Tania joined the group and...
　The next day.
　After receiving a new request, the three of us moved to the plains.

　This time the request was to defeat the slime.
　The reward is based on a percentage system, which changes according to the number of slimes defeated.

　The slime is an F-ranked demon, a small fish that even a child can defeat.
　Hence, they are not considered a threat and are often left alone, but....
　They've been neglected so much that they've multiplied in large numbers.

　There are more than a hundred of them.

　They attack animals, livestock, and fields with the force of destroying the ecosystem of the plains.
　Sometimes they even attack people.

　They couldn't be ignored, and the guild was asked to help.

"Neeeeeee, a slime.

　Kanade let out a disagreeable voice.

'What, Kanade, are you afraid of the slime?
Meow. No, no.

　Tania said mischievously, and Kanade puffed out her cheeks.

''There's no way the cat spirit race is going to take a back seat to a slime!　In my hands, it's crunch time!　But ... I don't like slime because it's so squishy and sticky ... nyah, it's gooey.
Oh, yeah.
You're right. They're like a lump of mucus, aren't they? If you're a Kanade who specializes in physics, you don't like them.
Meow....
Well, don't worry. I'll reap them all in one go with fireballs and breathers.
Oh Tania, you're so reliable!
"Hmmm, can I get more compliments?
'Tania, wow!　Tania is the best!

　I was worried about the two of you getting along, because meeting people is meeting people...
　Apparently, it was unfounded.

　Tania may not be honest in some ways, but her roots are kind.
　She thinks about Kanade properly and tries to shoulder what she can't do, like now.
　These two could make a good pair.

'Slymoo, slymoo, somewhere slymoo...'
I'll shoot 'em all down with my fire

　Singing a strange song, Kanade and Tania look for the slime.
　However, the slime is nowhere to be seen.
　There shouldn't be any place to hide, since there are more than 100 of them in the swarm.

　However, the plains outside the city are also wide open.
　They must be hiding somewhere you can't see them.

Nya, I can't find them.
It's a pain in the ass, so why don't you just reap them all in one piece with my bracelets?
Don't say that kind of thing, even in jest.
What, I'm serious?

　.........I'll have to teach Tania some common sense later.

'There's an easy way to find out without doing anything so outrageous.
So full of confidence. What are you going to do about it?
We can search the skies.

　I called in an ordinary wild bird, not a venomous bird like the last one, and made a tentative agreement.

'Hey, hey, what are we going to do?　You're going to use that to search for him?
But what are your orders?　Is it like, 'Find the slime, take me there'?
'That's fine, but it's a bit of a pain in the ass. It's hard to use animals for directions. Sometimes the animals misunderstand the meaning of the command and are taken in a completely different direction.
So what are you going to do?
Assimilate.
What?

　Tania looked dubious, as if she didn't understand what we were saying.

　Rather than explaining it in words, it's quicker to have her see it in person.
　I focus my attention on the wild bird that made a temporary contract with me...assimilate it.

　My perspective switches from 'human' to 'wild bird'.
　What I see in my vision are Kanade and Tania and myself.

'Ah, that?　Rain's presence suddenly disappeared and... what?　But Rain is here and yet...
I mean, isn't Rain's reaction weird?　It's like a doll...
"And that's because my soul is in this wild bird right now, isn't it?
"What?

　The two of them were scurrying around.
　Somewhat later, I ... my gaze is fixed on the wild bird.

Do you want to...
Rain turned into a bird...?
'It's a shame. I'm not very good at complicated explanations for transferring part of my soul into this bird and immobilizing my consciousness...' To put it simply, I transferred my consciousness into the bird. My body now is this bird, I guess.'
What?

　Together, they both had a question mark floating above their heads.

''This is one of the Beast Tamer's techniques called assimilation.''
I've never heard of such a thing!
'I've never heard of that!

　He says it so boldly and loudly that I cringe.
　I'm a wild bird now, so they're both big and powerful.

''Not only do you use animals as emissaries, but you're transferring your consciousness... what?　Oh, yeah?　
'Rain, and it's outrageous - I mean, I've acknowledged that to a certain extent, but I never thought it would be this good - it's an extraordinary thing to have the strongest species all together using a technique they don't know about, isn't it?　It's something that Kanade would only admit to ... really, it's amazing.
"Assimilation is not much of a technology.　It's not that much of a compliment, but...
'No way!

　Again, we were all told together.

　Hmm.
　This much, to me, is a very common skill.

　Of course, it's not something that the average person who doesn't know anything about anything can do right away, but....
　I thought it was something that any Beast Tamer would be able to do.
　Perhaps I'm not aware of that area?

By the way, how are we talking to each other?
I'm delivering the thought wave. You can't speak the language when you are assimilated with animals, so you supplement your magic to deliver the thought waves. I'm a beast tamer, so I don't have a lot of magical power, but I have enough magical power to deliver thought waves to people near me.
Naturally.
You're really good with your hands.
Okay, I'll take a look around. In the meantime, you take care of my body.
La-la-la!
Have a good day.

　They saw me off and I flapped my wings high in the sky.