Disclaimer: I don't own Tensura, so don't sue my ass.
————————
Zubeia, accompanied by her soldiers and the citizens she had rescued, made their way toward a camp just outside the capital. As the group of individuals moved, some of them seemed exhausted from the long stroll. Their breaths became ragged as they made their way along the worn paths, and each step sent aches coursing through their muscles. They were set back by a couple of minutes, likely due to not being able to utilize the shadow space. A power taught to them by their king, it allowed them to access a unique space inside shadows that connects them with other shadows. Even though Zubeia and her soldiers endured the short journey well, the townspeople were struggling. Noticing this, she spoke to boost the morale of her people.
"Hasten, we need to request reinforcements from His Majesty right away!"
"""Yes, princess!!!"""
The princess felt a pang of guilt for asking something like that from ordinary people. However, as she recalled the others who were bravely putting their lives on the line for them, she couldn't bring herself to take back her request.
As she traveled ahead to uncover any potential hazards, all sorts of emotions began festering deep within—rage, shame, regret, and helplessness. Zubeia was fully aware that she was outmatched at the time, yet that knowledge did little to dampen her spirit. She was driven by the desire to avenge her fallen people, but there was an undeniable instinct to trust the Majin she had encountered. It felt as if they had crossed paths before, a familiarity that stirred within her. Coupled with the fact she could not secure her people's lives while fighting, opting for a strategic retreat was the natural outcome. Nevertheless, she understood that neither Chiffial nor the Majin known as Saiya could hold out against the dragon for too long.
They all felt the sudden tremble beneath their feet and heard the loud noises, evidence of the dragon's continuous rampage. Despite the ruckus, they all continued their traversal through the rough terrain and paths, which had various slabs of debris. The townspeople, along with the skilled warriors, went unharmed thanks to the barrier placed around them. Until finally reaching their destination.
Up ahead was the camp with various people at the front, standing ready to welcome survivors. Though as they saw the princess, the demeanor of the soldiers abruptly changed. They instantly made way for Zubeia's entry into the camp.
Within the camp there were several tents in the area, with people bustling everywhere. The wounded were getting healed by mages and healers. The Temple Knights who adhered to the faith of Luminous were mostly incapacitated; some lost their limbs, while some lost their lives.
In a corner at the site, there were numerous people lying on the ground, covered with fabric. It did not take a genius to figure out they were the people that were lost in the attack as other men, women, and children stood around them, mourning the deaths of their loved ones. The atmosphere was grim, and everyone had sorrowful faces. Such were the struggles of humanity; their fragile bodies and short lifespans, coupled with their low capacity for magic, made it difficult for them to thrive in a world like this. Despite all these imperfections, humanity was able to adapt and survive, though at the sacrifice of many.
Human will or rather—the indomitable human spirit is a formidable force capable of doing even the impossible. Their awakened states—known as Enlightened—were a testament to this fact. One of their many exceptional qualities that cemented their species' love from God.
However, the Temple Knights were no match for the Archdragon Azekel; they had been completely wiped out by the dragon. Even with the help of one of their elite warriors, Kaiye the Paladin, they had barely managed to survive the dragon's preemptive attack. Despite his efforts, Kaiye felt a deep-seated anger at his own weakness, but he refused to back down in fear. He was determined to confront the dragon once more and end its life. The young paladin was honing his swordsmanship in a secluded area, preparing for the impending assault on the rampaging dragon. Suddenly, he caught sight of a cluster of energy approaching the camp and hurried to the front to grasp the situation.
As he got to the front, the appearance of the princess and her soldiers greeted Kaiye and the crowd of people who gathered. They all cheered with gleeful expressions at the survival of the kingdom's princess. Zubeia raised her hand to show appreciation for her people's concerns, smiling to dispel their worries. As the entourage quickly made their way toward the king's tent, the sight of the struggling people made her sad to no end. The complexion of the injured was terrible, and some appeared to be on the verge of death.
In front of Zubeia and her soldiers was the grand royal tent, adorned with a flag and many more decorations. Its elegant structure stood firm, profoundly distinguished with its unique coloration.
Within the tent, King Raksa Coleus is positioned on his throne. Listening to news of his daughter's safe return.
"Yes, sire, they just arrived. I believe they are on their way to your tent as we speak."
"Is that so? Then I'll hurry on over to greet them." Raksa said before he stood up and walked outside. With each step he took, his body, caught in a constant rhythm, produced a symphony of clattering sounds.
Unlike his usual Middle Eastern attire, he was clad in armor that enveloped him entirely, radiating a commanding presence that shifted the atmosphere among the gathered men that were stationed outside. With the remnants of his forces, Raksa aimed to reclaim his kingdom from the treacherous dragon. However, his primary concern lay with the safety of his daughter. Despite his constant worry, he could not abandon his people in their hour of need. He had sent Chiffial to ensure Zubeia's safety. Thankfully, he received the wonderful news of his daughter's safe return, allowing the king to finally breathe a sigh of relief.
With a refreshed countenance, Raksa spoke, "Welcome, Zubeia. I see you have returned from your expedition in one piece. I am glad. Sadly, the state of the country is rather… tragic. You may go inside and rest up."
