A Friend's Last Will

Shizu...no, Shizue Izawa was finally at her last days, as Rigurd put Shizu on Rimuru's bed before going out to meet the anxious party and the villagers.

Since the defeat of Ifrit, effectively separating Shizu and freeing her after seventy years since possession, she is actually, an old woman kept young and springy by her spirit, even if her internal organs reflect her true age, which was why Ifrit can finally take over her, use her body as his vessel when she dies.

'We have no idea how long she'll have left.' Rimuru told the dismayed party. 'She will be asleep for several days but should she wake...that's when its over.'

'Then why wake at all?' Gido mumbled glumly. His group was gloomy about the matter.

'She's the kind to force herself to wake up incase she has something she wants to say before passing on.' said Rimuru. 'Shizu and I talked a bit yesterday...she told me she was a Summon. An Otherworlder. At first, I told her how I disdained the idea of being a Summon, considering how greedy Kingdoms rip people away from their families and lives from their worlds just to be exploited as living weapons for the military through any Unique Skill they may have gained during travel to this world. But she told me that wasn't her case...her Summoner was trying to Summon a particular girl and constantly tries and fails. She got an education and training so at least she was treated well. She became the Adventurer you know today...but retired young because of her condition.'

The village began murmuring about the topic.

Rimuru didn't tell them the full story though. While she showed Shizu about Modern Tokyo, she got a little invasive in turn on the sly to know the truth about her. The truth of the sad, lonely woman named Shizu Izawa.

Due to her condition, she couldn't have friends for long, find a home, nor even fall in love. She was beautiful but can never enjoy her beauty to live a full life. She was loneliness in human form. For now she would let the party have a slightly better memory of their temporary teammate. The truth was much more sad.

'But what about her family?' Ellen croaked out. 'Does she miss them?'

'Ironically, the Summoning saved Shizu from an even worser hell...back in her original world, it was war. She and her mother are fleeing for their lives.' that stunned Rimuru's listeners. 'It destroyed her hometown. It was every family for themselves and one cannot count on neighbors or friends...and her mother was killed by burning, falling debris before they reached safety.' yeah, she really has NOTHING to return to, they all thought. 'Next thing Shizu knew, she was in front of her Summoner.'

'Oh...'

'For now, stick around.' Rimuru advised. 'I used my potions on her but while her body is OK, her spirit is too worn out. We'll never know when she'll wake if she wants last requests or anything. Least we can do so she can pass on peacefully. Don't tell Shizu I told you her past. I told you because being forgotten is the same as 'not existing'. People only knew of her fame as an Adventurer. Nothing about how she began.'

And so, while the trio have a tent, they were expected to earn their keep. Such as joining the Hunting Team or helping around the village. You don't work you don't eat. Rimuru keeps watch over Shizu through magic while multi-tasking.

Three weeks later...Shizu woke up one morning.

'Shizu-san...'

'Slime-san...' Shizu spoke feebly, more soft-spoken than ever. Her breathing was labored. Rimuru knew this is it, as she began recording in order to edit what's necessary. 'Would you...mind listening?'

'...you shouldn't talk too much now...your condition is bad as it is.' said Rimuru softly. Shizu turned to look at Rimuru with a sad smile.

'...I want people to remember my story...and how I lived.'

And Shizu told her what Rimuru long knows, but she let her. Rimuru then edited some memories before broadcasting it ala Thought Communication. A lot of people rushed to the tent from where they were to hear it live. By then it was safe to be overheard.

'Hey Slime-san...what's your real name?' Rimuru ensured this wasn't included and made sure those outside didn't hear it.

'Satoko. Mikami Satoko, Shizu-san.' said Rimuru. '37 soon to turn 38 if only a mugger didn't stab me.'

(those outside did not hear this inquiry)

Shizu then took a deep breath. 'Can I...ask you a favor?'

'Sure.'

'Please...eat me.'

'W-what?!' that request made many people do a double-take.

