Girl in the Box: Please tell me why I was reincarnated as a mimic monster!

There are so many things I want to complain about, I've already given up. It's just that it truly lives up to its name as an isekai (another world).

My vision returned to normal, and I could see two red and blue bars in the upper left corner of my field of vision. Aside from that, there were no other strange changes.

I do know those red and blue bars; the red bar represents one's life force, and the blue bar represents one's magic power.

The guy in the next bed likes to talk to me about games, even though I don't understand any of it. But I'm really grateful that he chats with me.

After I stared at the red and blue bars for three seconds, something else appeared in my field of vision—a line of text.

The Health and Mana gauges are visualizations of health and mana. As the name suggests, they are gauges that calculate remaining health and mana. Depleted health means death.

Huh? There's such a thing? I'm happy you explained it to me, but could you explain something else? Like that goddess's familiar or something.

Three minutes later, there was still no response. Why should I stand there like an idiot waiting for this unreliable help?

I looked away, and the words disappeared. But I didn't intend to dwell on it. I was more interested in figuring out what strange abilities I'd just gained.

I can barely understand the racial talent part; it means that mimics can also create items, provided they eat something. Mimics use this ability to lure adventurers close and then kill them, right?

Hmm... In the end, isn't this thing I created just my excrement? Would humans like this kind of thing? Ugh... If I create something like this, I'd better get rid of it quickly.

What do mimics eat, I guess... I hope it's not something weird. It seems mimics get hungry too; I'm starting to feel hungry myself...

I glanced at the corpse of the creature called the "Corrupted Serpent" next to me. I would never eat such a thing, not even if I starved to death.

Then there's "spatial magic" and "hermitage." Spatial magic is a bit hard to understand, so we'll talk about it later. Hermitage is basically like a hermit crab changing its shell, but hermit crabs aren't that fragile, are they?

So the most urgent thing now is to find something to eat. I need to speed things up. If I starve to death right after being reborn, I feel like I'll be laughed at by the other treasure chest monsters.

Huh? Why am I classifying myself as a mimic? No, I need to find a way to become human.

Let's set a small goal first: to become human.

Ugh... let's find something to eat first...

I, the mimic born today, am running around with all my might for food to survive.

Chapter 3: The Mimic Goes on a Killing Spree!

I wandered back and forth in the maze. Of course, I remembered the way back. The place where I was born is safe, at least for now. I have no intention of staying in such a dangerous place. The room where I was born is definitely the safest place.

Of course, the possibility of adventurers cannot be ruled out. Although that person said that treasure chest monsters are the greatest enemy of adventurers, I, as a human in my previous life, have no intention of eating people.

I still dream of becoming human again!

If only dreams could be eaten... To be honest, I'm already starting to get hungry.

Based on my perception of time, I've been wandering around this maze for about two hours, and apart from the corrupted snake I encountered at the beginning, I haven't seen any other monsters.

I don't know if it's lucky or unlucky, but I'm going to starve to death!

I looked at the unchanging stone wall around me and angrily swung the pliers down. The two collided, producing a loud sound that echoed throughout the maze.

It's so empty... Let's go back...

I gave up hunting and slowly crawled back the way I came. This place is so empty! I really wish I had someone, no, some creature to keep me company... Of course, anything disgusting is out of the question.

Plop, plop, plop.

I heard a kind of cute sound, like the sound effects in those children's cartoons. I've seen them before. If it's that kind of sound effect...

It's a monster—! There's food—!

I shouted victory (Note: the Mimic can only make simple sounds), and charged aggressively towards the direction of the sound. Bring it on, whatever it is! I'll kill you!

A monster has appeared!

The background music from a game with yellow electric mice started playing in my head as I confronted a monster. Hmm, a blue, jelly-like creature—that's it—it must be—

"Slime, a low-level monster among monsters, some types are harmless." A line of text appeared on the blue slime.

Hey bastard, don't steal my lines! Why does it only work in situations like this?! I know that too!

This ability is truly a mystery... How exactly does it work?

