Infinite Adaptation: Starting As A Level 1 Slime-Chapter 13: Eternal Moon

They arrived at the barrier.

"Forgive me," he said quietly. "This might hurt a bit."

Before she could realize what was happening, a mana barrier extended from his slime body, encasing Luna entirely. Then his form expanded and swallowed her whole.

This was much faster than having to explain.

She should be fine, right?

He had encased her in a powerful magic barrier before taking her in, so she should be safe in the storage space. Besides, he could perceive everything inside there. He would know immediately if anything happened.

With that settled, he pushed himself toward the tiny opening in the barrier.

Thanks to his flexible slime body, he easily managed to squeeze through.

Phew. Finally out.

He looked back at the barrier he had just passed through and noticed the hole.

Umm... what do I do about this?

The person who left the barrier wouldn’t be angry at him for breaking it, right?

He extended his body, patting the small hole with some barrier magic he had learned from his analysis.

Then he stepped back.

There. Good as new.

Although it was just for show and not nearly as strong as the original.

Well, he tried.

He didn’t want to be found here by whatever creature was breaking through the other barrier.

He bounced toward the massive gate. He didn’t have the strength to open it, but that didn’t matter. His form flattened, and he slipped through the tiny gaps beneath the stone doors.

...

On the other side of the barrier, a figure materialized from swirling darkness.

Its form was concealed by a dark cloak.

"What an interesting creature," the figure spoke, extending a hand toward the barrier.

The patch the slime had just placed shattered instantly.

"I just used all my strength to break through the Abyss. Almost died fighting the guardian. I had thought I would perish in this place."

The figure’s voice carried a hint of amusement.

"To think I’d encounter something so interesting. It’s a good thing I chose to let it go rather than kill it. Now I have the chance to leave this place."

A low, rasping laugh echoed through the chamber.

"Hehehe... I’ll definitely repay this favor when we meet again, strange slime."

With that, the figure dissolved into dark mist and slipped through the tiny hole in the barrier.

...

He looked up at the sky - a vast expanse of blue stretching endlessly above him. And there, hanging in that endless blue, was the sun.

The actual sun.

"I’m finally out!" he shouted, his small form bouncing with uncontained joy.

He calmed himself after a moment, settling back down.

Hmm, but why do I have a bad feeling about this?

He paused.

Ah, must be nothing.

On the bright side...I’m finally free.

He began bouncing across the ground, moving in a random direction. He didn’t even know where he was, but he sure was glad to be out of that place. A little tune escaped him as he hopped along, something between humming and singing.

Freedom. Sweet, sweet freedom.

"Umm... can I take that back?"

He found himself surrounded.

A group of people had encircled him, their expressions tense and wary.

People? Well, they did seem human. If you ignored the tails and rabbit ears, that is.

There were about ten of them, all pointing their weapons at him. Well, not really weapons - they looked more like farm tools. Pitchforks. Hoes. A rake.

"You guys don’t happen to eat slimes, right?"

They didn’t respond. Just stared at him.

After a moment, one of them stepped forward. A lean-looking man with gray-furred ears. He gestured for the others to lower their weapons, and they obeyed without question.

The man clasped his hands together and bowed slightly.

"Greetings, Senior. What brings you to our territory?"

Territory?

And... Senior?

He was just a slime. If he remembered correctly, weren’t slimes considered the lowest of the low? Was the situation different in this world?

"Senior?" he asked. "I’m just a simple slime. How could I be a senior?"

The man bowed deeper. "Please, Senior, do not joke like that. We can clearly feel your immense magic radiating all around us. We even felt it from our village."

He froze.

Magic? Radiating?

He paused, a realization dawning on him.

It was Mana Sense.

Since he didn’t have eyes, he had been using Mana Sense to see. And since not every place was rich in mana, he had been using Mana Manipulation to blast mana everywhere around him so he could see properly.

Essentially making a torch.

But he seemed to have forgotten something rather important.

He was going around blasting his mana everywhere just to see. Practically announcing to everyone and their parents that he was here.

He sighed internally.

But what am I supposed to do? I don’t have any other way to see.

At the same time, he didn’t want to broadcast his location to the entire world just so he could navigate.

That reminds me...

He quickly released Luna from storage.

I almost forgot about her.

The white wolf materialized beneath him, blinking in confusion at the sudden change in surroundings. Maybe he could use her. She had eyes, so she could guide them while he figured out a solution to this problem.

A tiny slime appendage formed and patted Luna’s head gently.

"Just follow my lead," he whispered to her.

Then he turned to the group.

"My apologies. I didn’t know this was your territory. I’ll be leaving right away..."

Before he could finish, every single one of them dropped to their knees.

Eh?

Their foreheads pressed against the ground in perfect unison.

"We greet the Moon Goddess!" they called out. "Please forgive our ignorance!"

Eh?

The Moon what now?

They remained prostrated, heads fixed firmly to the earth.

He cleared his throat.

"You there," he said, gesturing at the man who had spoken before. "Explain what is happening. What do you mean by ’Moon Goddess’?"

Are they talking about Luna?

She was indeed a Moonlight Fenrir. And now that he thought about it, maybe they had confused Luna for the Eternal Moon. Her mother.

He felt a spike of panic.

No. They can’t think that.

If these people recognized the Eternal Moon, she definitely wasn’t simple. And if there were others who recognized her too, they couldn’t let anyone associate them with her. What if she had grudges? What if she had enemies?

Absolutely not.

"You must be mistaken," he said quickly. "This here is Luna. Not the Eternal Moon."

The group exchanged glances with each other, whispers passing between them.

"Tell them, Luna," he said, tapping her head.

"Luna is Luna," she announced. "And Mama is Mama."

Not helping.

The whispers grew more fervent. Then the man from before raised his head, his expression reverent.

"There is no need to test us, great ones. We, the beastmen, have always believed in and worshiped the Goddess." His voice trembled with emotion. "It is said that on the night of the brightest moon, the Moon Goddess Lunaris will return... with her daughter, Luna."

Eh?

Eh?

Eeeeehhhh?!