- Liqu -
It’s hard to understand.
For some reason, Shari is set on taking those adventurers with us.
All my experience with those people tells me that they are an unnecessary risk we shouldn’t take chances with.
No other creature is this fixed on destroying our cores.
No other creature tries directly to kill us.
But they do!
Yes, I know I tried to interact with adventurers before, but back then I was desperate and decided on a whim.
I had never any intention to build a close relationship.
It was just an experiment to find out if it is possible.
And it didn’t work out!
Furthermore, now I have to protect someone!
However, she seems to be set on becoming friends with them.
Not that I would prevent her from having relationships as long I can stay close.
Yet she should stay aware of the nature of her counterpart.
So I’m a little worried about her safety.
I will maintain vigilance and hold on to as much energy as I can gather, to be ready in the case of an emergency.
Shari instead is trying to get closer to them and even helps them to move this construction.
I would complain that she is wasting resources like this but in fact, this is good training for her.
The more she indulges herself in this practice to shape, solidify, and control her slime, the more it will become natural to her.
Soon she will be able to control her body like a real slime.
Well, she is a real slime.
Maybe not by heritage, but apart from that she's completely normal.
I mean that she comes closer to act like one and like this, it feels like she comes closer to me.
Maybe I can in the future show her some hunting techniques or some of the skills I’ve learned in the past.
That could bring us even closer.
But now you have to focus, Liqu!
These people can mean harm to her, so you should always be vigilant!
On the other hand, this is the most extended time I was ever able to have contact with humans, without unfortunate incidents.
And I was also able to have a normal time with Shari’s parents.
That was nice!
To have this kind of interaction was completely novel to me.
If this is because I am together with my Shari, then this is an unbelievable benefit of a side effect.
That having my Shari with me will bring me so much joy was completely out of my expectations.
I surely will never let go of this!
So it could be that this situation with those adventurers works out.
Maybe my Shari has knowledge I don’t possess, regarding interaction with humans.
As far I understood we are even on the way to enter a town.
I could see a town up close!
That would be a fascinating experience.
Yet her choice regarding this attire is hard to comprehend.
In regard to my dulled vision, these things we wear have no real purpose.
They don’t protect and slimes have simply no problems regarding weather conditions.
They may also obstruct vision on our cores.
But is that worth it?
It’s not that I don’t trust my Shari but I hope she knows what she is doing.
Regarding her knowledge of people, which due to direct interaction with them surpasses mine for sure, it could be possible that wearing those helps somehow in establishing relationships.
Until now the success proves her right.
So maybe I should support her more in these matters.
Yes, I will try to interact with them!
Something is seemingly not working out.
I tried to talk to the one with the crossbow, yet to no avail.
For some reason, the guy always refuses any conversation with me.
Whenever I draw close he grips his weapon and ignores all of my attempts to start a talk.
Well, he isn’t directly ignoring me.
In fact, his eyes are downright glued to my body, but it became clear to me that I can’t establish any proper relationship with him.
That’s what you gain for trying to be nice.
My attempts with the girl were even more devastating.
While the guy at least tolerates me around him the girl gets always this look.
I think when I compare it to the faces in my mental library it meant something along the lines of "please don’t kill me" or "stay away".
At least it had something to do with apparent panic, that’s for sure.
Also, she directly runs in the opposite direction when she notices my presence.
That’s an unreasonable behavior, considering I shall protect her as Shari said.
And I assume the main contribution will be my task.
Shari can stand on her own against smaller creatures, but she doesn’t fare well when it becomes necessary to end them fast.
I had a look at her handling the one wolf that came through.
She was far too defensive and could have sped up the whole ordeal significantly.
While they are no real threat, it is of utmost importance to kill fast if you hunt.
Before they get the chance to run away!
Defensive actions are only reasonable if you don’t need the others or you have only one opponent and can trap him.
Against the bigger ones, her approach would be right.
I really need to show her the ropes with that!
Yet, she still has her issues with the necessary behavior to do so.
I have no problem with the fact that Shari relies on me.
Nonetheless, I want her to be self-sufficient.
My precious shall not suffer because she isn’t able to support herself and I don’t know if I can always do enough myself.
