Shiro sighed in exhaustion—mentally. His entire slime body was covered in monster blood from head to toe, the result of an intense hunt and practice. The thick scent of iron clung to him, making him grimace.
"If only Rimuru had learned cleaning magic from Shuna..."
He had asked [Great Sage] about it, but unfortunately, Rimuru had never acquired such a spell. The skill could be created, but without proper references and enough information, it wouldn't be refined enough for practical use.
Of course, he could simply absorb the blood and gore into his body and be done with it, but just the thought made his stomach churn. That would be no different from eating raw monster flesh.
"Maybe I should go to Frieren's world and learn her magic… or pass Serie's exam and ask for a proper cleaning spell."
Imagining Serie's reaction made Shiro snicker.
As he pondered, an idea suddenly struck him.
"Wait—can't I use [Gluttony] to envelop my entire body and absorb all the filth?"
[Affirmative.]
Without hesitation, black smoke erupted from his body, wrapping around him like living tendrils. In an instant, every trace of blood and gore vanished, as if they had never existed. Though the method was technically no different from absorbing it directly, it felt much cleaner to Shiro—at least mentally.
Looking ahead, he spotted a large pond in the middle of nowhere, its crystal-clear waters shimmering under the moonlight.
"I'm already here—I might as well enjoy a good dip."
With a thought, Shiro's clothes, created using [Material Creation], sparkled before vanishing into his [Stomach] via [Dress Change].
Under the moon's gentle glow, his figure was fully revealed—his perfectly sculpted physique blending masculinity with an otherworldly androgynous beauty. His smooth, flawless skin reflected the pale light, and his ethereal charm was something that could topple kingdoms.
Unfortunately, there was no one to witness such a sight.
Shiro glanced down at his lower half.
"Tch, my son didn't make it."
Using his understanding of his human body, he could recreate his 'son' with full functionality, even adjusting its size at will—an ability most men would kill for. However, as a slime, procreation was out of the question. Slime monsters in Tensura had no real gender, and reproduction between monsters often resulted in severe energy loss for both parties—especially females—sometimes even leading to death. It wasn't a major concern, though—his human identity could still reproduce just fine.
"Why am I even thinking about this?"
Shaking his head, he pushed aside the fleeting vision of himself surrounded by a loving family of wives and children.
Just then—a presence approached.
Shiro stiffened. [Great Sage] hadn't issued a warning, meaning the newcomer bore no hostility. Still, caution was always the best option. He swiftly hid behind a large rock, waiting until the presence entered his detection range.
Then—he saw her.
The silver glow of the moon bathed the tranquil forest, its light weaving through the dense canopy and illuminating the serene pond. A ripple broke the water's surface as a lone figure stepped in, her delicate toes sinking into the cool embrace of the crystalline depths.
Standing in the center of the pond was an elf—her golden hair cascading in gentle waves down her back, shimmering under the moon's radiance. Strands clung to her bare shoulders, glistening like spun gold as droplets rolled down her flawless skin.
Her pointed ears twitched slightly at the nocturnal sounds, but her expression remained tranquil, lost in a moment of quiet solitude.
The breeze caressed her fair skin, raising faint goosebumps. She dipped her hands into the water and lifted them to her face, letting the cool liquid trickle down her collarbone.
Her luminous blue eyes—like the endless night sky—gazed at her reflection, distorting with the ripples she made. With a slow, graceful movement, she submerged herself, the water enveloping her slender frame. Her soft curves disappeared beneath the pond's surface, leaving only the glistening crown of her hair visible before she resurfaced with a sigh.
Droplets clung to her form like tiny stars, her breath steady as she savored the peaceful night.
An owl hooted in the distance. The rustling of leaves hinted at unseen creatures moving through the undergrowth. Yet, the elf paid them no mind.
Unbeknownst to her, hidden behind a rock, a pair of stunned eyes stared in dumb silence.
Shiro had unknowingly stumbled upon a moonlit spectacle.
And they were completely, utterly naked.
Even worse—Shiro had unknowingly stepped out from his hiding spot, his slack-jawed expression on full display. If the Goddess Demeter was a gorgeous beauty, then the elf before him was like a fairy straight out of an ethereal dream.
