Disclaimer: I own nothing. All
characters in the story are consenting adults over 18 years of age.
"This is stupid."
"How did I end up in this situation?"
"Why is this happening to me today of all days?"
I was thinking while lying on the asphalt after some idiot hit me with his car at a pedestrian crossing. Maybe I shouldn't have looked at my phone, but I did make sure the light was green before I stepped out.
Everything hurts. I wish I could stop feeling pain.
[Processing]
[Notification: Extra ability received – Pain Resistance]
What was that? Did I just hear voices? I think I'm going crazy.
What was I doing before this?
I was looking at something…
Ah, I remember what I was watching—a trailer for the new season of One Punch Man. How I wish I had no limits like the protagonist, to reach a power level like his or even greater.
[Processing]
[Notification: Unique ability received – No Limits]
Now I'm really starting to lose it. I wish I had someone to help keep me sane through all of this, someone to help me get my thoughts under control.
[Processing]
[Notification: Unique ability received – The Wise One]
[Processing]
[Notification: Unique ability "The Wise One" has evolved into "Wise Spirit"]
"Are you okay? Can you hear me? I called an ambulance, it should be here any minute! Look at me—don't close your eyes, you can still be saved as long as you stay awake. Everything's going to be fine!"
Who's speaking? I look around and see a man—I can't make out what he's saying. I wish I could heal instantly in any situation. If I could, I wouldn't be in this mess.
[Processing]
[Notification: Extra ability received – Instant Regeneration]
I wish I had a world of my own, a world I could control completely and call home.
[Processing]
[Notification: Unique ability received – Home]
Suddenly, I start to feel my whole body burning.
[Processing]
[Notification: Extra ability received – Heat Resistance]
I think I'm starting to lose blood. Too bad I'm not a vampire—that would be a buffet.
[Processing]
[Notification: Race selected – Vampire]
But that would mean I have to drink blood. I don't want that. Why do vampires drink blood? Maybe to regenerete mana? It'd be great if I could absorb a mana from the air.
[Processing]
[Notification: Extra ability received – Magicules Breath Reactor]
Now it's starting to feel really cold.
[Processing]
[Notification: Extra ability received – Cold Resistance]
[Heat Resistance and Cold Resistance have been combined into Thermal Resistance]
I wish I had access to the internet or at least a library—if it were like the Library of Alexandria, said to hold every book in the world, even lost ones, it would be a dream come true to access it whenever I want.
[Processing]
[Notification: Unique ability received – Library of Alexandria]
[Notification: Too many unique abilities. Searching for a solution... Solution found: Combine "Library of Alexandria", "Home", and "Wise Spirit"]
[Notification: Ability received – Sage's Home]
[Creating body for ???]
[Preferred gender: Male]
[Body successfully created]
[Wise Spirit desires a physical form]
[Processing]
[Wish accepted]
[Wise Spirit preferred form: None]
[Body structure: Variable]
[Spiritual body created]
[Race abilities received: Blood Manipulation, Night Vision, Shadow Movement]
[Beginning spirit transfer to new body... Transfer successful]
[Wise Spirit requests transfer of ??? to "Sage's Home"]
[Processing... Request accepted]
POV ???
I wake up and see a white ceiling. I try to remember what happened.
After a few moments, the memories come back, and I start looking around to figure out where I am. Soon, I relax.
(It was just a nightmare,) I think, seeing the same room I've slept in for the past year—my room.
I start to get up and head to the bathroom when I hear footsteps coming toward me. I freeze for a moment. After all, I live alone, which means someone's in my house—and they probably don't have good intentions.
I wait in front of the door, ready to defend myself with a broom I found in a corner.
After what felt like hours (but were really just a few seconds), I hear a knock at the door and a voice so monotone it could be coming from a machine. The voice sounds familiar, but I can't recall from where. I decide to take the risk and let her in.
The moment the door opened, I stood there, mouth agape, motionless for a few minutes. The girl at the door has long black hair down to her shoulders, violet eyes, and a face I recognize—but it's impossible. The person I see in front of me is identical to a character from DxD, an anime I watched a few years ago.
"Who are you?"
"Answer: I don't have a name, but you can call me 'The Wise One'. I'm part of your ability 'Sage's Home'. It's a pleasure to see you awake, Master." (Her voice is so monotone, like she has no emotion.)
"Answer: The Wise One ability has no emotions. I am simply an assistant for the Master to use as desired."
(She's reading my thoughts?!)
"Answer: We are spiritually connected. No matter where you are, I can always read your thoughts—unless you consciously hide them from me."
"That's terrifying. You mean you know every thought and memory I have?"