'Just like how you ate my curse...that made me so happy.' Shizu told her. 'I dislike this world. Still...I can't abhor it. Just like that man...so please...eat me.' she pleaded. 'I don't want this world to absorb me. This is...my last request.' Shizu gasped out, struggling to reach Rimuru to pat her. 'Would you...let me rest within you?'

'...alright.' Rimuru promised softly. 'What's that man's name?'

'...Leon Cromwell. One of the most powerful Demon Lords.' said Shizu. Outside, the dwarves and adventurers squawked, before having to explain to the Hobgoblins.

'What did you want from this man?'

'I just...wanted him to know that I...thus human, existed, perhaps.' said Shizu gloomily. 'And if those kids could be saved and returned home...'

'I promise, Shizu.' Rimuru promised her, reaching for her hand with a blobby limb. 'I'll remind him of you, and get the method to save your students.'

'Thank...you...'

And Shizu began to age rapidly through her outward appearance now.

Rimuru then ate her before she breathed her last.

Upon consuming Shizu, Great Sage began to act.

Recalling Rimuru's dying wish as Satoko, she began reconfiguring the new biological data it obtained. And Rimuru had wished she would be born a beauty in her next life, as well as becoming a mother upon marrying any man as long as he loves her.

So upon studying Shizu's body, it extracted ideal traits from Shizu's bloodline and began reconfiguring Rimuru's human form should she use Mimic: Human and make it permanent.

Because Rimuru grows by gaining power and with her MP at 1999999...consuming Shizu added to her reserves, making her a Disaster-Class only by a few thousand points. Ifrit didn't count as like Veldora, Rimuru kept him in her body by Isolation.

Not enough yet to develop a 'certain thing' but this will be the trigger, should Rimuru consume a powerful being again.

And so, once the 'ideal form' is completed, Rimuru can now have a humanoid, fertile body with fair skin, an ideal Japanese Beauty with little resemblance to Shizu and have blue hair to represent her slime identity. And her golden eyes that symbolize her being a majin in this form. Due to her power, normally monsters lose fertility the stronger they are. But in Rimuru's case, she has the Unique Skill: Universal Maternity. She is EXTREMELY fertile and bear children from any race no matter the circumstance or race and no matter how strong she or her future mate is. A loophole to the rules. As long as she transforms into this form, she 'has the parts that are very functional' and can even enjoy 'certain pleasures'.

And due to Rimuru's power, her form is that of a fifteen year old human girl despite being a few months old as a slime. Yet will enjoy incredible longevity and stop physical maturity should she reach physical adulthood. 5'1 in height, slim and slender with narrow, small waist but flared hips and shapely legs. Her breasts are close-set, full and round Cs. Her feet are size 6 which is pretty small in this world for one her human age, with no skin problems of Rimuru's knowledge whatsoever.

Rimuru was stunned that upon eating Shizu, she transformed into a human female body. She's not genderless anymore, so she quickly yanked the blanket and covered herself.

'Dord.'

'Y-yes!' Dord answered from outside.

'Clothes for a slim and slender human 15-ish girl and a pair of size 4 shoes.' 4, was the equivalent of Earth's asian size 6. 'Upon consuming Shizu, I ended up with a human form without warning.'

'Yeeeesss!' Dord clearly ran hurriedly to do as told while Ellen peeked inside to find a very human Rimuru, wrapped in a blanket and sitting on the bed.

'Rimuru...is she...?'

'Yeah. Before she breathed her last, I ate her as my promise to her.' said Rimuru. 'She didn't want to die in this world and being inside me counts.' she said. 'But I feel...a little weird. So this is...a body.' she croaked out before pretending to be disoriented and did a little acting. It'll be weird if she's an instant expert in walking as a human...she wanted to defy some of those anime tropes as she is living in reality, not an anime in TV. It'll be weird if she's suddenly an expert on two legs!

'Rimuru!' Ellen caught her.

