Slime Girl

- Shari -

While I definitely would love to jump at his throat right now and dissolve right through it, with all the guards in the room, I have to hold back.

Therefore, I decide instead to play it cool.

Which holds for the whopping three seconds till Liqu starts waving to make herself known and gets ready to speak.

Oh damn, we're lost.

"Now that you stand in front of me, I'd like to hear from you directly how your battle commenced." (Eras)

"The battle? Oh." (Liqu)

Having been asked something throws Liqu quite out of it.

She's obviously completely unable to answer.

Just great.

I need to do something.

Liqu already took the forefront, so I cannot switch roles, but she needs support.

"He wants to hear about our fight with the adventurers. From their perspective, mind you." (Shari)

The second I add before she starts to praise my great victory.

That certainly wouldn't help.

"Oh, this. Yes, yes. So we... were waiting, yes. Waiting for the slimes! Then they came, and we fought. It was fierce, and we almost got them. We totally had them cornered, but then this one of them started using poison. Like, poofing it everywhere." (Liqu)

I'm terribly concerned that I let Liqu do this.

I'm not sure if I could hold onto myself in front of this man, but she's far too jovial about conveying this news.

"Poison, you say?" (Eras)

"Yes, yes, as a mist." (Liqu)

"Hmm, this aligns with the report from Lord Varros we received, that he was threatened with poison by one of these creatures." (Havore)

The Marquis of the South?!

They know about this?

"Oh, please, don't remind me of this vile, walking embarrassment." (Eras)

He's talking about him like the dirt beneath his shoes.

Although from the looks of it, I'm not even sure if his shoes ever got dirty at all.

Or if he were to wear them again, if they'd ever get so.

"I merely wished to say that this report confirms it." (Havore)

Damnit, I hope this is truly the extent of their knowledge, and they didn't hear too much else.

Already being the subject of any form of investigation is extremely problematic for me.

And kinda awkward.

"So you're saying the slime could expel a poisoned mist? Over your whole group?" (Eras)

"Yes, yes! She made very much of it, and we all died!" (Liqu)

At this, he furrows his brows.

Damn, this isn't good.

Suspicion is anything but good!

"Ahem, she meant that the poison mist was devastating for our formation. It weakened our fighters and put the slimes at an advantage." (Shari)

"So you're saying the mist was not outright deadly?" (Eras)

He's quite good at stating his questions.

I need to be very careful with my answers.

If he gains a too clear picture of our abilities, they can prepare accordingly.

And I cannot be too sure that we would even win against his guards.

Not if they got the right equipment to deal with us, which, sadly, they do, tells me the telltale shiver of voidstone around them.

Which means I cannot make myself appear too scary, or he might pay to get them a lot more of this stuff.

"Ehm, no, otherwise, we wouldn't have made it. It appeared to be a special batch that they ingested, and they were promptly able to release the mass where the poison was mixed in. It looked as if they specifically prepared it. Maybe even to use it against you, Your Excellency?" (Shari)

To him, it may seem like I'm just trying to present any kind of success in order to save my skin.

In truth, I just want him to believe that there's a limit to our powers as slimes.

"So I'd like to restate my former question, which I still wish to have answered. Was the poison not deadly by itself? This might be important!" (Eras)

It certainly was, but I'll make this guy think we need him alive, which will hopefully make him a little less wary of our possible measures.

"Didn't seem like it. Rather, they simply finished off any they got hold of as we tried to flee." (Shari)

"Mhm, then I'd like to ask, if this poison was so devastating to you, how did it come about that you were able to procure a very peculiar slime core from the battle site?" (Eras)

Oh damn, I didn't get my story straight.

This could very much fire right back at me.

"Well, we still had the advantage in numbers. It would seem the poison was only a means to create an opening, so they could cross the distance and pass through our line of defense. Without trying to brag, it was me who got to deliver a sneak attack on one of them." (Shari)

"So you, Risa, the Verdant Gale, managed to kill one of these great monsters? This is quite the feat. One of such prestige that I'm wondering why you wouldn't spread this kind of news. As this doesn't align with what I heard about you." (Eras)

Shit, shit, shit, shit!!!

This is going badly!

Really, really badly!

I need to somehow diffuse this situation before those guards are told that we should be permanently removed... from living.

Please, high-speed processing, don't let me down here.

I need to come up with a believable explanation!

