Chapter Four

Becoming Friends With Another Slime?

Vance puzzled over the word multiply. The voice had mentioned max ess-pee, so it stood to reason that this new ability was related to all of his snacking.

(But I still don't even know what ess-pee is...) Vance mumbled to himself. It would have been nice if another window full of information popped up. He was not sure how he had even summoned the strange symbols earlier.

(Will it... multiply the food?) That sounded like the most straightforward explanation, but nothing felt straightforward about this place. (Will it multiply... me?)

And the thought suddenly filled Vance with unease. He reached out unconsciously and found his tentacle wrapping around an untouched bush. He expected the leafy greens to dissolve into his alien body, but instead he received a new message from the high-pitched voice.

< [Mangiare] unable to activate >

< You have reached max (SP) >

(Eh?)

The leafy bush floated playfully in his gooey arm, uneaten.

Vance focused on the bush. All it had taken to activate the ability before was hunger, and so he imagined his belly rumbling with want.

The bush remained whole and uneaten. The high-pitched voice repeated the same message as before, and Vance stiffened with unease.

< [Mangiare] unable to activate >

< You have reached max (SP) >

A nervous tremor raced through Vance's alien body. Was this... punishment? He had gorged himself like a veritable pig. He had eaten dirt and grass and even loose rocks. He had wondered earlier if this was Heaven, but would Heaven reward him for such gluttony?

He rolled away from the bush and scooped up several rocks. All he had needed to do before was imagine eating and whatever was in his gooey hand would dissolve in a flash of foreign flavors.

< [Mangiare] unable to activate >

< You have reached max (SP) >

A chill ran down his phantom neck.

He could not eat.

He was not allowed to eat.

How many times had he lay in bed wishing for just that? He did not have enough restraint himself. Vance would often find himself with a bag full of pastries before his mind ever had the chance to remember he was on a diet. How he had wished that he could just not eat!

(Did I make a mistake...?) Vance wondered as panic started to fill his gooey limbs. The voice had been counting up and up with each item he had devoured. Was there... a maximum? Was he only allowed to eat a certain amount? Did he fail some test?

< Marone! >

Vance jumped as the high-pitched voice rang between his ears.

< Just multiply already! >

(H-hello?!) Vance called out. There could be no mistake. The phantom voice had spoken to him. It was not a recording, and it was watching him. (Who are you?! Where are you?! What... What is all of this!?)

He spun around until he was dizzy, but the voice did not reappear. He continued to scream and shout, but the voice did not reply. But it was there. Vance was sure of it now. Someone was watching him. Something was watching him.

(And it wanted me to multiply...) Vance mumbled. (But how do I even multiply...?)

He struggled to remember what had happened when the [Multiply] message first appeared. The voice had called it a skill, and that was not the first time he had seen one of those S-words.

(Mang... [Mangiare] is the other one.) The weird symbols from before had even mentioned something about eating. If only he could open that window again!

It was easy enough to use the eating skill, though. All he had to do was think about eating. But how did he activate [Multiply]? Did he just think about-

< [Multiply] activated >

< 200 (SP) used >

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Vance felt it immediately. Something churned within his belly, and a familiar alarm flared across his gelatinous goo.

< Max (SP) increased >

(I need to use the bathroom!) Vance exclaimed as an all too familiar urge washed over his body. He looked from left to right for somewhere to do the deed, his face flush with embarrassment. He did not have time to worry about anything else!

He had scarcely rolled two feet towards the nearest bush before he felt something slip out from his body. He had no idea what was happening, but he knew all too well what was happening.

< Created [Scholar Slime] >

< New Ability Acquired: [Tithe] >

The familiar urge disappeared as the high-pitched voice rang between his ears. Vance imagined its owner watching him from nearby, disgust written clear across their girlish face. It was hard not to feel embarrassed after what had just happened.

(What kind of ability was that?!) Vance huffed as he slowly turned around. He had felt something leave his body, and the high-pitched voice made it easy to figure out what.

A small green slime looked around with an eyeless face. It was wholly indistinguishable from the other slimes Vance had seen earlier aside from its color and...

(Is that a hat?) Atop the green slime's head was one of those square hats one often saw at college graduation ceremonies.

Vance was not allowed to give the strangeness any more thought, however, as the little green slime started to speak.

(You... You can talk!) the small green slime said. Or at least that was what the little wet pops it made sounded like to Vance.

A lance of excitement ran through Vance. He looked at the slime with new eyes. His previous embarrassment disappeared instantly.

(H-hello?! Can you... understand me?) the green slime asked, and Vance quickly nodded his gooey head.

