Day Eight of Reincarnation as Rimuru

Even though Rimuru clung to Morax’s feet in every possible way, the tasks assigned still had to be carried out eventually.

As the sky darkened, Jinping had no choice but to appear and urge them on. He pursed his lips, cautiously lowering his gaze to avoid looking at his deity, who was being treated like a humanoid beanbag by a slime, and spoke respectfully.

“Lord Morax, the carriages and personnel you ordered are ready. When will Lord Rimuru be able to depart?”

Before Morax could respond, Rimuru sprang up with a somersault, bouncing off the man’s instep.

“Oh! I’m coming, I’m coming!”

Caught in the act of shirking responsibility by outsiders, the slime suppressed a belated embarrassment and feigned calm as it patted Morax’s broad pant leg. “I’ll go ahead then. Don’t worry, I’ll protect Jinping and the others well!”

What on earth was lying on someone’s instep supposed to be? Had his brain just been abducted by aliens?

So humiliating!

Better slip away quickly.

Without waiting for Morax’s reaction, Rimuru hurriedly hopped alongside Jinping, the sound of their footsteps ‘tap tap tap’ echoing.

Once Rimuru was gone, the weight on Morax’s instep suddenly lifted.

Feeling the coolness dissipate, Morax blinked slowly and watched the water-blue slime’s hurried retreating figure. A faint smile gradually appeared on the otherwise calm face of the man.

“Stay safe.”

“I know!”

By then, the slime had already jumped onto the carriage prepared by Jinping. As the driver cracked the whip, the simple carriage rumbled to life—they were finally setting off.

Just as Rimuru found a comfortable spot to settle, a thought struck him. He turned his body and waved to the gradually shrinking figure of Morax.

“Oh, by the way, thanks for the scales. Since you chose to protect me, I will protect you in return!”

Protect... him?

Morax’s pupils contracted sharply. This was already the second time Rimuru had said something like that.

Was this slime serious?

To be declared protected by a slime was indeed a novel experience. Watching the slime on the cart already chatting with Jinping, a complex feeling rose in Morax’s heart, causing the ever-protective archon to raise an eyebrow.

Rimuru, your appearance on Tianheng Mountain is a blessing for me, Morax.

He remained on the mountaintop, gazing from afar until the caravan vanished, then turned to leave.

At the moment of his turn, the gentleness on the man’s face disappeared, replaced by the sternness and ruthlessness unique to the Geo Archon.

Oser.

If you dare come, I will make sure you know.

Tianheng is not a place where you can act recklessly.

...

“Lord Rimuru... aren’t you coming up to rest a while?”

Jinping’s expression was numb. Throughout the journey, Rimuru resembled a wild creature raised in the woods, wandering around the nearby mountains beside the carriage.

The slime devoured every valuable thing in sight, leaving nothing but barren ground in its wake.

“No worries, no worries, I just suddenly got a collecting urge. You don’t need to mind me~”

Rimuru said this as he shifted his body and swiftly swallowed another unfamiliar herb.

[Note: Wild soybean, also known as yellow soybean, a dicotyledonous plant, annual herbaceous crop of the legume family, rich in nutrients and with many by-products. After selective breeding, it can be widely cultivated as an excellent economic crop.]

The slime continued rapidly consuming a piece of exposed ore.

[Note: Stone amber, a crystal naturally condensed with a high concentration of geo-elemental energy, valuable when crafted into artworks but more recommended for the creation of high-grade magical instruments.]

The slime kept eating.

[Note: Frost mist flower, an ice-elemental plant whose fruit can be used to make calming and deceleration potions...]

[Note: Flameflower, a fire-elemental plant whose fruit can be used to make stimulating and strength-enhancing potions...]

[Note: Electric crystal, a crystal containing electricity, a high-quality pollution-free energy mineral usable as a power source.]

“...Is this slime really reliable? Won’t the Dust God and her people chase us away later?”

While Rimuru was devouring everything voraciously, a guard voiced the thoughts of many. But before he finished, he covered his mouth in horror, fearing Rimuru might overhear.

Not because he feared Rimuru personally, but because he worried Rimuru would report back to Morax.

He didn’t want to be despised by their god of faith.

Jinping’s eyes narrowed sharply, and he immediately whispered a warning to the man.

“Put away your contempt. Lord Rimuru is a friend personally acknowledged by Lord Morax. He is not someone you can casually doubt.”

“Y-yes...” The man shrank his neck and, steadying himself, refocused on escorting the carriage.

After a while, Rimuru finally stopped his ‘locust-like’ (strike that) earth-tilling behavior.

“Ha, what a fruitful day~”

Rimuru patted his belly, satisfied. Under the accompanying group’s determinedly averted gazes, he hopped onto his carriage and casually tilted his head to Jinping.

“By the way, Jinping, why haven’t we encountered any monsters along the way?”

Weren’t Teyvat adventures supposed to be full of danger? Since his reincarnation, the most dangerous thing he’d met was Morax, who casually threw geo-spears at him.

