.
If you enjoyed it, I would be grateful if you could give it a ★ rating or follow me.
After this, there will be two interlude stories, and then we will move on to Chapter 2.