Slime Tensei Monogatari

Chapter 4 Human And Monster

A short while after leaving the cave, I had come to a place that was located near a road.

In complete contrast to the trackless paths of that forest, here lay gra.s.slands that stretched far and wide, and there lay a single well furbished road that was like a line stretching straight without end through it. This too was something rather typical of a game.

There, now lying hidden in the bushes near this road, were just me and the rest of the slimes. Our numbers were now clearly different from what they’d been before. The reason was simple. On the way here they’d all just advanced at their own convenience towards whatever direction they’d felt like going. Though they called it “hunting” it was not seeming like something they did as a group.

Even now, the slimes that had a.s.sembled here weren’t showing any particular signs of planning a coordinated effort. I now wondered if perhaps they just weren’t smart enough.

I began to get a really bad feeling about this as I held my breath in the thicket. No matter how low their intelligence was they weren’t just gonna rush their prey like this were they?

Something like the absolute weakest monster on the list, , going in without any plans whatsoever on a suicide attack and having any chance of winning at all… was just plain unthinkable.

Or perhaps, since our color and shape is different than what I know of, my knowledge could be flawed and we might be unexpectedly strong monsters?

As I pondered that question with no answer while I waited for a bit…

“Preeyyyy’s, comeee.”

Was what Slime A said to me.

As I thought “Finally”, I followed Slime A’s line of sight and the prey came into view. I became speechless.

The reason: what was there was a group of humans.

When you really think about it, there’s nothing else besides humans at the top spot of what opponents a monster will rush at, is there? I’d unintentionally a.s.sociated the word “hunting” with animals but there was no way that was going to happen. It’s because these things attack humans that they’re called mamono or monsters in the first place.

T/N: I know mamono can also means monster but it’s weird if I translate it to English orz - indra13

And with that, I didn’t feel like taking part in this hunt anymore. There was no way I’d start being willing to kill humans just because I got reincarnated as a slime, nor did I want to.

Besides, as the opponents were human, I didn’t think a slime like me would even be a match for them. The group was outfitted with swords and defensive items and had clearly made arrangements to be ready for battle.

It wouldn’t be so bad if it was a villager without any sort of weapon but, the way I was now I wasn’t even the least bit confident about taking on armed opponents like them. And since it was like that for me even though I’d evolved once, the result was clear as day for the slimes that were below me.

But even with all that, all the other slimes jumped right out from the bushes with absolutely no hesitation at all. Given the present situation, could it be they weren’t just making a dumb move but were actually jumping out on sheer instinct? Even if they were, it was still nothing but suicide.

“Hey, wait a sec!”

I somehow stood in front of Slime A to block his way. No longer having hands or feet, I could only stop him like this.

“Whyyy, stoooppp, meeee?”

The h.e.l.l’s he saying when I’m trying to help him, this b.a.s.t.a.r.d? I managed to hide my irritation.

“Can’t you tell by looking? If you rush in like that you’re just gonna get killed!”

“Soo whaat, iiff I do?”

“Wha……!?”

I was unable to give an immediate response to that. Did this guy have no fear of death at all?

“We sliimeess, attaaack, huumaans. Thaat’s allll.”

With those words, I now understood. What existed in all of them was just an instinct to attack humans. What little intelligence they did have was purely something extra.

Their values, common sense, and just about everything else were way too different for a former human like me.

“I’mm gooiinngg, aheead.”

“Ah, hey!”

Saying that, Slime A then showed me a nimble jump he’d never done before, and leapt right over my head to proceed onwards. Having nothing but a body, the only thing I could do was watch him go.

No, I’m sure I couldn’t have stopped him even if I did actually have limbs. I was just way too different from the rest of them, after all.

Sure enough, the slimes that went forth were steadily getting sliced with swords, burned with magic and having their numbers diminished. I’d experience the same thing if I jumped out from here.

Not wanting to die, I couldn’t do anything but keep hiding in the bushes as I watched the other slimes get exterminated.