His plan was simple: trick the adventurers into thinking he was a young villager who had followed them to help defeat the monster.
Once outside the cave, Leo shifted back into his human form—slightly younger than before. Without wasting a second, he hurried toward the entrance.
Although he couldn't sense the adventurers, he figured they hadn't ventured too deep yet.
When he reached the area above the entrance, he quietly dropped down, landing with a soft thud. A grin spread across his face as he slipped back into the cave, his plan unfolding just as he'd hoped.
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
Frederica, walking behind Carl and Rick, suddenly halted and placed her hands on their shoulders, signaling them to stop.
Carl and Rick exchanged confused glances, but Frederica raised a finger to her lips, urging them to stay quiet.
"Ssh. Did you hear that?" she whispered.
The two swordsmen immediately sharpened their senses, and soon enough, they all heard it—the faint sound of footsteps behind them.
Though soft, the rhythm was unmistakably human.
They froze, weapons ready, prepared for whatever might come next. They didn't want to be caught off guard.
"Ah… Hi…" A young boy suddenly appeared, offering a sheepish smile as he scratched his head nervously.
The three adventurers remained cautious. Frederica was the first to speak, her tone steady but firm.
"Who are you? Why are you following us?"
"U-Um… Big sister, I'm one of the kids from the village… I came to avenge my parents! Wuwuwu!" The boy stammered, his voice breaking as tears welled up in his eyes.
Seeing him break down like that, the adventurers couldn't help but soften a little. Frederica stepped forward, gently pulling him into a hug. They weren't keen on taking him along, but the thought of leaving him to wander back alone in such a dangerous place felt wrong.
"Alright." Frederica said with a sigh, "how about you stick with us? It's not safe for a child to be out here on their own."
Carl and Rick exchanged wary looks but didn't argue. With no better option, they reluctantly agreed.
As the group ventured deeper into the cave, Leo, still disguised as the young boy, quietly walked between Rick and Carl. Frederica led the way, completely unaware of the growing tension that was beginning to fill the air.
"So, boy." Rick started, trying to ease the unease that was creeping in. "You sure you're okay coming with us? This place can get pretty dangerous."
"I'll be fine. I just… I want to help. For my parents." Leo answered, glancing up at Rick with a nervous but innocent smile.
"Don't worry, we'll keep you safe. Just stick close." Frederica slowed her pace slightly and turned her head to offer Leo a reassuring smile.
"Thank you, big sister." Leo said softly, his voice quivering as if he were on the verge of tears.
But inside, Leo's mind was already working, calculating. This was the perfect moment.
With every step, he inched closer to Frederica. As if by accident, his hand brushed against her arm.
"Oops! Sorry!" Leo quickly apologized, flashing a sheepish grin. But the brief touch was all he needed to deliver the weak dose of Paralysis Poison. Frederica didn't notice at first, but a subtle tingling began to spread through her body.
Leo glanced at Rick and Carl, his thoughts already moving to the next phase of his plan.
"You alright, Frederica?" Carl asked, noticing her sudden hesitation.
"I'm fine." She replied, though her voice had a slight uncertainty to it. She tried to shake off the feeling, dismissing it as fatigue. But Leo knew the poison was beginning to take effect.
"Stay close." Rick reminded Leo, his gaze lingering on the boy as they kept walking. Leo smiled and nodded, but his next move was already in motion. He purposely stumbled, falling into both Rick and Carl at the same time. His hands brushed against their skin.
"Sorry!" Leo quickly apologized, pretending to be embarrassed. But with that touch, the stronger dose of Paralysis Poison spread through their bodies. Carl and Rick immediately felt a wave of numbness wash over them.
"What… what's happening…?" Carl stammered, his sword slipping from his grip as his arms grew heavy. Rick tried to speak, but his muscles refused to cooperate.
Frederica, now feeling the poison fully taking hold, struggled to turn around.
"You… what are you doing?" she asked, her voice weak, confusion evident in her eyes.
"Sorry, big sister." Leo's innocent expression melted away, replaced by a dark grin.
"No… You… you—" Frederica's eyes widened in shock.
