Emojis
ForTestingPurposeAs we cautiously made our way along the forest path, we soon spotted something in the grass at the forest’s edge.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Huh? What’s that?”
EmojisForTestingPurposeSua pointed at the bushes with her finger.
EmojisForTestingPurposeTurning my head, I followed her gaze.
EmojisForTestingPurposeNestled in the grass was something round and glistening.
EmojisForTestingPurposeAs I stepped closer, I realized—it was a slime with a transparent, jelly-like body.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“That’s… a monster?”
EmojisForTestingPurposeI muttered, staring at the slime.
EmojisForTestingPurposeIt hardly looked dangerous. In fact, it seemed rather peaceful.
EmojisForTestingPurposeIt was about half my height, curled up as if resting. Its stillness made it look as though it was sleeping.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Whoa… It’s a slime!”
EmojisForTestingPurposeLiel’s eyes sparkled with fascination.
EmojisForTestingPurposeI watched the slime with a strange mix of emotions.
EmojisForTestingPurposeThere was a small sense of wonder—realizing that slimes, too, could sleep.
EmojisForTestingPurposeA hint of unease—this was my first time seeing a monster up close rather than from a distance.
EmojisForTestingPurposeAnd a slight concern—was this slime still here because Alex hadn’t started his usual monster cleanup yet?
EmojisForTestingPurposeLost in thought, I silently observed the creature.
EmojisForTestingPurposeIts round, translucent body reflected the light filtering through the leaves, giving it an oddly cute appearance.
EmojisForTestingPurposeJust then, Sua suddenly picked up a rock and smirked.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Hmm… Are we just gonna sit here and stare? I’ll take care of it in one shot!”
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Wait, Sua! Maybe we should just leave it alon—”
EmojisForTestingPurposeBefore I could stop her, Sua had already thrown the rock with all her strength.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Take this! Strike of Justice!”
EmojisForTestingPurposeThe rock struck the slime directly in the center.
EmojisForTestingPurposeAnd at that moment—
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Kkuuueeeeng!”
EmojisForTestingPurposeThe slime let out a bizarre sound before—
EmojisForTestingPurposePOP!
EmojisForTestingPurposeIt exploded.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Wha—?!”
EmojisForTestingPurposeI stumbled back in shock.
EmojisForTestingPurposeClear liquid splattered in all directions, scattering over the grass.
EmojisForTestingPurposeLiel, standing nearby, gaped in disbelief.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“I-It exploded…?”
EmojisForTestingPurposeHarp let out a deep sigh and shot a glare at Sua.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Sua, was that really necessary? It was just sleeping. We could’ve just left it alone.”
EmojisForTestingPurposeBut instead of her usual confidence, Sua mumbled in a strangely dejected tone.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“I… I just wanted to wake it up. Geez, rural slimes have such low stats.”
EmojisForTestingPurposeI pressed my fingers against my forehead in frustration.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Sua, please don’t do that again. You might end up attracting other monsters.”
EmojisForTestingPurposeSua waved her hand dismissively, grinning.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Oh, don’t worry, Teacher! Even if more monsters show up, I’ll take care of them all!”
EmojisForTestingPurposeBut despite her reassurances, I couldn’t shake off my unease.
EmojisForTestingPurposeOur first encounter with a monster had ended in the most anticlimactic way possible…
EmojisForTestingPurposeBut something told me this wasn’t truly over.
EmojisForTestingPurposeAfter the slime burst, an awkward silence settled over us.
EmojisForTestingPurposeThe transparent slime fluid shimmered on the grass, reflecting the sunlight.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Uh… Is this slime… dead?”
EmojisForTestingPurposeLiel asked cautiously.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“I think so…?”
EmojisForTestingPurposeI glanced around uncertainly.
EmojisForTestingPurposeMeanwhile, Sua crossed her arms and grumbled.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Ugh, I thought we’d run into powerful monsters. This is so underwhelming.”
