Chapter 5

◆Summary of the Previous Chapter:

Thought you were dead? Too bad, it was just a decoy!

◆Caution:

This chapter contains some graphic descriptions.

If you are sensitive to such content, it is recommended to scroll to the epilogue after the second section.

◆Note (12/16):

There are no direct descriptions, but this chapter contains elements of sexual violence.

If you are uncomfortable with such content, please scroll as mentioned above, read the summary in the epilogue, and then decide whether to continue reading.

Honestly, it's not that serious, but just to be safe. By the way, there are no plans for such descriptions in future chapters. If you are uncomfortable, please skip this story.

◆Specifically, if you can read "Pain Residual" from "Kara no Kyoukai," you should be fine... I think. I don't remember if there were direct scenes of such content.

I apologize to those who don't know "Kara no Kyoukai." I couldn't think of anything else.

5

Well, I can't lie around forever.

The noise of the battle must have echoed quite far, and if that's the case, there might be monsters or students who notice our presence. They are all equally my enemies, and I need to leave this place quickly.

Dragging my tired body, I returned to the cave.

The spoils of war are a magic-enchanted wooden spear, a bit of information about monster taming, and the presence of a new companion.

"From now on, I'll call you Rose. Nice to meet you."

Rose, the magical puppet, bowed formally. Since Lily is named after a flower, I decided to name the second companion after a flower as well. I had the same thoughts about giving a female name to a creature that is more asexual than androgynous. However, since she doesn't seem to mind and I'm the only one who will call her by name, there shouldn't be any problems.

I didn't feel like risking my life again in one day, so I decided to spend the rest of the time in the cave. With two more people, I can leave one behind as a guard.

I sent Rose to gather food.

Lying down on Lily's massive body as if it were a sofa, I dozed off. When I woke up, Rose had returned. She is more agile than Lily, though she can't use magic.

Rats, lizards, and squirrels.

Due to the nature of her battle axe, the small animals Rose brought back were all cut in half and crushed, but as long as they can be eaten, I don't mind. I roasted them all over a fire.

To be honest, they don't taste very good.

But I can't complain as long as my stomach is full.

It seems there are no large animals around here. They might all have been eaten by monsters.

By the way, this is something I heard when I was in the colony: the difference between monsters and ordinary animals is the presence or absence of magic. I can't sense the presence or absence of magic, but apparently, you can tell once you can use magic.

The difference in whether or not a creature has magic is absolute. A five-centimeter-long mouse monster can't defeat a three-meter-long bear, no matter what.

This means that large animals that don't have magic live in a difficult environment.

Moreover, this magic is said to reside in the soul. When you fight a monster, you can take a little of this magic. The more powerful the monster, the more magic you can obtain.

In fact, the cheaters were getting stronger by hunting monsters. There was even talk of the others receiving their assistance to hunt monsters, get stronger, and be able to protect themselves. But the colony was gone before that could happen.

What I'm trying to say is that going out into the forest to find monsters not only helps increase the number of followers but also strengthens the fighting force. Of course, this is only if safety is ensured as much as possible. I don't want to go through another tightrope walk like today.

"Alright. Let's go to sleep soon."

When my stomach is full, sleepiness comes. My tense mind was seeking rest. I'll go to sleep a little early. With the presence of my companions, I can sleep soundly.

＊＊＊

A few days passed.

I continued to stay in the cave.

Life is stable. There is no danger to my life, and food is secured. I even have dried meat in reserve, so the situation is worlds apart from a few days ago.

Lily is not in the cave. I sent her to investigate the surrounding area.

I left Rose behind because there was something I needed her to do.

"Good job."

I took the wooden shield that Rose solemnly held out and examined it closely.

It was heavy. The wooden shield I held was more than a size larger than the one Rose was equipped with, covering half of my body. On the other hand, it was thin and made of wood, so I could lift it without much effort. Despite this, it had the strength of iron, which makes me think magic is cheating.

It might be a bit difficult to handle due to its size, but since my combat sense is so poor, I'll be done for as soon as a fight starts. If it can be used as a protective wall, that's enough.

This was new armor that I had Rose create for me.

Magical puppets have the ability to create tools. Naturally, Rose, who became my follower, also has this power, and the tools she creates are all enchanted items.

She cut down trees with her battle axe and skillfully processed them with a knife.

She had already made a chest plate and a protector for the lower body. I admit it looks strange with the school uniform, but we don't have the luxury to care about fashion right now.

I have a spear from a magical puppet I defeated earlier, but I won't be using it. It's not even a weapon for me.

"Thank you. Continue making armor."

