Volume 4 Chapter 5: The Place where the Slime wait 1

"I'm against it! Working with a monster..."

The silver-haired princess, Meltia, shouted in the darkness, her profile lit up by the light of the fire.

She stirred the soup on her own bowl with a wooden spoon and appealed to her dark-haired sister, Mariabelle, in a strong tone.

A monster.

The natural enemy of mankind was created by the demon king.

It was a monster that she rescued when she thought people were being attacked, and Mariabelle, the daughter of the hero and leader of the group, was trying to add the monster to her travels.

Everyone else was reluctant to do so, but while they could not argue with her title as the daughter of the hero, only her sister Meltia strongly disagreed with Mariabelle's opinion.

"It's a monster, Maria. It's an enemy we need to fight and defeat...... Even if you can't help saving it from the slime, it can't go with us."

"Onee-sama... but."

It was not that Mariabelle was trying to get the monster to join the group unconditionally.

There were some definite advantages.

Why were monsters, which have been holed up in the depths of forests and caves, moving their base to human villages?

Why were they being attacked by the slime when they were supposed to be both monsters?

How much had the country changed in the time they had been away from Fonteau?

And her race―― a succubus with wings on her back could fly for short periods of time.

Wondered if her ability to move would be of any use to the humans, who could only walk on the ground.

New information and transportation.

Kara, who was watching the quarrel between the two sisters from afar, thought that it was a good idea to bring in the succubus to their side.

"Well, the problem is that she's a succubus."

Kara muttered to herself as she looked at the monster in question, the succubus Fenelieka.

As for Fenelieka, she was cleansed with a wet cloth, her clothes were washed in a nearby river, dried with fire magic, and then her hands were once again tied behind her waist.

She had regained consciousness, but she still felt a bit fuzzy, which was a sign that her senses were different from usual after being tormented by the slime all night.

She knew that telling a lie in the situation would make the current situation even worse as she was rescued.

She didn't want to be attacked by the slimes, violated, and then killed by the very people who saved her.

Mariabelle was a member of the hero bloodline that had defeated the Demon King, their ruler, and creator, but she was originally a pleasure-seeking succubus who valued the present over the past and the future over the present.

She was silent, placing her survival of the moment above all else.

"Unlike ordinary magic, she is skilled in the art of affecting the mind. In the worst-case scenario, she could charm or brainwash us without us even realizing it."

"I won't do that!"

......However they were also a chatty species, so it was easy for them to react when agitated.

It was a word that came from her emotions.

It was not a lie, it was the truth, and she thought Kara and the beastmen who focused on their senses when making choices would find no lie in her words.

Survive.

The monsters, too, place a great deal of importance on that one.

Life as a nursery where one was tormented by the slime and violated endlessly.

A life of hostility here and ending with being cut down by the hero.

Or, she could follow the suggestion of the hero and be forced to live a tight life for a while, but there was a possibility of survival.

Fenelieka was a mature thinker, as mature as she looked, and she was willing to lend her power to help others survive, whether they were hostile humans or the hero.

(It's just......)

"You can't believe what the monsters are saying!"

Meltia and especially the warrior priests from Lishlua deny the monster's words.

A princess whose country had been destroyed by monsters and whose mother was in captivity.

A warrior from the holy kingdom who believed in the goddess Fasalina, who summoned the hero from another world to help them defeat the demon king.

Both of them were angry with the monsters and were not likely to be convinced easily.

In such a place, the daughter of the hero whose country was destroyed by the monster and those who received the blessings of the goddess on Lishlua―― Mariabelle was a person with a very free sensibility.

Even if it was a monster, she trust it and tried to use it.

"I think it's ridiculous for people to fight over something like this...... Well, it's better to let out what's piling up now than to quarrel about it later."

"Such a stranger to......."

"It's someone else's problem."

Kara said as she sipped her soup, which was more heavily seasoned than usual.

The ones who were dumbfounded were Meltia and Mariabelle, and the mages from Fonteau who stood in neither of their positions.

He, she, and the others had their country destroyed by monsters, but it was by the slime.

Monsters were enemies, but since Fenelieka, another victim of the slime, was a female, she felt more sympathy for her than hatred.

"Well, I'm not really interested in other people's feelings, but aren't Meltia-sama and Mariabelle-sama close sisters?"

"Eh? ah, that's..."

"Then, is this the first time you two have a fight? It's a good experience."

Although she was the shortest in height, Fonteau's mages smiled at her words.

Kara was indeed right, the sister princesses of Fonteau, especially Meltia, were reserved to her sister Mariabelle, and always gently admonish her...... There had never been any quarrel.

The fact that she was directing her strong tone of voice at Mariabelle might have been due to some change in her feelings, not just that they were sisters.

For example, she began to hope that Mariabelle, who was the daughter of the hero and would lead humanity in fighting the slimes, would behave like a hero.

......It was hard for others to know if that was a good thing or a bad thing.

However, Kara said that it would be better for the sisters and for themselves if they let out what they have accumulated rather than settle the matter halfway.

"The country was destroyed, and they've been behaving so well. I think they've both got a lot on their plates."

