That Time I Got Isekai’d Again and Befriended a Slime

Tempest sits at the center of the continent. We are surrounded on all sides, though the situation is not nearly what it was in the Empire. Tempest has friends, not tentative allies.

Dwargon in the north, with its undefeated army. Blumund in the west, with its surprisingly competent adventurers. Milim's and Carrion's kingdoms in the southeast, though not officially allies yet, would doubtless assist us at their Lords' command.

Tempest does not want for companionship.

But it also does not want for potential enemies.

The Holy Empire Ruberios in the far west, the Kingdom of Ingrassia, and the Kingdom of Falmuth all subscribe heavily to the beliefs of a monster-hating religion. Furthermore, with the rise of the Jura Tempest Federation at the continent center, I've little doubt that Falmuth is frothing at the decline in trade. It would take little to incite them to action against us, though I've seen no evidence of such an outcome at this point in time.

In terms of threat level, the first two are far enough away that it would too much trouble for them to mount a serious conflict. Meanwhile, the third is weak by comparison. Thus, it's not Ruberios, Ingrassia, or Falmuth that worries me.

The domains of the Demon Lords Frey and Clayman sit to our south and eastern borders respectively. Milim was surprisingly tight lipped about them, so I don't have as much info as I'd like. But, from what I gathered anyway, they seem to be of a similar level to Carrion. If push comes to shove, Tempest can take them on just as well.

No, in truth there is only one nation I've identified that would be truly concerning, should their gaze turn hostile. A conflict with them would almost certainly end in Tempest's demise.

And, naturally, it was to that area that our friendly neighborhood kidnapper decided to flee.

East from Tempest, and then northeast, and then north.

To the city where this whole madness began anew.

If I'd known what this would grow into, I would have gone and hid in the mountains. Maybe then I could actually enjoy a peaceful existence.

…

…No, I'd probably trespass accidentally on some monster's territory, leading to the two of us forming an unintentional rivalry. And it'd be with an Ice Wyvern or a Mammoth Yeti or some other equally ridiculous monster combination bullshit. Because honestly, that's one of the more plausible things that could happen at this point.

When did my life become so weird?

Probably when I found out reincarnation was real… twice.

Fucking hell, I'm tired of this.

-=-=-=-

Late Morning

Northern Training Field

Tempest, Jura Tempest Federation

"Crestwater Slash!" A scarecrow's head was cleaning lopped off. Mary darted past, quickly raising her sword overhead.

"Water Ring!" She jumped forward and flipped, water spinning around her vertically like a buzzsaw.

Mary landed, the scarecrow falling it two pieces behind her. She carried on.

"Whirlpool Crash!" A twisting spin accompanied by a liquid cyclone, cutting multiple scarecrows at multiple heights.

"Roaring Rapids!" A marvel of footwork and speed, countless diagonal slashes rushing across enemies like a raging river.

"Unrelenting Tide!" The combination of all of the greatest qualities above the above moves, with the user darting back and forth, across and behind and back again, crashing around their foe like the tide moves back and forth along the beach.

Not even the smallest debris was left after this move, the unrelenting tide sweeping it all away.

Mary skid to a halt, her chest heaving and liquid water dripping down her limbs and blade. She slashed her katana down, water droplets peppering the grass below.

Even as she caught her breath, the scarecrows behind her slowly began to repair themselves, each one a marvel of magical engineering resulting from the combined efforts of Kaijin, Vesta, and Rimuru.

Within a scant few moments, they had all become whole again. Except for the last one. Unrelenting Tide, combined with her Unique Skill, ensured that much.

"Excellent work, Mary!" Hakurou praised, standing off to the side. "You should take a break now. You've been at this since sunrise."

"One more run through, and I will!" Mary called back. "I'm going to use the modified forms this time!"

Hakurou nodded. "Giving that blade of yours the run through today, aren't you? I understand. When the sword calls to you, to not answer would be a travesty."

"Yeah…"

Mary held up her katana.

"You can't keep borrowing weapons. You'll need a blade of your own. One that suits you personally." Degurechaff smirked. "Though, you'll have to wait some time. Kurobe is busy making me one. First come first serve."

Degurechaff… thanks. She ran her fingers along the blade, the metallic green magisteel shining in the late morning sunlight. Even if you were kind of a dick about it. This sword is perfect.

It was, as all of Kurobe's works were, a marvel of blade-making and magisteel craftsmanship. An average length katana of purely refined magisteel, "one of his best works ever" the Kijin had proclaimed.

The handle was wrapped tightly in warm brown leather, topped and ended with a deep cobalt diamond shaped tsuba guard and a magisteel pommel of the same hue. The blade, silver upon it's being finished, had turned a metallic lime green, matching her eyes and magic.