"Answer: Yes. Every thought, memory, and imagination you've ever had—I know them. This body was created with that in mind. Considering your preferences and the image I represent—an intelligent person with vast knowledge and a love for reading—I chose the appearance that best matched your memories, Master."
"... I'll let that slide for now. More importantly, where am I? You said something about an ability called 'Sage's Home'?"
"Answer: We are in your world—more precisely, the world created by your Unique Ability 'Sage's Home'. This ability was formed by combining the unique abilities 'Home', 'The Wise One', and 'Library of Alexandria', merging all their features."
"I think I understand where I am, but I'd like to know what each of my abilities does, please."
"Understood. To start, your abilities are:
Extra: Pain Resistance, Instant Regeneration, Thermal Resistance, Magicules Breath Reactor
Race: Blood Manipulation, Night Vision, Shadow Movement
Unique: No Limits, Sage's Home
Would you like an explanation for each one?"
"Yes."
"Understood. Extra abilities:
•
Pain Resistance minimizes the pain you feel—you'll still sense it exists, but the sensation is dulled.
•
•
Instant Regeneration instantly heals any physical damage to your body.
•
•
Thermal Resistance grants immunity to temperature changes.
•
•
Magicules Breath Reactor converts the air you breathe into magicules.
•
Race abilities:
•
Blood Manipulation allows you to control and shape your blood.
•
•
Night Vision lets you see in darkness.
•
•
Shadow Movement allows you to teleport using shadows.
•
Unique abilities:
•
No Limits lets you grow infinitely in power—whether it's your body, soul, or magical abilities.
•
•
Sage's Home is your most important ability. You can construct the dimension however you like; the only limit is how many magicules you can allocate.
•
The second part of the ability is the Library, where you can find all the knowledge in the world—anything ever written can be found here, even information lost to time. The only exception is knowledge that has never been written. The final component is The Wise One, your guide to your powers, offering:
•
Thought acceleration: 1/100 ratio
•
•
Analysis: Upon entering the 'Home', an analysis begins of all objects, abilities, and species not already in the Library; a book is then added.
•
•
Modification: Once a book exists representing an object, you can modify it however you like."
•
(She seems proud when talking about these abilities.)
"It's just your imagination."
(...)
"I'm going to take a shower, and then we'll begin the tour, okay?"
"Of course, Master."
After finishing our conversation, I entered the bathroom and stopped to look in the mirror because what I saw was completely different from how I looked before I died. I used to look good, but nothing like this. Now I look like a model—maybe even better. The man in the mirror looks around 20, with strikingly dark hair, streaked with snowy-white strands that frame his noble features. His eyes are a deep, vivid purple, with a piercing, singular blue droplet suspended in them, giving his gaze an otherworldly intensity. His skin has a warm, golden tone that highlights the sharp contours of his face.
My jaw dropped. The person in the mirror looks nothing like me before I died. Sure, I looked good before, but this… Now I look like a supermodel, maybe more. But as soon as I opened my mouth, I noticed two slightly longer fangs. It took me a second to realize—I'm a vampire. The race abilities and the fangs were a clear sign.
"I need to study vampires," I said out loud. "Will I have to drink blood now?"
Immediately after asking the question, I heard a voice.
(Response: Thanks to the Magicules Breath Reactor ability, your need to drink blood has disappeared. You can still do it, but it is not necessary for survival.)
(Can you talk to me directly in my head?)
(Response: Yes. Abilities are part of a person's soul.)
Right when I was about to ask, she answered.
I decided to find out more later. I finished my shower and stepped out.
I went to the living room and sat on the couch.
(Wise One, this house feels very familiar. Do you know why?)
(Response: The house was structured to be identical to your parents' house.)
(...Thank you.)
(...)
(Then I guess I don't need a tour. How can I enter and leave this dimension?)
(Response: All you have to do is wish for it, and a door will appear in front of you. The same goes for entering.)
(Will I have access to the knowledge in the library?)
(Response: I will answer all your questions. You only need to ask.)
(Thanks—wait, I forgot to learn how to fight. Wise One, do you know a place where I can train a little?)
(Response: If you exit through the front door, you will be in a courtyard about 10 km wide. It will expand based on how many magicules are present in the atmosphere.)
"Thank you!" I shouted and went to train.
After 2 hours
The only ability I currently have that's useful in combat is Blood Manipulation, combined with Pain Resistance and Instant Regeneration, which makes me a limitless vampire. Since I regenerate instantly, I can use my blood endlessly, condensing it and forming any kind of weapon. According to the Wise One, the weapons I create from blood can be compared to legendary-rank weapons. I'm very proud of that—after all, I can make an unlimited number of weapons.
I can even create animals using blood. Well, the Wise One controls the entire process; I just get the benefits.
