Slime

For the next two weeks, things were strangely peaceful.

Not good.

Definitely not good.

But peaceful.

The slime had become my companion.

Somehow, we'd fallen into a routine.

We slept together in the forest, with me using Slime as a pillow. His name is Slime, well whatever the gender is.

It was surprisingly comfortable.

Soft.

Cool.

And somehow, it never complained.

Slime could eat anything.

Anything.

Leaves.

Fruit.

Raw meat.

Spoiled food.

Things I couldn't even identify.

It would simply absorb whatever it found and wobble happily afterward. That became useful.

Especially when I needed food.

Whenever we approached the capital, I'd create some kind of distraction.

I'd shout.

Throw a stone.

Argue with someone.

Anything to draw attention away for a few seconds.

The slime would quietly sneak toward a market stall.

Then—

SPLORCH.

A few loaves of bread.

SPLORCH.

Some fruit.

SPLORCH.

Anything else that looked edible.

SPLORCH.

Then we'd disappear back into the forest.

The slime would spit everything back out later.

It wasn't elegant.

It wasn't exactly legal.

But it kept us alive. And strangely enough, I found myself talking to it more and more.

I'd told it everything.

About Earth.

About my life.

About the game.

About Hero Chronicle.

About playing through all one hundred scenarios.

About Elmi.

About Benige.

About the fake Hero's Mark.

About being called a fraud.

I even told it things I'd never told anyone else.

Slime would sit there and wobble.

Occasionally, he would make a quiet sound.

"Sploop."

I laughed the first time.

"You don't understand a word I'm saying, do you?"

The slime bounced.

"Exactly."

I smiled.

"So I can tell you anything."

Eventually, we returned to the capital again. I was trying to find some food when I noticed something.

The streets were quieter than usual.

I looked around.

A few guards were walking through the area.

I frowned.

"Let's go."

The slime followed. We turned down a narrow street. Then I heard footsteps. "Stop!"

I froze.

Several guards appeared behind us.

My stomach dropped.

"We received reports of a man travelling with a monster."

I slowly turned.

"Monster?"

The slime froze beside me.

One of the guards pointed.

"That one."

My heart sank.

I looked at Slime.

Then back at the guards.

"I can explain."

"Step away from the creature."

The slime slowly moved behind my leg.

"It's not dangerous."

"Step away from it."

I raised my hands.

"It doesn't attack people."

The guards drew their weapons.

"You're under arrest."

I glanced toward Slime.

He was trembling.

I gave it a small nod.

"Hide."

Slime didn't move.

"Go."

It slowly slipped backward. Its dark body flattened against the shadows beneath a nearby stall. One guard stepped forward.

"Don't move!"

I stepped toward him instead. The slime disappeared completely. I smiled faintly.

At least it was safe.

That was all that mattered. Two guards grabbed me. I struggled.

"Get your hands off me!"

"Take him."

I looked around.

The slime was nowhere to be seen.

Good.

I didn't fight anymore.

There was no point.

I was dragged through the streets.

"You-"

Something struck the back of my head.

Darkness swallowed everything.

...

..

.

When I opened my eyes, I immediately knew where I was.

Cold stone.

Iron bars.

A familiar smell.

I slowly sat up.

My head throbbed.

I looked around.

The cell.

The same castle.

The same place where everything had started.

I stared at the walls.

"You've got to be kidding me."