"Isn't that right......?"

"It's not just that she's a princess or the daughter of a hero, but she's a girl at that age. I think it's important for them to vent their feelings to each other sooner than later."

Even so, the mages were troubled at the sight of their own country's princesses fighting.

Before they knew it, the argument was no longer about whether or not to let the succubus join them, but about the sisters sharing their innermost thoughts and feelings.

"I'm worried about you, Maria!"

"I'm no longer a kid, onee-sama! I'll take responsibility!"

"...Treating me like I'm her pet dog or something."

"That's not the point. I need you to tell me some things."

In a place far away from the quarrel, Kara got information from Fenelieka about the recent situation in Fonteau and the change in the monster's hierarchy.

They explored the area around the village in groups of three, and by midnight, the quarrel had stopped and it was quiet.

Then the night went on.

"It's nice to meet you, Fenelieka-san."

"Fenelieka is fine, Hero-sama. Or Fenel if it's too long."

"Yes, Fenel-san. Please call me Mariabelle."

"...haa."

At the breakfast table, Meltia let out a big, deep, sigh in public, which she thought was a bit petty.

In the end, Kara and the mages from Fonteau convinced Meltia and the warrior priests of the advantages of having Fenelieka accompany them.

As a means to expand their range of movement through flight, as a means to negotiate with monsters that may be around later on, and as a source of information.

"But as soon as the people disappeared from Fonteau, they started attacking the monsters......

What is the purpose of the slimes?"

"I don't know, In the past, we monsters had our own territories and didn't interfere much with each other unless we were ordered to......"

"Even though you are monsters, but not all the same huh."

"You know, even humans break up with each other......"

Fenerieka, who spoke in a broken tone to everyone except Mariabelle, gave off a vibe that she had become comfortable with her after just one night.

In fact, Meltia and the warrior priests were wary of her, but there was also some sense of resignation in them.

A sex monster―― a succubus, a species that fed on men's semen, was basically good at socializing with humans.

In addition to contact, a certain amount of trust was required in order for the succubus to fulfill her role...... such as entangling with a man in a physical relationship or entering their dreams.

It was not just a matter of killing and eating like goblins and orcs, and the succubus herself knew that it was a troublesome process.

However, if they were trusted, their vigilance, which could be called a mental barrier, would fade, and as Kara said last night, "seduction" and even "brainwashing" would become possible.

Depending on how one felt, one could become either the weakest or the most evil―― that was the nature of the sex monster.

And above all, since succubus fed on male's life force and incubus on female's life force, the succubus Fenelieka was harmless to Mariabelle, the daughter of the hero.

It was why Kara was not warier of Fenelieka than necessary and did not object to her becoming a companion.

...But that didn't mean she would not watch her.

There was also a special kind of monster―― the Black Ooze, which was still evolving in an unknown way, so one couldn't be too careful.

However, the possibility of that happening was low, because the Fenelieka dressed in a red dress was the very description of a succubus that they knew from books and knowledge.

"Yes, yes. That's the end of the fight... Meltia-sama, it's good to think in your mind how to take advantage of a situation like this.

After all, this succubus has no choice but to work with us."

"......It's people like you that are the most troublesome. And it's the brave ones who I'm not good at."

"Eh!?"

Fenelieka's words made Mariabelle shout in surprise.

She tried to help and persuade her sister to work with her, but she said she wasn't good with her, which was no surprise.

However, from the standpoint of a monster, she didn't know if she could trust an enemy, help the enemy, make them friends, and care about them. , she had no choice but to express that she was not good at it.

And Kara, who simply said "I'm going to use you" in an aloof tone, was also troublesome because it was clear that she didn't have any hostility but also didn't trust her.

"What does it mean that this succubus has no choice but to work with us?"

"It means exactly what I said. She has no companions, and the slimes in the country were attacking women. In such a situation, a succubus whose charm and brainwashing are useless is no different from an ordinary woman who can only fly.

If we abandoned her here, she would only become food for the slimes...... she had to accompany us at all costs―― that is the only way for Fenelieka to survive. For now."

"Guh......"

At Kara's explanation, Fenelieka bit her lip.

It was a perfect explanation.

"Yes, yes. So, if it's a chore or carrying baggage even if I'm not very good at it...... I'm not very strong, but I'll do whatever you say, so leave it to me."

"Is that so."

"So you don't have to get all worked up about it, but this woman won't betray you. Or maybe it's more accurate to say that she can't."

"I hate you......"

"Well, thank you. People hate me, but I'm used to it."

Kara closed the conversation, amused by Fenelieka's mumbling.

"More importantly, last night when you two were fighting, I heard......"

"I heard you're looking for flowers, hero-sama."

"Yes. Valhari flower... It's a white flower with large petals."

"It's not uncommon in Fonteau, but I haven't had time to admire them lately."

"It's not helpful......"

"Instead, I know a little information about the slime.

It seems that there is a mithril mine...... or something in the mountains from this village, and my friends told me a few days ago that the slimes are gathering there.

Also, all of my friends have been kidnapped, so they're probably there...... It's close."