If I can use this ability properly, my survival rate will definitely increase.

Then another line of text appeared.

"Water-colored Slime, LV4, Water attribute, edible."

Snap—I feel like a thread in my consciousness has broken.

What the hell?! How come even a slime is higher level than me?! And a mimic is weaker than a slime?!

The slime shuddered, seemingly puzzled by my frantic behavior, but didn't attack. Who knows if I'll get killed by the slime? This world is so strange.

On another note... slimes are edible...

My desires told me that the slime in front of me was the food I had been searching for, a giant piece of jelly.

I don't know if it will fill my stomach, but it's better than nothing.

But...it's so cute...

I saw a slime drawing on that boy's phone before, it was so cute! Ahhhhh, it's too cute, I can't bear to cut it.

But if I don't eat it, I'll keep getting hungry. Hunger and reason are torn together, and I feel like my brain is about to explode.

Just as I was debating whether to eat it or not, the slime slowly crawled away. Then, its jelly-like body was pierced by a sharp wooden splinter.

Eh?! Slime-chan?!

I watched as its body was pierced through, and my beloved food was ruined just like that...

Which bastard dared to touch my things?!

I angrily searched for the attacker, determined to avenge the slime so it could rest in peace. Then, a faint stinging sensation came from my back.

I turned around and saw several splinters lying on the ground, as if they had just been poking me, but hadn't worked.

I once again thanked the high defensive capabilities my race had granted me, and I found the culprit: a hedgehog covered in wooden thorns, a monster I had never seen before.

It looked surprised; was it confident in its attack? Too bad, those mere wooden spikes couldn't possibly penetrate my defenses.

Then, a line of text appeared.

"Wood Hedgehog, LV7, Wood Attribute, specializes in using the paralyzing wooden spikes on its back to shoot enemies."

Wow, isn't this great? Subtitle editor! Finally, it comes in handy!

Since it only has the ability to shoot wooden spikes, I have nothing to fear. I can definitely take it down in one go, use it as a sacrifice to the slime, and then eat it!

I charged at the vine hedgehog with all my might, opening my pincers as wide as possible. The vine hedgehog panicked and kept shooting out paralyzing thorns, trying to slow me down, but unfortunately, this didn't work on me, although it still hurt a little.

Just as I was about to get close, the vine hedgehog suddenly rolled away from its spot, creating distance between us, and continued shooting at the wooden spikes. So it was useless.

I chased after it again, but it rolled away and escaped. We continued this chase several times, and I couldn't hit it at all, which made me very anxious.

Then I suddenly had a brilliant idea. I stumbled and rolled over, crashing directly into the vine hedgehog, opened the box, and swallowed it whole.

"Defeat the Vine Hedgehog, gain 10 x 2 EXP, dropped items have been placed in the box." A voice from the game's developer tools announced.

Ugh, this tastes awful...it makes me feel nauseous. Oh, I forgot to save the sacrificial slime sauce.

I felt something in my mouth, so I opened the box and spat it out. It was a few copper coins and a few wooden splinters. This seemed to be what they called "dropped items."

That wooden spike seems to be a paralyzing spike from a vine hedgehog. It would be quite good as a hidden weapon, but I don't have hands like a human right now, so it's completely useless.

As for copper coins, I don't know why monsters drop them; that person also told me it's one of the mysteries of this otherworld game. Of course, it's best not to delve too deeply into it... After all, in this world, my (the mimic's) level is lower than a mere slime.

Why do these copper coins look so delicious to me? Is this a common trait among mimics?

Driven by curiosity, I picked up the copper coin from the ground, put it in my mouth, and started chewing on it.

Huh? Huh? Huh? Huh—! ?

It's indescribably delicious! It's really tasty! Could this be a chocolate coin like the one from my past life?! But this hard texture can't possibly be chocolate!

The treasure chest monster eats coins...that seems to make sense...

Without hesitation, I put the remaining copper coins into my mouth, enjoying a hearty meal, and my hunger vanished.