"Father, you must send assistance right away." Zubeia said in a worried voice. Her exhaustion was evident as she moved her body. Raksa seemed worried, but he did not want to make it apparent. Likely due to the many eyes on them.
"Assistance? Why would I do that? You all arrived in one…" Raksa replied with his face darkening at the realization that Chiffial was nowhere to be found. "What happened?! Where is Chiffial?!" The king spoke, worry etched onto his face.
"He stayed behind while we escaped and evacuated the people. That's why we need to go help Chiffial and the monst—" Zubeia spoke, her voice hitching on the part of Jamie's existence. She was unsure of what to do. Should she lie and conceal the Majin's existence? Or speak the truth and risk her father having the wrong idea about him?
'No, he risked his life to save us. Monster or not, surely that has to count for something, right? It's my turn to be brave and repay this debt.' She made up her mind to save the monster as well, even if she committed treason against her own land.
"Zubeia? Zubeia?" Raksa was seemingly anxious about his daughter's current condition. "You need to rest while I and the soldiers handle the rest."
"Go see your mother and get proper treatment."
Regaining her composure, she got ready to speak but was interrupted by the chatter of the people. They all appeared to be staring at the sky or, rather, at the individual suspended in the air.
"Look up there!" "Who is that?!" some people shouted, curious about who this mysterious figure was.
There stood a man in the sky, clad in peculiar-looking red armor. The white cape flew with the wind and made the unknown figure look more magnificent. An enchanting aura surged around the individual's body as he appeared to be carrying what looked like a dragon's head and an unconscious man on his shoulders.
"Fear not, people of Coleus! The red ranger of justice has arrived to save the day!"
———
A couple of minutes earlier.
After defeating Azekel, Jamie had a deadpan expression on his face as he recalled multiple people mentioning dragon meat was a delicacy. He wanted to eat some, but the dragon's meat in front of him was damaged beyond repair. The biohazard that was Jamie's new art [Devestation] utterly ruined biological matter, turning the process of healing into a situation that could only be described as a death trap. Healing any damaged cells results in the strengthening of the technique as the single-celled organisms continuously replenish their energy and multiply from the target's reserves until they die. It was a heinous bacteriological weapon that could easily wipe out entire species regardless, of whether they were spiritual or physical life-forms.
«Notice. In addition to possessing similar corrupted cells within your body which all act as a brain cell, nerve ending, and muscle by utilizing different cells at different times, their interchangeable and proliferative nature ultimately makes them well suited for creating dangerous and deadly pathogens. Via Analysis, it was possible to trigger various chemical reactions to form single-celled organisms such as microbes, bacteria and amoebas that came together to form deadly pathogenic bodies of spores that functions as a highly mutagenic biohazard several times more potent than most poisons that are magicule-based as it is nearly impossible to counter because of its scientific basis.»
"Tch. I guess it's better than dying while trying to preserve its body. We might have to shelve this ability. Way too dangerous to use when others are around. Though, I will admit it's very effective and complex."
Jamie took his original form as a slime and devoured the dragon's remains in order to replenish his expended energy. Even though the dragon was currently a pile of mush, its body still radiated an immense aura that was promptly enveloped by Jamie. He ate the dragon's entire body but left the dragon's head intact, as it was the only part that wasn't affected by his [Devastation].
"That really was a close fight. A couple of minutes later, and I would have been cooked."
Suddenly, his attention was brought to the glowing orb that was levitating right above him. The strange-looking object gave off a crimson glow, radiating a certain luster that unsettled Jamie.
"I'm sure i killed the bastard. Wait… Is that a soul?"
«Affirmative. It appears to be the deceased target's soul. By consuming the soul energy present within the soul via [Furnace], you will be able to evolve and acquire more power.»
'Are you serious?! Just like that? Well… let's do it then!'
Stretching out a tendril towards the soul, Jamie devoured the soul into his viscous body. What followed next was an extraordinary sensation, and Jamie's slimy constitution was seemingly enveloped in a dense magical cocoon. Within, his ego was suppressed, rendering him in a comatose state.
«Confirmed. Sufficient energy has been amassed. Commencing evolution….»
«Extra Skill: [Steel Strength] acquisition successful.»
«Extra Skill: [Strengthen Body] acquisition successful.»
«Extra Skill: [Parallel Operation] acquisition successful.»
«Extra Skill: [Ranged Barrier] acquisition successful.»
«Common Skill: [Telepathy] has evolved into the Common Skill: [Thought Communication] successful.»
«Extra Skill: [Shadow Motion] has evolved into the Extra Skill: [Spatial Motion] successful.»
«Common Skill: [Gravity Flight] has evolved into the Extra Skill: [Gravity Manipulation] successful.»
«Additionally, [Gravity Manipulation], [Motion Manipulation], and [Flame Manipulation] will be integrated into [Law Manipulation].»
«[Flame Attack Resistance] acquisition successful.»
«[Pierce Resistance] acquisition successful.»
«Confirmed. [Sleep Resistance] acquisition successful. Acquisition of [Paralysis Resistance], [Poison Resistance], [Sleep Resistance], and [Corrosion Resistance] results in acquisition of new skill, [Abnormal Condition Resistance].»
«Corrupted Core has evolved into a Chaos Core, Successful.»
«This concludes the evolution.»
