"Who are you?"
The girl noticed Natsuo.
But Natsuo was less captivated by the girl and more by the surrounding environment.
"What is this place?"
"I don't know either."
Natsuo walked towards the girl. As he got closer, the girl's appearance became even more apparent.
She stood like an elegant, graceful young lady from a noble family, exuding an aristocratic aura, even though she was only wearing pajamas.
Her features were perfectly refined, her complexion fair and translucent, her small lips cherry-blossom pink, and her shoulder-length black hair and flawlessly cute face made her seem like the embodiment of an elf.
Yet, she was a Snow Elf. A cold atmosphere emanated from her, making people hesitant to approach.
Earlier today, Natsuo was worried she might not be at the school, but here she was, meeting him tonight.
But why was she appearing with him in a place like this?
And what exactly was this place?
"Am I dreaming?" the girl wondered, rubbing her chin and ignoring Natsuo as she pondered.
"Why don't you try pinching yourself?" Natsuo couldn't resist talking to her.
"Pinching myself? I suppose so..."
The girl nodded, pinched the soft flesh on her left arm with her right hand, and squeezed hard.
Her beautiful brows furrowed slightly: "I feel pain. So, it's not a dream? Or perhaps, it's a lucid dream?"
"How about we think together? You won't figure it out alone," Natsuo suggested.
"So who are you exactly? Why are you appearing in my dream?" The girl eyed Natsuo cautiously, even though she believed this was her dream.
Her perception and beliefs prevented her from considering other possibilities, as she had just been lying in bed asleep.
"Why do you assume it's your dream? Isn't it possible that it's my dream?" Natsuo countered.
"We have never met. It's impossible for me to dream about you," the girl said, perfectly composed.
"It's quite normal. People often dream of those they haven't met."
"Are you referring to a dream lover? I apologize, I have no interest in such matters, and a stranger has never appeared in my dreams until now," the girl replied icily.
"Then let's introduce ourselves. Maybe we've heard each other's names before," Natsuo said calmly, unfazed by the girl's attitude.
"You..."
The girl appraised Natsuo, then asked: "Are you a student at Kyōshū Bunbu High School?"
"Why do you ask?" Natsuo countered.
"I'm not interested in the names of strangers, but if you're a student at Kyōshū Bunbu High School, then you must have heard my name," the girl stated confidently.
"That confident? Well, you're only half right."
"Half?" The girl looked at him quizzically.
"I am indeed a student at Kyōshū Bunbu High School, but I only transferred today. I have not heard your name," Natsuo said truthfully.
He spoke the truth. Although he knew of her, he hadn't heard her name or any information about her today.
"Just enrolled? You're the transfer student?"
"It seems you know me, then," Natsuo smiled.
"That still doesn't explain why I would dream of you. I haven't seen you; how could I dream you up so clearly?" the girl analyzed calmly.
"Alright, let's just introduce ourselves first. My name is Natsuo, and I'm the transfer student who joined Class 1-F at Kyōshū Bunbu High School today," Natsuo calmly introduced himself.
"My name is Yukino Yukinoshita, and I am a student in Class 1-J," the girl—Yukino Yukinoshita—politely introduced herself in return.
"Yukinoshita-san? Your name truly suits you," Natsuo commented.
"I don't need your commentary. Just tell me what's going on," Yukino Yukinoshita asked coldly.
"How do you know this is my doing? You were just wondering if it was a dream."
"Excluding my possibility leaves only yours. I don't believe a dream can explain the current situation. Furthermore, this happened right after your enrollment today. It's difficult not to suspect you are involved," Yukino Yukinoshita analyzed coolly.
"Okay, you're right. It is related to me," Natsuo admitted.
"Did you pull me into this place?" Yukino Yukinoshita asked while scanning the surroundings again.
There was truly nothing, just like an underground cavern.
"No, I don't think that has anything to do with me," Natsuo shook his head.
"Then why am I here?"
"It's simple. Since you're here, there must be something you're meant to do."
Natsuo speculated that this was how he was supposed to help the "World," and Yukino Yukinoshita's appearance was perhaps related to her being a native of this world.
Protecting this world couldn't be left only to him, an outsider.
It can't be that It brought her to a place like this just because I wanted to meet her, right?
What is It trying to make me do?
"Something I'm meant to do?" Yukino Yukinoshita fell into deep thought.
Although she radiated an aura that deterred others, the sight of her frowning was still breathtakingly beautiful.
Only by seeing her face directly could one truly appreciate her beauty.
Just as Natsuo was about to become lost in thought, a voice echoed in his mind.
[Eliminate it.]
"I think the task we need to do has arrived," Natsuo looked into the deeper darkness, where something was flickering.
"Hmm?"
Hearing Natsuo's words, Yukino Yukinoshita also stopped thinking and looked up in the direction of his gaze.
In the darkness, something was flickering and moving, going from dim to bright, becoming clearer and brighter. It was round and not very large, perhaps slightly bigger than a watermelon.
When this creature emerged from the darkness, Natsuo was stunned.
"What is that?" Yukino Yukinoshita looked at the cute, unknown creature with confusion. She didn't recognize it.
"Is that a Slime?" Natsuo spoke the creature's name.
Appearing before them was indeed the plump, jelly-like weakest monster from another world—a Slime.
Its overall color was white, with a faint blue tint, and inside, there was a hard mass that looked like a core.
This thing is what the "World" couldn't handle?
Natsuo was skeptical.
"What is a Slime?" Yukino Yukinoshita asked quizzically.
"That is a Slime. It's the weakest monster that appears in Isekai (another world) manga or light novels," Natsuo explained.
"I see... So, we need to deal with it?" Yukino Yukinoshita asked with understanding.
"Piece of cake. Just leave it to me," Natsuo said, walking confidently toward the Slime.
He truly didn't take it seriously. It wasn't like it was the Rimuru-type Slime (the "Moe King").
Besides, the "World" wouldn't suddenly make him fight something he couldn't defeat, would It?
Reaching the soft and harmless-looking Slime, Natsuo examined it. It looked harmless, but if it was related to corrupting the world, he couldn't let it go.
Natsuo picked up a shard of rock from the ground, clenched it, raised it, and prepared to smash it into the Slime's core.
But just then, the Slime suddenly moved. Its small body instantly shot up and slammed violently into Natsuo's abdomen.
Natsuo's eyes instantly widened. Before he could react, his body bent backward and he flew away, crashing heavily into the stone wall.
He then fell to the ground, motionless, as if dead.
Natsuo was, of course, not dead, but he was in too much pain to speak. His whole body felt shattered, and he lay on the ground
, unable to move.
He felt as though he had just been hit by a freight truck; the impact brought back bad memories.
Is this Slime... really that strong?