(Y-yes! I can! Hello!) Vance said. He was filled with an indescribable elation as he finally found someone he could speak to!

(It can talk!) the green slime said. The creature seemed just as mystified as Vance. (Did I make this? Excuse me, but... but what are you?)

Vance's excitement deadened at the slime's unusual choice of words.

(I... I don't know...) Vance said, suddenly confused. (Did you say...?)

(If this is all a game, maybe it's some kind of... guardian slime!) the green slime said, and it started to stroke its gelatinous body as if in thought.

The green slime's words thoroughly rattled Vance's own thoughts.

(I'm... not a guardian slime,) Vance said. (I... I created you? If anything, you're the guardian slime!)

The green slime stopped stroking its body, and its crystal cluster looked Vance up and down.

(You created... me?) the green slime said after several moments. (I... I don't know what's going on, but I just used something called [Multiply] and- )

(No, no, no!) Vance said, interrupting the green slime. (I used [Multiply] and you- )

(Wait! Is that what it does?!) the green slime shouted in an enormous wet pop. (Look! I, uh, think you're... you're my clone?)

Vance opened his gooey mouth, but then the full strangeness of the conversation sunk in. [Multiply]. He had wondered before what was multiplied, but this... but this...

(What's, uh, your name?) the green slime asked, rolling several paces back. (Do you have a name?)

(I'm Vance,) Vance said hurriedly. (And I'm not the clone! You're the clone!)

It was the green slime's turn to be confused. It raised one of its gooey green tentacles and then its crystal cluster swiveled around.

(W-wait!) Vance shouted in a wet pop as the green slime darted away. Without thought, he gave chase.

Vance's belly was full of unease, and his tentacles reached out and grabbed whatever he passed. He did not even notice the high-pitched voice as she rewarded him with more and more ess-pee. He scarcely even noticed the warmth that filled his tummy as he tried to bury his anxiety with food.

It was the strangest sensation, but he knew where the green slime had scurried off to. The little creature was much faster than him, but he found it without issue beside the same pond from before. Its scholarly cap remained fastened to its gelatinous green blob.

(Was it right...?) the green slime murmured. Vance approached slowly. (Am I the clone...? But how could I be the clone...?)

(H-hello?) Vance's head was still full of stars as the green slime turned slowly towards him.

(I never should have listened to that voice...) the green slime said, and it rolled over to the nearest bushy green. (I think I'm going to be sick...)

Vance watched awkwardly as the green slime grabbed and dissolved small leaves one by one. The creature was much smaller than him, and it took much longer for the bush to be eradicated.

Vance was surprised when the woman's high-pitched voice rang in his ears a moment later.

< [Tithe] activated >

< Acquired (1) SP >

Vance felt his stomach rumble with satisfaction as the green slime finished with the bush. It was almost as if Vance himself had eaten its leafy greens.

The green slime continued to eat and each time the woman's high-pitched voice announced that [Tithe] had been activated.

(E-excuse me...?) Vance was not sure how to feel about all of this. It was clear that he had... multiplied himself. The green slime seemed to think that it was Vance.

The green slime turned towards him. Even without a face, it was obvious the creature was depressed.

(I wonder how long this will last...) the green slime said in way of a greeting. (You're... you're definitely me... aren't you?)

Vance was not sure how to reply...

...and he was saved from the need as the air grew heavy around him.

The world transformed within a heartbeat. The tranquility of the woods became a violent roar as a horrible force suddenly weighed down his body. He tried to scream out, but the sun's warm tickle disappeared and was replaced with an impenetrable cold.

All had happened within a heartbeat, and as Vance blinked away his confusion, he found his body seemingly petrified. A vaporous cold hissed off his goo, and he looked up into the drooling maw of an enormous wolf.

"Ho~ ho~ ho~"

A bratty whine filled the forest as the massive wolf crushed Vance with its equally massive paw. He realized dimly that the entire creature was snow-white and as majestic as a painting.

"This cannot be the slime those vagabonds spoke of, could it?" the bratty voice from before said. "My, oh my. Was this, perhaps, a waste of my glooooorious time?"

Ice consumed Vance like a prison as the voice's owner stepped into view. She showed no concern for the massive wolf. She showed no concern at all.

The young girl wore what could only be described as an evil grin. Her almond face was dotted with thick freckles and sharp edges. Her eyes glowed gold and dangerous as she stared down at Vance. She had curly black pigtails that befit her young age but looked completely out of character amidst her unhidden malice.

"This will take but a moment," the young girl said with a snicker. "How do you feel about becoming my newest pet?"