Chapter 13: Let’s Gather All of Yabe’s Companions!

"Slime? What exactly is that?"

"Hmm?"

I couldn’t immediately understand what Irina was talking about. What does she mean?

"Ah! Could it be your name, Mr. Monster? Would it be alright to call you Lord Slime...?"

"No, that’s not my name. Wait, you don’t know what a slime monster is?"

"So you really are a monster... But I’ve never heard of a race called slime before."

What the... She doesn’t know about slimes? Does that mean slimes don’t exist in this world...? Or it’s more likely that this klutzy Irina just doesn’t know about them.

"When you became an adventurer, did you receive information about monsters?"

"Yes. When I registered at the Adventurer’s Guild, I was given information about the monsters that appear in the nearby forest. Some of them have bounties for subjugation."

"And there was no mention of slimes in that info?"

"No. There was no information about a monster called slime, and in all the stories and knowledge I gained while living in the royal capital, I’ve never once come across a monster by that name."

No way... So either slimes don’t exist here, or they’re extremely rare monsters.

"Could it be that you are a very special kind of monster, Mr. Monster?"

Irina asked, blushing slightly and pressing both hands to her cheeks. Even if you ask me, I wouldn’t know.

"Hmmm... I should probably look into this properly..."

But of course, I can’t just waltz into a village or town and check a library. What to do...

"I’ll go back to the village and discreetly look into it. I also need to hand over those scoundrels."

I was a little moved by Irina’s words. She’s willing to investigate slimes for my sake... Sorry for calling you a useless female knight!

As a bonus, I handed her the medicinal herbs that were part of her gathering request.

Ever since I gained appraisal abilities through my subspace compression storage, I’ve been absorbing and appraising all kinds of plants, so I have mountains of medicinal herbs and antidotes.

We quickly dragged the two criminals to the vicinity of Caso’s village.

I had the village lookout call the village chief and explained the situation.

"That must have been rough... We’ll tie them to a cart and have two of our young men transport them.

Oh? It’s a request from the Spirit-sama? Of course, no problem at all! By the way, regarding the founding festival..."

As expected, they cooperated willingly. ...Though I ended up getting asked for various favors in return.

Well, it’s for the sake of livening up the festival, so I’ll help as much as I can.

When I looked over, Irina was standing there with her mouth open in shock.

"M-Mr. Monster! You told me not to tell anyone about you, yet you’re so close with the people of Caso’s village!"

Irina looked a bit puffed up and angry. Why?

"In this village, their well had dried up and they were in trouble. I helped fix that, and ever since then they’ve been calling me ’Spirit-sama’... The chief has instructed the villagers not to tell people from other villages about me, though."

"I-I see... So you’re treated as a spirit here... That means I’m the only one who knows you as a monster...? Then, as promised, it really is a secret just between the t-two of us..."

Irina blushed again and started squirming. What’s with her? Is she sick? Don’t pass it on to me.

With the help of the village youths, Irina set off from Caso’s village toward the town of Sorenariini.

She said she’d look into slimes, but... well, she might also receive the quest completion reward and the bounty for handing over the two bandits (or whatever they are). There might not be any reason for her to come back to a place like this with nothing. ...It feels a little lonely.

Some time later, while I was watering the flowers by the spring, Irina came back. That was surprisingly fast. The town of Sorenariini should be a two-day walk one way...

Even if she stayed there for a day, the timing doesn’t add up. It should’ve taken another day or two at least.

Did she run the whole way? She’s sweating and breathing heavily. ...Yeah, I’m not getting any weird feelings. Because I’m a slime, after all.

...Hm? She’s carrying a huge backpack. Clearly, there’s what looks like a tent sitting on top of it.

"...Irina-san?"

"Hello, Lord Slime! I successfully handed over the two scoundrels. I also completed the herb gathering quest and received the reward money and guild points. Thank you — it’s all thanks to you, Lord Slime."

Irina smiled brightly, full of joy. But what’s with that massive luggage on her back?

"So, Irina-san, why are you carrying such a huge load?"

"Lord Slime. You are my lifesaver. Please stop with the ’-san’. Could you please just call me Irina?"

She said that before, too. Come to think of it, I’ve been calling her Irina already.

