CHAPTER 15 – COMPANIONS

‘As a trusted companion on my journeys, by my side stood a ferocious beast sworn to carry my burdens and capable of devouring even the grandest of beasts. The monster swore loyalty to me, as I mercifully refused to slay it at the beginning of my grand journey. As the skin of the arcane monster emitted an ethereal light green glow, I bestowed the beast with the name of Lime, which it gratefully took as it’s own. Cunning and devilishly intelligent, Lime quickly proved itself to be a worthy partner. Out of everyone in all the realms, there wasn’t a single person, or monster for that matter, that I trusted more.’

I accurately remember the description of my companion in the alternate universe...

Now then…

*squish*

【Lime – Arcane Slime – Affinity: None – Rank: Usual – Rarity: S】

【Special Skills: Multidimensional Access – Absorption】

Why is Lime a goddamn Slime!? Is this some kind of a sick joke? First the class and now my beloved monster buddy...

I was agonizing in my thoughts, as I realized that not once had I actually specified what species my otherworldly companion was. At the same time, I’m rather surprised to find Lime here. After all, if the calendar is anything to go off about, it has been over twenty years since 'we' last met.

The old man even said that these monsters were given to be our companions as a gift from the Gods. Do they know after all, or are there some even more otherworldly powers in play here? Nevertheless, judging by its reaction and the fact that it already had a name, it was definitely the Lime from my stories.

We were each given our own monster. All the monsters were of the lowest rank, but I suspect they’ll evolve once their owners do.

Seth’s companion was a Flarehound Cub. A B-Rarity. I suspect it’s some sort of a higher form of the Cinderwolves that I faced on the Trail. It certainly didn’t look as fierce as the ones on the Trail, but I guess I’ll leave that for until the size matches. Similar to the gems of the cinderwolves, the cub had a tiny crystalline horn protruding from its forehead.

Grace’s companion was a Cryotiger Kitten. Again, a B-Rarity. The Cryotiger part sounds pretty menacing, but once you add the kitten to the end it suddenly gives off a cute and cuddly feel. It looks like one of those white tigers from my old world, except fluffier! Grace activated her Aegis of Ice and the kitten started to gnaw on her ice-covered hands. I'm pretty sure that's not how you use a blessing you've received from the gods...

Lumi’s companion was a Baby Moonlight Wyvern. An A-Rarity monster. If I’m not mistaken, it’s the light counterpart of the Midnight Wyvern. The baby wyvern looks pretty cute with its oversized head, feeble body and barely serviceable wings. For now. Is it really alright for the Gods to just give a baby of such an apocalyptic monster to someone who just became an adventurer!? 

Brigid’s companion was an Elemental Pix. Once more, a B-Rarity. Contrary to the more monstrous companions the others received, the lively Pix just looked like a small, brilliant orb of living light that flew about with its luminescent wings. I wonder how that one will evolve. All the previous monsters will probably just get bigger, but I can't really imagine her strolling around the town with a humongous magical light bulb following her around.

⌈Now then, are you all satisfied with your new companions?⌋

The old man asked, stroking his beard.

⌈Yeah!⌋

⌈Yes, yes!⌋

⌈Mhm..⌋

⌈OH FU–! I mean, Yes!⌋

⌈Y-Yeah... I guess?⌋

I’m not a good enough actor to pretend that I wasn’t a bit puzzled by the whole situation. I felt out of place, as everyone else expressed such satisfaction for their new companions.

⌈Eh, what’s wrong, young man?⌋

⌈Nothing… My monster seems to already have a name.⌋

⌈Really!? It did seem weirdly attached to you at the very beginning... Perhaps this isn’t the first time you’ve met? No, that would be impossible.⌋

Truth is stranger than fiction, old man.

⌈Well, what’s the name?⌋

⌈L-Lime..⌋

Seth seemed extremely amused...

⌈Lime the Slime! Ahahaha!!⌋

⌈Don’t bully the Slime!⌋

Grace gave Seth a quick chop on the top of his head.

⌈AH! Uh… Sorry.⌋

Is this what Violet meant when she told me that Grace had already set her sights on someone? I wonder if a ‘woman’s intuition’ ranks up along with your class… What a frightening thought.

