When the last rays of sunset painted the towers of Mystra Magic Academy in gold and crimson, Camilla returned to her single dormitory room with her elder sister Ophelia, carrying Rimuru—who was already dozing off in her arms.
The parting scene with Emma at the cafeteria door was still vivid in her mind.
That future Sage-to-be clutched the sheet of paper with the improved magic array as if holding the most precious treasure in the world, thanking Camilla again and again, her sapphire eyes sparkling with gratitude.
Though Camilla was exhausted in both body and mind, the thought of Emma’s hopeful expression brought a subtle sense of accomplishment to her heart.
Let’s just call it a good deed. With that in mind, she pushed open her dorm room door.
“Phew—finally, I can collapse for real…”
She gently placed the snoring Rimuru in its own little nest lined with soft bedding, then flopped onto her bed like a puddle of mush.
However, before her declaration of rest had even faded from the room, her gaze was unconsciously drawn to her desk.
There, a thick stack of blank Script and that feather quill pen—gleaming coldly like a “debt collector”—waited quietly for her.
Camilla’s face instantly fell.
“Ah—! Damn Elina! Curse these endless update deadlines!”
She buried her face into the soft pillow, letting out a muffled wail. Just picturing that blonde lady holding a lightning whip, smiling sweetly as she threatened to throw her into the Blade Pool, made Camilla shiver uncontrollably.
After struggling for a while, Camilla resigned herself and crawled up, sitting at her desk as if walking to her execution.
She took a deep breath, picked up the quill, and dipped it in ink.
“Hmph, just an update, right? Fine! I’ll write! Happy now?!”
Gritting her teeth, she began to write, the soft scraping of pen on paper filling the room.
Ten minutes later, Camilla set down her pen, rose from her chair, and walked to the window, watching the sun gradually slip below the horizon.
Then something rather embarrassing happened—she hit writer’s block.
Though she was only rewriting an existing storyline, the difference between game format and prose was substantial; she needed to create or remove content to make the story flow smoothly.
“What a pain…”
Camilla propped her chin in her hand, lost in thought, until the moonlight outside grew bright and clear. Only then did she snap back to reality, stifling a yawn and realizing she had somehow fallen asleep.
“What the—what time is it?”
Still groggy, she shook her head, feeling an empty stomach. She wiped away the drool at the corner of her mouth and yawned again.
“I want a midnight snack.”
“Pukii?”
Perhaps sensing her change in mood, Rimuru woke up in its little nest, wriggling slowly and bouncing onto the desk, curiously nudging the now-dry Script with its “body.”
“Don’t mess around, Rimuru. That’s not edible.”
Camilla gently brushed it aside, looking at the blue jelly. The image of it “Devouring” a fireball in class earlier flashed through her mind.
“Come to think of it, you’re a bit odd, little one. Are sapphire slimes supposed to be this strong?”
Rimuru simply rubbed affectionately against her finger, sending over a simple intent: 【Master… warm…】
If this were the game, she could use the Panel to check all of Rimuru’s stats, but here in reality, it obviously wasn’t so convenient. Before being raised to their limit, no Summoner could predict the future of their summon beast.
Still, with her multi-playthrough player knowledge, Camilla was certain Rimuru had the “Devouring” ability, but why it was this powerful, she couldn’t figure out.
“Whatever. If I can’t figure it out, I’ll stop thinking about it.”
She gave up pondering and scooped Rimuru into her arms.
“Anyway, you’re my summon beast now. Weak or strong, you’re under my protection.”
Hugging Rimuru, she walked to the window, gazing out at the tranquil academy night. In the distance, magic towers glimmered softly, and occasionally, magical creatures on night patrol streaked across the sky…
Wait, is that… someone standing over there?
Camilla rubbed her eyes and focused on the shadows of the courtyard below. Bathed in moonlight, a slender figure indeed stood there.
It was a girl wearing a dark dress that wasn’t the academy uniform. Her long silver-white hair flowed with a cold luster in the moonlight, and her crimson eyes—predatory and amused—gazed up, unblinking, in Camilla’s direction.
The moment their eyes met, the girl’s lips curved into a wicked, enchanting smile.
Salina von Droe… The name and all related information immediately surfaced in Camilla’s mind.
Blood Clan princess, the “brute strength” representative of the Warrior Department, and also a capture target in the game—famous for her unpredictable temperament and obsession with “delicious blood.”
Judging by the situation, she was obviously out “hunting” tonight, and Camilla… had the bad luck of being picked as the prey.
Alarms blared in Camilla’s head, and she instinctively took half a step back, about to close the window.
But it was too late.
Salina’s figure blurred like a ghost, and in the next instant—accompanied by a few drifting black feathers—she landed gracefully on Camilla’s narrow windowsill, her skirt fluttering in the breeze.
“Good evening, lovely lady~”
Salina’s voice was languid and dangerous, her crimson eyes studying Camilla with lively interest, as if admiring a curious toy.
“Even from this far, I can smell the irresistibly sweet aroma coming from you… May I have a taste? Just one little sip~”
Though her words were politely phrased, her actions were anything but. Her slender, pale hand, radiating irresistible strength, reached straight for Camilla’s wrist, sharp glints flashing at her fingertips.
“Sorry, but I don’t donate blood for free!”
Camilla reacted instantly, pulling her hand back while flinging Rimuru at Salina like a thrown weapon.
“Rimuru, get her!”
“Pukii?!”
Still half-dazed, the blue slime arced through the air and landed squarely on Salina’s face, its bouncy body spreading out like a blue facial mask.
“Mm?! What is this?!”
The sudden, wet, sticky sensation made Salina freeze, her movements pausing.
Seizing the moment, Camilla quickly pulled back and raced through possible countermeasures in her head.
Direct combat was out of the question! Though Salina looked like an elegant lady, she was a powerhouse in the Warrior Department and boasted Fifth Tier strength. Unless she exposed “that,” Camilla had zero chance.
Luckily, she’d prepared for situations like this before enrolling. Now was the perfect time to use those preparations!
Irritated, Salina peeled the sticky Rimuru off her face and tossed it aside with disdain, a flicker of annoyance in her crimson eyes.
“Disobedient food must be punished…”
She hadn’t finished her threat when Salina suddenly froze.
Somehow, the girl before her had changed clothes—the once-soft pajamas replaced by a set of pure white armor, engraved with dense, ancient runes and faintly glowing with pure Light power.
In her hands was a massive Greatsword, taller than she was, its blade broad and shining like condensed moonlight. Embedded in the guard was a flawless Light Crystal, radiating a brilliance that dispelled the darkness.
Heavenly Radiance Armor—a secret-quest gear in 《Talora Continent》, which Camilla had obtained early using a few tricks.
Feeling the girl’s holy power shining as bright as the sun, Salina forced an awkward smile.
“Um, can we talk this out?”