- Shari -

 

So it comes that I end up as part of a group that consists of half of my old army corps and half of the adventurer team I was teaming up with.
Is anyone open to the irony of this situation?
I certainly am quite weirded out.

And as they’re currently swapping stories, I can easily tell that I'm not the only one.

 

"Seriously? She ate your friend?!" (Balion)

"It, it was a bit more complicated than this." (Jacob)

 

Why is he looking at me as if I'm about to send Liqu to remedy this insult?

 

"It was a panic reflex, and I stopped midway." (Shari)

"That doesn't make it any better." (Myra)

"Look, for what it's worth, I'm sorry that things went like that. I mean, I still wouldn't let him kill Liqu, but I'd really have preferred any other conclusion than what happened." (Shari)

"Awh! Shari!" (Liqu)

 

It was so clear that Liqu would take this as an invitation to hug me.

 

"Sure. Not like I can do much with this." (Myra)

"I'd very much appreciate it if you could stop, or at least stall, your quarrel. It would be great if we could arrive in full numbers at our destination." (Gareth)

"Now that you mention it, could you tell us what exactly is our destination? What are we concretely supposed to do? Or are you again going silent until we're there?" (Jacob)

 

Gareth gives Jacob a glance that stretches for a really uncomfortably long time.
Speaking of which, when he spoke about having to find a "new member" in the guild hall, Gareth looked quite strangely at Jacob.
Wait!
Could he be related to Jacob’s old team?!
This could actually be the case, as I know that there were survivors.
Okay, but what would I do with this information?
It's not like the inner relations of our group weren't already loaded enough.

 

"We are headed to a mansion that our intel points out as the base of operations for The Pact's efforts to direct criminal activity within Ekoras. This, of course, includes slave trafficking. While I suppose I don't need to point out how taking them out before they can successfully consolidate against our troops is crucial, there's also the aspect that they might control a secret passage into town. Given how Lord Varros admitted to waiting for an army, that's nothing I want to leave up to chance when they arrive." (Gareth)

 

Yeah, he didn't have to explain that last bit.
Just because my head is slime doesn't mean I wouldn't be able to figure out that part by myself.
Eventually, we arrive where Gareth was leading us.
There, I already see Peras, who seems to have established something like a forward base.
He beckons us to join him.

 

"If you'd excuse me, I need to leave, as my presence is required at other places." (Gareth)

 

I do excuse him and walk up to my former boss.

 

"Hello, Captain. How are things going?" (Shari)

 

I honestly have no idea, as I was cooped up at the guild.
The operation as a whole, on the other hand, is a citywide thing, with the respective range of effects.

 

"Better than expected. Several skirmishes throughout the city, but nothing organized yet. For now, I ordered for a coordinated but defensive approach. We can't go in too deeply and risk an ambush. Urban battles can get really dirty." (Peras)

 

Sounds fine.
However, we should at least try to meet our time limit.
This approaching force could otherwise cause quite some trouble for our side, were they to get into town.
Therefore, we should also try to preserve our strength for the coming battles.

 

"Seems like you've got everything under control." (Shari)

"Basically. We were able to pinpoint a location that we assume to be the headquarters of the enemy operations. At least, several nobles suspected to be part of the conspiracy headed into this mansion after our forces entered town. I heard you were acquainted with one of them. Baron Moreau." (Peras)

 

I'd say that being with Moreau is already evidence enough.

 

"This is the case. Baron Moreau is certainly guilty. So, arresting him should be rather justified." (Shari)

"That's what we hopefully will achieve. We managed to surround the mansion. There is but one issue." (Peras)

 

Yeah, because of course, things can never just be simple.

 

"I kinda fear to ask you, as this sounds very much like this is the part where I get pulled into said 'issue'." (Shari)

"At least your senses are keen. According to our scouts, the main entrance is heavily fortified. They concentrated their forces there, built barriers, and now shoot at everyone who approaches." (Peras)

 

I feel very much like I don't want to hear the next part.

 

"And how is this where I come into play?" (Shari)

"To be honest, I'd like to ask you if we could send in Liqu." (Peras)

"Me?!" (Liqu)

 

Her!?

