That time a War Photographer was reincarnated as a Slime

Chapter 3: Veldora

It was the summer of 1961. Satoru sat on his bed as he read a children’s book that his dad gave him after he returned home last week, an occasion that rarely happens. The book, although very simplified in its wording, was still a challenge for a 6 years old, who has just barely started learning how to read. He skimmed through it, only looking at the pictures in the pages because he had given up on reading those fancy words in them.

Pieces by pieces, he connected everything he saw from the book and created his own story inside of his mind, regardless if it’s true to the actual plot or not. In his imaginary world, he saw the story of a lonely dragon, always sleeping in his castle and sometimes coming out to play with his only friend, a beautiful girl in a pretty dress. Until one day, a horrible person covered in metal clothing which he didn't know what it was, came and took the dragon’s life away, as well as kidnapped his only friend.

Satoru threw the book onto his bed. He was frustrated by its ending, the same ending that he created for himself. Tick, tick, the clock in his room slowly turning as he waited for his mom to finish cooking their lunch. He can even recognize them from here, the aroma of chicken and slight sizzling sound of the frying oil. He guessed that mom is making Karaage, him and his father's favorite food.

He placed his hands on the window frame, looking into the sky to kill time and ease his craze for fried chicken. The sky is very clear today, with the bright shine of the sun and barely any clouds. The summer's sun is always one of his favorite things to look at. It was always so bright and elegant, bringing the feeling of comfort to his mind. While watching the sun smile at him, he noticed something in the sky, flying through the air like a bird, but it was a lot bigger than one.

Knock! Knock!

He turned around because of the sound and saw his dad in his room, knocking his hand onto the already opened door.

“Dinner is ready Satoru, your mother made your favorite dish today. So come down quick before the chicken get soggy”

“One minute papa, I think I saw something strange in the sky, it could be a dragon!”

“A dragon? Oh let me see it too”

His dad walked to his bed and sat down with him. He raised his head into the sky and followed where Satoru's finger was pointing at.

“What is it papa? Is it a dragon? It’s too big to be a bird, so it must be, right?”

His dad didn't answer his question, he just kept looking at the thing in his view. What he saw was entirely different from what Satoru was imagining, the thing that was flying was not a bird or a dragon, but a Japanese military aircraft. He continued watching it until it completely vanished into the blue sky, at that point he finally turned back to his son, whose eyes were filled with eagerness as he waited for the answer from the person who he thought always knew everything in the world

“What was it papa?”

“Oh, your guess was correct, Satoru, it was a dragon!”

“A dragon?!? Like the one in this book?”

“Yes, Just like in this book, and I heard that if you see one, you get one wish!” He said while swinging his arms to the side to make it seem like a big deal.

“A wish?!?”

“Uh, but you have to be quick, otherwise the wish will lose its effect”

“Ah…um”

Satoru scratched his head as he tried his best to think of something worthwhile to wish for. He at first wanted a bike like the one of the kids living opposite to their home, but he didn't know how to ride one so he immediately discarded that. He then thought of wishing for mochi cake but his mom already promised him that she will buy him some if he is obedient. After a minute of heavy thinking, Satoru's face lit up like he just saw candy and proudly told his wish to his dad.