Chapter 16: The Return of Slimes

Shou’s morning training had begun once again. Just like back in the Northern Forest, it was a routine of practice swings, with occasional strikes at Falco. Beside her, Falco also practiced his swings.

Afterward, they washed off the light sweat in the hot springs before helping prepare breakfast. Gina had opened the inn because she loved cooking, but her quiet husband was the one who handled most of the meals. He had once been part of the same adventuring group as her. Some guests even woke up early just to watch Shou assist him—peeling and carrying vegetables with careful precision. Falco, too, watched over her from a corner of the dining hall, sipping tea while absentmindedly maintaining his unnecessary armor.

After breakfast, Falco walked Shou to the church before heading off to his duties. He always looked reluctant to leave.

Shou had officially joined the junior hunting group, which consisted of about twenty children, evenly split between boys and girls. She immediately spotted Aura and started toward her when—

Grab!

“Wait, Shou, you’re with us.”

“Huh? Cain? Good morning… Eh?”

She was pulled into the boys’ group.

“Morning, Shou.”

As always, Cain’s ever-composed counterpart, Alfie, greeted her with a refreshing smile. Alfie also wore a yellow apprentice sash—he was a senior healing trainee. Their group consisted of four members: Alfie (14), Joseph (13), and Juan (11), plus Cain himself.

“Starting today, we’re a five-person team.”

“Tch, our group started with five from the beginning. Not fair.”

The other group grumbled, but numbers were numbers.

“In the mornings, we split up to hunt slimes or gather herbs. I heard you’re great at hunting slimes, Shou?”

Juan and Joseph asked with eager eyes.

“I’ve never compared, but there were a lot of slimes in the Northern Forest, so I caught plenty.”

“Show us!”

“Sure, but…”

“Alright! Today we’re heading to the rocky hills!”

After reporting to the adults at the church, a group of ten set off. The rocky hills lay on the northern outskirts of town.

Aura and the other girls stayed below, gathering herbs while chatting and occasionally picking early spring flowers. That looks fun… Shou thought wistfully before reminding herself that slimes were important too. The path up the hill was clear, but most kids opted to climb like it was an obstacle course. Shou and Alfie took the designated route.

“Watch your step. Slimes sometimes appear along the way,” Alfie advised kindly. Shou noted plenty of herbs growing among the rocks—she’d collect some on the way back.

When they reached the top—

“Wow.”

The plateau stretched wide. Even though the town was nearby, it looked small from here. The sky felt closer. Beside her, Alfie also gazed upward.

“The sky feels near, doesn’t it?”

“Yeah.”

“On the longest day of summer, we gather here at night for the Star-Welcoming Festival.”

“Star-Welcoming?”

“Your hometown didn’t have it? It’s a festival where everyone carries lanterns to call back the night, welcoming the return of long nights.”

“That sounds beautiful.”

“Now that you’re ten, you can join.”

“I’ll ask Falco to bring me.”

As they chatted, the other kids arrived.

“You’re excused from climbing today since it’s your first day, but starting tomorrow, you’re climbing too.”

“Eh?”

Apparently, it was part of endurance training.

“Shou, over here!”

Joseph had already found a slime. Shou pulled out her stick, bucket, and chopsticks, filling the bucket with water. The other kids watched closely.

Tap. Slash. Tap. Slash. Plop. Done.

Silence.

“…Show me that magic stone.”

“Sure.”

She picked up the stone with her chopsticks and showed them.

“It’s a clear blue…”

“Aren’t they always blue? The ones in the mountains were.”

“Look at this.”

Cain hunted a slime his usual way—watching for the right moment before slicing it cleanly. The slime let out a sizzling noise as it dissolved. Whoa, that was cool. Shou clapped. Cain washed the stone with water magic and showed it to her.

It was blue—but slightly grayish.

“Is it discolored?”

“Yeah. When we hunt them, they always turn out like this. The merchants still buy them, but they say true slime stones should be pure blue.”

“Why does that happen?”

Shou thought back to the sizzling sound. Was it acid?

“Cain, use this stick to make the slime spit out its acid first. After two times, it should stop. Then try hunting it.”

“Got it.”

Cain prodded a slime twice before swiftly slicing it. The stone?

“It’s completely blue…”

“So the acid left inside was causing discoloration.”

They took turns using Shou’s method, and sure enough, every stone came out clear blue.

“This is great. Safer, and we get better-quality stones. But… it looks uncool.”

Excuse you?!

Cain turned serious.

“Shou, can we start hunting this way?”

“Of course.”

“Thanks.”

He gave her a bright smile. Ugh, everything he does is effortlessly cool…

“Alright, everyone! Let’s head back and gather sticks from the western forest! Then we’ll all test Shou’s method together!”

“Okay!”

Both groups responded enthusiastically. Alfie, smiling, watched over them. Though Alfie was the oldest, Cain was their leader—rambunctious yet reliable. And Alfie was the one who kept everything balanced. There was no rivalry between groups.

As Shou admired them, Cain suddenly frowned.

“What?”

“You guys are really cool.”

At her honest remark, Cain turned red.

“Idiot! Let’s go get those sticks!”

He stomped off. Shou and Alfie exchanged a smile before following.

From that day on, the junior hunters' slime stones increased in both quality and quantity. The town suffered fewer slime-related issues, and the kids’ earnings grew.

Shou quickly became part of the group. On Falco’s days off, he sometimes came to watch—only to find her climbing the rocky hills with the others.

At the same time, she bonded with Aura, spending her free moments gathering herbs and flowers. Aura’s family ran a large textile shop, so she often collected dye plants, a task Shou enjoyed helping with. Cain always tried to drag Shou away, but Alfie ensured she had time for different experiences.

As spring turned to summer, the Star-Welcoming Festival drew closer. While Shou eagerly anticipated it, Falco grew more withdrawn.

Gina and Leon, watching them both, grew increasingly concerned.