Training With... Slimes?

Day 1

The next day Hotaru could play more than yesterday. After dinner she was busy, so she couldn’t came back and finally play the game, so now she will be able catch up with the progress.

She logged out outside of the Guild and she was back exactly in the same place. It seemed like the place was crowded the entire time. It was hard to imagine it without all of these people around, maybe later things will calm down.

She headed to the place Yoko mentioned. She could see the dock in distance, it will take some time to get there. From what she said, this spot wasn’t that much well hidden, you just had to go along the dock to the very end of it and at some point you were able to see group of slimes wandering around. There were not many people here, because slimes weren’t causing any problems and spot was actually a bit on the outskirts. The only way to get there was through the main port, but it was very busy during the day, so it wasn’t a good idea to be there at those hours. Hotaru started to understand that when she was there. Absolute chaos, she was wondering how on Earth people know what they need to do there. Probably they got used to it.

Nagato has the biggest port on the whole continent, which makes it one of the most important cities if it comes to trade and transport. This city is open for novelties and new technologies, which brings everyone with desire of profit and recognition for their work. If it comes to the adventurers, there is always work for them. There is still no good solution for safe goods transportation, so people are still hired for guarding them. Nagato is not the best place to start your journey, but it has its own benefits, including generous rewards.

When Hotaru finally got to the place, she got confused while there were no slimes.

‘Huh? I bet this is the place. Maybe slimes got an info that I’m coming?’

Then she was greeted by a slime that approached her from behind. She turned around and saw it for herself.

‘There it is! Woo, it's more jelly than I anticipated.’ she was in awe of slime’s jelliness. It had around diameter of 35 cm.

Slime didn’t attack or do anything, it seemed like it was observing what Hotaru was about to do.

‘Still, there is only one here, hmm... One won’t help me, but I guess, I have no other choice.’ Hotaru took out her longsword and aimed at it. „Sorry, slimey, but I have to get those skills somehow.”

Slime noticed that tip of her weapon was definitely too close to it. It had to make it nervous, endless trickles of sweat were going... Wait, sweat? Can slime even sweat?

Girl took a swing and attacked the slime. But she missed.

‘Huh? What? It vanished into thin air or what?’

It just dodged her attack.

„What?!” she couldn’t believe it and attacked once more, but it dodged again. It stopped being nervous, what’s more, it got more confident. Other slimes were lurking from nearby bush.

„Oh, come on! Don’t be like that!” her attacks were more desperate, after few more tries, she gave up.

„What’s wrong with you? Are you kind of super slime that you’re able to dodge me so easily? Uhh!” she grabbed her head in disbelief. „Am I that pathetic that can’t even hit a slime?”

‘It’s obvious there is a chance that it will be trying to dodge your attacks, but come on! It can’t be that agile! Eheheh... Now what? It doesn’t even try to attack me, it’s just bouncing around. I have a feeling that it looks down on me, because I can’t hit it.’

It is worth to mention that those slimes were more skillful than her and their level was above 1 comparing to Hotaru.

‘Uh, maybe I’ll try to find a compromise with it? Compromising with a slime, oh God.’

She approached it and sit before it.

„Hey, slimey, you don’t want to be defeated so badly, huh?”

No reaction from it.

„Looook, I just want to get skills, level and train with my weapon to get better, but with your attitude I can’t do that.”

Lurkers came out from the bush, they were visibly curious what was going on. They got interested in what Hotaru will do next after utter defeat.

‘There are more of them? I can’t handle one, so what should I do with four more?’ for her the only way to deal with slimes were to negotiate with them.

„Look guys, I just want to get stronger, that’s it! That’s it!”

Slimes looked at each other and the one, who fought with Hotaru, took out from itself a small sword and presented it with grace. Perfectly sized weapon for it. With this sword it looked more adorable than threatening. But not for her.

‘IT HAS A SWORD?!’

„Hey, hey, guys, I think we can find a solution.”

Slimes weren’t thinking of fighting with her, it was quite the opposite, they wanted to help her. These slimes were more intelligent comparing to others from their kind. Someone taught them how to fight and they want to return the favor. Hotaru was actually second person that ever tried to talk with them.

Other slime took out the shield with comparable size to the first one's sword and presented it to girl. She couldn’t read their intentions, they didn’t seem hostile, but it wasn’t normal to see a slime wielding a weapon. They noticed that and the first one tried to show her what they had in mind. It was pointing at her.

„Huh? Me?”

And then it began to hit the shield with his sword in very primitive way. She understood what they wanted to say, but wasn’t sure if it was kind of joke, if they were mocking her, because what can a slime do?

„You want to train me?”

If someone could tell slimes reaction it would be something like: ‘Wooo, she got it' and they would clap, but they couldn’t so they just jiggle as an answer.