"Wise One, isn't Instant Regeneration a bit too powerful?"
(Response: When you received the ability, you were thinking of instant—not gradual—regeneration. The ability was on the verge of becoming a unique ability.)
My eyes widened immediately. I can't believe how lucky I am.
"What rank would my weapons have been if I didn't have this ability?"
(Response: If you had used all the blood available to you, they would have reached high-rank.)
"... Good thing I have it then. How long does a weapon last after I create it?"
(Response: Normally, a day at most. But since you condense so much blood, it becomes permanent.)
"That's good to know. Now that I've finished training, it's time to see where I ended up."
After I said that, I focused, and a door appeared in front of me. Looking through, I could only see darkness—no light at all.
I slowly stepped through the door—was I going in or out?—trying to analyze where I was.
"A cave? Why am I here?"
(Response: This is the place where you were born. Any monster needs an area with a very high concentration of magicules to exist. In this cave, the magicule levels are high enough to birth a monster with unique abilities.)
"Magicules? How can you tell?"
(Processing... Requesting permission to take control of the body? Yes/No)
(Yes,) I replied out of curiosity—I wanted to see what she would do.
Immediately, I felt a difference. It's like watching a movie from the main character's perspective—I can feel my body move, but I'm not the one controlling it. It's a strange feeling.
After a moment, I began to see in 360°. Everything was so bright it made me feel nauseous.
[Extra ability received: Mana Perception]
(Adjusting perception...)
After a moment, everything returned to normal, except now I could see in 360° and with greater detail.
"Thanks, you're a great help."
(Of course—I'm extraordinary, hm.)
"You seem proud of yourself?"
(That's just your imagination.)
"Okay… Could you manage 'Mana Perception' for me? I'm starting to feel weird seeing in 360°."
(Transferring... Transfer successful.)
My vision returned to normal—just a bit clearer.
I looked around and saw some crystals and herbs.
"What are those?"
(Response: You can send them to your 'Home' for analysis and modification.)
"How do I do that?"
(Response: Just reach your hand out and wish for them to be transported.)
I did so, and a red mist emerged from my hand, covering the crystals and herbs. After a few moments, they disappeared.
(Analyzing... Analysis complete. The mineral is Magisteel, and the plants are Hipokute Grass. Note: Magisteel is used to create weapons and is extremely valuable. Hipokute Grass is used for healing potions. Recommended: collect all you can and plant Hipokute Grass in your world.)
I started doing just that—after all, I was born here, and I need to explore the area before I leave, possibly for good.
After a while, I started getting bored and decided to try gaining more abilities with the help of the Wise One. That said, I managed to obtain a very useful ability—Magicules Control. It allows me to control mana with ease and modify it into any element I desire.
"Hey Wise One, I haven't seen any monsters so far. Am I in some kind of safe zone?"
(Response: I've detected a monster at your level ahead. If you wish, you can pursue it.)
"Sure, tell me the direction."
After that, I started following this mysterious monster.
Not long after, I saw a slime and almost died of despair. (I'm at the level of a slime? The weakest monster in any game? Maybe I'm not that powerful in this world, and this is just the beginner level… I need to get stronger to survive the outside world.)
So I began tracking the slime.
I noticed it was gathering all the Hipokute Grass and Magisteel it came across.
Why didn't I think it was eating them? Simple—I asked the Wise One, and she confirmed that it's using an ability to store all the objects it absorbs. It's similar to what I have, although mine can also be used as a home.
Seeing that it left behind so many plants and Magisteel, I started collecting them.
I'm not sure how much time passed—maybe 6 to 8 hours since I encountered this slime—and all I can say is: it's adorable.
It might be intelligent, but it can't see or hear me—I tried—but it still moves as if it's talking to someone.
Based on what the Wise One and I discussed, it might have a similar ability to mine, but without the same access to information.
"Where did it go?"
(Response: It fell into the water in front of you.)
I looked ahead and saw it—a slime in the middle of a lake.
"What is it doing?"
After a moment, it launched itself forward—maybe I shouldn't say "ran" since it used the water it absorbed to propel itself. I decided to follow it.
I used magicules to control the water beneath my feet to move faster. It was quite easy with the Wise One taking control of the complex parts.
"I'm so glad to have you on my side!"
(...)
I stopped at the edge of the lake and saw the slime still flying forward, bumping into a few rocks and landing a bit further ahead.
I kept following it and suddenly found myself face-to-face with a dragon.
(Fuck!)
My first instinct was to run, but I decided to see what the slime would do.
After a second, I saw it slowly approach the dragon. (Maybe it's not dangerous?)
