บท 5: Chapter 5: Rimuru Tempest 【Re-edited】
Engaged in continuous hops atop my bed, my uncertainty about what to do was suddenly interrupted by Great Sage's unexpected voice, jolting me from my reverie.
"Alert! Four unidentified individuals have entered the expanded range of Magic Sense," declared Great Sage's voice, immediately diverting my focus from the previous clutches of surprise.
Upon hearing this from Great Sage, I shifted my gelatinous form off the bed and couldn't help but think, 'Expanding its range was definitely a wise choice!'
Taking a brief pause, I gazed up at the sky. 'Well... to be precise, it wasn't exactly my idea. The concept originated from Great Sage when it delved into my memories.'
'I mean, technically, it's also my idea since it stemmed from my memories, but... never mind.' Just as I was about to finish that thought, I stopped myself and asked Great Sage, "Among them, is there anyone worth taking note of?"
"Answer: Within the group, there exists a relatively powerful individual. However, the remaining three are notably inferior to that person in terms of strength."
"All right," I started, placing my gelatinous appendages on my metaphorical hips. "For now, we'll keep an eye on their activities. That's okay with you, right, Great Sage?"
"Answer: That is an acceptable choice."
With Great Sage's assistance, I swiftly hopped my way toward the location of the four individuals, concealing myself behind a tree to observe them as they ran.
"They're fleeing from the numerous giant red ants that infest the forest. Three less capable adventurers are sprinting with all their might, while the individual trailing behind appears to be expending minimal effort to distance themselves from the giant red ant..."
Anticipating potential developments, I pondered whether I should intervene should the situation take a turn for the worse. True to my human nature, I instinctively nodded to myself, affirming my internal query.
Yet, before I could remain stationary for long, I witnessed the person who had lagged behind the trio lying on the ground, on the brink of being assailed by a giant red ant.
Quickly stepping in, as the three other adventurers teetered on the brink of peril, I appeared behind the creature and unleashed a strike of Black Lightning upon the colossal red ant, causing it to disintegrate under the onslaught of intense heat.
The force of my attack stirred up dust, veiling my presence. As they anxiously scanned for their savior, they eventually discerned my figure once the particles settled.
In a bid to alleviate the prevailing silence, I injected a hint of lightheartedness and said, "Hello! It is nice to meet you all. I go by the name Rimuru Tempest."
As the trio continued to stare in disbelief at the speaking slime, namely myself, with incredulity, I pressed on, "I can see you've had a tough time. How about you all come with me? I can help you out."
Sending a telepathic signal to Ranga, he emerged from my shadow in an instant, following my instruction to gently lift the injured woman positioned close to me. And dutifully, he carried out the task.
Leaping onto Ranga's back, situated beside the woman's semi-conscious form, I cast a glance toward the trio of adventurers trailing me and mused, 'They're rather reserved. It's understandable, I suppose—being in the presence of both an intelligent slime and their injured companion.'
After a full minute elapsed, we reached the burgeoning goblin village, prompting the trio to finally break their silence. "Look at all those hobgoblins!" they exclaimed.
I couldn't help but smile inwardly at their expressions of surprise and amazement. Yet, my primary focus remained on the injured woman, my thoughts directed towards her, 'Little did I know, I'd encounter my destined one so unexpectedly.'
'However, when she was lying on the ground earlier, it seemed as though she was struggling with something...'
Reserving that thought for future consideration, I gently placed my fated companion among the three adventurers in a tent. Then, I approached Rigurd and requested that he provide my guests with nourishment, as they seemed rather famished based on my observations.
While I was waiting for Rigurd to deliver their meals, I observed him exit the tent. Taking the opportunity, I rolled inside and saw my fated one consuming her food with a Japanese-like manner. Even though she was eating through her mask, it hardly mattered. Playfully, I remarked, "I'm not a bad slime!"
My intention was to inject some levity into the situation, and it seemed someone caught onto my jest as the individual wearing the mask let out a quiet laugh. Seizing the opportunity, I inquired, "May I know your names? As I mentioned earlier, I go by the name Rimuru Tempest."
They initiated the introductions, with my fated companion speaking first. "I'm Shizu, and I am an active adventurer."
Following her was the blonde-haired individual, who promptly swallowed her food before speaking. "I'm an adventurer too, and my name is Eren."
With a mouth still occupied by food, he managed to say, "I'm Kaval, and the fellow next to me is Gido. Gotta admit, this food is absolutely delicious!" While Eren, Kaval, and Gido continued to devour their meals, Shizu rose from her seat.
She approached my location and in a gentle tone, she addressed me. "Slime-san, can I have a conversation with you?"
"Of course. There's no reason we can't have a chat," I replied casually, though beneath my nonchalant demeanor, I felt a mixture of curiosity and nervousness regarding the subject she wanted to discuss.
We walked for a while until we reached a vantage point that offered a panoramic view of the entire village. As I gazed upon the sight before me, a sense of pride swelled within me. This village, along with the contributions of the others, was a testament to our collective efforts.
Her focus was also fixed on the village, and in that beautiful moment, she asked, "Slime-san, what's your name?"
