--------///----Reina's POV----\\\--------

Looking around and digging through the massive piles of junk had to be the most disheartening thing ever. The ground was littered with traash, no matter where i looked it was all junk. We all decided to just take a direction and search so we could get this done as quick as we could and leave, but to do that i had to make two more flames for them to help see in this massive trash yard.

Mina took her gang of slimes with her and seemed to be using them to help her sort out the trash from what we were looking for. I had Jelly do the same but he... She... It, was taking a while. Jelly was cleaning a weird toy, just another discarded or lost item. Just like it had done for the past ten minutes.

It wasn't all downs though. Jelly would occasionally start cleaning up things like coins or the rare gem. Thanks to it i found atleast one clear green emerald and seventeen copper!.. Which still didn't make this trip worth it. Jelly seemed to be enjoying itself since it would jiggle with what i'm assuming was happiness as it kept eating.

(Reina) " MINA! "

(Mina) " YEA!? "

(Reina) " DO SLIMES HAVE FEELINGS? "

Mina didn't respond immediatley and just kept me waiting. Jelly just kept sorting through things and jiggled happily which kept me thinking if they really did have feelings.

(Endis) " MAYBE? I MEAN THE SLIMES NEAR ME GET SCARED. SOOO, MAYBE? "

(Mina) " LET'S JUST ASK ALICE WHEN WE GET BACK! "

We went back to just sifting through the trash but eventually something happened. Another slime came up to us and just "looked" at Jelly. Jelly "looked" back and then they kind of waved? At each other? It was weird. They made small tendrils out of their fluid and did that again when another slime came out.

(Endis) " HEY, YOU GUYS SEEING MORE SLIMES COMING OUT OF NOWHERE OR IS IT JUST ME? "

(Reina) " THAT'S HAPPENING OVER HERE TOO! "

(Mina) " NOT BY ME! BUT THE SLIMES I HAVE WITH ME ARE ACTING WEIRD! "

(Reina) " ARE THEY WAVING AT EACH OTHER?

(Mina) " ... YEA! THIS IS SO WEIRD! "

(Endis) " I MEAN... IT SORTA ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION. THEY'RE LIKE KIDS... IT'S KINDA CUTE... PRETEND I NEVER SAID THAT! "

(Mina) " NO! NEVER LETTING YOU LIVE THAT DOWN! "

(Endis) " UGGGH! "

(Reina) " BUT WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT IT?! DO WE DO ANYTHING OR JUST LEAVE IT BE? "

(Mina) " ... LET'S JUST LET THEM HAVE THEIR FUN. IF IT GETS IN THE WAY OR ANYTHING THEN TRY TREATING THEM LIKE KIDS! "

(Reina) " HUH? WHAT'S THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN? "

(Mina) " YOU'LL FIGURE IT OUT! "

Despite all of our shouting, the slimes just kind of played around and kept eating the filth around them. They seemed to make a race of it as they all went in a different direction and ate any trash in their way as fast as they could. It actually helped with how much they were doing. But... I lost track of where Jelly was.

(Reina) " Uhh, Jelly? Where'd you go? Jelly?! "

Unexpectedly, Jelly actually came back. Jelly waddled its way over to me and jiggled onto my foot. It actually seemed like a little kid for some reason... I had no clue how i got that idea since it was just a blob of clear liquid but i had that image and i was going to stick with it. Jelly tried climbing up my leg but it wasn't going very fast. I picked up Jelly and held in my arms and it seemed to like that. Since none of us knew what was going on with them i just kept Jelly close by. The other slimes kept om playing and eventually found one of the things we were here for.

(Reina) " I FOUND THE HAMMER! "

(Mina) " OH THANK GODS! NOW WE JUST NEED THE LONGSWORD AND TWO GREATSWORDS... YAY! "

(Endis) " IT WON'T TAKE THAT LONG! I MEAN... IT'S ONLY BEEN TEN MINUTES OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT! "

I couldn't help but groan at that but i just went back to sifting through whatever the slimes cleaned. The hammer itself looked like any iron forging hammer you'd see in a shop. The only thing that told me it was the hammer we were looking for was the logo and name that belonged to Nillio's shop.

The head of the hammer was essentially a rectangular block of iron on a stick. Just another forge hammer, which i just carried in my left handd. The slimes were taking a break and were kind of just jiggling in place. Jelly was doing the same but i didn't know why.

