TL-Cosmo
PR - Badboy
Read at asmotoon.com
The Second Encounter, Part Three
The debate over the weakest monster is a contentious one.
Some point to lesser bird species like the Silkbird, which lack combat strength, or to the smaller insect species.
Monsters like goblins and slimes also come up in the discussion.
There is no final answer to this debate.
For ages, people have argued the point—some in earnest and others in jest, but no single conclusion has ever satisfied everyone.
The focus of the argument and its outcome shift depending on what conditions one considers.
Still, there are leading candidates.
So, what of the debate over the weakest magical beast?
In addition to strength and the magic power it grants, the beast’s utility becomes a factor in this discussion.
What of the bird species? It is true that many are weak in combat and grant little magic.
However, they can perform tasks like transport and reconnaissance, and many people find them pleasing in appearance.
What of the insect species?
From flying gnats to crawling bugs, little can be expected of them in either combat or labor. Many also find their appearance repulsive.
However, insect species possess potential for evolution and special abilities that other species lack.
What of goblins?
Even in the debate over the weakest monster, there are many who would argue against them.
Everyone knows they are weak in both physical and magical strength—they are famous as the go-to monster for novice adventurers to hunt.
But goblins have a cunning that can’t be underestimated.
What of slimes?
They are often called the weakest of all.
It goes without saying that their physical and magical power is feeble, and they possess none of the utility of a bird, none of the potential of an insect, and none of the cunning of a goblin.
Their biology, in fact, remains a mystery. Attacks pass harmlessly through their translucent bodies.
But their weak point—the core—is clearly visible, their movements are sluggish, and they are not hostile toward humans, making them easy to defeat.
The greatest problem is that slimes are said to lack intelligence.
Other species possess intelligence, and as the relationship with their contractor deepens, the amount of magic they grant increases.
Even without intelligence, a beast can follow simple orders, but it cannot think for itself or carry out complex commands.
So, how does one deepen a relationship with a magical beast that has no intelligence?
It is, in fact, considered impossible.
Weak in strength, weak in magic, no special abilities, no intelligence, and unable to carry out complex commands.
Its biology is a mystery, its weak point is on full display, and while few people are truly repulsed by its appearance, its strange form can be seen as unsettling.
In sum: the weakest. That is the evaluation of the slime as a magical beast.
One might think that settles it, but because no one truly knows what they can or cannot do, and because those who contract slimes either hide the fact or are simply forgotten, they are often left out of the debate entirely.
However, it is said that the slime, with its mysterious biology, is never hostile to other monsters and can survive in any environment, giving it unparalleled survivability.
No one knows if this is actually true, but one thing is certain: the image most people have of slimes is not a good one.
Everyone in the hall looked on with pity as Zeke cried.
This was the one great chance in his life.
His hope of escaping the slums had been crushed—or so they thought.
A soldier, having lowered his spear once the magic circle’s light faded, gently led Zeke away.
As he watched his friend being led to a corner of the room, clutching the slime, even Rau could not find the words to say to him.
Once away from the magic circle, Zeke continued to cry in the corner, holding the slime.
No one could have known they were tears of joy.
Everyone there believed, without a doubt, that Zeke was in the throes of despair.
“I’m sorry for not understanding you before. I won’t make the same mistake this time.”
With the soldier gone, Zeke was free to speak to the slime alone.
In his past life, when the slime had been summoned, Zeke had refused to accept reality and had rejected it.
Now, he had no intention of doing so.
On the contrary—he was grateful.
“Thank you for coming to me again, when I’m like this.”
He squeezed the slime in a tight hug, and its body distorted around his arms.
It neither resisted nor tried to escape, simply remaining in his embrace.
“Is it all right if I call you Fios again? It’s from the goddess Alfiochent, the one who gives alms even to us in the slums.”
The surface of the slime—of Fios—quivered.
At the same time, Zeke understood that it was a feeling of joy.