EmojisForTestingPurposeJust then.
EmojisForTestingPurposeA rustling sound came from the grass.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Huh? There’s something else over there!”
EmojisForTestingPurposeLiel pointed toward another patch of grass.
EmojisForTestingPurposeTensing, I slowly turned my head.
EmojisForTestingPurposeAnd there.
EmojisForTestingPurposeAnother slime.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“…Another slime.”
EmojisForTestingPurposeThis one was even smaller than the last.
EmojisForTestingPurposeIt was barely the size of my palm, sluggishly crawling along the ground.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“What the—? This one’s even tinier.”
EmojisForTestingPurposeSua sighed in disappointment.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“I geared up and hyped myself up for this? This is ridiculous!”
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Sua, let’s just leave them alone.”
EmojisForTestingPurposeBut before I could finish speaking.
EmojisForTestingPurposeAnother rustling sound came from the grass.
EmojisForTestingPurposeAnd this time, it wasn’t just one.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Huh? Look over there!”
EmojisForTestingPurposeLiel shouted, pointing in another direction.
EmojisForTestingPurposeMore tiny slimes were crawling out of the bushes.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“…Uh, they’re multiplying.”
EmojisForTestingPurposeI muttered.
EmojisForTestingPurposeHarp frowned slightly.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“They’re all baby slimes. They don’t seem dangerous…”
EmojisForTestingPurposeIndeed, the creatures emerging around us were minuscule.
EmojisForTestingPurposeSome were the size of my palm, others even smaller—one was no bigger than a piece of candy.
EmojisForTestingPurposeThey wobbled around aimlessly, bumping into each other and clumsily climbing onto the grass.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“…They’re actually kind of cute.”
EmojisForTestingPurposeLiel giggled as she watched them.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“What the heck, they’re all so weak!”
EmojisForTestingPurposeSua crossed her arms in frustration, stomping her foot.
EmojisForTestingPurposeI stood still, deep in thought.
EmojisForTestingPurpose‘These don’t seem like monsters at all… More like peaceful little creatures.
Does Alex really clear out even these tiny things…?’
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Teacher, what’s wrong? Don’t tell me you’re scared of baby slimes?”
EmojisForTestingPurposeSua smirked at me.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“No, I just think they’re interesting.”
EmojisForTestingPurposeI continued observing the slimes.
EmojisForTestingPurposeThey really didn’t seem dangerous—if anything, they just looked like small, harmless animals.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Let’s just leave them be. There’s no reason to bother them.”
EmojisForTestingPurposeHarp nodded in agreement with me.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“That’s right. It’s better to leave them alone and just keep walking.”
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Hmph, fine! I’ll listen to you, Teacher! Not like those little things would even give any experience points.”
EmojisForTestingPurposeGrumbling, Sua stomped her foot before turning back toward the path.
EmojisForTestingPurposeLeaving the tiny, waddling slimes behind, we resumed our walk along the forest trail.
EmojisForTestingPurposeBut as we continued, I started sensing something strange behind us.
EmojisForTestingPurposeAt first, I ignored it.
EmojisForTestingPurposeI assumed it was just the wind rustling the leaves or small animals moving through the underbrush.
EmojisForTestingPurposeBut as time passed, the presence behind us grew closer.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Teacher, doesn’t it feel like something’s following us?”
EmojisForTestingPurposeLiel asked, her voice slightly tense.
EmojisForTestingPurposeI instinctively stopped and turned around.
EmojisForTestingPurposeAnd what I saw made me freeze in surprise.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“…Huh? What the—?”
EmojisForTestingPurposeA trail of tiny slimes was following us.
EmojisForTestingPurposeFrom palm-sized ones to candy-sized ones, the very same slimes we had seen earlier were now waddling after us.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Why are they following us?”
EmojisForTestingPurposeSua, equally surprised, turned back to stare at them.