(Endis) " I GOT A BILE OVER HERE! IT'S KIND OF DISGUSTING! "

~ Ohhh so that's why. ~

(Mina) " NEED SOME HELP?! "

(Endis) " NO! I'VE GOT IT! IT'S JUST REALLY FUCKING NASTY! "

(Reina) " WHAT'S IT LOOK LIKE? "

(Endis) " JUST PICTURE A GIANT BALL OF VOMIT UP TO YOUR WAIST THAT'S CONSTSANTLY SWIRLING AROUND! AND THERE ARE CHUNKY BITS! "

Getting that image in my head almost made ME throw up! Jelly and the other slimes, now that i realized why they had stopped and just started jiggling, seemed to be scared and vibrated faster. The other slimes were too far away for me to get too but Jelly was already in my arms so i just started petting it. Jelly seemed to be sccared at that but the more i pet it the more it got used to it.

(Reina) " It'll be ok. Endis will get rid of the bad Bile, it'll be ok Jelly. " 

Jelly seemed to be melting in my arms and just getting more relaxed. It was cute to see and i swore i heard it cooing somehow. A minute or two later, the slimes all stopped shivering and started getting back to their race. Jelly seemed like it wanted to get back into it too so i knelt down and dropped it back onto the ground. Jelly "faced" me and waved before it went back off in its direction from before i grabbed it.

(Reina) " Don't go too far ok! "

Jelly just waved back at me and kept going. I was definetly going to keep Jelly after we were done here.The rest of the time we were down here passed without much happening. Mina's slimes started acting like mine and had a race of their own, in wihich they found the longsword and one of the greatswords we were looking for, but other then that not much happened. Jelly eventually came back and it seemed to have a few more coins and another 4 emerald gems floating around in it.

(Reina) " Are these for me? "

Jelly seemed to vibrate and made tendrils to give me the coins and emeralds.

(Reina) " Aww, thank you Jelly. "

(Endis) " FOUND IT! "

(Mina) " OH THANK GODS! LETS HURRY UP AND GET OUT OF HERE! "

(Reina) " You hear that Jelly? We get to leave now. "

Jelly kind of just jiggled some more and waddled its way on over to me. I picked up Jelly and helf it in my arms as i started making my way to Mina and Endis. Jelly noticed we were getting further away from its slime friends and started to wave goodbye to them. I turned around and saw that they were doing the same. It was honestly pretty cute. After a bit of walking i made it to where we all said we'd meet up. Mina was carrying the greatsword she found and had her slimes following behind her, and they were somehow carrying the longsword by being in a row and having the sword rest on top of their heads.

Endis came over holding the other greatsword. He even came with a slime of his own following behind him. We all looked at the slimes since as soon as we all met up, they waved at each other. The slimes carrying the longsword had all looked like a weird caterpiller with how they were lined up. Endis' slime seemed to just like following him around while Mina's slimes seemed like they wanted to be helpful. Jelly seemed to like staying in my arms and cooed when i pet it.

(Endis) " How is it doing that? "

(Reina) " I really don't know. But its cute and i'm keeping it. "

(Mina) " You sure? "

(Reina) " Definetly. "

(Mina) " Then when we're travelling, make sure you keep a close eye on it. I don't know how this is supposed to go but we can always ask around or just visit a library for anything we can't get. "

(Reina) " Tha- "

(Endis) " Ya know, we could have this conversation above ground and not in a sewer... Just a suggestion. "

(Reina) " ...Didn't have to cut me off... "

(Endis) " Hmm? True. Still fun to do tho. "

I was about to punch Endis' shoulder but with carrying Jelly and holding the hammer, i couldn't. So i just kicked him in the shin. But he moved to the side and avoided it...

(Endis) " Hah! Can't get me! "

I was about to try again but Mina lightly hit the both of us on the back of our heads.

(Mina) " That's enough you two. Let's hurry up and get out of here. "

Neither of us complained about that and we started making our way out. While we were walking out, Jelly decided to try to crawl up my arm. i had no clue why but i didn't mind letting it do what it wanted. Jelly took its time and eventually settled on top of my head. I couldn't see Jelly anymore but i could feel it doing a little dance on top.

(Mina) " Slimes are weird. Cute, but weird. "

(Reina) " Well its a nice distraction from the nasty sewer. "

(Mina) " True. But they're still weird. "

We talked a bit about other stuff but Endis ended up interrupting us.