At the same location, a cocoon radiating energy continued to rise incessantly. Reconstructing Jamie's encased body from within and stabilizing his unstable core.
Jamie's undulating mass regained its usual gleam upon emerging from the cocoon as the residual energy from his evolution dissipated into the air.
His grotesque and shapeless form that writhed in tortuous motions, now regained a semblance of the brilliance of a slime—which then instantly condensed into a compact, human-like figure. Jamie opened his eyes once again and scanned his surroundings. What greeted him was the same environment that had suffered severe damage, leaving patches of debris scattered in various sizes all around due to the great battle with the fire arch dragon. Through the chaotic arrays of Magicules left behind by their fight, Jamie could perceive the expense of buildings and rubble all around him. Providing a 360 4K Ultra HD Vision and leaving no blind spots for surprise attacks.
"I wonder, did the evolution go alright? Hmm. Aside from my enhanced vision, I don't feel any different from before." He said, making a fist with his hands, while adjusting his perception. The influx of perceptible data that was manually processed by Jamie, was now passed onto Philosopher, relieving him of all mental strains.
«Answer. Your evolution was a success. Magicule reserves have been tripled, new skills have been issued, and your spirit has been strengthened. The master's overall strength has risen significantly.»
"Oh, ho… That's great, I guess. By the way, how long was I out of it?"
«Approximately, thirty minutes.»
Jamie wasn't particularly interested in mastering his new skills right now, thus he put the thought aside for the time being. He was content with the fact of his successful evolution, though the worst-case scenario kept on crossing his mind. 'Hmm... If this is what evolving is like, l'd better come up with some countermeasures before entering that sleep-like state again, as I would be completely exposed and vulnerable during the transformation process.'
Grabbing the severed head of the dragon, Jamie took off in the direction he left Chiffial.
He wasn't sure where exactly he was, so he activated his skill [Heat Source Perception] to glean through the building and find any heat signatures. Jamie's eyes penetrated through several buildings and suddenly there he was. Lying on the floor, was the man, his body appeared to be heavily injured. Luckily, upon closer analysis it was determined that Chiffial was unconscious and not dead.
"His body seems like it's healing, but at such a slow rate, it's barely noticeable."
«Notice. After further analysis of the target, the individual in front of you is certain to be an enlightened.»
‹Enlightened?›
«Affirmative. They are the mortal equivalent to Greater Majins. Possessing a Demi-spiritual nature similar to the master. Enlightened humans have evolved into a higher state, far beyond the scope of any regular human.»
'Huh… I guess strength differs from person to person even if they happen to be on the same level. Good to know.' Jamie mused, as he held the man's head up to heal him with magic.
"Rejuvenation"
Swirling magical particles emerged from his palm and cured the man of all his physical injuries. Even though the man had been cured, he remained in an unconscious state.
Jamie was weighing his next move carefully. He understood that once people discovered he was a Monster, they would treat him with contempt. The worst-case scenario was that they might enslave him and turn him into some sort of super-weapon; he had seen enough movies to know that trusting humans wasn't the wisest choice. "What do you think, Philosopher? Should I come clean and try to cash in on the glory, or should I continue to keep my distance from them?"
«....»
«It is recommended to stay away from humans due to their unpredictable nature. Additionally, the probability of encountering stronger adversaries is highly anticipated.»
"True, I couldn't be the only chosen one in this world. I'm going to need a lot more strength if I want to survive in this world long enough to figure out how to get back home."
Jamie paused for a moment, lost in thought until a brilliant idea struck him. He decided to take on the role of a fake hero; this would allow him to blend in seamlessly and bid Aya farewell before his departure.
"It's settled then, hero route it is."
———
"Fear not, people of Coleus! The red ranger of justice has arrived to save the day!"
The self-proclaimed hero defied gravity as he took a pose that left the people in awe. Coupled with the fact that the head of their greatest threat was right in front of them and severed, there was a short absence of sound before they all erupted in praises and cheers.
"Yeahhhhhhhh!!!"
They watched as the deceased dragon's head—and Chiffial—gracefully descended, prompting an outpouring of adulation.
"All hail the red ranger of justice!!!"
"All hail the red ranger of justice!!!"
"He protected us from that rampaging monster!!!"
"Our Hero!!!"
"You saved us!!!"
'Tee-hee, they actually fell for the illusory magic. Too bad I can't be an actual hero—I'm really digging all the praise.' Although happy, he realized that he could not keep pretending to be a hero forever; eventually, his facade would be uncovered.
After dropping off the unconscious Chiffial, Jamie, disguised as a hero, took off into the sky.
"Farewell, citizens of Coleus! I shall return if ever danger approaches!" He proclaimed before vanishing into thin air.
Below, both the king and princess stood in stunned silence, their expressions a mix of confusion and disbelief as they gazed at the elusive figure fading into the sky.
"Lucas…"
"Yes, sire!"
"I want to know who that was, effective immediately."
"Yes, my king. I shall bring good news without delay."
And that was how Coleus unknowingly survived a calamity-class threat that suddenly wound up in their kingdom with the assistance of a figure shrouded in mystery.
