- Shari -

Okay, this is certainly a peculiar situation.

Currently, I'm strolling with a boy and two slimes, one big, one small, through town.

That three of the four people in our group are completely veiled only adds to our strangeness.

While the occasional patrol, which rightfully gets a little antsy at our setup, can be appeased with our guild cards, the general looks we receive from the pedestrians don't get any less intense.

So to say, Michael would probably cry at our understanding of how agents are to move among people.

It's also a big issue for Nia, who already has to fight hard just to keep herself together under the heavy cloak, as well as walk carefully so as not to lose any mass.

Not to forget holding the mask that I lent her in place.

But she's certainly giving it her best try.

Once we reach a somewhat quiet corner, I decide to ask after her well-being beneath this cloak.

"How is it?" (Shari)

"Weird. But also kinda nice. Being again among people kinda makes all this feel real. You know, I worried I could never do anything like this again. It kinda makes me feel like there's more to me than sitting in a hole." (Nia)

I get you, Nia, I get you so well.

When all of this started for me, living in the wilderness, far away from any humans, might've been the safer option.

However, it wouldn't quite have been a life.

If you don't feel like you're living, then why are you bothering with surviving?

"You think you can keep going?" (Shari)

"I think so. It's... straining, but I can keep it up." (Nia)

Yep, straining is the right word.

Slimes don't have muscles that can get sore, and no stamina in the usual sense that could lead to them getting tired.

What we have is our general energy reserve and the feeling of strain from working our cores for a lengthy period of time.

The latter is the only concerning matter if we're not being wasteful, and walking isn't wasteful.

What is important here is that our cores constantly have to work.

This can build up this familiar heat but can also make us feel "strained" in the sense that we don't feel like we could go at full capacity if the need arises.

This is also why standby mode does us good.

"Well, if you can keep going, today I intend to buy some more ingredients and our food. But please, tell me if you think it's getting to be too much. Even if it's only approaching. We still need to make it back, so I'd rather you'd spare the capacity to make it the whole way." (Shari)

This might sound harsh, but one should keep in mind here that if she breaks down, then we can't really carry her.

The best we could do would be to scoop her up in a sac or, uh, like I did with Liqu's core.

Nope, nope, nope.

Not happening!

So we arrive at our first destination, the herbalist, where I stock up on the common ingredients for my usual potions, as well as some special ones I read about in the compendium that looked worth it.

While they might be mundane, I still have to pay two silver.

"Could I ask, why are you making so many health potions? They don't really work on you... on us, right?" (Nia)

"Do even any potions work?" (Okin)

Honestly, I don't know the answer to that question.

"Well, it's not as much about us. First, they can still be sold rather well, as the business you started in our name kinda shows." (Shari)

"But you're selling to the poor, for quite cheap prices, at that." (Nia)

"Well, the other part would be reputation. If people think that I as a person am good, they might not be as inclined to hunt me down once they discover that I'm not as much of a person as they thought. Sure, I'm not as delusional that I'd believe they wouldn't start assuming the wildest things about me once the truth gets out, but it can't hurt to work on that matter. If only a bit." (Shari)

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"Glrb. I think you're just some bleeding heart who can't help it but tend to others." (Nia)

I would reprimand her, but the way she just bubbled under her hood was kinda adorable and took any rebuking force I could muster.

I even noticed that it sounded quite different from mine.

Lighter.

Like some unique form of giggling.

Sigh, I'm probably truly too nice.

Even though, I didn't tell her the third reason.

Which would be that being knowledgeable about alchemy allows one profound insight into a multitude of ways to influence the human body.

Not all of them being positive.

To be honest, most of them aren't.

Therefore, it allows me to apply these conditions to various effects if I mix them into my slime.

Alone, this versatility feels like it's worth it.

"Be that as it may, it also helps that the two of us got a job as royal agents. If the word of royalty is worth anything at all, then it will allow us, in the long run, to establish ourselves in society. A precedent that, eventually, will certainly do you some good as well." (Shari)

I’m mostly trying here to gain favor for our cause.