Noticing the disturbance in the water, the elf became instantly alert, her sharp gaze shifting toward Shiro's direction.
She tensed at first—but as her eyes fully registered him, her wariness gave way to stunned silence.
She had never—ever—seen such beauty in her life.
Not even her fellow elves could compare. No, comparison itself was an insult. Even the gods and goddesses she had encountered in her journey paled in contrast.
And then… she noticed something.
Yep, him. Despite his androgynous appearance, Ryuu Lion immediately recognized Shiro as a male.
Because of the monster hidden between his legs.
Her entire face turned a shade of crimson so deep it could rival the setting sun. Forget caution. Forget dignity. She was now a blushing, flustered mess, hands snapping up to cover her face—except she made the tragic mistake of leaving tiny gaps between her fingers, through which her bright blue eyes continued to shamelessly peek at him from head to toe.
Shiro, feeling her intense gaze practically burning into him, was the first to snap back to reality.
With a panicked yelp, he scrambled to cover his privates, his arms crossing over himself like a damsel protecting her virtue from a lecherous noble.
"W-Wait! Stop staring! It's indecent!"
Ryuu, finally realizing what she was doing, nearly choked on her own breath. Her arms flailed wildly before she, too, scrambled to cover herself, her movements so frantic that she nearly lost her balance in the water.
Still, the two just stared at each other, frozen in mutual horror.
An awkward silence stretched between them, thick enough to cut with a sword.
"H-Hi, uh… sorry, I didn't mean to peek." Shiro was the first to break the unbearable silence. "I'm Shiro."
Hearing his words, Ryuu felt her embarrassment deepen. She was the one who had been peeking more intensely! If anything, he should be the one throwing accusations!
"I—I'm Ryuu. Ryuu Lion," she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.
This was the worst.
Or maybe… the best?
Ryuu, a proud elf who had long viewed her own people's obsession with beauty as shallow, was now the victim of her own hypocrisy. She, who once scoffed at the idea of being captivated by mere appearances, had just been struck speechless by a single look at this strange, impossibly beautiful and charming man.
Ryuu Lion—the waifu Ryuu Lion.
Shiro nearly jumped out of the water, but his rationality barely managed to hold him back. He didn't want to give her a bad impression.
Taking a deep breath to calm himself, he activated [Material Creation] and conjured two towels, similar to the ones found in the bathhouses back on Earth. The fabric materialized in his hands as if woven from the very air itself.
Ryuu stared in stunned silence, her sky blue eyes widening as she tried to process what had just happened. Shiro approached her slowly, making sure to keep his gaze away from her exposed figure.
"Here," he said, extending one of the towels toward her. "You can use this to cover yourself."
Ryuu snapped out of her daze, but instead of taking the towel, she suddenly grabbed Shiro's shoulders. "What was that just now? Was it magic? Or a skill? Are you an adventurer?" she asked in rapid succession, her tone urgent and exited.
Shiro stiffened at the unexpected physical contact. He did his best to maintain eye contact, though his embarrassment was evident in the way he carefully avoided letting his eyes wander.
Ryuu, noticing his awkward expression, immediately realized her mistake. Her already reddened face deepened in color, and her pointed ears twitched involuntarily. She quickly let go of him, her fingers trembling slightly as she finally accepted the towel he had offered. Glancing down at herself, she hesitated before voicing a subconscious thought.
"Is… my figure not to your liking?"
Shiro blinked, momentarily taken aback. His hands hovered in the air as if unsure of what to do, but after a brief hesitation, he placed them gently on her shoulders.
"You're perfect the way you are," he said, his voice unwavering.
Ryuu's lips parted slightly, a quiet hum escaping her throat. Her gaze lingered on his hands—firm yet gentle. She could feel the warmth seeping into her skin, and for a reason she couldn't quite explain, she didn't find his touch unpleasant.
Realizing his mistake, Shiro immediately withdrew his hands. "I'm sorry for touching you," he said, taking a step back.
"No, it's fine," Ryuu replied, her voice softer than before. "I was the one who touched you first."
She clenched the towel in her hands, her fingers gripping the fabric tightly. There was an unfamiliar feeling welling up inside her—a sense of warmth and security, as if she were standing beneath the sacred tree of her homeland. Unconsciously, she longed for it.