„Y-you know, no disrespect, but... Can you actually fight with a weapon?”

It was a time for slimes to prove a woman their skills. Shield and sword moved a bit further to have some space and then, they began. Shield was just protecting itself while sword was constantly attacking it. It made out clearly why Hotaru couldn’t hit it – it was very agile for a slime. It wasn’t a godspeed movement, but low-tiered monsters like goblins shouldn’t be a problem for it and its friends.

‘They... They can really fight... Slimes can fight... With a weapon... What the hell?’ it made her speechless while she has never seen or even predicted that. ‘Have they learned it by itself? No way... Someone actually had to learn them that. But... why? And for what?’ it was something that was occupying her mind for a moment.

Slimes finished the showcase and approached her waiting for any type of answer.

„O-okay.” she was that overwhelmed by what she has seen that she couldn’t find a words for a moment. She looked up and took a deep breath. It helped a bit. She looked at slimes again. „That was very unexpected to see slimes that are able to fight like that. Especially you,” she meant the one wielding sword. „you do have some moves, don’t you? No wonder I couldn’t hit you.” she smiled.

Slime seemed to appreciate those words of recognition.

„Did someone teach you that?”

All jiggled as a sign of confirmation.

„As I thought...” she wondered who had enough imagination to teach slimes how to fight so efficiently. „Anyway, I’ll do appreciate any help with my training, but, there is still a problem. In order to level up, I have to defeat creatures...”

Slime with sword started waving it as it wanted to get Hotaru's attention. When it gained it, it started hitting the shield monotonously again.

„You think I should first train?”

It jiggled. She got its answer.

„Right, right. Basics first, then practice. But...” the size of the shield was worrying her.

‘Will it be enough to block attacks from my longsword? It’s still a slime with shield as its only protection.’

It didn’t bother slime at all. It already took a position and was waiting for Hotaru. Others moved a bit away to not disturb them. Girl was hesitating, but she knew that won’t lead her anywhere.

„Enhance: Lightweight.”

With that she attacked slime from the top. It took the attack with its small shield. It was more durable than it looked like. It relieved Hotaru, but also impressed her that jelly ended up without any scratch.

„Guess I have to worry more about how to actually hit you, huh?”

It jiggled amused, right after others did the same. For slimes they were very confident of their skills.

„Okay, shall we keep going?”

Hotaru was training under watchful slime's eye. It was a good opportunity to really learn how to fight against small and agile opponents. They continued to do that for several minutes until girl realised she had nothing to drink and no money to buy anything. One of the slimes was nice enough to provide some drinkable water. With such support she could go through the training for around two more hours.

„*pant* *pant* Guess that’s it for now. Still, I think I have way more stamina, because normally... eh...”

She had. Her character's body was slightly stronger than her usual body. Mostly in terms of stamina, besides that it was very similar to her.

„By the way – any improvements so far?”

They all jiggled again. It seemed like there was some improvements.

„At least that much.”

When Hotaru caught a breath, she was thinking of what to do next. Her arms were feeling exhausted so she didn’t want to push herself more. But on the other hand, she was still lvl 1. She couldn’t get a level by simply hitting opponent.

She checked up her profile to make sure if it was as she was thinking. Indeed, she was still at lvl 1. Experience bar didn’t move an inch.

‘Ueeehhh, so more swinging around is waiting.’

„Guys, I think I’ll have to go somewhere-"

In the same moment slimes turned around and were looking at one point.

‘Something's off. But what? Better be careful.’

Everyone was waiting for a moment to react. To either attack, think of a better plan or just run away, depending on an opponent. From the thicket a direwolf came out. It was young, probably was looking for something to hunt and ended up there somehow.

‘A wolf? Nah, it’s not a normal wolf. I don’t know what should I think about it, but better to not make sudden move.’

Hotaru stayed in place, but had an eye on it. Slimes on the other hand weren’t much bothered by direwolf. It had few levels more than Hotaru, but it still was nothing for slimes. Also, that was another opportunity for girl to improve her skills. And to gain some experience points.

That gave an idea for them how to help Hotaru gain this needed experience points.

Sword slime took out its weapon. Others got the idea but Hotaru.

‘Wait, what? They want to attack it?!’

Despite being shown their potential, she still was treating them as any ordinary slimes. Probably she was still overwhelmed by what she had seen.

Whole group rushed into direwolf. It had absolutely no idea what was coming. While slime with sword was playing with it by cutting its body randomly, three others were smashing it by their stick-like weapons. One with shield was drawing wolf's attention.

Monsters cannot gain any experience points to level up, so because of this all points can go to Hotaru if she will take a part in finishing off enemy. But first, she needs to actually take part in it. She realized her chance for almost free XP and, with still hurting arms, she took her weapon.