'Sensations I never had before...its all coming in at once. I think I'll stay in bed today...'

'At least wait for Dord's clothes!' Ellen squawked out.

And so...

Rimuru now wore a white dress and a blue coat, and a pair of boots and let Ellen help her as part of her act. Rimuru supposed she'll make her own bra and panties. Unlike the goblinas who have no shame and is fine with giving Dord a show during measuring, Rimuru isn't into that!

But true to her word, she stayed in bed all day, still getting used to 'being in a human form' and all the sensations she just gained, stuff she didn't have as a Slime. But she can at least, morph back into her Poring body.

But for now, human form it is, using magic to do everything she needed.

xxx

'So its too much changes all at once for missy huh?' Cabal mused. 'Well that's gotta be jarring. Slimes can't feel and suddenly she can feel. What she never had before was overwhelming. She ain't like us with human or humanoid bodies,' he said, glancing at the hobgoblins, '-so instant expert in being big with limbs ain't happening. She has to work to get used to it.'

'That's true...guess she'll take some time.' Rigur mused. 'I'll see if she can eat. In the months we've known her, she understandably doesn't eat or drink. Slimes subside off magicules by simply absorbing.'

'That's another thing...can she go hungry now?' Gido asked him.

'We'd know if she calls through Thought Communication.' Rigur grinned. 'For now back to hunting we go.'

xxx

It took three more days as with the assistance of the goblinas, 'Rimuru was learning how to walk on two legs' was what everyone knows.

She could now get hungry or thirsty. Her first taste of meat overwhelmed her sense of taste. Monster meat is stupidly-delicious!

Soon, Cabal's team approached her.

'So you need to go back to your original job now huh?' Rimuru mused. 'Well, I stalled you enough for Shizu as it is.'

'We also need to report to our Guildmaster about that, too.' said Cabal. 'We won't say anything bad about this place.' he promised.

'We'll tell him about you too.' Ellen said.

'If anything comes up, send for us.' said Gido.

'Mm. Well, before I let you go...take me to the Workshop.' said Rimuru, standing up on her crutches. 'They should be done by now.'

'Eh?'

They helped Rimuru to the Dwarf Workshop which was the largest tent in town.

'Hey guys, are 'those' done now?' Rimuru asked the dwarves.

'Yeah, since yesterday actually!' said Dord. 'We'll get them out.'

'Wait, what're those?' Gido asked Rimuru.

'Your...gear has seen better days.' the trio got self-conscious at her words. 'Its about time to replace them, so I had the brothers whip you up some.' said Rimuru. 'Shizu likes your group. Fun and lively...though a little too danger-prone.' they face-faulted. 'She worried for you guys too. Giving you new gear is least I can do to alleviate her worries.'

'That's mostly Cabal's fault!' Ellen and Gido shouted, pointing at Cabal accusingly.

'Investigation is OUR job so I really gotta poke everything!' Cabal sputtered defensively, making Rimuru laugh. Soon, the dwarves are out, each giving the trio a box, telling them to put it on.

And so...

Its clear that they all got Rare-Class goods. Weapons, Armor and Accessories.

'Uooooh! It's the Scale-Mail I always wanted!' Cabal gushed out at his new clothes, shiny new armor and sword.

'What the heck is with this robe?!' Ellen exclaimed, admiring her white robe lined with gold piping and a pink ribbon. 'Its light, but sturdy...and so pretty!'

'D-do we really deserve such fine equipment?!' Gido swooned out at his light gear befitting his job class. 'My armor even has direwolf fur lined in it!'

'With this, you'll be alright in your...job.' Rimuru chuckled. 'Investigators sure have it rough, I thought I should make you guys hardier. The materials used are Rare-Class, but what we did with it makes it a Unique-Class. You can level up as Individual Adventurers unlike before, and those gear are self-repairing, will never get wet and dirty, and even if you get thrown around or banged up, you'll hardly feel a thing. There's also neat status buffs in there so you'll never get poisoned, sick or any attempt at mind-control. You'll be A-OK!'

