After some time...
Rimuru slowly opened the eyes formed from condensed Slime fluid and looked at her body.
"I finally recovered the magicules I used up."
Just as Rimuru was about to hop off the cushion, she noticed someone beside her. Turning her head, she saw that it was none other than Mo Li.
Looking at Mo Li's sleeping form, Rimuru was somewhat puzzled.
"That shouldn't be right. Going by Ari's habits, shouldn't he have woken up long ago by now?"
Rimuru was puzzled.
"I've got it. When something comes up and I don't know what to do, ask Great Sage."
Rimuru immediately asked Great Sage in her mind.
"Great Sage, what's wrong with Ari?"
[Note: The other party has merely fallen asleep due to fatigue and insufficient magicules.]
"Insufficient magicules? How could Ari possibly be short on magicules?"
Rimuru asked Great Sage with a confused expression.
[Note: The reason the host was able to recover so quickly was because the other party transferred his own magicules into the host's body. In addition, naming recently consumed a considerable amount of his magicules. Combined with the effort of taking care of you, he fell asleep due to fatigue and insufficient magicules.]
Hearing Great Sage's words, Rimuru immediately became anxious.
"Then when will Ari wake up?"
[Note: The other party has been identified as an elemental life-form. He can absorb large quantities of magicules from the surrounding air, so he will quickly recover his magicules and awaken. Please rest assured, host.]
"That's good. That's good."
Only then did Rimuru relax.
Looking at Mo Li, a thought suddenly occurred to Rimuru. It seemed she had never carefully observed Mo Li's appearance before.
Rimuru then moved closer to Mo Li and examined his appearance.
Mo Li was a dark golden young dragon. He did not resemble the Western dragons from Rimuru's memories, but rather the dragons of that mysterious ancient Eastern nation from her past life—young dragons possessing the traits of nine creatures: rabbit eyes, deer antlers, ox ears, a camel's head, a clam's belly, tiger paws, a snake's neck, fish scales, and eagle claws. Though he was only a young dragon, his presence was exceptionally striking, perfectly blending majesty and nobility.
The more Rimuru looked, the more unfair it felt.
"Why? Why is Mo Li so good-looking, while I'm just an ordinary Slime without a single standout feature?"
Rimuru spoke with some indignation.
"Great Sage, explain this to me. Why?"
Rimuru demanded of Great Sage.
[The host and the other party are both relatively unusual among humans reincarnated into another world. Based on the information available to me, ordinary humans who reincarnate or are summoned should generally not change races. Yet both the host and the other party changed from humans into monsters. Great Sage's information cannot explain this phenomenon, much less explain why the host reincarnated as a Slime. If there is one possible explanation, it would be that the host simply had bad luck.]
Great Sage patiently explained to Rimuru.
"I don't accept that explanation."
Rimuru continued to argue.
[Note: Great Sage is not omnipotent. Please forgive me, host.]
"You—"
Just as Rimuru was about to continue arguing with Great Sage...
Movement suddenly came from Mo Li's side.
Mo Li slowly opened his draconic vertical pupils and saw Rimuru looking furious, apparently arguing with someone.
[Host, the other party has awakened. Please take note.]
At that moment, Great Sage noticed that Mo Li was awake and hurriedly informed Rimuru.
"Hmph, who are you trying to fool? You just said Ari had fallen asleep because he lacked magicules, and now you're saying he's awake. Do you think I'm that stupid?"
Rimuru looked completely unconvinced.
[...]
Great Sage was truly speechless. Just how many lifetimes of bad luck had he accumulated to end up with such an unreasonable host?
"No. Hold it in. I chose this myself. Unreasonable or not, I'll endure it."
"Rimuru, what's wrong?"
Just then, a magnetic voice suddenly sounded from behind Rimuru.
Upon hearing that voice, Rimuru froze in place. Turning around, she saw that Mo Li had indeed awakened.
"Great Sage, why didn't you tell me Ari was awake?"
Rimuru immediately complained to Great Sage.
[...]
Great Sage no longer wanted to respond to her. Didn't I tell you? You just refused to believe me. You said I was lying to you, and now that he's awake, you're saying I never told you. You...
Great Sage no longer wanted to comment on Rimuru.
Rimuru quickly moved over to Mo Li's side.
"Ari, you're awake."
Rimuru asked Mo Li with concern.
"Yes, I'm awake. Who were you arguing with just now? Why were you so angry?"
Mo Li looked confused.
After hearing this, Rimuru told Mo Li about whom she had been arguing with.
Mo Li was rather speechless after listening.
"Tell me, why were you arguing with Great Sage for no reason?"
"Isn't it because you look so good? I'm just an ordinary Slime. I was jealous, okay?"
Rimuru was a little embarrassed.
Mo Li felt like laughing. I look like this for reasons I don't know, but it's probably because I mentioned Old Master Zhong in my past life. That's why my true form resembles Old Master Zhong from my previous life so much. Could Morax's true form possibly not be handsome?
"It's because you look too good. Would I have argued with Great Sage otherwise? It's all your fault."
Seeing Mo Li's expression, Rimuru became even angrier.
"Fine, it's my fault. My fault. My fault for reincarnating like this."
Mo Li scooped Rimuru up with one dragon claw, gently stroking the Rimuru in his arms as he comforted her.
Seeing how gently Mo Li treated her, Rimuru was somewhat dazed.
"Ari, why are you so good to me?"
Rimuru finally asked the question she had always wanted to ask.
"Because we're friends."
Mo Li answered Rimuru gently.
"Friends? Is it really only because we're friends?"
Rimuru froze, then asked again.
"Yes, because we're friends."
Thinking Rimuru had not heard him clearly, Mo Li repeated himself. Of course, part of the reason is that you're the protagonist of this world. Sticking with you is definitely the best choice. My future retirement life depends on you. In the future, I want to be like Old Master Zhong in Genshin Impact—drink the finest tea, listen to the best operas, and walk the most expensive birds. As for the bills, I'll just put them on Rimuru's tab.
A trace of disappointment appeared in Rimuru's lowered eyes. She then hopped off the beast-skin cushion and spoke to Mo Li.
"Alright, Ari, let's get out there quickly. Let me see how our subjects are doing."
"They're an outstanding group of subjects. They'll definitely leave you stunned."
Mo Li failed to notice anything unusual about Rimuru and continued to keep her in suspense.
What Mo Li did not notice was that something had already changed in Rimuru's eyes.
Ari, I don't see you as just a friend.
"Alright, what are you still standing around for? Time to go."
Mo Li reminded her.
"Got it."
Before you continue