Chapter 6

Summary of the previous chapter:

After a series of events, the slime turned into a girl.

6

The silence of the night enveloped the cabin.

There was only one bed in the small mountain cabin.

On it, a girl whose name I didn't know was sleeping.

The girl was healing the wounds in her heart and body in a deep sleep, showing no signs of waking up.

As a result, even though I was indoors, I was using Lily's body as a sofa, just as I had done in the cave.

By the way, Rose was keeping watch outside the cabin, so she wasn't here.

It was a quiet night.

I gazed blankly at the cabin, which seemed to sink into darkness.

Without thinking about anything, I was just dazed.

How much time had passed, I wonder.

"Can't you sleep?"

The voice came from behind me.

At the same time, the sensation of Lily's body, which I was using as a backrest, changed.

Lily's slime body, which felt like a rubber product filled with a semi-liquid gel, had transformed into a soft, solid presence.

Without a doubt, it was the body of a young girl.

"…You're quite skilled."

Under my buttocks was Lily's slime body, still blocking the hardness and coldness of the floor. Yet, the girl's slender arms wrapped around from the back of my neck to my chest. In other words, Lily had changed only part of her body into that of a girl.

I thought it was quite skillful, but at the same time, I wondered why she was doing such a pointless thing.

With a questioning look on my face, I turned my head, and at a distance where our cheeks could touch, I saw the human face of Mihō Mizushima—no, Lily's human face.

The reproduction was so realistic that I could even feel the texture of her fine hair.

A shiver of pleasure ran down my spine.

I thought it was bad.

Touching is a form of pleasure.

After overcoming the loneliness and despair that felt as long as my entire life over the past three days, I realized this for the first time.

Even in my slime body, I had felt a sense of security and comfort. Now, with a girl's body, it was impossible to hold back.

It wasn't in a lewd sense.

I just wanted to cling to her.

Probably, I was being cornered.

The trigger was, after all, killing someone for the first time in the afternoon. But that was just a trigger.

It was also bad that my life had become too stable.

If I had been struggling, I could have forgotten about it.

The month that had passed, and all the changes that had occurred during that time, were pushing the immature and insignificant me to the brink...

The intensity of the desire to cling to her was more than enough to overwhelm my rationality.

"Stop it."

So, my command to stop was more of an emotional issue than a rational one.

Lily's body was that of Mihō Mizushima, who had chosen death after being violated.

I couldn't defile her. It wouldn't be allowed.

"Why?"

The sensation behind me disappeared. The volume of the body I was using as a backrest was gone, and I fell backward onto the spot.

My body, which had tensed up in anticipation of the impact, was caught by Lily's elastic slime body.

"Master..."

From between my legs, as I fell backward, a naked girl's body emerged.

Lily crawled up to my chest, and her two mounds swayed in front of my eyes due to gravity.

No one would blame me for feeling dizzy. ...Ah, no. That's wrong. I should be blamed. What am I being driven by impulse? Stupid.

"I want to heal you, Master. Come on, Master."

"I said, stop it."

Despite my body being tempted by pleasure, my heart was filled with discomfort.

This was reflected in my tense voice.

"I have no intention of 'using' that body."

It shouldn't be done, just to look at her naked body.

I thought so.

"Stop it."

I said, and quietly lowered my eyelids.

I showed a clear rejection and gave an order. With this, Lily, as my servant, should have backed off.

That's what should have happened.

But the slightly excited breath of the girl, the monster in disguise, reached my ears.

"Poor Master. Are you blaming yourself?"

My face was enveloped in a soft sensation.

Lily had buried my head in her ample chest.

"I want to help you, Master. I can tell you're hurt. You're hurting for this girl... for me."

"...Lily?"

Something was wrong.

I realized this, and Lily continued.

"I want to offer myself to someone I truly value this time. That's my small wish... or rather, it was. If it can help someone I value... oh, it would be my happiness. And the most important person to 'me now' is you, Master. Because I am your servant."

As if in a fever, Lily spoke in a disjointed manner.

I couldn't help but open my eyes.

"...Ah"

There was a loving gaze from the girl who was looking at me in her arms.

