You stop at the edge of the clearing.
Not because something tells you to be dramatic or anything. You just suddenly realize something really, really important.
Wait. How do I talk?
It's such a simple thing that you completely forgot about it until now. You've been so busy figuring out how to move and see and not get eaten that you never once tried to actually speak.
Crap.
Ahead of you, Rimuru is chatting with a group of goblins. They're laughing at something he said, looking way more relaxed than you'd expect. they are Less desperate and Healthy somehow.
Whatever he's been doing, it's working.
But that doesn't help your current problem.
Okay, think. In the novel, Rimuru could talk pretty early on, right? So there's got to be a way.
"Archivist," you think quickly. "Can I speak? Like, actually make sounds?"
"Affirmative. Vocalization possible through controlled magicule vibration.""Suggestion: initiate with minimal output to avoid startling nearby entities."
Right. Start small. Don't freak anyone out.
You can do this.
Probably.
You slide forward just enough to be noticeable.
The reaction is immediate.
Every goblin in the clearing goes tense. Weapons come up—spears, clubs, even a rusty sword. The easy atmosphere from a moment ago vanishes completely.
Oh no.
Rimuru turns toward you, and you feel his attention focus on you like a spotlight. It's not hostile, though. More like... curious?
"Oh?" he says, and his voice is way more casual than you expected. "Another slime?"
He sounds almost pleased.
That's good, right? That's probably good.
You force yourself to try speaking.
"H-Hi."
It comes out weird—kind of flat and echoey, like you're talking through water—but it's definitely a word. You actually said something.
One of the goblins mutters, "It talks?"
Another one tightens his grip on his spear. "Is that normal?"
"Hey, hey, calm down," Rimuru says, and something in his tone makes them all relax slightly. "He doesn't seem dangerous or anything."
He floats closer—actually closer, until he's only a few feet away.
Up close, the difference between you is obvious. His magicules flow smoothly, evenly, like he's had time to figure everything out. Yours are still kind of a mess in comparison, fluctuating whenever you move.
He's way more put-together than I am.
"Can you understand what I'm saying?" Rimuru asks.
"Y-Yes," you answer quickly, worried that hesitating might seem suspicious. "I can understand you."
"Oh, that's great!" He sounds genuinely happy about that. "I'm Rimuru. Rimuru Tempest."
And there it is.
The name you read dozens of times. The character you thought was just... a character.
Except he's right here. Real. Talking to you.
This is so weird.
"I'm..." You hesitate for just a second. Your old name feels strange now, like it belongs to someone who doesn't exist anymore. But you're not going to pretend that person never mattered. "Ryomen. Ryomen Akatsura."
Rimuru tilts slightly—you think that's the slime equivalent of tilting his head. "Huh. That's kind of a formal name."
"I'm, uh... not really from around here."
He laughs. "Yeah, I figured that much."
The goblins are still watching carefully, but they've lowered their weapons at least.
Rimuru starts circling you slowly, and you copy the movement without really thinking about it. It's not threatening—more like he's trying to figure you out.
"So how long have you been awake?" he asks. "Like, as a slime, I mean."
"Not long." You try to think back. "I woke up after something big happened. There was a lot of residual magic everywhere."
"Ah." Rimuru sounds like he understands something. "Yeah, that makes sense. There was kind of a big fight recently."
The Charybdis battle. It has to be.
There's an awkward pause.
You realize you should probably ask something too, but your mind blanks.
"So..." you try, "this is the Jura Forest, right?"
Rimuru stops moving.
You feel his attention sharpen on you again.
"...Yeah," he says slowly. "It is. How'd you know that?"
Oh crap. That was stupid.
"I—I just heard rumors," you say quickly. "Before. When I was... you know. Human."
There's a beat of silence.
"Wait, you were human too?"
Too?
Relief floods through you. "Yeah. I was."
"Huh." Rimuru's tone shifts, becoming more interested. "Well, that's a coincidence."
It's really not.
But you're not about to explain that part.
Rimuru studies you for another moment, then seems to come to some kind of decision. "Well, if you can talk and you're not trying to eat anyone, that's good enough for me. You hungry?"
The question catches you completely off guard.
"I... don't actually know?"
He laughs again. It's such an easy sound. Natural. "Fair enough. Slime bodies are weird like that."
One of the goblins—the older one with the wolf pelt—clears his throat. "Lord Rimuru, should we be concerned about—"
"Nah, it's fine," Rimuru interrupts casually. "I'll take responsibility for him."
I'll take responsibility.
Something in your core clenches at those words.
When was the last time someone said something like that about you? When was the last time someone decided you were worth the trouble?
You can't remember.
Rimuru turns back to you like it's no big deal. "If you want, you can come back to the village with us. I mean, it beats wandering around the forest alone, right? Plus, there's other monsters there. Might be easier to figure things out with help."
Your thoughts are racing.
This feels too easy. Way too easy. Stories always made it look simple, but this is—
Except Rimuru isn't offering you some grand destiny or whatever. He's just... being decent. Practical.
"...Thank you," you manage to say.
"Don't mention it." He waves it off like it's nothing. "Oh, right—can you see? Like, do you have the perception thing figured out?"
"Sort of? I learned recently. It's still kind of rough."
"Nice! Took me a bit to get the hang of it too." He actually sounds impressed. "You're picking things up pretty fast."
That makes you feel weirdly proud.
As the group starts moving, you naturally fall into step beside Rimuru. Not because you're scared—well, maybe a little—but more because it feels right, somehow.
The goblins have completely relaxed now. A few of them are even curious, asking Rimuru quiet questions about you that you pretend not to hear.
Nobody attacks you.
Nobody looks at you like you're a problem.
When the village comes into view, you stop for a moment.
It's... busy. Really busy. Goblins are hauling lumber. A group of what look like dwarves are arguing about measurements. Kids—actual monster children—are running around playing some kind of game. Guards are posted, but they look bored, not tense.
It's alive.
"First time seeing something like this?" Rimuru asks, noticing you've gone still.
"Yeah," you admit.
"You'll get used to it." He says it so casually, like it's a given that you'll be staying.
As you enter the village properly, your perception stretches out, taking it all in. The structures are rough but functional. Everyone has something to do. There's noise and chaos, but it's the good kind—the kind that comes from people actually living.
You don't say it out loud.
But you think it clearly.
Maybe I could stay here.
And for the first time in two lives, you're not alone.