The forest loomed ahead, dense and shadowed.The roar from earlier had turned into a continuous, terrifying growl that vibrated through the trees.My legs trembled—not from fear, exactly—but from the memory of the chickens.
"Pyo… Akira, scared?" the slime asked, bouncing nervously.
"Yeah… and this is officially way above my pay grade," I muttered. "I wanted a peaceful life!"
We moved cautiously, following the trail of broken branches and flattened grass. The sound of something massive crashing through the undergrowth made me jump every few seconds.
Suddenly, a glint of silver caught my eye between the trees.I squinted.
A figure stood there.
A girl.Silver hair flowing like moonlight through the forest shadows. Eyes sharp and unreadable.She was… watching me.
"Who… who are you?" I asked, swallowing nervously.The slime puffed up, ready to defend.
The girl tilted her head."Are you the F-rank adventurer with the slime?" Her voice was calm, almost bored.
"…Uh… yeah?" I stammered. "That's me."
She stepped closer. Despite her small frame, there was an undeniable aura of power around her.I felt it in my bones.
"I've been watching you," she said quietly. "You… are not like the others."
"Not like… others?" I repeated, confused.
"You're reckless. Unpredictable. Dangerous." Her gaze flicked to the slime, who was now puffing up aggressively.
"Pyo!"
"And yet…" Her eyes softened slightly. "You've survived. More than that, you've… adapted."
I blinked. "…Adapted?"
She smiled faintly, just a small curve of her lips. "Yes. Most adventurers would have failed long ago. But you… you've grown beyond reason already."
I swallowed hard. "…Thanks?"
She tilted her head again, eyes glinting like moonlight on water."Perhaps I should help you."
"Help me?" I repeated. "How? And why?"
"Because," she said softly, "you're going to need it. The forest isn't just filled with monsters. Something far worse is coming. And it's already awake."
The hairs on the back of my neck stood up. "Something worse than… whatever caused the earlier roar?"
"Yes," she said, her voice serious now. "And it won't be patient."
Before I could respond, a loud crash shook the trees. A monstrous shadow moved behind her—a giant beast with glowing eyes and jagged claws.
The slime squeaked and jumped onto my shoulder."Pyo! Akira!"
The girl drew a thin, curved blade from her side. In a flash, she stepped in front of me.
"Stay behind me," she said.
"…Wait, are you—"
"Not here to babysit," she interrupted, eyes locked on the beast. "Here to make sure you survive."
I looked at her, then at the approaching monster, then at my slime."…I guess that works?"
The creature let out a deafening roar. Branches snapped under its weight. I braced myself.
The girl's silver hair shone in the fading light as she leapt forward, blade flashing."Watch closely," she whispered. "And don't die before learning anything useful."
The slime puffed up like a balloon. "Pyo!"
And just like that, my peaceful—or at least, chicken-filled—life was gone.
The forest had decided I needed a real adventure.And this mysterious girl might just be the key to surviving it.