———
It has been several days since the devastating attack on the capital city of Herbaria by the formidable Archdragon Azekel. The battle, marked by the valiant efforts of Jamie against the dragon's relentless fury, left deep scars in the residents that will last for a long time to come. Many were sacrificed in this incident, but despite this fact, the town is progressively finding ways to help each other and get back to normal. They will never forget the friends and family members they lost that day, but the best tribute they could offer to the lost ones is to move on with their lives and learn how to be happy once again.
Jamie, currently at the site used in remembrance of the people, stood with a sorrowful demeanor. The Moon's light shone on the countless gravestones, casting a melancholic glow that set a somber mood.
'I've decided, Philosopher, we're going to help underdogs whenever we can. I'm not planning on actively being a hero because I'm quite selfish. But I won't ignore those around me that need help.' Jamie said as he placed a bunch of flowers on Aya's grave.
«Acknowledged.»
"Damnit, that's one less beautiful woman in this world. The world is so cruel man, only the strongest survive." He mused aloud, running his fingers through his hair while his eyes sparkled with a vibrant shade of amethyst.
Jamie chose to stay a few extra days to pay tribute to the fleeting memories he had of Aya. Although he struggled to connect emotionally with her or the others who had been lost, he felt it was important to do the right thing. Even though he believed he still held onto his humanity, with each passing day, that sense began to fade. Instead, a deep-seated anger bubbled up inside him, which he fought to suppress time and again.
———
———
I headed back to the inn where I was staying, eager to sort out my things since I planned to leave the kingdom first thing in the morning. Along the way I encountered the old man. It turns out he managed to survive the entire ordeal by seeking shelter from the destruction caused by the dragon. He was also among the few who arrived at the refuge camp early. I'm really relieved he made it through; otherwise, I probably would have had a crash-out moment again.
"Hey there kid, how are you doing?" The old man spoke with a hint of concern in his voice. He appeared genuinely worried about me and rested his hand on my shoulder. "You must have lost someone truly important. I can not imagine how that feels, but you need to be strong for them," he said, patting me on the back reassuringly.
"I'm really sorry for your loss, too," I said, offering a sympathetic smile. He smiled back at me, and I felt comforted by the shared moment of understanding. "By the way, I'm going to be leaving town tomorrow."
He looked a bit puzzled before he replied. "Where are you heading? Do you think it is not safe here? I assure you, the king is quite capable despite all that happened. We just experienced an unfortunate series of events, something beyond our control as mere humans." He spoke up as he decided to join me on my way to the inn. I assume his reasoning is that it's late at night and I shouldn't be wandering around by myself. Though I doubt he would hold the same thoughts if he knew what I really was.
"Ah, it's nothing like that. I just wanted to fulfill a dream of mine."
"Oh? A dream? And what would that be?"
"I simply wanted to see the world, you know? It's a big place, and l've been curious to explore all that it has to offer. As you may know, I'm not from around here. I decided to stay awhile before leaving."
"I see… you already decided to leave. I just think it is a bit odd for you to be living the nomad life at such a young age."
"Yeah… I get that a lot from people. Though, I was implying becoming a traveling merchant or something, you know? Nothing too serious." I shrugged, as we reached the entrance to the newly formed inn.
"Alright old man, see ya," I said while waving at him. Though, I was surprised when I sensed the man's voice as he spoke louder to get my attention. Turning around to answer him, I was handed a huge bag of coins.
"Uhh… what's this for? I already got my payment for today at noon."
"I figured you would need a lot more money than what I paid you to make your dream a reality. Plus, it's extremely dangerous out there. You should use some of the money to hire an adventurer or two and maybe get yourself gear of good quality." He spoke to me as if he were concerned about his own child. I can't help but hope he didn't lose someone so significant that day.
"Come on man, I can't take this. It's too much."
"Trust me, you are going to need a lot more than that if you are going to survive out there."
"I-I I don't know what to say…. Thank you. I don't know how I'm ever going to repay you."
"Hahahaha a kid wants to repay me. I sure have seen it all," he laughed, before continuing. "You can repay me when you make it big. By then you should be of age, so come have a drink with me."
"I sure will!"
"See you around kid."
A broad grin spread across my face as I had an unexpected realization. Promptly, I decided to tell him my true name as result of this feeling.
"Old man Miyers, Saiya isn't my real name."
"Oh? Then what is it?"
"Jamie Hollow."
"Hahaha, I knew it. You looked like a foreigner yet you chose a native name before. You should learn to make your lies more believable," he said before he started walking off with a wave.
"Farewell Jamie. Until we meet once again."
"Goodbye."
I had thought it was weird how he only called me kid and not the fake name I cooked up, It turns out he knew I was lying from the beginning. Yet he didn't pry and still kept my secret.
He's so nice, I will definitely pay him back for his kindness someday.
I walked up to my room and went inside. It was really dark for me to see anything with my eyes so I cast Light Magic even though I could still see with "Mana Perception".
"Light"
A miniature orb of light manifested in front of me which illuminated the whole room. It's so weird how I keep acting like a human even though I'm not human anymore, I will say it's convenient for blending in. I spilled the contents of the bag and was surprised by how much gold was in here.
There is 136 copper coins, 50 silver coins, and 30 gold coins in here. Combined that with my usual pay and what I have saved up, and I have 534 copper coins, 267 silver coins, and 116 gold coins in total.