Apparently, magisteel has the ability to evolve and change, thanks to its high level of magical affinity. It grows in accordance with its user's magic and subconscious will. At least, that's what Kurobe had told her as the blade shifted in her hands into what it was now.

Alright. Mary sheathed her blade, turning and mentally prepping herself for another run through. Let's make good use of you!

"Modified Style." She crouched, her grip tightening. Instead of water, heat burned the air around her, "Wildfire-!"

"Oi!"

Mary tripped, landing face first in the dirt. The flames around her fizzled out.

"Ah, Tanya!" Hakurou raised a hand in greeting. "What brings you here? You and Mary's session isn't for several more hours."

"Urgent business, Hakurou. I'm taking Mary with me on a mission outside of Tempest. I hope you don't mind too terribly if she misses the rest of training today."

"Oh no no, don't worry about it. Mary has become quite the swordswoman, you know. She can afford a break or two."

"Is that so?"

Footsteps approached her position.

"Are you practicing your Earth magic or something?"

Mary picked her head up, glaring daggers at the other woman.

"Fuck off."

Any threat Tanya might have felt was largely mitigated by the blush and dirt on Mary's face.

"Alright, as amusing as this is, chop chop. Up you get." Tanya reached down, grabbing the back of Mary's white button up and hoisting her to her feet.

"H-hey!" Her blush grew.

"We have a mission to get to, and we're on a time limit." Tanya started to walk away, "Follow me. We're going to pack as quickly as possible then head out. If you aren't ready in time, I'll leave you behind."

"I- huh?"

"Did I stutter?" Tanya paused in her step, glancing back, "We're going to save some people. Isn't that your thing?"

Mary blinked.

"Let's go." With that, Tanya began to leave once more.

Mary glanced down at her sword. The blade, which had become partially unsheathed from her aborted slash attempt, shone brilliantly. And, at the base of the blade, the symbols engraved just above the hilt stared back at her.

守る, Mamoru. "Protect".

"Okay."

She sheathed her blade all the way, rushing the catch up with the other woman.

-=-=-=-

Just Past Noon

Near Northeastern Border

Great Forest of Jura

"Stop squirming."

"I'm trying!" Mary snapped.

Tanya sighed, the wind carrying it away.

"This is as uncomfortable for me as it is you. We're almost at Souka's location, so just deal with it."

"Easy for you to say!" Mary tightened her grip as a particularly rough gust of wind brushed past them. "Fuck!"

"Oi, lighten up a bit," Tanya said, "You're practically crushing my ribs. Not all of us are freaks of nature with supernatural strength."

"Forgive me for being nervous, okay!" Mary did not loosen her grip at all, instead pulling herself closer against Tanya's back, "I can't fly anymore! This is a bit stressful!!"

"You're the one who chose to piggyback!"

"I wasn't going to let you carry me like a sack of potatoes! Again!"

Tanya sighed again.

The two made for an odd sight, to say the least. One practically wrapped around the other, her legs and arms clamping in a vice grip. The other flying under her own power, her face featuring one of the most blank expressions you might see on a human person.

It didn't help matters any that, since Mary was on Tanya's back, that meant she had to wear both of their travel packs. As unfortunate as it was for everyone involved, this was the fastest way to reach their destination.

Mental note: learn teleportation magic. Tanya winced, as the handle of Mary's sword dug into her side. Preferably sooner rather than later.

It would have been a lot easier – or at the very least, more comfortable for both parties – had Mary been able to fly herself over. Unfortunately, no matter how much control and how varied the magic Mary had been able to grasp over the past three months, flight remained a concept of the mind.

With that being said… she had far from stagnated. In fact, Mary's growth over the last three months could only be described as "exponential".

Seriously, adding the other elements is a great step forward. She's really coming into her own. Maybe I'm just a better teacher than I thought? Do I actually have a talent for this or something- ?

"Lady Tanya!"

Ah.

That would be Souka, then. Souei had been out of range for a while now.

"Souka, I hear you. We're nearly at your location. What are we looking at?"

"There's large house in the center of a square-shaped clearing . The targets entered approximately ten minutes ago and haven't moved since."

"Keep monitoring them. Our ETA is-" Tanya blinked. Huh. "About 10 seconds, give or take."

"Understood!"

Tanya cut off the communication.

"Hold on!" She yelled back.

"What-" Mary's own yell cut off, the piggybacking duo dropping faster than an incredibly heavy rock.

So, really fast.

Wind blasted by them, Tanya's ponytail slapping Mary in the face multiple times. The former paid it no mind, while the latter tried desperately not to get any hair in her mouth. In just a couple seconds, they had touched down, directly next to Souka's position behind a tree.

"Souka." Tanya called, stepping towards the Dragonewt. She paused, "Oi, get off."

Mary did not need to be told twice. She practically fell off the other woman's back, crawling over to a nearby bush immediately after.

