When Kashima Koharu said she would take in the cat, I was genuinely grateful from the bottom of my heart.
A few days later, I called out to her to say thanks.
But she averted her eyes awkwardly and walked away.
It didn't feel like she hated me—at least, I don't think so.
Kashima gave the impression of being a very reserved girl.
I had never seen her talking with boys in the classroom during breaks.
She probably didn't know how to respond.
In the end, she could only leave in silence.
Maybe someday she'll be the one to speak to me.
—Assuming she doesn't hate me.
If she does hate me, then that's that.
But if not, there's no need to rush her.
There's no need to hurry when building relationships with others.
You can take it slowly.
The advice from my aunt and uncle is still firmly rooted inside me even now.
▽
I sit in the shade of a tree, gnawing on a pork cutlet.
When I checked the leather pouch, its function had reset.
So I decided to take a break and eat.
Next to me, the slime is quivering.
I stare at the flat, rectangular object.
Tonkatsu-flavored junk food.
A taste I occasionally crave.
I remember eating it regularly back in the original world.
The moderately crispy batter on the surface.
The unique springy texture inside.
I think it was fish paste?
The surface is coated in thick brown sauce.
A strong flavor.
Salty, with just a hint of sweetness.
Moist yet with just the right firmness.
When these two combine, it's irresistible.
My mouth is completely overtaken by the powerful taste.
It's not a large portion by any means, but it gives an oddly satisfying feeling.
I gulp down some green tea.
My mouth feels refreshed.
"Fuu."
Maybe because I'm finally on the surface.
Psychologically, it feels easier to consume food and drink.
I look at the remaining piece of cutlet in my hand.
One last bite.
"…Wanna try it?"
Just to see.
I hold it out toward the slime, which seems to be observing curiously (?).
Funyonyo〜
A part of its body stretches out like a protrusion.
"Pi, gi…?"
"Hm? Are you asking if it's okay to eat?"
The slime's body color shifts to green.
A sign of yes.
"Yeah, of course."
I push it a little closer.
The tip of the protrusion wraps around the cutlet with a *nyuru*.
The cutlet moves into the slime's body.
It dissolves inside.
Hmm.
So that's how it eats.
"Kyuiii〜♪"
Now it turns a soft pink.
An expression of joy.
Looks like it enjoyed it.
Earlier, I did a light test with the slime.
An experiment to see if communication was possible.
It seems my intentions get through to some degree.
And the slime also has ways of expressing itself.
Green means "affirmative."
Red means "negative."
Pink means "friendly" or "joy."
So far, those are the three I've identified.
There might be more.
But for now, this is enough.
For a monster without a common language or facial expressions, its emotions come through surprisingly clearly.
In some ways, it might even be easier to understand than humans.
Also, this slime turned out to be quite dexterous.
I wasn't sure if I could bring a monster into a town or village.
That had been an immediate problem.
But the solution appeared right away.
The slime can stretch and thin its body like a rope.
If I wrap it around myself under the robe, it can hide its form.
"And as long as there's nothing in towns or villages that detects monster presence, this problem should be cleared."
There's another advantage to having it "concealed" on my body like this.
I stand up.
I give the slime instructions, and it wraps around me.
The rope-like slime crawls up from my feet.
I feel a soft, squishy sensation through the fabric on my upper body.
Something wriggles around the back of my neck.
The slime shows itself.
"Pigi."
"Can you see behind me?"
"Pi!"
A protrusion stretches out in front of my face.
The tip turns green.
"Affirmative."
"All right…"
If something approaches from my blind spot, this guy can let me know.
It's a stopgap measure, but now I have at least one "eye" watching my back.
This should handle blind spots for the time being.
"Looks like taking you as a companion was the right call."
"Pigi♪"
The slime returns to normal.
I sit back down.
There was actually one thing I was curious about.
I take the 『Forbidden Arts Compendium』 out of the leather pouch.
I sit cross-legged and open the pages.
The slime also stretches a protrusion over to peek.
"I'm pretty sure it was around here…"
I trace my memory from when I flipped through it in the ruin.
"Found it."
『Monster Enhancement System Draft ・ Experimental Results』
『Creation of Monster Enhancement Agent (Evolution Promoter)』
『Slime → Possible』
『First experiment: Success』
『Second experiment: Success』
『Third experiment: Success』
『No adverse effects such as increased ferocity observed on monsters thus far』
Below that was a scribbled note.
"Rather, my relationship with the slime has improved compared to before. I can't deny that I've completely developed feelings for it. Troublesome. Thanks to this, I've awakened to the cuteness of slimes."
"..."
Looks like the Great Sage got attached to his test subject.
"Still… a monster enhancement agent, huh."