Hey Philosopher, how much is a gold coin worth compared to money back home again?
«Answer. Approximately 1,100 to 11,000 $.»
Holy shit, I'm rich. I don't think I need to worry about money for a while. I still plan on establishing a company or something. Since this is a completely different world, I can hoard the goods I recreate from my world and sell it to the highest bidder. Might as well obliterate the economy, am I right Philosopher?
«...»
"Tehehehehe" i laughed, tapping my fingers together like you would see a villain do in the movies.
"Tehehehehe"
*Evil monster laughing noises* continues.
"Man, I'm worn out. I don't even know how that is possible, but I am." I absorbed the money into my Inventory and walked over to the bed, letting out a yawn before settling down comfortably in bed.
"Goodnight Philosopher," I enunciated before drifting off to sleep.
———
The sun's rays landed on my face as I tossed and turned in bed, reluctant to pull myself out of my sweet sleep. I probably would have remained slumped on my bed if Philosopher didn't chime in.
«Notice. Individuals possessing high energy values are approaching the master's room.»
Why can't I have a normal morning in this world? It has to be bad luck or something.
*Knock*
*Knock*
"It's open." I said in an exasperated tone while immediately forming clothes on my body and hopping out of the bed.
"I apologize for my intrusion. Greetings, I believe this is the second time we have met. Allow me to properly introduce myself. I am Zubeia Coleus, the princess of this kingdom."
This world may be bad luck, but it sure has a lot of baddies. It was the same girl from before and her appearance was stunning to say the least. She wore a loose outfit that complimented her beautiful face. Her stomach is sticking out and exposing her belly button, with a thin and narrow waist. It was so thin and narrow that it made me wonder if she could support those weighty things that were on the upper half of her body.
Thank you "Parallel Operation," i can now goon on the go without ever being caught. But damn, I think it's raps for me now they found me out. Should I run? It's already time for me to dip and I got everything on me or should I say in me? (pause) Mm-hmm she doesn't seem hostile, maybe I should play along.
"You found me… what can I do for ya?"My voice rang out nervously, disrupting the silence and stares we were all trading each other.
"I have come here on behalf of His Majesty, King Raksa. Would you please accompany me to the palace to see His Majesty?" she says walking into the room with the guards accompanying her. The woman over there isn't too bad with her meaty thighs but overall, she paled in comparison to the Princess.
«...»
‹Huh? Were you going to say something Philosopher?›
«Negative.»
‹Hmmm…. Weird…›
(A/N: Look who's talking.)
"Alright, I'll follow you to see the king," I said as I put on my sandals and followed her outside to the carriage. As we stepped outside, we immediately drew attention, and the stares from onlookers felt like daggers, accompanied by a lot of their chatter in the background.
I entered one of the carriages and took a seat, looking around, I couldn't help but admire the interior. The texture is sleek and soft; i wouldn't expect this kind of innovation in medieval times. There were windows at each sides but they were covered with curtains which dimmed the light coming in. While I was lost in thought, I suddenly overheard voices chatting outside.
"You do not need to ride with me. I would like to accompany our guest without raising any suspicion of hostility."
"But Princess Zubeia, we can not guarantee your safety if we ride in different carriages."
"Are you insinuating I lack the ability to protect myself? Or perhaps, you are implying that our savior holds nefarious intentions? I hope you can take responsibility if your assumptions prove to be false."
"No, my lady. I would never dare to insult you like that."
"If you choose to defy the king's orders, that's your decision. I will be riding with the savior on my own, and that's the end of it."
"""Understood."""
I stared dumbfoundedly at Zubeia as she gracefully took the seat across from me within the carriage. Then, she knocked on the interior in rhythmic sequences which were followed up by sounds of a whip, horses' neighing, and the feeling of locomotion.
Zubeia and I sat across each other and exchanged a few glares in this dimly lit space, as we swayed left and right from the rough road outside before Philosopher alerted me of something.
«Notice. The extra singular constitution known as [Impede] has successfully intercepted the assessment of the master's variables.»
"You know, your power isn't going to work on me anymore. I thought we already established that?" I said leaning my head to the side in confusion as she had already tried that before.
"I apologize, my ability tends to come out whenever I lose a grip on it."
"Oh, you can't control it then?"
I saw as her face flushed in embarrassment in response to my statement.
I let out a sigh and replied, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."
"No, you shouldn't be. It was I who lost control."
«Analysis Complete. The unique skill 『Wisher』has been successfully acquired.»
As soon as she sounded off in my head, a series of radiant hues could be seen emanating from Zubeia's body. Highlighted by the blue orb in the middle of her torso, the wavelengths carried a friendly feeling.
This must be the power of Zubeia's Wisher, definitely a steal. Thanks Philosopher.
«Acknowledged.»
I adopted a serious look as I shifted to Thought Communication—‹I wanted to know something. From the way you were chatting with your companions outside, it seemed like they had no idea I was a Majin.›
Her face sharpened aswell, 'Yes, I made sure to keep your true identity a secret.'
‹Thank you for keeping my existence a secret.›
'No… thank you. If you had not been there that day, we definitely would have lost even more lives.'
'Sincerely, thank you.' she conveyed her thoughts and bowed her head to me at the same time.
