Tensei Shitara Slime Datta Ken novel Chapter 24

Fire pouring from the sky like rain... that's the first scene I remember.

My mother's hand, that I held so dearly, seemed far too light.

I was afraid to look above it.

The napalm bursting in the air turns my surroundings into a sea of flames.

Should I run someplace?

Everything is covered in fire...

Izawa Shizue was slowly drowning in despair.

And then, she felt she was bathed in strong light...

Ah... so this is where I die...

She was just a young girl, but that much she could understand.

She was four at the time.

With no relatives, she lived alone with her mother.

Her father was drafted, and his face she could not recall.

She felt neither blessed nor unfortunate. That being the norm, she could do naught but accept.

"Do you wish to live? If you desire life, answer my call!"

A voice resounded in her head.

Do I want to live? Why? I don't understand.

She was too young to answer such a question.

However... looking at her mother who was reduced to nothing but a hand... I want to live! She screamed.

ï¼"ï¼"Acknowledged. Answering the summoner's request... success＞＞

I want to live without having to fear the fire!

ï¼"ï¼"Acknowledged. Acquiring Extra Skill [Fire Manipulation]... success＞＞

The next time I opened my eyes I was in a demon's lair.

The one in front of me, was a beautiful Demon Lord.

Long golden hair, blue eyes. A well ordered face, almond shaped eyes.

And skin so pale it's almost transparent.

So beautiful that it wouldn't be strange to mistake him for a woman.

Leon Cromwell.

He is whom the humans call the Demon Lord. Also known as the Blond Devil.

ŒAah... failed again.

He so muttered, losing interest in her.

However, he did not kill the girl whose body was covered in burns.

She did not matter to him.

And the girl, found that fact vexing.

Even now she sometimes recalls. That beautiful face. And, the arrogant eyes, devoid of interest.

But at the time, she could only survive by clinging to him,

In the end, she was saved by the Demon Lord's whim.

ŒWait a second...

She reached out to him.

"Maybe he, beautiful like an angel, would heal my pain?" So she thought, but...

ŒThought it was just trash, but this thing is suitable with fire, huh.

With those words, he called forth the Flame Giant Ifrit. With no incantation, as if he were breathing.

And the summoned Ifrit, obeyed without question.

ŒI bestow upon you flesh. Use it!

Those words, to the girl, became undeniable proof dashing her hopes.

And thus, the pain she felt turned into hatred"

As this curse (trauma) engraved itself upon her heart.

However, is can also be said that this possession enabled her to keep her life.

Since then, how much time had passed...?

As a flame demon, she ruled over one of the Demon Lord's castle. By his side, as a high demon.

*Gotsun gotsun gotsun*

The footsteps reverberated through the castle halls.

The Demon Lord had already ran away. Abandoning this castle.

The girl was the rear guard. A sacrificial piece.

The Demon Lord had treated her as a tool until the very end. Nothing had indicated otherwise.

The one who was approaching was the "Hero".

Long black hair gathered into a ponytail, and covering her body"black light armor.

A beauty that would rival the Demon Lord. The only difference, the hero was a woman.

With one glance, she was certain.

I can't win!

When that thought overpowered Ifrit's minds, a little of the girl's ego had returned.

She looked the hero in the eyes.

ŒHe.... help me...

Words that one'd easily ignored. Who'd trust the words of a demon...?

However,

ŒIt'll be fine from now on. Good job enduring this far!

And from then on she was cared by the hero.

The "Anti-demon Mask" she wore restrained Ifrit and hid her burns.

Her whole body she covered with a robe, and thus she followed the hero.

And one day, she came to be called the "Explosion Monarch".

Then one day the Hero left on a journey.

Her reason she did not understand. It was probably a reason the Hero could not ignore.

The girl as well planned similar action. That one day she'd set of on a journey.

To kill the Demon Lord.

Who had saved her life, and then threw her away.

That is, killing the demon lord Leon Cromwell became her life's goal.

Therefore, the girl hardly found the hero's actions reproachable.

But there was one regret left"she had never seen the hero's smile.

Since then, the girl became famous for her heroic deeds.

Sometimes called one of the founders of the Freedom Association, she had worked for the expansion and benefit of the Adventurer Cooperation Union.

She also took part training adventurers and her successors.

At one time, she had taught excellent pupils.

With a sincere, pure gaze"a boy. Kagurazaka Yuuki.

With a depressed gaze" a girl. Sakaguchi Hinata.

These two were excellent students and fellow Japanese World Travelers.

These two were polar opposites.

The bright and optimistic Yuuki, and the grudge-against-the-world Hinata.

"That's probably because Hinata was attacked the moment she came here."

So thought Shizue.

She was able to kill the assailants, and thus escaped safely, but probably made some frightening memories as a result.

She thought that Hinata was somehow similar to herself, and thus grew sympathetic.

But, that was a mistake.

ŒSensei, thank you for the care you have shown. I fear there is nothing else I can learn from you. Nor shall we meet again, I think.

With those words, and without a second glance, Hinata had left.

She, in a mere month, had surpassed Shizue in strength. Such overwhelming excellence...

After a few years, Hinata had received an important post within the empire, but was not satisfied.

Rather, she had treated the promotion with mild indifference...

In comparison, Yuuki was a sweet boy.

After the Adventurers Cooperation Union had formally changed its name to Freedom Association, Yuuki had introduced the current ranking system.

As a result of it, casualties during subjugation missions greatly decreased.

And thus, to this day.

Shizue had been supporting Yuuki behind the scenes.

That is, she no longer could do anything but guide new adventurers.

And, recently,

The time she spent as a demon have begun to haunt her in her dreams.

As her lifespan dwindled, she felt she was unable to restrain Ifrit's consciousness any longer.

However, the "anti-demon mask" has yet to fail her.

So she told herself, "I don't have long to live!"

"So, let's at least shoot an arrow at the demon lord."

Thus, she decided to set off.

Which she reported to Yuuki.

Without a word, he acknowledged her resolve. Perhaps he had wanted to stop her, but...

At the time, a message came from the the Farmas Kingdom's guild.

Veldora's disappearance confirmed. Will continue investigation!

Was it perhaps some divine guidance?

In any case, they needed help to break into the forest.

Someone needed to slip in with the trio.

Their specialties she had heard from Yuuki. And as she had heard, they were a cheerful bunch.

She was glad to have met such good companions on her last journey.

A strange city.

Saved by monsters, they were brought there.

Well, it wasn't really a city, though; lacking a single building, everyone lived in tents. Clearly a temporary measure.

Even so, it was full of life and monsters (!) happily worked there. A bizarre city.

It was unthinkable, in the first place, to be saved by monsters.

Had she used her flame power she could have easily burned away the giant ants; but, she felt that she shouldn't.

That is, each time she used her powers, Ifrit's consciousness would strengthen.

Her negligence could lead to her powers running wild.

Thus, she met a strange monster, with the attitude of a king, arrogantly carrying itself.

Amusing.

Although the monster could speak, the words uttered were,

"Although I am a slime, I am not an evil slime" and such!

A line that no one would ever believe.