This might allow me to boost the slime's capabilities.
I glance at the slime.
"Come to think of it… do these guys have the concept of leveling up…?"
I'd like to test that eventually.
However, there's something that bothers me at this point.
The Great Sage deliberately researched this enhancement agent.
Relying on an agent to increase monster abilities means they can't level up in the same way summoned heroes do.
That could be interpreted as the reason he developed it.
"Just looking at this… if misused, this could be some pretty messed-up research…"
I groan while staring at the relevant page.
A human intentionally enhancing monsters.
I can understand why the Great Sage classified it as a "forbidden art."
I examine the page in more detail.
The materials needed for the enhancement agent are listed.
So are the locations to obtain them.
Naturally, all unfamiliar place names.
"If I can pick them up along the way while searching for someone who can read the forbidden curse, I'll go for them too."
Now then,
"Guess it's about time to get moving."
"Pi!"
"Uh, um—"
I start to call out to the slime, but stop.
"Pi?"
A name… would be better, right?
Its cry is "Pigi!"
Round and cute.
"Pigi-maru it is."
"Pigi?"
"Starting today, your name is Pigi-maru. Well… I'll accept objections if you have any—"
"Pigi!"
It turns green.
"Affirmative."
"Piggiggi〜♪"
Now pink.
Seems safe to interpret as joy.
I pick up the leather pouch to put the 『Forbidden Arts Compendium』 away.
There's still trash from the transferred food and drink inside.
I tried to wipe off as much grime as possible for the smell, but…
Well,
*Sniff sniff*
Maybe because it's a magical item.
For some reason, the inside of the leather pouch remains completely odorless.
The 『Forbidden Arts Compendium』 I took out doesn't smell strange either.
Still, I'll need to get another bag eventually…
I want to dispose of the accumulated trash someday too.
"Throwing away trash is no good, okay?"
My aunt's teaching.
I want to keep the things I can keep.
"I wonder if Aunt's doing okay…"
She was such a good person that it almost made me worry.
"She's probably… worried about me right now…"
△
That was the day I first met my aunt and uncle after my real parents disappeared.
My aunt hugged the young me tightly.
Her hands and voice were trembling.
At first, I thought she was angry.
My alcoholic father, always angry, had trembling hands.
My mother's voice, screaming hatred, was always trembling too.
"I'm sorry I didn't notice sooner."
My aunt apologized to me.
At first, I didn't understand what she was apologizing for.
Later, I learned the meaning.
When I understood, I cried.
Because I was happy.
People cry when they're happy too.
That was a surprising first experience for me back then.
▽
I shoulder the leather pouch.
Pigi-maru wraps around my body.
I start walking.
My destination: a town or village.
"Hey, Pigi-maru."
Pigi-maru stretches up to my shoulder with a *nyuru*.
"Pii?"
"What I'm trying to do is a very personal revenge. Depending on how you look at it, it might seem like a boring goal… but to me, it's an important objective…"
Being obsessed with revenge is foolish.
What does revenge accomplish?
What remains after revenge?
Revenge is an uncool way to live.
Revenge is wrong.
Revenge is meaningless.
There are probably perspectives like that.
Surely,
Clinging to revenge can sometimes look pitiful.
Being fixated on revenge can sometimes look miserable.
But—I will do it.
For whom?
No need to ask.
For myself.
For my own satisfaction.
To satisfy myself.
To settle things with my own emotions.
Screw noble ideals for the sake of everyone.
A heroic savior protecting the world from evil?
That's completely someone else's story.
My goal ultimately boils down to pure, complete ego.
But this revenge also has a legitimate cause.
A cause that is mine, by me, for me.
If I gain more companions later, I will tell them this is a journey for revenge.
I will tell them without hesitation.
I will tell them openly.
Whether they stay or leave is up to them.
I've decided that.
"So this will be a journey to accomplish that revenge. From now on, you'll be accompanying my ego—but is that okay with you?"
"Pi!"
"If you want to leave, now's the time. If that's what you want, I won't complain about you getting off here."
"Piii!"
The protrusion turns red.
"Negative."
"…So you're going to stick with me on this revenge journey?"
"Pi!"
It changes to green.
"Affirmative."
"Hn. I see."
I lightly stroke the protrusion stretched beside my neck and take the next step.
"Then, once again—"
A journey of two defectives.
"Nice to have you along, partner."
"Pigi!"
Pigi-maru, its body color now glossy, lets out a cheerful cry.
▽
I advance through the forest, snapping small branches.
Is this the sound of revenge's footsteps?
"Revenge produces nothing."
Wrong.
I don't want to produce anything more.
I will not allow anything more to be born.
This is revenge for that very purpose.
Shitty goddess.
"I will definitely complete my revenge."