⌈You better be! Speaking of names, what names did you guys give to your pets? My kitty cat is named Glace! It rhymes with Grace! Isn’t it a great name!?⌋

Pets? I guess that’s a way to go about it. The idea of a fully grown Moonlight Wyvern as a pet sounds quite frightening though.

⌈How creative.. I’ve given my Wyvern the name Luna.⌋

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

Well, I wouldn't exactly call that name the pinnacle of creativity either.

⌈This Flarehound Cub here is named Peggy!⌋

⌈Eh!? Do you have to give them names? I’ve just been calling my Pix Pixie!⌋

That’s what people call giving things names, yes.

I started playing around with Lime’s gelatinous body. The rebound of Lime was much higher than that of the Aquatic Slimes on the Trail. The softness was comparable to Violet’s– actually, let's leave that thought at that. While I was busy poking Lime’s tender slimy ‘flesh’, I overheard Seth asking about something...

⌈Wait just a moment. Lumi, what was the species of your Wyvern again?⌋

⌈It’s a Baby Moonlight Wyvern..⌋

⌈Oh... So it wasn’t Midnight after all. I wonder if those two have any relation?⌋

⌈You're quite sharp, young man. Indeed, one could say that the Moonlight Wyvern and Midnight Wyvern are the first descendants of the great ancient beast, the legendary Dragon of Void. The Midnight represents the dark of the night, while the Moonlight reminds us that even in the darkest night, one can still see the light.⌋

The old man chimed in..

⌈A-Amazing!⌋

Seth was enchanted by the story, however, Lumi seemed confused as to why Seth had brought the subject up.

⌈Indeed.. However, why did you ask?⌋

⌈The gloomy kiddo sold some clothes made out of Midnight Wyvern Hide when we first arrived here. Your Baby Wyvern reminded me of that so I thought that there might be some connection between the two..⌋

⌈T-That pervert had clothes made of Midnight Wyvern Hide!?! It would explain why he has so much money, yet.. not one Midnight Wyvern has been seen since the Convergence. You mentioned him claiming to be from another world too…⌋

I can hear you clearly… Please stop calling me a pervert, while I compare the consistency of my new companion to the breast tissue of my new self proclaimed big sister.

⌈Oh my! Young man, you sure are something, aren’t you!?⌋

The old man sarcastically imitated Violet's manner of speech.

He can read my thoughts, can’t he? I-I…

⌈Indeed.. Although as amusing as that was perhaps it’d be best to keep that information classified...⌋

⌈T-Thanks…⌋

⌈…for now.⌋

Never would I have ever thought that the smug smile of an 80-year-old would be this terrifying. If he tells that to Violet my life will be over. He can practically just blackmail me to the end of the world now. Or not...

⌈Comfy Slippers.⌋

⌈Stalemate.⌋

⌈Haha!⌋

Hah! The old man isn't half bad after all. Grace seemed have taken an interest in our brief bout.

⌈Eh, eh!? What was amusing? Please tell me too!⌋

⌈Hahah! You best ask the young man yourself.⌋

⌈Nee~, weirdo! What’s so funny?⌋

⌈N-Nothing..⌋

⌈Come on! You can tell me!⌋

⌈Nope, I absolutely most definitely cannot tell you.⌋

⌈Eeeeh!? Alright..⌋

Crisis averted once again! Or so I thought before Lumi joined in on the conversation. 

⌈Excuse me, pervert.. How did you come into the possession of Midnight Wyvern Hide clothing?⌋

Lumi began to question me by calling me a pervert.

But I'm not having any of that anymore.

⌈If you want me to answer, please refrain from beginning your sentence with ‘Excuse me, pervert.’⌋

⌈Excuse me, deviant.⌋

⌈…⌋

⌈Alright.. Excuse me, weirdo.⌋

⌈Can you not?⌋

⌈I was considering apologizing about calling you a pervert, now that I possessed the same power as you do, which indeed is unable to see through articles of clothing. Not that I tried that for any other purpose than scientific. However, after what happened with you and our senior adventurer, I cannot possibly describe you as anything else…⌋

What the fuck?

