Banished from the herd, I was actually a member of a very rare species. ~With the unique skills that only I can use, I can grow and evolve quickly. I will become an unrivaled monster~ - Episode 20: Swimming

Episode 20: Swimming

Power surged from deep within me, signaling the Hamo’s demise.

“(Well, it’s good that I defeated him, but the problem is…)”

Looking at the Hamo, I saw its body floating near the center of the spring. 

I’d love to eat it, but I have no way to get over there. 

…No, if I don’t have a way, I just need to learn one. 

With my [Unique Skill], it should be possible.

“(Alright, I’m going to acquire a [Skill] for swimming right here!)”

Back in elementary school, I attended a local swimming school. It should be easier to acquire than other [Skills].

“Slasla.”

I started with some warm-up exercises. Thanks to the [Dance] skill I had somehow acquired, I could move with precision.

Then I approached the water’s edge and splashed some water on myself.

Finally, I stepped into the spring.

“Slaa.”

I spread my body out like a kickboard and flopped onto the water’s surface.

Splash.

I sank. Buoyancy didn’t do its job.

“(Damn, I’m too heavy!)”

I hurried back to the shore.

Phew, that was close—I almost drowned… Huh?

Now that I think about it, I didn’t feel out of breath.

Looking back, I was fine even when I got caught in the Hamo’s whirlpool.

“(Could it be that slimes don’t need to breathe…?)”

Though I don’t fully understand a slime’s biology, I’ve never consciously breathed before.

Maybe…

Splash.

Cautiously, I re-entered the water.

Gradually, I submerged my body until I was fully immersed.

I’m still not feeling short of breath.

I continued to dive for a while, but I didn’t feel any lack of oxygen.

It seems… this is confirmed.

Slimes can live without breathing.

“(Alright, even if I can’t swim, I can still eat the Hamo.)”

Feeling triumphant, I ventured deeper into the spring.

However, the water near the center was too deep for my whip to reach the Hamo on the surface.

Damn it…

―――Non-Notification Information Recording Zone―――――――――――――

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>> Fuwa Katsu {Jewel Weapon Slime} has acquired the [Skill: Swimming].

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“(Phew, swimming feels great.)”

After rigorous training, I learned [Swimming] and devoured both the Hamo and the two deer.

I was amazed by the [Food Storage]’s capacity to swallow three Greater Beasts.

Having finished my meal, I’m now exercising post-meal.

Namely, swimming.

It seems there are no longer any beasts in this spring that pose a threat, so I can swim freely.

By the way, I adopted a balloon method for swimming.

I made my body spherical and filled it with air.

Combined with the [Swimming] enhancement, I can swim quite freely.

Well, being in balloon form makes me feel like there’s something foreign inside me, but I’ll bear with it.

“(Alright, this seems like a good spot.)”

Having enjoyed enough swimming, I got out of the water.

The location was on the opposite side of where I first fought the Hamo.

Since I could move across the water, I decided to cut straight through the center.

The |Mana| concentration doesn’t seem much different, so I’m not sure if it was worth it.

“(Alright, time to resume exploring.)”

It was midday. There was still plenty of time before sunset to hunt more prey.

If things go well, I might be able to {Evolve} again.

So I proceeded deeper into the forest.

Heading towards the direction where the |Mana| concentration was thicker.

Just in case, I used [Stealth] to avoid encounters with something like that big bear from before.

“(I can’t find anything…)”

Well, just walking a little won’t help me find prey.

The forest’s scenery was monotonous wherever I went.

Trees, trees, bushes. Trees, herbs, fleeing small animals. Trees, an old man, trees… Huh? An old man?

“(Why is there an old man here?!)”

I instinctively did a double-take.

It wasn’t a mistake. It was real. An actual old man was wandering the forest.

His brown hair was streaked with white, and his skin was full of wrinkles.

His limbs were thin like chopsticks—no matter how you looked at him, he was an old man.

“(Did he get lost…?)”

His clothes were plain and just made of simple fabric, so that seemed to be the only explanation.

The people I see in the forest are usually clad in armor or robes, wielding swords or staffs. But none of that applied to this old man.

He must have been lucky to avoid encountering any monsters until now. But if that old man runs into a monster, he won’t stand a chance. 

And he’s heading deeper into the forest, towards the area where the |Mana| concentration is higher. 

If I don’t stop him, he’ll soon become a monster’s prey.

“(But… revealing myself in front of a human…)”

If he sees me and spreads the word that there’s a monster with a lot of <Soul Fragments>, a bunch of humans might come hunting for me.

Given how humans gather information, it wouldn’t be surprising if they already know about Jewel Slimes.

—So, the smart thing to do here is to leave him.

“(…No, there’s no way I can just abandon him in this situation)!”

I shook my head, dismissing the weak thoughts that had crossed my mind.

I decided to become as strong as that Forest Turtle I saw that day.

Someone like that hesitating to act just because they’re “afraid of being targeted by humans” would be laughable.

Even if humans swarm after me, I should be determined enough to escape without a scratch!

Resolving myself, I moved to step in front of the old man.

But just then, I stepped on a fallen branch, making a noise.

The old man turned to face me.

“Hoho, a higher species of Jewel Slime, is it? Living long sure brings interesting sights.”

—This is bad.

The moment our eyes met, every cell in my body screamed in alarm.

Instinctively, I activated [Escape].

Using [Escape], [Jump], [Climbing]… before I knew it, [Evasion] had also triggered.

“[Pervade Fist].”

It felt light.

The old man had somehow gotten behind me and touched me with a barely noticeable force.

“(Ka…ha…!?)”

The impact hit a beat later.

It was similar to when the big bear hit me, but much, much more intense.

With a sensation like my body was exploding from within, the scenery around me blurred as I was sent flying backward.

Or rather, I was sent flying at an incredible speed.

“([Lightning Strike]!)”

In the pain-hazed blur of my consciousness, I activated my [Unique Skill].

To blind and prevent pursuit, I continuously shot out a column of lightning.

The lightning wasn’t thick, so it could easily be avoided by simply moving slightly to the side.

But the situation was dire enough that even that brief moment was desperately needed.

“[Jump]! [Compact Whip]! [Compact Whip]! [Jump]!”

I leaped diagonally upwards, wrapped a whip around a branch, and forcefully pulled myself forward.

Sometimes I would stick to the trunk and then jump horizontally from there.

Anyway, speed was all I needed.

I used every possible method to escape, to put as much distance between us as quickly as possible.

Eventually, when my body was too exhausted to move and I hid behind a tree, I realized I had long since shaken off the old man.

―――Non-Notification Information Recording Zone―――――――――――――

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>> Fuwa Katsu {Jewel Weapon Slime} has acquired the [Skill: Flee]. [Escape] has been  integrated.

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(Note: There is side story for this chapter that you can buy using coins or membership).