Their Link was already growing stronger.
It might not be the same slime. The thought had crossed his mind for a moment, but watching things unfold, nothing had changed from his memories. Zeke knew it was the same one.
“I see… I see, you’re happy.”
Just as he began to calm down, tears welled up again.
His first life had not been one he could be proud of—a life filled with so much jealousy, regret, and self-reproach that there had been no room for anything else.
A life without jealousy or regret was likely impossible.
Still, he would try to make choices he wouldn’t regret. He would take a hard look at what he had, so he wouldn't feel jealous. He would live his life that way.
With Fios, he could do it.
He would see it through.
“Zeke…”
In reality, Zeke was weeping with emotion as he hugged the slime, but to Rau, it looked as though his friend had curled into a ball in the corner, trying to stifle his sobs.
He looked down at his own magical beast.
As if sensing his master’s complex emotions, the Thunderlight Tiger just stared back at Rau.
He regretted showing off so thoughtlessly.
Any words he offered now would sound like a boast.
It was the first time Rau had seen Zeke cry—Zeke, who always seemed so clever, so cheerful, no matter how hard things got.
Whenever Rau had cried, Zeke had always been there for him. But now, he didn't know if someone like him deserved to be by Zeke’s side.
“Hey, Rau! You went ahead and did it already!”
Just as everyone from the first group was finishing their contracts, another wave of children entered the hall.
The slums were surprisingly large, and the soldiers had only been told to go and gather the children; there was no way they could all be brought in at once.
The plan was to bring them in several batches, divided by district.
The official was still here.
It seemed he only intended to work for the very first group.
These were the children called up after Rau and Zeke’s group had been assembled.
A girl spotted Rau standing there, unable to approach Zeke, and called out to him.
Her fiery red hair stood out the most. Even beneath the grime, it was clear she'd be beautiful if cleaned up.
It was Eni, a friend of Rau and Zeke.
She bounded over to Rau like a young fawn, stopping just short as she noticed the Thunderlight Tiger he had contracted.
“Whoa, is that a…”
“Ah, yeah…”
“That’s amazing! Just like you, Rau! I don't know what it is, but it looks super strong!”
You’re the amazing one
Rau couldn’t help but think.
Eni approached the Thunderlight Tiger, which everyone else had been avoiding, and began to stroke its belly.
Rau and the others stared, dumbfounded. The Thunderlight Tiger gave her a momentarily wary look, but Eni felt no shock of lightning as she enjoyed the feel of its fur.
Just as the thoroughly petted tiger seemed ready to abandon its pride and begin to purr, Eni remembered something and looked around.
“By the way, where’s Zeke? You two probably came together, right?”
“Zeke’s… over there.”
“Over there? …Zeke, what’s wrong?”
Rau hesitated for a moment before pointing toward Zeke.
In the direction he indicated, Zeke was still huddled on the floor.
Worried that something had happened, Eni rushed over to him.
Hearing a familiar voice, Zeke looked up.
The girl running toward him, her red hair swaying, was much younger than he remembered.
Zeke’s eyes were completely red from crying, which startled Eni.
Not knowing the circumstances, she had thought he was just sulking in the corner, but she never imagined he was actually crying.
The sight of Zeke in tears shocked her more than the Thunderlight Tiger.
“Erins… no, Eni, is that you? Ah…!”
“Are you okay, Zeke? What happened? Hey, wait… seriously, what’s wrong…”
Once you start crying, you stay fragile until you've calmed down.
Seeing Eni, Zeke began to cry anew and, overwhelmed with emotion, pulled her into a hug.
For Zeke, it was an embrace of reunion. For Eni, he was just a friend she had seen yesterday.
She blushed as he held her a little too tightly.
Flapping her hands helplessly, she debated whether to hug him back to comfort him, but she was too embarrassed and decided to just let herself be held.
This small drama in the corner—with everyone else captivated by the summonings, no one was watching.
No one, that is, except Rau.