I raised my hand in apprehension, ‹Really, I just did what anyone would have done in my situation. Plus, you don't have to bow.›
As she raised her head, I could see her gaze falter a bit, so I inquired about the situation—it seemed like it was something important.
‹You ok?›
'I apologize, I failed to convey that my parents are aware of your—
‹That's alright. I figured that was the case when you pulled up at my door. Even though I was originally planning to leave, I thought I might as well see what's up with your dad. Plus, I'm not one to run away from my problems…. I'm fully aware of what I'm walking into.›
'I see…' She glanced out the window and added, 'We will be arriving soon. If you change your mind and desire to leave, I will not stop you.'
I grinned, responding with an amused tone, ‹It honestly makes me happy to know you care about me so much.› I could see her face flush with embarrassment again.
'Uh… it's not like that,' she retorted, crossing her arms. 'Honestly, I would prefer someone older and stronger, thank you very much.'
‹I'm plenty strong! Wait... are you a tsundere now?› I teased, watching her struggle to maintain her composure as her cheeks turned a deeper shade of red. 'I do not know what this tsundere is, but I can not imagine it being pleasant.›
‹Hahaha, actually, it's quite the compliment where I come from.›
'Is that so...?' Her tone clearly indicated she wasn't buying it.
We kept chatting about the events of the past few days until we finally arrived at our destination—the castle.
Before me stood a towering structure, adorned with a series of steps that led upward. A smirk crept onto my lips as I stepped out of the carriage.
"I will escort him to the king. The rest of you may stand by and wait for further instructions."
"""Yes Princess!"""
"This way Saiya."
"Ok," I replied as I followed behind her as we scaled those long as steps. Not too long, we reached the entrance to the main hall and then we were in front of the throne room.
*Knock*
*Knock*
*Knock*
"You may proceed," a voice rang out as the doors were pushed open by Zubeia. We were both greeted by a regal ambiance, as the king sat on his luxurious throne with the queen to his right hand—his gaze on me and his aura oozing out from his being confidently. He sported a mature and manly face with an attire that screamed Arabian Night!
I could feel Philosopher automatically going to work, analyzing the king and queen with the aid of "Parallel Operation." While she did that, I was gauging their strength with 'Truth Measurement' and 'Wisher.' I could directly perceive all their souls—nothing screamed hostility to me though. My gaze narrowed in range to the king. Energy was coming out of him in waves—like it had no end—but I could tell that wasn't exactly true. Although, I could see the bottom, it was twice—maybe three times my current strength.
The weak ass unc is also here standing beside the queen, bro still thinks he's in an edit. If he even thinks about moving, I'll obliterate his ass. The rest of them seemed like background characters, so they weren't important.
"Father, i have brought him as you requested." Zubeia spoke, while bowing on one knee. I could tell everyone else was waiting for me to lower myself as well but I kept staring defiantly at the king along with his ministers. I'm not going to bow my head for some king no matter how much stronger he may be than me.
Noticing this, the armed guards responded as you would expect.
"Such insolence!!"
They immediately took their stance against me, bringing their spears in my way but i stood my ground—calmly standing there in silence as I didn't want to escalate the situation. I decided I will only fight back once I sensed killing intent.
I abruptly noticed the king's gesture that dispelled the actions of the guards surrounding me. I sighed in a casual tone which seemed to unsettle the people in the room—what a power trip. I wonder if everyone in this world who has power are such jackasses.
"Eh-hmm, I would like to speak with our guest here in private. Would everyone leave my presence at once?"
They all gasped in surprise at the king's orders but concluded on obeying him nonetheless. The next moment, they all filed out the room throwing contemptuous looks at me—like I owed them thousands of bucks. Naturally, I responded with my usual smirk—unfazed by their attempts to assert themselves. They didn't seem to be worried about him at all—he must be really strong or was it just ignorance?
"Hold on—Zubeia and Chiffial, please step back. I would prefer that you stay and witness our conversation."
"Yes, my king," they replied, both nodding in understanding.
There was only silence for the next few seconds which clearly agitated everyone in the room. We traded glances before the king's voice broke the silence, "Greetings Majin or should I have said sir Saiya? This is the first time we are meeting each other. I heard some great things about you from my subordinate—Chiffial." He spoke in great enthusiasm, with eyes that didn't seem to possess an ounce of deceit in them.
'Huh?!'
For one, Zubeia looked just as surprised as me so this couldn't be some ploy to get me to lower my guard, could it?
"Great things? You've got to be joking." I replied, staring at the king in uncertainty.
"Hahaha I can sense you are the real deal as you didn't seem fazed by the presence of my guards or my Haki."
"What can I say? I'm not one to get intimidated just because someone else seems stronger."
"Hahahaha well said sir Saiya." The king stated chuckling as the others stared blankly at how friendly we were being to each other.
"Where are my manners? Over to my side is my wife and queen." The king said with his hand moving to the direction of the queen.
"Greetings to you Sir Saiya, I am grateful for your response to our summons on a short notice. " The beautiful woman said, and I responded in kind.
"It was no problem."
"Im sure you are already familiar with my daughter and Chiffial over there."
"Yes, I am. I wouldn't have fought the dragon so well without their help with evacuation."
