- Shari -

Seriously, why is Bokkan again showing up here?

I have no idea why this man insists on these regular visits.

I could very much do without him sticking his nose into this already awfully delicate situation.

Instead of telling me about his reasons for coming, the nature mage in question gives a slight nod to the current client Liqu has to deal with.

Catching his meaning, I gesture for Liqu to maintain her position at the counter, while I lead Bokkan into the backroom where I carefully close the door behind me.

He surely will want to speak of things that the customers certainly shouldn't listen in on.

"So what is it that brings you here?" (Shari)

"Well, I wanted to check on my patient. I may not practice anymore, but since I took this on, I have a certain responsibility towards the girl." (Bokkan)

"In that case, it might please you to hear that she's through. So you can consider your part done and don't need to bother anymore." (Shari)

"While I don't distrust your word, I would still like to see for myself." (Bokkan)

I'm pretty sure this is the very definition of distrust.

"Sure. She's still in the cellar. Just saying, you know what to expect, right? What we were trying to achieve here?" (Shari)

"Yes, I am very aware of the defined end result. All the more reason why I'd like to check on her." (Bokkan)

"Why? Sorry, but why do you care this much? I mean, not like I don't appreciate that you're not totally disgusted by what happens here, but you can see why your unfounded interest in her condition seems odd to me, right? Not even once did Tamarah show up, and I'm rather convinced that she has a morbid interest in the subject." (Shari)

"You know that I'm a nature mage, right?" (Bokkan)

What kind of question is this?

"Yes?" (Shari)

"Well, nature magic is all about the manipulation of natural processes. Growing, breathing, eating, fucking..." (Bokkan)

"Okay, okay, get to the point!" (Shari)

"As you wish. You see, what you're doing here, a process to change the very nature of a being in order to let it live, that is something that as a nature mage has huge implications for me. So I want to witness it to the end." (Bokkan)

"Sigh. As I said, it's already over. Okay, I have no reason to deny you access, but you do realize, that I forced quite a lot onto the girl to deal with and that all this is a very delicate matter for her?" (Shari)

"I understand. I didn't plan on doing anything unreasonable." (Bokkan)

"I'll take you at your word." (Shari)

Well, let's get it over with.

Once I reach the door, I realize something.

Quickly, I head back to my stash and take some clothes.

While passing Bokkan, I tell him to wait.

Then I get down in the cellar, where the two siblings are still occupied with each other.

The girl is the first to notice me.

Which, coming from the fact that she wasn't looking in my direction, is a feat I would attribute to a slime's all-around vision.

"What do you want?" (Nia)

"We've got a visitor. That one mage, you might remember. Although I have all the understanding of your circumstances, I also think that you might feel better about throwing this over. Though, that's only if you mind being naked at all." (Shari)

Understanding forms literally in her shifting expression.

"I do! Hand it over, please." (Nia)

"Take this as training. It isn't easy to keep clothes around you for a longer time, but I think we can both agree that it's better than the alternative." (Shari)

So she puts the shirt and pants on.

Though, while the former is quite shaky, the latter seemingly has no intention of staying where it's supposed to be.

"This is so difficult!" (Nia)

I swirl with my eyes before I respond.

"Yeah, that's linked to the 'not easy' part." (Shari)

"How the fuck do you manage this?!" (Nia)

"Practice. Also, good quality helps." (Shari)

"Glrbl" (Nia)

At this, she only grumbles to herself, which shows in a stream of bubbles streaming out of her.

I take this as the conclusion of our talk and head up again.

"She's now ready to receive you. Be considerate or I'll throw you out." (Shari)

"No need to worry. I won't be anything but polite." (Bokkan)

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

I can't say anything else here, so it seems like nothing is going to stop this from happening.

So we head downstairs.

I can see that the wet nature of our cellar is making the mage uncomfortable.

Then mid-step, his breath actually hitches as he lays eyes on the girl.

Who is visibly struggling to keep her clothes in place.

