22 The Good Slime - Before the quest
(A/N: In my defense, I've been really occupied this entire week, and it's been quite a demanding time. It feels like there's always a test before or after each subject, so I've had to hit the books almost every day. Even when I wanted to get back to writing this book, my mind just couldn't stop dwelling on the presentation that's due tomorrow. That, and I had to make a new ID and driver license since my wallet decided to Hiraishin away from me. My weekends are occupied with those problems.)
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- Rimuru Tempest's POV -
Reincarnation is a mysterious concept. It's the belief that when a person dies, their soul is reborn in a new body for a fresh life. This process happens repeatedly, allowing the soul to learn and develop with each life.
However, there's no concrete proof for this idea. First, nobody can prove they've been reincarnated, and not many people believe in it either.
Allow me to introduce myself. I am Mikami Satoru. After being stabbed in my previous world, I've been reborn in a fantasy realm as a slime endowed with exceptional cheat skills.
Events unfolded, leading me to encounter a dragon, face various monsters in combat, and unexpectedly establish a nation comprised entirely of these creatures.
Among these entities, the green-skinned beings are known as Goblins, the horned humanoids are referred to as Kijins or Oni, the humanoid pigs are named Orcs, there exist dire wolves that is now Tempest wolves as well, and finally, I, a slime, complete this diverse assembly.
Does this explanation make sense to you?
No?
Good.
After establishing my new country, an unexpected challenge arose – an invasion of flying sharks.
I know, it sounds bizarre, right?
But let me assure you, it's not an exaggeration.
The invader were actually Charybdis, a colossal sea monster with a formidable exterior. Though... Even if I say it's a "sea monster", it's floating high on the sky with the extra skill, 『Gravity Manipulation』.
Its body is covered in durable, overlapping scales, adorned with menacing, elongated features, including large eyes and a fearsome mouth. Dealing with this unique threat wasn't easy, and it took some effort before we managed to find a solution.
Though, this is after we defeated those monsters.
"What would I wanna be if I could be reborn?"
Amidst the festivities honoring the passing of the Sharknado, an intriguing query reached me from my subordinates, Benimaru and Gobta.
"Yep, that's today's hot topic-ssu!" Gobta, a goblin with a comical round head and a vibrant green countenance, cheerfully exclaimed.
"Well, what would Rimuru-sama want to be?" Beside him, Benimaru, the Kijin boasting fiery red hair and distinctive horns, inquired with a playful smile, clutching an alcoholic beverage in his hand.
So, like after being reincarnated...
"I, for one, would want to be a beautiful girl, then I'd get to admire every scrap of my body." (Gobta)
LOOK AT YOU, NOT EVEN AN OUNCE OF SHAME! —I was left utterly flabbergasted, rendered speechless by the audacity...
Then my friend, a demon lord with striking pink hair, chimed in, "I THINK BEING MYSELF IS GOOD ENOUGH-noda!" With a wide grin, she proclaimed.
(A/N: "-ssu" and "-noda" are verbal tics, similar to how Naruto frequently uses "-dattebayo")
I retorted with a deadpan tone, "Don't you think that's kinda boring, though?"
My straightforward comment seemed to bring her spirits down... Dark auras encircled her as she crouched in the corner.
Subsequently, we engaged in several conversations with the rest of the group. The elderly Kijin, Hakurou, shared his desire to be reincarnated as an eagle. When I responded dryly to Shion's query, urging her to suggest anything but "chef," she surprised me by expressing her wish to be a waitress.
However, it was the blue-haired Kijin, Souei, who provided an answer that caught me off guard. He declared, with an emotionless expression, "I want to be a woman." Astonishingly, even Benimaru, who stood alongside him, nodded in agreement.
"WHA-?? What a shocker..." I couldn't help but react comically. "I didn't expect you to have thoughts like Gobta..." But Souei quickly dismissed my assumptions with his statement, "No, not for that kind of reason."
"Huh?"
"I thought having the ability to seduce people would make espionage operations smoother," he explained. It was the typical response from my workaholic Shinobi. I should have anticipated it; he's always incredibly serious about his tasks.
"Eh, but then Benimaru..." I noticed him looking away, wearing an irritated expression, glaring at Souei. He seemed a bit betrayed, as he likely thought there were others who shared similar wishes, only for Souei to voice his unconventional desire. It turns out this guy also desires what Gobta does.
Who would have guessed that my stalwart Samurai general harbored such a preference? Perhaps I should humorously rename him "The Grand Shogun-ette, Banio!"
Well, at least it was amusing to witness both Shuna and Souei act as though they didn't know him, effectively labeling him a degenerate.
Eventually, Shuna voiced her desires, saying, "I'd like to be a dryad, so I can listen to the voices of plants." That's actually quite intriguing! Although, wouldn't that pose challenges for cooking? Imagine hearing the distress of every potato chip being sliced, for instance.
Then, Milim joined the conversation again, exclaiming, "Rimuru! I think I've figured it out! I want to transform into a magical bug and gather all the honey in the world!" Haha, her aspiration came across as quite childlike and endearing, though I do hope she won't end up monopolizing all the honey.
However, a question came unexpectedly, one I wasn't quite prepared for. "Rimuru-sama, what would you wish to be reborn as?" Hakurou inquired. The rest of them eagerly joined in, asking the same. They were genuinely curious about my thoughts on the matter.
I pondered... and pondered, then finally responded, "Nothing really comes to mind." Honestly, I've already been reincarnated once, and as a slime, no less. It might have seemed like a curse initially, but I've grown to love it.
