- Shari -

As we are on our way back, the number of stares, glares, and simply odd looks doesn't decline. This makes my anxiety surge, and concern dominate my thoughts. One in particular.

"Liqu, do you think Nia will be fine?" (Shari)

"Your offspring? Sure. Why wouldn't she?" (Liqu)

Did she have to say that?! She's not-! …Ugh, that isn't important right now.

"I'm not going to argue with you on what Nia is, bu-" (Shari)

"Good thinking! So we're both clear on this!" (Liqu)

"That wasn't... No! Not worth it. Sigh… Be that as it may, what I wanted to get at was that now that people know about us, it might become a lot harder to get through with a disguise." (Shari)

"Yes, that won't work anymore. They now know about your tricks. Humans who want to find something will keep looking till they found what they were looking for. I don't think Nia can prevent that. She's not even very good at it." (Liqu)

That barely sounded like Liqu.

"Since when are you so knowledgeable about humans?" (Shari)

"Knowledgeable? Oh, oh! I was very often hunted by them. If they believed something was watching them, they wouldn't stop until they found it." (Liqu)

Honestly, that's about what I've come to expect from Liqu.

"Still, don't you worry that Nia might get hunted? Like you?" (Shari)

"If you're so worried, can't you just make it not so? I mean, all these people already accept us among them, even with your other tricks exposed, so, can't you prepare more like this? You're so good at preparing! I'm sure you can." (Liqu)

Preparing something? ... Actually, she's right! Maybe Jacob's team will help care for the kids, but as I'm not quite sure if Nia is safe enough with just them, I may rather enlist some more help. I know someone I can contact to have her be protected. Therefore, prompted by the number of difficult stares I received today just while going for my groceries, I decide that I don't have any other choice but to make one more visit. I'm not even going to be ambiguous here. It's Gareth, whose guards I'd like to enlist for a lawful protection service for Nia.

Since I'm not quite sure where to find him right now, I approach the highest-ranking guard at the closest checkpoint. While I'm better received by them than most people I've walked by today, they're understandably a little wary when they see me approach, but flashing my royal agent emblem works wonders to get him to cooperate.

Thus, I find myself shortly later at the guards' headquarters. This comes a little surprising to me, as he should be now the acting lord, but it's actually a lot closer, so I won't complain.

"I know this place!" (Liqu)

"Sure, we were here quite often. Let's hope Gareth is in a good mood." (Shari)

"Why?" (Liqu)

"Because we want something from him, and someone's general state of mind is an important factor in getting them to cooperate." (Shari)

"Ah, that makes sense." (Liqu)

She makes huge steps if she understands that. Also, I decided to try teaching her a bit more. She has recently been pretty well-behaved, and I think she can now process what I instruct her better than she was first able to.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. But for now, let's enter the guardhouse.

"Havel, support the main street. We can't afford to lose it. Kilian, prepare the next raids. Coordinate with Havel, in case you drive them towards him. Jassi, transport the resulting prisoners straight to the dungeon." (Gareth)

"Yes, sir." (people whose names I forgot already)

Seems like he's busy, which was to be expected, but is not ideal, as not being free also means not being free to help. Fortunately, he seems to at least find time for us, as the moment he sets eyes on us, he ceases all action and looks right at us, with an unceasing stare. I take him up on his invitation and approach.

"Hello, Gareth. Lord Gareth?" (Shari)

"What the heck are you doing here?! Shouldn't you be preparing to leave town?" (Gareth)

So much for being in a good mood. He seems like he can't wait to have us gone.

"That's actually what we're doing. The thing was, I need your help on one very special and particular matter." (Shari)

"Oh god. I dread to ask. Can the men hear?" (Gareth)

He probably means that it would inconvenience him to change locations to somewhere else.

"I guess it's fine. It's just a rather personal matter, yet not top secret. I would still prefer it if people wouldn't listen in too hard." (Shari)

"You heard her! Mind your own business, you all! God knows, we've got enough of this." (Gareth)

At least, he didn't throw us out, but instead beckons us to join him at the table with a detailed map of the city spread on it. As I do, I state a first question.

