20 Chapter 16: Realization of One's Weakness

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.

Purin: "Art thou going, purin?"

[Yeah. I don't have any plans to stay, at the moment.]

Purin: "… No one needs thou to, anyway."

Hah. So not cute, this slime.

… I want to help, but I don't have any means to do so. What can a Poltergeist do? To begin with, I can't use any healing skills, much less magic skills.

So I'm sure I won't be any of help even if I stay here any longer. I'm curious about what happened to her, but I rather not know.

The less you know, the less you have to think. There are just things that are best left unknown.

Milady: "Are you… *cough* leaving…?"

Purin: "Milady. Thou art awake, purin?"

Purin jumped off her lap to look at her objectively and checked her all over. Milady, on the other hand, placed both of her hands on her ruffle-filled skirt and gripped it.

[Yeah.]

*sigh* Don't look at me like that… It's making me harder to go.

It's not really that of a problem to stay. Rather, I can, since I don't have any clear goals to reach right now. I do have some, but I still don't have a concrete idea about them.

And it's not like I know where to go from here. It's also been a while since I got to talk with someone, it feels really nice.

But now that I got a better view of things, it's better for me to go as soon as possible. The longer I stay here, the harder it will be for me to leave.

From the looks of it, it looks like this Milady won't be able to go anywhere from here. Her current state prevents her to do so.

And I don't plan to stay here forever.

That's why, forgive me, Milady.

[I'm thankful that you saved me. But I don't have any plans to stay here forever. I'll be sure to come back here to repay you, I promise.]

I don't break promises. That alone, is something I can be proud of.

She looks devastated for a moment as she hangs her head down. But it is soon replaced by a wry smile.

Milady: "I… will probably not be here anymore then… But if that is what you have decided, very well…"

… Don't, me. Stop.

I still don't have the strength to carry this weight. I just lost to a slime… I know that it's strong to begin with, but that doesn't change the fact that I lost to it. Who knows how many of them that has the same strength, if not stronger, are out there.

I'm too weak to handle it.

I was made to see that by my fight earlier.

Purin: "Milady!!"

[What's wrong?]

Purin suddenly shouted worriedly and when I turn my eyes over Milady, there I saw…

Her veins crawl over her skin like they're about to burst…

She holds her chest with her hands, like she's trying to endure something. Her complexion is getting even more paler than it was before – her breath is getting even more ragged, as if her lungs can't get enough air to function. If I look carefully, blood is starting to drip off her lips, down to her chin.

Milady: "Ah… Ahaha… It seems like it will be sooner than I expected… Urk…!"

What the hell…

Purin: "… What art thou waiting for, purin? Art thou not going? This does not concern thee, purin."

Without looking at me, Purin blatantly spouted those words, with the obvious intent of bitterness.

… Damn it.

Heal.

I can't use it. I can't use magic right now.

What else do I have? Psychokinesis? What can Psychokinesis do in a situation like this? What can someone like me do in a situation like this?

… Nothing.

I can't help her.

See?

I can't do anything. Why was I considering of staying or taking her along?

In the meantime, Purin lied her down on a soft cloth that she placed on the floor. It's like she had prepared it beforehand. She prepared it, knowing that this will happen.

They had already known that this will eventually happen. And I just tried and go my way without knowing anything. Saying things like coming back, and all…

Milady: "… Do not feel that way, Mr. Poltergeist… This is something that will… *cough!* … happen sooner or later…"

[… Purin. What exactly is happening?]

It looks like I won't receive any answer from Milady herself, so I turned my question to Purin.

Purin: "Purin told thee. This doth not conce-"

[Just tell me.]

I felt a rush inside me. I felt like I can't just stand her idly.

But… As if knowing anything helps.

Why is it that even though I got to be able to do things that I wasn't able to do when I was still a human, I'm still useless like this…?

And more importantly, why the heck am I getting all riled up over this? I'm used to being alone. I'm used to not having to interact with anyone. I'm fine just being able to read and fantasize about a world that won't ever become a reality.

Then why am I so hanged up in trying to help others? It's not like I've bonded enough with them for me to feel anything about their situation.

Why is it I feel like I have to do something for her…?

*sigh* This dire situation is making me negative.

It's been a while, darkness my old friend.

Purin: "Hmph. Milady is… Cursed."

Curse…

[You did?]

Purin: "Why would Purin curse Milady???"

[I was kidding.]

I was trying to lighten up the mood.

It failed, I guess.

…

..

.

Chapter End