"It was merely a grazing hit. Enough to disable its core. However, this could hardly be called a victory. The issue was that the other one then turned berserk due to this act. In a way, I brought doom to all of our group. Spreading this kind of word... let's say it wouldn't do well for the collegial atmosphere in the guild, if you understand." (Shari)

Please, that was the best I had.

Please, fall for it.

"And there was truly nothing you could do? I surmise the fight should've been easier with a reduced number of enemies." (Eras)

"I'm very sorry, but with most of us crawling on the ground, the monster dissolved their bodies and grew on and on, making escape the only possible option. All the others it got, as we fled." (Shari)

"It grew?" (Eras)

Hah, seems like I got him off my track.

But yeah, that part would concern me as well.

"Yes, yes! Slimes can grow above their usual mass. They may move far more sluggishly in that state, but it's the only way for them to transport energetic mass they'd have to leave behind, otherwise." (Liqu)

Liqu, you are a big gruff man!

Those don't speak with such excited fervor about their topics!

I need to save this, again.

"Ahem, naturally, we put a bit of effort into researching our opponents." (Shari)

Hope they take this.

"I see. Truly, a wicked way of warfare. I'm sure you must bemoan your fallen comrades after falling victim to such devious tactics. Rest assured, we have already put countermeasures into place were they to arrive here." (Eras)

No.

No, that isn't reassuring to hear for me.

Not the slightest bit.

"Thanks a lot! They can be quite scary to us humans. So it's great that you are so good at handling them!" (Liqu)

Are you for real, Liqu!?!

"Ahem, sh-, he means that only a great person like Your Excellency could remain so serene, faced with such a threat. Your great composure allows us to draw new courage and remain composed as well!" (Shari)

I almost slipped up there.

Hopefully, my attempt at covering it up wasn't too off.

"Hah! This much should be clear!" (Havore)

"Lord Havore, there's no need to yell. You are well-informed about my stance towards overly loud people in my presence." (Eras)

"Y-yes, Your Excellency." (Hawore)

"Ahem, I think this concludes our report." (Shari)

"Yes, yes, it should be over now, right?" (Liqu)

Could you please stop breaching conduct with the man who may even succeed if he were to call for us to be dealt with by the guards now?!

"One more thing. Where do you assume the slime is now? I heard these creatures are quite prone to following their prey over extreme distances. So, let me ask you, did you lead this creature here?" (Marquis)

I should do the talking here.

"Well, to be fair, they were already on their way here. So if our fight didn't bring it off-track, I doubt they'll miss the city. However, if we actually managed to make it focus on us, I dread that it may now rather target us for personal reasons." (Shari)

"Interesting. That's a truly intriguing development." (Eras)

"So, I hope that was satisfactory?" (Shari)

"Yes, it seems you gave a conclusive report. It's unlikely there's any more to add." (Eras)

He waves with his hands, which makes me think that means we are dismissed.

While I would love nothing more than to jump right at him now, to dissolve with my hand right through his throat, unfortunately, this is not an option right now.

The sad fact is that we have no real way to reach him right now without incurring too great a risk by engaging against those elite guards of his.

So I'm about to turn away and move, trying to search for anything that might help me get a better chance at him, once I try for real.

But then, we are suddenly being called from behind.

"As the only individuals to ever face that kind of threat and survive, you ought to remain here at my abode. We will make use of your knowledge to develop our strategy and instruct the guards accordingly, so they may hopefully fare a better fate than your comrades." (Eras)

Okay, so we are not going to leave.

Actually, this could be quite advantageous, as we won’t need to infiltrate this place a second time.

"Whaaat?! We are supposed to stay here?!" (Liqu)

"Yes, as you were told. Do you have an issue with that?" (Eras)

At her outburst, and more importantly, the Marquis' reaction, the guards twitch the slightest bit with their weapons, proving they are ready to strike at any time.

"No, no issue. But we are hopefully still going to get paid, are we?" (Shari)

While I dread agitating him any further, I fear that this is the kind of thing my persona would ask.

And I definitely cannot afford to be the slightest bit more 'off' at this point.

"You will. If you continue to do as you are told, you will find your compensation... generous." (Eras)

Alright, no more challenging fate.

"Okay, just as you wish, Your Excellency." (Shari)

"The guards will guide you to your quarters. Don't leave the building." (Eras)

I think we just got taken captive.

Well, works out for me.