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(Endis) " Ya know, you two haven't complained about the smell of the sewers in a while. " 

(Mina) " ... "

(Reina) " ... "

We looked at each other and just blinked. With all the time we've spent down here, our noses must've gotten used to it. We hadn't even noticed until Endis brought it up. It's almost like when someone makes a joke about you intentionally breathing. Until it's brought up you don't do or notice it, but as soon as it's brought up you start doing it. Because of Endis, the smell of the sewers was slowly creeping up on me, and most likely Mina too. 

(Mina) " Ugh! Did you have to bring it up! Now i'm starting to smell it again! "

Endis pretty much cackled and moved a few steps ahead of us so Mina couldn't get him. Endis' slime followed after him but slowed down after going quickly after trying to catch up to him for a few seconds. Mina's slimes didn't even try to speed up, which was good since they probably would've dropped the longsword in the water...

(Reina) " Hey Mina, why aren't you carrying the swords with water? "

(Mina) " Well... The little guys looked like they wanted to help so i let them. And i haven't carried anything other then my rapier and crossbow in a while. I wanted to see how well i could carry it. But what about you? Why are you carrying the hammer and not just using a earth holster? "

(Reina) " Where would i put the holster? " 

(Mina) " In the air? You could just have it trail behind you. "

(Reina) " ... "

(Mina) " ... You didn't forget you could do that... Right? "

(Reina) " Leave me alone... "

Mina snorted at that and gave me a soft pat on the back. I sighed and raised the hammer as i made a small holster to put it in. Jelly seemed to be interested in it but i stopped it from touching it by swatting the curious tendril away.

(Reina) " Not now Jelly. I need to focus on having it follow. You can play with something later ok? "

Jelly shook... Disappointedly? And did what  i was assuming, it's own kind of slime pouting.

(Endis) " Do you think that thing actually knows what you're saying? "

(Reina) " Hey! Jelly is more then a thing!.. And maybe? It did stop and is actually listening to me. Right Jelly? "

Jelly shook but still seemed to do the slime equivilent of a pout.

(Mina) " Looks like its mad at you. Really is like a kid... Do slimes have genders? "

I had to think on that. Slimes apparently had feelings so would that also mean they had an actual gender?

(Reina) " Jelly? Are you a boy or a girl? "

I felt Jelly shift and it seemed to "look" at me. Despite not seeing it, i could feel its "gaze" on me. Then it shifted again and "looked" at Mina and Endis. After a few more seconds, Jelly made two small tendrills and pointed down at me and over at Mina.

(Reina) " Ouuu! Now you're outnumbered even more Endis! "

(Endis) " Even the slime?! "

Endis looked over to his slime and before he even said anything, his slime pointed at him.

(Endis) " Phew. Wait. What about the slimes carrying the sword? "

We looked over to the slimes and they seemed to already be ahead of us in the conversation. Three of the slimes pointed at Endis while the last slime pointed at me and Mina.

(Endis) " HA! Whose out numbered now!? "

(Reina) " Tch. Whatever. "

We kept on walking until we finally made it back to the entrance. When we reached the stairs i was kind of worried about how the slimes would get up but they surprised me. Mina grabbed the longsword and watched as they all started hopping up the stairs. The only slime that didn't hop up was Endis' it just waved at us and started waddling away. 

(Endis) " Wha... Then what was the point of following us? "

The slime didn't respond and just kept leaving. We all started going up the stairs and eventually made it back up to the surface. The sun looked like it was passed its peak...

~ We really did spend hours in the sewer. ~

(Mina) " Now that we're out of there let's give this to Nillio and go to the bathhouse. I'm not going to smell like a sewer for the rest of the day. "

(Reina) " Hundred percent Agreed. "

(Endis) " Welp. Let's get this over with already. "

After that, we went over to Nillio's shop and knocked on the door.

(Nillio) " FUCKIN WHAT?! "

(Mina) " WE FOUND YOUR STUFF! "

(Nillio) " Oh. Comin. "

Nillio took a bit to get to the door but as soon as he cracked it open he shut it.

(Nillio) " Fuckin hells! Jus leave em by the door! You all smell like shiet thats been left in the sun for days. "

(Mina) " Ugh. Fine we'll be back later then. "

(Nillio) " Yeh. Next time ye get here just shout instead of knockin. Knockin is irritatin. "

(Mina) " Yes sir... Let's go. "

After we put down the things we found in the sewer, we left. While we were going, the people all around the streets split a path for us and just pinched their noses. It was hard to ignore but we did it anyway. The slimes somehow managed to keep up with us and Jelly seemed to keep pouting at me. We managed to get back to the guild and then took the turn Alice had told us about. We made it to the bath house which was absolutely massive and had people constantly coming out. The bathhouse had multiple floors, a soothing scent and a generally nice looking building.