It was Lily. Not Mihō Mizushima.

But I could feel the wish and the regret she had at the moment of her death, which was connected to me through the path.

Why?

The feelings and other things of the deceased should not affect Lily.

The memories and recollections Lily had taken in were now mere records. She should have been making choices about what to keep and what to discard.

If this was manifesting...

...Damn.

I see. That's it.

It's nothing.

This is my fault.

Unconsciously, I must have wanted to resolve the regret of the deceased Mihō Mizushima. This wish was transmitted to Lily through the path... and of course, Lily would try to fulfill it. She is a servant created by my cheat ability.

This is how it manifested.

Lily remained Lily, but the wish was Mihō Mizushima's.

No, that's not right. They are already inseparable. All of it, including everything, is Lily.

"I love you, Master. Please, take me."

Lily declared, with a loving and feverish passion, like a girl.

"..."

What should I do?

I am responsible for Mihō Mizushima.

I am also responsible for Lily, my servant.

So should I embrace her?

But responding to their feelings with a sense of responsibility might be even more dishonest.

...No, that's not it.

That's not it.

Look at what's in front of you.

"Master..."

A girl with trembling eyelashes, looking at me anxiously, waiting for my answer.

Her beautiful and fragile body was melting into the slime below her thighs, and the slime itself was the bed I was using, an extremely unconventional situation... but she was indeed a girl.

No matter who denies it, it doesn't matter. I feel it, and that's all that matters.

"..."

This might be the wrong choice.

This might be something that shouldn't be allowed.

Before that, it might be an abnormal and crazy thing to do with a monster.

Still, there is something I should do.

There is a feeling I need to respond to.

More than anything, my heart is telling me to do it.

"...I'll take good care of you."

The vow I uttered almost unconsciously disappeared into the lips of the girl who had fallen on top of me.

***

Waking up to a girl's face in front of me, what a blissful thing.

Of course, it was Lily.

She was waiting for me to wake up with a gentle smile. Seeing her face, I no longer thought of her as Mihō Mizushima.

Through the path, I could feel that Mihō Mizushima was no longer in her. It was sad, but I thought it was probably for the best.

The one in front of me is Lily. That's fine.

"Good morning, Lily."

There was no point in pretending anymore, so I pulled her face close and kissed her.

As always, she 'grew' from the slime that was her, but I didn't mind. If there were a bed, it would be a more normal situation, but since someone else is using it, there's nothing I can do about it.

"Good morning, Master."

"Good morning. ...Rose, good morning too."

When I greeted her awkwardly, Rose, who had returned to the cabin at some point, bowed with her featureless face.

I was completely naked, and Lily's human part was also naked.

We were hugging and kissing when I noticed Rose's presence.

...It was extremely awkward. It's like the feeling of a son being caught in bed with his mother. At least it deflated the rising feeling, which was a good thing.

It wouldn't be right to get excited in the morning anyway.

After cleaning myself with a wet cloth, I put on clothes and went outside the cabin. I left the door open to let in fresh air. The smell and other things left behind were also awkward.

However, Lily was hugging my arm to her chest, looking satisfied, so it might not have made much difference to try to pretend otherwise.

By the way, she had changed from her school uniform into a tracksuit in the cabin. It belonged to a male student she had killed, and the sleeves were a bit long for her. Thinking about the source, it was a bit unpleasant, but since I had washed it properly the day before, there shouldn't be any hygiene issues.

It was a matter of feeling.

Yeah. I should try to get some clothes as soon as possible. I don't have a specific plan, but...

After a while, we returned to the cabin, but the girl was still asleep.

What should I do?

I sat at the table and chairs made from a felled log, which Rose had prepared, and started thinking about what to do next.

There are no changes in the strategy.

Hide and build strength. Continue to increase the number of servants. By doing so, I will gain the strength to survive in this world. Since my power depends on the power of my servants, it is essential to control monsters.

The problem is the girl I have to protect.

If I trust my own senses, the monster taming requires my presence. So far, I have had Lily and Rose explore the surrounding area, but that won't increase the number of servants.