„OK, fine, fine! I’m coming too!”

Direwolf was already half-dead, only few hits was needed to finish it. Slimes left that to her after delivering last hit from them. It was easy to target it, while it was almost not moving after being beaten badly by slimes with sticks.

Hotaru approached the creature and had a look at it.

‘What will quicker finish it off? Wasn’t it by destroying brain? I don’t really want to play with it...’ she prepared her weapon to pierce wolf's head. ‘Guess that will be even better for you.’ after that she pierced it. Its body disappeared few seconds after that.

‘Let’s check if something has changed.’

She opened menu once more. There were two exclamation marks on two options – profile and skills.

‘Yes!’ finally things start to moving. ‘First, level... I wonder if just one... Just one. But, still! Wolf gave me a bit above one level worth XP, I wonder what level it had... Anyway, let’s check what skills I’ve got. Hmm... Wooo, that’s even more than I anticipated! Let’s see... Weapon Mastery... Probably passive skill. What else, what else... Oh! There’s one! Slash.’

Hotaru felt a bit disappointed, while she was excepting something better. ‘Meh. Not very encouraging. Buuut... comparing it to my normal attack, it deals definitely more damage. Ok, fair enough. What else? Enhance... Oh, more enhancement skills? I see three more there. Let’s have a look on them. Enhance: Attack. Enhance: Defense. Enhance: Regeneration. Definitely useful stuff. But I guess that’s it, other skills are passives. Bonus to HP. Bonus to stamina. etc. etc.

Not bad for just one level. Now I have to beat up more mobs and I should get more skills.

Oh, and I should thank slimes. They were really helpful.’

„Thanks, guys. I really do appreciate your help.”

They all jiggled, the one with sword waved lightly with its weapon as it wanted to say „No worries, no worries!”.

‘Still, we’re within Nagato's territory, so how did this thing end up here? True, trees are quite concentrated here, but mobs shouldn’t spawn here. Plus,’ she looked up at the wall in not big distance from her, up to 10 metres. ‘there is this wall, which is even weirder. I will check out surroundings.’

Hotaru started moving towards the wall, when she approached it, she started looking for holes or anything that something could come through.

‘Where is it... Where is it... There has to be something, because it’s impossible to-' at this moment she noticed something odd at the bottom of wall close to coast. ‘Oh! As I said, there had to be something. Eeeh? That’s quite a hole.’ It was enough big to fit an adult direwolf, which was same size as an normal wolf. Maybe a little bit bigger...

„No wonder this wolfie was able to go through it. I’m curious what’s on the other side.” she continued talking to herself. ‘Maybe slimes know?’ she turned to them.

„You think it’s okay for me to go there?”

They cheerfully bounced through the hole. They had finally something else to do than just roaming in rectangle 10m x 20m.

„Guess that’s ‘yeah’.” and she followed them.

As she managed to get on the other side, something came to her mind.

‘I wonder if they know that they have a hole in there. I’ll have to mention that to Yoko-san when I’ll be at Guild. Anyway...’ she turned around towards forest. ‘That looks more like there will be some creatures.’

Forest was spreading out as far as Hotaru could see. It seemed like it had no end. It was going hundreds of kilometers to the north-west to the Sylvan's territory. The closer to it, the denser was forest. It used to be a home for both elves and dragons, who lived in symbiotic relationship, currently these two nations separated from themselves due to internal conflict. Part of elves has been banished, many has died during multiple skirmishes. Refugees has spreaded around the world in search of place, where they could live a normal life. Nowadays the conflict seems to be lighter after more than 300 years, but a spark would be enough to light it up again.

Girl tried to find out in which way slimes went to. They weren’t in front of her. She checked right then. They weren’t there as well. So it meant they should be on left. They were there. Already lively chasing after something.

‘These guys... Absolutely unbelievable...’ she seemed to still not get used to their way of being.

„Hey, hey! I’m still here, you know?!” and she went after them.

She eventually caught up to them and their prey, which was a wild boar. As before, they left the final blow to Hotaru. Thanks for that, she received some experience points, but not enough to level up.

„You know guys, I’m thankful for what you’re doing for me, but...

Can I do something more than just finish off leftovers? Arms are not aching that much, so...”

Actually she was right. If she will just keep finishing off what slimes caught, she won’t be able to progress. Ability to fighting with wild animals is a basic. Fortunately, Hotaru had an opportunity to train with creatures that are above this level. Nevertheless it would be good for her to slay few boars by herself.

Forest was full of wild animals and monsters. Finding a potential training dummy shouldn’t be a problem in this case. Slimes already found a group of boars a bit further from them. They let her know about it, while she wanted to do something more.

‘Four boars. Hmm... I should be okay. I just need to think how to take them down quickly. Maybe it’s time to use new skills?’