Without wasting another second, Leo leapt forward, shifting into his true slime form. Rick and Carl, paralyzed by the poison, could only watch in horror as Leo's grotesque body engulfed them.
"Run!" Carl managed to shout, his voice full of panic. But it was too late. Leo devoured them both in one swift motion, their screams silenced as they were consumed by the slime's writhing mass.
Frederica, tears streaming down her face, collapsed to the ground in disbelief.
"Sleep tight, Frederica. It's just a bad dream." Leo murmured, now fully fed and brimming with power. His voice carried a cold satisfaction as he loomed over her, a twisted grin spreading across his face.
And then, Frederica's vision blurred, and darkness took over.
[Job Skill [Job - Swordsman] has been acquired.]
[Combat Art Skill [Slash] has been acquired.]
[Combat Art Skill [Stab] has been acquired.]
[Combat Art Skill [Rush] has been acquired.]
[Combat Art Skill [Parry] has been acquired.]
[Trait [One-Handed Sword Proficiency] has been acquired.]
[Common Skill [Enhanced Slashing Power] has been acquired.]
[Common Skill [Enhanced Piercing Power] has been acquired.]
[Common Skill [Enhanced Magic Power] has been acquired.]
"Interesting. Another new type of skill." Leo muttered, examining his freshly acquired Combat Art Skills. Slash and Stab were straightforward, boosting his damage for slashing and piercing attacks. Rush let him unleash a flurry of slashes, and Parry increased his chances of deflecting enemy blows.
On top of that, he'd gained the abilities from the swords Rick and Carl had used, further enhancing his slashing and piercing power.
After devouring Rick and Carl, Leo shifted back to his human form and hoisted Frederica over his shoulder. For now, he wasn't planning on doing anything to her—he'd wait until she woke up.
He felt a rush of excitement. Playing the villain was something he'd never expected to enjoy so much.
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
Morning light filtered softly into the room, gently rousing Frederica from her sleep. She stretched and yawned, blinking as her eyes adjusted to the unfamiliar surroundings.
"Hoamm... Where am I?" she mumbled, sitting up in bed. Her gaze wandered around the room, and her heart skipped a beat when she realized Carl and Rick were nowhere to be found.
Just then, the door creaked open, and a young man entered, carrying a tray of food. He looked familiar—too familiar.
"Good morning, Frederica." He said with a warm smile, walking toward her. Her eyes narrowed as memories came rushing back. Though Leo had taken a different form before, she could still recognize him.
"You!" she gasped, her voice trembling with fear. Her hand instinctively reached for her staff, but it wasn't there.
"Don't bother." Leo said calmly, noticing her panic. "I've confiscated your staff and drained your mana. There's no escaping, so you might as well eat before the food gets cold." He set the tray down on the table beside her bed, his tone casual—as if they were having an ordinary conversation.
Of course, Leo had lied about one thing. He hadn't actually taken her staff—he'd eaten it.
Frederica's chest tightened with a rush of anger, but before she could speak, Leo cut her off.
"Also." He continued, his smile unwavering, "sorry about your friends. But you did attack me first, right?" He tilted his head slightly, watching her reaction with an unsettling calm.
Frederica stared at Leo, her breath catching in her throat. Her mind raced, the memories of the cave, the paralysis, and the horrifying sight of Leo devouring Carl and Rick flashing before her eyes. She should've been furious—desperate to escape—but something else stirred within her, something she couldn't quite place.
"Why… Why did you do it?" she asked softly, her voice lacking the fury she'd expected. Instead, it trembled with something else—uncertainty.
Leo met her gaze, his expression as composed as ever. "I told you." He said, sitting down on the edge of the bed. "You and your friends attacked me first. I didn't have much of a choice, you know?"
Frederica's chest tightened. She had barely known Carl and Rick. They weren't much more than hired swords, companions by necessity rather than choice. They'd traveled together because she needed protection, not because they were friends. Truth be told, they'd often caused more trouble than they were worth.
"Haa… forget it." Frederica sighed, trying to calm herself. "You didn't mean to kill me, right? So… Can you let me go?" She wasn't about to let herself get worked up over this—she was still alive, which meant Leo wasn't planning to end her life, at least not yet.
