- Shari -

"Ah, there you are. Please come in. We have important matters to discuss." (Radon)

There's the count again.

His room is as neat and tidy as usual.

I would say he acts a bit too high and mighty at times, but maybe that's well-deserved regarding his status.

It's still fascinating how this self-confidence is enough to enable him not to freak out whenever we enter the room.

"Greetings, my lord." (Shari)

"I see you've absolved the exercise and are still in a good shape. Even after such an extensive period of time." (Radon)

To be honest, my core feels as if any further strain might have severe consequences.

Yet I won't show weakness and instead put on a fake smile while making sure it doesn't stretch too far.

"It was a bit much, but we managed." (Shari)

"I'm aware. But it seems only few soldiers were able to achieve satisfying results. One could hardly call this a success. What are your thoughts on the matter?" (Radon)

"I think it's pointless to even try to win against Liqu. She's simply too much." (Shari)

"It was easy. They couldn't even move that much, but had to stay on that field. And I was always full. It would've been harder if I hadn't been at my full capacity." (Liqu)

And I am very sure that she was overeating a bit to show off.

She has this ability to control more mass than she should be able to, at the cost of fine control and increased energy expenditure.

So if someone puts a full flesh menu in front of her it's to be expected that she'll take advantage of it.

And maybe she wanted to show off a bit.

"I see. Maybe we should put some restrictions regarding your allowed maximum on you for the next time." (Radon)

Next time!?

Is he for real or just angry because Liqu is currently sullying his?

"But for now, I'm more interested in your opinion about that practice. Shari was it, right?" (Radon)

"Yes, that's my name. I struggled quite a lot with my opponents. They were hard to fight and I was troubled to put much resistance against them. But that was the intention, right? This whole training was was for me in the first place." (Shari)

"At least your perception is satisfactory. Do you know why?" (Radon)

"Because Liqu will go on a rampage should something happen to me." (Shari)

"Precisely. When one of my subordinates refuses to leave her quarters after an encounter with your comrade I would naturally inquire for the reason. In this case, the fact that your comrade threatened to annihilate every last one of us was of minor interest to me. Not like you tried to hide that point." (Radon)

So it was Vela who told him.

Makes sense and I should probably assume more often that people talk to each other.

"No one threatens my Shari." (Liqu)

Sigh! Could you please not threaten our employer Liqu?!

"I didn't. Yet there'll always be a risk. So if something might happen to "your Shari" and the cause doesn't lie with us, you might still decide that we're at fault and subsequently turn against us. At least, that's my assumption. Am I right?" (Radon)

"I don't know. I don't know what I'll do if the most important I ever had and will have would be gone. You might be right that I'd lose all reason. Because nothing would matter anymore. And this includes everyone here." (Liqu)

Fine, wonderful.

I move behind Liqu and inconspicuously free a finger from my glove which I guide as a tendril inside Liqu's back.

The effect is immediate.

At least I'm extremely aware of her extreme reaction when she realizes what I'm doing.

"Shari!" (Liqu)

Shut up! And I mean this in general! Not another word! Now that you thoroughly elaborated to the most powerful person here how stupidly unreasonable and dangerous you are could you please just stop saying anything at all?! Goddamnit, even you must be aware that this cannot be considered a smart move!

Before too much of her elation, flustering, or anything Liqu-like can carry over I slip back out and put on a calm face.

"Ahem, I'll assume whatever just happened there is a secret and... private, so I won't inquire about the sudden shifts in your expression. Yet now my reasons should be clear why I couldn't simply allow you to begin your service without conducting a little test." (Radon)

"And? Did I pass this test?" (Shari)

"At least you performed above average. I doubt there will be many who can figure out how to fight your kind, for now. Yet this advantage will slowly diminish the more people know about your existence. On the other side, taking you hostage would be another way for our enemy to gain control over your partner. Information is key in this situation." (Radon)

Don't think I didn't notice that not only your opponents could do this.

Fortunately, there's nothing in my face that could give me away.

Slime is hard to read.

"Anyways, now that I could gauge your abilities it should be the right time to see how you perform in praxis." (Radon)

"Does that mean..." (Shari)

"Yes. I'm assigning you on your first mission. Nothing complicated; a simple monster extermination quest. You will be informed about the details tomorrow. Naturally, I expect you to perform well and that there will be no more unfortunate "incidents" with your team." (Radon)

This might mean we are officially regarded as trustworthy enough to have some responsibility.

I'm already at it to turn around and leave his office, afraid to bother him and generally uncomfortable at such a place oozing of dignity where one basically only can mess up with everything one does.

Especially if someone in the room is leaving splats of slime on the ground.

Did I mention that Liqu is still naked?

"One more thing." (Radon)

Yet the count addresses us again before I can make it out of the room.

"Yes, my lord?" (Shari)

"Regarding the holes, you etched not only through my mansion, but also, much more importantly, into the princess’s room..." (Radon)

Naturally, this is no pleasant topic.

"Yes? What about them?" (Shari)

"I thought about filling them. Yet since fixing the whole interior of all the mansion's walls in all its complexity would require a sum of material and effort I'm not willing to pursue I decided to leave them be. Also, it would just appear to be pointless to me if you can simply make new ones." (Radon)

"Does that mean..." (Shari)

"I don't believe you're a danger to her highness. The princess should be pleased and it's not recommended to cut her off from the outside world. In fact, it might be advantageous to have Liqu posing as her guard. She's certainly more than able to take care of any threats to her highness' life. However, I have to order you to abstain from any further nightly visits. She needs her sleep." (Radon)

Did I mention that I dislike how he always cuts me off when I want to say something?

Anyways, it seems we've just got entrusted with the safety of a princess.

Two slimes being responsible for the future ruler of this country?

What a joke!

But finally, I can leave.

The guards are still apprehensive, and the servants whisper when I pass by, but this doesn't interest me as I just want to get back to my room.

It was past due time and I really need my rest.

After separating from Liqu, and assuring myself that she's not going to cause any more chaos, I enter my room.

I find it was cleaned during my absence and a piece of meat was placed on the table, ready for me to "dissolve" it.

I am not sure if Liqu is right about the terms.

The process might be a bit different from eating, but the nature of it is rather similar in my opinion.

Even if it is a more direct way to gain energy.

However, I am totally spent and just want to dive into my tub.

On the other side, I realized that the longer I wait with dissolving flesh the less I’ll gain from it.

In addition, I refuse to eat it when it gets moldy.

Which is just a question of time in this humid underground room.

So I decide to do something that can be just described as extremely bad manners.

I let all my stuff glide to the freshly cleaned floor, grab the flesh, and tug myself into the tub.

There I drift slowly into my disconnected state while maybe starting a very slow dissolving.

While I'm aware of how wrong this sleep eating is, it feels refreshing.

And isn't this the most important thing?