Syl-Chapter 245: Social Slime

The truthseeker was dismissed, and shortly after, food and drink were brought out. We sat down at the ornate dining table the VIP prison was furnished with.

Vee was ecstatic and wasted no time diving right in, although sadly, I couldn't replicate her enthusiasm. Nothing would guarantee me a lot of slime mass unless I dropped my standards and avoided compressing it.

I've grown so used to keeping all my slime at maximum density by default, and diminishing it feels absolutely terrible. I suppose for my own safety, I should reconsider lowering my standards—at least for my offensive slime.

After a night's rest, my [Core Storage] was operational, so I could start storing away what slime I could and begin trying to replenish some stocks.

With great reluctance, I made mental orders to keep the newly stored slime at diminished density levels, ranging from minimal to about half of the maximum. However, I'd still hold to the best of the best for my body.

"Your own companion seems very well cared for," Loreleia said. "I'm impressed you managed to bond such a high-tier monster and suppress its evolutionary urges while maintaining such cohesion."

"I'm surprised you can sense our bond level. Is that something any tamer can do?" I asked.

"Not quite," she responded. "It is sort of an intuitive ability of high-level tamers or one who has closely been around bonded companions and seen their mannerisms. However, as the head of an elven branch, I'm required to be able to evaluate individuals so I can get aid from the system."

"Well, with Vee, I'm sort of cheating a bit," I replied. "We definitely do get along. But much like myself, she's also an [Experiment], so she's fully sapient… sentient?"

"Two old souls?" Llewel exclaimed.

Vee shook her head while waving one of her front legs.

"I don't think Vee is an old soul," I answered. "She has memories of a past life in a different world from what she's told me."

"What a waste!" Llewel whined, clutching his head.

"Sorry?" I confusedly replied.

"Forgive him for his outburst," Loreleia said. "Otherworlders are a bit of a rarity, and with them usually come some advancements and breakthroughs from their memories of their prior life and world."

"I mean, I don't see why that can't still happen, assuming that's even something Vee wants to do," I replied.

"Can't say I really want to do any research or anything like that. Maybe I could revolutionize the cooking or knitting industry?" Vee teased.

"I suppose that is true," Llewel said. "And it would be from a very unique perspective as a monster. Although I fear she will go mad long before she makes any fruitful gains."

"We don't have the whole evolution madness," I answered to the stunned surprise of the three elves. "Part of the [Experiment] is being free from it. It's one of the reasons I said I'm sort of cheating with Vee."

"Truly? You have no burning desire compelling you to evolve further?" Loreleia asked.

"I do want to evolve," I answered honestly. "Although that's more for my own safety and curiosity. At the same time, I also want to advance my class further and try out other classes, just like any other person. I even tried out the enchanting profession!"

"Remarkable," Llewel replied.

"Absurd," Paris snorted.

"How many times have you evolved?" Loreleia queried. "I ask to know if you're just at the early stages or not."

"Three times and each time was a mutation. However, I'm considering my next one to be a species evolution after Vee explained the benefits she got from hers. Vee has also evolved three times but started at a higher tier than me. Also, I received confirmation from my… sponsor that no [Experiment] has evolution madness." ƒreewebηoveℓ.com

"That's reassuring," Llewel said. "It's often been a very sore factor that eventually all monsters go mad. Imagine the benefits of integrating others into society, especially the more humanoid ones. I'd love to be able to make peace with the orcs."

"Do you know how many others like you there are?" Loreleia asked.

"I don't. Sorry. Other than Vee here, I think I've only run into one, a troll, last I saw him. Although I have been asked to make friends with another one I haven't met yet."

"So, at minimum, there's four of you," Paris murmured.

"Probably a lot more, I reckon; it sounded like a big event," I reasoned.

Loreleia hummed as she tapped her finger along the table, "I don't know whether to consider this fortuitous or an ill omen. On the one hand, if the others are as amiable as you two, then it could be good. But it could also be a considerable threat. Monsters are a very potent resource that not many other nations tap into as effectively as us, and our tamers know the power their companions can hold."

"Evolutions are a powerful factor," Llewel added. "And the fact that you have such a rare advanced class, too, is another factor. I'm unsure if other monsters will unlock classes like yourselves, but assuming they don't, they will rapidly reach the upper echelons of evolutionary power."

"We both got ours through the adventurer's guild, thanks to my persona. I know the troll was born with his since he was a humanoid monster, which I admit seemed a little unfair considering my effort to get one."

Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

"Even if he wasn't born with one, his chieftain could assign one to him," Llewel answered. "Not that I'm dismissing your efforts, but he might not have been born with one. Depending on the chieftain, he might have even had a class forced upon him."

"Huh… So chieftains can actually assign classes," I mused. "I always thought the goblin chief was stringing me along. Especially considering he tried to enslave me—damn warlock."

"A heinous act," Loreleia spat. "And one of the most common methods of monster subjugations. Honestly, if not for you two, I would have assumed normal companion bonding was impossible between monsters."

We continued to chat and make small talk before the ball was in my court, and I was given leeway to finally ask my own questions. One inquiry in particular has been burning in my mind ever since that fateful day.

"What is the deal with that bag? I tried opening it but couldn't, and I certainly didn't expect to be potentially murdered over it."

"You truly don't know?" Llewel asked.

I shook my head, "I was just told to deliver it to the first elf I saw. I tried to give it to Tamnaeth, but he refused and practically ran away from me."

"As he should! Not even a branch candidate!" Paeris sneered.

Loreleia raised her hand, and Paeris was silenced immediately. She mulled over her decision a bit before finally answering.