I've discovered another serious problem: I need to find a way to turn back into a human later... Is it really okay to spend money on food instead of saving it up now?

Hmm... whatever, filling my stomach is the most important thing.

I turned and walked back, intending to give the slime a proper burial. It was cute, it was innocent...

Then I saw the water-colored jelly pass through the splinter and fall to the ground, returning to its original state.

Speaking of which... I seem to have forgotten that slimes have extremely high physical resistance...

Chapter 4: We've captured the amazing Pokémon!

The slime hopped around in front of me nonchalantly, as if to tell me with its actions that nothing was wrong.

Forget it, I'm too lazy to pursue it anymore. I might as well go back.

I ignored the slime and continued walking towards where I spawned, hoping to encounter a weaker monster along the way so I could practice my skills.

Then, I bumped into something wet and elastic on my back, and it just stayed there.

Ok?

Although I can't see it, I think it should be slime, but why did it bump into me for no reason? Didn't I let it go?

Then, the slime jumped off my back and onto me, bouncing around in a huff. It was so strange; after all, I don't really understand slimes.

I walked around it and continued walking back, but it jumped in front of me again, blocking my way. To be honest, I was a little annoyed. What was it trying to say?

Seeing that I didn't understand, the slime seemed deflated and softened into a puddle of water, then bounced up and landed on my head.

I think I understand what it means...

To put it roughly, it's like saying, "Please take me with you."

At that moment, the victory theme music from a famous game started playing in my head again.

I successfully captured a slime!

Congratulations, congratulations.

I gained my first companion in this other world, "Slime-chan." Although she's a bit weak, I will take responsibility to protect her.

I continued on my way back with the slime, wondering what awaited us on the road ahead. I was really looking forward to it!

The slime hasn't moved since it climbed onto my head. It's not dead; I can still feel it moving slightly. In the end, humans are still the best... If I were reincarnated as a human, I could hug the slime.

That bouncy texture and cool body temperature must be wonderful!

I can't understand the behavior of those games and novels that treat slimes as enemies, as if anyone who messes with a slime is messing with me!

Slime is justice!

Based on my memory of the scene, I figured I was not far from the room where I was born. It seemed like I wouldn't encounter any more enemies today. Good, I should organize my thoughts now.

With that thought in mind, I quickened my pace, when suddenly the slime on my head stirred and jumped down to block my way. What's going on now?

Slime jumped down from my head and blocked my way, then started bouncing around wildly, pushing me away from the room with all its might. You can't move me, so give up.

I carefully pushed it away with the pliers to avoid accidentally killing the slime, then walked to the doorway of the room, and there I saw another synonym for another world—'goblin'.

Goblins, in various works, usually appear as minor enemies in the early stages of a game. They are social monsters with low intelligence, acting only according to their own desires.

I don't have a good impression of this kind of monster, but I don't think I'm capable of defeating it right now.

This large group of armed goblins.

I'd only been gone a short while, and my previously safe spot had been taken over by goblins. Then I remembered Slime-chan's reaction earlier; your intuition is really good…

I quietly turned around, hoping not to attract the attention of those green-clad goblins. At level 0, I was no match for them. Besides, they were all armed.

Even if it's just a simple stone tool, it shouldn't be a problem to break my shell, so I'd better run away first.

Turning around, I saw the little slime. Oh, so you haven't abandoned me after all. I'm so sorry, I was wrong this time.

I tiptoed closer to Slime-chan, who breathed a sigh of relief and pounced on my head. Slime-chan will definitely be my best friend in the future.

Time to go.

I said this to Slime in my mind. It seemed to sense my meaning and pressed itself down, sticking tightly to my head.

Anyway, we escaped from here and headed in other directions of the maze. I think I'll come back someday, but first I need to get stronger.

Speaking of which, Slime-chan needs to train too... Hmm, I'll wait until I can crush all the monsters in this dungeon. Hopefully, things will go smoothly... I have a bad feeling about this.

Chapter 5 The Training Plan of the Treasure Mimic