Tanya and Souka both elected to ignore the sounds of puking.

"Lady Tanya, I'm glad you're here."

"Just Tanya is fine. We haven't had the chance to work together yet."

"We haven't!" Souka saluted, "Sir Souei speaks highly of you, so I will do my best to prove myself to you!"

"Right, right." Tanya resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "I'm sure you'll do fine. Now, tell me exactly what's going on here. Who's our kidnapper? You say they haven't moved since arrival?"

"That's right." Souka nodded, getting right to business. "The culprit is a humanoid male of above average height. Other than two medium-sized horns protruding from the side of his head, he appears relatively underwhelming."

"Really?"

"If he's so unassuming," Mary walked over, wiping her mouth and replacing her canteen at her side, "Then how did he kidnap a Tempest citizen in broad daylight?"

"I'm not sure." Souka admitted. "My first glimpse of him was afterwards, when he was already fleeing with Gobgala."

"He ran here, right?" Tanya asked, frowning, "He must have a form of boosted vitality or speed. Anything else?"

Souka shook her head, "That's everything I know."

"So, we have an unassuming kidnapper who arrived at an external location and hasn't moved since." Tanya thought for a moment. "Logic dictates he's waiting for someone. A boss, or another transporter."

"We should probably split up, right?" Mary said, pulling Tanya's and her travel packs off her back and dropping them. She rolled her shoulders at the loss of weight, her gaze fixed on the house. "Someone should find Gobgala and someone should deal with horn guy."

"Someone should also be a lookout. Just in case he bolts." Souka added. "Or if whoever this guy's waiting for decides to show up soon."

"That works." Tanya nodded, "Souka, can you use Shadow Movement?"

"Yes."

"Perfect. Then you'll focus on Gobgala. Get her out and back over here. I'll go in loud and upfront, and focus on the man himself. And you," Tanya patted Mary on the shoulder, "Will be the lookout. If our guy somehow gets out of the building, cut his legs off at the knees and cauterize them. I'd like to interrogate him on his boss, and I can't do that if he bleeds out."

"Huh." Mary blinked, before shrugging, "I can't help but feel I've been desensitized to blood and violence, because that's fine by me. I'll make sure no one gets in or out."

"Well, he's a kidnapper."

Mary paused, "Yeah, that's it."

Tanya squeezed her shoulder briefly, before letting her hand drop.

"One more thing. Souei."

The Body Double in question popped out of her shadow at her call.

"Sir Souei?!" Souka jumped.

Tanya shot her an unamused look.

"It's just one of his Body Doubles. Relax."

"Oh… right. Aha…" Souka shifted, a hint of color rising to her cheeks.

"Ma'am." The Body Double in question inclined his head.

Tanya nodded back, "Hop into Sue's shadow and back her up if necessary."

"Understood." He did so immediately, disappearing as quickly as he'd arrived.

"Oh, that's a little weird." Mary said, twisting to look behind her, "My shadow's a little darker now. Neat."

"If you put enough people into one shadow, it turns so black that it draws in light." Souka said.

"Really?" Mary blinked, "Is there a limit to that?"

"Well, it depends on the size of-"

"I'm all for pleasant small talk, but let's not dawdle anymore than we already have." Tanya interrupted. She stretched her arms as high as she could above her head, then bent over after a few seconds, touching the grass with her palms.

"Right."

"Sorry!"

Tanya straightened up with a satisfied groan.

"We're a bit too close to the Eastern Empire for my tastes. We don't exactly have jurisdiction there, so let's try to handle this as quickly and quietly as possible."

She adjusted her outfit, tugging her green overcoat and tightening its belt slightly from where they'd been ruffled by Mary's hold during their flight over. Gloves were pulled tighter, her forearm bracers cinched and secured, and her goggles pulled down to hang protectively around her neck.

The blackened magisteel along the knuckles,, length, and rims of these accessories respectively, along with silver leather grip of her sheathed sword, gleamed in the scarce beams of sunlight bleeding through the forest canopy.

Beside her, Mary adjusted her own matching black overcoat and the short white cloak thrown over top. She'd "borrowed" the former from Rimuru few weeks ago as the season started growing colder, though she'd had Shuna alter the color to be much darker in shade. The cloak, meanwhile, had been a gift from Hakurou.

Underneath, loose black pants fed into knee-high lace-up white boots. Her sheathed katana rested on her left hip, a white belt holding both it and her pants tight around her waist.

…Okay so maybe she'd felt a bit left out, considering that everyone else had unique, one-of-a-kind outfits. Sue her. She was allowed to want to look cool.

Regardless of intent, Souka, clad in her usual attire, couldn't help but feel they looked ready for war.

Appropriate, considering the future beyond this point.

"Well now, let's get this party started, shall we?"

-=-