- Liqu -

As my Shari told me I move to that girl's room.

"Count, you should give up. We are clearly at the advantage and it would be a shame to kill such an outstanding man as you are like a dog." (?)

Hmm, do I know that one?

Well, I know the girl who is in that room, that man who always talks with us from behind his desk and is so weirdly calm about us, and the other man who always talks so long about complicated things with my Shari.

The other four next to the one who just spoke I don't know, as well as those lying dead on the ground.

Well, it could be that I know them, but I have trouble sometimes differentiating humans.

"And how else would you kill me? You cannot simply let me go at this point." (Radon)

"Ah, I'm sure that we will find a use for you. In one way or another." (?)

"Hm, you know, it seems like I have no choice. However, it simply doesn't sit well with me to comply with scum like you!" (Radon)

"Oh, are we getting feisty when cornered? You should mind your situation, Count Kahan." (?)

"Maybe. However, there's another reason why you won't get anything from me but a violent death." (Radon)

"And what would be the reason for you to make such poor decisions?" (?)

"It stands directly behind you. You can come in, Liqu!" (Radon)

Well, if he says so.

I slowly walk inside, trying to make my best impression on all the humans around.

Naturally, still paying keen attention to the crossbows.

"Hello, my Shari wants me to bring the girl to a safe location. So please move out of my way." (Liqu)

"Liqu!" (Anvenia)

"Oh no." (Lorena)

"Hi!" (Liqu)

I wave at them, to show that I recognize them.

Humans like to be recognized.

"Who's that?" (?)

"You could say one of my knights, a very special one. So please surrender now or die an excruciatingly painful death." (Radon)

"Stop these jokes! Fire!" (?)

At once, all of them shoot their bolts at me.

They aimed a little too close to my core to be comfortable, but I can swirl my dense mass quickly enough to deflect any projectiles right now.

Yet my clothes got thrashed.

Since I'm rather sure that I don't know these people and they just attacked me, I think I'm allowed to retaliate.

I extend large tendrils aimed at the four who just shot and start dissolving.

For some reason, I get strange looks from those I know, but no one says that it's not okay, so I proceed.

Also, they look as if they want to run but don't have many ways to escape in this tiny room and the other half is occupied by their enemies.

Or rather was.

"W-what is that!? What is going on here?!" (?)

I form another appendage and point at the noisy one.

"That one too?" (Liqu)

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"If you would do so, please." (Radon)

Fine.

Shari said I am supposed to listen to that one.

So I do my wave-punch with which I completely envelop him and pull him to my center while already starting to dissolve him.

Then I approach them while forming back to my human appearance.

Yet it seems like they're now a little apprehensive of me.

The woman hides the girl behind her and even she seems slightly disturbed.

I try to figure out the reason and come up with the fact that humans can get scared when their kin is dissolved in front of them.

It's not like I've never used that trait while fighting adventurers.

But now it's a little off-putting.

What am I supposed I do in such a situation?

Ah, yes I know!

I smile at them!

"Ahem. I would suggest that we now escape from here." (Dion)

Might be a good idea.

"My Shari wants me to fetch that girl. And that's what I will do." (Liqu)

No matter what they think about this, I'm going to do just that.

"D-don't touch her you fiend!" (Lorena)

"Lorena!" (Anvenia)

"Your highness, you've seen what it does! Can you really believe that we could tolerate this creature close to you?" (Lorena)

"No! She wouldn't!" (Anvenia)

The girl runs to me and despite a short moment of hesitation grabs my hand.

Receiving this trust is kinda nice.

"Don't intend to." (Liqu)

Would be quite stupid if I'm supposed to bring her safely.

"Personal opinions aside, it should be obvious that her support is valuable and we should leave before more murderers come." (Radon)

"But how should we proceed? The estate is complex and with the fire, it will barely be traversable. Not to speak of the possible threats in the courtyard. I don't doubt her abilities, but her highness' life would still be at risk." (Dion)

I raise my arm.