The people that came out gave us pitiful looks as they made way for us. We went into the bath house and let Mina handle getting the bath room for us. The lobby had a desk manned by an elven lady, two entrances marked by two banners above the doors that led to the public baths. On the side were two staircases that lead upstairs, racks of towels next to the stairs, and fridges that held beverages. After Mina was done she came over with a key and told us she managed to get us a room on the second floor to use.

The bathhouse being as massive as it was had rooms on the upper floors that people could use if they wanted to relax privately. We got a room for ourselves for fourty five copper for all of us and a multiple of fifteen copper for every twenty minutes after paying for it. Mina's slimes had managed to net her fifty copper and along with the copper Jelly got for me, we were fine to stay for fourty minutes. We made our way to the upper floor and made our way to the private room Mina got for us. But before going in a question popped into my mind.

(Reina) " Wait... Are slimes ok to go in water? "

(Mina) " They should be. I mean... They're a sort of liquid. Right? "

(Endis) " Ya know, we could just find out right now. "

Me and Mina just looked at the slimes and to the door and decided to find out ourselves. We went in and saw the room had shelves with small baskets for our clothes, a rack for towels close to the doors, two doors to seperate the guys from the girls. 

(Mina) " The baskets will clean our clothes while we're inside. Or so i was told. "

(Reina) " I was wondering what we were going to do about them... But, what about... "

(Endis) " I'll go in first so it's not awkward. No peeking! "

(Reina) " I wouldn't! " 

(Endis) " Ooook. "

Endis opened his cloak and took out what seemed to be three pairs of daggers and put them in a basket. Then he took a basket and towel then went into the room. After a bit he cracked open the door and held out the basket with his clothes and reached over to the shelf to put the basket back. Mina just shook her head and started undressing and took her hair out of a ponytail and let her hair fall past her shoulders. She put her armor and her actual clothes in two different baskets while she put her rapier and crossbow in their own baskets and put them on the top of the shelf.

I followed her lead and put my Siellas in a basket which i put on the top next to her weapons and was about to start undressing, but i had to take Jelly off my head first. Jelly had stopped pouting since we got into the bathhouse and didn't give me any trouble so it was easy. Jelly waddled over to the rest of the slimes and waited for us to finish before we went into our bath.

When we went in Jelly and the rest of the slimes rushed to the water and floated across like they were swimming. Mina just laughed and went on into the big bath. I followed after her and dipped into the perfectly hot water. The room itself was big and had an area at the far wall that had hand showers to help with hair washing and even some stools to sit on while you did. I thought i saw some soap over there or other products but i wasn't worried about them right now and just wanted to relax.

(Reina) " Now this is great. is fourty minutes going to be enough? "

(Mina) " It'll have to be. We left Endis' money back at the guild and i don't think they take gems as a direct form of payment. "

(Reina) " Actually i was wondering about that. Why were there so many emeralds down in the sewer? "

(Mina) " Hmm? You didn't know? Specific gems boost specific elements. Emeralds boost nature, rubies boost fire, saphires boost water and so on. "

(Reina) " Huh. Never knew about that. "

(Mina) " Well gems don't work forever. At some point they'll run out of charge. It's also a hassle to recharge gems or even to pay to have them recharged. Most people just chuck the used gems somewhere and go get another. Gem mages can make them for cheap. The market price for gems here is probably the cheapest you could get. "

(Reina) " Huh..."

(Mina) " What is it? "

(Reina) " It's just weird thinking about how gems are essentially dirt cheap here but cost a fortune back home. It's weird. "

(Mina) " True. Though it's just another thing you'll have to get used too. Things aren't always going to be the same as they were back home. "

(Reina) " Mhmm... "

After that we just relaxed in the bath and watched the slimes race around.

(Mina) " They really are like kids... I sort of feel bad for sending them to mom now... " 

(Reina) " She won't hurt them will she? "

(Mina) " ... I don't know. We could just ask her not too and see how that goes. "

(Reina) " Hopefully that works... After we're done here should we go back to Nillio's shop or head over to the guild? "

(Mina) " The guild's closer so let's head there first. Nillio can wait. "

(Reina) " Ok. "

We spent a few more minutes just relaxing before Mina got up and started making her way over to the hand showers.

