“Pudding is constantly cuddling her and cries when any of our guild members tries to touch it.” Jake grimaced as he remembered the destruction caused by the slime during its tantrum.
This made the woman stare at him. “Really? This slime had been agitated for this long and only now are you trying to help it?”
Elizabeth frowned, not liking the return of the judgment. She watched the woman return to cooking and piped up. “Hey!” But she went ignored.
The woman finished making their food and brought it over. Two slices of what had to be strawberry bread with pink jam. Along with it was some mush that Elizabeth couldn't recognize.
She accepted the plate politely and dipped her finger into the pile. It felt like jello despite its smashed-pea appearance. She tasted it and grimaced. It tasted like drawn fruit mixed with a ripe and tart banana.
Her stomach turned as she quickly put the plate down. Jake's face was becoming green from his small bite. The pair were disgusted by the meal with her feeling like she'd been poisoned.
The woman smiled and leaned against her counter. “That was what I feed my slimes daily. It's a puree of in-game fruits you can purchase from any market along with some of the pregnant slime's natural secretions.”
Jake nearly barfed as Elizabeth screamed. “You fed us slime muck?!”
“I did,” She was calm despite the death glare the teenager was giving her. The brunette grabbed a nearby napkin and wiped her tongue as the woman continued speaking. “I wanted to see if you knew what it was. Since neither of you did that means you definitely need my help and products.”
Elizabeth grimaced and threw the napkin down. “You could have just asked instead of feeding us actual slime. I haven't eaten anything yet so thanks.”
The woman looked apologetic upon hearing this and changed her tune. “Sorry. You wouldn't imagine how many people I met who got a slime and mistreated them. Only to then come to beg for my help when things get extreme and reach the point of no return. I figured you were more or less the same.”
“Well, I'm not.” The teenager huffed with her cheeks turning red. “Jake told me that the people in this town were respectful. But, you are just jerking us around so I think we should leave.” She was shaking with rage.
“Calm down. I was wrong and even if I wasn't I still want to help your slime. If it's having tantrums and crying constantly you need to feed it better.” The woman took two of her larger jars down from her cabinet.
The jars contained two different liquids. One was the same disgusting slop the pair had been served and the other looked like it had more liquid in it. The woman wrapped a bow around each jar and grabbed a gel pen which she scratched something on the lids with.
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Elizabeth watched her like a hawk as she walked over with them hand in hand. Once she put them on the table the teenager let her guard down and relaxed.
The slime that was cuddled up against her chest mewed happily, not liking the two mommies in its tiny life having disdain for each other. Elizabeth rubbed its textured skin gently and held it close like you would a newborn kitten that had a full belly.
“You should be with a teaspoon a day from each. The liquid in the second one is essentially slime breast milk so your slime will love it. The other is the puree I've made so you don't have to make it yourself.” The woman pushed the jars over and Elizabeth saw she'd written prices on them.
The teenager found the offer reasonable. “100 coins for both sounds fair since it'll last me a couple of months.” The slime in her arms chirped happily. It nuzzled her with joy as it felt her mood becoming more pleasant.
Jake took a pouch out of his pocket and it over. “I'll pay for the jars and that slime that she's holding.” Both women stared at him in shock as he shook the bag of coins in front of the freckle-faced slime caretaker.
“You want to buy a slime for yourself?” The woman asked only for the knight to shake his head and look at his guild mate.
Elizabeth pointed to herself, confused. “You're going to get it for me?”
“You need someone to socialize Pudding with and I know you need to log off soon due to your mother. So, I'll buy not only the two jars but two more and this baby SPIRIT SLIME. Think of it as an investment in our guild.” The man’s reasoning made a lot of sense to the teenager and she smiled.
“Thank you, Jake.” The man had done her a huge favor. Not only had he helped her find a way to keep Pudding but also got her a new companion.
He waved his hand in the air. “It's no problem. You can just pitch in when I upgrade my sword.” The deal was pretty fair and she let herself giggle.
With her arms crossed over her chest, the woman observed the two and gave her a smile. Maybe her first genuine one. “You must be friends in real life with how well you get along. It's funny to witness as a bystander.”
Elizabeth laughed and shook her head. “We only met a few weeks ago.”
“She's a kid compared to me,” Jake added which made the brunette glare playfully at him. “I'm a wage slave and she's an honor student offline.”
The teenager was as red as a raspberry from the comment. She was happy to be complimented by someone she considered a friend but still. Her age being mentioned made her feel like a child in a room of adults.
The woman could be around her age or even older than Jake. What she did know was that she was mixed on whether she liked the stranger or not. She was very judgemental towards the girl as a beginner slime owner and pretty rude.
It didn't hurt as much as it would in real life but it still stung. Elizabeth didn't want someone to be disrespectful to her in her escape from daily life. She was just going to play nice for now as the woman got the rest of her jars.
There was no point in causing trouble when they were leaving. With the rest of the jars in a pink bow-covered wicker basket, the woman came over. She handed it over with a shrug. “Hand over the coins and you both are free to leave with that SPIRIT SLIME. Give it a sweet name and raise it well.”
Elizabeth had gotten herself into a pickle. Not only did she have Pudding to take care of but this new, younger slime. It was adorable and behaved more simple-minded than Pudding ever had. She touched it and the slime struggled to not throw itself at her.
The brunette was already smitten with it. She could only hope Pudding took to having a sibling well. Having a large toddler become enraged over the new baby in the house made her shiver to even think of it.
From the way the woman spoke it shouldn't happen but still, she couldn't help but worry about it. Anything could be a reality in a world of living gems, dragons, and ferocious lions. It wasn't like any of that mattered anyway, the baby SPIRIT SLIME saw her as its mommy.
The teenager wasn't interested in abandoning it. “Jake's got it handled.” She took the basket and the infant in her arms began to crawl into it gleefully.
“You're so adorable.” The slime cooed as she scratched it under what she believed to be its chin. She remembered that last time the game hadn't accepted Pudding as her pet until she named it.
It made sense for it to be the same this time too. Elizabeth leaned in closer to the SPIRIT SLIME. She was captivated by its mesmerizing body that shimmered with a kaleidoscope of rainbow sparkles.
Each hue danced and twinkled under the light, creating an enchanting display that seemed almost magical. The baby reminded her of the putty you'd beg your parents to buy that was shaped like a cupcake and dessert-scented.
She grinned as she watched it and she decided on its name. “Hi, cute little Sprinkles.”
{COMPANION REGISTERED}
◇ Type: SPIRIT SLIME ◇
◇ Mob Type: DOPEY ◇
◇ Status: DOCILE & CHILDLIKE ◇