I will not tolerate any risks if it concerns my Shari!
Anyways, I need to act gentle and have to avoid pressuring her too much.
I want to see her happy, so she shall not feel forced.
Because of this, I will also further support her in her attempts to get close to those people.
However, I feel increasingly frustrated.
Especially as Shari forbid me to draw close to them when they are around the campfire.
Something about their need to rest and that I disturb them when I do so.
How can I be friendly if I can’t interact with them?
Her orders are confusing as they are!
But I still need to support her.
All I do now is patrol the campsite and occasionally grab one of those critters which think I wouldn’t notice.
The good thing is, because of this I am totally full right now.
My Shari was right, that they pose good bait.
But I feel excluded right now.
Shari can sit with the others just fine.
Right now she is even taking some flesh in.
Yet she seems so hesitant to do so.
I don’t see any reason, as there is no problem with stuffing it in her.
It doesn’t really matter if the flesh is old or not, as long as it isn’t completely rotten.
Past that the benefit is quite disappointing.
But that’s still no reason to hesitate and it looks fine.
It should provide her with a day’s worth of energy.
Nonetheless, she just stares at it.
Finally, she stuffs it inside her body.
It’s hard to understand what kept her from doing so in the first place, but if she could solve her issues I’m glad.
She has still a complicated expression, but she needs to do this.
A dissolving disorder is one of the things that a slime can't afford.
And she already has that problem with slime that comes from humans.
They make a majority of valuable sources of nourishment, so I ask myself if I can raise her better in this way.
She seemed pretty set on this.
On the other hand, it was okay that I provided her after the encounter with the wolves, even if a big part of it was still from those humans from before in me, which I naturally gave her as well.
If a little time in between is enough to allow her to take it in, then maybe the hurdle isn’t so high.
She might be able to adapt eventually.
In the end, this is what makes up a slime.
And for sure she is one!
Yet, I want to help her in her current endeavors, so I would like to do something nice to earn the trust of those adventurers.
What do you mean that I was referring to them as food before?
Those things are completely unrelated!
Being on friendly terms shouldn’t prevent one from ensuring one's own survival.
After all, just my Shari matters!
If I need to convert them all into sustenance for her, then so be it!
However, as we are in no dire state I can try to build a good relationship for now.
The man with the crossbow is already sleeping and Shari seems to have a fine talk with the girl.
I am envious that she could manage what I could never achieve to do.
But it wouldn’t help if I barge in, so that is a "no" too!
Anyways, I want to contribute too.
Yet I don’t know what I can do.
The girl is occupied and the guy sleeps, so there is no one left to tend to.
Wait!
That’s not it!
There's a third one!
The boy on that construction, who was unconscious until now.
I could take care of him so that the others see how nice I am.
They apparently care a lot about him, so I should be able to gain their favor like this.
Without further delay, I approach his resting place.
He seems very out of it, but stable and should be able to regain consciousness soon.
That’s what my knowledge of human anatomy tells me!
However, his pose seems to be uncomfortable and someone should watch that he stays fine.
And that one will be me!
So I decide to sustain his head, which lies on the hard ground with my body.
Without disturbing him too much, I let my liquid glide slowly under him and take position over his head.
Then I use my mass to raise his upper body and a short moment later his head rests calmly in my lap.
I glue it a little, so that he has no disturbed sleep, but stays in a comfortable position.
I also comb his hair a bit and clean him as well as I can, without intruding too far inside.
He stirs a bit while I do so.
That should be a good sign, regarding his health.
Like this, I proceed to treat him as good I can.
He had this bulge of slime over his wound in Shari’s color.
That was an interesting idea to cover the wound and it obviously worked.
The moisture under his clothes prevents it dries up and vanishes.
But the blood under the surface seems to gather there as it is.
That prevents slightly that everything grows back together.
So I start to adjust it a bit with my mass.
I lay my hand on the current and mix myself in it.
Then I remove the coagulated blood carefully by dissolving and replacing the slime layer in a way that the healing can proceed unimpeded.
There were some rests of a plant inside and I think that my Shari intended something by integrating it, so I left them as they were.