"...So, Irina, why are you carrying such a huge load?"

"Being called directly by name... After this you’ll probably entangle me with your tentacles, pin me down and say ’Irina, you’re my woman now!’ and then... do it! Violate me!"

"You’re the one who told me to call you Irina directly! And what happened to the conversation about your luggage!?"

"Of course I brought it so I can live near you, Lord Slime. I still haven’t repaid you for saving my life."

Saying that, Irina happily started pitching her tent by the spring. Lady, aren’t you a noble’s daughter?

"Hellooo? Irina-san? Live here? How exactly?"

"Lord Slime... You are my lifesaver. Please stop with the ’-san’. Could you please just call me Irina?"

"That’s the same pattern as before, right? The pattern where you make me say it, then fantasize and go ’Kyaa~’? Persistent same-joke no thank you, okay?"

"Lord Slime, I don’t quite understand what you’re saying..."

"If you’re doing this on purpose, it’s at Sandwich Man level, you know?"

Irina tilted her head cutely while looking at me. I got seriously pissed off (puff puff) at her. Even though she doesn’t really get it, she’s annoyingly super cute, damn it!

『Boss! We’ve returned from the investigation!』

『We also brought back some prey~』

『The festival in that village is starting soon, right? We caught some great stuff!』

Hm? Logan and the others are back.

There’s one guy with a really thick accent I don’t recognize. He has a strong character — was he always here?

"W-Whaaat!? So many wolves!? I won’t let you harm Mr. Monster!"

Irina unsteadily drew the sword at her waist. She really is weak, huh.

『Boss. Who is this clumsy-looking woman?』

Logan, even if you think that, there are times when you shouldn’t say it straight out.

You need to work on your communication skills a bit more.

『Ah, I get it. She looks like a female human. Is she Aniki’s woman?』

See? That’s why his character is so thick. Also, who the hell are you?

『Ohh! So Boss got himself a wife too!』

Logan nodded in satisfaction at his subordinate’s words. Don’t just decide I have a wife on your own.

By the way, Logan — did you always have such a colorful character among your direct subordinates?

"Don’t worry, Irina. These Wolf Fang Tribe members are my subordinates."

"M-Mr. Monster has this many subordinates...?"

Irina looked around at the surrounding wolf fang tribe members in shock.

"I still have 200 (feathers?) chicks as subordinates who haven’t returned yet."

"C-Chicks?"

『Boss, you even made chicks your subordinates?』

Oh right, I never told Logan about that.

"I helped some chicks before you became my subordinate, and they joined me."

At my explanation, Logan looked devastated. What’s wrong?

『I-I thought I was your very first subordinate...』

Ah, he’s bothered about the order. In that case...

Chick Captain

Logan and the Wolf Fang Tribe

200 Chicks (feathers?)

That’s the order.

『So there is already a senior chick before me. And he even holds the position of Captain.』

Logan gave me a slightly resentful look. Even if you look at me like that...

Just then, Chick Captain and his 200-strong Chick Legion returned.

「「「Piyo piyo piyo~」」」

About 200 chicks fluttered back with a flurry of wings.

『Boss! We have returned!』

Chick Captain kneeled respectfully in front of me. He’s always so stiff and formal.

But I won’t forget — this guy is the king of a harem.

『Mu...』

Logan, seeing Chick Captain for the first time, approached.

『So you are Chick Captain. I am Logan, leader of the Wolf Fang Tribe. I received the name Logan from Boss. I have heard that you became Boss’s subordinate before me. Let’s work well together from now on.』

Logan, you’re pretty dutiful and stiff too.

『Ohh! So you too have become Boss’s subordinate! The Wolf Fang Tribe is truly reassuring! Let us both continue to be of service to Boss! I look forward to working with you, Sir Logan!』

Chick Captain took Logan’s front paw with both wings.

Even though there were so many wolf fang tribe members, neither Chick Captain nor his chicks seemed intimidated at all. Are chicks actually strong?

"S-So many... Mr. Monster has so many subordinates... Amazing! As expected, you really are a premium catch!"

Irina clenched both fists by herself and pumped herself up with a "Hmph!"

No, you’re a noble daughter who fled the royal capital because of trouble — a defective, useless item! Look at yourself before looking at me!