- Shari -

  "So as I see it, you may either do as we tell you, or wake up in a world where everyone can have one of those fancy new collars around their neck. And believe me, you won't be on the owner side of the deal." (Shari)

  Sigh, another one crossed off my list.

  It helps that this night I made a list of good arguments beforehand, which I'm relaying in a rather convincing manner, but the hours still get quite long if you have to visit officer after officer.

  By now we’ve convinced quite a number of people to find the error in their ways and become wholly new people.

  Or at least we united them in common mortal fear if they don't do as they're told.

  Recently, I started rather using slavery than murder to threaten them.

  Don't know, it simply doesn't feel as coldblooded from my side.

  However, it's not too long till dawn, so we should be on our way.

  "This is nice, isn't it?!" (Liqu)

  "What do you mean, Liqu? Threatening people into compliance isn't really the most fun pastime I can think of." (Shari)

  "But it's just you and me, nobody who bothers us. We can walk together through a city. It's so nice here." (Liqu)

  Yeah, this slime really has a weird idea about what she considers enjoyment.

  "It's still just doing our job. Personally, I hope we get a break after this. I think we did more than enough to warrant one." (Shari)

  "What would be so much better about that?" (Liqu)

  "You're seriously asking me what's good about not having to work? Well, for one, we wouldn't have to do anything. We could just do as we'd like. Nothing that has to be crossed off on our list, no looming catastrophe if we don't. I'd really appreciate it." (Shari)

  "Oh, but I like that we have to do something. You know, since I met you, there was each day something to do. There was barely a single moment when I didn't know how I should spend my time. Before, I could do things, catch prey, watch stuff, but there was no real point to it. It was all kinda meaningless. But now with you, everything has a reason. There is... purpose, I guess. I find this so much better compared to before." (Liqu)

  Sigh.

  As I said, weird opinions.

  "Well, maybe we can find a middle ground. Maybe I can teach you how to relax properly." (Shari)

  "That would be great!" (Liqu)

  Truth be told, I don't really know how slimes should spend their free time either.

  I mean, it's not like I'm particularly tense or so, and would have to do something about my stress.

  I wonder how being given a massage would even work out for me.

  "Glrlbsh!" (Shari)

  "What was that?" (Liqu)

  "Just thought about something funny." (Shari)

  Honestly, things could probably be worse.

  Tonight was the last mission of that kind, and now we just need to head home, which is directly round the corner, and pass the time till-

  Our door is busted.

  Instantly, I worry someone may have stolen my freshly brewed potions, but what I then realize makes it even worse.

  There's something else than the bit of stuff I left there that could get taken.

  "Shit! The kids! Liqu, I'll go upstairs. You check the other rooms!" (Shari)

  This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  Rushing through the hallway on the second floor, I find all the rooms to be empty.

  Maybe a bit ruffled, but there wasn't much in the first place.

  "Shari! Found them!" (Liqu)

  That came from the backroom.

  I quickly head to the origin of the voice.

  There I find Liqu standing at the entrance to the cellar.

  "It's kinda cute, isn't it?" (Liqu)

  I move past her to see what she's talking about.

  There I find the two kids.

  Or rather, a kid and a slime.

  At literally the same place that is.

  Nia seems to be kinda dazed, the way she wrapped herself around her brother to the point of being completely unrecognizable as a person.

  I enter, ready to scold her for being so reckless with their bodies, when I let my gaze drift around the room.

  Did Liqu seriously just completely ignore all the half-dissolved corpses on the ground?!

  While switching into high-speed processing, so I can recover my bearings a bit faster, I look back to those two, while asking myself what transpired here.

  It's then that I notice that Okin doesn't look too great.

  Shit, he looks actually really bad!

  "Nia? What happened?" (Shari)

  At first, there's no reaction.

  Then the surface of the blob that enveloped Okin starts to wobble and shift.

  Then two drowsy eyes form right next to the boy's head.

  It takes a bit longer till also a mouth forms.

  "You... You're back." (Nia)

  I move a bit closer.

  There's a desperate need to inspect them.

  Especially, the boy.

  "Yes, I am. Can you tell me what happened?" (Shari)

  "Men came. I hid. They caught Okin, dragged him down here and, and..." (Nia)

  "Okay, no need to elaborate. I can imagine the rest. Would you let me check on your brother?" (Shari)

  "I, I need to hold him. I-it helps." (Nia)

  "Yes, okay. Just let me take a look, okay? No need to let go." (Shari)

  "B-but be careful. I, I need to be careful, or I might... dissolve." (Nia)

  Right, so the common worries.

