Manas: Veldanava (ON HOLD)

Chapter 5: The Choice Between Life And Death

Rimuru POV

A week has passed since I swallowed Ifrit. During that time, Shizu was still unconscious and was currently lying on a bed in my tent. Meanwhile, the 3 adventurers had to leave as they had to report back to their guildmaster.

However, as their attire was ruined due to the battle with the salamander, I commissioned the dwarves to craft brand-new clothing and armor for them. They thanked me before heading back to Blumund, leaving Shizu in my care.

As I sat beside her, she finally woke up.

Shizue: "Is this...? Oh. I...apologize." Despite her transformation, she still retained all her memories.

Shizue: "I was dreaming," she told me. 

Shizue: "Dreaming about the past. The city I lived in... A place I can never return to."

Rimuru: 'Japan?'

Shizue: "Tell me, slime. What is your name?" Hmm. Maybe her sudden elderliness was affecting her memory after all. I knew I had introduced myself in her presence.

//Maybe she wants to know your previous name.\\

Previous name? Does that mean-

//Yes, she probably knows that you're an otherworlder.\\

I see. So that's why she laughed at my reference; she understood it.

Rimuru: "In this world, it's Rimuru. However, in my previous world, it was Satoru Mikami." I decided to tell her.

Shizue: "Ah. From my land, are you...? I had thought you might be. I sensed it from you." She fell silent for a moment. 

Shizue: "I had heard from my students, as well. The city's much better now? Prettier? The last time I was there, there was nothing but fire all around me."

Rimuru: "Yeah. I could show you, if you'd like." I used [Thought Communication] to do exactly that. Fairly useful thing to have at a time like this. I liked it.

Shizue: "Ahh..." The sight made Shizu shed a tear.

Shizue: "Listen, slime...or I should say Satoru, I suppose. I have a request for you. Would you mind listening to it?"

Rimuru: "What kind of request?" Nothing particularly doable, I was sure. But I did promise to take care of her to the end. She deserved to be heard out.

Shizue: "I want you to eat me..."

Rimuru: 'Um? What did this old lady just say?'

//Oh?\\

Shizue: "You consumed the curse...that was placed on me, did you not...? I'm so glad to be rid of it..." Her voice grew quiet.

Shizue: "I wish I had the chance—I doubt I could've ever done it, but I wish I could've had the chance to confront the person who placed it on me, one more time... So I have just one request for you—would you let me sleep inside you?" Something about her eyes, the resolve that she just couldn't relinquish, grabbed at me. It seemed so absurd, so cruel...

Shizue: "I have to tell you—I have nothing but spite for this world. But I couldn't bring myself to hate it, still. It's the same as how I feel toward that man...perhaps I can't help but think of him when I look around me. That's why I... I don't want to be taken into the earth here. So please... I was hoping you could eat me instead..." Hmm, eating her could be beneficial for me, even if it will make face the despair and hatred inside of her. However...

Rimuru: "You don't have to die, you know?" I told her, causing her to widen her eyes slightly.

Shizue: "What...do you mean?"