Chapter 32: Play Nice

[Analyzing…]

[Status Report]

[Species: Shadow slime (Rare)]

[Rank: FFF (Base Potential: Undetermined)]

[Skills:]

[Absorption – Beginner]: Slowly absorbs residual mana from the environment to recover or grow.

[Shadow Flicker – Beginner]: Short-range teleportation within shadows, limited to a radius of 2 meters.

[Warning: These skills are rudimentary and may require significant investment to develop further. Recommend focus on—]

“Ohhh, Shadow Flicker, huh?” He interrupted, and his grin widened a little. “That is a good start. Useful for ambushes and evasion. I see why you did not notice the potential right away.”

[Master, sarcasm is not—]

“It is not sarcasm,” he said, and he tapped the slime that was perched on his shoulder. “They have got utility. Sure, they are not flashy now, but give them time. Is not your whole purpose to evolve beasts? Why are you so against this?”

[Master, your optimism is either inspiring or delusional. Yes, I can evolve beasts, but you know how much mana that requires, and the more beasts you tame, the harder it gets. You have just made things harder for yourself without knowing.]

“It is not a problem. Like I said, I saw potential in them, so just trust me and let me do my thing.”

[…I will not argue further. Shall we proceed to find shelter before your mana destabilization worsens? Or before something worse finds you?]

“Now you are making sense,” he replied, and he shook his head with a small laugh.

“Before that.” He got up and walked over to the monster corpse, and he observed it with a sour expression. “This thing smells disgusting.” He covered his nose and walked between it until he found what he was looking for, which was located at the center of its body, the core.

This one was white, and it matched the snake’s color. He picked it up and tucked it in his pants.

“Alright, all done. Lead the way.”

[You lead, Master. I merely advise. Poorly, it seems.]

“Do not get snarky now,” he muttered, and he started to walk forward, with the slimes trailing close behind. “I just saved your data-collecting ass from a snake and brought back new kids. Give me a break.”

[By the way, why do you keep calling them your kids? You do know they are monsters, right?]

“And? I am taking them under my care when I bond with them, and I am making sure they are well taken care of. Does that not mean I am their guardian?”

[…Master, are you feeling okay? You do not sound like yourself. You never called Wren your kid, so why are you doing this now?]

“Change. I am changing. I do not know if it is for the best or for the worst. I thought I was healing, but the rage is still there, just waiting to explode when the time comes.” He looked up at the sky, and his eyes were full of sadness, but behind that was anger and pure hatred.

[I understand… master, are you perhaps lonely? That would explain all this.]

“I guess you could say that. Having a family will help me a lot, I can just tell. And in return for them keeping me company, I will evolve them into stronger versions of their species.”

[…I like this new you. It is as if you have been reborn and your thoughts are clear.]

“That is not quite it. It is more accurate to say I am reverting back to my old self… the master of-, never mind. That is all in the past. It is late, we should find somewhere to rest and head back to camp at first light.”

[(Master, if only you knew the truth about who you were. I will stay with you always… my master.)]

Somewhere else, a car stood smoking in the middle of nowhere, and not far from it were Jolly and Kana.

“How does a car overheat that badly so fast? We did not even go that far. At this rate, we will never catch up to him.”

Jolly ignored her words, and she was staring off in the other direction. Her expression was blank, as if she had accepted her fate. The silence between them was loud, and they just sat there without talking to each other, until Jolly finally decided to break it.

“Hey, what is he to you? Vell, I mean. Is he your lover or something?”

“Do not talk to me.” She got up and walked away.

“I am just trying to make conversation… bitch.”

She stared in the direction they had come from, and she wondered if she could make it back to the city somehow, even though it was not in view anymore. She was annoyed, but a part of her was relieved. It was like being in the city was a curse, and people under their control could not leave out of their own free will.

’Why am I feeling so bad? Did she do something to me? What the hell is going on? Should I ask her? No, she does not want to talk to me anyway.’ Suddenly, while she was trying to get the answers herself, Vell came to mind. She remembered how he had told her about the corrupted mana that the association was putting into everyone.

’Could it really be true? But then why? If it is true and I am infected, why do I feel so… empty… He said he could remove this mana, but he probably hates my guts… just where did I go wrong?’

She had too much going through her mind that she ended up dozing off, and she dreamed about a memory of her in her teen years, hanging around with friends, until some men surrounded them. At first, it was all fun and games, until they began touching them in inappropriate ways.

One of her friends slapped a man, and he did not hesitate to drive his knife into her throat.

Jolly was in shock, and stood there frozen, still processing what she had just seen. On the other hand, her friends shouted, and they resisted with all their might, clawing and trying to run away.

Her mind screamed for her to act, but her body refused. She was too scared. This was something she had never experienced. Then the leader, a scarred brute with cold eyes, grabbed her by the wrist and dragged her aside.

“Do you want to live?” he asked, and he was eyeing her body with lust.

She knew what he wanted, and it made her body tremble. She glanced back at her friends, who now faced the same question. She saw their defiant expressions, and they refused what they were asked. For a brief moment, Jolly wanted to do the same. But just a few seconds later, she heard their dying screams as all of them got killed without hesitation.

The leader’s patience was growing thinner by the seconds, and his knife was slowly touching her throat.

“I…”

This whole situation was too suffocating.

“Tick tock, girl. You either play nice, or you join them.”

Tears were streaming down her face, and she nodded. The words scraped out of her throat.

“I… I want to live.”

The leader grinned and gestured for his men to spare her.

“Smart girl.”

What happened next was the cause of her change, but before she could relive that, Kana woke her up.

“Hey, are you okay? You were talking in your sleep.”

She looked at Kana with hateful but sad eyes, and her lips quivered, as if she wanted to ask for help, but her pride was too strong.

“Fuck off.”

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