(Mina) " Want to come with? Or are you going to wait a little more to wash your hair? "

(Reina) " Hmm. I'll come with. It'll be easier for us to just wash each others hair. "

I followed after Mina as we went to the hand showers. We spent a bit of time looking at whatever products were available and had a small debate on what we wanted to use on our hair. We eventually settled on using whichever product we wanted instead of using the same kind. After that we just washed our hair and when we were done we started to get ready to head out and get ready to head over to the guild.

(Mina) " Let's tell Endis after we're fully clothed ok. That'll keep anything awkward from happening. " 

(Endis) " I can hear you two. I won't come out till you say anything. "

(Mina) " Nevermind then. Anyway, come on you guys. "

(Reina) " Jelly? Come over here please. "

When we called them, our slimes stopped racing or doing whatever they were doing and came over. Jelly slinked over to me and i picked her up. We walked out of the bath and took our clothes out of the baskets and started putting everything back on. By the time we had come out, our clothes were all clean and ready, they didn't even smell anything like the sewers anymore.

(Mina) " We'll be waiting outside. You can come on out after i knock on the door. "

(Endis) " Gotcha! "

We walked out the room and Mina knocked on the door to signal for Endis to come out. I heard the door from his side open which signified he had come out. We waited for Endis to be ready, while we waited though we had the slimes to entertain us. Mina's slimes seemed to be jumping over each other while Jelly was telling them when to jump. After another minute or two, Endis came out. 

(Endis) " ... What are they doing? "

(Mina) " I have no clue. But it's fun to look at. "

(Reina) " Yep. "

(Endis) " Welp... We ready to go? "

(Mina) " Yea. Let's get going and head over to the guild. I have to send these little guys to mom sooner or later. "

With that being said, we all went downstairs and let Mina hand over the key to the private bath. As soon as she was done we left and made our way to the guild.

(Reina) " I've sort of been wondering something. No one seems to be making a fuss about us having slimes with us. So is this normal or something? "

(Mina) " Huh... I didn't really pay attention to that... But now that you mention it that is kind of weird... Le- "

(Endis) " Ask Alice? You know cous, if you keep saying the same thing over and over again, you'll be predictable. "

(Mina) " Well who else are we going to ask? We can't bother the guildmaster about stuff like this. "

(Endis) " I mean... You're right. Still predictable tho. "

(Mina) " Oh shut it. "

We talked a bit more but eventually made it to the guild. We went in and got in the surprisingly short line. After a bit we made it back to Alice, who saw our slimes and smiled at us.

(Alice) " I can see you've met some of the frendlier sewer slimes. "

(Reina) " Some? This is normal? "

(Alice) " Yes. A little explinations in order though. Typpically slimes are emotionless and just exist, however depending on what slimes "eat" and clean, they change. Let me ask you this, have those slimes cleaned any emeralds? "

(Reina) " Jelly has. "

(Alice) " Jelly? "

When we said her name, she waved.

(Alice) " Hoh? How many emeralds has she cleaned? "

(Reina) " Umm... Five. Does that mean anything? "

(Alice) " Depending on the amount they clean their ego develops. Cleaning five emeralds is equivelent to having a five year old child. There's also a good chance of "Jelly" becoming a demi human if you keep..."

(Reina) " Her. "

(Alice) " Her, along. "

(Mina) " That's possible? Slimes can become demi humans? "

(Alice) " Yes. It may take a decade or two but it's a possibility. "

(Endis) " How did someone figure that out? "

(Alice) " Why do you think someone found that out? "

(Endis) " Because i haven't seen a single Demi slime since we got here. That and i've never heard about this in the first place. "

(Alice) " Well you're right. This was discovered on accident about a hundred years ago. Having slimes continuously clean gems like emeralds will lead to an ego, as you see infront of you. However feeding slimes consistently and keeping them around while treating them like children will lead to an evolution that grants them child like qualities. From there they will actually grow until they reach "Maturity" and become adult Demi slimes. The process leading that far is rare solely because people aren't exactly keen on raising slimes for decades for the possibility that said evolution will occur. The only reason we know of this is because an old hermit did this and was responsible for the discovery. " 

We just listened to Alice and personally i was shocked that the slime i had in my hands could turn into a demi human.

(Endis) " How do you even know that? "

Alice just smiled as her tail swished happily.

(Alice) " To become a guild employee, well a guild employee here, you have to know / learn a lot of things that might seem irrelavent. "

(Mina) " Huh... Well that's amazing. Anyway i'd like to send my slimes to someone in Buvik. "

(Alice) " Hmm? And who will you be sending them too? "

(Mina) " ... Hah. My mom. "