Eri recognised a familiar figure when she arrived at the restaurant with Rei. She frowned and went inside. Gina stopped in front of her with an unusually friendly smile.

"We're having a family reunion for all our brothers and sisters next week,"

"Sorry Gina, I have other things to do."

"Tsk!"

Eri refused promptly. She knew none of them really wanted to see her. They must be up to no good.

When Gina left, she saw Pascal on the ground not far away.

"What happened to you..."

She found no breath from Pascal's nose. There were no internal injuries or marks left on his body. He seemed to have died for no reason...

... ...

"Gwendoline!"

Eri sat down with Rei and enjoyed the dishes her teacher ordered while Rei sipped on juice.

"I thought you would be a nun for life, Eri. Hohoho~"

"Eh!?"

"You were never into boys! Ahaha!"

"..."

Well, Rei is special after all...

"I'm thinking of leaving this town, teacher."

"...Ho, I was expecting that to happen soon~"

"You're alright with it?"

"Don't stay here, you have talent in compounding. You're meant for a wider world, dear."

Gwendoline smiled knowingly. Perhaps this child will find her origins one day. Eri's talents, looks and mannerism all didn't fit in with this town. It was strange that such a child was in the orphanage.

When Gwendoline went home, she opened the gift box Eri handed to her and widened her eyes.

"Legendary Hundred Hearts...that child...."

... ...

Eri and Rei left the town quietly in the morning.

"My Eri, I have a gift for you."

"Eh? You bought a gift?"

Rei flashed the bikini armour out of space and handed it to Eri.

"...thank...you, why did you buy this?"

"You would look beautiful in it."

"..."

Eri was stunned silent. But she broke into a laugh. Is Rei an unintentional pervert?

"Ahahahaha!"

Being with Rei is like a breath of fresh air. Sadly, for him, she'll never have the chance to wear this...but maybe she'll just try it on once, when no ones watching.

"I've never been to the slime dungeon, Rei. Let's go there!"

... ...

Rei led Eri through the traps and avoided all the boss monsters inside the slime dungeon.

In the mossy cave, glowing blue mushrooms were scattered along the wall. Slimes the size of birds and rabbits were oozing and and lolling on the ground. But when Rei came close, all the slimes rolled towards him in a rush.

"Rei!"

"Nothing's wrong."

Punipunipuni~

The different coloured slimes extended little tentacles around Rei and prodded at him. Some tried to climb on him, and others wrapped around his legs.

"What are they doing?"

"Recognising a king..."

No wonder, Rei is the greatest slime in this dungeon.

"How can we leave if you are their king, Rei?"

Rei looked at the colony of slimes surrounding him. A thought fleeted across his mind, and he waved his hand over the slimes. In a flash, all of them were delivered into his storage space.

"Ahh!?! You can store living things inside your body?"

"...Because they are slime."

Eri marvelled at Rei's body. It carried endless surprises.

As they went deeper into the dungeon, the number of glowing blue mushrooms were packed denser on the wall.

"What mushrooms are these?"

"Happy mushrooms, my Eri."

"Happy? ..."

Eri casted appraisal on the mushrooms.

[Appraisal]

Hyphaepon

Rank C

This glowing mushroom is a harmless hallucinogen. If ingested, it gives the feeling of euphoria and happiness. Hoohihoo~

"..."

That description was on drugs...

As she continued walking, the glowing blue light covered a much larger area than before. Eri looked up and took her breath.

"Humongous..."

[Appraisal]

King Hyphaepon

Rank A

This extra large hyphaepon not only induces euphoria and happiness, it also relieves all pain and fear. It's the ultimate medicine for happiness! Anyone who approaches will be so happy they'll forget everything else. Heehoo~

"Ah...no wonder this rank A mushroom is still here. Everyone was too happy they forgot to take it..."

How do we harvest this? It sounds really useful for making pain relieving medicine.

Rei turned his hand into a whip. He severed the mushroom from the stalk and lifted it back.

"Eri, do you like it?"

"Ah..hahaheeehehe, aha, ehehehehe~ ah-"

Eri immediately flashed the car-sized King Hyphaepon into her body storage.

"Whew! It almost got me!"

Eri patted her chest.

"Did anyone ever eat one of these things?"

"Well, I've seen hungry adventurers cook it..."

"Someone actually tried to!"

"And they died laughing."

"What a way to die..."

Eri looked at the glowing powder left on her hands and burnt it off with fire magic. She'll have to study a safe dose of this for later...