'EHHHH?! WOW!'

Adventurers are ordinary people with combat skill and ability to use magic.

Their ranking is determined by skill and success rates but the best they can get, is max physical conditioning after years of hard work running and fighting.

However, if Adventurers level up through owning high-class wares?

Sure they're in peak physical condition, but when they level up, their current condition will double every level-up, making them superhumans, and safely capable of having more magicules than the average human without succumbing to Magicule Poisoning, or 'evolve into a majin or DIE' gamble thanks to protection from their gears, enabling their bodies to adapt safely. However, as far as they can go, they cannot reach Enlightenment. Warriors are 'a step below' upon reaching max levels. But will still be respectable in society.

As far as Adventurer Rank as humans can go, A is the highest Rank they can reach as evolved humans. S is reserved to humans who evolved into Enlightenment and SS for Saints. An example of this, is Shizu. Her gear, when taken off, is of Unique Class as well, being rich enough to afford it.

There are two types of Ranking in the Free Guild.

The Public Rank based on Success Rates...and the Adventurer's Rank to rank a person's strength.

Most Adventurers are Rank Null. Being too poor to afford Rare-Class goods to get stronger. They can't even be an H for crying out loud. Mages cannot advance in Rank unless they obtained Rare-Class wares, too. Next to Rank Null is Rank I after all. For Mages like Ellen, all she was allowed to learn being a poor mage, was basic spells even CHILDREN would know and learn had they been born wealthy. Once she levels up, she can re-apply in Magician's Guild to obtain permission to learn higher-level spells when she has enough Magicules to do so.

Ellen's Magicule Level is non-existent, relying on her cheap staff to draw magicules from the atmosphere to cast spells with. Cabal, being a Knight-Class called 'Heavy Fighter' in this world, had more than she. In training he most likely had access to Rare-Class Equipment for a short time just to gain basic skills before graduating. Gido's level is between the two.

Most likely Rimuru thought, after job investigation, they'll retrain themselves. But these guys are DIRT POOR evident by their shabby appearance from before. So she gave them Shizu's magic pouch where her money is.

'CAN WE HAVE THIS?!' the trio squawked. Upon accessing the magic, they got wind how rich Shizu is.

'I learned some things from the brothers who taught me how society works and how organizations work.' said Rimuru. 'Applying for re-training and getting new licenses in the guild should be costly. And unused resources are no different from useless.' she said. 'I'm sure she would let you have this pouch too.' Rimuru taught them how to be careful with that treasure. Withdrawing enough money for their daily needs in three dummy pouches, and hiding Shizu's pouch securely elsewhere. Since it's silky, soft and floppy despite its contents, it can be safely hidden in Ellen's socks.

They left, bidding farewell. VERY RELUCTANTLY taking the pouch.

'They're good kids.' said Garm.

'Yeah. Its rare to meet humans like them.' Dord agreed.

'They're the kind you'd want to support and they're also the kind to repay your good will with honesty.' Rimuru remarked. 'Thus they earn good will of others.'

(After several weeks of investigation and 'forest life hell', they re-applied for training before taking on quests again)

xxx

'Mm, this is a good place.' Rimuru mused as at the lookout point where Shizu stood a few days ago, was a marble tomb they extracted to make it. Myrd carved a fancy chair out of it with Shizu sitting on it on Rimuru's request. In front of the feet of the statue was a small podium up to her ankles where flowers can be placed. They then placed engraving magic to preserve the tomb so weather won't wear out the carvings.

And after that, new trouble came.

In an arid land, a monster struggled to walk under scorching heat. Until he finally collapsed. His head wrappings coming off, revealing he was an Orc.

Sometime later, he was approached by a short man dressed like a noble, but wearing a leather bird mask on his face.

He then crouched down.

'Who...are you?'

'I am Gelmud. You can think of me as your father.'