 

"To do what exactly?" (Shari)

"To be our breaker. All we need is one good start. If we can get rid of the barriers and maybe their first line of defense while she's at it, the rest of us can clean up behind her. As far as I'm aware, your 'disposition' allows for both a safe approach as well as thorough material destruction." (Peras)

"True. Not very difficult. But I need to go all out for this." (Liqu)

 

With "all out" she means literally out of her clothes.

 

"As I said, you swoop in, destroy what you can, and give way for the soldiers. Nothing else is expected." (Peras)

"Are you seriously suggesting that Liqu should expose herself right in front of literally everyone?!" (Shari)

"Just saying, we made sure there wouldn't be any uninvolved witnesses present. Every single one of these men and women already knows your deal and what you can do. While I also looked into other approaches, nothing really beats having her just roll over them." (Peras)

 

On the other side, "let the slime do everything" sounds rather lazy.

 

"I already told this to the queen, but I'll gladly repeat myself. I never intended for us to be your slaughter beasts. Killing people is one thing, and already pushing my ethical limits, but that doesn't make us your monstrous butchers." (Shari)

 

After all, it's one thing to be the knights of the queen.
It's quite something else to be the thing they pull out whenever there's someone to scare into submission.
In the end, it's us who'll have to deal with this reputation.

 

"So you'd actively opt against this order, even though it's perfectly aligning with your mission?" (Peras)

 

Is it really so hard to understand why I have issues with that?

 

"Look, we aren't indiscriminate killers. I can't in good conscience agree to let Liqu annihilate them all." (Shari)

 

At this, Peras again takes the word.

 

"You can be sure that we sent them a formal offer to surrender. However, if they won't accept it, it's rather moot to complain about our measures." (Peras)

 

Which, in particular, refers to my complaints.

 

"I'd do it!" (Liqu)

 

Right, Liqu.
Why don't you just go ahead and ruin any bargain potential I might've had?

 

"Liqu, are you really sure about this? They might have anti-monster weaponry." (Shari)

 

It would at least make sense for the larger houses in this kind of town to protect themselves in case the wall ever gets breached by something really bad.

 

"While this could be true, one shouldn't forget that a coating usually reduces the sharpness of a weapon and is expensive. I doubt they brought them out against our troops." (Peras)

 

He's likely right.
Yet this still leaves the other issue.

 

"Okay, but still, what if they surrender once Liqu breaks them? Are we seriously going to slaughter them nonetheless if that happens? What about the nobles?" (Shari)

 

I mean, after we've exposed ourselves to them, it might be a bit of an issue to leave them be with this kind of knowledge.

 

"Your bleeding heart for traitors and criminals aside, killing them would mostly be in your favor. While our men are trained not to hesitate at crucial moments, we will try to avoid excessiveness. Regarding your status, at this point, there are so many people who have heard about you, a dozen more voices to spread the rumors doesn’t add much weight. The protection of the crown will likely be your greatest asset in this regard." (Peras)

 

That's not all that convincing.
We are the ones who would be most affected by being exposed.

 

"Listen, I don't have the authority to force you here, but it would be a huge advantage for the attack and probably save lives. So I humbly request it from both of you." (Peras)

 

At this, he's even bowing down to us.
This means really much to him.
Also, I know that he's right.
I get that he's mostly pressing us because it's the best for everyone.
That doesn't mean I like it.

 

"Sigh. Liqu, you'd be the one at the front. So please, you decide." (Shari)

"Sure, I'll do it." (Liqu)

 

Isn't she a bit too casual about this?

 

"Listen, shouldn't you give this a bit more thought? We could end up being exposed, or things might go wrong." (Shari)

"You don't want me to do it? Then I won't." (Liqu)

"No, that's not what I meant. I want you to carefully decide about it. Look at the risks and results, and if you really want to do it." (Shari)

"Well, I think it's fine, as long as we'll still be together. More importantly, he asked nicely. That's good enough." (Liqu)

 

I shudder at the thought of what one could have this slime do by "asking nicely".

 

"Okay, now that this is settled... time to get started!" (Liqu)

 

And with this, Liqu expands to her full size, leaving her clothes on the ground.
I guess now it's too late to have second thoughts.