I'm not sure how far this girl should be considered a trustworthy ally, but if I can successfully convince her that we're not only the good guys, but that helping our cause will make her own life better, then this should do the trick to fully pull her to our side, and make her unwilling to act against us for any possible selfish reason.

"You're sounding quite full of yourself here." (Nia)

"Well, so far it's been working out. We already got to know quite a number of influential people. Those seemed rather willing to support us if we do the same." (Shari)

"You became like this, right?" (Nia)

She clearly means being a slime.

"Yes. As you can now attest, the transition isn't all that nice." (Shari)

"Well, yes, but what I meant was, it's kinda crazy what all you're doing. I mean, you're not highborn, right? You don't talk that way and care about earning coins. But this means that you became like this after all that happened. It's as if being a slime was a steppingstone to make you successful." (Nia)

Huh, she isn't wrong.

One certainly could say I improved my status from my humble origins.

Not to a small degree because I always assumed that status doesn't matter if your position in society is as ambiguous as mine.

That and the partly ridiculous slime powers.

The main issue I see is that now Liqu looks with big eyes at me for my answer.

"I won't say it didn't change my lot in life, but this is also, to a great deal, because I didn't directly accept what I was dealt. The same goes for you as well. These slime powers grant a lot of nifty abilities but also bring a stupidly great amount of trouble with them. It's on you to make the best of what you have. Never stop training what you can, and who knows, maybe one day you’ll be able to truly make a difference for your very own self. I mean, you are already quite crafty. You'll probably also figure out how to get by even with the high maintenance cost of this body." (Shari)

Which brings us to the next stop on my list.

A visit to my good old friend, the butcher.

"Yay! I like this part! It's like hunting, but easy!" (Liqu)

"Yay! I like that part! It's like hunting, but easy!" (Liqu)

"Oh my, you two again. I don't really have a reason to complain, but the amount of meat you consume is astonishing." (butcher)

In a still hearable voice, I address the little slime next to me.

"See, Nia. This man is going to become your best friend in this city." (Shari)

With this, I turn back to this hulking man.

"Good day, dear sir. These two are, as they may have told you already, my apprentices. We'd like to buy some meat." (Shari)

He gives me a look in return that says something like "What else".

"Uh, as usual, we'd like to obtain greater quantities. Whatever you got in store will suffice." (Shari)

"Seriously, what do you need all that meat for?" (butcher)

"Well, it's a necessity we need to keep everything going." (Shari)

Foremost ourselves that is.

"That's not really answering my question." (butcher)

"It's a bit of a trade secret. One could say the meat is essential for our craft." (Shari)

"Well, I'm not one to pry into the customer's business. Yet I'm not sure how much longer I can keep up with your demand if I have to expect more of your purchases." (butcher)

"Well, we'd also be fine with your scraps. Isn't this arrangement somewhat convenient for you?" (Shari)

"At this rate, even providing those scraps might become a problem. While the supply with monster meat is quite decent, there's a limit." (butcher)

"Then what can you offer?" (Shari)

"Meat for three silver and fifty copper, if you want your usual amount." (butcher)

"Sigh. Not like we have much of a choice." (Shari)

"A pleasure doing business with ya." (butcher)

On the way out, Nia addresses me.

"I see. A great 'friend' you have there." (Nia)

"Hey, I'm the one making sure you have a meal on your plate!" (Shari)

"Why do we bother so much? If you ask me, we could go out hunting from time to time." (Liqu)

"Uh, hunting?" (Nia)

I hope she doesn't assume anything problematic, like that we go for people or pets.

"Yes! You'll see, there's nothing better than dissolving something alive within you." (Liqu)

She doesn't really make it better.

"Uh, I think I'd sit this one out." (Nia)

"Your loss!" (Liqu)

"Ahem, may I remind everyone that for today we already secured our meal?" (Shari)

"Well, tomorrow is still another day." (Liqu)

Considering what is planned then, she might not even be wrong.

However, as we are already in the area, there's one more address I'd like to visit.

One that I think will become of unique importance to the girl.