Primordial Slime: I Devour The World

The morning Tanaka left the forest was unusually quiet.

No grand farewell awaited him.

No speeches echoed through the town square.

That was exactly how he wanted it.

The only ones present at the eastern gate were Eldrin, the Alpha Wolf, the Rabbit Leader, the little slime, and a handful of children who had insisted on waking before dawn.

Mist clung to the towering trees as the first rays of sunlight filtered through the leaves.

Tanaka adjusted the dark green cloak around his shoulders, making sure the hood partially concealed his face. At his waist hung a simple iron sword crafted by the goblins. It wasn’t a masterpiece, but it was sturdy enough to complete the image of a wandering traveler.

He looked at the familiar faces before him.

”Remember,” he said through the Thought Communication network, ”I’m not leaving because we’re in danger. I’m leaving so that we’ll be ready when danger eventually comes.”

The Alpha dipped his head.

”We’ll guard our home, no one will destroy it before you return.”

The Rabbit Leader smiled gently.

”We’ll continue growing. Even without you being here, the settlement will improve, believe in us.”

Eldrin placed a weathered hand over his chest.

”Return safely, Great One, I promise to take care of everyone.”

The little slime bounced onto Tanaka’s boot.

Boing.

Tanaka crouched and gently poked its soft body.

”I’ll be back before you know it.”

The tiny slime seemed unconvinced.

It bounced onto his shoulder.

Tanaka sighed.

”You know you can’t come. Besides I need someone I can trust to take care of everyone. You’d do that for me right.”

The little slime stared at him.

Then slowly bounced back to the ground, looking as though the world had ended.

Several rabbit children giggled.

Even the Alpha’s tail twitched with amusement.

Tanaka smiled one last time before turning toward the endless forest.

For the first time since his reincarnation...

He walked away from home.

__

Traveling alone was very different from traveling as a slime. His body tired. His feet became sore. His stomach growled. At first, he found every sensation fascinating. The warmth of sunlight against his skin. The cool breeze brushing against his face. The scent of damp earth after a brief afternoon rain.

They were simple experiences, yet they felt strangely precious. Back on Earth, he had hardly noticed them. Now, after living as a slime, they felt almost miraculous. By sunset, he had already covered more distance than the wolves usually patrolled in several days.

He built a small camp beneath a strange looking tree.

Well...

He attempted to.

The result looked less like a campsite and more like a pile of sticks.

Tanaka stared at it.

”Humans really make this look easier.”

Thankfully, the hunter’s memories slowly surfaced. He rearranged the branches. Collected dry leaves. Used flint from his travel pouch. Minutes later, a small fire crackled to life.

”There we go.”

For someone who hadn’t camped out in his entire lives. He couldn’t help feeling proud over something so ordinary. The journey continued for several days.

The forest gradually changed. The trees became less dense. Animal trails widened into actual roads. Eventually, he began encountering signs of civilization. The first was an old milestone carved from gray stone.

Its surface had weathered with age, but the writing remained legible.

Rosen City

18 Kilometers

Tanaka traced the carved letters with his fingers.

”So... that’s the nearest city.”

Rosen was a small frontier city built to support adventurers, merchants, and hunters who explored the surrounding forests.

It wasn’t famous.

But it was prosperous enough to attract people from neighboring villages.

Tanaka continued walking.

As the forest thinned, the road became busier.

A merchant wagon rolled past, pulled by two large horned beasts.

The driver nodded politely.

”Heading to Rosen?”

Tanaka smiled.

”I am.”

”You’re in luck. I’m going the same way.” The driver smiled and invited Tanaka in. Tanaka smiled. If he was a slime, he would have been killed in seconds.

Inside the wagon A group of people wereresting. There were four of them. A swordsman. A young mage, probably since he held a staff. A woman carrying a bow. And a heavily armored shield bearer. Tanaka’s instincts immediately evaluated them. They must be a party.

None felt especially dangerous. Individually, they were weaker than the Alpha Wolf. Together. They would still pose a challenge.

He stretched his hands to the swordsman. This would be his first true conversation with humans, the previous had led to a battle.

