"Great Sage: Warning—bodily integrity compromised. Damage at ten percent. Initiating self-repair… Repair complete."
"Ugh—Ow, ow, ow! Wait... huh? Why doesn't it hurt?"
The small, blue slime flopped over dramatically in the soft Fiboku grass, looking like it had just been fatally wounded—despite clearly forgetting that it possessed the skill [Pain Nullification].
Arthur landed nearby, the tips of his delicate ice-blue wings fluttering gently as he hovered in the air. He stared down at the puddle of jelly, utterly unimpressed.
He could already tell—this was all an act.
The slime lay still, as if on the brink of death. But Arthur knew better.
"Heh. Look at you."
The translucent blue creature didn't even twitch.
Arthur poked it with one dainty hand. It felt like a cool, squishy toy. Honestly, kind of satisfying.
"Oi, stop faking. I know you're fine."
The slime didn't budge.
Arthur narrowed his eyes. "Seriously? You're a reincarnated otherworlder, not a toddler."
Still nothing.
Inside, the slime was panicking.
Slime's inner monologue: Ughh, that was humiliating… I can't believe I just shouted like that over a little knock. I even said that out loud... in front of another guy! Can I die from embarrassment in this world too?!
And so, it kept pretending to be unconscious. Dignity must be preserved!
Arthur sighed. "What, the Great Sage hasn't fixed you up yet?"
At the mention of that name, the slime instantly bounced upright.
"You—! How do you know about the Great Sage?!"
Arthur raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "Oh, so now you're awake."
The slime froze. Cold sweat (or the slime equivalent) dripped down its squishy form.
"Uh, hahaha... Miss Elf—er, I mean, Brother! That is—uh…"
Arthur's smile turned frosty. Literally. A mist of cold air surrounded him as the temperature dropped several degrees.
"Say that again?" he asked in a voice soft as snow—and just as dangerous.
The slime trembled.
Slime (thinking): Great Sage! Come on, don't go silent now! Analyze! Assist! Bail me out—please!
*Great Sage: ...Analysis complete. Response: No explanation available. Note: Target shows no hostile intent.
The slime's inner despair grew. Seriously? You're abandoning me now?
Arthur leaned closer, amusement dancing in his icy blue eyes.
"Well? Got an excuse, or are you just gonna keep digging your own grave?"
The slime wilted. "Brother Elf… I just... your appearance—it matches the kind of art I used to, uh, admire… online… a lot. So I kinda assumed…"
Arthur's smile widened, but there was no warmth in it. "You mean the kind of art you keep in hidden folders? The kind that wouldn't pass Japan's censorship laws?"
The slime turned pale—well, as pale as jelly can get.
"HOW DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT?! Wait—are you also…?"
Arthur simply spread his hands with a smug shrug.
Realization dawned.
Tears welled up in the slime's big, cartoony eyes. It flung itself at Arthur like a long-lost sibling.
"Waaah! BROTHER! So we really are from the same world! You have no idea what I've been through! One minute I was in Japan, the next thing I know, I wake up as a damn slime! And you—you got to be an elf?! And such a pretty one!"
"Alright, alright, get off me. And who said we're from the same world?" Arthur said, shoving the slime off gently.
The slime blinked in confusion. "Huh? But… you knew about Great Sage, and the art, and the folders…"
Arthur folded his arms. "Maybe. But if you want me to admit we're from the same world, you'll have to pass a test."
"Bring it on, Brother Elf!"
Arthur smirked and leaned in. "Answer my password. If you get it right, I'll believe you."
The slime puffed up confidently. "Go ahead!"
Arthur whispered something cryptic, something that no one from this world could ever guess.
The slime froze.
"Uh… what does that mean?"
"Exactly."
Slime: ???
"Now then," Arthur said, brushing a bit of Fiboku grass off his shoulder, "when did you arrive in this world?"
"Hmm… probably a few days earlier than you,"
Arthur said thoughtfully, comparing his fragmented memories to the slime's.
"Then—"
"Ah, you little slime, why are you so chatty? It's kind of annoying," Arthur interrupted with a sigh.
"Hehe, it's just… it's been so long since I've talked to another living being."
The slime's voice trembled slightly, a hint of loneliness behind the playful tone.
[Great Sage: Am I not a 'being'?]
"Brother Elf, how do you know about my Unique Skill—Great Sage? Just tell me already!"
"It's simple," Arthur replied coolly, crafting a lie on the spot. "I also possess a Unique Skill. I analyzed yours using it."
"Oh, that's true… but then, why can't my Great Sage analyze your Unique Skill?"
The slime's voice was full of genuine confusion.
Arthur only smiled and stayed silent, leaving the slime in doubt.
Could it be... my Unique Skill isn't as powerful as Arthur's? Then what kind of skill does he have?
As the slime spiraled into uncertainty, Arthur suddenly stopped walking. His gaze shifted upward with a flash of seriousness.
Before the slime could react, Arthur walked straight into a shimmering light barrier.
"Ugh, what is this?"
The slime's voice was dazed as it came to a halt.
Suddenly, a thunderous voice echoed through the cave, shaking the very air.
"Hahahaha! Since you've asked, I shall be merciful and answer!"
The voice was proud, booming with unrestrained arrogance.
"I am the mightiest dragon in this world! Listen well, for my name is the legendary Storm Dragon—Veldora Tempest!"
"Roooaaaar!!"
The dragon's declaration was followed by a powerful roar, causing the cave walls to tremble. Loose stones rained down gently from above.
Now able to see clearly through the barrier, the slime finally laid eyes on the majestic creature. Within the magical seal was a fearsome dragon cloaked in dark scales, eyes gleaming with golden vertical pupils brimming with intelligence and power.
"Ahh! A—a dragon…!"
Even without a throat, the slime instinctively tried to gulp. Its body quivered, unconsciously melting into a pool of jelly.
Meanwhile, Arthur stood unmoved, a wry smile tugging at his lips. He wasn't intimidated in the slightest.
There were two reasons for this. First, his own magicule reserves were already quite significant. Second, he knew Veldora's condition well: the Storm Dragon's magicules had been steadily depleting for centuries due to the seal. His peak power was long behind him.
Besides, Arthur mused, who could forget Veldora's nicknames… "Chuunibyou Dragon" and "Tsundere Dragon"?
Listening to the dragon's theatrical monologue, Arthur felt secondhand embarrassment.
Where exactly did that 'strongest in the world' claim come from again?
Veldora paused mid-speech, eyes narrowing as he examined the composed Ice Elf before him.
Why isn't that guy reacting at all? Don't tell me he already saw through everything?!
A small wave of anxiety rippled through the dragon.
Did I… overdo it a little?