She Becomes The Hero In Another World 115 She Discovers...

"Is that even possible!?"

Robin's group stared up at the ceiling, shocked. A giant web slime, suspended upon countless tiny threads, hung from the ceiling. Due to the bad lighting, no one had seen it during their initial search.

"I can't believe it." Chelsea breathed. "A slime king! I thought they were all killed off!"

"Hmm? This isn't just a really large slime, or a group combined into one?" Robin asked.

"No! This is a slime king! An honest to goodness slime king!" Chelsea spoke, excitedly. The rest were looking at her with strange looks.

"Chelsea, while I know it's somewhat exciting for you, can you tell us about why you are so excited about a larger than usual blob of ooze?" Robin asked, still not quite understanding what they were facing. Chelsea stammered out a string of nonsense words.

"...Didn't understand a bit of that. Should we go kill it, now?" Robin lifted her sword arm, as if about to charge into the thing.

"DON'T!!" Chelsea smacked Robin on the head, in a rare fit of anger.

Robin laughed. "Finally found your tongue, huh? All right. Convince me. Tell me why I mustn't kill this slime king."

"That's because." Chelsea lectured. "The slime king is the only known creature that can heal others instantly using water magic! A water mage once spent a year living near a slime king, and after that, she became known as the Water Saint for being able to heal others swiftly using water magic! Isn't that amazing!?" Chelsea's eyes sparkled crazily.

"But, since then, the slime kings were sought out by the n.o.bility, and brought out of the forest. Losing their source of food and protection, they were also fought over, and killed, due to jealous n.o.bles of other houses. That's why, since then, we water mages have never had a second water saint."

Then Chelsea looked up at the Slime king, again, and laughed.

"But this? This changes everything! If I stay near this slime king for a year, then my healing skills can definitely become much much better!"

"Is that so?" Robin scratched her head in thought. "But, Chelsea, we can't stay here for a year. No, even before that, are you confident that you can safely avoid all the web slimes, and cave boar stampedes?"

"Urk! But it's a slime king! A slime king!" Chelsea repeated, looking heartbroken.

"It's not like it'll move away. You can come back and find it after we figure out where this kingdom is." Robin patted her shoulder, sympathetically.

"Right now, we need to find the way down..."

Robin walked over to the black rock, observing it. it was smooth, like a polished obsidian mirror. Robin reached out to push it, and was surprised when her hand went through it, practically unimpeded. Her mind blanked in surprise. A ripple began to spread around her hand until she s.n.a.t.c.hed it back out.

"Uwooh! Is this the rumored healing circle!?!" Chelsea exclaimed, drawing close to the mirror.

"You know this?" Robin asked.

"Of course I do! It's the slime king's specialty: healing portal. It can't heal if it doesn't come into contact with others. So it stretches a thin membrane over a well-used pa.s.sageway, and heals the injured pa.s.sers-through."

"So it is harmless, right?" Robin confirmed.

"Yup! As long as you don't breath while going through the membrane, you'll be fine." Chelsea replied. "I guess the only reason we could see it was because it's digesting."

"Is that so.."

"Yup. Parasites, small bugs, dirt, sweat and scar tissues are what it's favorite foods are. The healing process after that would leave the skin flawless. The healing portal turns black when the slime king is digesting these things. During that time, it will no longer heal. After people discovered this, slime kings were hunted twice as fervently." Chelsea sighed.

"Originally, they should be able to co-exist with mankind. But a slime king cannot live without a well-travelled doorway. shutting its body up in a sealed box or a hidden inner room easily starves it to death. They don't usually move around, either."

"Is that so?" Robin asked.

"Unfortunately, it's true." Sir Grey shook his head and sighed. "While healers may be able to heal wounds, the majority of them cannot remove scars. So the saying 'unless you find a slime king' has become popular among healers."

During their conversation, the black had faded away until they could see through the membrane once more. The pa.s.sage appeared, heading down at a somewhat steep incline.

"Be careful on your way down." Robin warned before she walked through the membrane.

