****(POV)

What should I do?! I left the most dangerous area behind. I grabbed by noodle stand and simply rolled away with it on instinct.

Now I have a big problem. I want to just leave, but the kid is still in a coma. No way I'm giving up on him! These tamers said that moving him could be extremely dangerous. But it's just a question of time before he gets eaten if he remains in this city!

What should I do?!...

"Soldier! Any news from the slime tamer?! That Little Bai!"

"No Sir but he should be here soon!"

"Alright, we'll wait some more! Make sure to do your job properly and…"

Wait?! He said 'Little Bai'?! That was the commander! I rush at him!

"You! What did you say about the kid?!"

He glances surprisingly at me.

"Why are you still here this place is…"

"I heard Little Bai!!!"

"Yes, he should be healed, and here soon we just…"

HAHAHAHA! This is awesome! Why didn't I think of that?! I can't believe I was just running and wondering what to do. He tamed a slime! Of course, they'd ask for his help!

This is lucky! I know his coma is profound and not something easy to treat at all! Usually, they would have never helped, but now…!

Half the city getting destroyed seems like a small price to pay to get him back. I guess the gods heard my prayers! Then again I really doubt this is the work of CooKing….or the Flying Noodle Maverick for all that matters…

Yeah, pretty sure my prayers were useless on that one haha. Wait! Don't tell me KIM voluntarily did that somehow to help him and…

I still remember that day they kept messing around with her chasing him, well his slime. Either way, I'll thank her later too! I just plant myself next to the commander.

"Stay away this is no place for a civilian to be and…"

"Another word and I swear I will poison your food the next time you come to eat at my place! I'm waiting for the kid to show up right here!"

*Gulp*

He gives me a flabbergasted look but he doesn't object anymore. Well, my noodles are really good. He simply signals me to be careful. Please, who does he think I am?!

I am the best goddamn noodle seller! As if I'd be phased by something as simple as a city-ending event! That is making light of all my abilities! By far!

I'm just waiting and waiting and …

"Old man! Is that you!"

There he is. Followed by a naked soldier for some reason. My brain automatically ignores that part. He is fine. The kid is fine HAHAHAHA!

He looks well, still as fat somehow. This is a miracle! He looks so funny in that military outfit. His kind face not fitting the style at all. But who cares! I'm supposed to be an old man. Experienced and wise.

Screw that shit! I dash toward him then hug him! I'm a mess, the eye waterworks still working, more than they ever did.

He's fine. This is stupid. We are not even family. I'm just some random old man by the side of the road. It's really unbecoming of me…but whatever. I truly missed the kid.

His stubborn optimist toward the future. His quiet strength of character. The way he'd praise my cooking so much that even I would blush. Back then he kept saying he only did so to get free meals but…

"I'm back old man. Sorry for the delay, I was having a nap."

Normally I'd be telling him to wipe that smug smile off his face but…

"As long as you are fine. That's all that matters really."

He simply nods. Ah, this feels great. Actually….this is weird. I didn't notice it at first but…Why is he so soft?! Like seriously too soft! What is…

"You guys can talk later. We have slimes to deal with. There are three king slimes and countless small ones."

Little Bai finally stops the hug. I still can't wrap my head around how soft he is and…

"I don't see that many, most are medium size, no?"

"This awesome slime researcher can explain this part!"

"Haha, you too are here, Kim!"

"It's KIM! But yeah, slime can aggregate to temporarily transform into a stronger variant. A quantitative change will provoke a qualitative one when you are talking about slimes!"

"So, how do we defeat them?!"

"What? I don't care about that. They are used to my presence."

I can hear everyone sigh. Apparently, for the last two years, she's been feeding the creatures. Somehow, she doesn't seem to see anything shameful in that. No comment.

That's when the kid turns toward the slimes while heroically exclaiming.

"Fear not. I'll protect this city. I may not have that big an attachment to this place, but I'll take care of it this once."

He shouldn't be reckless he should be…

"Don't worry, old man. I know what I'm doing. I can feel some sort of connection to the slimes in front. They won't hurt me. I know that for a fact!"

I simply shut up. For once he looks so valiant! He has always been joking around, but this is the real him. A man that is full of conviction. One that actually almost died protecting his pet. Such a man was called the shame of the tamer's guild by some! Can you fucking believe it?!

They made fun of him for being one of the only older tamers that didn't have a single magical beast. Look how the tables have turned! All the tamers ran away! Look who is standing here as our guardian now!

I'm truly proud of the man he has become. I'll be able to brag that I saw his true self way before everyone else. I always believed in him, even when he was at my stall begging for food.

"Go on, kid. Show them your awesomeness!"

"Of course, old man! Slimes, this king is here! Stop your willful acts of destruction!"

His voice is powerful and steady. He is confidently approaching the king slime under everyone's watch.

"Now, tell me why did-"

Then I see the slime slowly come to touch his extended hand. Then it wiggles and ….

*SWALLOW*

It engulfs him completely! What the Hell?! Little Bai! Noooo! What the fuck is happening?!

"Quick go save him! He needs help and…"

"*Sigh* It's too late. Fuck. Talk about a waste of that healing treasure!"

*Thud*

Kid….Nooo!...