Chapter 7: I Was Allowed to Decisively Battle Slime-san

Two days after Lilia-san and Evanjesica-san reconciled. We set out to sea in two connected boats.

I, Lilia-san, Sierra-san, and Fiona-san boarded one boat, while Evanjesica-san, Elminora-san, and two others boarded the other, holding their bows.

During the voyage, we were attacked by a total of three large sea monsters, but thanks to Evanjesica-san and her group firing arrows coated in paralytic poison, the boats escaped damage.

And finally, we arrived at the island where Slime-san was sighted.

After landing on the sandy beach and securing the boats so they wouldn't drift away, we began exploring the island. Lilia-san and I took the lead, followed by Sierra-san, Fiona-san, and Evanjesica-san's group.

As we walked through an open flatland, Lilia-san called for caution.

"I am sure you are aware, but that Slime Monster Girl is a formidable enemy. Leon-san, you have lost every battle against her so far, and she has even gained flight capabilities. That is exactly why, if you can overcome her, you should be able to puff out your chest and say you have overcome your one and only greatest weakness: Monster Girls."

"Yes! I will do my best!"

"Hey, Lilia-sensei. Is it okay if we just defeat that Slime Monster Girl?"

"No. After shooting the paralytic arrows, please let Leon-san fight alone. She is a strong enemy for Leon-san, but she is essentially just a trash-tier slime, after all."

"That hurts..."

"Well, everyone has opponents they are bad at dealing with. In Leon-san's case, the fact that his scope is 'women and all female-shaped monsters in general' is hopeless, though."

"I am ashamed... Honestly, I cannot picture myself cutting Slime-san, but I will show you I can overcome it today..."

"Leon-chan, you don't have to push yourself, okay?"

"No. Today, I will defeat Slime-san and show you how I've grown."

"Leon-chan... you've become so admirable..."

"Thank you very much. If I fight as Lilia-san orders me, I'm sure I can win."

"Leaving it completely to others, I see."

Just as Lilia-san looked exasperated, a large shadow suddenly appeared on the ground.

"—Look out!!"

As I yelled a warning and jumped back, my vision was filled with a blue jelly-like substance a few moments later.

It was a giant dress that Slime-san had clad herself in. She had swooped down soundlessly from the sky.

"Ah—!! Big Brother, long time no see!! Did you come to see me!?"

Being directed such a bursting smile, I became anxious about whether I could actually hunt Slime-san now.

"『Advance』『Kesagiri』!"

The moment I was ordered, my body moved automatically, regardless of my will.

However, Slime-san retreated at high speed. Although I swung my katana, only a part of her dress was torn.

"So mean!! Big Brother, you tried to kill me for real just now, didn't you!!"

Slime-san puffed out her cheeks and complained. She really is cute.

"『Thrust』!"

I was about to be charmed, but the moment the order came, the tip of my katana closed in on Slime-san's ample chest.

However, immediately after, Slime-san, who should have been right in front of my eyes, suddenly vanished.

"—I see, so that is how it is."

Slime-san, having escaped into the sky by a hair's breadth, looked down at me with a smirk.

"Your body moves on its own when that woman orders you, right? Because it'd be weird for Big Brother to be able to attack me seriously."

Seen through already. Could it be that Slime-san not only leveled up to gain flight, but her intelligence increased as well...?

Just then, paralytic arrows were fired all at once from behind.

But Slime-san dexterously manipulated the dress she wore to catch every single one of them.

Stopping four approaching arrows while flying is not normal. At least, it's impossible for the Slime-san I know.

"Are you surprised by my growth? Actually, ever since I came to this island, I've been thinking about ways to get revenge on that shitty woman over there. So, I made all the different colored slimes living on this island submit, absorbed them, and evolved!"

The moment she announced that while glaring at Lilia-san, the dress Slime-san was wearing began to glow with rainbow colors.

"—Don't tell me, a Rainbow Slime!?"

"Whoa! That's totally Insta-worthy! Gotta take a pic, quick!"

Lilia-san was stunned, while Fiona-san's excitement went through the roof.

"Lilia-san, what is a Rainbow Slime?"

"It is my first time seeing one as well, but it is an extremely rare monster born when seven colors of slime fuse together. Its power is said to be comparable to a dragon, but—"

In that instant, with a roar, a massive pillar of water rose from the ground.

While we were dumbfounded, the massive amount of water that had soared into the sky fell accurately toward the eight of us.

What had erupted from the ground wasn't just water, but parts of Slime-san's dress.

I dodged with a side step and swung my katana at the approaching dress.

The severed dress wiggled and moved, still approaching to attack me.

However, the opponent wasn't a Monster Girl, but a part of her dress. Meaning, it was just seven-colored slime. Not an enemy to me.

I swung my katana swiftly and repeatedly, chopping it up until it couldn't regenerate.

"—Wait!! Isn't this, like, really bad!?"