I started approaching too, to see if it would attack me. Maybe it's intelligent, and I can talk to someone for once.
(Phm)
(Sorry, I didn't mean you. You're special. I meant someone who isn't part of my soul!)
(...You're forgiven.)
"..."
I decided to ignore the fact that my ability was acting like my girlfriend and demanding attention.
[A vampire, how interesting. Come closer, don't be afraid—I won't hurt you.]
The voice came into my mind. It was the dragon.
I looked at it, surprised, and slowly approached.
[Are you reading my thoughts? Or are we speaking telepathically?]
[We've formed a connection between our thoughts—that's how we're speaking. I could read your thoughts, but I've chosen not to. It's not polite to read someone's mind without permission.]
I kept getting closer, and after a few moments, I was standing right in front of it.
"Hi… it's a pleasure."
I looked at the slime—it was looking back at me?
Wait… it started to see? To hear? I had tried earlier, but it didn't respond then.
"Hi, can you hear me?"
It nodded. It's adorable—I feel like hugging it.
I turned to the dragon and tried to contact it mentally.
[Is it working? Can you hear me now?] I asked.
[Yes. I'll also connect the slime to our conversation.]
I wondered what its name was.
[Understood. I'll wait.]
[Connection complete. Now we can all hear each other.]
[Hi! Don't be scared of me—I'm not an evil slime!]
The voice sounded feminine, and that line… I've heard it somewhere before. Maybe in a video or a game?
[Hi, it's nice to meet you. From what I understand, I don't have a name at the moment. I'm a vampire,] I replied.
Wait—why is there a question mark above the slime? How does that even work? Isn't it too obvious?
[Is there something you don't understand?] I decided to ask.
[Yes. What do you mean you don't have a name? Isn't it normal to have one?]
So she doesn't know.
A few hours ago, if I hadn't learned some things from the Wise One, I wouldn't have known how important a name is either.
[A name is very valuable for a monster. It makes them stronger and increases their significance in the world. A monster can evolve if it is named, but there's a downside. The one who gives the name loses part of their power. If their power levels are close, there's a high chance the namer could die or suffer permanent power loss.]
[Thank you for the information—I owe you!]
[Hahahaha, you're right. For any normal monster, naming someone is a big deal, so be careful when you try it in the future.]
The dragon started explaining to us, but I don't know why he seems so happy to talk—I guess he doesn't have many friends. Maybe none at all.
[Hey, since we're on this topic, I wanted to ask—do you have a name?]
[You should feel honored to know my name! I am VELDORA CHAOS DRAGON, one of the True Dragons, the most powerful beings in existence!]
I decided to clap. I understand why he's so proud—if what he's saying is true, then he really is one of the strongest beings in the universe.
(Wise One, can you verify this information?)
(Veldora – Race: True Dragon. The most powerful race in existence. There are only 4 True Dragons, each extremely powerful. Veldora is the youngest of them and is considered a calamity. Any destruction he's caused in the past has been classified as a natural disaster. He was sealed about 300 years ago by the hero Chronoa.)
(Thanks!)
We continued talking with Veldora about this world and the one we came from. Even though I have access to all this information, it's better to have a reason to know it—I don't want too many people knowing about my abilities.
Veldora explained how this world generally works, what to expect from people and monsters, a bit of history, and especially about Veldenava, the first True Dragon and apparently the creator of the multiverse. He was killed, along with his wife, after losing a large portion of his power because he had a child.
This is where we learned that for monsters, having a child is risky, as the parents may permanently lose much of their power. But Veldenava's case was different—his wife was human, so she didn't risk anything, and all the power loss fell on him. There's also a rule he created when he made reality: True Dragons are not allowed to have children. It's a rule he himself broke—and paid the price.
Now that I think about it, why didn't he just change the rule? He made them, so he should be able to alter them—or at least modify them.
Maybe he forgot? Or lost the authority to do it? Maybe he decided to die? Maybe he forgot to create something after death or can't reincarnate anymore?
Maybe he chose to remain with his wife in the afterlife?
All are possible. But I'd need to reach his level to understand him.
For now, I need to get stronger. If someone like Veldora was sealed, someone like me would definitely be killed.
(Wise One, can you find a way for me to become stronger?)
(Answer: The fastest method right now is to kill monsters and send them to the dimension for analysis and to absorb their powers. Another method is to receive a name and evolve—but the one naming you must not make you a subordinate. If you're someone's subordinate, you cannot surpass them in power, and all the souls you gather will be transferred to them.)
(To receive a name without becoming a subordinate? That doesn't sound too hard.)