I found myself slightly puzzled by her query, as I had already shared my name with her back in the tent. Feeling a touch of awkwardness, I responded, "Well, as I mentioned earlier, my name is Rimuru Tempest."
Her attention shifted from the village to me, and she lowered herself to pick me up. "No, I mean your real name," she queried with a serious tone.
My metaphorical eyes widened, and I met her gaze as best I could as a slime. "My name... It's Mikami Satoru," I responded with a momentary pause before adding, "That's my real name."
She lifted her mask, allowing me to see her smile. "Ah, I understand now. You were brought here through reincarnation. A friend of mine explained that concept to me," she said with a warm expression.
"Excuse me if I'm being too forward, but could you share your place of origin from your time on Earth? Essentially, where did you reside?" I inquired, recognizing the Japanese origin of her name.
"If my memory serves me right, it was the year 1945, August 6th, and I was residing in Japan. Both my mother and I found ourselves entangled in a situation we never sought, and it was at that point I was summoned to this world," she recounted.
"The individual who brought me here had blond hair and blue eyes, and he went by the name Leon Cromwell. It was only after I pleaded him for help that he granted me some time to continue living."
"He's also one of the Ten Great Demon Lords," she added.
I fell silent, my thoughts seemingly disrupted by the weight of her narrative. Not wanting her to dwell on those painful memories, I made up my mind to take action.
'Great Sage, display modern Japan as seen in my memories,' I mentally commanded, aiming to share a glimpse of the contemporary world with her.
Images of modern Japan materialized within her mind, causing the broken smile she wore to transform into one of delight, akin to that of a contented child. However, midway through the process of showing her these images, she abruptly sank to her knees, unintentionally releasing her grip on me.
Worried for her condition, given the similarity to her previous encounter with the giant red ant, I addressed her in a gentle tone to avoid causing any alarm. "Are you alright?"
She cradled her stomach with her arms, her expression contorted in pain as she gazed at me. "I'll be fine. This is something that occurs frequently," she reassured, her voice strained.
"Ranga!" I exclaimed, instructing him to lift her onto his back and transport her swiftly yet gently to my tent. Once inside, Ranga carefully laid her on the bed, taking extra precautions.
"Please wait outside the tent and inform anyone seeking me that I'm occupied at the moment," I directed Ranga.
"Yes, master!"
Resting on the desk beside her, her mask adjacent to me, she gazed up with a vacant expression. "Can you take me out of this world, slime—no, Mikami?" she inquired earnestly as I stayed silent.
A smile rested upon her rapidly aging face. "In the Kingdom of Ingrassia, there are numerous children who, much like myself, were forcibly brought into this world. Regrettably, their time here is limited. Could you, Mikami, watch over them in my absence?" she implored.
I held my silence, allowing her to proceed, and she interpreted it as agreement. "Before I started teaching the children, I had two disciples. Among them, Hinata is the one I particularly hope you can assist. Can you please guide her toward understanding the potential and beauty of this world?"
Believing she had conveyed her main points, I responded, "Yes, I promise to do everything within my capability to fulfill those tasks."
In a soft and barely audible tone, she murmured with a sense of contentment, "I detest yet adore this unforgiving world..."
Despite her desire for me to end her life, I remained reluctant due to the fact that it would mark my first time taking a human life. Thus, I inquired cautiously, "Are you completely certain about this?"
Her gaze locked onto me, her lips quivering, as she asserted, "I am completely resolute, Mikami Satoru... To prevent the Fire Spirit Ifrit from breaking free and wreaking havoc on your village, I beseech you to end my life."
With her final words lingering in the air, I gently positioned her mask on her stomach. Taking a deep breath, I activated my ability, Predator, enveloping her entire body, and brought her life to a close.
"Notice: The unique skill, Degenerate, has been successfully acquired." Those were the last words that echoed in my mind as my bed became unoccupied.
Upon hearing those words, I transformed into an imitation of her, my features mirroring hers as tears traced a path down my pale face. As the tears descended, I cautiously moved my index and middle fingers towards my face, only to halt them mid-motion.
Observing myself from a detached perspective, I directed my gaze downward. 'Here I am, shedding tears like a child...' I mused, mustering a distressed chuckle to cap it off.
My countenance bore an uncanny resemblance to Shizu's, yet my lengthy bluish-silver hair and profound golden eyes exuded an otherworldly, divine allure that distinguished me from her.
After finally wiping away my tears, an urgent message from Great Sage interrupted my thoughts. "Warning! A substantial surge of magicules has abruptly manifested behind you. I recommend either fleeing or yielding," the message cautioned.
Upon hearing the warning, I swiftly pivoted around and laid eyes on a man who stood at a height of 182 cm.
The man's hair was as dark as midnight, and his eyes appeared like pitch voids—almost akin to gazing into the vast expanse of space. Strangely enough, it felt like I was peering into Great Sage's... No, his gaze seemed to possess an even more ethereal quality than Great Sage's.
No words were exchanged between us, and despite my desire to initiate a conversation, an inner voice repeatedly discouraged me from doing so. That was the extent of our interaction.
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