A few days after the agreement to help them out, I was sitting on a log, watching as Eren and the two guys cleaned up camp. I wanted to help but my slime body wasn't very good at grabbing things… at least, things I didn't intend to eat. So I just sat there and watched.
It was boring.
"Hey!" I hopped up to Eren. "I'm gonna see where Shizu is. I'll be back, alright?"
"Huh?" Eren looked down at me. "Oh, sure! Have fun!" And with that, I was off.
I hopped up a hill that I'd seen Shizu-san climb earlier with [Magic Sense]. I hope she's alright, she didn't even stop to eat.
The trees gradually thinned as I climbed, until I was in a grassy clearing atop a steep slope, with one single tree on the edge. Shizu was under it, looking over the horizon.
"Slime-san," she said before I could even speak, "are you an otherworlder?"
"Oh–!" I jumped in the air, I was so surprised. "U-um… yes."
"What's your real name, then?" She asked softly, still not looking at me. I couldn't help manifesting a little question mark–where was she going with this?
"Um… Satoru. Mikami Satoru." I answered, and for some reason, the name felt strange to say. It hadn't been that long since I was human, right?
"...so it's true." Shizu turned around and removed her mask, smiling. "That line from when we met, it's from a game, isn't it? You're Japanese as well."
"What!?" I shouted gleefully, bounding over to her. "You're Japanese?!" I asked excitedly as I looked up from her feet. "I mean, I wondered, 'cause the name–and now that I've seen your face, you look Japanese…!"
"Hehee," Shizu giggled, and her laugh was melodic. "Yes. I'm what's called a 'summon.' I was brought to this world a long time ago." She bent down and scooped me up, patting my slime body. It irked me to admit, but… I didn't mind the pets.
I'm not a cat. I told myself, but if Shizu was doing it…
Back to reality.
"Summon?" I questioned as I tilted my body a bit. "What's that?"
Shizu's smile darkened, her eyes looking downcast. "In this world," she said, "otherworlders are powerful weapons for kingdoms or countries. It takes more than thirty mages performing a ritual to bring someone from another world… and when they arrive, they're enslaved."
"What!?" I shouted, jiggling furiously in her arms. "That's horrible!" I said, "doesn't anyone stop them!?"
She smiled sadly. "Technically speaking, it's illegal in most places." She sighed, "but that won't stop them."
"...so you're a summon…" I reiterated after a moment of silence. "Did some kingdom bring you here?"
"No, slime-sa… Satoru-san." Shizu took a seat under the tree with me in her lap, and I was ready to hear her story. "I was summoned by one of the pillars of this world, a powerful being called a Demon Lord."
"Demon Lord!?" I was going to be shouting a lot today, it seemed. "What I've seen of this world is pretty fantastical, but they have those too?"
"They know about Demon Lords in Japan now?" Shizu asked in confusion.
"...kind of," I said. "They're fictional, like in stories."
"Oh," she hummed. "That is quite funny, but a little sad."
I'd never really thought of it that way, but from her perspective it was. "S-sorry..."
"It is alright, Satoru-san." She held me a bit closer. "Now, the Demon Lord who summoned me used to be a hero. The Platinum Saber, Leon Cromwell. He fell into becoming a Demon Lord for some reason none can understand. So he became the Platinum Devil."
"A hero can become a Demon Lord?" I jiggled a bit uncomfortably. That sounds really overpowered.
"Of course." Shizu glanced down, puzzled. "Anyway. I'm glad I get to spend my last days with someone from my homeland. Thank you, Satoru-san. I just wish I could see it all one more time..." her voice trailed off and got a little darker.
Maybe she can... I got a skill from the direwolf I killed, though I never thought I'd use it. Great Sage, can I share my memories with [Thought Communication]?
[[Affirmative.]]
Please share my memories of Japan!
[[Activating Thought Communication.]]
"Satoru-san, what is this?" Her eyes went wide and she looked up in complete wonder at the images of modern Japan swirling above us.
"When did you get summoned?" I asked.
"I'm not sure…" she frowned a bit. "It was a very long time ago, but bombs were falling from the sky when it happened."
That sounds like World War II, I thought. Great Sage, show Shizu the rebuilding of Japan after the war.