He still wanted to see what slimes looked like in the world of Teyvat.

Though one thing was certain: they definitely wouldn’t be cuter than him!

Hehe.

Seeing Rimuru’s puzzled expression, Jinping quickly explained, “We haven’t officially left the territory of Mountain Radiance Fort yet, so that’s why we haven’t encountered monsters.”

Though unaware of the exact meaning of Mountain Radiance Fort, Rimuru understood it was a place name, possibly a region within Liyue.

Nodding in understanding, Rimuru responded, “Got it. So all the monsters were driven away by Morax, right?”

“Yes.”

“Tch, he really is fierce. He even denied it last time~” Rimuru muttered, casually complaining.

Jinping, sensing Rimuru’s attempt to ‘matchmake’ their two lords, twitched his brow and couldn’t help but defend his deity.

“Lord Morax only did that for our safety…”

“Oh, I know that, of course,” Rimuru waved dismissively. “But that doesn’t stop me from thinking he’s fierce!”

What exactly did Morax do to Rimuru, anyway?

Jinping thought hopelessly.

Unaware of Jinping’s inner thoughts, the slime finished complaining and went off to whisper to Raphael.

[Master Raphael, how is the conversion progress? I’ve eaten so much; I should have absorbed a lot of elemental energy by now, right?]

[Report: Conversion progress at 5%. Elemental energies absorbed: Geo, Cryo, Pyro, Electro—all analyzed and decomposed. Basic elemental energy usage for all four elements has been completed. Would you like to use them now?]

The slime shook its head vigorously: [NONONO!]

Using them now would risk hitting allies with skill effects.

That wouldn’t do. He had promised Morax he’d bring this group back safely. It would be too pathetic if he accidentally injured them while testing his skills.

Hmm... since he can now use local elemental energy, he should have enough strength to beat wild monsters in the wilderness, right?

[Report: Analysis shows that deities, their kin, and high-level draconic elemental creatures may not be countered head-on, but ordinary Hilichurls and slimes can be easily defeated.]

“Yes!”

Receiving this confirmation, Rimuru couldn’t help but cheer quietly.

Sure enough, no wonder he was a slime. Even if all his advanced skills were sealed, his initial state alone made him formidable!

Next, he just had to wait for monsters to come and give him experience.

The slime curled up comfortably, leisurely enjoying the breeze and the gradually receding scenery.

Descending the mountain was difficult; the sun and moon alternated as they encamped and rested several times. Eventually, the group finally exited the safe zone that Morax had designated for his people on Tianheng Mountain.

At the very moment they left the safety zone, a calm alert suddenly sounded in Rimuru’s mind.

[Warning, warning: At 2 o'clock ahead, a group of Hilichurls is rapidly approaching you and the caravan.]

“Oh oh oh! Is it finally happening?!”

During the journey, the slime, which had gradually wilted into an indistinct puddle, suddenly sprang back to its original form with a snap, startling the guards who were cleaning up the campfire.

“Sir, are you hungry?” a guard asked, thinking Rimuru must be starving. He hurriedly pulled out a rock-hard biscuit from the supplies and tried to hand it to Rimuru. “If this isn’t enough, please tell me.”

To them, Rimuru had eaten nothing but various plants and ores from an area he had swept clean at the start, so their first instinct was to offer him something proper to eat.

“Uh... let’s pass on that,” Rimuru’s expression stiffened as he recoiled in disgust at the blackened biscuit. “I’m not hungry. Isn’t there enough food? Better save it for you guys, haha...”

Even dogs wouldn’t eat that. Living in the land of gluttons, he absolutely refused to admit that was food!

Rimuru averted his eyes and walked past the man to find Jinping, who was in charge.

“Get ready, monsters are coming.”

“What?!” Jinping’s muscles tensed instantly. He spun his hands and pulled out a roughly crafted stone spear from somewhere—simple but commanding, with a black tip and stone-brown shaft.

He raised the spear tip and shouted solemnly, “Enemy attack—full alert!!”

“Yes!”

With Jinping’s shout, those who had been tidying up quickly revealed fierce expressions. They all drew spears identical to their leader’s and lined up in formation, ready to face the enemy.

Rimuru: “???”

The entire guard’s routine took less than ten seconds, leaving Rimuru dumbfounded as he was about to explain how he had detected the enemy.

So fast!

Are the people of Tianheng all this militarily skilled?

And they believed him just like that? Without any doubt?

While Rimuru was doubting life itself, a group of Hilichurls, led by wooden shield and fire axe Hilichurls, charged toward the temporary territory. Without Rimuru needing to act, Jinping led the guards to swiftly slaughter them all in no time.

“...”

The silence from the slime was deafening.

Rimuru looked at the group of staggering, miserable Hilichurls lying on the ground and silently roared: Morax didn’t drive the monsters away to protect his people—it was to protect these pitiful monsters!!

Also, what exactly are you doing with my experience points?!

At least let me get a hit in!

Unforgivable!