⌈Is that so?⌋

⌈Indeed.. Now, how did you get your hands on Midnight Wyvern Hide clothes?⌋

⌈Can I lie?⌋

⌈Unless you want to ruin your already nonexistent image, then do go ahead and be my guest..⌋

Alright, I guess I’ll have some fun... It's not like they’re going to believe me anyway, and besides, I’m getting awfully pissed off for some reason.

⌈Alright... Years before the Convergence of Gods my journey led me to the southern mountain ranges bordering the realms of humans, dragonkin and dwarves. There, I fought a Midnight Wyvern with this very slime right beside me. Not only did I fight the Wyvern, but I also successfully slew the beast. Afterward, I brought the hide of the Wyvern to the greatest craftsmen of Ies, who then expertly crafted me those very clothes, I sold the remains of a couple days ago, from its jet black hide.⌋

⌈You could’ve just said that you’re mental..⌋

You’re getting awfully prissy, miss.

⌈Look me into my eyes. Am I lying?⌋

⌈…⌋

I wasn’t. If I correctly recall, this is exactly what happened. Lumi was speechless and her cheeks began reddening to rose. Even Seth didn’t crack a joke about me being weird and unbelievable. Did I really manage to convince them!? I was practically stuttering while explaining the origins of the rags…

⌈S-Shall we get going, it’s getting pretty late already?⌋

Seth said after the long silence.

⌈Yes.. P-Perhaps..⌋

⌈Very well, adventurers. I wish to see you soon after you bring back a Shard of Knowledge. Best of luck!⌋

The old man set us off.

⌈Alright! See you!⌋

As we were leaving Lumi stopped me and pulled me to the side... The others already left the room.

⌈Eh? What's this about?⌋

⌈I don’t know what you are..⌋

⌈Is that all? Can I go now?⌋

⌈No… I’d like to properly apologize for my rude behavior earlier.⌋

⌈W-What? A surprise, to be sure, but a welcome one.⌋

She lowered her brow and raised her tired eyelids as she began to explain... She had a look of determination I did not know she was capable of. Her voice had morphed to a stern tone and her characteristic calmness was long gone.

⌈It seems like you’re not lying. Not only are you a Celestial, but you also received the blessing of the God of Origin. What’s more the monster you received as your companion seems to be of the highest rarity too. You seemed to instantly recognize the bad living conditions outside, as well as knew the ancient method of creating bronze. It is as if the knowledge loss of the Convergence didn’t apply to you. After the trial, you received an abnormal class nobody had ever seen before. Not only that but to add your age, which is only 18, to the equation I can only suspect that you’re some sort of godly being capable of traveling in time... Perhaps even the personification of the long-forgotten God of Space and Time. Or maybe you're something entirely else that I’m unable to possibly fathom. You showed me that there is much about this world that I’ve yet to understand... I hope you'll forgive me.⌋

⌈Oi, oi. Hold on for just a second there. Isn’t this what they call ‘stalking’?⌋

⌈N-No… I’m just fascinated is all. A-Also p-please, don’t butcher my little Luna for clothes..⌋

She hugged her baby Wyvern tightly and looked at me deep into my eyes as if she was begging for me to spare its life. What’s this? The ice, or rather, the void queen somehow became insanely cute!? In such a short period too? 

⌈B-But.. why were you so hostile against me? What suddenly changed?⌋

⌈Nothing.. Please forget about it…⌋

She ran off…

I don’t understand women. I don’t understand women at all…

We made our way back to the inn, dropping Brigid off at the smith. Once again I paid our lodging, not that I really mind. I have money to spare anyway, and Seth’s been really helpful so far.

I was pretty shocked once I saw that Grace and Lumi were staying on the room opposite to us, but I tried not to care too much. It’s not like I could see through the walls even if I tried. And besides, ever since the grand speech about me, Lumi's been actively avoiding eye contact.

As I laid down on the bed, my mind was clouded by the event’s that took place today. What an amazing day that was. I finally lost my hard fought battle against fatigue and fell asleep in the dusty inn room. Not in my wildest dreams could I have ever imagined a world like this! Oh… right.