[Hey Veldora, I think it's time for us to go. After all, we can't stay here forever. Now that we're in this world, it's normal to start exploring. Your stories are fascinating, but let's not forget—you're one of the most powerful beings in existence, and we've just been born, even if my body looks like I'm 20.]
At this moment, Veldora looked like he lost something very precious. (He's acting like a tsundere...) He refused to say he wants us to stay.
I looked at the slime, and he looked at me—I think we both understood what the other wanted to say. It's safer to leave now, while we still can.
[He's right. If we stay here, we'll remain ignorant of the world we've entered.]
[I understand. In the end, I can't keep you here...]
The look on his face was something I didn't expect from someone with his power.
(Wise One, is there a way to take him with us?)
(Analyzing… You can place him in 'Home' and begin analyzing the ability that imprisoned him.)
[Veldora/Veldora...]
The slime and I started at the same time, then looked at each other.
[You go first,] the slime said.
[Okay. I have an ability that can send Veldora into my world—a dimension I call Home. I can begin analyzing the barrier and canceling its negative effects. Now you.]
[I have a similar ability called "Predator." I can devour anything and store it in my stomach. Then, I can analyze everything using another ability.]
[So we have similar, yet different abilities. Initially, my ability didn't have the analyze function, but it was combined with another and gained it. The full name is Sage's Home.]
[Interesting. I have an ability called Great Sage, which handles the analysis of the objects I keep in my Stomach.]
[So our initial abilities were similar? Yours even sounds like a more advanced version from the start.]
Now that I think about it… maybe we can connect our abilities?
(Wise One, what do you think?)
(Analyzing... It is possible, but it requires forming a Soul Corridor. However, this needs to be very strong to connect two abilities. The best solution is to link them using an ability. It's recommended to use Great Sage and Sage's Home to create a bond and increase processing speed. This has a 100% chance of success if both parties accept the connection and don't resist. But the effect is nearly permanent and a new link will appear in the Library with both of your memories.)
(I understand. What will happen to you?)
(Answer: I will evolve into Home of the Great Sage, and I will gain both of your memories. The computational power will be at least three times greater than the combined total.)
(Thank you. I don't know what I'd do without you.)
(...)
I started to explain what I had learned, and after a moment of thought, the slime agreed.
(Wise One, how do we do this?)
(Answer: All you need to do is make contact with the slime. It'll take a few seconds—don't break contact until the link is complete.)
[We need to touch for a few seconds—then everything happens automatically.]
Nodding, the slime started approaching me. I sat down so we'd be on the same level and reached out. Instead of touching my hand, she jumped into my arms.
[Huh?]
[Ah... it's safer this way, to make sure nothing goes wrong.]
Honestly? She's right.
[Wait a moment!] Just before we began, Veldora stopped us.
[What happened?] I asked.
[I thought it would be more fitting if I gave you both a name before you begin!]
[Are you sure you want to name us?]
[Of course! But I want you both to think of a family name—to show that we're equals.]
[That's very kind of you, thank you!] I said, knowing what it means for him to name us without making us subordinates.
[Tempest!! How does that sound?]
Before I could think of a name, the slime answered—and honestly, it's probably better than anything I'd have come up with.
[Tempest, hmm...]
[If it's not good, then—]
[Muhahaha! Tempest! Yes, that's a fitting name for me, Veldora. From now on, I'll be Veldora Tempest!]
He then pointed at the slime and said:
[Your name will be Rimuru Tempest!]
[Hmm, Rimuru... Yes, it sounds nice!]
At that moment, she began to transform. A few seconds later, she looked brighter, shinier.
Then Veldora looked at me and said:
[Your name will be Samael Tempest!]
(Samael? Wasn't that Lucifer's name before his rebellion? Considering I've become a vampire, that name might suit me.)
[Samael Tempest. I accept this name!]
As soon as I finished saying it, I felt a change in my body—my muscles became more defined, like I'd been working out for years. Not a gram of fat. I could be a supermodel with a body like this.
[Thank you, Veldora. From now on, we're family!]
I raised my fist toward him, and he did the same.
[Family! Yes! If anyone gives you trouble, just tell me—I'll make them suffer!]
[Hey! Don't leave me out—I'm family too!]
We looked at the slime and smiled.
[Yes, all three of us—we're a family!]
[Shall we begin?]
[Yes!]
(Wise One, you can begin.)
Creating a Soul Corridor with the individual Rimuru Tempest... Creation complete. Merging Sage's Home and Great Sage... Consent from both individuals is required to proceed.
Alert: If accepted, both souls will be connected on a much deeper level. All abilities can be exchanged between you, and you'll be able to resurrect each other if one dies. If the link breaks, neither of you will be able to evolve any further unless you double your current power level. Proceed? Yes / No)
I looked at the slime, then calmly said, "Yes."
