Chapter 113 - Gathering (1)

Claire focused on the slime’s movements. The most important thing was to observe how her opponent moved and react immediately.

'Bouncy is strong. Still not serious.'

That was the only reason they could spar at all.

If the slime used its tentacles, its attacks would become much more varied. Above all, if it tackled her in earnest, she probably would not even be able to dodge. But that fact did not offend Claire. She had already witnessed its strength up close time and again, and more importantly, it neither looked down on her nor mocked her.

While sparring had made the slime more adept at controlling its strength, Claire’s reflexes, already her specialty, were improving as well.

'Now!'

Until now, simply managing to follow it with her eyes and dodge had been all she could do. But having grown accustomed to the speed of the slime when it held back, Claire attacked the instant she dodged.

“Haaah!”

As the slime left an opening after its tackle, Claire unleashed a kick.

WHOOSH!

Just as Claire’s foot was about to strike the slime...

POP!

The slime extended a tentacle, wrapped it around Claire’s foot, and vaulted over it. It was the same maneuver it had used to dodge Paulen’s sword and the Orc Champions’ swords.

'It used a tentacle!'

The slime had finally brought out a tentacle—the very slime that had effortlessly avoided all her attacks simply by bouncing around until now! Feeling that she really was continuing to grow stronger, Claire burned with renewed enthusiasm. And the slime was not the only one watching her progress.

▶Oh, the furry made the slime use a tentacle.

[Slam First Ask Later]▶Hmph! That’s only because Squishy keeps going easy on her! Still, not bad!

▶Since when were you a tsundere?

▶Isn’t it 100% because she’s a furry?

[Slam First Ask Later]▶Who are you calling a furry!

▶Oh! Furry s*x!

▶Look at her eyes. She’s happy Squishy brought out a tentacle.

▶Lmaoooo

[Gothic Luxury Bone]▶This has its own appeal.

Claire did not improve as rapidly as the slime. Yet that was precisely what the viewers liked. For one thing, the contrast was appealing. Whenever they had watched the slime spar before, it had always been the challenger. Both Paulen and Smartass were stronger than it.

Now, however, the slime was the stronger opponent, moderating its strength against the weaker Claire. Watching it spar with her let the viewers appreciate its growth and feel proud that it was no longer that feeble little slime.

Above all, monsters generally enjoyed watching weaker beings struggle against opponents they could not hope to match. In their world, where the strong preyed on the weak, the feeling of superiority was always sweet. That was also why streams featuring content such as “Today’s Hunt” or “Going to Fuck Up That Cocky Bastard from Another Territory” were so popular.

'One more!'

Still refusing to give up, Claire spun around, trying to strike the slime with a spinning kick this time. But...

Now that it had brought out its tentacle, the slime stretched it farther, wrapped it around Claire’s face, and immediately closed the distance, pressing firmly against her.

“Mmph!”

When it pushed its body against her face with a little force, Claire instantly lost her balance and fell. Under the rule she and the slime had tacitly agreed upon, falling meant defeat.

'Lost again.'

Acknowledging her defeat, Claire peeled the slime off her face.

“Phew! Bouncy really is strong.”

'Strong!'

The slime quivered, delighted by both its victory and Claire’s praise.

“Hey, if you’re done, let me get a lesson from our hero too.”

An adventurer approached Claire and the slime, whose match had just ended.

Naturally, sparring required a suitable space, and Claire had chosen the training grounds at the adventurers’ guild. The slime had drawn plenty of attention since the attack, so it was only natural that people came to watch when they sparred at the guild.

At first, the adventurers had doubted whether Claire and the slime could actually spar. But after watching several matches, they decided it was safe. Anyone could see that the slime was holding back against her, and with each successive match, it became more skillful at doing so.

Seeing that, the adventurers began to want to try sparring with the slime themselves. Starting on the second day of their training, more and more adventurers requested a match once Claire’s turn was over.

▶Lmao here comes the next scrub hooman.

▶Why do these guys keep coming when Squishy always wrecks them?

▶Well~ They don’t die~.

▶How can you resist fighting someone stronger when there’s no risk of dying?

▶For real lol

[Squishy Queen]▶Hmph! In the end, they are nothing but insolent fools who cling to the kindness of my kin!

▶What’s her problem this time?

▶Is she salty because Squishy’s popular with the hoomans now and isn’t her own precious little kin anymore?

▶Only now?

[Squishy Queen]▶It is nothing of the sort!

'Love sparring!'

Far from disliking the growing number of humans who challenged it, the slime enjoyed getting to spar with so many different people. They all fought differently. Even those who used the same kind of sword had their own approaches. Observing them was fun, and the slime was happy that its games were becoming more varied.

Eating delicious food, sparring or taking on requests, and, whenever it had time, giving massages to the elderly people who lined up for them. Once again, the slime was enjoying a life both similar to and different from its experiences in the County of Rudendion, with Godric’s Party, in the Holy City, at the Mage Tower, and everywhere else it had been.

