Chapter 122
Chapter 122
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 122
Chapter Title: The Slime's Contemplation
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Memoria was watching through the fake Victoria's eyes, observing what Astal and his companions were doing.
She had thought they would definitely come chasing after her to retrieve the memories of the saint named Victoria.
"Their comrade has lost her memories, and they're peacefully having a date in the demon realm... I truly can't figure out this generation's Hero Party."
Right now, they were engrossed in planning a date to help their comrades Anima and Taryon's love story instead.
Did they have no sense of crisis? Or did they think they could handle a slime like her quickly even without a plan?
Because Memoria had absorbed the intelligence of countless humans, she couldn't understand this kind of composure Astal and his companions were showing.
She had thought that if she stole the memories of the person who seemed most precious to Astal, he would lose his ability to make rational judgments.
"...Ah, so they chose to hide among other beings on purpose to find me? Using the Perception Hindrance Magic against me is quite clever."
Listening to the conversation between the fake Victoria and the other companions, Memoria couldn't help but curl the corner of her mouth.
Even though his lover had lost her memories, he could make rational judgments, and even when she tried to sow discord using the fake, he remained unshaken.
"I had my suspicions since he mixed potions to create explosives... But if you keep showing such interesting sides, I can't help but grow more attached."
Memoria moved her throat significantly and swallowed her saliva. Just what kind of abilities and memories were inside that human's head?
She knew he possessed eyes that could see magical power from absorbing other mages' memories, but...
"The scary thing about mages is that they come up with methods ordinary people would never think of."
Just what kind of mage could develop magic to kill two of the Demon King's Four Heavenly Kings alone, and even conceive the idea of mixing potions to cause explosions?
Memoria feared that aspect of Astal, so she made the slime's magic circuits and mana identical to a living human to render his ability useless.
"Even though I made your ability useless so you couldn't distinguish between fake and real... I never imagined my plan would fail."
Memoria giggled as if she found the current situation enjoyable. Although she hadn't been mimicking humans for long, she felt she was beginning to understand why they felt emotions like joy.
"If I freely manipulated the fake Victoria, more interesting situations would unfold... But letting her act freely will help me understand humans better."
Memoria imitated how humans usually ponder, scratching her chin with her finger.
Memoria wanted to know what thoughts humans had and how they lived their lives.
Demons and monsters held values where they despised the weak, killed each other, or committed crimes, considering such evil deeds normal.
"I still don't really understand... what that child who saved me back then was thinking when they tried to save a slime."
Memoria spread her palm wide and recalled the memory from that time.
She still remembered how they fetched water for her injured self and shared food by breaking hard bread into pieces.
Even if children were more pure-hearted than adults, she couldn't understand why they tried to help a monster like herself.
"...Even knowing that slimes are beings that can eat humans, why did they show such mercy?"
Memoria sighed deeply like a human. Just how many people's memories would she have to eat to get closer to that child?
Originally, for the slime race, the sole purpose of life was to mimic other beings and increase their numbers.
Unlike other slimes, Memoria had thoughts of wanting to dream like humans or live with different life goals.
"I want to find a purpose in life like humans too. Dreams or ideals were originally something close to luxury for slimes."
Memoria chuckled briefly while watching Astal and the other companions talk and plan their next moves.
If she had been born human instead of a monster, could she have gone on a journey with trustworthy comrades like that?
"Very well, Astal Kaisaros. I'll gladly take your bait. Humans originally have emotions like competitiveness."
Memoria was watching Astal through the fake Victoria's vision, her mouth curling up uncontrollably.
Was this the emotion of anger or irritation that humans felt? She knew about it intellectually, but actually feeling it was a first.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "So... the date plan you came up with is just this?"
Taryon frowned while looking at the parchment I handed him.
Since we were creating personal time to lure Memoria, he probably thought I would have prepared some amazing plan.
"What, it's pretty simple, isn't it? Just eating delicious food at a restaurant and walking somewhere with a nice view at night."
However, the plan I made was exactly the same way I usually spent time with Victoria, just as Anima said.
In the end, what's most important to lovers isn't special events or places, but the fact that the person they love is by their side.
"Yeah, from the start, I thought forcing movements according to some grand plan we set, like going to extravagant places, wasn't great."
I gently curled my lips upward toward Anima and Taryon. These guys probably hadn't had personal time recently due to the Demon King subjugation.
Taryon, being an excellent archer at tracking, often kept watch or stood guard duty, and Anima had to use Spirit Kings to prepare for potential ambushes or attacks.
Forcing them to move according to someone else's plan would rather interfere with their time as a couple, I judged.
"There's a high chance Memoria will approach while you two enjoy your date. Since she's obsessed with humans, she'll dislike being ignored too..."
I lightly bit my lower lip while predicting how Memoria would move.
Considering her desire to understand humans and her obsession with human emotions and memories, she would definitely reveal herself.
Memoria still hadn't completely absorbed the memories of me and the other companions.
"Then shouldn't we just create a trap for Memoria and enjoy our date there?"
Taryon was speaking as if he didn't understand something while reviewing the simple schedule I had set again.
Ultimately, if Memoria was coming to us, wouldn't it be better to fight in an advantageous location from the start?
"No, Memoria is a mage with a higher realm than me. No matter how elaborately we make a trap, she'll notice immediately."
I shook my head at Taryon's words, indicating it was impossible. A slime that had eaten countless humans and absorbed their intelligence and memories wouldn't fall for an obvious trap.
"If it's a slime as massive as Oblivion that can mimic covering an entire territory to deceive us, it would be more advantageous to hide among crowds and make herself smaller."
"She can't randomly devour other beings if it's not a territory she rules, right?"
"Right. Even if Memoria holds the position of one of the Demon King's Four Heavenly Kings, other beings wouldn't be without complaints."
I spoke while remembering Gruntar whom I met at the arena. That guy was an orc but held hostility toward Duran.
If Memoria had any sense, she wouldn't make the entire demon and monster race her enemies, and she wouldn't want others to kill us.
Memoria's goal would be to devour all the memories of me and the other companions to make them her own.
"Then we just need to find the restaurants you wrote here or enjoy the scenery at night while spending time together?"
"It's fine to go a little away from crowded places. We'll be secretly watching your date."
Anima brightly smiled while tapping the letters I had written with her finger.
She clearly looked excited. She probably hadn't properly spent time with her lover recently, having fought the Four Heavenly Kings one after another.
Just as we finished talking and I was about to bid farewell to Taryon and Anima, telling them to have a good time...
"Astal-nim, does that mean we'll also be having a date together?"
"That can't be! Why are you trying to satisfy your personal desires during the precious time Taryon and Anima spend as a couple!"
"Really? I thought basic disguise was necessary. Shouldn't we watch the date from the closest distance without arousing Memoria's suspicion?"
The Victorias' opinions clashed. The one who lost her memories tried not to satisfy personal desires, while the other showed she was faithful to her desires.
"......"
Suddenly, I found myself facing a situation where I had to go on a date with two women.