Chapter 15: A Deal with the Guard
"Did you really confess? !!!!"
I bowed my head deeply (it felt like I was bowing deeply!).
We were taken to the guard station.
After causing such a commotion, there was no way we would be released without being charged.
We were surrounded by the dwarf guards who had rushed over.
However, ..., the five of them were still in the middle of their shift, and I was the only one surrounded.
That's right! I'll secretly turn back into a slime and... run away.
I thought I would turn back into a slime with a flash and try to escape, but...
My body was grabbed, and a floating sensation came over me.
The soldier was smiling, as if to say, "We won't let you run away, will we?"
However, the vein popping out on his forehead betrayed his true feelings.
"I didn't do anything! I'm a victim too!"
I tried to mimic Gobta's words, but...
"Yeah, that's right! But, we'll hear your story at the station! Don't think you can run away!"
I was scolded with a friendly smile.
Maybe it's better to give up...
I wondered what Gobta was doing and looked over...
He was still closing his eyes and covering his ears.
...You idiot! What are you thinking?
No, he probably isn't thinking anything. He's just an idiot.
Feeling exasperated, I called out to Gobta.
Thus, we were taken to the guard station.
This time, three incidents!
Two, I transformed into a wolf!
Three, I cried out a little loudly.
Well? I'm not that bad, right?
Thinking that, I glanced at the soldier.
He still had a friendly smile.
His bearded, cheerful face suited him well.
It's a shame, though, if it weren't for the vein on his forehead...
"Hey, why are we being taken together?"
"Idiot! What are you talking about? Because you got caught, we're in trouble too?"
"Eh!? That's right! I'm sorry... I did it again..."
"Well, this time it couldn't be helped. Be more careful next time?"
Huh? It seems he's trying to cover for me. This is the ultimate "blame the other guy!" technique.
It's a high-level skill that one can only master after a long time in society. The key is not to be swayed by the other person.
Actually, it might sound like a joke, but the three incidents went something like this.
Even the onlookers seemed to agree with the story.
Our treatment became a bit more lenient.
"So? What about that wolf monster?"
The interrogating soldier in front of me asked.
What do you mean, "What about it"?
"That is, the name of the wolf's race..."
"No, I mean, why did such a monster appear there? Where did it come from and where did it go? Tell me everything you know!"
I told him I transformed, but he doesn't believe me?
Heroes hide their ability to transform, but I'm not a hero.
So, I can openly and frankly say...
"No, I mean, I told you it was my transformed form!"
"Huh. You, it's amazing that a slime can talk, let alone transform?"
"No, no, shall I show you?"
"Hmph. What's the point? Even if you did transform, why can a slime transform?"
How should I answer that?
It's a unique skill! I can't say that honestly and sound like an idiot. If I do, I'll be on the same level as Gobta.
Come up with a nice excuse right now!!!
"Actually, I was cursed by a wizard. Probably out of jealousy of my talent... I was a hallucination mage. I'm on a journey to break the curse."
"Hmm? A curse from a wizard... So?"
"Yes, I was learning a few hallucination spells and studying, but an evil wizard turned me into a slime...
Now, I'm traveling to find a way to break the curse!"
"Why did you meet an evil wizard? Why did he curse you instead of killing you?"
Ugh... If you believed me, it would be easier... But you're being suspicious.
Well, of course. If you believed me easily, you'd be worse than goblins!
The back-and-forth between me and the soldier continued.
At the end of our heated debate, a story was created.
A story about a beautiful girl cursed by an evil wizard to become a slime.
Even though "a good beginning makes a good ending" doesn't apply, as I responded to the soldier's points, a strange story formed in my mind.
A girl named I (僕) (1), a genius in transformation and hallucination magic. She was cursed by a witch and is on a journey to break the curse.
Why did it turn out this way?
When I said something strange, the soldier would ask questions to correct the story.
Indeed! The story was created as we went along...
The soldier and I. We completed it! We exchanged heated glances.
...Most importantly, I don't have eyes! But!
Even without words, our hearts connected.
"Great! The report (the content is a lie, but...) is complete! Thanks for your cooperation! But, your custody...,"
"Big trouble! An Armored Saurus appeared at the mine! It seems a few miners were injured!"
"What? So, was the Armored Saurus defeated?"
"That's fine! The extermination team is on the way. But, some of the injuries are severe.
I don't know if it's for war preparations or something, but all the medicine is sold out, and it seems the castle's stock is also gone."
"Well, they went to collect 'magic ore'... They followed it and are not here!"
If the castle has a stock, take it out! I thought, but...
Recovery potions. I have them... What should I do?
If possible, I wanted to create a good image and get off without a charge! That's not it at all!
Rescuing people is a given!!!
As I said that, I felt suspicious...
They say, "What goes around comes around." Maybe it will come back to me in a good way!
"What? I'm busy! The interrogation is over, but you're not free yet. Wait in this room for a while!"
"No, no, that's not it. This is...?"
I took out the recovery potion from my pocket. (It might look like I just spat it out.)
"A recovery potion. It's great, you can drink it or apply it!"
"Huh? Why does a slime like you have a recovery potion?"
Oh, oh... Where did you throw away that setting?
You're treating me like a slime! Maybe this guy just went along with the story.
"Does it matter? Try it. How many do you need?"
"There are 6 injured... Is it okay?"
The young soldier who brought the news looked at me suspiciously.
A monster giving medicine... If I were a soldier, I wouldn't take it.
"Tch! Don't leave this place! I'm going!"
"Eh? Still, sir... This guy is a monster?"
"Shut up! I'm going!!! Lead the way quickly!!!"
Saying that, the bearded soldier, called the captain, grabbed the 6 recovery potions I took out and ran off.
