20 Chapter 16: Realization of Ones Weakness (1/2)
Purin: ”I know thou art awake, purin.”
… Exposed!
[… How?]
I tried to communicate using Telepathy. I hear the usual clicking sound when I activate a skill, but…
I still don't know if it really works, since it only indicates that I can send information, not 'communicate.' Well, considering that words are also information, I believe this will work.
I mean, it's Telepathy. Pssh…
Purin: ”Fumu. It would seem like thou can speak now, purin.”
Phew. Good. It works.
[Yeah. I got the skill to do so.]
My first conversation… *sniffle*
Purin: ”Art though crying?”
[I'm not.]
Really. I wasn't.
Alright. Let's get down to business.
Right now, I'm still being carefully hugged by the girl, like a plushy or something. I didn't want to wake her up from her rest after seeing her poor condition earlier, so I stayed like this while I was checking my skills.
And now, Purin, who is a lot smaller than he was, is in front of us… Wait. Should I use 'he' here? Or 'she'?
[Purin. Are you a boy or a girl?]
I asked like I was asking some kid who wants to start their adventure to become the Pokomon Master.
Wait, do slimes even have genders in the first place?
Purin: ”Purin is not defined by such standards, purin. But Milady treats Purin as a girl. Wherefore ask, purin?”
Hohoh… I see, I see.
Well, you'll want a girl friend if you live all by yourself in this desolate place, after all.
[Hm. Are you not going to attack me? I can get off your Master if you want.]
Of course, I don't have any plan to do so. I'm just testing the waters. Mufu~
Purin: ”No… Unfortunately for Purin, it would only sadden Milady, purin. Although…”
[Hm?]
Purin paused for a while with her eyes closed. I'm not really sure if they're closed, though. The golden beads just turned into two thin lines. I guess that's really her eyes.
Anyways, I wait for her words patiently.
Purin: ”What… No. Who in the world art thee?”
Hmhm. I see. So she went and asked about it. Of course, she would. After everything that happened.
So…
I'm just a Poltergeist.
Or not.
That won't work as an explanation for her. It's not what she is expecting for an answer, I assume.
I mean, a Poltergeist that received her attacks and still survived. Moreover, it reflected back its attacks like they're nothing. It moved in an orderly manner. It knows what it was doing.
It's certainly not a monster's way of things.
[It looks like it possesses a person's intellect. Is that it?]
Purin: ”… Indeed. No monster in this area, except for the Abyss King at the lake and that Shadow at the mountain range, had ever stood its grounds against Purin like that. Much less to say, for a Poltergeist to speak… Thou art not ordinary.”
She fought with that Hydra?? Damn…
Well… There's no reason for me to hide it, anyways. And it looks like all she cares about is her Master. I think the reason why she tries to ask about my identity is to judge whether I'm a threat to her master or not.
Such loyalty.
But for now…
[Let's just say, I was a human before. Any more than this, then I will have to ask you a reason for me to trust you.]
It's give and take, my dear. You ask then I will have to ask.
Though at any rate, I also don't have a reason to tell her.
Purin: ”… Let me leave it at that for now, purin. Purin do not have the eyes of Milady, after all, purin. Purin cannot judge someone by mere observation alone, purin. However, consider unpleasant actions towards Milady, and thou art dead.”
Uwaah… That's a scary glare… I feel like I'm being stabbed already.
Hmm.
Now that she mentions it, I wonder why this girl saved me. Why did she stop Purin in the first place? From all I know, I don't remember meeting her, much less do something for her to owe me and save me.
Purin: ”If thou art wondering why Milady saved thee. … Milady… she can see the soul of others, purin.”
[… What does that mean?]
She can see the soul of others… Is it spiritually? Emotionally?
Purin: ”Purin does not have the exact knowledge about it, too. However, Milady can see if someone is worthy, purin. Milady can see the intentions, emotions of others, purin.”
Hm. I see.
Does that mean, she deemed me as someone who is worthy to be saved? I'm just a monster who have a soul of a human being, though. I'm nothing special.
But…
I am deeply grateful.
I activated Intangible to get of the Milady's arms. She tried to catch me from her sleep but couldn't and groaned on her sleep. She's cute.
[Purin. Replace me.]
Per my word, Purin bounced and landed on top of her Master's lap.
Purin: ”What doth thou plan to do, purin?”
[Tell her my regards. Tell her I'm grateful that she saved me.]
I'll be going now.
Someday, I'll try to come back here and thank her personally. But for now, I want to avoid being attached to something.
Reason?
For the current me, I won't be able to handle the burden.
That's because… I'm weak.
I know I wanted to have someone to talk to. I'm happy that I found someone to fill that role. And there's also that matter with information gathering.
But if I continue to interact with them any further, I feel like I'd be bound to them from here on out. That's… Something I can't do right now.
I'd rather not get her involved in my affairs, seeing her so fragile. If my selfishness would only make this frail girl suffer, then I'm better off alone.