She watched the images [Great Sage] made, in awe as I told her about what had happened to our homeland since she left. Being hugged in Shizu's lap and talking about home made me feel a little wistful. I think she was even crying.
"Thank you for this, Satoru-san," she whispered as she patted me.
So, we made our way through the Jura Forest. I made regular maps for them, with charts of the monster activity in those areas of the forest and we continued toward the goal Shizu had in mind.
One foot in front of the other, hunting monsters, getting water, having feasts (even though I couldn't taste a thing). It really was fun. Even with the dark cloud that progressively formed over interactions with Shizu, I tried to keep a close eye on her.
One night, we set up camp and she started twisting and turning in her sleeping bag.
Worried, I tried to wake her up.
She did jolt awake, with terrible orange eyes overtaking her black ones. She grabbed onto me and squeezed me tightly before suddenly the orange faded and she looked terrified.
"S-Sorry, Satoru…san…" she muttered as she loosened her hug.
"W-what was that, Shizu-san?" I quivered a bit looking up at her.
"P-please don't worry about it... I'll be fine..."
She was still shivering, like a child that just endured a nightmare.
I let her continue to hold me close since it seemed to bring her comfort and we just stayed like that until sunrise.
When we finally did get up to go, Shizu was walking unsteadily, shaking constantly and jittering when she looked around.
She just wasn't herself.
"Shizu, are you okay?" Eren held onto her shoulder and tried to feel her forehead.
When suddenly Shizu fell to her knees and screamed. Her mask fell off in the process, revealing her agonized expression and tearful eyes, now glowing an ominous orange.
Eren jumped back on instinct.
I briefly locked gazes with Shizu, and without any words needed, I sensed that she was apologizing for what was about to happen.
Then, the entire clearing around Shizu was bathed in a column of fire reaching into the high heavens.
Gido started muttering. "Shizu... Shizue… Shizue Izawa! The Conqueror of Flames! That explains why she was so confident to waltz into the Jura Forest! She is an S-class adventurer!"
"What does that mean?!" I yelled frantically.
"No time to explain, but what that creature is overtaking her right now is a spirit, a flame giant, Ifrit!" Gido took cover behind a tree.
"We need to save Shizu!" Eren held up her staff defensively.
I turned back to the pillar of flames and got determined. I can't let her get taken over by whatever that thing is!
I dashed forward, rolling fast across the ground.
The adventurers prepared themselves too, Kaval and Gido getting in front of Eren to protect her. Then they cast what looked like a barrier spell.
I couldn't focus on them though, I was in a staredown with Ifrit.
It wasted no time having its chest explode and let out several weaker-looking fire demons or something.
Great. There goes our numbers advantage. I internally groaned.
I shot out a [Water Blade] at one of the lesser enemies and landed a hit, slicing it in half. But it reformed a moment later, not looking damaged by the attack at all.
I guess that didn't work…
Then, I remember something that Eren taught me; if a skill doesn't work on this thing, maybe magic will!
"[Icicle Lance]!" I shouted, sending a barrage of icy spears at the enemy, skewering it many times. Right after, it dissipated into nothing along with the magic.
I breathed a sigh of relief that I could attack these things.
As I prepared to attack the second spirit, something caught my attention in [Magic Sense].
The third spirit was headed right for Eren and the others! Until now, they'd had a barrier set up, but the magic explosion this spirit seemed to be setting up would tear right through that.
I hopped high into the air, bouncing toward the thing to stop it before it reached my friends. Reaching toward it, I shouted, "[Predator]!"
I wrapped my body around the spirit right as it exploded, some of the blast hitting Eren's shield; but with my help, most of the blast's force was eaten.
I was even still at full health, though the attack had almost popped me like a balloon.
Why didn't that hurt me at all?
[[Notice: the effects of [Thermal-Fluctuation Resistance] nullified the heat-based attack of the fire spirit, Salamander.]]
I sensed some irritation in the tone of [Great Sage], indirectly calling me silly for forgetting about my own resistances.
But, wait…doesn't that mean I have this fight in the bag? Like, these are fire spirits, so if I can't get hurt by fire, that means I can't lose, right?
[[Notice: Cannot be confirmed. Analysis of Greater Spirit, Ifrit, incomplete.]]
