Chapter Volume 8 2: Monster Slime

"Well then."

"Hey, are you sure you want to do this?"

A day had passed after they parted with Fiana and the others.

Yesterday, they set up camp and the exhausted soldiers rested, and today the full-scale activities for searching the goddess would begin.

The beastmen warriors, who were used to the forest, had gone into the forest with Fiana and Jenna, so the warrior priests and adventurers, who were unfamiliar with the forest, and the elven mages, who were not good at fighting in places with poor visibility, were to gather information about Frederica, a blonde-haired female mage, in a nameless village in the deep forest of Grabalt.

It was not a very big village.

If the two hundred or so people started gathering for information, it would be over in no time.

Fenelieka was the one complaining about it.

The red-haired succubus was not complaining because the target of their search was the goddess who was her enemy since the days of the Demon King, but she was simply complaining about the trouble she was going through and sounding distracted.

In fact, Kara, with her impressive black-rimmed glasses and white robe, was also giving off a slightly troubled vibe.

There was a feeling of, "If there are this many people, we don't have to do the asking ourselves."

"Please don't say that, Fenel-san. It might be quicker if we asked questions too."

"I don't think it would make that much difference if only four people were added to the number of about 200~."

"Well, I agree with you there. But it was better to be physically active than lazy and waste time."

Mariabelle was defended by the female scientist who had unkempt chestnut hair that grew messily low on her waist.

Her expression was adorned with black-rimmed glasses, a rarity in this world, and she was wearing a worn and shabby lab coat over a white blouse.

Underneath, she wore a pair of colorless shorts and black stockings.

Compared to Meltia and Fenelieka, who were by her side, her body lacked feminine curves, and the plain clothing she wore showed that she did not pay much attention to her appearance.

Her breasts, which were the same as that of a boy, her waist, which was hidden by her white robe, her beautiful legs, and her buttocks, which were covered by her shorts, were all magnificent, but they were mostly hidden by her white robe.

It was a shame, Mariabelle thought.

Her figure was not bad.

Her chestnut-colored hair would have a wonderful sheen if it were groomed, and her large, round, golden eyes seem to show her intelligent mind.

Kara knew that she did not dress herself properly because it was not that she did not think she had feminine charms, but if she were properly groomed and dressed, she would be as beautiful as a princess of a country.

Next to Kara was a beautiful elf with magnificent silver hair, inherited from her mother.

She had waist-length silver hair and half-elf ears that were short for an elf and long for a human.

She had red eyes like that of red jade and a small face that was attractive even to people of the same sex. Her skin was as white as snow.

She was short compared to Mariabelle, who was the little sister, and everyone knew that she liked to wear high heels in the castle because of that fact.

Despite her short stature, however, she had large breasts, and she was using her mother's favorite equipment that she used when the Demon King was defeated.

Her robe was woven from a special green-toned insect thread, her cloak was enchanted, and her thigh-high boots were made from the leather of a beast that resisted magic.

Between the robe and boots, a glaring white skin peeked out slightly, attracting the eyes of men just by that alone.

"Appetizing" was the word that came to mind.

It would be an impolite comment to make about the princess of a country, but surely, anyone who saw Meltia's figure would think of it at least once.

Compared to other women of her age, she was shorter but in contrast, her breasts were almost overwhelmingly large, her waist was beautifully rounded, and her buttocks were also large as her breasts.

Her robe's emphasis on her breasts had unintentionally revealed a deep cleavage that peeked out through a small opening. The valley rippled obscenely when Meltia took a single step, revealing its softness to the world around her.

In her hand, she held a large wooden staff as tall as she was, with a large jewel at its tip, which she also inherited from her mother.

While adjusting the position of the large, mage-like triangular hat that adorned the last part of her magnificent clothing, Meltia cast a worried glance at Mariabelle.

She understood that she was expected as a hero but that was why she thought she should rest her body.

But that was her opinion as an older sister.

She swallowed her words and smiled softly to reassure her sister, who felt her concern.

"But with all this attention, I don't think Mariabelle will be able to rest well."

Kara looked around as she said that.

Several of the knights were in pairs, wary of their surroundings even though they had not yet entered the forest.

They understand the threat of the slime.

Even though they were in a village, they never know what kind of things they might be mimicking or where they were hiding.

The fact that several people were acting in a tight group reduced the possibility of being wiped out in a surprise attack.

It was not only the knights of Fonteau. The same goes for the warrior priests of Lishlua and the adventurers.

Assuming that the forest was already overrun with slimes, they were always on the lookout.

Among them, the one who particularly attracted their attention was Mariabelle―― the black-haired hero who had recaptured Fonteau.

The mere presence of Mariabelle at the frontlines raised the morale of the knights and attracted their attention.

......Well, in other words.

"If you're not doing anything, they will feel restless."

"It can't be helped if you get this much attention."

Kara called out to Mariabelle, who smiled bitterly and pretended not to care too much.

Even though she was attracting their attention because she was Fonteau's princess, as the owner of black hair, which was proof of the hero, it would stand out.

The same was true even she was in the tent, and perhaps participating in gathering information, which was a distraction for Mariabelle.

"But if it was a slime that caught the goddess, I think Maria would have to fight it. You can leave the exhausting stuff to us, okay?"

"No, I can't do that, onee-sama. I must show that I'm active so that they will all feel at ease."

If Mariabelle took action with the knights, that alone would give people peace of mind.