EmojisForTestingPurposeNarrowing her eyes, she observed them carefully.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“What’s going on? Are they trying to attack us?”
EmojisForTestingPurposeShe picked up a rock, wary of any sudden aggression.
EmojisForTestingPurposeBut the slimes showed no hostility whatsoever.
EmojisForTestingPurposeThey simply dragged their round, jiggly bodies forward at a slow, waddling pace.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“…This is so weird.”
EmojisForTestingPurposeLiel chuckled.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“But why are they following us?”
EmojisForTestingPurposeIntrigued, I paused to observe the slimes more closely.
EmojisForTestingPurposeAnd soon enough, I noticed something unusual.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Wait… They’re only following me.”
EmojisForTestingPurposeSure enough, the slimes weren’t paying attention to anyone else in our group.
EmojisForTestingPurposeThey were focused entirely on me.
EmojisForTestingPurposeWhen I stopped walking, they stopped.
EmojisForTestingPurposeWhen I moved, they waddled after me.
EmojisForTestingPurpose…What is this, The Pied Piper?
EmojisForTestingPurpose“What? Just Teacher?”
EmojisForTestingPurposeSua’s eyes widened in surprise.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Maybe Teacher smells… delicious?”
EmojisForTestingPurpose“There’s no way… right?”
EmojisForTestingPurposeFlustered, I quickly checked my clothes.
EmojisForTestingPurposeMaybe I had some bread crumbs on me?
EmojisForTestingPurposeBut no—there were no traces of food anywhere.
EmojisForTestingPurposeHarp crossed her arms, observing the slimes closely.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“…Slimes don’t normally follow people like this. This is strange.”
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Teacher, are you holding anything special?”
EmojisForTestingPurposeLiel asked curiously.
EmojisForTestingPurposeI shook my head and checked my pockets.
EmojisForTestingPurposeNothing.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“I don’t think so. They’re just… following me.”
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Gasp! Maybe you’re the King of Slimes!”
EmojisForTestingPurposeSua gasped dramatically.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“The Master of the Slime Throne—Slime Eve! Wow, that sounds like an awesome title!”
EmojisForTestingPurpose“I don’t need a title like that.”
EmojisForTestingPurposeI sighed and looked back at the slimes.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Well… at least they don’t seem hostile. Maybe they’re just curious.”
EmojisForTestingPurpose“It really is fascinating.”
EmojisForTestingPurposeLiel giggled and waved at them.
EmojisForTestingPurposeA few slimes glanced at her briefly.
EmojisForTestingPurposeThen immediately turned back toward me.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“See? Only me.”
EmojisForTestingPurposeI said, exasperated.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Well, since it’s come to this, why not keep them around?”
EmojisForTestingPurposeGrinning mischievously, Sua declared,
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Slime Army! March! Muahaha, I feel like a Demon Lord!”
EmojisForTestingPurpose“If you’re the Demon Lord, then I’m the Hero, you airhead.”
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Huh?! Then I’ll be the Saint!”
EmojisForTestingPurpose“…You are actually a Saint.”
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Oh—right!”
EmojisForTestingPurposeI couldn’t shake off a strange sense of unease.
EmojisForTestingPurposeWhy were they only following me?
EmojisForTestingPurposeDid the slimes have a reason for this?
EmojisForTestingPurposeEven as I pondered, the tiny slimes continued trailing behind me, as if I were someone important to them.
EmojisForTestingPurpose‘What is going on…?’
EmojisForTestingPurposeI glanced at the slimes again.
EmojisForTestingPurposeSomething about this situation felt off.
EmojisForTestingPurposeAs if there was a hidden reason we weren’t aware of.
EmojisForTestingPurposeCould there be something deeper inside the forest?
EmojisForTestingPurposeI had no way of knowing yet…
EmojisForTestingPurposeBut for some reason, I couldn’t shake the feeling that we were about to find out.