"I seriously thought you'd be at the castle. You know, as the new lord and such." (Shari)

"As if that's even remotely true. I'm merely a stand-in for whoever they'll send. Also, with what's going on in town, it would be plain stupid to stand around so far away. Can't risk the slightest chance to be too late. And it's certainly not the time to move my entire command structure to the castle. Was that your question? Are we done yet?" (Gareth)

"Ehm, no? I still have a kinda big ask from you." (Shari)

"Oh no, if you already start like this..." (Gareth)

"Alright, best we get right to the core of the matter." (Shari)

"That's a good phrase! Core! I get!" (Liqu)

Oh my.

"Please, consider that I'm right now leading a literal war against crime." (Gareth)

"Not an issue. It's more of a general thing. In particular, it will mostly concern the time when things calm down again." (Shari)

"For someone saying she would get right to it, I still know almost nothing." (Gareth)

"Okay, okay. You see, I got a… a, a ward, who I am responsible for." (Shari)

Damn, that look alone was worth any bit of awkwardness I feel right now.

"W-ward?! You?!" (Gareth)

"Well, our exact relationship has been a bit, ehm, mushy, kinda hard to nail down, you know. But there is a certain striking resemblance, if you understand what I mean." (Shari)

"Ehm, no? No, I don't understand the shitload you're dumping on me here!" (Gareth)

"Sigh, okay, more clearly. There's this girl, Nia. She's a human-like slime, like us. She's going to be staying at my shop in my absence. Well, actually, she's been staying there for some time now, and I'd like for your guards not to get rid of her. Which includes letting citizens tell them to get rid of her, or standing around idly while an angry mob burns down my shop, as well as everyone inside, or massacring her in another way. I mean, if she breaks the law, slap her slime fingers, fines ought to work remarkably well, but please, she's a nice, but still quite young girl. I just want to know her to be safe in my absence. I'm not asking for anything but that your guards treat her as they should any other citizen." (Shari)

Gareth takes it reasonably well. Which means that he's covering his face, groaning into his desk, and whispering to himself how unfair everything is. Or something like this.

"Oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no. Shit, now that. Just not enough trouble. Never enough." (Gareth)

You know, Gareth, you have my sympathy. I'm the last person anyone has to complain to about how the world seems to plot against one.

"Soooo, are you going to help?" (Shari)

"Sigh..." (Gareth)

The silence stretches, stretches, and stretches. Then he takes a deep breath and looks at us.

"Don't even act like I got a choice. If I were even remotely responsible for the death, or any other form of demise of this girl, I'd be dead. I suspect you'd be rather emotional about this 'ward'." (Gareth)

I don't think I'm all that monstrous, but neither did anything happen yet, nor will I try correcting him, as this works out for me.

"Well, nice that we understand each other." (Shari)

"Can I, in return, assume that this will be the only thing expected from me, so I may not have to focus on a lot more issues you got to arise, but on my tasks at hand?" (Gareth)

I kinda pity him. He truly appears severely overworked

"Yes, that should be it. I wouldn't know of anything else." (Shari)

Please, world, don't let me suddenly remember something dire.

"Alright. I'll see about positioning a permanent guard watch along your street, which your 'Nia' can rely on in case she needs help. As fast as this place grows, this might even be warranted in general. Still, please understand that right now I lack any personnel I could send there." (Gareth)

"Cool. Sure. It was mostly to avoid that the guard may be used against her, and allow her to turn to them in a bad situation. To get her a little bit safer. She's violet, by the way." (Shari)

"Sure, she may have been confused with the other slime. Unless... Please, don't tell me..." (Gareth)

"She's the only one." (Shari)

"Hah, god's blessing. Fine. I'll do as much as I can. Though if you decide to pull another 'ward' out of nowhere and expect it to live here, you better ask first!" (Gareth)

"Thanks, Gareth. This helps me out a lot." (Shari)

Not like there would be a good justification if he decided to go after Nia instead, solely because she's a slime. Yet I fear many won't see it that way.

"I suppose you were not wrong to come here, with the ripples you caused in town. Today alone, I got six different reports about gatherings in front of your place." (Gareth)

"Whaaat!?" (Shari)

Next chapter will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.