Suddenly hearing Fiona-san's scream, I turned around to see an unbelievable scene.

Everyone except Lilia-san and me—six people—had been absorbed inside six giant slimes.

"Ahahahaha!! Humans can stay alive without breathing for about a minute? I'll just drown them like this!!"

Slime-san's face, sitting atop the water pillar stretching high into the sky, twisted hideously.

In that moment, I realized.

"Lilia-san, I was wrong. Monster Girls only take the form of beautiful women to charm men. Their true nature is that of monsters; they cannot understand humans."

"That is what I have been saying the entire time, isn't it!? Why are you making a face like you've just arrived at the truth for the first time!?"

Even if she said that, I only just accepted it, so it couldn't be helped.

"—Anyway. Leon-san, we must settle this as quickly as possible or it will be bad."

"I know."

However, Slime-san is about 5 meters up in the air. The bows and arrows were taken along with Evanjesica-san and the others, so how am I supposed to attack with a katana—

"『Swim up the slime dress』!"

Given such an absurd order, before I could think "That's impossible," my body had started running.

I dove into the water pillar towering in front of me and aimed straight for the sky.

"S-Seriously!?"

I rapidly closed in on the shocked Slime-san, and finally, the main body was within range.

"B-Big Brother! Stop! I'm scared!"

Slime-san put both hands to her cheeks and acted cute.

This is bad. Even in this situation, my heart is being disturbed.

But Fiona-san and the others' lives are on the line. I cannot let my blade dull.

I made up my mind and closed my eyes.

If I don't look, I won't be seduced. I just have to believe in Lilia-san and slash.

"—『Thrust』!!"

When I thrust the katana out into the darkness, I felt a solid impact.

When I opened my eyes, my katana had pierced through Slime-san's chest.

Immediately after, the water pillar collapsed, and Sierra-san and the others who were captured were released.

While what used to be the dress scattered and rained down, Slime-san fell to the ground and lay there, gasping painfully.

"Haa... Haa... I didn't think Big Brother would stab me... You did good..."

Slime-san looked up at me and praised me with a weak smile.

I felt like crying.

"Slime-san...!!"

"Why are you tearing up, Big Brother? I'm the one who wants to cry."

"But..."

"I'm gonna die now but... take care, okay... Since you beat me, don't go losing to other Monster Girls..."

Unexpectedly encouraged, I was shaken.

To think Slime-san, who I thought had no human heart, would say such things to me...

"Slime-san, thank you for training with me until no—"

The moment I started to say my thanks, Lilia-san stabbed a paralytic arrow into Slime-san's neck.

"Leon-san, do not let your guard down. A Slime Monster Girl does not die even if her main body's chest is pierced. Her core is in a different location, and if it is unharmed, she will regenerate."

"—Eh!? Is that so!?"

"However, since she cannot move quickly until the wound heals, I surmise she was stalling for time by talking, looking for an opportunity to flee."

Receiving this explanation, I returned my gaze to Slime-san.

"......Tehe, busted~"

Slime-san stuck out her tongue and smiled cutely.

It's no use, I can't hate her.

"......Um, Lilia-san. What are we going to do with Slime-san? We have to kill her after all, right...?"

"That was the intention, but since we captured her alive, I think I will keep injecting her with paralytic drugs and take her back."

"Eh...?"

"A slime with flight capabilities is unheard of, and on top of that, she evolved into a Rainbow Slime. She will make the most excellent, precious research material."

"I-Is that so..."

I was relieved from the bottom of my heart. I have subjugated countless monsters so far, but I fought Slime-san many times, and something like affection had sprouted...

After Lilia-san tied Slime-san's hands and feet, she turned to face me.

"Leon-san, you did well. You have grown a little."

"Th-Thank you very much."

"Well, knowing you, Leon-san, the possibility that you will continue to be utterly charmed by other Monster Girls is high, though."

"You don't trust me at all, do you?"

"Your daily conduct is beyond hope, after all. In the first place, if you fight with your eyes closed, you can't do anything without me."

"I have no comeback for that."

"In other words, you will continue to need my guidance and encouragement, Leon-san?"

"I-I look forward to working with you..."

SSS

After that, we returned to the Island of Female Supremacy and let Evanjesica-san and her group disembark.

We four intended to take Slime-san back to the school just like that, but...

"Thinking about it, everyone who can use a bow is getting off. We might be attacked by Krakens again, so I wonder if we can return safely to the mainland..."

Sierra-san expressed her anxiety.

"—I suppose it can't be helped. I will accompany you."

Suddenly, Evanjesica-san made a declaration.

"You are the Island Lord; is it okay for you to go outside the island?"

"I'll just be away for a while. ......Currently, this island's population is too small. There's a possibility of a mass migration off the island in the future, so I'll inspect the mainland while I'm at it."

Evanjesica-san said this and smiled at Lilia-san.

"Plus, I might find a slave even better than the Pebble."

Evanjesica-san had a wonderful smile as she said that.