"I honestly don't know about that."
"Unyu...?"
Instead of telling one lie after another, I decided to come out clean for once. Otherwise, I would be digging my own grave. Plus, with the honestly innocent expression that Lelah-San was absolving my errors with her own hit and trial guesses, was heart-wrenching. It felt wrong to take advantage of a pure-hearted girl like her.
"Maybe it's a different type of curse that has affected you. (Sigh I really feel sorry for him. Got memory-curse, got robbed and now he has to start everything from the beginning. But still Lvl 0)"
"Lelah-San, Lelah-San..." I tried calling her as eyes were starring blankly into me with a solemn expression of sympathy.
"Muuu...Sorry I was thinking about somethings. Why don't you go and hunt some slimes? If you kill around 20-30 of them, your level must increase by 1. The kids who start training at an early age always go for slimes first."
"Nice. Where can I find some slimes?"
"You can go to Balkan Forest. The slimes usually appear in Pelside forest in large numbers but their numbers have been dwindling there. Perhaps, because they were tired of getting killed by adventurers and decided to go to the dangerous territory."
"Dangerous territory?"
"Balkan Forest is the land of Elves. And they hate humans more than anything else in the world. Bolguna Knights were at war with them, but because they wanted to end the bloodshed they abandoned the outer areas and made residence in the Balkan Forest. If any human goes there, there's less than a 1% chance of him coming out alive. Now, that I see it, was it really a good idea to ask you to go there?"
"Don't worry. I will just wander around the outskirts. I think I will find some slimes there."
I was basing this on the knowledge of the game that I have acquired online. Supposedly slimes were the most battled enemies in this world. Though I wonder why? because from the info that Lilah-San provided me, their numbers should be less. Whatever...
I reached the outskirts of Balkan Forest. Lelah-San sent me off with a dagger too as I didn't have enough level to get one of the swords which at least requires Lvl 1. This rusty old dagger was the only weapon that didn't have a Lvl requirement. But I took it thinking it would be enough to damage some weak slimes.
If I knew what would happen to me later, I would have never left with such a puny weapon. I even made the mistake of not asking Lelah-San about the strange ability of mine, which had surprised even her. Didn't I went to Adventure Guild for asking about that in the first place? Whatever, I was here now.
After scouting the area for a bit, I found nothing in the name of enemies. At this rate, my progress would be nothing. In such a sorry state if some key event took place like an unexpected boss battle I would have to say my second life goodbye too. And I don't think after dying here, I would simply return to my original world. In best case scenario I could be in a comma and that too was a fate that I didn't want.
So grasping my dagger, I decided to do a very foolish thing that also made me seem brave. But a great person has rightly said "Some risks are acts of bravery but others are acts of foolishness! Wisdom is knowing the difference between bravery and brainlessness! Only a fool tests the depth of the water with both feet."
I entered the Balkan Forest. I thought that just going a few meters inside wouldn't harm anybody. Even if Elves attack me, I could say that I came here accidentally. Ofc, I was leaving it all to the luck, but say it desperation to do something or my stupidity to think that this world based on the videogame would not send me into dire situations at the first level itself.
Balkan Forest looks luminous and rich with lush green leaves. Its canopy was dominated by varied fruits of striking color and sufficient twinkling lights burst through their crowns for a mishmash of herbs to burst from the thick layer of leaves below.
Silent tree limbs grasped every tree, and a range of flowers adorned the already emerald terrain.
A discord of sounds echoed in the air and was strangely synchronized with the swaying of treetops in the wind.
I decided to go to the source of the sound and found a slime. I saw a few jelly-like beings with tentacles protruding out of their body heading towards me. One, two, three...Seven. There was a total of seven slimes.
Enemy: Slime
HP: 10
Drops: (Normal) Slimeball
(Rare) Slime nucleus
Slimeball: Used as evidence for eliminating the slime. Guilds usually pay 1-2 G for them.
Slime Nucleus: Can be used as catalyst for various potions. Selling value depends on the region.
Usually, it's something around 5-10 G.
I had a rusted dagger with me.
Item: Rusted Dagger
Attack: +1
Selling Price: 0-1 G
Will this weapon really work? I was having my doubts.
Humph! They are fucking slimes. I'll easily take them all out in a matter of seconds.
"Hiiiiyaahhhhhhh" I ran towards the closest one while pointing the dagger at him.
"IIIIIIEEEEEEEEE...someone help me."
I screamed at the top of my lungs as I was running away. I wasn't able to flinch an ounce of damage at them. Was my own attack at 0 that addition of +1 via the dagger amounted to nothing.
I thought nothing but ran. Despite that slimy crawling body, those beings were pursuing me with everything they have got. What kind of shitty luck is this? I got summoned to another world, received a power that seems suitable for a porn game protagonist, and now I am about to be killed by the slimes - The weakest enemy in any RPG.