"I'm afraid I can't do that." Leo replied, his gaze flickering briefly down toward her chest. Ahem. Her tank top didn't help the situation—things were… noticeable.
"You!" Frederica shouted, her face flushing bright red as she quickly crossed her arms over her chest.
Leo cleared his throat and quickly looked away. "Ahem. Like I said, you'll either stay here unconscious for a while, or come with me when I leave. I can't just let you go."
His reason wasn't what she thought. He wasn't keeping her captive for anything untoward—it was part of his plan to lure more adventurers to boost his [Chaos Order] skill.
"Ugh, fine." Frederica groaned, knowing she didn't have much of a choice. It was smarter to play along for now. Maybe she'd find a way to escape later—or at least figure out his weakness.
"Well, go ahead and eat." Leo added.
"And by the way, I'm Leo." He gave her a small nod and then left the room. The food he'd prepared wasn't half bad, thanks to his [Job - Cook] skill.
Once Leo was gone, Frederica sighed again. She started eating reluctantly, but she figured it probably wasn't poisoned. If he wanted her dead, he could've just killed her while she was unconscious. As for Rick and Carl… all she could do was offer a silent prayer for their souls.
"Wait… isn't he a slime? How is he talking like a human and acting so… normal?" Frederica muttered, her eyes widening as the realization hit her. This didn't make sense. Slimes weren't supposed to be this intelligent. They just ate, slept, and… well, existed. So what exactly was Leo? Her curiosity grew, and she couldn't help but wonder what kind of creature he really was.
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
"Kuuderun?" Frederica blinked, a bit stunned. Leo wanted to go into the Kuuderun Great Forest? That place was crawling with monsters of all levels. But it wasn't the regular creatures that worried her—it was the Lord of the Mountain, the Red Bear, that sent a chill down her spine.
"Yeah. Want to come along?" Leo asked with a charming smile. "But I still won't let you use your magic."
"Don't worry. I'll protect you." Leo's tone was casual, but there was something else behind his words—an agenda, something more than just kindness.
He didn't want to help her out of the goodness of his heart—there was a reason. Leo wanted Frederica to join his party, to become his supporter. Sure, she was weak now, but Leo knew he could make her stronger.
It wasn't like he actually needed companions. But if his instincts were right, this world was full of heroes, and eventually, they'd come after him simply because he was a monster. If he was going to face all those heroes, he'd need powerful subordinates.
And honestly? He preferred female companions. The true nature of the Black Ooze was reproduction, so having male companions didn't exactly appeal to him. Better to surround himself with strong, capable women.
"W-What happens if I don't go with you?" Frederica's voice trembled as she hesitated. She didn't want to go, but something told her Leo wouldn't just let her stay behind in this cave to escape.
"Hehe. Well, I'll just put you to sleep until I get back." Leo chuckled, flashing an unsettling grin.
The look on his face told her he wasn't kidding.
"Umm… fine, I'll go with you." Frederica stammered, beads of sweat forming on her brow as she nervously started walking toward the entrance of the cave.
Leo, still grinning, followed behind, clearly enjoying her anxious expression.
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
The Kuuderun Great Forest wasn't far from the cave. To get a sense of where they were, imagine this: to the west of the cave lay the Fonteau Magic Kingdom. The cave and the nearby forest weren't technically part of the Kuuderun Great Forest, but they were right on the edge.
North of the cave was the actual Kuuderun Great Forest, and to the east of it, you'd find the Sternbild Kingdom, with the Kirika Empire further up.
Leo had two main reasons for wanting to venture into Kuuderun. First, he wanted to consume the monsters there. Second, he was curious about Rou, the protagonist from Re:Monster. He wanted to know if Rou had been born yet.
Leo wasn't interested in taking out Kichi or any of the other future strong companions. His goal was to devour Rou once he reached his peak form and gain even more powerful skills. Leo knew it might be risky, but he wasn't worried about Rou. If he lost, it would only mean he'd been foolish, especially after all the advantages he'd gained.