Slime Girl

- Shari -

I'd eat my blades if this guy isn't the official we were supposed to wait for.

Figuratively.

While objectively possible, they're far too valuable to dissolve them in my stomach.

Although I could just swallow them without dissolving.

But I fear this leads too far.

In any case, I feel required to approach this formal-looking man.

As I get closer, and once he takes notice of this, his full attention falls onto me.

"Ehm, hi?" (Shari)

"Are you Risa, the Verdant Gale?" (envoy)

Straight to business, right?

Well, that at least confirms most of my assumptions for him being here.

"That's what my adventurer card says. Well, actually, it just says Risa, but I guess the byname does apply without outright need of mentioning." (Shari)

He doesn't quite humor my attempt at loosening the tense atmosphere.

"And Bowan the Mountain?" (envoy)

"Right there! Bowan! Could you come over here, please?" (Shari)

Fortunately, I can at times like this count on Liqu's obsession, and that she'd pay me enough attention to notice my gestures at her.

Still pretty sure she wouldn't react to her fake name.

Once we both stand in front of him, it seems like he decides to move on to the second part of the formalities he prepared.

"His Excellency, Leronne Eras, the Marquis of Siras, grants you an audience in his hall. You are ought to follow me." (envoy)

Not the most leisurely person I have ever known.

As I intend to follow the only plan I have, I certainly won't act out towards him.

Therefore, Liqu and I get going.

Our trip leads deep into the north-western part of the town.

This is when I can lay my eyes on the Marquis' estate.

To be fair, estate isn't quite the right word.

Yet neither would I call it a castle or palace.

At the end of a grand plaza lies a building behind what appears to be a mix of a wall and a pretty massive steel fence.

Massive pillars have thick metal bars running between them above waist-height stone foundations.

The metal shimmers golden, and the stone is of an almost glistening white.

The same goes for the building behind the wall.

It has no towers, no crude stone, but an even surface of white, coupled with the largest windows I ever saw, all glistening in the slowly setting sun.

And in the center of this construct, there's a wide balcony, from where you can oversee the whole plaza.

I probably should also mention the exorbitant number of guards standing at attention all around.

Aside from being far too many, they also don't look like the typical run-of-the-mill guardsmen.

Nope, these are stronger, better equipped, more steadfast, and overall more impressive.

None of them even looks relaxed, and I seriously have to question how people maintain this level of focus for a whole shift.

Despite suppressing any possible bodily reaction, I can't help but feel nervous as we enter.

The gate, made of wood dipped in gold, has so many ornamental decorations that I'm sure this alone would pay for a house.

Moreover, the impression of far too much wealth doesn’t let up as we move past the threshold and enter the vast hall behind.

Statues, vases, armors, paintings, possibly every form of decoration one can think of that would be expensive, one can find them here.

If one thing is for sure, then it's that the Marquis has money.

Something that shouldn't surprise me is that this Harose guy is here again to welcome us.

"I brought them, Minister." (envoy)

"Good, good. Fine that you made it. You... could've used the time and money you were given to dress up better for this occasion, but I suppose there's little way of hiding... this." (Harose)

It's actually getting quite difficult to hold on to me with this person.

In particular, as Michael already worked on making us look more presentable with what limited resources he had, to keep us from looking like decomposing corpses.

And did I mention that I'm currently not at my most composed state of mind?

"We did our best. What about the reward?" (Shari)

"Such insolence! Please, by all means, don't do this in front of the Marquis. I know, this might be a great ask for the likes of you, but you have to be at your best behavior in front of His Excellency. You will be rewarded, but pestering is an absolute impossibility. It is already an honor that His Excellency would grant an audience to the likes of you, if only to satisfy his own curiosity. So don't make light of his person, under no circumstances! Is that understood?!" (Harose)

I'm not exactly sure who's worse.

The Marquis, if he actually enforces this kind of bootlicking to maintain his haughtiness, or this guy, who's fully committed to enabling this system.

I start to wonder more and more whether I should just get over it and end this guy at the first chance I might get.

"... Sure." (Shari)

"Tsk. Truly the lower caste. Now walk along. Letting His Excellency wait any longer would truly pose an insult." (Havore)

Urgh, please stop talking!

Fortunately, he doesn’t talk any further while we move.

I make an effort to remember the way, in case this becomes important later on.

Unfortunately, this is one of the things that I, as a slime, can't do that well.

The obnoxious amount of objects of art distracting me doesn't make this any simpler.

So I fail to fully internalize the layout before we reach our destination.

Or rather, the preliminary hall in front of it.

Which already looks nice enough.

Streaks of gold adorn the marbled walls, and on the side we are led to, there are benches, lined with padding of leather, that feel surprisingly conforming to my body.

Something I'm currently very sensitive to.

Yet, on the other side of the room, I see actual armchairs, which definitely are for people of a higher station than us.

"You'll wait here until called. Do not wander. The Marquis will receive you shortly." (Havore)

I should also mention that there's a contingent of guards on both sides.

Probably to make sure that guests can't suddenly decide against following through with this audience, and whatever consequences it might bring.

I sit down uncomfortably on the bench, while Liqu doesn't seem to mind the whole situation, and just plops onto it.

Gratefully, after a few more minutes, the great door, which reaches nearly two average stories of regular buildings, parts and gives way into the actual audience hall.

Through it steps a small servant in a fancy blue uniform.

"The Marquis will receive you now." (servant)

"Finally! Let's get this over with, before we need to spend any longer like this." (Havore)

You mean together with us?

Sigh, I really have to make an effort to ignore him and focus on our real target.

But I'll admit with this asshole on one topic.

Let's get this over with!

Past the enormous door with another set of guards, we enter a room that seems to be completely made of gold, with only a few gaps of sheets of blue and purple fabric in between, which makes this whole room feel fairly oppressive.

Which partially may also come from the fact that there are even more guards in here.

Yet those guards, who incredibly seem to be of even greater quality than those before, only steal my focus for a moment before all of my attention shifts to the centerpiece.

Past them, on a throne that doesn't look all that impressive, in contrast to everything I saw before, but interestingly quite comfortable, sits a man.

No, sorry, The Man.

My target, Leronne Eras, the Marquis of the West.

And the man who took my parents.

I feel the rage boil inside me and consider shooting him right in the face with an acid slime bullet.

Yet before I do so, I notice Liqu approaching me as we're walking closer.

Which isn't too hard, given what a giant of a man she is.

"Ri-sa. I'd like to tell you something." (Liqu)

Why so secretive?

What could it be, now of all times?!

"What? Bad moment... Bowan." (Shari)

Hah, almost forgot that name.

"Leave the talking to me." (Liqu)

"Why!?! Bad moment, Liqu!" (Shari)

Damn!

That was wrong!

Hopefully no one heard.

"See? I can tell you're agitated. I'm not. Let me, and find the chance to do what you need to." (Liqu)

Urgh, if she just wouldn't be so right.

"F-fine. But don't screw up." (Shari)

"Yes, yes." (Liqu)

She moves slightly in front of me to support her role as our diplomat.

Oh damn, what was I thinking?!

So we stand in front of The Man.

He’s more impressive than I thought, with glistening blue mane, intense black eyes, and a neatly trimmed mustache and goatee.

That his clothes surpass the worth of an entire village requires no further explanation.

And then he speaks, his words carrying weight, meaning, and regality.

"So these are the adventurers who set out to complete my very personal task? Fascinating. Then come closer. I have many questions for you." (Eras)

Well, if he asks like this, I won't dare disappoint him.

I certainly will come much closer than you are comfortable with.