Still, that puts me at a huge advantage. I guess that explains why I've felt no sense of danger for myself since this fight started.
But, even though I may be able to tank fire blasts, I don't think my friends can.
"Guys, get out of here while you still can!" I shouted, killing the last of Ifrit's minions with icicle lances.
"B-but Rimuru-san!" Eren complained.
"No, I mean it! I can beat this thing controlling Shizu-san, I promise! Its fire can't hurt me, I have [Thermal-Fluctuation Resistance]!"
I need you out of here, even if I am not sure I can win. So don't blame me for lying later!
"C'mon, Eren. Rimuru has a big advantage. He stands a better chance against that monstrosity than us," Kaval said, already turning to run away.
Gido nodded in agreement and joined Kaval in his gesturing for Eren to follow.
She glanced over at me with a worried expression, then back to her companions, before resolutely nodding.
"If you say so, Rimuru, we'll trust you to handle this." She firmly said as if trying to reassure herself more than anything.
I turned back to Ifrit, and glared with my slimy eyes, the two of us now one-on-one in the clearing.
Ifrit looked angry, but I was angrier. Not only did he send one of his pawns to kill my three new friends, but he's stolen the body of my fourth. I didn't know if Shizu was still alive in there or not, but I hoped that defeating Ifrit would free her from this curse, and let her lead a more pleasant life.
Ifrit charged toward me wielding a sword made of flame and split into dozens of clones that began to dance around me.
I dodged their slashes, one after another, bouncing around erratically until I spotted the real one with [Magic Sense].
Having found the real Ifrit, I unleashed a flurry of icicle lances in all directions, taking out all the clones in one fell swoop.
While my focus was on the clones, Ifrit blasted a massive stream of flame from its mouth.
The attack managed to graze me as I dodged, shooting an icicle lance back. Ifrit's eyes followed it, giving me a chance to get into a better position.
But just when I thought I might be getting the upper hand, I noticed something under me.
Well, it seems I wasn't the only one doing the distracting…
A massive magic circle that I hadn't noticed until now suddenly activated, enveloping the entire area in flame. There was no way for me to escape it–I was about to be fried to ashes!
The circle activated, sending a white-hot pillar of flame up around me.
Oh crap! Panicking, I questioned if my resistance to heat will be enough to withstand such a high-energy spell.
[[Notice: Elemental effect of [Flare Circle] is being canceled by [Thermal-Fluctuation Resistance].]]
Oh, Great Sage! So does this mean I'm safe?
[[Answer: Affirmative.]]
"Ahahahahaha! So this thing can't hurt me then!" I was elated that this thing's attacks were just as ineffective on me as it's buddies'.
Assured that Ifrit couldn't hurt me, I shot a [Sticky Thread], sure that despite Ifrit's spiritual nature, I could bind it since Shizu was its core.
The spirit squirmed and screamed, and for the first time its eyes went wide in genuine fear.
I felt I'd be smiling if I could as I inched toward it. "Your time is up!"
Ifrit gave one last struggle.
"I'll never let you hurt Shizu again!" I declared.
Then I predated it without another thought.
After the fight, I was in a daze.
Shizu was left on the ground where I isolated her from Ifrit, completely knocked out. I just sat there a bit blankly, still trying to process what just happened. During the fight, I needed to act quickly, so my body just moved automatically; but now that things were calm…
It took a little while for the adventurers to come up to me again. Eren rushed toward Shizu, examining her worriedly.
"She's alive," she sighed with relief, and I realized I'd been (figuratively) holding my breath.
"We need to make camp until she wakes up," Gido said. He glanced around at the forest, "but I don't like the idea of being in the open when she's this vulnerable."
"I can carry her," I said. "I know a safe place not far from here."
Eren and the rest turned around to find me in my Tempest Star Wolf form, a big black-furred beast with spiraling gold horns on its head. Kaval let out a yelp and stumbled back while the other two stared in shock.
"Rimuru?" Eren asked, "is that you?"
"Yeah." I laid down on the ground and rested my chin on my paws so I wouldn't seem as big.
"How did you do that?" Kaval asked curiously, recovering from his fright as he came up to examine my form.