”Traveler?” The swordsman said ignoring his hand.

”Yes.” Tanaka replied with a weak smile but within was having a battle of embarrassment.

”Good” The swordsman replied.

Tanaka nodded.

”Thank you.”

The exchange lasted only seconds.

Tanaka wished anything could happen to hide his embarrassment.

___

By late afternoon, the city came into view.

Tanaka was in awe.

Before him stood massive stone walls stretching farther than he could immediately see.

Watchtowers rose above them.

Colorful banners fluttered in the wind.

Dozens of merchants, travelers, and adventurers lined up before the enormous wooden gates.

”So...”

”This is a human city.”

Even from this distance, he could hear it.

Voices.

Laughter.

Hammering.

Animals.

The sounds blended into one living heartbeat unlike anything he had ever experienced.

His town felt alive.

This...

Felt overwhelming.

____

The driver of the wagon moved towards the line. Tanaka quietly observed everyone around him he could see. Mana Sense also doing its thing.

He got down from the wagon. ”Thanks but I’d like to observe outside.”

The driver continued with the line and Tanaka looked at everything.

There were humans of every age.

Merchants leading wagons loaded with grain.

Hunters carrying monster carcasses.

Traveling priests wearing white robes.

Then...

He noticed something unexpected.

Not everyone was human.

Ahead stood a short, broad-shouldered man with a magnificent beard braided into three sections.

A dwarf.

Behind him stood a woman with pointed ears hidden beneath a green hood.

An elf.

She carried a beautifully crafted bow almost as tall as herself.

Tanaka resisted staring.

His town had many races.

Yet seeing them peacefully walking beside humans felt different somehow.

The world truly was larger than he had imagined.

____

Eventually, his turn arrived.

A city guard stepped forward.

”Name?”

Tanaka hesitated for the briefest moment.

The truth was impossible. No way could he say he was a nameless slime.

His Soul Record had no name. He hadn’t chosen a name to go by in this world yet. He could just use his original name then.

”Tanaka.”

The guard nodded while writing. ”What do you do? What’s your occupation?”

”Uh.”

(How do I tell him that I’m a slime who wants to explore a human city?)

”I have no occupation sir..”

The guard looked at him from head to toe. Tanaka’s smile was uncomfortable as the man scrutinized him. ”How old are you?”

”I’m tw.. twenty years old.” He nearly said two years but quickly corrected himself. ”I’ve spent most of my life in a remote village. I wanted to see the world.”

The guard chuckled. ”Fair enough, since you are new here I’d suggest going to register in the adventurers guild. That should give you an identity. ”Welcome to Rosen, Taka”

_____

Tanaka was amazed as he saw the city engulf him.

The cobbled streets of the city sprawled on in all directions, with shops lining the streets.

Tanaka’s nose tingled with the many different smells.

Fresh bread, roasted meat, flowers, leather goods, and the ever-looming smells of blacksmith forges.

People bustled around him, paying him little to no attention.

Most people did not recognize him.

Most people did not know who he was.

Most people did not bow to him or call him Great One.

He was... anonymous.

Tanaka walked the streets, his feet carrying themselves as if they had a mind of their own.

He watched as merchants bartered with buyers.

Children played and helped their parents.

Adventurers showcased their monster trophies at the crowd, who then cheered and roared.

There were dozens of street performers who kept the masses entertained.

It was all busy and hectic, but at the same time, there was an underlying sense of order and unity.

Everyone had their place, and every street had a purpose.

Tanaka compared it to his own village.

Roads, markets, districts for craftspeople, housing, defense, and storage, were all there to make up the town.

Still, there were a lot to learn, and his eyes seemed to never stop wandering.

As night approached, one particular building caught his eye.

It was taller than most, with stone walls that were immaculate.

On the building’s front wall, there was a sign with a large emblem on it, which depicted a sword crossed with a staff.

Many adventurers entered and exited the building, most of whom either cheered or had fresh wounds.

Quest boards lined the building’s walls, which Tanaka easily recognized with the memories of the hunter.

The Adventurers’ Guild.

”Well, I need some kind of identity, and a place to sleep...”