- Shari -
I think my training went quite well.
Elara was eventually done with cleaning and left.
After a while, the lingering heat inside my core increased to a rather disturbing sensation.
So I decided to call it a day and relax.
I was satisfied with my progress and don't see a reason to force anything.
After all, only idiots would get themselves killed in training.
A short time later Liqu finally returns.
"Where were you?" (Shari)
At least this I should ask.
As much as I enjoyed having some moments for myself it is always worrisome if she is out by herself.
Especially close to larger groups of humans.
"Just a stroll. I met some of the soldiers who belong to us." (Liqu)
"Nothing bad happened, right?" (Shari)
"Nope. Everything went according to my plan." (Liqu)
What's that supposed to mean?!
"Uhh. There is some meat for you in your room. You are hungry, right? Please say yes." (Shari)
Any different answer would mean she already somehow did something about this by herself, and I'm still concerned about the horses.
"Oh, yes! I can really need it. Great! I've expended a little much." (Liqu)
Uhh, I don't want to ask, but I know that I have to.
"How and where did you expend much of your energy?" (Shari)
"Huh? She was right." (Liqu)
"Excuse me?" (Shari)
"Someone told me that you are obsessed with me, the way you want always to know every little bit about me and what I've done. Oh, but don't worry. I like it." (Liqu)
I want to say something.
Actually, I want to say quite a lot.
But any coherent thought of mine which might help to form a proper answer is instead drowned in a cascade of internal screamings the likes of "I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS SLIME!!!"
Instead, I just stare at her, completely perplexed.
This goes on until I hear movement coming from the stairs.
That forces me to shift my attention to the source.
The next moment Peras and Jaren enter my room.
"You!" (Peras)
Yes, it's me.
Anything to add?
"Ehm, hello?" (Shari)
"No! Not like this! What are you planning? What happened there?" (Peras)
"Excuse me? It seems I lack context." (Shari)
However, whenever things get out of hand there is a certain individual I can with almost absolute certainty claim as the one being responsible.
I look intently at Liqu.
"Yes?" (Liqu)
"Don't play innocent after this action." (Peras)
"Sorry, but I was holed up here for the last few hours. Can someone please inform me what this intrusion into my quarter is about?" (Shari)
"That green slime attacked three soldiers!" (Peras)
"Attacked!?" (Shari)
Oh no.
Are they now going to fight us because Liqu messed up?
But then why did only the two of them come?
You don't send the commanders on their own into a combat situation.
"Vela, Galos, and Balion. She fought with them behind the soldier's barracks." (Jaren)
"What do you have to say?" (Peras)
"I still say that I was here the whole time and have no idea what happened. But the fact that you two came tells me that you don't think of us as your enemies. This means they should still be alive. So, how bad is it?" (Shari)
"While there are no obvious wounds on them, and Galos and Balion seem while quite shaken but mostly fine, Vela is another story. She refuses to talk with anyone." (Jaren)
What did this slime do?
With a tone that might hint at my annoyance, I call out,
"Liqu?" (Shari)
"I just had a talk with her. I didn't even have physical contact." (Liqu)
Who knows how many ways this slime knows to kill without contact?
"That doesn't mean much. I am rather certain whatever is wrong with her, you caused it. So, why?" (Shari)
"She had a difficult mindset. I just corrected that. After what happened in that mine I won't allow any threats close to you anymore." (Liqu)
The incident we had with Chris apparently still troubles her.
"We can't have you going around, doing whatever you did to her there! Show some restraint!" (Shari)
"But..." (Liqu)
"No buts! You can't go around and attack people! At least ask me before you're going all crazy like this! Do you really want to ruin everything for us?!" (Shari)
"... I'm sorry." (Liqu)
I become aware that the other two are still waiting.
"Right. Now that we found the cause, what do you want to happen? I can make her apologize, but I guess we all know that wouldn't be a sincere one. And I doubt any physical punishment would be effective... against a slime." (Shari)
I mean, if they insist I would settle with fifty strikes with the whip.