Kara, who had finished her breakfast quickly, opened the map.

"According to the map, it's a mithril mine. This village used to be prosperous near the mines, but...... with this desolation, it's more like an abandoned mithril mine."

"The slimes are gathering in such a place...?"

"What do they get out of it, or are they just using it as a nest?"

"......Ah"

As though to interrupt Fenelieka and Kara's words, one of the mages from Fonteau spoke up.

"Before... It might be the abandoned mine that was previously talked about shortly before...... the slime attacked the capital.

"What kind of topic is it?"

"Yes, Meltia-sama. The adventurers went missing and the knights were dispatched there...... the knight's name was Fiana, I believe."

"Fiana-sama..."

It was not only Meltia but also Mariabelle who knew that name.

She was one of the most talented of the knights that Fonteau had. She was a female knight who participated in the battle against the Demon King and was trusted by her mother Leticia―― an elf with whom she had several conversations in the royal castle.

"So, did they find the missing adventurers?"

"No. Not at all... At the time, I thought it was the work of a bandit or something."

"......Are you saying that the missing persons were victims of the slime?"

"I'm sorry, I don't know. It was a long time ago, and soon after that, Fonteau..."

The mage apologized for the uncertain memory due to the turmoil caused by the collapse of the country.

However, Mariabelle stopped eating and was looking at the map that Kara opened.

"The mountains are still lush, aren't they?"

"Eh? Ah, yes. We chose this village as our base because it has a nice view and there are few people here."

At Fenelieka's words, Mariabelle stared at the mountain as though she was thinking about something.

Kara, and later, Meltia, realized what she was thinking.

"Maybe there are Valhari flowers in the mountain."

"Yes. It doesn't grow high up in the mountains, but the mountain where the abandoned mine is located isn't that high...... Maybe we can check out both the flowers and the slimes."

"That's why I don't want to go....... We liberated the village, but that doesn't mean we can win the next one for sure. We should avoid fighting as much as possible."

Unlike yesterday, Kara was opposed to climbing the mountain.

The battle in the village was a test for the hero's intuition and its effectiveness, and she knew that unnecessary fighting should be avoided.

However, it was also a concern for everyone present.

――The case of the missing person was a hot topic just before the fall of Fonteau.

If the mage's memory was correct, the slime's activities might have started in the abandoned mithril mine in the mountain.

Maybe if they investigate there, they could find out a little more about the slime's ecology...... and how it had evolved so abnormally.

It was a fascinating piece of information that Kara, who called herself a "scientist", could not replace with anything else.

At the same time, there was a high possibility that dangers were lurking that were far different from the battle that took place in the village.

"Well, if Mariabelle says so, I can't strongly oppose it either."

"Excuse me―― what are your opinions?"

First, Kara spoke.

Next, Mariabelle looked around at the faces of everyone who was having breakfast here.

"If you decide to do this, I'll do my best to support you, Maria."

Meltia and the rest of the group agreed with her.

If they could search for the Valhari flower and find out the secret of the slimes at the same time, they may have an advantage not only in this journey but also in future battles.

In that case, they thought that some risk should be taken.

"......Maybe my friends are in that abandoned mine, and I can convince them to help us.

If we're going to fight the slimes, the more forces we have, the better, right?"

"Thank you, Fenel-san"

"......I don't think a succubus with no power and no offensive magic will be much help."

"Oh, really?"

Meltia, who still didn't trust the succubus, said with sarcasm but Fenelieka responded with a wry smile.

Rather, Fenelieka seemed to be amused by Meltia's hostility.

As a monster, it was natural for humans to be hostile towards her.

If that was the case, how to accept the hostility and make fun of the other person―― that may be one of the ways to survive.

"Then, let's put out the campfire and get going."

In the middle of the abandoned village, while Mariabelle and the others were deciding their future plans, a long way away―― at the exit of the village, at the foot of the mountain leading to the abandoned mine.

The grass there made a rustling sound and shook.

No one noticed.

It was so far away from Mariabelle's position that only the beastmen warriors could hear.

The thing that made the sound was a dirty, gray mucus―― the contents of which could be seen through a thin layer of slime, but its shape was far different from the usual oval shaped slime.

A wolf.

A long nose, pointed ears, and a large tail. Standing on the ground on all four legs, it looked like a real wolf, but it had no body hair and its body was made of translucent mucus.

It was a strange sight.

The wolf-shaped slime kept its shape, like a real beast, but it was wary of Mariabelle and the others and did not approach them.

It had no intention of attacking them but was simply observing them intently.

It didn't move a muscle until Mariabelle and the others were ready to leave, and when it saw their departure, it started running toward the abandoned mine.

It was fast.

It was as fast as a four-legged beast, which was impossible for an oval-shaped slime to do.

Moreover, the wolf-shaped slime had no concept of physical weakness. The heart that pumped blood to the body. It was only natural that they also did not have a brain to recognize fatigue as "fatigue".

It would take a human half a day to travel from the village at the foot of the mountain to the entrance of the abandoned mine halfway up the mountain. Even a beast would need a reasonable amount of time to get there, but the wolf-shaped slime ran through without a break.