Tensura Reaction/Short

Rebirth of the Ultimate Slime(4)

Ryoma stood alongside the Jamil family and a small group of adventurers at the entrance to a dimly lit cave just outside the city. The cave was rumored to have become a den for a growing number of dangerous monsters, and the group's mission was simple: investigate the cave and assess if it was necessary to request a monster extermination from the guild. Rimuru, resting as always on Ryoma's head, observed everything with mild amusement.

Lord Reinbach glanced at the group with a firm expression. "This should be a straightforward investigation but stay alert. The guild reported strange sounds from inside, so there may be more than the usual creatures lurking within."

Everyone nodded, and Ryoma gripped his staff tightly, steeling himself for the unknown. Rimuru, eager to see this cave and the monsters inside, remained silent, deciding to let the events unfold naturally.

They moved deeper into the cave, lighting torches to illuminate the rocky walls covered in moss and vines. The air was thick and damp, and every sound echoed through the narrow passages. Around them, small creatures scurried out of sight, spooked by the flickering torchlight.

"Be careful, Ryoma," Saria whispered, her voice a mix of concern and encouragement.

"I will," he replied, feeling a little braver with her by his side.

As they walked, Ryoma released some of his tamed slimes to scout the area and clear out smaller monsters like goblins and giant bats, which they encountered along the way. The adventurers marveled at how efficiently Ryoma's slimes took care of each creature, working in unison as though they were a well-trained army.

"Your slimes are amazing, Ryoma," one of the adventurers remarked. "I've never seen anything like it!"

Ryoma blushed slightly, scratching the back of his head. "They've been great companions. I guess we work well together."

Rimuru, still perched on his head, absorbed the compliment as well, feeling pride for his young companion's skill. As they ventured further, Rimuru noted the faint but distinct presence of something more powerful deep within the cave. He kept his senses sharp, just in case.

After a couple of hours of exploring, the group was ready to head back. They had seen enough to warrant a formal extermination request, a few clusters of aggressive monsters had been found, and the adventurers agreed it would be wise to clear out the cave entirely.

But just as they started retracing their steps, the ground rumbled, and an ominous growl echoed through the cave, causing everyone to freeze. A massive shadow appeared at the end of the corridor, moving closer with heavy, thunderous steps.

"That... doesn't sound good," Ryoma murmured, gripping his staff tightly.

The creature stepped into view, and everyone gasped. Towering before them was a minotaur, its body covered in dense, coarse fur and its muscular arms ending in sharp claws. The minotaur's eyes glowed with an intense red light, and its snout flared as it snorted, sizing up the group as though ready to charge.

Reinbach and the adventurers braced themselves, drawing their weapons. "Stay behind us!" Reinbach barked at the younger members of the group.

But Rimuru sensed something different. Unlike the smaller creatures they had encountered earlier, this minotaur posed a genuine threat, and he knew he couldn't let it harm Ryoma or the others. It was the perfect opportunity to intervene and get a taste of the action himself.

Before anyone could react, Rimuru launched himself off Ryoma's head, landing silently on the ground between the minotaur and the group. In one swift motion, he leapt toward the beast, his form expanding momentarily to consume the creature's massive arm. The minotaur tried to pull back, but Rimuru's slime body clung tightly, slowly dissolving the arm in his gelatinous form.

The others gasped in surprise, watching as the small blue slime began to absorb the hulking minotaur, bit by bit.

"What... what's he doing?" Ryoma whispered; his eyes wide.

Rimuru continued, his body encasing more of the beast's form, gradually devouring it until the creature gave one final, pitiful snarl before collapsing. The cave fell silent, save for the soft hum as Rimuru consumed the last remnants of the minotaur.

After a moment, Rimuru absorbed the core of the beast, taking in its power and memories. With the minotaur completely gone, Rimuru's form rippled and shifted. In the next moment, a small figure emerged from the slime, Rimuru in human form, but this time, he was a four-year-old child.

Standing only as high as Ryoma's waist, Rimuru blinked his big blue eyes at the stunned group, his silver hair cascading around his face. His small, delicate hands and slightly chubby cheeks gave him a gentle, almost innocent look, though his expression held the same calm confidence as ever.

Ryoma and the others could only stare, speechless.

"Um..." Ryoma finally managed; his voice shaky. "Little buddy... is that you?"

Rimuru nodded, giving a small smile and raising a hand in greeting. Ryoma knelt down, his eyes shining with both shock and admiration.

"You... you're incredible!" Ryoma breathed. "You saved us from that minotaur. And now... you're... a kid?"

Reinbach and the other adventurers approached cautiously, examining the small, childlike figure with awe.

"An Ultimate Slime that can take on a human form?" Reinbach murmured, marveling at the sight. "I've never heard of such a thing..."

Saria's eyes lit up as she looked at Rimuru. "He's adorable!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with excitement. "And he saved us all without a second thought!"

Rimuru, enjoying the amusement that his form was bringing, gave a shy wave, playing up his childlike appearance. Ciel's voice echoed softly in his mind.

"Master Rimuru, this form will conceal 99% of your power. Shall I retain this child-like appearance for a bit longer?"

Rimuru mentally nodded, appreciating the novelty of exploring this world as a young child. The innocent guise would add to the entertainment factor and allow him to stay close to Ryoma and the others without drawing too much attention.

With the minotaur defeated and the cave safely secured, the group began making their way back to the city. Ryoma carried Rimuru in his arms, gently cradling him as though he were a younger sibling. The Jamil family and the adventurers couldn't stop discussing what they'd just witnessed, marveling over the mysterious powers of Ryoma's "Ultimate Slime."

As they walked, Saria smiled down at Rimuru. "You know, you're quite the hero," she said softly. "Thank you for protecting us."

Rimuru gave her a small nod, his childlike face beaming at the praise. The group continued down the path, chatting and laughing as they recounted the day's adventure.

By the time they reached the town, the sky was painted in hues of orange and purple. The townspeople greeted them eagerly, curious about the group's success in the cave. Though they were careful to avoid drawing attention to Rimuru's transformation, the story of the "mysterious blue slime" had already begun to spread, and townspeople whispered among themselves, eager to learn more about Ryoma's powerful companion.

That night, back in his room, Ryoma settled Rimuru onto a soft cushion, smiling down at him. "Thank you again, Rimuru," he said sincerely. "I don't know what we'd have done without you."

Rimuru, touched by Ryoma's gratitude, gave a silent nod, content to play the role of a silent, young companion. As Ryoma drifted off to sleep, Rimuru sat quietly in his child form, reflecting on the day's events and the joy of experiencing such a peaceful, fulfilling life.

For the first time in a long while, he felt truly at ease, grateful for the simplicity of his new world.