"I know what to do! We need to get to the high building over there, right?" (Liqu)

"Yes... That's right. Do you have a plan?" (Dion)

I wouldn't call it a plan.

More like a simple solution.

I expand to my full size.

Naturally, I make sure that the girl who was closest to me stays unharmed and can breathe.

The others should be fine as well for now.

At the same time, I commence dissolving the rest of the bodies in the vicinity.

Since it's quite a number, I can not only replenish but go far beyond my usual capacity.

It's straining and I won't be able to hold it for long, but I only need to keep this up for a short time.

Meanwhile, the people shout something at me, but I ignore it.

My mass grows considerably and as soon as I am at my absolute limit I begin.

"Everyone, take a deep breath!" (Liqu)

I give them a short moment to do so, paying special attention to the girl.

The others may just endure without breathing.

Even without any air, a human can survive for a short while.

Some may even wake up while you're already at it to dissolve them.

When the girl has got enough air inside I suck all of them into my body and jump out of the window.

"SPLASH"

The impact of my landing is hard, but I cushioned everyone really well.

Quickly I reassemble myself and start moving.

In my extended form, I rush with the others along the ground, dragging them with me.

I might lose a large amount of mass on the way like this, but Shari told me to keep them safe and I wouldn't be able to do much against the crossbow shots coming from all sides.

Like this, we need mere moments to reach the other building.

The few shots in our direction I can dodge to a degree.

Even if some hit they shouldn't cause anything too severe.

But what worries me deeply is that they use again those wretched stones.

Just why that is so?

I dump the humans close to the door on the ground.

But the girl I keep and squeeze with her through one of the windows on the upper floor to not take any risks.

With this, she should be safe.

I think my Shari won't find issues with my work.

It needs mere moments until the ones I placed outside catch up and especially that woman runs past me and embraces the girl tightly.

"You, you... Oh my god!" (Lorena)

"That was certainly an uncommon way of transportation." (Dion)

"But it worked!" (Liqu)

"You..." (Lorena)

"Silence! The result is what matters and we don't have time for this! Dion, assemble whoever is in charge here and make them give their reports to me. Lorena, bring her highness to the entrance of the escape tunnel. We might need it." (Radon)

I follow them down, much to the dismay of the woman.

But I grow excessively worried about my Shari.

Something could happen to her.

Not that I believe she would lose to these soldiers, but there's still a risk and the crossbows are a threat.

She said that I need to protect the girl but I think I brought her now to a safe place.

I should get going!

I need to get back to my Shari.

However, in my current state, I'm a bit weakened, since I left much of my body out there.

This decreases my ability to fight effectively.

And then there are those draining shots.

The open field is certainly dangerous.

I need more energetic mass.

But from where? Maybe I could dissolve some of those inside here.

And with them as my sustenance, I'll come to save my Shari.

But no, rather not.

She wouldn't like this.

Maybe I can manage if I can just grab someone on the way?

"Where are you going?" (Dion)

"I need to save my Shari!" (Liqu)

"But we need you here!" (Dion)

"My Shari needs me more!" (Liqu)

"Do you even know where she is?" (Dion)

"She should still be in that huge building." (Liqu)

"She said you should bring her highness to this place, right? Wouldn't that mean she wants to meet you here?" (Dion)

"But what is if she's in danger?" (Liqu)

"What if she comes and you aren't here? Or this place became compromised with enemies while you were gone and she runs into them?" (Dion)

Hm.

He may be right.

And the burning building makes me not want to go there again.

And I know my Shari. She would want me to keep my word.

"Aaahhh! Toilet monster!" (soldier)

Huh?

That came from deep inside the building.

Wait, toilet?

Weren't those connected to the drainage?

Shari talked about them while she explained to me why I shouldn't crawl up there.

She said she would take my escape routes if things become dangerous.

As fast as I can I rush to my loved one.