"I didn't agree to being ogled like this! Could you at least act like there's nothing to stare at?" (Nia)

He averts his gaze but still mutters...

"To think something like this is possible." (Bokkan)

"By the way, no touching. She doesn't have control over her dissolving reflex yet." (Shari)

"Do you have to tell this to everybody?!" (Nia)

"Zsch"

I throw her a look.

She succeeded in stopping herself before her borrowed clothes disappeared, but there are a few holes in them now.

Which only proves my point.

"Ehm, yes?" (Shari)

If it will prevent someone from losing body parts, then this surpasses her sense of shame, in my opinion.

"Ahem, are you truly yourself?" (Bokkan)

"Who else would I be? I don’t remember much of our last meeting, but I'm still very much who I was back then!" (Nia)

Nia is almost losing her pants during this outburst.

Literally, if this has to be added.

"Yes! She's still my sister!" (Okin)

Good for them that they could figure this out.

"I apologize. I didn't mean to be inconsiderate. It's just that this is truly a remarkable change. Yet, seeing how lively you became, it seems to be a positive one in comparison." (Bokkan)

At this, Nia grows quiet for a moment.

Looks like he got her there.

"I guess. It's still awfully much to process at once, though." (Nia)

"I'd believe so. May I examine you closer?" (Bokkan)

"No idea, ask my keeper. But it’s okay with me as long you don't do anything creepy." (Nia)

“Keeper?” (Bokkan)

“She’s joking. Mostly. She means that, for now, she's not allowed to go out. For hopefully obvious reasons. She needs a few lessons first, or do you think she's in any state to meet the neighbors?” (Shari)

“Ah. I get your point.” (Bokkan)

“But she gave her permission, so I guess you may examine her at your own risk.” (Shari)

At that, Bokkan steps a little closer and looks up and down at Nia's body, which in my opinion borders creepy.

Then, with a sudden motion, he streaks with his finger through the collar between her right neck and shoulder.

"Zsch"

Of course, dissolving immediately starts, which means that Nia, after mere moments, is again naked.

"What the fuck!?!" (Nia)

Now he looks at his hand.

"Fascinating." (Bokkan)

"I'd as well support Nia's statement here! What the heck was that supposed to be!?" (Shari)

"This is truly a common slime. The dissolving apparently isn't completely instantaneous, albeit quick to set in. Quicker than with the small ones at least. I'm truthfully intrigued." (Bokkan)

"I'm not! And I said, nothing creepy! So don't pull this shit with me!" (Nia)

"I'm sorry. I had to know. It's just so improbable. This was worth even risking the tip of my finger." (Bokkan)

Damn, that must hurt.

At least the angry raw flesh of his finger is telling me so.

Yet the more I'm looking, the more it already seems to scab over.

Is he healing it?

But he isn't a healer.

How does that work?

"May I ask you more questions? I'd be willing to compensate you for your participation." (Bokkan)

"Uh, you're talking about money, right? Yes, I think? But you'll pay well, right?" (Nia)

This sounds just too wrong from an outer perspective.

"If I hear that you did anything questionable to her, I'll make sure that you pay with more than just money!" (Shari)

"Such scrutiny. I promise, I'll rein in my curiosity, which is solely about the thematic subject, so there'll be nothing questionable about my conduct." (Bokkan)

This has to be enough.

While I'm concerned about the things he might learn from this, like weaknesses or embarrassing peculiarities, I can't tell Nia to shut up forever.

And if she wants to offer answers in return for money, that’s her choice.

Perhaps they’ll even learn something about slimes that I don’t even know yet.

So I'll just hope for the best, as there's nothing more I can do here.

"I still have stuff to do. Are you comfortable with me leaving?" (Shari)

"I think so. He doesn't seem dangerous. Also, he helped me before, I remember that much. I guess I owe that to him." (Nia)

Your decision.

"Fine. I’ll be upstairs if you're looking for me." (Shari)

So I leave the cellar again.

I need to admit, I'm uncomfortable.

