Chapter 12

Previous Summary:

The protagonist and Rose's embrace—

—Around that time, Lily, who was on a hunt.

"Huh!? I feel like I just missed something important!"

12

The next day.

"Good morning, Master."

"...Good morning."

It seems I ended up falling asleep as it was, with Rose in my arms, and I woke up to Lily's unusually cheerful smile.

She seemed happy that her "little sister" Rose was getting along well with me.

When I heard the term "Lily-nee-sama" yesterday, I was a bit taken aback, but perhaps she could be a good older sister after all.

***

"Change our base? Why?"

After breakfast, as I brought up the topic, Lily, who seemed to claim this place as her territory, clung to my arm and blinked her large eyes.

"Is it because of what that senior told you yesterday?"

Unlike Lily, Kato seemed to catch on. Rose, who had heard the conversation but didn't join in, continued to whittle wood as usual.

I nodded at Kato and decided to explain to Lily.

"If what Kaga said yesterday is true, there might be a powerful monster in this area, one that can even kill a cheater ability user. Staying here is dangerous."

"Oh, I see. The story about the five dismembered bodies, one of whom was a member of the exploration team. ...But, is that really true? I don't really trust it."

"Of course not. I don't trust it either."

I shrugged.

"It's just that there's no need to take unnecessary risks."

I answered Lily this way because I wasn't certain, but I believed that Kaga was telling the truth about this matter.

For example, what Kaga said about something else—knowing the details of the expedition team's plans—was likely a lie. That was just to pique my interest.

On the other hand, the story about finding the five dismembered bodies, one of whom was a cheater ability user, had no benefit for Kaga to lie about.

There was no reason to lie. Kaga was a fool who followed his desires, but he wasn't a liar who spread meaningless lies.

It's almost certain that one of those five was a cheater ability user from the exploration team.

Even a common warrior, with their power, should be able to easily defeat most of the monsters in this forest.

The monster that killed them.

We should get away from such a dangerous monster as soon as possible.

"Still, it's hard to believe that there's a monster that can kill a cheater ability user."

I find it hard to believe... or rather, I don't want to believe it, but it's the truth.

I considered the possibility that they were surrounded, but there were no other monster corpses at the scene. It's reasonable to assume that it was a massacre by a single monster.

"Is that so surprising?"

"Isn't it surprising, Lily? Cheater ability users who come to this world can even kill dragons with their bare hands. A monster that can kill them is hard for me to imagine."

"Well, monsters have ranks, you know."

"Ranks?"

"Yep."

Lily nodded, rubbing her cheek against her arm.

"What do you mean?"

"Hmm..."

After a moment of thought, Lily spoke.

"You know that the creatures students call monsters in this world are beings with magical power, right?"

"Yeah."

"Basically, the more magical power a monster has, the stronger it is."

I understand. The analogy of a powerless bear being unable to defeat a magical mouse is a good example of the extreme case.

"Also, the average strength of monsters is proportional to the amount of magical power in the land."

"Wait a minute. What do you mean by the amount of magical power in the land?"

"Huh? Oh, right. Master can't sense magical power, can you?"

Lily stuck out her red tongue playfully when I complained about her casual statement.

"Magical power is originally dependent on the land. It moves with the air currents, seeps into the ground with the rain, and becomes rooted in the land. Monsters and we absorb and concentrate this magical power within our bodies."

"Um, is it like imagining harmful heavy metals that seep into the ground as industrial waste?"

"...It's correct, but I really don't like that analogy. It's correct, though."

Lily made a face, probably because the image was too negative.

Well, the image is indeed terrible, but I think it's a clear way to understand the phenomenon.

Heavy metals dissolve in water, are absorbed by plankton, eaten by small fish, and then by larger fish... eventually causing harm to humans who eat them.

"The small animals and plants in this forest contain a very small amount of magical power, of course, including the air. This magical power accumulates in monsters. So, to be precise, monsters should be defined as 'creatures that accumulate magical power.' Since they absorb magical power from the land, it's natural that the more magical power the land has, the more magical power the monsters will have."

"You know a lot about this."

"Well, it's related to our own ecology."