However, as the direct attendance to his wound was surely very invasive for him, he stirs and aches during the procedure.
Shortly after I’m done he shifts inside my lap and opens his eyes, looking directly at me.
"Am I dead?" (Chris)
"No, not yet!" (Liqu)
I answer honestly.
It was a rather weird question regarding the fact that he wouldn’t be able to pose it if he was.
And I said "not yet" because as far as I know death is something inevitable for humans.
They grow old and before long their body is unable to sustain themselves any longer.
Maybe I am the wrong to say that, regarding the fact that I am rather young compared to them.
Nevertheless, now that I have my Shari I don’t intend to die.
Never!
All I have to do is to eliminate all the threats that could endanger us and stay alert.
And the time I have.
I ask myself if I should convey this to Shari or let her figure out herself that she has a body of permanently rejuvenating slime and a crystal core, which even can slightly regenerate.
Neither of them can succumb to time.
Yet, I believe that this is a surprise she should realize herself.
However, I should tend back to my patient.
He still seems to be rather clouded so I stabilize him and adjust my hold before he can hurt himself in that state.
"Wh-where am I?" (Chris)
"In the forest, with me!" (Liqu)
I give him my best smile and try to calm him down, as sick and injured people need peace to recover.
"I-Is Myra all right?" (Chris)
"Myra? Ah, the squirrel-girl! Yes, yes, still alive!" (Liqu)
"Thank god! I am so glad!" (Chris)
I can see a tear emerging from his eyes.
He seems to be a nice guy and wasn’t the slightest bit agitated by me.
That’s new!
Abruptly his expression changes and he is pressing out some words.
"Wait. W-who are you?" (Chris)
"Me? I am Liqu!" (Liqu)
He tries to lift his head, which is prevented by my holding around it with my slime.
When he fails, he opens his eyes completely, which were until now always half-closed.
Due to his weary body, I assume.
Yet, even his opened eyes seem somehow to widen even more when he gets a good look at me.
I smile at him.
"Hi!" (Liqu)
"AAAAAHHHHH!" (Chris)
Sigh! So much for new experiences.
As soon he screams, squirming around in my lap, the guy with the crossbow readies the same at me.
I take my usual counter-measures, by increasing the sturdiness around my core and letting the hardened mass swirl around it.
Like this, no bolt should be able to pierce through.
Yet, he doesn’t seem to want to shoot.
Maybe because he needs us to get out of the forest.
Maybe because I still have the head of his friend in my grip.
Whatever it is he doesn’t attack.
The girl as well is rushing at me but stops before she is reaching me.
Still afraid, huh?
Yet at least she speaks now to me.
"What are you doing to Chris?!" (Myra)
"He looked uncomfortable, so I thought I take care of him." (Liqu)
I don’t know what they've got since I was just trying to be nice!
Chris seems to have understood that his friends are close and is apparently a bit overwhelmed so that he stays quiet for now.
"Liqu, withdraw immediately! He obviously doesn’t like it and needs to calm down!" (Shari)
When she asks me to do so.
But it is disappointing, that my benevolent acts are ending like this.
Interacting with humans is such a difficult challenge.
"Okay, but it’s sad! Now I am really appreciating, that you would let me sleep next to you before." (Liqu)
Yes, she is the only one that stays with me, without being afraid or aggressive!
My chosen one!
The one who is my all!
My precious Shari!
And nothing will take you away from me!
I will make sure of it!
Oh, when will Liqu learn some empathy? The way she words things sounds so sinister too.
considered that adventurers are only beings that kill slimes....
Sinister to humans, who unreasonably place some malicious intents behind completely normal and friendly phrases.
So strange.
Oh a Liqu chapter, it's been a while.
Apparently the impression of ''clueless child'' goes both ways, Shari's ''sliming'' needs work and Liqu has negative levels of human understanding. They could both really use to learn from each other.
I know we did not get Liqus perspective for the last few chapters, but her impression that she had a ''nice'', ''normal'' time with Sharis parents and that Shari isn't afraid or furious, is quite frankly hilarious.
Then again, her impressions might make a bit more sense if you compare them to her past experiences...
