Where I landed, there was a girl.
"Kyaaa!"
She had sky-blue hair like the midday sky and was in a state of panic. Covering her mouth with her hand she stood up, she was trembling while holding a basket, seemingly unable to continue standing as if her legs would give up at anytime.
"Si...slime..."
While I was analyzing the situation, I was also pretty confused. What should a slime do in times like this? If it were between humans, I could just apologize for startling her and explain the situation, but a slime can't speak the human language.
I wanted to do something, but since she was really scared, approaching her would probably backfire. As I was thinking this, the girl cautiously gazed at me and then approached.
"Are you...hurt?"
She kneeled in front of me and asked while peering at me. It seemed she thought I was injured because she saw me fall from a high place and stop moving.
Then she rummaged through her basket and pulled out some medicinal herbs.
What is she thinking? I'm a magical beast, a monster that even attacks humans. Though I don't attack because I was once human, a normal slime would spit dissolving liquid at her.
Yet, she's approaching me so defenselessly and even offering precious medicinal herbs.
I have no idea what she's thinking.
"These are medicinal herbs. If you eat them, your wounds will heal faster. Here, eat them."
The girl pressed the herbs towards me. While being suspicious, wondering if they might be poisoned, I decided to cautiously digest them, trusting in my skill: "Perfect Defense."
The herbs gradually dissolved inside my clear blue body. Frankly, my injuries started healing up since I reached higher levels, so the healing effect didn't work, but I could absorb the mana contained in the herbs and felt invigorated.
"Slurp, slurp!"
"Fufu, I'm glad."
The girl smiled as she watched me hop around energetically. But seeing her, I became worried.
Will this girl do the same thing if she sees an injured magical beast again? Maybe she calculated that helping a slime would be safe even if it got violent, but it's still dangerous.
I need to warn her properly.
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"Slurp, slurp, slurp, slurp!" I frantically waved using my whip while bouncing up and down, "Surauas! Suarsa!! (Girl, you can't! Do this to anyone again!!) "
"Are you thanking me? You're welcome!"
She responded with a cheerful smile.
Damn it, she doesn't understand! Even though I used gestures, she completely misunderstood.
"Slurp!"
"HUM?"
I made my body into an X shape to convey that her thinking was wrong. But it seemed people around here didn't have a common understanding of X as incorrect.
"Good boy, good boy."
She freaking patted me like I was some kitten.
I was trying to convey my thoughts with my body, but it didn't seem to be getting through at all.
Just then...
...
>> Jewel Slime has acquired the skill: Gesture.
...
Maybe it was a mistake to try and convey such an abstract idea without words. As I was about to think that, the girl suddenly seemed to realize something.
"Could it be, you're saying it's dangerous to approach carelessly?"
"Surasa! (Yes!)"
Whoa, she understood! A miracle! I guess if you convey your sincerity, your feelings can reach different species!
"You're kind, pretty slime. Indeed, I'm weak, and it would be dangerous if I got poisoned... Yeah, I understand. I'll be more careful next time."
"Sluraas, surala. (Be more careful next time.)"
Wait... is it due to my skill: Gesture?
"..."
Anyway, it seemed my message got through, so I was relieved.
"!"
Just then, the girl's body suddenly trembled. She quickly stood up and slung the basket over her shoulder.
'Hum?'
Is she leaving?
"Sorry, I have to go now. It's dangerous here, so you should leave too, Mr. Slime."
"Slar?"
Why all of a sudden? Hey wait, maybe we... can... talk?
"Goodbye."
The girl waved her hand. Apparently, waving farewell is a cultural gesture in this world too.
I transformed part of my body to resemble a hand and waved back.
...
>> Jewel Slime has acquired the skill: Communication.
...
'See you later.'
"...Huh?"
The girl turned around with wide eyes.
"...It must have been my imagination."
But she quickly hurried away. I considered following her advice and escaping myself, but then shook my head inwardly.
If it's dangerous in the forest, it's probably because of a magical beast. To repay the favor of receiving the medicinal herbs, I decided to buy the girl some time to escape safely.
Plus, if things went well, I might be able to level up even more.
As I was thinking this, a magical beast emerged from the underbrush, crushing it underfoot.
"Fshooo..."
"...Slar."
It was a giant bear-like magical beast. Its fur was black, absorbing all light, with two white lines crossing on its forehead.
The enormous bear, towering over an adult human, approached on all fours in the same direction the girl had fled.
Intimidated by its size compared to the trees, I thought about fleeing too, considering how much more imposing this bear was compared to any enemy I'd faced before.
It was at least a few inches taller than the crayfish earlier.
...No, I'm a slime who doesn't forget his debts! I must stop this bear here so the girl isn't attacked!
Besides, with my toughness, I might be able to get through this unscathed.
Hopefully, so...
...
>> Jewel Slime has activated [Foolhardiness].
...
Standing before the bear, I suddenly felt lighter. I didn't know why, but it was convenient. With this power, I could take down this bear—
...
>> Kubeima (Negate Grizzly) has activated [Claws of Death].
...
In an instant, the bear closed the distance and casually swung its arm with vicious claws. Before I knew it, I was flying through the air at high speed.
'Ouch!?'
Pain hit me before I could even process what had happened. It wasn't just overwhelming power; there was a strange sensation as if the bear's claws had slipped through my toughness.
Amidst the pain and sensation of floating, I thought, "I've been getting blown away a lot today..."