To get more servants, I need to go outside.

However, with the girl here, I will have to allocate some of my guard to her.

My current fighting force consists of only Lily and Rose. Since I myself am a liability, the dispersion of fighting power directly reduces safety. In fact, when I made Rose my servant, it was just Lily and me, and we had to walk a tightrope to survive.

I helped her out of necessity. I couldn't abandon her in that situation. Because she was me, the one who was oppressed on that day of collapse.

To help her once and then abandon her because she was too much to handle would be a despicable act, even worse than the boys who attacked her. In that moment, I would fall to the same level as those who hurt me.

I can't do that. I absolutely can't.

I don't want to.

So, I have to move, accepting the risk of dispersing my fighting power...

"Hmm"

The girl woke up while I was thinking about these things.

I didn't want to startle her, so I watched as she slowly sat up.

"You're awake."

I called out from a little distance, sitting on a log chair.

The girl was quite small. Her face was young. She was probably a year younger than me, a first-year student. Her hair was in pigtails, which made her look even younger. Her face, which looked young even compared to her peers, was lovely.

However, her expression was dark and shadowed, as it should be.

"Are you... the one who saved me?"

Still, she was more composed than I expected. Her memory seemed to be intact. I had considered the possibility that she might scream and cower at the sight of my face, so I was a bit disappointed.

When I introduced myself, the girl introduced herself as Makoto Kato.

As expected, she was a year younger than me, a first-year student.

After the introductions, she bowed.

"...Thank you for saving me."

"Don't worry about it."

In fact, I didn't feel like I had saved her.

I had only fulfilled my duty to the deceased Mihō Mizushima, and whether Makoto Kato was here or not had nothing to do with the result of killing all the boys.

To put it bluntly, I didn't save her; she just happened to be saved. It was a matter of luck—though I hesitated to say that out loud, considering her feelings.

"I'm glad you didn't die."

"Thank you."

Makoto bowed her head.

"If you like, you should clean yourself. I can prepare water. I'll go outside while you do. I was planning to do that anyway."

"What do you mean?"

Makoto asked in a gloomy voice.

"I have the power to control monsters, as you can see from Rose. Actually..."

I explained my situation. I was trying to gather a fighting force, which required me to explore the forest, and I would leave Rose to guard Makoto when I did.

I didn't mention that Lily was a monster.

It was a precaution. It's better to keep information that can be withheld.

I had protected Makoto, but I didn't trust her.

I didn't deliberately lie, partly because Makoto might have known Mihō Mizushima in life.

She might have asked about Lily, who clung to me and called me "Master," but surprisingly, she didn't. It was convenient that I didn't have to remain silent.

Makoto asked something else.

"So, I'm... a burden, then?"

"The wording is bad, but that's the case. But don't worry. I won't abandon you. I intend to take you to a safe place at the very least."

This was the maximum concession I could make. I didn't have much leeway either. It's better to lay out what I can do in advance. Of course, I also wanted to reassure Makoto.

But Makoto shook her head.

"I appreciate your feelings, but... I have a request."

"A request?"

"When you go into the forest... I want to go with you."

I was surprised and looked back at Makoto's face.

"Is that okay?"

"..."

Her eyes were lifeless.

It was clear that she wasn't in a state to initiate anything.

What is she thinking?

It was so unnatural that I couldn't help but wonder.

However, if she didn't have the energy to do anything, she wouldn't have the time to think of anything malicious.

...Am I overthinking it?

Besides, her request was convenient for me. I didn't want to leave Rose, a fighting force, behind.

"Please."

She bowed her head.

Is there a reason to refuse?

"Alright. But don't overdo it."

"Thank you."

In the end, I accepted her request.

Makoto bowed deeply again.

When she slowly raised her head, it seemed to be smiling a little.

---

Thank you for reading this far.

Following the graphic descriptions, the balance is particularly difficult. Or rather, I don't know.

From here, I hope to gradually include more positive interactions, like the morning scene.

This work, which includes a monster as a heroine, is a bit of a novelty. I hope it meets your expectations...

The next update will be on December 18th (Wednesday).