"I can mimic the form of whatever I eat," I explained. My tail began wagging on its own, though when I realized I quickly stopped it.
"So you ate… whatever that thing is?" Eren asked as she approached, touching my horns.
"This is a Tempest Star Wolf," I explained. "What I ate was a direwolf. The form changes sometimes after I use it, I don't know why."
"This is all very interesting." Gido said, "but Rimuru," he bent down to meet my wolf form's eyes. "You know a safe place?"
"Uh-huh!" I nodded, my tail wagging rapidly again. "I can carry Shizu, too."
The look on Eren's face was enthusiastic–she was all for this plan, I could tell. The two men weren't as visibly excited, but they seemed relieved.
After a moment Gido gave a slight nod.
"Alright," Kaval said, "lead the way."
They laid Shizu on my back, then Kaval helped Eren mount up to hold her in place. As he started to climb himself, however, I turned my head around. "Actually," I said, "you guys should walk. Just in case Eren or Shizu slide off."
"Oh–ah… okay!" Kaval nodded, seeing the sense in that. I could carry all four of them, but to be honest, it just felt weird to have other people on my back. I was still used to being human. Sure, I'd take my nieces on "horsey rides" all the time, but with grown men? Not a chance.
Eren yelped as I stood up, keeping her arms around Shizu and gripping my sides with her legs to deal with the rocking motion. I gave a single wag of my tail to Kaval and Gido. "Follow me," I said.
The last thing I felt as we left was a group of presences with [Magic Sense], they felt sort of similar to Ifrit, but also a bit like Veldora. I couldn't find them again when I looked harder though.
We started walking through the forest, moving slowly so I wouldn't jostle Shizu too much and so the other two could keep up. As we got closer to the mountain I could tell Kaval and Gido were looking around a lot more, sometimes sharing looks.
"What's up?" I asked, pausing.
"Err, it's nothing." Kaval reassured me with a wave of his hand, "but… this place is safe, right?"
"Of course!" I grinned, tongue hanging out. So we moved along until we came to the entrance of the cave I'd been born in.
"Umm…" Kaval and Gido stopped as I passed through the entrance.
"We're here," I said as soon as I stepped into the cool gloom, turning my head to look at them.
"Uh, Rimuru?" Eren asked from on my back.
"Yeah?" I tilted my head in her direction.
"I don't think this place is very safe," she answered.
"What do you mean?" I asked in confusion, flicking my tail nervously.
"This is where the Storm Dragon was, right?" She explained, "and it's full of monsters."
"Oh."
Right; for humans, a cave teeming with giant snakes, spiders, and a legendary dragon at the bottom was probably pretty scary. With Shizu in this condition, it's no wonder they'd be skeptical.
"Don't worry!" I reassured them, "I cleaned it out. There's nothing dangerous in here anymore."
"So you…live here?" Gido asked me, coming up to my head.
"Umm…" I tilted my head. "I was born here, so I guess?"
"Wow!" Kaval slapped my flank. "No wonder you're so strong!"
My tail wagged at the compliment, and I couldn't resist a grin. "Hehee…"
"Well," Gido put his hands on his hips as he peered into the cave. "Let's set up near the entrance, alright?"
"Okay!" I replied enthusiastically, tail wagging. I led them only a few more steps inside to a hollow in the wall that kept the wind out. Settling down in my wolf form, Eren hopped off me as Kaval and Gido got Shizu situated. As soon as I was free of the burden, I returned to slime form to make some more room.
"You're really something, Rimuru," Kaval chuckled as they set up camp.
"Huh?" A question mark manifested on my head as I looked at him curiously.
"He means you're a unique monster," Eren answered with a smile. She sat down on the floor near me and patted my springy body. "A very special one."
"Oh, thanks." I guess a talking slime with shapeshifting powers was pretty weird, come to think of it.
"Do you know what happened to the Storm Dragon, Rimuru?" Gido asked curiously.
Oh. That was the reason I saw these three the first time, right? Something told me it was a bad idea to casually say "Oh, I ate him!"
"Nope," I responded bluntly.
Gido shrugged, chuckling a bit. "Yeah, I just figured I'd ask if you were from here and all."
"Yeah, sorry," I laughed nervously. "I've got no idea."