This surprised her—she looked at me and I nodded with a smile.
After all, we just became a family.
The fact that I can be sure she'll be safe is more than worth it. Even if evolving becomes harder, that's insignificant compared to this.
"Yes," she said in a softer voice.
(Response acknowledged. Proceeding with fusion...)
[The abilities Sage's Home and Great Sage have been fused into Home of the Great Sage.]
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
I stood up and looked around—I was surrounded by rocks.
I looked behind me and saw what I'd been sleeping on… a dragon.
After a few moments, my memories returned—I had received a name, formed a connection with Rimuru, and fused an ability with her.
Wait—her?
Up until now, I just thought Rimuru had a childlike voice—I didn't realize she was a girl.
How did I figure it out? Simple.
After we formed the Soul Corridor, I received some information about her life—not intimate details, but general stuff.
She probably got the same level of info from me.
I'm not sure if that's normal for a Soul Corridor or if ours is different, but now I feel bad.
I think I need to apologize.
"Veldora, are you awake? Where's Rimuru?"
"Hmm? Yes, I'm awake. I've been waiting for you two to wake up.
To be honest, I thought you weren't going to make it—you lost a massive amount of magicules creating a connection that powerful. You burned through all your magicules, but then you started recovering them at an incredible rate. Do you have an ability that helps with that?"
"Wait a second... I used magicules?"
"Yes. When you created the connection, you used two abilities as anchors.
Merging them required magicules to stabilize the process.
And you were the only one paying the cost. I don't know how, but right before you lost your life, you started absorbing magicules from the air.
Still, don't do something so dangerous again."
"...I've just started. Thank you."
I didn't expect it to be that risky.
(Wise One, can you tell me how the process went?)
(Response: The process went smoothly. It was calculated in advance. Thanks to your ability Magicules Breath Reactor, you can fully recover all your magicules in a short time.)
(So this was all calculated... Thank you for keeping me from doing something stupid!)
"Veldora? Where is Rimuru?"
"She woke up earlier and went through a door. Said to contact her when you wake up."
"She went through a door?"
"Yes, she said it's one of the abilities you now share."
(Wise One? Can you explain?)
(After the connection, all abilities are shared. There is only a 10% difference in power level between you two, but otherwise, anything either of you had, the other now possesses. The only shared ability at this time is Home of the Great Sage. This ability is now three times more powerful than the sum of the previous two—but it must now be shared between both users.)
(Can Rimuru join our mental conversations?)
(If she receives permission, yes. This is just a safer form of communication.)
After that, I decided I needed to see what Rimuru was doing in my dimension and to send Veldora there for analysis and transfer.
[Rimuru, can you hear me?]
[Hey Samael, I hear you loud and clear! Looks like we can communicate across dimensions—good to know.]
...Why does she sound like she's planning something?
[Can you come outside? We need to send Veldora in, then start our adventure.]
[An adventure? Sounds fun! I'll come right away!]
Right then, a door opened and the slime jumped out—straight into my arms.
[Why did you jump into my arms?]
[It's comfy. You don't mind, do you? I mean, you can hold a cute girl like me in your arms, right?]
[...]
After a few seconds, I decided to respond—only for her to do something surprising.
She jumped out of my arms and began to transform.
Standing in front of me now was a girl around 16 to 18 years old, with light blue hair (the same color as her slime form), and a figure that could make any supermodel die of jealousy.
She was wearing a white t-shirt and dark blue shorts.
But the moment she turned toward me... was the moment I forgot how to think.
Her face... I don't think it can be described in words and still do her beauty justice.
Her eyes were a glowing gold, so bright it looked like they were made of pure gold.
Her lips were a red as deep as blood, and her skin seemed to shimmer with light.
After a minute, I noticed something that made me freeze—a mischievous smile.
"Do you like what you see?"
She asked as she playfully struck a pose to show off her figure.
All I can do is nod.
After a few seconds, in which I genuinely thought I'd died and gone to heaven, I realized I still have a brain.
"You look incredible! Since when can you transform like that?"
"Hmmm, should I tell you?" she says, putting a finger on her cheek like she's thinking.
And at that moment, I saw a fang—and I realized.
"You're a vampire? How?"
"Phahaha… I didn't think you'd catch on that fast. Yes, I'm a vampire, but the form I'm using right now consumes magicules, so normally I wouldn't be able to use it so easily. But here's where an ability I got from you comes in—Magicules Breath Reactor. It allows me to stay in this form without consequences."
She finishes with a twirl and a wink in my direction.
"Now that you know I'm such a beautiful girl, you can carry me forever! Muahahaha!"
