"My bride, what would you like for breakfast? I can sense some dust hares and sound sparrows in the vicinity. If not, there appear to be some ants of earth elements below us. In fact, quite a few nests even from where we are standing."

Eri scrunched up her face at the man with green hair. "...please enjoy your ants by yourself. I'll hunt for some dust hares."

Eri tightened the laces of her boots and unsheathed her dagger.

"My bride-"

Eri scrunched up her face at the slime man.

"Stop calling me 'bride', I feel like I'm going to punch you in the face if I hear that one more time!"

"Oh how tough, I don't mind if you swoop your fist of love into my face. My bride sure is cute isn't she,"

"Eri!! My name is Eri, and let's get the dust hares now."

"Well yes, my Eri."

... ...

Oh bummer, I never got to hear his name, human etiquette doesn't apply, right? Yup, he's a slime and a madman to top it off. He was probably something along the lines of #348 slime of plant element in his tribe or something.

Now that I think about it, he would make a really great party member to my one-man party. I've been suffering from mediocre results for the longest time. He can be the key to my big break!!

"Err, Slime! You have exploration skills, don't you? Can you point out the hares for us?"

"My pleasure."

The man's arms dissolved into a green jelly-like whip and snapped into the bushes. A small thump sounded and the green whip retrieved a limp dust hare.

I stood agape with surprise and looked at the slime man.

"Tha-that was quick!!"

The slime man made a self-deprecating smile, "I'm afraid that was nothing much, but I am happy that you're impressed. However, there is a particular skill I'm rather proud of, please keep your eyes open for this trick."

The dust hare was raised in midair while the green whip expanded and completely submerged it. Through the manoeuvring of the slime, the hare's limbs were lifted apart and separated. The slime covering the hare underwent a shock and removed the hare's fur in an instant. What was left was a small form obscured in a mass of blood.

"Hhii-..."

My finger pointing at the sight trembled, but I felt weak in the knees.

Then my sight turned white.

... ...

"Eri? Were you so hungry you fainted?"