They were protected by the hero.

"If something big happens, I won't be able to deal with it unless I'm there."

"That's......"

Meltia could not refute her words.

Even though she was the hero, she was not capable of teleporting or interfering with the past.

If a slime were to mimic and lurk in this village, there would be casualties among the knights and villagers.

However, if Mariabelle was patrolling with the knights, the danger would be greatly reduced.

While gathering information, they would be on the lookout for the surroundings.

It was easy to put into words, but......

"That's true, but... That's going to exhaust you more."

"Fufu. Thank you, Kara. For worrying about me."

Dressed in the armor worn by the previous hero, her dark-haired father, Mariabelle smiled at her concerned friend.

"We... am I included in that?"

Fenelieka asked the question, as though to break the serious talk.

Kara smiled and Meltia let out a sigh at the thoughtless remark.

"Isn't it obvious? Your skill of being able to fly is something that not even the bravest of heroes have."

"I'm very weak in battle!?"

"You can fly around and distract the enemy, can't you? Or else, get caught while we attack."

"Wait!? Meltia is enough for that kind of thing!"

"Why are you mentioning my name, Fenelieka-san!?"

"I've been caught too many times trying to save you. Many times."

"Uu... no, that's, um... b-but! Fenelieka-san too, caught by the tentacle..."

"That's right, it's called diversion."

"Mou, you always have some convenient things to say!"

There was the usual rowdy talk again, and that signaled that the "heavy talk" was over.

No, it would be more correct to say that Fenelieka had swung the conversation to change the mood, and Kara had taken advantage of it.

(Really, I can't stop thinking about you guys......)

Mariabelle cherished these friends. Loved and adored them.

Not only do they protect her back, but also support her heart.

Kara argued with good judgment, Fenelieka softened the mood, and Meltia made her know that she truly cared about her.

These friends were the best.

With these four, even if they were fighting against the Demon King, she felt that they would not be defeated.

(I wonder if otou-sama also felt this way when he was traveling with okaa-sama, Fornelis-sama, and Jenna-sama?)

Mariabelle had no memory of her father.

By the time she could remember, he had left this world.

Her mother Leticia explained that he had returned to his own world, but as a child, she sometimes felt "abandoned".

But when she grew up, she understood.

He also had a family in his original world.

He had a father, a mother, and someone he could call his best friend. Surely.

(I also want to protect my loved ones, and I will return to them.)

Emotions that were not present at the time of the decisive battle with the Black Ooze.

A feeling that she had finally understood in the past year―― no, in the year that she had regained the country, reunited with her mother, and with a heart that had room to spare.

With this feeling, Mariabelle thought she would never lose to anyone.

And she was sure that her father did too.

For her friends.

For her loved ones.

That kind of feeling gave her strength.

"Fufu."

When she thought of it, her glossy lips naturally parted and a pretty smile escaped.

She smiled like a woman of her age and covered her mouth with her right hand.

Meltia and Fenelieka, who had been quarreling amicably, noticed Mariabelle, who had relaxed, and stopped their arguing.

"What's wrong, Maria?"

"Yeah, hero-sama. Suddenly laughing."

"No. Onee-sama and Fenel-san are really close to each other."

When Mariabelle says that, Meltia's expression tensed.

"No, it's not like that at all, Maria."

"I'm sorry to hear that. Well, I do enjoy babysitting, right?"

"What babysitting!? I can protect myself!"

Meltia snapped at Fenelieka, who remained suspended in midair.

Although she was the older sister of Mariabelle, she was only as tall as her sister's shoulders in her dark green elven garb, but she was unaware of the fact that her breasts, which were heaped up in the garb she inherited from her mother, swing boldly whenever she made big movements.

It was one of the reasons why Fenelieka, a female succubus who normally feeds on the semen of men, made fun of Meltia.

She had attractive limbs, even from a woman's point of view.

And when it contained the enormous amount of mana inherited from her mother, it was a superb meal for a female succubus, even though she was a woman.

Well, the fact that she responded easily and loudly to her words like this was another reason to tease her.

As she was being bathed in mana overflowing from Meltia in this way, Kara clapped her hands.

"Yes, yes, that's enough fighting. No matter how much everyone else is listening in, as expected, we can't be playing around in public, so it's time for us to help out."

"Is that so."

"I'm going with Meltia-sama, so Maria keep an eye on Fenelieka."

"Watch... as if I'm always going somewhere."

"Do you always make fun of onee-sama, don't you?"

"Well, I won't deny it."

"Please deny it at least a little bit."

Fenelieka said it with an open smile, to which Mariabelle chuckled and chided at her.

However, Mariabelle didn't seem to be bothered by the comment, and she split up with Kara and the others.

"Mou, if you make too much fun of onee-sama, she will get angry with you."

"That's the point. She still responded well after a year, so I hang on, you know?"

"Fufu―― Jeez. But I am sure onee-sama is enjoying it in her heart. She also said that life in the castle was hard on her shoulders."

"I'm sure her shoulders are stiff for other reasons...... but I hope she's living life without a wrinkle between her eyebrows."

"Yes. To do so, we must quickly find Fasalina-sama and the dark-haired woman who was said to have been with the goddess."

"The new hero...... if the hero hated monsters, you better protect me, okay?"

"Yes, of course."

Mariabelle and Fenelieka proceeded deeper into the village, talking about such trivial matters.