When they reached the town, Eri tried to ward Rei away from her apartment with countless methods. She made several fake turns on the darkening streets in an attempt to shake him off.

But who was Rei?

He seemed to have a remote sensing ability to follow her wherever she went.

Why is this slime so damn fast?

Eri finally gave up and sprinted into her small rental place and locked the door. But even so, Rei melted into a pool and slipped through the cracks of the door to her home.

This, stalker...

With nowhere to turn, Eri sighed and ignored him. She was too tired to cook, so she chewed on some dried food and cleaned her teeth with some cleansing powder before she went to sleep.

Rei was warned by Eri before she went to sleep. He was told that men and women can't sleep on the same bed before marriage.

Men?

Rei thought while he observed Eri's body that was softly moving up and down in her sleep.

The surface of his body rippled. His skin and clothes melted into a blob of green.

Nurunurunuru...

The large blob of slime reached over the bed and slowly poured over Eri's sleeping figure.

... ...

"Mmm...so...heavy..."

When was my blanket so heavy? It's difficult to breathe...and move.

"Hah!"

Eri jolted awake on her narrow bed.

"Ehh slime!!! Reiiiiii!"

Eri struggled with the sheet of slime wrapped over her body. But a cute voice bubbled from it.

"Eri, my Eri and I get married~"

The small voice sent vibrations across the slime and surprised Eri.

What a...cute voice?

"Hey, I want to get up. Sleeping in the same bed doesn't mean we're married."

Eri slapped the slime and sent a wave of ripples across its body.

"Then we get married~ marry~ marry~"

"I don't even know you...how can I marry you?"

Eri was vexed by the slime's insistence. She's had her share of stalkers, but this is on a whole new level!

"We start knowing now~ Nurunuru~ Our status says we are husband and wife~~"

"..."

Eri remembered how she was already considered spouses with this slime when she checked their status screens before. Is it really like he says it is?

But wait, why does this slimes personality seem...so different?

Ding! Ding!

[Urgent Quest]

Complete marriage and blood oath with Slime demon: Rei in 24 hours.

Reward: Divine blessing. Unsealing memories.

Penalty: Stalker's action revives. The threat of kidnapping is high.

?!?!

It became a quest?!!!

I never accepted this quest!

Who's giving it? And kidnapping?!?

I have never recognised any master or teacher...wait, I do have a compounding teacher. But that old lady never saw Rei, and her name isn't even on this quest!

No way...could it be like he said? Could it be the heavens are speaking?

"Nurunuru~ Eri, Eri, marriage~ I have quest penalty~ My punishment is grief~ what does grief feel like?~"

"Ahm...mmm....okay. Let's get married. You know I'm poor right? I can't afford a wedding dress or a banquet. I don't have friends or family to invite either. There's a small chapel in town."

"Yay~~ Eri! Eri! We love! We marry~"

"Okay, okay, I got it. Don't think you can trick me with your cute voice. I have to prepare, get off.."

The slime slid off the bed and plopped on the ground. It bubbled and spun into a tall figure.

"Good morning, my Eri."

Rei smiled happily.

"...yeah. I have to get ready! Turn around!!"

... ...

Other than her sleepwear, Eri only had 2 sets of clothing. She chose the newer looking one, and wore the soft leather armour she used when procuring compounding materials. This was her finest garment out of all that she owned. It was a bit embarrassing, but it will have to do.

She cut off some beetroot and squeezed out its juice. The juice was a deep purple-red. She never really had a reason to wear makeup, but she should at least be a bit prettier and more put together for her wedding, shouldn't she? Even if it's just a quest wedding...

Her finger dabbed into the red juice and she rubbed it on the apples of her cheeks. She also painted some on her lips and looked at her reflection from the rusted mirror on the shelf.

Hey, not bad. This natural looking makeup makes her look healthy and happy. She tidied her hair and poked Rei's back.

"I'm ready Rei."

Rei turned around and his eyes sparkled.

"My Eri, you are beautiful."

Eri's cheeks went a bit redder. The beet juice and her natural blush blended over each other on her smooth white cheeks.

"Really beautiful..."

"Ye-yeah thanks! You look good today too!"