"I'll carry you for a bit, but you also need to walk on your own so you don't become dependent on me—or anyone else. Deal?"
"Boo, so mean! But deal!" she says, then jumps into my arms and transforms into a slime.
I turn to Veldora and start thinking about how to send him into the dimension.
(Answer: You can use Gluttony and absorb Veldora into your Stomach, then send him to the Home dimension.)
(Where are these abilities from?)
(These are the abilities inherited from Rimuru.)
(Hmm… Can you start the process?)
"Veldora, I'm going to transport you into my dimension now. Can you try taking a human form once you're inside, so you can relax?"
"A human form? I haven't used that in a while, and it might take me a bit to get used to again—but I've got all the time in the world to train. Don't worry! I, Veldora Tempest, can do anything I set my mind to, and nothing will stop me from achieving my goals! Muahahaha!"
After saying that, I activated Gluttony and transported Veldora.
A friendship that will last forever, huh...
I need to become stronger. If the world finds out about my connection with Veldora, I expect to be under constant attack.
Veldora caused a lot of trouble, but at least he helped us grow stronger.
Now that I've formed a bond with him, we need to be strong enough to survive whatever disaster comes our way.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"Rimuru, don't you think you should walk by yourself?" I asked the slime in my arms.
Ever since we started traveling, she decided I'm like her personal chair and that I should carry her everywhere.
"It's super comfy here. Besides, it's not like you're losing anything. You've got a beautiful girl in your arms all the time," she says.
I opened my mouth to say something but closed it immediately and kept walking.
No point starting an argument with her right now—plus, we're almost at the entrance.
Now that I think about it, we killed a few monsters on the way.
Rimuru absorbed them and got some interesting abilities.
Obviously, since we share all our abilities, I can use them too.
One thing I've discovered is that my soul has become stronger, and I can now hold up to 6 unique abilities—something even Rimuru couldn't do before.
Apparently, the ritual we performed is extremely dangerous for anyone else, with a 90% chance of destroying both souls.
We only succeeded because we used Wise One and Great Sage, two highly compatible abilities with massive processing power.
But the most important element was Magicules Breath Reactor—an ability that can restore my magicules instantly.
Without it, even if we had succeeded, we would have just become two very weak monsters.
The Wise One decided I should be the only one to take the risk—and I can only thank them for that.
I look at Rimuru, singing in my arms, and I can't help but smile a little.
Even if I'm not good at music, and even if I can't sing, the fact that I'm not alone in this world is a joy I can't express to anyone.
"Rimuru, you should change form. We're almost at the entrance, and if someone sees a slime coming out of a dungeon, they'll attack first and ask questions later."
"Hmm… fine, but you owe me!" she says, then jumps out of my arms and transforms into a human—well, more like a vampire form.
One thing I've learned during this time: she's really clingy.
She acts like we're in a relationship.
If that were true, I wouldn't mind, but I can't be sure yet.
After all, we've only known each other for about a week.
Time isn't easy to track in a dungeon, and the fact that neither of us needs to sleep makes it even harder to figure out.
"We're on a secret mission! We're on a secret mission! We're on a secret mission! Let's explore! We're on a secret mission! We're on a secret mission! Let's discover!"
She kept singing cheerfully, holding my hand as we walked.
After about an hour, we saw a huge metal door.
"It looks like no one's used it in a long time," she says, walking up to inspect it.
"Probably because not many people want to visit Veldora."
"True. If I were them, I wouldn't want to provoke him either. He could kill me in one hit, and it's not like they had to do anything—Veldora was going to disappear in about 100 years anyway, and it would've taken a while for him to reappear with a different personality."
"Right. We should leave as soon as possible. His disappearance will cause panic in the world, and it's very likely someone will come to inspect the seal site."
She just nodded and opened the door, and we quickly stepped outside and closed it behind us.
We stood outside for a few moments, analyzing our surroundings.
Three people were heading toward us—probably coming to inspect the area.
"It's time to go. Three people are approaching."
"Yeah… we need to be careful who we talk to. But maybe we should see who it is?"
"We need to be prepared. Maybe we can watch from a distance, but we shouldn't get close. That would be really risky right now—we don't have anything to prove our identity, and they might immediately see that we're monsters and attack us."
"You're right. Then let's just watch from afar and see what they look like. Anyone sent to inspect Veldora's prison isn't just some nobody."
I nodded in agreement, and we hid in the forest.
Some time passed, and we were able to see the three people—two men and one woman.
The woman had blue eyes, special markings under her eyes, and wore a blue headband tied with knots. Her outfit was travel-appropriate, like that of an adventurer.
One of the guys looked young, with medium-length dark blonde hair. He seemed to be in his prime and also wore adventurer gear.
