[Slimy Slime] Chapter 33: A surprisingly productive conversation!

You know, I don’t think I ever really thought much about dungeon cores. I mean heck, I had one, how special could they be? Dungeons were probably a thing that appear all the time and they were probably like, a dime a dozen or something right?

Nope! Not even kinda. In fact, I could not have been more wrong.

After Michael and Sandra calmed down from their panic attacks, they launched in story time!

“A [Dungeon Core]... that makes you… a [Dungeon Master]... that explains so much.” Michael said.

I liked Michael, seemed like a solid guy.

“Tell me about them. I mean, I don’t really know a lot about them. I kinda got this one just because. Actually, also, what do you mean [Dungeon Master]?”

Michael took a deep breath, looked at his wife and child, then back to me, seemed to shake his head in bafflement, and then finally started to talk.

“[Dungeon Core’s] are an extremely rare thing the world sometimes creates. Every one of them has been the source of monsters of… unfathomable strength.” He shuddered. Then again, with a hint of confusion, when he looked at me.

“All monsters that get ahold of them are upgraded into unique beings. We call them Crowned Monsters. Demon Kings, Monster Kings, [Dungeon Masters], there’s a lot of names for them. It doesn’t matter what monster gets ahold of one, they immediately evolve into a unique being with incredible might. And there’s the dungeon itself. Left alone… they evolve into terrifying forces of nature, destroying multiple kingdoms as they unleash hordes of mindless monsters and armies of stronger creatures following in their wake. To think a [Slime] could get ahold of one… and even learn to talk…” He muttered. But I picked up something from that.

“Is that so strange?”

“Huh?”

“I mean… goblins talk. Other monsters talk. Is it so weird to have a slime that talks?”

Michael, Sandra, and even cute baby Tilia all pressed their mouths into a line, as if they didn’t want to answer. As if they were screaming ‘of course it’s strange?! What are you talking about?!’ I wanted to cry but only had slime. I’m not that weird, right?! I mean… okay, fine, whatever!

“Anyway… soooo…. I guess I shouldn’t tell people I have one then? Ha…ha…”

Michael and Sandra immediately went pale. Please, stop! A slime can only handle so much fear! I don’t want to kill or hurt anyone! Well… I do need a heart… but that can come from some dead human in the future! I only need to last like…. Huh…. how long have I been here?

“Slimy Slime,” Sandra called out to me, voice serious. “What… are you going to do with us?”

Why does this keep happening?! I don’t want to do anyone to anything! Imagine if I asked you three that, how would you even respond?! Some people, seriously. I had even already answered this!

“Talk I guess? Oh! I guess we could be neighbors! I don’t know where you guys are staying, but as long as you don’t try to ruthlessly murder me or anything, you guys are free to come back any time you want. Though you should be careful, wolves show up every once in a while. Hmm… maybe get stronger first? And this is no forest for a baby! Ah, but make sure you’re nice to Krrrgg, she also lives here, whenever she feels like it.”

Sandra looked like she had just been flashbanged by words.

“...neighbors?”

“Sure! I mean… this is my home. I know it doesn’t look like much, being a square block of wood surrounding a cave and all… but I’m a simple slime! That’s all I need! Oh! But I’ll keep the table and chair around for guys. Actually… I should probably make a guest house or something right? With beds! I can probably do that right!? Aw man, I could’ve been sleeping on top of a bed this whole time, what have I been doing?”

Seriously, I had the option to be in a hammock or a bed and I’d just been missing out?! My whole body was the size of a pillow! That would be awesome. Already, this conversation was paying dividends. I learned I should make guest houses, probably ones for the goblins too while I’m at it, make myself a bed and a pillow, and even that I’m in possession of something so immensely dangerous kingdoms will try to kill me for it/because of it, if they find me. Productive!

“Slimy Slime I…” Michael spoke, before closing his eyes and rubbing his temples. Then he opened his eyes wide, looking at the food and drink he hadn’t touched, quickly looking around, before looking back at me. Honestly… the intensity of his gaze was… a little startling! I’m not that kind of slime, buddy! Shouldn’t you be looking at your wife like that instead?!

