Aria followed a narrow trail through the trees. Sunlight filtered through the canopy in broken rays, warming her bruised skin.
With each step the tension in her shoulders eased. Not fully of course, but enough for her breath to come easier.
The slime rested calmly in her arms while watching everything around them with bright curiosity.
It heard the birds chirping above and whenever a distant rustle echoed through the foliage its tiny body shifted to look with its mana sense.
"We're close," Aria murmured.
The forest gradually opened, the trees spreading apart until light spilled more freely between them.
Then, through the final line of trees, a lake revealed itself.
A quiet, crystal-blue lake lay nestled within a ring of pale stones and soft moss. Sunlight shimmered across its glassy surface. A gentle breeze rippled the water and sent small waves gliding toward the shore.
Animals dotted around the lakeside. There were three deer lifting their heads at Aria's approach, a cluster of rabbits with silver horn nibbling at wildflowers, and a pair of heron birds with long beak standing ankle-deep in the shallows.
Some creatures startled at the sight of her. They immediately leaping into the bushes or bounding across the rocks.
Other animals simply watched with wary curiosity before returning to their routines.
Aria stepped onto the soft grass and exhaled slowly.
"This place…" Her voice softened. "I used to come here when I was younger. It was the only place that felt peaceful. This place was not far from the town so it's not that dangerous."
The slime shifted gently in her arms.
Aria walked to the edge of the water and knelt. The lake reflected her tired face and the small green creature nestled against her chest.
She cupped her free hand and dipped it into the cool water, letting it trickle between her fingers.
"You can go look around if you want," she whispered.
The slime quivered with excitement, then lightly hopped from her arms onto the moss.
It wobbled as if testing its sore body that turned out it was still in a little bit of pain, then slid forward toward a patch of flowers.
A silver-horned rabbit froze as the slime approached. But instead of fleeing, it twitched its nose and cautiously stepped closer.
The slime inched forward. Curiosity pulsed through its core. It focused its mana sense on the silver-horned rabbit, tracing the creature's tiny body and faint mana flow.
Nothing like this existed inside the Dungeon. This was not a predator or having any killing intent. Just a timid and harmless lifeform.
The slime felt… fascinated.
Following its instinct, it stretched its soft green body wider then jumped.
The rabbit barely twitched before the slime wrapped around it completely, swallowing it under a smooth green dome.
A faint glow rippled through the slime's body.
[Consume] was being used.
The rabbit dissolved swiftly inside the gelatinous mass, reduced into pure mana and nutrients absorbed into the slime's core.
Aria, watching from a distance, gasped. Her eyes widening for a moment.
But after a few moments, she calmed again. Her expression returned to an almost resignation.
"Right… you're still a Dungeon monster. This is all new for you." she murmured to herself.
The slime had never seen the world outside so everything was unfamiliar and interesting for it. And everything might be food.
Aria slowly sat down on the lakeside grass, folding her legs beneath her. She watched the ripples on the water.
"Maybe it was really able to learnby consuming things it finds curious and somehow growing smarter and stronger because of it."
She didn't know the truth behind the slime's Evolution yet. But she decided not to worry about it for now.
The sunlight was warm and the air was calm. And nothing was hurting her.
Lost in her thoughts, she stared over the water, letting the quiet drown her worries.
Meanwhile, the slime continued its exploration.
It slid across the soft moss, nibbling on leaves and petals. It swallowed a small cluster of glowing mushrooms, pebbles, a patch of moss, and a startled meadow mouse.
Each time it used [Consume] its body pulsed with faint light.
Its Evolution bar ticked steadily upward little by little, fed by every creature and item it devoured.
Aria drew her knees up and hugged her arms around them. For a moment she let herself believe that this quiet place could erase everything waiting for her in the town, but the thought dissolved almost instantly.
She couldn't keep running.
She sighed a long and tired breath. The peace of the lake couldn't drown out the truth that gnawed at her.
She had to go back to Greyside Hollow, handle her debt and her parents.
Aria rubbed her palms together, trying to steady her breath.
"I can't keep avoiding it… If I don't show up at least once this week, they'll come looking for me."
She glanced at the slime as it happily devoured another glowing mushroom, unaware of the weight hanging over her.
She could never sell it after everything it had done, after it saved her life.
But then… what was she supposed to do now?
"I need money that is enough for this week's payment at least. Just something to keep them away for a little longer."
She sighed and pushed herself onto her feet, brushing dirt off her skirt.
She turned toward the slime. "Come here," she called gently.
The slime perked up immediately. It bounced then leapt toward her with its soft, jiggly body, landing easily in her hands.
The moment it touched her skin, the slime's core trembled as if sensing her distress just like before.
The slime asked, "Are you alright?"
Aria let out a long, tired sigh. "I need money," she murmured with a bitter smile. "You're not going to know how to earn money, do you? It's alright. After all you're just a… monster…"
But then she froze. A spark ran through her mind like a sudden bolt of lightning.
She had seen how the slime fought. She had watched it fire a lightning strike at the lizard.
"Wait… you can fight, right? You can kill monsters?" Aria asked, hope creeping into her voice. "I'm really sorry. Maybe I sound shameless but… I need your help again."
—