The last one was tall and broad with a rectangular face. His short chestnut hair and beard matched his rugged adventurer appearance.
The woman held a scepter, and one of the men had a sword.
[It's time to go,] I said to her, and we headed deeper into the forest, leaving the adventurers to their work.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
We walked for about half an hour when we heard something rustling in a bush ahead.
We stopped, and immediately a few goblins appeared. They held weapons and wore clothes so torn and broken that I actually felt pity for them.
"Mighty ones, sorry to bother you, but we'd like to ask you something—if it's not too much, of course," said the one in the middle, wearing a red bandana, probably the leader of the group.
"Mighty ones? I think you're mistaken. We're just two travelers in this forest—we're not strong at all."
Before I could think of a proper response, Rimuru decided to take the lead, so I let her handle it.
"I think you're joking. The aura you both emit is enough to show your power," the goblin replied.
(Hey, do you know anything about this 'aura' he's talking about?)
(Didn't you know? Every monster emits an aura. We can suppress it, but for most monsters, it's hard to do.
I thought you wanted to scare off weak monsters, so we kept it active.
If you want to suppress it, just ask Great Sage to do it for you.)
After I saw that Rimuru had stopped her aura, I did the same and decided to see how she would handle the conversation.
"Impressive. You've passed the test! We will listen to your request. You've earned that much!"
I could tell she was a bit nervous, but I had no intention of ruining her plan for now.
After all, it wouldn't hurt to learn more about this area.
We were taken to the elder's hut in the goblin village.
Looking at this monster race was truly sad.
In this world, goblins have intelligence and don't attack unless provoked, but they are considered one of the weakest monster species.
They end up as prey for other monsters, and humans attack them simply because they can't defend themselves.
In this world, being weak is a crime—it's heartbreaking.
"Tell us what you want from us," I said, wanting to get the conversation over with quickly.
What happened next caught me off guard.
The elder and the boy with the red bandana got down on their knees and began to beg us.
"Mighty ones! Please save our village from destruction!"
"Can you explain what's going on before asking for our help?"
"Of course, of course. Our village is being threatened by a group of Direwolves."
"How did you find this out?"
"My son, Rigur, brought us this information at the cost of his life.
If it weren't for him, we wouldn't know anything and we'd all be dead tonight.
Even with this warning, we can't do anything to fight them.
If we try, we'll be slaughtered. Please—we beg you to help us!"
(What do you think we should do?) Rimuru asked me.
(We can help—but not for free. We should see what we can gain from this.)
After our quick discussion, I continued:
"And what's in it for us? What do you have to offer?"
The goblins looked at each other, then got back on their knees, pressing their heads to the ground and declared loudly:
"We will serve you from this day forward with everything we have!"
I wasn't expecting that—and judging from the look Rimuru gave me, neither was she.
Unfortunately, at this point, I don't think we can refuse.
If we leave now, it'll be as if we're saying their lives don't matter and we want even more from them.
"Alright. We accept your terms. From now on, you're under our protection!"
Rimuru decided that on her own for both of us—but honestly, I was thinking the same thing.
"We should check on the wounded from the last attack. What do you think, Rimuru?"
"You're right," she said, then turned into a slime and jumped into my arms.
"Let's go."
I let out a breath and looked back at the goblins.
"Lead the way."
"A slime?" the boy asked before the elder hit him with a fist.
"Don't be rude to Rimuru-sama!"
After that, both of them started apologizing for what happened.
"There's no need to apologize. You didn't do anything wrong—you were just surprised she's a slime. It's not your fault; we didn't tell you our races. I'm a vampire, and she's a slime," I said with a smile, hoping to ease their minds a little.
"Thank you for your mercy—we will never forget this favor!"
I left that conversation behind and decided to see the patients first.
When we got to the hut with the wounded, we saw around 20 goblins in terrible condition.
Some had deep wounds, others were missing limbs—one, even two.
Now that I see them, I can say for sure: many would die without help.
Rimuru, of course, didn't hesitate for a second.
She jumped in, ate each monster, then spat them back out fully healed.
The goblins immediately began thanking her deeply, while I sat there with one thought in my mind:
(Why are they so happy just to be healed? It's not that hard to make potions, right? Or maybe Rimuru and I are exceptions? Are potions really that valuable and hard to make?)
I'll have to check the library—after all, we have so much knowledge available, it would be stupid not to use it.
(Answer: 99% healing potions have not been created in this world yet. If the world knew of their existence, most nations would attack just to get the recipe.)
I'm an idiot.
Great Sage can access the entire library—all I had to do was ask.
Letting out a sigh, I began talking with Rimuru and the goblins about how to prepare for tonight's attack.