I ask myself if I should convey this to Shari or let her figure out herself that she has a body of permanently rejuvenating slime and a crystal core, which even can slightly regenerate.
Neither of them can succumb to time.
Honestly, if the traumatic experience(s) Shari has been going through is what it takes to be free from sickness and aging I'd be all up for it. I'm sure given enough time one would be able to adjust being able to find fullfillment, especially if creatively inclined like me and time would no longer be an issue. Lets hope Shari adjusts well, I have the feeling she will change quite a bit during that process.
Though, using a PC might become troublesome with slime fingers.
@expentio nah, for one there are programs which allow you to operate your pc via voice commands or even eye movements, for another there are surgical gloves and even ignoring that I am sure there will be an easy fix like a neural link, even for slimes, if I wait long enough and having all the time in the world I'd have little issue with being patient
I was on board with it from the beginning tbh, not just the immortality but I just in general am quick to transhumanism, disregarding human body but keeping human empathy and consideration.
Aww Poor Liqu. One day she'll find a human that's just down bad in the weirdest way.
She's hard working on it with Shari.
An eating disorder is one of the things that a slime can’t afford.
In later chapters Liqu makes a point to call it a dissolving disorder not an eating disorder, so i thought i should point it out incase you want to change it to be consistent.
You're probably right. It's more consistent that way.
Thanks for the chapter!
thanks for the chapter ^^
Thx for the chap
seriously, with each chapter that Liqu’s point of view appears, the more upset I get with Shari, she perfectly understands Liqu’s situation, but prefers to save a bunch of UNKNOWN PEOPLE, whose job it is to KILL SLIMES, and go to a HUMAN CITY , WHERE EVERYONE WILL WANT TO KILL HER, instead of TRAINING HER NEW SKILLS, and still treats Liqu like a VADIOUS DOG, I hope she takes it in the ass for helping these people, the sick and Myra look trustworthy, but this Jacob, doesn't seem not at all worthy of trust, this will give shit.
It's still developing. Don't forget that Liqu isn't against going into a city. This is a totally thrilling adventure for her, considering her former ventures. Also she is much stronger than most here believe. If she would really feel worried about it, she would much more protest against this. Her greatest concern is right now that Shari isn't vigilant enough. Like one of these humans suddenly pulls out a dagger and stabs her core. She herself is perfectly fine and would survive most that could come. In her fully extended state it would need a balista to reach her core. Or a very long spear you won't get close enough.
We have still a while to go with the relationship. They aren't just there yet.
Don't get me wrong here, but it's nice to see someone bursting out like this. It means the story and characters were good enough I've got you invested.
@expentio yes, a story is good when we, the readers treat the characters as our friends, our enemies, when we like a character to the point of irritation and so on. this means that history has achieved its objective, has managed to hold our attention and affection. I hope you continue with this wonderful work. but treat Liqu well, she’s so cute.
@expentio Can't Liqu merge with her and then attack from their merged body or something like that? More mass is a larger diameter and thus harder to kill.
@manno First, it should be impossible to convince Shari to do this. Second, the core is the controlling processor for the slime. Two doesn't mean more RAM but just jumbled orders. At most one could stay as a QUIET passenger.
@expentio I was thinking along the lines of Liqu being the outside and Shari the inside of the sphere with some slime of Liqu and her core on the inside to form a bridge from her core to the outside. Liqu is in control and Shari increases the mass. Both cores are in the middle so more distance to the core for enemies.
@manno The further the distance between slime and core the worse gets the signal. After a certain distance, their tendrils would collapse due to a lack of control. So the bridge would be bad for Liqu's control and it would be less operational mass.
@expentio And back to back won't work either? They make a sphere and both are half the sphere, cores in the middle so a little less control, but also more slime between you and enemy.
@manno Would work, no chance to convince Shari
@manno Just thought of a usefull trick: slime 1 detonates their spherical body in an omni-directional explosion except for their membrane, slime 1 hides inside slime 2, slime 2 gathers and converts the slime of slime 2, slime 2 feeds slime 1 back the converted slime. Combine this with sticky and/or acid and use it when surrounded.