- Shari -

Sewers!

Why does it always have to be sewers?

Did I somehow rile up the world so it thinks: "Oh, this one's a slime! Let's put it in its natural habitat!?!"

Sigh, but I couldn't say all that much against this plan.

The thing is, this noble's residence has naturally a direct link to the sewer system for drainage and other waste-removing matters.

For us, this means we get a direct passage straight to the "most" private rooms close to the bed chambers.

And well, as slimes we simply can dissolve any barriers, take this guy with us and deliver him to the palace drainage.

"Huh, that woman didn't overstate things when she said we'd get dirty working for her." (Elin)

Elin, who completely wrapped her face, has a nonchalant attitude that betrays her act of outrage.

"Why are you even here? Surely, Liqu and I would've sufficed for this mission." (Shari)

"Oh please, I saw for how long you stared at the sewer plans, trying to wrap your head around it." (Elin)

Okay, such arbitrary plans aren't easy to memorize.

While I do better with pictures, interesting facts, or things I learned through my own efforts studying build plans is pretty dull.

"I didn't see her doing this. And why would one do such a thing? A plan is too wide to properly fit. Okay, one could wad it together but slimy paper just starts falling apart. Even if I find them cumbersome, putting it in the bags is more efficient." (Liqu)

"God Liqu, that was just an idiom!" (Shari)

"An idiom?" (Liqu)

"It means that you're using a popular phrase to describe a concept. It's quite similar to saying something like 'You're as gluttonous as a slime'. Even though it's not exactly eating as you always point out, or that person isn't even eating close to the same quantity. It's just about the concept. In this case, I was only saying that our boss struggled quite much with getting the way down and since I already scouted everything beforehand I am the better choice to lead the way." (Elin)

It's interesting how natural this environment comes to her.

"Oh, by the way, there is another one. Could you take care of it?" (Elin)

Oh damn, another slime.

Yellow with a green core.

Well, I can understand that Elin is cautious of them.

Not everyone favors the thought of losing their leg due to a wrong step.

And I wouldn't want to accidentally link with it.

"Liqu, seems like it's your turn." (Shari)

"No, I don't think so." (Liqu)

"What? Why not?!" (Shari)

Did she suddenly develop a conscience?

"I think this time you should do it. It's good practice. You have to focus your thoughts and other slimes are a good source if you need sustenance." (Liqu)

Sure, just touching the wild slime.

Why not?

Or wait, how about...

"Did you fucking lose it!?!" (Shari)

"See, you shouldn't always let others do things you're uncomfortable with. I mean, I like to support you in any way possible, but I also need to know that you can do them and I don't impede your personal growth." (Liqu)

Stolen novel; please report.

Liqu is just giving me a lecture on personal growth!

Goddamnit!

"Hey, we might still have a bit of time till morning dawns, but I'd like to get done with it sooner rather than later. That thing is heading our way, so we have like two minutes before it reaches us. So could you please get over your lover's quarrel?" (Elin)

"This isn't a lover's quarrel!" (Shari)

"I'm sure you can do it. It's no big deal." (Liqu)

Do I have to?

Yes, I know I tend to let Liqu do all the unpleasant work, but I really don't want to link with random slimes.

Wait, if I phrase it like this doesn't this mean I'm okay with Liqu?

With some fantasy, one could interpret this as me saying that Liqu is special to me and I don't want to get intimate with anyone else...

Okay, where is this slime?

"Urgh, okay, fine. Just, this isn't dangerous, right?" (Shari)

"Dangerous? No. You just put each other's processing ability against each other. Even if you do nothing, such a small core could never overwhelm you. You, on the other hand, are far above him." (Liqu)

"But how do I even do this?" (Shari)

"Easy. You just have to talk to them." (Liqu)

"Talk? As in 'saying hello'?" (Shari)

"Uh, kinda. You just prod them as if you want to lead a discussion with them. Just link with it and it goes really quick. They aren't able to keep up with their reactions and burn out." (Liqu)

Wow, so she can talk someone dead.

Well, braindead.

Coredead?

But she's right that it doesn't sound very complicated.

