- Shari -

"Hi Elin, how was it?" (Shari)

"How was it? How was it?! I'll tell you how it was!" (Elin)

Seems like someone hasn't been having the best time.

"I come here, show them my best side and bring good news and what do you think they do? They directly put me in this room, let two far too hostile guards watch me, and make them prevent me from undertaking even the most basic bodily actions!" (Elin)

Why do I feel there was something like a not-so-hidden "not that you would understand my problems" undertone?

I certainly won't be sorry for not having a body anymore.

"We really did our best! At the moment they say we are ought to be tested. But hey, at least we're still alive." (Shari)

"Test? What kind of test?" (Elin)

"To see if we are useful enough to trouble themselves with an employment." (Shari)

"That's quite vague." (Elin)

"It's already a win that we can stay here, while we already exposed ourselves." (Shari)

"Oh, you really did it." (Elin)

"It's not like we could have hoped for much if we continued to hide our faces." (Shari)

"Common sense tells me that without hiding yourself you wouldn't fare much better right now." (Elin)

"But we won't anymore. We may have a real chance here." (Shari)

I really think we could greatly benefit from this development.

It's quite strange for me to wait in this far too extravagant room.

With my background from a poor village, it really makes me feel uncomfortable how displaced I am in this environment.

And being a slime isn't really helping on that matter.

However, looking at Elin I really have to do something.

I open the door from the inside and peek out.

Surprisingly it wasn't locked, but it's not like this would have worked to confine us in the first place.

I notice the two guards who guided us here are still waiting in front of our room and clearly don't want to be here.

They perk up in visible distress, fighting the urge to run for their dear lives.

"Excuse me? I wanted to ask if it would be possible to escort our comrade to a bathroom? It would be a strange kind of hospitality to keep her from doing so, am I right?" (Shari)

Elin is obviously embarrassed, which might have been the main reason for her to avoid asking until now.

I on the other side couldn't stand one more minute of her shifting from one foot to the other.

Still panicking, the two look at each other.

"If it helps, she's a normal human. So I would entrust her wellbeing to you." (Shari)

One of them directly steps forward and gives a sign to accompany him.

So it seems this was rather about who of these two can get away from here?

The other one looks fittingly crestfallen at his partner's rogue action.

This one on his side doesn't lose much time to get away from here.

I give the one who got left behind a smile before realizing he won't see it behind my mask.

Instead, I try to convey it with my voice and speak.

"If you want to, you can close the door again." (Shari)

I don't need to say it twice before the door is shut again.

With this, I am now alone with Liqu in this room.

The first thing I had to do was to convince her that this isn't our honeymoon.

After that, I could start with more serious issues.

"Liqu, I want you to stay vigilant. Dealing with nobles is always troublesome. They might betray us at the first chance they get. Just like Chris!" (Shari)

She just stares and then nods under her mask.

This kind of quiet reply is novel regarding her usual behavior and like this emanating some surprisingly grave intent.

After all, that incident was nothing positive for either of us.

"But don't harm anyone if possible. We want to gain their favor here. So no victims. Stay friendly!" (Shari)

"What shall I do now? Staying friendly or vigilant?" (Liqu)

"I think you're capable enough to look friendly while internally being on high alert. You're playing an act. Just watch out. I don't want anything to happen to you." (Shari)

After I said this, slime starts to spill out of the holes of Liqu's mask.

"Heck! What is it now?" (Shari)

"I am happy! Never before has someone cared about what happens to me!" (Liqu)

Hell, that was mostly self-preservation!

I mean, yes it would suck if she after all the effort I put into training her would come to waste.

However, stop this leaking out of the mask! It's creepy!

"Please, get your act together. I need you ready." (Shari)

At least she seems to put some effort into stopping the flow.

As soon she manages to do so I can again address her.

"Liqu, do you know what all of this could mean for us?" (Shari)

"No. I don't really understand everything." (Liqu)

Sigh, figures!

"That man is very powerful. I mean that he is an important individual. We talked about this. He holds power over other humans. Can you follow?" (Shari)

"Yes?" (Liqu)

Then why are you voicing this as a question?

"So, if this man is satisfied with our actions he might put the weight of his word in for us. As I said, nobles are troublesome folk, so there is the chance of betrayal, but if he actually does what he promises... Do you have any idea what that would imply for us?" (Shari)

"No." (Liqu)

Rather timid.

She must feel inept for not knowing.

"We could become legal beings. If he prohibits that other people can harm us, we are safe. No more hiding! No being hunted! No anxiety about being found out! We could live a peaceful life without worries!" (Shari)

She stares for a moment and I start to get the feeling that something within her core just ruptured.

Finally, she slowly comes back to her senses.

Yet her next reply catches me off guard.

"We?" (Liqu)

That's it!

I said we can live peacefully!

Not I, not both of us, but we as in "together"!

What have I done?!

Naturally, she caught on to this.

Do I really plan to spend my life with her?

I mean, maybe she slowly becomes less annoying.

She still makes mistakes, but I guess there were some improvements recently.

So living with this creature for an indefinite amount of time...

I think even if I would officially be safe in the future, this way of thinking is a little naive.

I might still be in grave danger.

So, no matter what kind of life I try building for myself, some protection won't be wrong.

And then there is that other point.

With this in mind, I answer.

"You know, I'm rather disenchanted about you leaving. So if you don't mess things up for me, I might be able to stand your presence. And please try to receive this calmly!" (Shari)

Sigh! I knew this was asking for too much.

The opposite is the case.

Liqu starts to tremble ecstatically.

Even if the cloak covers her, the surface beneath is so stirred that you'd think she might explode any moment.

"Please calm down! If this gets worse you might actually mess things up!" (Shari)

It doesn't seem so.

If anything it gets worse.

I really can't have it that the lord discovers how unpredictable she is so soon.

But how shall I stop her?

This... This might help!

I remove my glove, extend a finger, and, with just the slightest hesitation, plunge it into her.

CALM DOWN! THIS INSTANT!

"You... you are..." (Liqu)

Yes, I am in here! Forced to do this, because you're not reacting to anything else! So, CALM THE FUCK DOWN!!!

After I said this, I immediately separate, and truly I think I had some impact.

The trembling stops and she just stares.

Promptly the door opens.

"I'm back. Did I miss something?" (Elin)

"Nothing!" (Shari)

At least nothing I would want to mention.

With this, I commence waiting with a now disturbingly quiet Liqu.

It was at least noteworthy that I could seriously influence her.