I didn't even want to think about the worst-case scenario. I was a boy full of hormones so I have played some rapeges where the slimes raped the female knights quite vigorously when she lost. What if they decided to do the same thing with me despite me being male. Aren't slimes sexually neutral beings?
EEEKKKKK...
There was no gain in the difference of distance between me and the slimes. In fact, they have bridged the game somewhat. My stamina was slowly fading away. If only I had spent some time on the field instead of playing Cyber Athletics 2012 on my PC, I would have been in better shape. The concept of Stamina didn't seem to matter for those yucky beings. They were chasing me at a constant pace.
I didn't know how deep I have arrived in the forest.
I just understood that I.Was.Fucked!
Running as far as I could, I traveled a considerable distance until I couldn't fathom the direction, from where I came, anymore.
And lo! A slanted vine near one of the large trees blocked my path and I fell down with a thud!
"EEEEE"
I was scared shitless. The slimes have cornered me and were approaching me. The way that I fell had sprained my ankles and I tripped when I tried to run again.
So this was it, this is how I die.
What was even the purpose of teleporting me here?
10, 9, 8, I count the seconds to my doom.
3, 2, 1 The slimes raised their tentacles at the same time and those slimy arms of their approached me.
Swoosh!
I had closed my eyes so that I couldn't see my death with my own eyes but something just brushed past me.
Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!
Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!
Something brushed past me seven times. As nothing sort of tentacle touched my skin, I slowly opened my eyes and saw that the slimes have been slaughtered. They were slowly melting into the soil and dropped somethings in return.
Slimeball X 5
Slime Nucleus X 2
"Stand up Human and face me"
I heard a female voice from my back.
Is she my savior? I slowly turned back to see...
Blonde, wavy hair hanged over a round, lived-in face. Dancing sapphire eyes, set delicately within their sockets, watch loyally me and I become enchanted within seconds. A girl with pointed ears stood gracefully in a battle-ready position on the top of a tree. Despite her delicate frame, she didn't seem weak. There's something enigmatic about her. It's perhaps the aura of her bravery that engulfs my gaze.
Her green dress leaves the top of her shoulders uncovered, but does cover the sides and flows down into a tasteful sweetheart neckline. It's a close fit that adds to the grace and elegance of the dress. To top it all off she's wearing a black bow in her hair and one simple, but elegant bracelet.
Name: Esta Lucan
Age: 113 elven years
HP: 500 MP: 405
Race: Light Elf
Lvl: 41
Abilities: Intermediate Swordsmanship (Lvl 5)
Archery God (Lvl 10)
Special Abilities: Eagle Eyes (Locks onto a target from far away)
Pluvia Saggita (Shoots a large number of arrows from far away)
She was 113 years old and carried a heavy-looking golden bow. But, she look like a loli from her height. She was around 143 cm tall.
"Human, I asked you something. What are you doing here?"
But despite the cute appearance of hers, the tone of her voice was full of coldness.
"I accidentally came here by losing my way in the forest."
"Absurd, there's no way that any human who wishes to live would come near 500 diameters of Balkan land."
"As I said, I was being chased by the slimes...hey what the -"
I tried getting close to her tree so that I can let her hear my plight but she suddenly shot an arrow near my feet. If I had taken one more step than a straight hole would have formed in my left foot.
"Stay where you are Human if you wish to live."
"Ok! Okay!"
I raised my hands and took a step back. Her sharp gaze full of doubt and suspicion were still fixed on me.
"State the reason for your intrusion and tell me why, I shouldn't finish you here on the spot."
"Wait, What? Listen I just came here running away from those slimes. You finished them off yourself. What else should I state you like a proof?"
"That explains nothing. What if you have the ability of claivyorence and sensed me from afar, and acted as if you were running away from those slimes?"
(I WISH I HAD AN ABILITY LIKE THAT) I muttered...
"See, I don't have any sort of ability. I am weaker even than those slimes."
"Pathetic. Don't you feel ashamed of your existence human? Have all the people of your kind become like this after pushing us away into the isolated lands?"
Urghh...This kid is getting on my nerves now.
She jumped down from the tree. But still have readied the bow to attack me anytime.
"Come with me to the palace. If you would try to run away I wouldn't think twice before shooting one arrow after other into your pathetic human body."
"Geez. Okay."
It was a weird march after that. This 4-foot loli elf was on my back, taking me somewhere.
"Can I ask you some questions?"
"..."
"Where are you taking me?"
"..."
"What will you make me do?"
"..."
Little brat. Idea!!!
"I can see your panties."
"W-Wha-Where?"
She became flustered. Wait! Girls in this world wear panties?