It was a strange feeling, like walking through a wet curtain, but Robin came out clean and dry on the other side. She was soon joined by Chelsea and the knights.

"It's a shame I can't observe it a bit longer, but I still have a duty to take care of you all. slime king, or no slime king." Chelsea sighed.

Robin didn't say very much, but at that point, she was wondering if perhaps she should have had Jasmine come, instead.

-----------

And, speaking of Jasmine, she was currently reading books in the castle library. Entry was easy enough. There were even a lot of pre-demon-war texts and books. Using telekinesis, and several magic eyes, she was greedily scanning these priceless books to bring back with her. If only she had thought to bring more magic eyes with her! As things are, she could only put up with the slow process of acquisition.

In her hands was a secret small leather journal that was hidden behind the books. She was flipping through it leasurely, somewhat curious about why someone would hid a regular travel journal. When suddenly, she paused, and her eyes widened. She then quickly read, flipping through the book at a faster pace.

When she reached the end, she sat back with a sigh, then quickly incinerated the journal. She waited until the magic eyes finished recording their books, then collected them back, placing all the books back upon their shelves.

She needed to go warn Christian and the others not to use the super potions.

"h.e.l.lo! Who are you?"

Jasmine jumped, as she had originally been the only person in the library. She hadn't expected to meet anyone. She turned about to see a light brown-haired boy looking at her from a nearby lounge couch, with several books next to him.

"How did you get in here?" She asked.

"The same way everyone else does?" the boy answered.

"No, I mean, aren't men aside from the royal family not allowed in the castle?" Jasmine asked, confused.

The boy nodded. "It's true."

"Then, wouldn't you be in trouble-" Jasmine paused as the idea suddenly hit her.

"You must not be from around here." The boy smiled, his hazel eyes glinting in amus.e.m.e.nt. "h.e.l.lo, I am Prince Wilbur. May I have the pleasure of knowing your name?"

"That depends entirely upon what you are going to do with it." Jasmine said, bringing her guard up. She remembered the contents of that journal, and resisted the urge to shudder. For now, she must be careful not to let anyone know that she is aware.

The prince blinked. "Isn't it natural that I would wish to know the name of my future bride?"

"...what did you say? I think I misheard." Jasmine asked, looking at the lad who was clearly only 9 years old.

"You will become my future bride!" Prince Wilbur said, emphatically.

Jasmine laughed. "Wait until you are older, then asked me again." she turned about, heading towards the library exit.

"Okay." A man's voice came from behind her.

Jasmine whirled about swiftly, in alarm. The boy was nowhere to be seen. in his place, a handsome young man sat, his hair and eyes the same color as the prince. He stood up.

"Let me change my request. Become my bride!" He said. Jasmine looked around for signs of the prince.

"...Where is Prince Wilbur?" she asked, confused.

"Can you not see me right in front of you, woman?" The young man asked, chuckling.

"Impossible. There's no such way to grow up so quickly. You must be Prince Wilbur's older brother!" Jasmine scoffed. "I am not so easily fooled!"

"Be that as it may, I am Prince Wilbur. Everyone in the castle knows it."

"Unfortunately, that is not my decision to make." Jasmine said. "I must speak with my Cousin, Prince Christian, before I can give you an answer. And so, for today, I'm afraid I must bid you farewell."

"He's royalty? Oh, then there's no need to go back. I will have someone sent to invite your cousin into the castle." Prince Wilbur said.

"While we may be foreign royalty, we still wish to abide by the rules." Jasmine said, feeling thoroughly creeped out.

"Royalty from other countries are also acceptable. the rules never specified which royal family is, allowed. Moreover, if you marry me, he will become my future brother in law. How can I not meet him?" Prince Wilbur pointed out.

"If. That is the key point. What if he should refuse?" Jasmine replied. "I am not so familiar with you that I can ignore the difference between men and women. I will come back tomorrow." She turned back to the exit, only to be blocked by two spears.

"I insist that you stay." Prince Wilbur chuckled behind her. Jasmine turned around, her signature smile upon her face, the sign that she was mad.