She recalled having attack and defense enhancements, as well as Slash skill. Enhancements didn’t seem to be mutually exclusive, so it could be considered that it’s fine to use them both at the same time.

„Enhance: Attack! Enhance: Defense!”

It worked straight away and Hotaru already started feeling difference.

‘Oooh, I can already tell the difference! And I still feel okay after casting them. Ok then! Let's gooo~!’

With that she rushed into boars and was about to use skill.

„Slash!”

But it had no effect.

‘Crap, why it didn’t work?! Ugh, better rely on normal attacks.’

She was thinking of dealing huge amount of damage, so they wouldn’t be able to run away. She was trying her best through slashing boars, but Hotaru was still lacking experience and two boars managed to get away.

Slimes were only observing her. For someone who barely had any combat experience, she wasn’t doing that awfully bad. Players could catch up things much more quicker, for example – normally to learn swordmanship you have to spend many years training, while Hotaru, well, definitely less time. Guess that’s how things are in games, right?

Killing two boars gained her enough experience to level up again.

‘Oh? Already? That was quick.’ she didn’t expect that those two were enough. ‘What have I gained now... Ahh, I haven’t checked stats earlier! But I don’t think there will be much to be excited about, so... whatever. But, in Skills there is something to be excited~. New skills? Upgrade to skills? Hmm, I think only upgrade to existing ones. To Enhance: Attack and Enhance: Defense... So, to the ones I just used? Okay, that’s fine. They cost less mana to activate them. Not bad. Oh, I’ll check the Slash skill’s description. Maybe I did something wrong while trying to use it?’

Slash Lv. 1

Use your weapon to slash through the enemy while dealing physical damage.

Hotaru stared at it for few moments as she couldn’t believe how humble this description was.

„So how am I supposed to use it?!” it slipped out from her. ‘I literally used it as it says and nothing happened. My goodness... I hope the others won’t be that problematic.’

Meanwhile slimes approached her.

„So, how was it?” she asked them.

It was hard to tell what they tried to say, but for them she wasn’t that horrible. But she was lacking experience. Plus, she wasn’t that powerful to take out all four boars enough quickly so they wouldn’t escape.

„If I would be a mage, such a petty group shouldn’t be a problem for me.”

Out of nowhere it came to her mind to check the time.

‘I wonder how much time has passed... AAAAAH, crap! Need to take a break now!’

„Hey, hey, guys! I need to go for some time, but I’ll be back in no time, so don’t kill all boars in forest, okay?” she was talking so quickly that slimes barely got what she meant by that and very soon after she was gone.

They got the thing that she will be back soon, so they were wandering near the spot they saw her last time. She appeared after several minutes.

„Sorry to make you waiting! So, shall we continue?”

Hotaru spent next few hours on beating wild animals in the forest. She was getting better and better in it, she could even predict after many tries opponents' movements. She reached lvl 10 in this time and gained more skills which she didn’t know how to use. Her base enhancements leveled up as well and casting them was even more easier than before. It was very fruitful day for her.

Many hours of constant sword-swinging could be very exhausting and Hotaru started feeling it.

„Guys,” she turned to slimes. „I think I’ll call it a day, I’m really tired. Besides that...” she had a look around and noticed no soul there. It was peacefully quiet, birds weren’t singing from some time.

„It wouldn’t be good idea to depopulate this forest more. Can you lead the way, please?”

They moved back to Nagato. After going through the hole it was time to part ways.

„I’ll be going further to the centre, so we’ll part ways here, I guess.”

She crouched and turned to slimes. She spent some good time in their company. Despite being low-tiered monsters, they helped her a lot and were incredibly understanding for a slimes possessing such intelligence. It turned out they were incredibly friendly towards her.

„You know, I’m really thankful for your help. I think I said it before, but you know your stuff. Also, I’m curious who had enough imagination to learn you that. Still, I’m not sure how many of my words you can understand, so I think, that would be the best to do.”

She bowed lightly to them.

„Thank you.”

She couldn’t do it more simply, but message was enough clear for them.

„It’s not a goodbye, we will probably pass each other at some point, but I want to polish my skills and it requires doing more than just slaying forest animals. So, I’ll be moving on. Um...”

She had in mind to offer them help if she will be nearby, but currently she required more help than trained-in-battle slimes.

„I’ve wanted to say that you can count on me on anything, but, I guess, you’ll be fine comparing to me.” she giggled lightly. „Anyway, if there will be something I can do for you, count me in, ok?”

After that she stood up and was ready to go.

„See you later, guys! Take care of yourselves!”

She waved to them and headed in the Guild's direction. It was late afternoon, more people had appeared since morning, so it was even harder to get there, but somehow she managed to do it.

„Okay, let’s log off here.”