- Shari -

 

I decide to try the tavern as the first place that comes to my mind where I'd look for people.
There's a rather peculiar atmosphere in here.
I wouldn't go as far as to say that every single individual in this tavern has a criminal record, but I couldn't completely deny it as a distinct possibility either.

Trying not to stir the waters, I calmly approach the counter.
It works so, so.
I feel quite some attention on me, but mostly mere curiosity and not the "found my next victim" kind.
So I tend to the barkeeper.

 

"Excuse me? Would you have seen a young woman along with a minor boy?" (Shari)

"A boy? Sorry, no one like this." (barkeeper)

"Well, thank you anyways." (Shari)

 

This isn't too surprising, as Elin in her situation wouldn't take any chances.
Yet I was sure that they would be faster than us and with our disposition regarding movement.
The saying "slow as a slime" exists for a reason.
I turn around and...
See that Liqu is in trouble!
Or rather, everyone else is!!

I see three guys, on the bigger side, surrounding her.
Now you might ask yourself how anyone can be this stupid, yet she doesn't give much of a dangerous vibe while she has her cloak on and isn't wielding any visible weapons.
Also, one can see her feminine figure when looking at her.
Her very feminine figure, since one can see those bulges even if they're covered by the cloak.
Like this, she looks like an easy target.
What a terrible miscalculation!

I turn for a moment back to the barkeeper.

 

"It seems like my comrade has some problems. Does this establishment have any means to solve this kind of situation or are we allowed to actively defend ourselves if something like this happens?" (Shari)

 

With this, at least he can’t that we are at fault for anything that might happen now.
This means we should be fine as long as Liqu’s cover isn’t blown.
Because my time until the big catastrophe begins is limited I leave the barkeeper alone, who still seems to search for words about a solution regarding the mess that is going to start any moment, and head to the presumed epicenter.

 

"Hey sweety, what is someone like you doing here all alone?" (future dissolved victim)

"I am not alone! I am here with my Shari!" (Liqu)

 

And with this, I am officially involved.
Wonderful!

 

Rushing my efforts to prevent the worst I approach.

 

"Can I help you gentlemen?" (Shari)

"Oh, another one? Why don't you and your friend come with us and kill some time??" (individual which I ponder if I should really save him)

 

"Kill" is here the keyword, idiot!

 

"Look, we are here waiting for someone and cannot afford to 'kill' anything!" (Shari)

 

The look goes directly to Liqu, who hopefully got the implication.

 

"But they look so eager." (Liqu)

 

Waaahhhh!
This stupid slime!
Can you just once stop messing things up?!

 

"See? Your friend is absolutely into it!" (another one whose body will never be found)

 

That’s because she wants to eat you!
Run!!!

 

"No, Liqu, we can't! And I will become excessively displeased if you continue this even for a single second!" (Shari)

"Uhh. Sorry, I cannot play with you!" (Liqu)

 

And now the inevitable happened; Liqu wants to come to my side, but the closest of this human trash holds her tight.
She barely can prevent slipping out of her cloak.
Literally.

 

"I don't see why we cannot wait here all together for your friends! Maybe they want to join?" (another idiot who's eager to die)

 

And now she looks really displeased.

 

"Liqu! No killing!" (Shari)

"Is there something you've got against us? We just want to be nice to you and you give us this attitude! Hick!" (a third one who is too drunk to understand his impending demise)

 

This situation cannot proceed like this.
If they become violent we have a problem.
Not because of their advances, but because of the many people who will leave the tavern while screaming.
And we two are absolutely not fit for a brawl.
I don't even have knuckles!

With this, the best approach I can take is to threaten them.
I pull my guild card out.

 

"Can anyone of you read this?" (Shari)

 

The second one leans forward and seems to be the only one who is still in a half-clear state.
He furrows his brows.

 

"You are an adventurer?" (my way out here)

"Yes, as is my friend. If you couldn’t tell from the card, we use acid. So if you insist on pursuing this any longer, all of you will experience a burning sensation in a very peculiar area, different and far more lasting than the kind you might be used to." (Shari)

 

This seems to have had some impact.
At least he and the third one, who is apparently clearer than I gave him credit, retreat from her.
Yet not...

 

"Ahh! Why so prissy! This will be fun!" (absolute nutcase)

 

He didn't...
He didn't just touch Liqu's chest!!!
This is so wrong in so many ways that I'm troubled to process this!
Too many disturbing implications!
Liqu meanwhile looks at me.

 

"Can I put him down?" (Liqu)

"No killing or anything problematic!" (Shari)

"Yes, yes!" (Liqu)

 

The man has her by the shoulder with the right hand from behind and proceeds to stroke with troublesome intimate intent around Liqu's far too loaded upper area with the left.
Yet with a slight shift, she pivots her arm back through the gap between them and raises it straight up behind her back in a way that would have dislocated a normal human’s arm.
Like this, she grabs his head from behind with her fortunately gloved hand and pushes him down.

 

"Arrgh!" (crushed subject)

 

She moves above him, pressuring him to the ground, but she’s still covered by the cloak so that, her shifting body isn't visible.

Yes, I forgot.
Slimes might not be able to throw punches with impact.
However, we are strong.
And in addition, as this molester is experiencing, Liqu is heavy.
She is really, really, exorbitantly heavy!
I don't even know how much all this mass compressed inside her weighs!
Also, no, I'm not going to discuss how much I'm weighing!

 

"Wh-what is she doing there?" (less stupid molester)

 

He makes quite a threatening step in my direction, yet my emerging dagger, directed at his throat, is rather daunting to him.

 

"What does it look like? My friend is crushing yours." (Shari)

"Urrgh!" (molester who regrets his decisions)

"Make her stop!" (desperate hoodlum)

"If I do, can we please go then?" (Shari)

"Y-yes! Just stop this!" (suddenly cooperative individual)

"Liqu, don't crush his bones. We want to go." (Shari)

"Do I need to?" (Liqu)

"Yes!" (Shari)

"Fine." (Liqu)

 

Without putting any weight on her legs she rushes up in a way I hope no one questions how she actually did it.
Before we draw more attention to us, I grab her by the glove and drag her out here.

 

"Did you really want to go with them?" (Shari)

"They said we would have fun. I like fun." (Liqu)

"We really need to talk about common sense." (Shari)

"That sounds wonderful!" (Liqu)

 

God, this slime!