Whether it's creepy fascination or just scientific interest, both are equally awkward and personally undesirable to me.

In general, I was quite taken aback by Bokkan's sudden appearance.

That reminds me, I should start setting up regular closing times.

Currently, absolutely everyone can come and go as they please.

Like, for example, Captain Gareth, who entered just now!

Now please excuse me, but I need to pull my eye slime back into my make-believe skull.

"To think that you truly opened up a shop here." (Gareth)

"A-ahem. How can I help you, Sir?" (Shari)

"Yes, I would like to order your services for a mission that the fate of the town may depend upon." (Gareth)

I look for a long moment at him, still asking myself why he came without guards or if they are waiting somewhere around here.

Though, eventually, I'll need to interact with him.

"Fine. Let's talk in the backroom. Liqu, you stay at the front and continue taking orders." (Shari)

No idea what's worse.

Liqu's apparent unwillingness or Gareth's open questioning of my sanity.

"Don't worry, she can do that. She’s gotten much better at speaking with people. Right, Liqu?" (Shari)

"Uh, okay. For you." (Liqu)

"Thank you." (Shari)

Doesn't seem like that convinced him.

Though, that's not his business.

"Are you coming? You wouldn't be here if you'd expect me to pull something, right?" (Shari)

After another long moment, he again shakes his head.

"No, probably not. Lead the way." (Gareth)

A moment later, we're in the back room, and I check twice that the door to the cellar is locked properly before turning my attention back to him.

"Ahem, so what is it that brings you here?" (Shari)

"Well, as I already mentioned, I require your unique services. To be precise, I need you to retrieve a certain item from a heavily secured vault. If possible, in a manner that I won't have to be called while it happens." (Gareth)

Okay, I didn't expect this.

A guard captain who orders someone to steal something.

"Why are you coming with this to us? You're the guard captain. Can't you just set up an official investigation and take whatever you need?" (Shari)

"Unfortunately, no. Because said vault belongs to a noble." (Gareth)

Yeah, obviously something had to be up with this.

"A noble? Seriously, this isn't really the kind of thing I'd willingly jump into. But even like this, doesn't the lord's authority reach that far? I thought that's the point of a hierarchy. Can't your men just force their way?" (Shari)

"My men are the exact reason why I need you to do this. I can't trust them. At least, not most of them. Too many of them might be compromised." (Gareth)

"What do you mean by 'the reason'? Is something up?" (Shari)

"The item is a comparative list of all guards who are on the pay list by the very crime gangs and nobles we are up against, as well as the depth of their involvement." (Gareth)

"First, such a thing exists? Second, what do you need it for?" (Shari)

"Can't you figure this out by yourself? You were the one who started it. I need it as preparation for the great cleansing. Without this information, the guards on this list might suddenly turn against us at the most crucial moment, which would be as fatal as you might think. I should also be able to derive from it how deep some are into it and who of them might be convinced to change their mind." (Gareth)

Okay, that makes sense.

Without troops, there won't be much of a city-wide raid.

"But why us? You of all people should know certain individuals eager to do such a thing, for the right price." (Shari)

"As if I could openly hire people like this. I certainly don't need this kind of reputation. Also, you two proved that you're able to get into well-guarded places, and I honestly wouldn't know a better choice to get through the walls of the vault. So do you agree? We need this list. Not to forget that it's your doing that we're in this situation." (Gareth)

The good reasons unfortunately keep coming.

"Sigh. Doesn't seem like we have a choice." (Shari)

"Not really. Especially not if you don't want me to look into what you're selling here as potions. Believe me, I don't want to have to investigate this either." (Gareth)

Okay, he got me there.

Also, I don't want Michael to scold me again for not doing my job.

"So, who is this noble we need to rob?" (Shari)

"You already know him. Baron Eliphas Moreau. The local proxy for the pact." (Gareth)

Hm, suddenly I'm not as against this anymore.

"Alright. Just one more question before I accept." (Shari)

"Which would be?" (Gareth)

"He also stores his money in there, right?" (Shari)