Yet I don't think I need to mention how unwilling I am to do this.

Sigh, here goes nothing.

Elin already moved behind us since we talked a bit too long and that thing is already at her former position.

So I don't want to waste any more time.

I quickly remove my glove and sleeve and plunge it into this slime.

* "Move, target, devour." (slime)

I somehow know that he means Elin as the only greater source of energy in the vicinity.

Other slimes apparently don't count and warrant no hostility or attention.

Which makes me feel worse.

* "No, don't move. Stop please." (Shari)

The first thing I do is to signal over his attempts to move.

Like this, he can't physically do anything.

Then I try as Liqu said.

* "So, okay, hello? Don't really know what to tell you here." (Shari)

* "Other unit... Purpose unchanged. Reach target. Devour." (slime)

I'd say he's confused but not to the degree that he's in danger.

* "Uh, can't we talk about this? I don't want you to eat our guide. This would be bad." (Shari)

* "Conflict. Order contradicts directive. Need to devour." (slime)

Now he slowly starts getting hot.

But I need more.

However, before I can get started something else happens that completely throws me out of it.

* "Hey, you’re taking unusually long. I wanted to check if you're okay."

* "Liqu!?" (Shari)

* "Yes, who else? Do you think the slime would talk like this?" (Liqu)

* "Second unit... Conflict..." (slime)

* "Shut up! Both of you! And Liqu, you seriously linked with me while I was in a basically unconscious state?" (Shari)

* "Uh, well, I wanted to check on you." (Liqu)

* "No, you wanted to take advantage of me while I'm out cold! You said yourself that other slimes are not even remotely dangerous!" (Shari)

* "Other... slimes." (slime)

* "Quiet! I'm talking here! And now to you, Liqu! You can't link with me against my will. This is... Well, it's almost as if you assault me! You simply can't betray my trust like this!"

* "Entity... Liqu..." (slime)

* "Whah?! I'm so sorry! I didn't think this through. Please, forgive me!" (Liqu)

* "Concept forgiving... Can't process!" (slime)

* "Damnit, fine. But you have to mind this! This linking being so intimate is already difficult to do with someone else. I mean, it's almost sexual." (Shari)

* "What has human reproduction to do with this? Slimes can do this by themselves without a partner." (Liqu)

* "Sex isn't just about reproduction! Damn, am I really doing sex ed now?! Damnit! Sex is also a way for humans to pleasure each other. It's intimate and like this a very difficult topic. Humans usually just come together like this with someone special. As long as they're not simply loose. And this here is so similar. Entwined with our bodies, body fluids... Oh my god! This is basically a threesome!" (Shari)

"Fzzzzzz..."

And suddenly the slime's presence is completely gone.

Seems like that did it.

* "Great, you did it! Now just suck the good slime out of its remains!" (Liqu)

* "Hell, no! Who knows where he was before?" (Shari)

* "What does the origin matter? Now it's just slime. And your presence already spread in there." (Liqu)

I look below and see that the yellow slime already almost completely vanished and got replaced by my blue.

Sigh, whatever.

At least I can replenish myself this way without having to resort to cannibalism.

.

.

.

* "Not, a, word!" (Shari)

* "I didn't say a thing." (Liqu)

* "Liqu!! OUT!!!" (Shari)

And promptly she's gone.

Now I only do the old dead weight expelling trick with the slime on the ground and am completely full.

"Finally done? I'd like to proceed." (Elin)

At least she's not speaking about what just happened.

"Good, then lead the way." (Shari)

We move further into the sewer and have unfortunately more encounters with slimes which mostly get solved by Liqu.

Suddenly Elin stops.

"We just reached our destination!" (Elin)

I look around and don't see a thing that would indicate so.

On the other side, I suppose there wouldn't be a house crest down here.

"How would we have reached it? There's nothing here!" (Shari)

"The residence and so also the target are directly above us. You just have to go and fetch it." (Elin)

"And how do we get in there?" (Shari)

"Well, you climb up the waste disposal channels. How else did you think this would happen?" (Elin)

At this moment something drops from above us directly before our feet.

Shit!

Did I mention that I hate sewers and everything related to them?