After Gina and Devin left, they didn't go to area B. They went straight out of the forest in a hurry.

... ...

"Rei, sorry about that.."

"My Eri, there's no reason for you to apologise."

Rei stroked Eri's cheek with a smile, and unknowingly, a faint flush dyed her cheeks.

"Ehm...I was wondering, why would they come to the forest? They're also low-ranked adventurers. It doesn't make sense for them to come out during slime mating season."

"The slime mating season has ended, my Eri."

"What? So quickly? How many days did I black out for?"

"It should be about 3 days. Slimes reproduce fairly quickly, much like cloning, so the mating period should have calmed down by now."

"Eh! Won't the slime dungeon be overpopulated?"

"Well, many adventurers head there for demon nuclei."

Eri was widened her eyes but then her face distorted into a grimace.

"I'm sorry! That was insensitive. Do you want to go back home? You don't have to follow me..."

Eri felt a bit regretful. She had only just met Rei, it was frustrating how he kept pestering her from the get-go, but it seemed a bit sad that they had to part so quickly.

Rei's eye's flashed, he took in all the changes in Eri's expressions. She was confused, shocked, sad, worried, and finally gloomy. From the moment He had met this human girl, she was full of life and different feelings. He really liked it. He liked how she easily expressed her anger and discontent but was completely clueless when she was pleased with something. This affection began from the moment he met Eri.

Family?

Friends?

He never felt anything like this with m slimes.

"I can't be more concerned, my Eri. Inferior demons such as slimes don't have things such as affection, family or friends. Even mating is purely an act of instinct. Demons and beasts devour each other's nuclei anyway. It's a rule of survival and a requirement for growth."

Eri frowned worriedly at Rei's explanation, but he looked unaffected—still carrying his nonchalant smile.

The world of beasts and demons were much crueller than she previously had an understanding of. However, a small part her was somewhat pleased. She didn't have a family, close friends or people who loved her.

They were both just as alone as each other.

"Rei...what if someone finds out that you're a slime when we go back to town? Your nucleus will be in danger."

A playful light shone in Rei's eyes.

"Is Eri worried about me?"

"...Hah?"

Eri pulled a face at Rei and ignored him.

Rei didn't remind Eri that he had already gained a real heart. Even so, what kind of human would find trouble with a superior demon, to begin with?

They cleaned up the blood and waste from processing the beast corpses and travelled back to town.

... ...

Rustle. Crunch.

"Is it them?"

A monkey-faced man pointed at the pretty pair from a distance.

"Yeah it's the green haired couple like they said! The man should be loaded. We're lucky a foreigner strayed into town. Heh, the entire town security is corrupt. When he's robbed clean, even they wouldn't bother with him."

The man with a stout figure handed a poisoned dart to his monkey-faced companion.

"This is my newly developed fast-acting poison. I didn't think I would get to test it out so early."

They trailed quietly behind the pair. Finally, the stout man motioned to his accomplice with a hand sign and they blew the darts.

Puh! Puh!

A poisoned dart flew straight for Rei's neck, the skin there rippled, and the dart disappeared into his body. He caught the other dart right before it pierced Eri, and turned around.

"Is this part of a human gifting ritual?"

Rei aimed his elegant smile into the dark space between the trees.

"I have enjoyed your gifts. Let me return the same to you."

The dart in Rei's hand shot into the darkness several times faster than earlier. At the same time, another dart burst out from his chest and aimed at the second body in the dark.

"Hiiii! H-"

Shrill screams were followed by two dull thumps on the ground.

"Ahhh?!"

Eri held her neck and took a few steps back.

"What, assassins!"

"No Eri, they gave gifts. But I've returned with just as much sincerity."

"..."

Eri shook her head and kept quiet. Did Rei really think it was a friendly gesture?

After they left, several wolves passed by and found two human bodies lying in a pool of damp bloody soil—each with a small hole in the chest and the same wide-eyed expression.