In response to my gratitude, Rose returned a happy thought and bowed her head.

By the way, Rose is not equipped with anything other than her axe and shield. The armor I will have her make will serve as a spare for me and is also intended for her to wear.

While I was doing this, Lily returned. However, her appearance was significantly different from before.

"Welcome back, Lily."

When I turned around, Lily, who was now in the same form as Rose, a magical puppet, came into view.

This is Lily's ability as a mimic slime.

Actually, I had Lily eat the remains of the magical puppet I defeated. By doing so, she gained the ability to take the form of a magical puppet through mimicry. She can still use magic in this form, so her combat power has increased.

Unfortunately, her ability to create weapons and armor is lower than the original, so I had her go on reconnaissance. There's no need to take away Rose's job.

"Hmm?"

Through the link, I sensed that Lily wanted to say something.

"What's wrong, Lily? Did you find something?"

This time, she gave a positive response.

By the way, the thoughts exchanged through the link only convey emotions and vague intentions, not detailed information.

Therefore, it is not an efficient means of communication. This is something that needs to be addressed in the future.

"Understood, let's go. Rose, get ready."

We left the cave fully equipped.

What could it be?

＊＊＊

After being outside the cave for the first time in a while, I walked through the forest for about an hour and was led to the spot by Lily.

There, I saw the figure of a student from my school who had come from another world.

I had already told Lily to report immediately if she saw any students.

Lily did her job well.

As a result, for the first time since the collapse of the colony a few days ago, I was able to see the figure of a student other than myself.

It was a corpse.

"…Mizuho Mizushima, was it?"

A girl I could call an acquaintance was found dead alone in the forest.

I didn't know how to process the fact that an acquaintance was dead, and before I realized it, I was biting my lower lip hard.

Although she had a slightly young impression, Mizuho Mizushima was a girl whom ten out of ten people would call beautiful. She was in the brass band and her dyed flaxen hair, which reached her shoulders, suited her very well.

The fact that her body was not eaten by monsters suggests that she had not been dead for long and that her cause of death was not due to a monster attack.

She was wearing a uniform that was torn to shreds.

Upon closer inspection, the marks on her body indicated that she had been sexually assaulted.

She must have stabbed her throat with a hidden knife in despair. Her tense, stiff hand still clutched the knife.

Or perhaps, after committing suicide to protect her dignity, she was raped after death. Either way, it was a terrible thing.

Mizuho Mizushima's well-kept face clearly showed despair.

She was one of the top five most beautiful girls in our grade, so perhaps this was an inevitable outcome.

--- Thanks, you're really reliable for heavy work. Shima-kun is so serious, it's a help.

--- You don't have to sugarcoat it. You probably think it's boring, right?

--- Hmm? Is that so? I don't think so, you know.

Mizuho Mizushima was one of the non-cheater students who stayed in the colony. I had a chance to talk to her once during the construction of the colony.

I remember being surprised that she remembered my name, a boy who didn't stand out.

I remember her bright smile.

She was indeed smiling until a few days ago.

"Lily."

I gave the order in a toneless voice.

"Eat her."

Lily immediately obeyed the command.

Returning to her original slime form, her semi-liquid body covered the defiled girl's body.

I watched as the existence of Mizuho Mizushima cruelly dissolved within the transparent body.

...

The whites of the eyes, the red of the organs, the yellow of the fat, the white of the bones, and all the other grotesque elements were things I had to remember.

It took time, but Mizuho Mizushima's body was completely digested.

Before I knew it, the sun had set.

In the forest, the sunset is not visible. The sky just turns red, and everything is dyed in a sinister mix of black and red.

In the midst of this, there was the naked body of a white girl. Ironically, it was a beautiful figure, free of any defilement from her lifetime.

The word "rebirth" came to mind. I erased it. This is not such a thing.

This is not such a thing.

"Done, Master."

Lily's voice, which I heard for the first time, was, of course, the same as Mizuho Mizushima's.

Her way of speaking, I assume, is a reuse of Mizuho Mizushima's. It is almost the same as what I remember.

The only difference is that she calls me "Master." That is, a hopelessly large, irreparable difference.

It is only natural. She is not Mizuho Mizushima. She is a monster wearing her skin.

And perhaps I, too, am a monster wearing human skin. Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to do such cruel things without hesitation.

--- Yes, I decided to use Mizuho Mizushima's body.

Mizuho Mizushima is a fellow transfer student from another world. That means she is also a cheater.

Just like me a few days ago, she was probably unaware of her own power, but her body must be equipped with extraordinary strength beyond common sense.

I will have Lily mimic her.

I am aware that this is a despicable and unforg