“...can we stay here?”

Not only me, but even Sandra, the baby, and the goblins hanging around, were all shocked. What?! Wait… I saw Krrrgg out the corner of my eye with a smug expression, as if she knew this was going to happen! Why aren’t you shocked about this?! No wait, there are bigger fish to fry!

“Uhhhhhhh…” What was I, some kind of landlord?! Why are people interested in staying with me? Am I that handsome?! “...why?”

Suddenly, with a disturbing quickness, Michael got on his hands and knees, slamming his head into the dirt. WHY?!

“Please… we will serve you and-”

“NO! STOP!” I refuse! None of this nonsense, this isn’t going to be Krrggg 2.0! “Look, if ya wanna, stay. It’s a big forest, I don’t care! Hell, it’ll be awesome to talk to more people. I’m still clueless about the wider world. But don’t you dare pledge yourself to me. Krrggg was already annoying enough! Look, I’ll make you a house with all the stuff and you can, I don’t know, do whatever!”

I’d been saving up my mana, but dire times call for dire measures. Quickly, I focused on my Dungeon tab, pouring all my mana into it. The wooden ceilings had always been high and my courtyard had always been reasonably sized. I had even changed the layout, expanding it afterwards and getting rid of the death tunnel from before. I focused all my mana and poof!

It was all gone, just like that. Everything I’d saved up for the last few weeks.

But in exchange, cabins practically appeared out of thin air. Enough for everyone! I’d even made sure to include beds, pillows, and showers. I had no idea how that last one worked, but it was an option in the dungeon menu, so I’m fine handwaving that bit of magic away because sheesh, was I glad I didn’t have a nose. Those goblins did not look… hygienic.

That created, I made sure one of the cabins even had a crib. I spoke rapidly.

“Look, housing. That one there is yours.” I pointed at. “Anyway, thank you, goodbye!”

Moving with all the speed I can, Ie, throwing myself with my spirit hand, I splattered against my door, and quickly slimed my way underneath it, escaping into my cave. Please, no weirdness! I just wanna live a normal slime life for a while, I’m not ready or willing to be some kind of king! I know that I’ll probably have to later to reach godhood but….

That’s later!

****

Michael, slowly, rose. He had barely gotten the words out, when suddenly houses popped up out of thin air and he saw the [Dungeon Master] throw himself and practically vanish. Had… he just run away?

“Are we dreaming?” He asked, feeling lost and confused. Sandra didn’t respond, feeling the same. They only broke out of it when Tilia began to laugh. Part of Michael and Sandra’s hearts relaxed at that. Tilia… hadn’t laughed since that day when their village… was destroyed.

Now…. now they didn’t need to walk through a dangerous forest where [Dungeon Masters], [Black-eye Wolves], or [Goblin Captains] were. Michael had realized the moment they’d been captured that he’d severely underestimated the strength of the forest. They would probably never reach the capital. Then, seeing how the Dungeon Master could just make food and water, summon walls, had a miniature army… he wished for that sense of security for his family.

And… now he had it… just now how he expected it.

“Come on.” Sandra said, dragging Michael up off the ground and to their home. Already he could see the [Goblin Captain] enthusiastically directing where her goblins should go and stay in which houses, while claiming one for herself. The moment they opened the door to their own, they were shocked. It was made an instant, they saw that, and yet it was well furnished. There was a hearth, a kitchen, and a bedroom. It wasn’t big or grand but for a family of three? It was more than plenty. And it had been made in a moment!

Seeing the bed that looked so incredibly soft… one more than big enough to fit both of them and the crib next to it, Michael suddenly felt very tired.

““I need to sleep.”” Both Michael and Sandra said at the same time, looking at each other in surprise. They smiled, in exhaustion. It had a been very… mentally draining day. Tilia safely sucked away in the crib, they fell asleep the moment they touched the bed.

****

Alright, now that that surprise was temporarily dealt with, it was time to focus once again! Next on the list… evolutions!

…Right after I make myself a pillow to sleep on.