"I see… You really are somehow different from the average monster—it appears even my daughter has acknowledged you with her power granted by the gods."
"Yeah…"
"Ok, let's get down to business. Chiffial told me all about what you did for us in our time of need, and I am grateful for it. Although he did mention you were not malicious, he also stated you did not seem like one who would help without expecting anything in return. So, I would like you to name your price—as long as it is within my power, I shall grant it to you. After all, it is a small price to pay for my daughter and the kingdom's safety." He said.
"Oh, uhh…"
I wasn't expecting the unc over there to put in a good word for me. Hmm… I don't really want anything from them right now. Oh, right! I could get some information—that would be crucial for my plans on finding a way back home. But before I could get my thoughts across, Philosopher came in with some news.
«Notice. The analysis of the subject known as 'King' is successful. The Extra Skill: 'Ultra Intuition' has been detected and acquired successfully. No further skills have been detected.»
Nice work. Huh… no unique skill? I thought he would have one with all the constant glaze, but nothing? What a letdown.
«Answer. The human's low capacity for magicules makes acquiring skills a challenging task for them. Thus, they are likely to focus on developing arts instead.»
Wait, then what was that high concentration of energy I sensed from him.
«Answer. It is likely the subject's aura. Through 'Pursuit of Truth', it has been hypothesized that the subject possesses a refined spirit that is attained from rigorous training. The more one trains their aura, the more potent it becomes. All in all, it is more likely the aspect of experience is what makes the subject known as "King" excessively powerful.»
That makes more sense, humans really are at a huge disadvantage in terms of strength in this world yet this man seemingly defied the odds, being the strongest human I have seen so far. For humans, arts are supposed to be a way around not having as many magicules as monsters. Though, they still possess magicules to some degree that allows them to rarely acquire a small set of skills?
«Affirmative.»
"Uhh, sir Saiya?" The king's voice broke my chain of thoughts. I remembered where I was and thought for a bit about what I wanted. Then I decided to speak.
"What I want? I would like some of your books and maybe a few grimoires. You see, I specialize in casting magic; in other words, I'm a mage. So if you have any, I would really appreciate it. "
That's the only way I can think of to properly utilize my search engine that is Philosopher.
I remember those magic books vividly in the market, I couldn't even buy a grimoire due to how expensive they go for. Maybe they can help me out with a discount or something?
"Hmmm… books you say, I believe we do have those stored away. But I'm sorry to inform you that we can not allow you to take them away. Most of them are our heirlooms from our ancestors that are more precious to us than anything."
"That's fine. I just want to take a peek and I would be on my way."
"Alright. But I do not think that would be fair to our agreement so if there is anything you would like in the future, I Raksa Coleus would be obliged to grant it to you."
"Thanks, Mr King."
Huh, maybe humans aren't so bad after all.
«...»
Ok, maybe some humans aren't so bad after all. Though, I still acknowledge how dangerous they can be, so I won't fully trust them for now.
"Sir Saiya, before you go I would like to ask a question. Your guise is so flawless, even as the immaculate Red Ranger of Justice, would you mind revealing your true form to us?"
"Oh, not at all."
I transformed back into my original viscous black body and watched them gasp in surprise once again.
"A slime monster? But slightly different? I have never seen a shapeshifting slime before, much less a sentient one." I watched him and the others examine my amorphous body from head to toe. 'Why didn't you tell me you were such an adorable black blob all along?' Zubeia thought, grabbing and caressing me intimately on her chest as if i was a pet.
‹Well, i wasn't really hiding it so…› I trailed off in thought, enjoying the massive boobies squished against my gelatinous bod.
Suddenly, she realized what she was doing and quickly dropped me, apologizing profusely to me and her father.
"I apologize for my inappropriate behavior in your presence father."
"Hahaha this is the first in a long time i have seen you this happy Zubeia. Perhaps i owe a thanks to you Sir Saiya once again."
"Not at all sir."
The queen also seemed to smile warmly towards me. After our long chat, he finally decided to let us go.
"Zubeia, would you mind showing Sir Saiya to the room we store our texts?"
"Sure father, I will lead him right away."
We both headed towards the door while I quickly regained my human form.
———
Jamie's shapeless form quickly came together, instantly reassembling into his body and clothes. He then stepped out of the room, following closely behind Zubeia. The heavy doors thudded behind them as they left.
"My king, if I may ask."
"Go ahead Chiffial."
"Why would you form friendly ties with such a monster?"
"Oh, that? It's simple—the reason is that he was strong, so much so that I doubted we all combined could take him on." His statement elicited shocked expressions on all their faces.
"Raksa, are you serious about this." The queen chimed in on the conversation, asking about her concerns.
"I very much am. I sensed the flow of energy coming from that Majin although his attempts to conceal his aura was admirable. Luckily, I also sensed he wasn't as experienced in utilizing his power as he is at controlling it. But we have nothing to worry about. Just as Chiffial stated, he is not malicious—he even appeared human to me."
"My king, whatever do you mean?"
"I meant, he appeared to have the spirit of a human with immense fortitude. Yet I now realize it sounds absurd coming out from my own mouth."