They went out the door and headed for the chapel.

... ...

On their way there, owners of small vendors were setting up their booths on the street. They walked along the main street to the town square.

A small fountain gurgled in the centre. Various important buildings circled the fountain, and the town chapel stood in the middle.

When Eri and Rei passed by, an elderly woman called out.

"Eri?"

They turned around and Eri rushed over.

"Teacher! Good morning! What are you doing here?"

"Oh, bird watching. The morning air is so fresh. Oh my, who is that handsome young man beside you? Care to introduce?"

The elderly lady chuckled.

"Uhh..."

What am I going to do...tell my teacher I'm getting married right now?

"Good morning madam, I am Rei. Eri and I are getting married right now."

"Oh married! Marry!! Why didn't you tell me, Eri?"

"Uuu...it's..it's complicated. Even I didn't think.."

Oh no, I shouldn't tell her its part of my quest. How can I explain?

"Alright, I know. Young people have their reasons. This is a really nice young man! Aren't you inviting this old lady to your wedding?"

"Te-teacher!"

My wedding is so shabby...how can I let her attend it?

"Thank you, madam. Please be our witness."

Rei bowed to the old lady, and they all went into the chapel.

There were a few rows of old wooden benches and a small stone altar at the far end of the building. The town was too poor to have a priest. So most of the residents would hold their marriage vows in front of the altar with their family as witnesses.

The old lady sat on the bench before the altar. Eri went forward with Rei and looked back at her teacher.

Ugh...I'm really getting married. This is so awkward.

The pair in front of the alter couldn't be simpler. They were unadorned—without flowers, fine fabrics or jewels. But the soft morning light entering from the stained glass windows glimmered and undulated gently over the two. Green, blue and purple light made a dance on their skin.

It was a sight to behold for the old lady. How divine, she thought to herself. The pair looked like fairies stepping down into the mortal world.

... ...

They held each other's hands and read the vows engraved on the stone altar.

"Eri, my wife. I enter the covenant of marriage with you today, and I swear to love and support you for my life. Whether in sickness, pain, poverty or in times of prosperity, I will never forsake you."

"Rei, my husband. I enter the covenant of marriage with you today, and I swear to love and support you for my life. Whether in sickness, pain, poverty or in times of prosperity, I will never forsake you."

With the vows completed, both of them pricked their thumbs and pressed their fingers dripping with blood together.

The blood oath was completed, and the old lady clapped her hands. The rays of light shining in from the window seemed to be a lot brighter all of a sudden.

Ding! Ding!

[Divine Blessing Bestowed]

Couple Auxiliary effects granted!

Active Skills

[Power of Hugging]

When a hug is shared, defence will increase by x3!

[Power of Missing]

When you think of each other, skills will increase levels by x3!

[Power of Kissing]

When a kiss is shared, mental/physical/spirit power will increase by x3!

Latent skills

[Spouse Finder]

Locates your spouse no matter where they are!

[Soul Speech]

Ability to communicate with your spouse without sound no matter how far apart you are!

[Status Link]

Both parties can sense the state of each other in detail such as emotional state or state of health.

[Body Link]

Any elemental attribute gained by one spouse will be shared with each other.

Oh my God talk about cheesy! I don't think I can ever activate these skills...Is this a divine prank? It's so darn exaggerated!!

Ding! Ding!

What there's more to come?!

[Memory Seal Removed]

No description.

A shock hit Eri and she knelt down. Countless pictures swept through her eyes like a movie and she couldn't support herself.

"Eri?"

Rei embraced her limp body. The old lady came forward and took her pulse.

"She just seems to be dizzy. Did she have breakfast? It might be anaemia."

After a short while, Eri looked up at Rei. Her eyes were confused but they seemed like a different pair of eyes staring at him. These eyes were colder and darker than before, and it seemed to change her entire face. It was as if she was a completely different person, only with similar features.

"Rei?"

"Yes, my Eri?"

"I...I'm not just Eri...I..."

I'm a reincarnation.

Eri swallowed the rest of her sentence. She didn't know what was happening and it was hard to explain. It was bewildering how she seemed to know this world, yet a different feeling emerged, she felt that everything seemed so different, new and strange.