Moreover, I added, "Since being reincarnated probably means that I won't get to meet you guys, I am at my happiest self right now. So, I don't really look forward to stuff like reincarnation anymore. That's why I think being myself would do just fine." And that's what I conveyed to them.
They wore smiles on their faces, perhaps slightly moved by my response, yet one person stood there, glaring at me with a completely emotionless expression.
"I literally just said the same thing a moment ago, and you told me it sounded kinda boring," Milim deadpanned. "Huh?" *COUGH* I mean... I wasn't really obliged to respond in the first place, so... "Well, anyway~ I'm off to fetch some meat~" I attempted to make my exit when suddenly my demon lord companion yelled, "You're such a cheat!" while attempting to catch me in my slime form.
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"Phew~" The feast was absolutely raucous. There were even a few who had passed out on the street due to excessive drinking, and Milim had dozed off early. I can finally take a breather, although I might indulge in some leftovers. Still, I can't shake off my craving for some meat and beer.
*Ding*
Eh?
Shifting into my human form, I disabled my Magic perception, opting to rely on my physical eyes to survey the area. Something caught my attention. The tinkling sound I heard held a touch of familiarity. As I took a few steps forward, I noticed a light on the ground, casting a rectangular shape.
Without delay, I reactivated my Magic perception, attempting to ascertain whether what lay before me was not some form of illusion.
"This... Isn't this a smartphone?!"
[Good Slime has joined the server]
-POV end-
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[Good Slime has joined the server]
Merely glancing at that notification, I can immediately identify the individual: Rimuru Tempest.
When it comes to standard Isekai protagonists, often characterized as overpowered figures receiving abilities effortlessly, Rimuru perfectly epitomizes this archetype. However, it's crucial to recognize that this isn't necessarily a negative attribute. Take, for instance, their inherent innocence and deeply ingrained pacifist nature.
[Star Plasma Vessel: Welcome to the chat~! 💕✨@GoodSlime]
[Ex-Veteran (Admin): Welcome to the chat group, Rimuru Tempest-san.]
In this type of situation, a formal approach is necessary.
[Copy Ninja: Ah, so you decided to call the new member by their real name first this time, I assume?]
After a brief pause of about 10 seconds, the tagged individual finally responded.
[Good Slime: Excuse me, do I know you? And who might you be?]
(A/N: Once again, typing "w-who are y-you!?" or "Gurarara" into a chat group doesn't make any sense.)
[Star Plasma Vessel: And don't forget about those skills too!]
[Ex-Veteran (Admin): No need to tell me that twice.]
[Ex-Veteran (Admin): @GoodSlime, To begin, I'd like to inquire about the latest events that have taken place in your country, Tempest.]
[Good Slime: Events?]
[Ex-Veteran (Admin): Yes. Did conflicts arise with the Orcs, or was there an encounter involving the Charybdis?]
It took 20 seconds for him to respond.
[Good Slime: Who are you]
That statement might appear as a casual response, yet it holds a deeper backstory. When capital letters, emojis, and even occasional punctuation are omitted, it's a sign that the other person might be uncertain or cautious.
It's impossible to gauge the real reactions of someone on the other side of the virtual world's screen. But again, I possess more than 2000 points of wisdom even without utilizing thought acceleration, so his responses are already anticipated.
[Ex-Veteran (Admin): Please have a look at this.]
[Attachment: New Text Document.txt]
The file in question is rather peculiar—a .txt file narrating the story of a middle-aged man who undergoes reincarnation as a slime and acquires cheat skills with flawless precision. It includes dialogues and impeccably detailed depictions of the facial expressions of a particularly formidable dragon.
I refrained from sending messages for a minimum of 20 minutes, ensuring that he had opened the file before progressing with additional explanations.
[Ex-Veteran (Admin): As you can now guess, I presently hold the role of manager for this specific group. Furthermore, I possess the capacity for precognition regarding significant occurrences within other realms, particularly within your own.]
A brief moment of silence precedes his response, during which the others step in to fill the gap.
[Star Plasma Vessel: And don't forget about those skills too!]
[Copy Ninja: Riko-chan, I believe it would be wise to postpone that until after they grasp the true circumstances.]
[Star Plasma Vessel: Do you really think so? I totally would've wished to know about these cool skills first! It's just like playing a video game!]
Finally, the slime responded,
[Good Slime: Pardon me, I understand the situation so far now.]
[Ex-Veteran (Admin): Please be at ease, this platform is designed to assist everyone in facing upcoming threats and events, even those akin to preventable tragedies. I can furnish information for the benefit of all. In return, I kindly request compensation in the form of your valuable skills.]
[Good Slime: Skills? You mean like my Great Sage and Black Flame?]
[Ex-Veteran (Admin): Indeed, but there's no need for concern. This platform distributes our skill cores by sharing rather than relinquishing them. For instance, if you provide me with your Unique skill, I'll be able to create a copy of it instead of depleting your original. This process involves everything being transformed into digital files.]
[Good Slime: That's rather handy, I must admit. However, I anticipate not requiring it on a frequent basis. I appreciate your generosity, but I'll need a bit more time to decide if I'll require assistance. Thank you very much.]
As expected, he's probably under the impression that nothing could possibly go wrong when he establishes a nation comprised of monsters, given his personality traits.
And... this is my counterpoint.
[Ex-Veteran (Admin): Not if I tell you that Shion may die in the future?]
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To be continued.