"It is best that we avoid angering the Majin. In fact, I believe it might be beneficial for us if we can bring him to our side. I doubt it would be that easy as he already stated he intended to leave. Luckily, he does not seem to be offended by our practice of slaying monsters and it appears he already possesses a good relationship with Zubeia."
"We must keep it that way, am I understood?"
"Yes, my king."
At that moment, they all understood that they had narrowly avoided a disaster-level threat.
They also recognized the monster's significance to them and felt a strong urge to keep him close or at the very least have a friendly relationship with the powerful creature.
———
A few hours of uneventful studying later,
Just beyond the gates of the Kingdom of Coleus, Jamie swaggered out of the building, clad in a completely different outfit from before. He wore a nice oversized leather shirt and matching pants secured with a belt. Draped over his shoulders was a thick green cloak, gifted to him by the king, which boasted temperature-regulating properties to keep him comfortable in any weather. On his side was a blade and a small pouch that stored his money.
"Thanks again for the free equipment," Jamie said to the people gathered to his side. It was the king and his family along with a few of his other subordinates, "You are very much welcome. Feel free to reach out to me for assistance." The king, Raksa stated in a trustworthy tone.
"Likewise, I already placed a magic circle. So if you are in any need of more muscle, just ask and I'll come teleporting right away." He replied with a smile, and a thumbs up while hilariously mimicking a bodybuilder with the sudden poses he assumed.
'I'm still not entirely sure why they're being so kind to me, especially after learning that I am a monster. Maybe it's because I killed the dragon for them, but honestly, I don't think that alone justifies it. Well, who knows? If they ever need help again, I'd like to give it to them.' Jamie thought with his eyes locked with everyone else's.
"See ya," Jamie called out. Zubeia started to ask, "Wait, how did you intend to-" but she was left staring at nothing but an afterimage that promptly vanished. He took off with blinding speed, his strides were powerful enough to kick up a trail of dust in his wake. His accelerations were also rapid, easily bypassing the laws of inertia, and even surpassing the sound barrier without manifesting sonic booms.
«Confirmed. Extra Skill; 'Inertia Cancel' acquired.»
'It's a shame I couldn't acquire any new information from the text they gave me, most of it was already available to me through Philosopher. Oh well, I'll just look for some more information somewhere else, no need rush things. I have all the time in the world plus i got my trusty Philosopher on the job. I'm sure she'll say something if she makes a breakthrough."
"Next stop, the great Jura forest. I'll probably run into some more monsters, better be prepared. Still can't get used to how dangerous this world is. Who knows what I might encounter next?' Jamie thought while conjuring a large map in his mind, following the trail made by his skill Philosopher. As he raced forward past seemingly endless terrain, he kept his senses sharp and alert. Thanks to his slime physiology, he could constantly perceive everything happening in his surroundings, making it nearly impossible for anyone to catch him off guard with a sneak attack. Most people would struggle to handle such vast amounts of data at such high speeds without risking a mental overload, but Jamie effortlessly managed it all, thanks to the quality of his skills. All he needed to worry about was the output.
He watched from a distance as the weather changed to a downpour and wondered to himself how this truly signified his beginning in this fantasy world full of endless dangers and possibilities. He just hoped one led a path back home, because he truly missed his family and friends.
————————
A/N: Hello there, I'm the author. I know I have been gone for a while and I apologize for that. I had some serious real-world stuff to attend to. Even though I was gone for a while, I wasn't totally out of it. I was brainstorming a few ways I wanted the story to go and of course, I was wanking myself to some of the future overpowered skills jamie is going to get—not sorry. Anyway, i tried to wrap up this arc as soon as possible because I wanted to introduce some of the side cast as focusing solely on Jamie was getting kind of boring. You can expect new characters coming the following chapters. Though, the story is still going to revolve around Jamie as he is the main character. I remember someone's complaint about there being no evolution so I gave him one. I don't remember Rimuru going through stages of evolution as a slime so I was a bit confused. Evolution is inherently vague in tensura so I did some research and i figured out all that is required for a monster to evolve was enough accumulated energy and a strong will in order to forego such limits. I'm still working on my writing so please try to encourage me. I'm sorry again for being MIA for so long. I will try to get the next chapter out as quickly as possible.
Some recap trivia:
Name: None
Former Name: Jamie Hollow
Alias: Saiya
Race: Corrupted Slime
Divine Protection: None
Title: None
Occupation: None
Existence Points: 172,689 (A Rank)
Attributes: Chaos Elemental (Holy-Demonic + Earth, Fire, and Space Attributes)
Magic: [Fire], [Earth], [Water], [Light], [Restoration], [Illusion], [Flight], [Barrier] (+)
Battlewill: [Diamond Path]
Arts: [Truth Measurement], [Devestation]
Unique Skills:『Philosopher』『Freak』『Wisher』
Extra Skills: [Mana Perception], [Ultraspeed Action], [Evil Eye], [Parallel Operation], [Ultra Intuition], [Inventory], [Inertia Cancel], [Spatial Motion], [Nova Flame], [Law Manipulation] (+)
Common Skills: [Corrosive Breath], [Thought Communication] (+)
Intrinsic Skills: [Absorb], [Dissolve], [Self Regeneration] (+)
Resistances: [Pain Nullification], [Spiritual Attack Resistance], [Magic Resistance], [Abnormal Condition Resistance] (+)