- Shari -

We made sure that no one was on the street when we exited the sewers.

However, now comes the first hurdle.

The palace is separated from the general populace by a huge wall, then there’s a large courtyard to cross before one reaches the palace itself.

At this moment, Liqu, who still has Anvenia lodged inside her, puts both her hands on the wall's surface.

"Liqu, we can't just go up there. Someone might see us." (Shari)

The issue is that we have no way to see if there's someone stationed as night watch at the top.

Certainly, there will be guards but I'm sure not everywhere all the time.

However, we need to find a way to sneak past those.

Suddenly she reaches out with her right hand and makes contact with my body.

"I'm checking the waves of everyone in contact with this structure. There's nothing to worry about." (Liqu)

Not only do I perceive her words, but I also receive a detailed explanation of the concept from her.

Through this, I learn how a slime can surveil the environment by perceiving the waves a living being creates when it makes any sound or which occur through all the minor impacts with stuff.

This way one can, even if vision is obstructed stay aware of other creatures in the vicinity.

Be it birds in a tree, mammals in their burrows, or adventurers still covered by trees.

Those at least are all the examples Liqu chose to convey through the mental link as they're on her palate.

Yet all this fairly interesting and practical stuff pales in comparison to something else.

"Damnit! That's linking!" (Shari) "Yes. We shouldn't talk for someone to notice, right?" (Liqu) "Shit! And now she even has a good argument!" (Shari) "Thank you!" (Liqu)

Becoming aware that she can read my mind at the moment I quickly disconnect my body from hers. Then, albeit hesitant, I touch her for a short moment.

"Only the bare minimum, you hear me?" (Shari) "Yes, yes!" (Liqu)

I instantly cut the connection again.

Anvenia, meanwhile, looks confused at our, from an outer perspective, peculiar exchange.

And this even while she's inside Liqu's body.

However, we cannot afford to waste any more time.

Freshly instructed about how to do it, I make contact with the surface and scan the environment.

Conveniently, the stone of the wall is also a very good medium to carry the waves we're perceiving.

While I'm not proficient with pinpointing the origin of a wave I can at least quickly tell that there are no signals close to us.

So the unpleasant part can begin now.

I press my body against the surface where it instantly loses its shape.

However, I have to get over it and then get over this wall.

As soon as I know that I properly stick I can proceed by moving upwards.

This movement is a bit different from gliding through holes, as I apply new mass by shoving it along where my back would be to add it to the wall above me.

This way it's more as if I'm a slow wheel dragging itself upward.

I am also well aware of the few blades I took with me.

Now that I think about it, if I want to avoid bloodshed it might be wrong to carry them with me, but I'm quite fond of them and don't want to part, even if they get in the way of my movement a bit.

Even with Anvenia lodged inside her, Liqu somehow manages to outcrawl me.

But not by much and soon we're on top of the wall.

But we don't stay here and directly jump off the other side.

"Splotch"

Will I ever get used to splattering on the ground?

I have no time to ponder this and quickly move further to the palace.

A quick check on Liqu confirms that Anvenia is still unharmed.

And if not for the tense situation she would apparently be having the time of her life right now.

Fortunately, the garden's greenery covers us well enough.

The walls are also quite massive here so I doubt there are guards close by, as there's nothing to watch.

Now we have to continue our climbing session.

The same as before I glue myself to the wall and crawl upward.

We soon pass a window but can't enter it as our destination is far higher than this.

At least out here we aren't confronted with guards.

My blue is well-covered in this dark and Liqu might be mistaken for vines or moss.

After some time I start to curse my ever-active all-around vision since I can't do anything against the knowledge of how high I am.

At some point, I am quite sure that if I'd fall it might become difficult to avoid damage to my core as hard as I'd crash into the ground.

It might be possible to do some kind of maneuver, like bringing all my slime below my core and increasing my membrane.

My core might bounce around for a bit but it would probably be fine.

Nonetheless, it's still quite risky.

At this point it should even be possible to spot us from outside the wall, that is if the darkness allows them to see that far.

In this regard night vision is problematic, as I can't really tell how the conditions are for normal people.

If they can, a certain maid should be getting a heart attack right now.

About Anvenia I need to say that she's bravely holding out.

This is a feat if you consider that she would end in the same state as me when hitting the ground at this height.

Yet without the option to draw herself back together.

But eventually, this strenuous situation ends, as we reach the fourth floor.

Liqu extends a tendril toward me.

"What now?" (Liqu) "We have to get in. I guess our best bet to enter is the windows. You dissolve one and we can get inside there. Preferably, in a way that the window stays as intact as possible or someone might become suspicious if they discover it." (Shari) "Ah, okay. I know how! I have experience!" (Liqu)

Sure.

Naturally, Liqu has experience in burglary.

Those are very disturbing images I'm getting right now.

True to her word, she extends a tendril to one point of the window.

"Zsch"

Then she begins to dissolve.

Not all of it, but only the tiny fraction where the lock connects.

After this, she glues more of her body to its surface and pulls, so it opens instantly.

I realize that she somehow managed to dissolve the locking mechanism without destroying the interior.

When I crawl in, it still looks completely intact on the other side.

Liqu follows swiftly behind me.

Albeit unwilling, I make contact with Liqu.

"Let the princess out for a moment." (Shari)

After this torture, she deserves to be allowed to stand on her own legs.

Naturally, I make the respective "Psht" gesture.

She seems to appreciate it.

At least the way she claws the ground tells me so.

I should remind myself that she's still a very young girl.

However, we have to get moving before a night patrol finds us.

Especially as this is a high-security area.

Quite unceremoniously Liqu takes her back in and begins to glide forward.

Now we have to reach the bed chamber of some royalties.

And no, I won't say something like: "We only have to circumvent a few more guards and we’ll be there."

I know what would happen if I do this.

Not today, world.

Not today.