"As you may know, the elven population is heavily limited by the gods—especially the main branches. When an official offspring of a branch is born, a seed accompanies them and grows with them.

One of the functions is similar to a bag, although it is unique in that it is linked to the family tree. Objects can be placed in the tree and drawn from any bag. Likewise, as far as I'm aware, the bag is locked to the bloodline and has never been overcome. As her mother, I can open the bag, but not even siblings can.

"Okay. So it's a very special bag, one of the most secure storage ever, and can even transfer goods great distances. I don't see why that would warrant someone trying to kill me for it, though."

Loreleia nodded, "That is only its most basic function. It can also be planted—"

"Mistress, no!" Paeris objected.

"Even I must admit, I don't think it wise to mention this," Llewel somewhat hesitantly agreed.

Loreleia shook her head, "Considering every truth we've heard today, I believe she deserves to know."

Llewel nodded, but Paeris remained steadfast in his refusal. Ultimately, he was overruled, and his protest fell on deaf ears.

I could offer to let them keep it a secret—a goodwill gesture. But honestly, I'm so curious about this damn thing that I don't think I could hold it in any longer.

"The bag is not only a bag but still a seed," Loreleia explained. "Once planted, and with the correct ritual, it will nurture into a golden oak tree. This powerful tree symbolizes an offspring of a branch starting its own colony and is how we elves spread out into the world despite our smaller numbers."

"I don't understand," I replied. "Does the tree allow them to exceed the population restrictions somehow?"

"No, although there is a superstition that newly grown golden oak trees lead to increased fertility," she explained with an amused smile. "No. The tree is a permanent gateway back to the original tree of that family, effectively creating a root network for us to traverse the world."

"So if it fell into enemy hands, and they knew the correct ritual, then they could effectively teleport directly to your doorstep?" I asked.

"Precisely," she said. "Although it's even more dire than that. As my own tree links back to the origin tree. Should my tree be seized by hostile forces, they could go right into the heart of our most treasured homeland."

"Oh… That's not good," I murmured.

"A severe understatement and a secret I hope you will take to your grave," Paeris threatened.

"Well, clearly, someone must have leaked the secret already if they were after you," Vee commented telepathically.

"Yeah, why else would they be so hellbent on attacking me?" I replied.

"Excuse me?" Loreleia asked.

"Oh. Sorry, I was replying to Vee," I replied sheepishly. "In hindsight, I probably should have mentioned that and offered to connect all of us. We speak telepathically."

"I had no idea that slimes could even acquire such a trait," Llewel responded with curiosity and some excitement. I definitely pegged him as the eager scholar type.

"I'm technically borrowing it," I explained. "I got it from an alicorn prince."

I noticed a slight eye twitch from Loreleia before she spoke, "You… befriended an alicorn prince?"

"Gods no. I fought one," replied.

"Fought and killed, I hope," Loreleia pressed.

I nodded.

"And the world has become a little bit cleaner," Loreleia sighed.

"Good riddance," Paeris snorted.

"Anyway… I should be able to let Vee join the conversation. Assuming you're alright with it," I offered.

"The chance to talk to a sapient spider? Please!" Llewel eagerly agreed.

Okay… First time I'm being the telepathy bridge. It shouldn't be too hard; Trixie makes it look so easy.

I tried reaching out to him but realized my mental hand was already preoccupied with Vee. I considered the possibility of using one of my [Sub-Cores] to establish another connection but soon realized I was probably being far too literal with my imaginative interpretation of this ability.

Taking inspiration from my own slimy capabilities, I pictured the hand splitting not unlike my tendrils and formed a second-hand from the same one. With my newly formed mental hand, I reached out to perform the handshake with Llewel, who promptly accepted it.

"Hello!" Llewel said excitedly through the connection.

"Listen, mister, just because you're a handsome elf doesn't mean you can go call a girl spider! I have feelings, too!" Vee scolded.

Llewel looked visibly shaken, causing a few frantic glances between the two unconnected elves.

"I knew it couldn't be trusted!" Paeris cried out.

"Is something the matter?" Loreleia queried, taking the more reasonable approach.

"I…" Llewel began, then cleared his throat. "Apparently besmirched a ladies honor. Please do forgive me, Miss Vee."

"Forgiven," Vee replied, trying her best to sound haughty. "Since you're such a gentleman."

Vee… please don't tease the powerful elf time wizard.

"Still… I must admit I didn't quite expect you to sound like that," Llewel said.

"I did mention we are both not normal monsters," I pointed out.

"Would you mind establishing a connection with the rest of us?" Loreleia asked.

I nodded and began contacting her and Paeris. The latter took quite a considerable amount of time to actually accept the offer.

With Vee now able to communicate with the rest, they all exchanged some pleasantries while finishing off what little food remained.

"We sort of sidetracked on your questions," Loreleia pointed out eventually. "Do you have more?"

"The bag was my biggest question," I admitted. "I can now understand why it was so important. And as Vee pointed out earlier, someone must have leaked the secret already if they were after it."

The elves nodded.

"I guess my next question would be, are we free to leave?" I asked.

"You are," Loreleia replied. "However, before you rush off. I do have a proposition for the two of you."

"Please tell me it isn't an offer we can't refuse," Vee grumbled.

"I swear that you can reject it without any repercussions," Loreleia replied. "However, I do hope you will at least hear me out, as I'm certainly willing to make it worthwhile if you can aid us."

I nodded. Admittedly, a little out of fear but also out of curiosity—what could this elf want from me?