It was just a story, but it seems he trusted me.
From what I could see, he's a good guy. Being a captain was surprising, though.
Gobta, who had been silent the whole time, just nodding to my story, asked.
"It's not over, but we'll have to see how things go for a while."
Occasionally, soldiers would come in and out of the station, looking at us suspiciously and tilting their heads.
While practicing thread manipulation to pass the time, I detected the footsteps of the captain and his team returning.
I put away the thread and waited for them to enter the room.
This guy... might be a big shot!
"Thanks for the help. I appreciate it."
As soon as he entered the room, he bowed.
Following the captain, the miners came in.
"You gave them the medicine! Thank you!!!"
"To be honest, I thought I'd lose my arm... Thank you!!!"
The miners were expressing their gratitude.
The last one... say something!
Well, the gratitude was conveyed.
After a while, they thanked us and left.
The sun set, and it got dark outside.
After that, I talked with the captain for a while.
This time, it was a serious conversation.
The five of us were adventurers from the Free Guild of this country.
They have talent but are known for causing trouble.
He laughed, saying, "It was a good medicine, wasn't it?"
We confirmed what we actually did, but he told us that we were detained to consider the feelings of the victims.
There were no reports of damage.
They were probably too embarrassed to report the soiled underwear.
We also told him about our situation.
The revival of the goblin village, the procurement of clothing and weapons.
If possible, we requested the dispatch of a capable guide, among other things.
The captain listened attentively.
He understood our situation, and other soldiers also shared various stories.
The soldiers even talked to Gobta, who responded with wide eyes.
We were still at the station.
Gobta borrowed a sleeping room and was not there. He's probably still sleeping.
I don't need sleep, so I was watching the training in the backyard from early morning.
The speed of swinging the log (more like a tree trunk), the light sparring in a mock battle, and other running exercises.
I observed everything calmly.
I simulated the scenarios in my mind and had the various creatures fight them.
It was just a game to pass the time.
But, is it right to use the "Great Sage" for such things? It feels like a pearl on a pig's neck.
But, it's fun, so there's no problem.
The result was a decisive victory for the creatures.
Even with bad conditions, only a few could beat the bats and lizards in 1v1.
In a group, some could beat the spider if there were 5-6 of them.
But, even if all 20 of them attacked, they wouldn't beat the centipede.
These soldiers aren't the best in the country, so this might be the level.
While doing this, Gobta woke up.
The soldiers also came to work.
"You're free. I'm sorry for detaining you. We had to keep you here for a day because of the public eye. I'm sorry!"
"No, no, it's fine! I saved on the inn fee!"
"If you say that, it's a good thing. As an apology, I'll introduce you to a skilled blacksmith!"
The immigration check was somehow prioritized, and we earned the inn fee.
I thought finding a blacksmith would be a hassle, but the captain's introduction is reliable!
Thinking positively, it's a paradise of good things!
Hmm? Is there a catch to a good story?
I only like the back of videos...
"I'd like you to give me some of your recovery potion stock!"
I mentioned yesterday that the stock is low.
I have a mountain of stock, so selling isn't a big deal... but I don't know the market price.
It's a consumable item I make myself for free. If they want it, I'll give them a few.
"Sure. But, I need them too, so it depends on the number."
"Even just the ones you have left are great. If you only have one, that's fine too!"
Huh? That's a strange thing to say?
Do you want to keep some as a reserve?
Even if you only have one, it might be useful in an emergency...
Well, it would be quite useful.
"Ah, and I think it might work if diluted in water. For normal cuts, about 1/10 should be fine!"
When I explained, he nodded positively, as if to say, "Sure, why not!"
He seemed to understand, so I gave him 5, and he gave me a small pouch.
Checking inside, it contained gold coins.
"I might not have much, but this is all I can give. I'll buy them for 5 gold coins each!"
It seems I got 25 gold coins for 5 recovery potions.
I don't know if I made a profit or not, but I'll check the value of the currency.
"Is it too little? But, this is the best I can do..."
"No, the amount is fine, but I want to know something!"
"Eh? Is this enough? So, you want to know...?"
This reaction... Did I get scammed? I might have asked for more.
This captain seems like a good person, and I don't think I was scammed too much.
"Gold is one thing, but I don't know the value of money or prices...
If possible, could you tell me roughly? After all, I'm a slime!"
A slime statement that contradicts yesterday's story.
But, it's mutual. Since they don't believe it anyway, it's fine!
Thus, the conversation before departure dragged on, and we finally left after lunch.
I didn't know how it tasted, but I ate it deliciously.
Title: "Master of Monsters"
Ability: Unique Skill "Great Sage"
Slime Unique Skills: "Dissolve, Absorb, Regenerate"
Extra Skills: "Water Manipulation"
Extra Skills: "Magic Sense"
Acquired Skills: Black Snake "Heat Sense, Poison Breath," Centipede "Paralysis Breath," Spider "Adhesive, Steel," Bat "Ultrasound," Lizard "Body Armor," Arang "Super Sense, Telepathy, Intimidation, Shadow Movement, Black Lightning"
Resistance: Heat Resistance EX
Physical Attack Resistance
??????????????????????????
Today, I met a strange slime.
I heard a report that a terrifying monster appeared and went out to investigate.
A black and strong monster, clearly visible even from a distance.
Just that made my legs feel heavy, and I wanted to run away!
We are the guards who protect the safety of the citizens of this country!
We might not win, but at least we can buy time until the army arrives...!
I arrived at the scene, scared...
Black fog appeared, and when it dissipated, the powerful monster was gone.
And, Puu! A slime trying to run away...
I captured the slime without hesitation.
It didn't seem to resist.