"It might be better to adjust our handling of their matters. Maybe a more official schedule where they're regularly accompanied would help to settle things down." (Jaren)
"We can't just let this slide!" (Peras)
"The only thing that might bother Liqu would be cutting her meals. But, just to be sure about this, no one here thinks that Liqu being hungry would be a good idea, right? Aside from that, I don't see much we can do about this." (Shari)
"Why would it bother me? I would just grab me something." (Liqu)
"See? That's exactly what I'm talking about." (Shari)
"Urgh. Get this thing under control!" (Peras)
Apparently being done, Peras storms out of the room.
I'm sure the Count will eventually learn about this.
I doubt it will directly lead to us getting fired, but it certainly doesn't improve our position.
For now, it's vital that nothing else adds to the list of recorded reasons speaking against our employment, which I'm all too sure the Count keeps.
"Fine. Do you think we can do something about this? I would recommend designating some appointments to gather and train as a group. There were some complaints that you come and go as you please. It might be better to let them know in advance." (Jaren)
"Uhh, I was planning to do my own private training. It's a little unpleasant if people stay." (Shari)
"It will be detrimental for the team if they don't get used to your presence." (Jaren)
"How about this? I tried to get Dion to prepare a secluded area for training. Maybe meeting up there?" (Shari)
"The others won't like a place without any possible witnesses. Especially after what happened today. But maybe I can convince them." (Jaren)
"Alright. I'll take you up on that." (Shari)
I know I said that I wouldn't want that others see how I train and let them gauge my abilities, but with my team that wouldn't be possible in the first place.
They are going to accompany me, and because of this will eventually have a very clear impression of what I'm capable of.
I say goodbye to Jaren, who is surprisingly positive and quite accepting of me.
And now I have to deal with the source of all my dismay.
"Liqu, you can't be serious! One time, one single time I'm not running after you, and the result is that you rampaged through the training grounds like the goddamn calamity you are!" (Shari)
"I only wanted to protect you!" (Liqu)
"From what?! Until now there were no issues, and to me, it looks like you started it. If you're pulling stunts like this the other humans here will eventually turn hostile. Please, at least try getting along with them. And with this, I mean not attacking our very own soldiers!" (Shari)
"Glrbsh. Fine. I don't think more will be necessary." (Liqu)
"Damn... Please leave. I am in no condition to deal with your antics right now. And woe upon you if I hear that you attacked someone else!" (Shari)
I am quite sure that she needs a more thorough scolding, but I really need a break now.
Heated arguments clearly don't help cool down my core.
So apparently I need a real rest.
The tub looks still appealing.
As long as no one wakes me up like last time.
Or this slime messes things up for me again.
So it's been bugging me for a while, but Shari is starting to treat Liqu like a slave. She already knows that Liqu is intelligent and only takes action when protecting her, but didn't other asking what exactly prompted Liqu to threaten Vela. Some fault lies with Liqu for being vague, but still.
The main reason why Shari is a bit grumpy in this chapter is that at the moment her mind/core is close before melting. She really needed a break to cool down and then everything happened. If she'd been more clear she'd probably asked closer. So she was a bit "hot-headed". And she might feel a bit betrayed that she decided to put a bit of trust into Liqu while being out alone.
And she can't really treat her like a slave as Liqu is the deciding factor in her plans. She's more a bit desperate about her doing what she says as all her failed plans made her a bit of a control freak.
And if this helps,
Quite a bit in the future I've planned some events to get them closer. (The first around the next twenty chapters.)
Regarding Shari's treatment of Liqu, just wait 2 chapters, she'll kinda get a backlash.
> So it's been bugging me for a while, but Shari is starting to treat Liqu like a slave.
It's Liqu's *choice* to follow Shari. Shari doesn't try to escape Liqu because she's afraid of what Liqu might do to try to keep her. It's really Liqu forcing her will on Shari. So instead, Shari tries to compromise and get Liqu to behave in a way that allows Shari to at least live a *little* like how she wants to live (as in, at minimum, like some sort of *person* rather than a monster), but Liqu doesn't really understand people and does a really bad job of it, and Shari's feelings are actually rather low on Liqu's list of priorities, as Liqu's actions repeatedly prove.