  Very slowly, I extend my hand to check on Okin.

  Yet Nia doesn't really recede.

  For this reason, I first need to fight through a lot of childish confusion, panic, and almost manic focus on not letting go and not dissolving.

  The other thing I notice is that her slime, to a great deal, consists of an assortment of healing potion.

  However, I'm pretty sure she as well thinks that I should rather focus on the boy now.

  First, the most important.

  I feel a heartbeat!

  Merciful god!

  Also, a shallow, but at least steady, breath.

  This is at least something.

  Doesn't look like there's an imminent risk of death.

  Now let's see.

  His wounds still don't look great, but I'm very sure that Nia's healing wrap already took the brunt of it.

  However, healing can strain the body to perform the deed.

  So maybe a stamina potion?

  Eating would be better, but I'm not sure if he can manage.

  Also, my former results with applying stamina potions weren't too successful.

  "Why won't you say anything? Is something wrong?" (Nia)

  "Uh, I don't think he's going to die. Though, I don't really know how to treat him. I suppose we can only wait and see how he is tomorrow. If he isn't much better, we'll either ask Tamarah or her friend, even pay a healer if nothing else helps." (Shari)

  "Really?" (Nia)

  "Of course. He's going to be fine. Now you better calm down. I can only imagine that tonight wasn't all that great on you." (Shari)

  It's especially important that I reassure her here.

  Otherwise, she might still activate a bad switch and start dissolving, the emotional mess she currently is.

  On the other side, she clearly has no intention of letting go.

  And as everyone should know by now, separating a slime that is clinging like this is a practice in futility.

  This means, I can only try to get her into the right mindset and avoid that she feels uncomfortable enough to trigger the reaction.

  "So, how was your first ki-?" (Liqu)

  

  
• Slime bullet!


  

  Using silver might seem wasteful, but was more than worth it to keep this social calamity from continuing to talk.

  At least it seems that Nia got mostly confused by this statement.

  When I focus on Liqu again, her head is already reshaping.

  "What was that for?!" (Liqu)

  "Don't ask her such things! Not while she is like this!" (Shari)

  "Oh! But they're still everywhere around here! Quite messy, I need to say." (Liqu)

  "I'm sure she had her reasons." (Shari)

  "It, it all happened so fast. I wasn't really thinking. Or... I was, but it wasn't like... me? I mean, I just, I just wanted to, to dissolve them!" (Nia)

  Before anything happens, I plunge my arm into her.

  

  
• "Alright, that is quite enough. No dissolving triggering please." (Shari)
  
    


  
• "I…huh? Oh, you're...in my mind?" (Nia)
  
    


  
• "Yes, and you were far too close to doing something you would regret." (Shari)


  

  Seriously, I know that emotional state she almost got into.

  The same as when I first held my mother's mirror and had to welcome the new me.

  Being brought face to face with the harsh reality, that you’re no longer what you once were, even within, is rather distressing, to say the least.

  Maybe not quite as distressing as having killed a bunch of people, but that rather supports my point than oppose it.

  Just good that I'm constantly in high-speed processing here or I might've acted too late.

  "Okay, Nia. We can continue like this for a while longer, but after a bit, I think we should bring your brother to bed." (Shari)

  "But, but I'm helping him!" (Nia)

  "Yes, I can see that, but we can still treat him the traditional way. You already soaked him plenty with the healing potions. I'm sure he got enough of that to last him a while. So we'll put bandages on the worst spots, and let him rest for a bit. You know, this is no ideal position." (Shari)

  While I'm sure she could turn from being a reclined seat into some kind of liquid bedding, this would be all too awkward for everybody involved.

  "Don't worry. I'll very gently carry him up." (Shari)

  "O-okay. But very carefully." (Nia)

  "Of course." (Shari)

  Seems like this situation is somewhat settled now.

  I should be able to get Nia to let go soon.

  "Hey, can I have the bodies?" (Liqu)

  I can't believe that slime!

  "What? It would be a waste not to! Also, you should really educate your spawn on that matter. Being a messy dissolver is no good! Though at least she doesn’t have your old dissolving disorder." (Liqu)