"Ecology?"

"Yep."

Lily nodded.

"Monsters that accumulate a certain amount of magical power... or rather, those with the capacity to do so, will eventually begin to reproduce over a long period of time. To put it simply, they give birth."

"...I see."

What is this?

When a delicate girl like Lily talks about "reproduction," it feels very awkward.

I know she's being serious, though.

"Is it asexual reproduction? Ah, but there's a slight difference in the magical power capacity of the monsters born this way, so it's something different, right? Sorry, I don't know. Anyway, I'm probably a slime, and Rose is a magical puppet, so we're this type. I don't know about animal-like monsters like Fire Fangs."

"So, if the magical power capacity of a monster is too large compared to the amount of magical power the land can hold, the population doesn't increase?"

"Right. So, the strength of monsters depends on the amount of magical power in the land. However, this is only for ordinary monsters."

"Ordinary?"

So, there are also extraordinary monsters.

"To make it easier to understand, I'll use the knowledge from the game in Mizuhashi Mihō's world... Compared to ordinary monsters, monsters that have started to reproduce, like the one I mentioned earlier, are called Queen Monsters, right?"

"Of course, they're stronger than ordinary monsters."

"Much stronger. However, their strength isn't constant because they lose magical power each time they reproduce. Next, for someone like me, I think it's called a Unique Monster."

"Does that mean there's only one of them?"

"Exactly. They're irregulars born through asexual reproduction... in other words, mutations. I think you can think of them as rare. It's not that Unique Monsters are necessarily stronger. I'm just a slime-level Unique Monster."

Indeed, Lily's raw combat ability isn't very high.

However, her mimicry ability is unique. In that sense, the name Unique Monster suits her perfectly.

"So, Rose is probably a Rare Monster, right?"

"What? Rose isn't an ordinary monster either?"

I was surprised and turned to look at Rose.

She modestly bowed her head.

"Rose is a bit stronger than an ordinary magical puppet. Do you have any idea why?"

"I was impressed by her skills."

"Compared to Lily-nee-sama's skills, it's like a rounding error."

Rose interjected, but I don't think that's true.

Lily looked at her younger sister with a slightly troubled smile and continued.

"And above Rare Monsters... well, there are High Monsters, I guess."

"What's the difference between a High Monster and a Rare Monster?"

"Everything."

Lily said this with a decisive tone.

"Rose, I'm sorry, but when I called you a Rare Monster, it was just because you were better than others of the same type. Even so, you're rare enough to be one in a thousand, maybe even capable of becoming a Queen eventually. ...But, High Monsters are fundamentally different in existence."

Lily had a very serious expression.

"They're outside the ecosystem. They're individuals that don't engage in reproductive activities like Queen Monsters. Probably, their magical power capacity has exceeded the limit."

"Magical power determines the strength of monsters, right?"

"Yep. So, we can't possibly defeat them. We shouldn't fight. If we do, we'll definitely be killed. Even escaping is a matter of luck. For example... a High Monster I saw before had wiped out a group of nearly a hundred Fire Fangs. It was truly a 'monster.'"

"A monster among monsters."

The thought of fighting such a creature is terrifying.

If we encounter one, we should run away immediately. It's safer to move our base to avoid it.

With the plan for the future decided, I had a sudden thought.

"Hey, Lily."

"What is it?"

"High Monsters. Could they kill a cheater ability user?"

"...Hmm. That's the thing."

Her answer was indecisive.

"It depends on the situation, but I think it would be difficult to defeat them head-on."

"Difficult?"

"Yep."

Lily's response left me speechless, and I sighed.

How far beyond the norm are cheater ability users?

Perhaps humans are truly formidable.

"Still, there might be powerful monsters I don't know about. I'm just a slime, and my range of activity hasn't been very wide. Rose might know more."

"No, I haven't seen anything other than Unique Monsters and Rare Monsters, including myself."

Based on their conversation, it seems the probability of encountering a High Monster is quite low.

However, it's better to be cautious. It's too late to regret in hell after dying.

"Anyway, we should leave this place as soon as possible if there's a chance such a monster exists. I'm sorry, Kato."