Sucks that shari could be easily educating her through contact and teaching her human social dynamics and values by sharing memories. If she was a better teacher than getting hot headed and only reacting instead of being proactive a lot of the drama wouldn’t occur. But I guess that wouldn’t be shari if she had a lot of forethought and moral dilemmas with using her slime powers.
well... sure she could be a better in educating Liqu but looking at the nature of a slimes-mind and especially Liqu I feel like she already has achieved quite a lot, at least looking at what could be done with mundane methodes, as far as I am aware it has barely been a month if that since her loosing her humanity. Meaning her focus is still more on desperately handling the monster that has destroyed her former life doubtlessly traumatizing her to an extent than putting her heart into teaching her.
For the same reason linking isn't really on the table. Of course there is no faster way to teach Liqu about human behaviour but at the same time it is a very dangerous gamble from Shari's point of view potentially eroding her own remaining humanity both directly through Liqu leaving imprints of her mind on her in exchange as well as indirectly through doing something deeply inhuman.
The Liqu protecting Shari isn't new and really think of this situation. Cat and dog start fighting... who's at fault? The cat or the dog? If the troops assigned were hostile and there was a hostile exchange who's at fault? The best they could say is there was no physical injuries. And for that chalk one up for Liqu s getting a little more savvy..
After all, only idiots would get themselves killed in training.. -> remove extra period
is always worrisome if she is out for herself. -> out by herself
I met some of the soldiers who belong to us." -> did Liqu recognize the other two soldiers then? It didn't seem like she did. So she's only say "I met one of the soliders who belongs"
about this by herself.
And I'm still concerned about the horses. -> herself, and
which might help to form a proper answer is right now drowned in -> answer is instead drowned
Instead, I just stare completely perplexed at her. -> stare at her, completely perplexed.
Sorry, but I was during the last hours holed up here. -> but I was holed up here for the last few hours.
Can anyone please inform me what this intrusion into my quarter is about?" (Shari) -> Can someone
"Vela, Galos and Balion. -> Galos,
Still, only that I was the whole time here. -> I still say that I was here the whole time.
So how bad is it?" -> So,
obvious wounds on them and Galos and Balion seem while quite shaken mostly fine, Vela is another story. -> them, and....shaken but mostly fine,
"No "buts"! -> No buts!
Do you really want to ruin everything for us!" -> us?!
guess we all know that wouldn't be a serious one. -> be a sincere one.
would be effective... Against a slime." (Shari) -> against
But just to make sure about this. No one here thinks that Liqu being hungry -> But, just to be sure about this, no
With this Peras storms out of the room. -> With that, Peras
gauge my abilities.
But with my team that wouldn't be possible in the first place. -> abilities, but
They are ought to accompany me and like this, they will eventually have a very clear impression of what I'm capable of. -> They are going to accompany me, and because of this will
I say goodbye to Jaren, who is positively surprising quite accepting of me. -> who is surprisingly positive and quite accepting
Until now there were no issues and to me, it looks like you started it. -> issue, and to me it
And dare you if I hear that you attacked someone else." (Shari) -> And I hear that you dared to attack someone else..."
she needs a more thorough scolding but I really need a break now. -> scolding,
Or this slime again messes things up for me. -> slime messes things up for me again.
"After all, only idiots would get themselves killed in training."
many an idiot hero- "I resent that remark!"
"No one here thinks that Liqu being hungry would be a good idea, right?"
"Repeat after me-A hangry Liqu is a scary Liqu. A full Liqu is a happy Liqu." *quietly* "And a happy Liqu means no one has to die."
did Liqu recognize the other two soldiers then? - Well, humans look all the same to her, but she recognized the big sword of one of them.
And I hear that you dared to attack someone else..." - Dare you was meant as a threat. "Dare you, if you do this again!"
Son Goku doesn't approve. Training must be life-threatening!
On this day, the food orders were tripled.
@expentio
And I hear that you dared to attack someone else..." -> forgot the 'if' part- "And if I hear...". That still conveys the threat, and is less possible for Liqu to misunderstand her since she might take "I dare you to do it" literally
"If I'm not dying, I'm not trying!"
@FallingLeaf
Found now several times "Woe betide you!" Which sounds kinda weird. The sentence is meant as "Don't do it again or I'll punish you."
@expentio
Yeah, "Woe upon/to you" would be a pretty old fashioned way of cursing someone. "Woe upon you if you do it again!" could work, or maybe something silly like "See if I don't spank your core out of you and put you in time out if you do that again!"
@FallingLeaf As if that would be a realistic threat.