This was a nice revelation. Something that I should keep in my knowledge bank.
"Human. Make another sick joke like this, and I would butcher you here itself."
"Okay, Okay. By the way, my name isn't Human. It's Ichiri. Full name Nakahide Ichiri. I am 17 years old so I am older than you."
"Should I cut off your tongue human?"
"Geez...Your cute face is going to get spoiled at this rate?"
"C-C-C-Cuteee"
Swoosh!
An arrow just grazed my temple. The impact left goosebumps on my body. This brat is psycho.
"Make fun of me like this and..."
"Yes, Yes you would cut me in a thousand pieces."
"Hmph!"
"Just tell me this. I have the right to know this much. Where are you taking me, Esta?"
"You..." she stopped "How do you know my name?"
"Huh!"
"I asked how do you know my name?"
"Boo...Isn't it on the display screen right here?"
"What display screen?"
"Can't you see this blue screen with various types of information in front of your eyes?"
"Human, I can see nothing. Tell me..." she readied her bow once again "How much do you know?"
Shit! She can't see the status screen. She can't see the status screen.
SHE CAN'T FUCKING SEE THE STATUS SCREEN!
Me and my dumb brain. I should have thought twice before opening my mouth. Ofc in the videogame only the player is able to see the status screen and no one else.
If she wasn't already suspicious of me, she was definitely after my dumb line of replies.
"So my guess was correct, you are a spy."
"No...NO...NOOO"
"Your pathetic screams are only making it more obvious. When you pathetic vermin can't fight in a noble way, you have succumbed to spying on our holy lands."
"You are misun-"
"Shhh!" she clasped my mouth.
Is this the silent threat that murders bestow upon their victims before death? Why is this world so hell-bent on killing me?
But she readied her bow in a different direction. And soon even I can feel something eerie. The winds that were blowing calmly had changed their direction. It was as if something was flapping around. And no soon I thought about this, Esta shot the arrow in a particular direction and a large bird with a pointed beak fell on the ground. It's brown and white striped fur got coated in blood because of Esta's arrow.
"If it was one of the soldiers, they would have surely got killed by you but I saw you from 1 Km away."
What sort of inhumane sight is that?
Are all elves like this?
No. This must be due to her special ability. [Eagle Eyes] was it?
"Hmm...there's a mark on your talon. So you are tamed? Let me see who is your owner."
Esta approached the creature while hanging the bow on her little shoulders.
Enemy: Ibex Eagle (Tamed)
HP: 10 MP: 50
Special Ability: ??? (You need Claivorence to check Special abilities of creatures of rank 5 and above)
But just as Esta put her hands near him, the Ibex Eagle flapped its wings and threw some dirt on Esta's face using its talons. It flapped back and when it has gained a considerable distance, it opened its beak and a shard-like substance begin to form around it with a white light circling it. And then
Screeee!
It shot the shard on Esta who wasn't able to see the approaching danger due to the mud in her eyes. She fell with a thud! on the ground and the Ibex Eagle flew away.
I thought she would get up because her HP was still at 100, wait...
It suddenly turned 99 and again after a few seconds 98...
The fuck was going on here? I approached her and saw that she was panting heavily. Was she poisoned? Did the eagle do a paralysis attack? But if such a thing has happened, then status must have shown me that.
I could only see her HP trickling away. I touched her wrists and felt her pulses were getting slow and the weirdest thing - her body was much colder than liquid Nitrogen itself. Did the eagle hit an ice attack on her?
I looked around to see if I can find someone but there was no one in sight. What was a young girl like her even doing here, in middle of nowhere?
I had to think of something. And I had to think fast. I carried her in a bridal style while running in a random direction. That was the only way. I didn't even have any kind of potion to give her so the best bet was that I stumble upon a person or village or someone who could help me. Her HP had already dropped to 60.
Even after running for 15 minutes, I couldn't find anyone. Sweats had begun to form on my forehead. My arms were getting tired of caring for her. Luckily I saw a cave ahead and took her there.
Her HP had dropped to 30 by this time. She has even closed her eyes.
Think! Think! Think! Think!
Then I remembered something. What if the magic of Ibex Eagle had the same effect on her body as falling in a frozen lake has in my world. If a person falls inside the broken part of the frozen lake and doesn't come out in time, his body begins to lose the temperature and the heartbeat becomes slower until the person passes away.
If the same thing was happening to her, I have an idea. But...
No, I can't do that?
Name: Esta Lucan
HP: 20
I have heard that providing any kind of heat is essential to get the frozen person a chance at life. Because I didn't have any equipment here, I have to rely on the worst possible way.
The only way that I can provide her heat despite having no tools at my disposal.
I MUST HAVE SEX WITH HER.