One clear difference was that this time, it was eagerly waiting for a reunion. The slime had heard Claire distinctly: if it waited here, Nellin and Godric’s Party would come. The thought of seeing the first elf it had ever met and Godric’s Party, from whom it had unintentionally parted, made it look forward to every new day.

Three weeks passed. The slime fully adjusted to its evolved body, while Claire’s skills improved further through their continued sparring.

Not only that, the slime became the most popular resident of the village. It was hardly surprising: besides looking harmless, it was the hero who had saved the village, sparred with people, and even gave wonderful massages! It had done far too much for the village for people to shun it simply because it was a monster.

“Hi, Bouncy! Hi, Claire.”

“Yeah, hi.”

“Good morning, Bouncy. Hoho, did you sleep well too, Claire?”

“Yeah, I did.”

“Hey, this bread’s fresh today. Have some! Bouncy likes this bread, right?”

“Thanks.”

Thanks to that, being greeted by the villagers as she walked through town in the morning with the slime on her head had become part of Claire’s daily routine. Perhaps because of this, she had become a little more comfortable talking to people. Once, she had considered any conversation unrelated to killing monsters both tedious and unnecessary. She no longer felt that way. Instead, she found herself recalling happy memories of life in her village before it was attacked.

Whenever those memories surfaced, Claire thought:

'Glad we protected this village.'

Another reason to fight monsters was taking root within her—one that went beyond revenge.

And today, as she entered the guild wondering which request to take on, Claire and the slime encountered Nellin’s group, who had finally arrived in Chilture.

The receptionist, who was attending to them, noticed Claire and the slime arriving.

“Ah, here they are.”

The entire group turned around.

“Bouncy!”

Def was the first to react, rushing toward them.

“Quivery!”

Amelia followed, calling the slime by its other name.

'Def! Amelia!'

Recognizing them immediately, the slime bounced off Claire’s head and approached the pair. When it jumped toward Def, who was in front, he caught it in both hands and rubbed it against his cheek.

“Bouncy! What a relief! You’re safe!”

Delighted to feel Def’s touch again after so long, the slime quivered.

“Hehe, that tickles!”

“Quivery...”

Seeing the slime quiver against Def’s cheek with her own eyes, Amelia placed a hand over her chest and breathed a sigh of relief.

“S-Saintess, you should hold Quivery too.”

“Ah, thank you.”

Amelia accepted the slime from Def, holding it in both hands as she gazed at it.

“Quivery, you aren’t hurt anywhere, are you?”

'Not hurt!'

The slime quivered.

“What a relief.”

Tears welled in Amelia’s eyes at the joy of their reunion.

“Bouncy!” they called together.

The rest of Godric’s companions, Paulen, and Gracie approached the slime as well.

“Wow, glad you’re still alive.”

Watching the scene with a smile, Nellin walked over to Claire.

“Thanks. You’re the one who’s been looking after Bouncy, right?”

“Yeah.”

Claire nodded immediately.

“Found Bouncy like I promised. Will you teach me now?”

“Of course, of course. I have to keep my promise. But...”

“But?”

Nellin looked at the group gathered happily around the slime.

“You really are alive... Bouncy, thank you so much for what you did back then.”

“Heh. So destiny has brought us together once more.”

“You’re trying to look cool even at a time like this? Hey, Bouncy! Don’t make us worry like that!”

“Now we can work out together again, Quivery!”

“Ahh, now... my funding! O-of course! I’m happy to see you too!”

Nellin chuckled again and pointed behind her with her thumb.

“Could I teach you another day instead of today? It’s been a really long time since I saw Bouncy too.”

“Yeah. That’s fine. But... who are those three? They’re calling Bouncy Quivery.”

“Oh. Right, you’ve never met them, have you?”

Nellin briefly explained Amelia’s group to Claire.

“They met Bouncy after we lost track of it and took care of it. They ended up having to part with Bouncy too, through no fault of their own. We happened to run into each other while searching, so we joined up. They called Bouncy Quivery.”

“I see.”

“Now, my turn...”

Nellin turned and approached the slime, which was busy being petted by everyone.

“Hey, it’s really been a while, hasn’t it?”

'Nellin!'

The slime bounced out of Amelia’s hands onto Nellin’s shoulder, rubbing against her and quivering.

“Ahahaha! That tickles! Oh, so this is what it feels like against your cheek. I should’ve tried it ages ago. Anyway...”

Nellin lightly patted the slime.

“If you recognize me, you really must be the slime I met back then. Oh.”

Nellin took some jerky made in the elf village from her pocket.

“Been a while since you had this, huh?”

'Jerky!'

When she held it up to the slime, it immediately absorbed it.

'Delicious!'

It was the first nutritious food it had tried shortly after leaving the cave. This time, it could experience it not merely as nutrients, but through its sense of taste as well. The slime quivered exuberantly.

“Is it that good?”

'Yes!'

After watching the slime on her shoulder for a moment, Nellin spoke.

“Well, let’s get rooms first. Then we can catch up.”