I summarized and looked at Kato.

If we stayed here, the exploration team would likely come to our aid.

However, if we move, we'll be back to square one.

When I directed my attention to her, Kato quietly lowered her eyes and stroked the braid on her shoulder with her fingertips.

She didn't seem particularly disappointed.

Actually, her emotions are hard to read.

She seems to be recovering, but she's still far from her best, and it's uncertain if she'll fully recover. A trigger might help, but I can't provide that.

"It's fine... I'm okay with it."

"Alright, then let's leave this place quickly."

With that decided, we quickly packed our belongings.

So far, Rose has made three swords, two spears, and two axes. We also have shields, chest armor, and leg protectors.

Lily's main weapon is a spear, with a sword as a secondary weapon.

Rose holds a battle axe in one hand and carries a spare on her back.

I wear the sword from before on my hip, carry another sword on my back, and hold a large shield in my hand.

We distributed chest armor to everyone. Except for me, who carries the large shield, we gave small, round shields that wouldn't hinder combat to the others.

Ideally, I would give the large shield to Kato, who is not a combatant, but it's too heavy for her to use, so we haven't made one yet.

In addition to these weapons, Rose has made various useful items for daily life, but we decided to leave them behind as they are inconvenient to carry.

We can have her make them again when needed. Rose agreed without any particular concern.

We packed clothes and other items into the backpack we took from Kaga and Kato's handbag. We stored smoked meat and other food in a makeshift bundle made from the skin of a Fire Fang. We also packed spare parts for Rose in the same way.

"Did we forget anything? —Alright, let's go."

And so, we left the cave we had lived in.

***

A branch of a tree bent and struck the ground.

The sharp blow, like a whip, had the power to gouge the earth.

It would probably crush a car in one hit. If I were hit, I would be reduced to a stain on the ground.

Avoiding such a terrifying attack was a wooden doll... Rose.

"Shiiii—!"

As soon as she landed, Rose lunged at the imposing figure of a large monster called a Treant.

It looked like a "walking tree."

Even in her slime form, Lily was quite large, but the Treant was easily over four meters tall.

Its approach, sometimes felling surrounding trees, had the force of a house collapsing.

However, Rose charged at the giant without hesitation.

She cut one of the approaching branches with her axe and dodged the other with a wide swing—

"!"

—only to be pursued by a branch like a snake.

At the last moment, Rose deflected it with her shield.

Although she successfully defended, her stance was severely disrupted. The Treant, sensing an opportunity, stirred its numerous root-like legs to launch a follow-up attack.

"Sister!"

"I know!"

While Rose was holding it back, Lily, who had been preparing her special attack, cast a spell from the rear.

The attribute was wind.

The nature was a projectile.

The magic power was at the third level, comparable to a high-powered rifle, with great destructive force.

—Kiiin.

At the end of the ear-piercing sound, a part of the Treant's body exploded.

"Giiii!?"

A trunk so thick that two adults couldn't reach around it was cleanly cut in half, revealing the scenery on the other side.

Even the formidable Treant seemed to be stunned by this blow, and its frenzied attacks ceased.

Seizing the opportunity, Rose raised her battle axe.

"Shiiiiii—!"

The final blow was sucked into the large hole opened by Lily.

With a groan, the Treant's massive body was spectacularly split in two and fell to the ground with a thud.

***

"Our combat has become quite stable."

I sighed in relief.

I pushed aside a branch that had come near my face. Rose was leading the way, but being shorter, she sometimes missed branches that got in the way.

"Our first battle was terrible. I was prepared to die."

Lily, walking beside me, responded to my muttering.

"Me too. Especially when Rose appeared, my heart almost stopped."

"I'm sorry. I startled you then."

"No, in the end, it was thanks to you that we survived. You did a great job today."

"Thank you."

"Lily too."

"Hehe. I was having fun, though."

"What are you saying? Without Lily-nee-sama, I couldn't have fought as a front-liner with peace of mind. Her role is much more significant than mine."

After the encounter with the Treant, we continued through the forest.

We were heading in the direction of the rising sun.

For now, we're calling it east.

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