Chapter 13 Part 5

"So the jist of it is, I die now. Or die anyway later?" Francis says.

Christopher lifts a leg over the other once again, seeing the conversation going nowhere. "If you want to be pedantic about it, sure. But becoming a Slave doesn't guarantee you'll be taken advantage of. Though Beerwolf does not yet have his crest, once he does, he will still have full autonomy over his life. At least your crest will have a good story behind it."

Francis looks at the ground, a concerned look on his face. "I-I'm not sure." 

Christopher's face tightens, making a disappointed frown. "How about this? I will still deactivate the DC as previously specified. You should be able to continue existing mortally for a few months. Wait to make your choice. I'll give you up until the day Beerwolf gets his crest. If you decide you do not wish to at that time. I will give you a new body, citizenship, a home, and a little coin to live comfortably within my domain. Is that agreeable?"

Francis bows his head slightly with an expression of one lost in their way. With a sombre and sincere tone, he says, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

"Good, are there any other matters to report?" Silence fills the air with nothing anyone can bring up. "Then I declare the meeting hath been adjourned." 

Once he's sure that Dime has stopped recording, Christopher drops his facade. "Thank the Gods that shit is over. Dime give Beerwolf a replacement uniform. I'm kind of sick of looking at his testicles. Jasyn, babe, I don't know what you're thinking right now but I know its something perverted, stop it. And Jill! Why is there a child clinging to your trousers?"

Francis goes pale in shock, Christopher's sudden change in demeanour must have stunned his brain. Beerwolf giggles as he changes into his uniform in front of everyone. "You'll get used to it. I promise." The Wolfman reassures.

(Narrator) I see his complete lack of shame is still intact. No care for privacy whatsoever.

"I haven't got all day Jill. Introduce me or something." Christopher says. "They're a Demi-kin, right?"

Jill nudges the child to be beside her. "I've never seen a Demi-kin before so I wouldn't know."

Francis holds up his hand and begins to speak. "I can fill you in." Christopher shifts to look at Francis. "I guess you could say the one that wore that face used to be a Crow-kin, as you surmise from the black feather hair on its head."

"Used to? Why word it that way?" Christopher asks, becoming confused.

"The kid is dead. That one is a Slime." Francis reveals.

"A Slime? Explain." Christopher outright demands.

The Slime Kid begins to sob. "I weely didn't want to do it I's swears."

"That Dungeon Core Practically forced it to do it. With Slime's being rather weak it was difficult for them to even attempt to refuse an order." Francis explains.

"The more I learn about this DC the more I feel inclined to smash the damned thing." Christopher glowers. "Lemme just deactivate it real quick. Don't want it rebooting." Christopher swipes and taps at the boards a few times and the orb stops emitting a glow, turning black.

A crack and a spark erupt from within Francis. They look strained. "Damn it. I feel it compelling me to reactivate it."

Christopher looks at the kid, not seeing the same compulsions. "I'm guessing they aren't tied to the core?"

"They were grabbed from a small shrub of grass. A domination spell was used so I doubt they have any ties to the core." Beerwolf says, straightening his tie.

"So that was after your capture?" Christopher inquires. Beerwolf waves the child to him and they comply, he gives Christopher a nod as he embraces them, their tears staining his blazer.

Christopher slouches in his chair, his brow furrows in thought. "I'm not sure what we can do about them. An orphanage wouldn't take them. Hel, if they enter a city they could be taken or worse."

…

"We could alway take her under our wing." Jasyn suggests.

"Now that's an interesting idea. We've been talking about taking on some orphans." Christopher responds.

…

The little slime puts up their hand. "Can I pwease be wiff Mr. Beewrwulf?"

"I'm not too keen on that idea, little one. Beerwolf already has a lot of responsibility as my number one man." Christopher says, his face laced with concern. He looks to Jasyn for his input.

"I don't think it's such a bad idea. She-they could do good under him. Like a mentor of sorts."

Beerwolf bows his head, pleading to his king, "Please sir. I promise I can take care of them and be your aide as well."

"Give me a moment to think." He stares up at the sky, assessing his options.

…

Christopher looks down at his legs in shock as the little Slime tugs at his trousers. "I want to hewp you like Mr. Beewrwulf does. Pwease can I?"

"You're not scared of me? Are you sure? It means a lot of work." Christopher inquires.

"I'm not scared. I can tewl you-re a good pewsome." A beaming smile of pure innocence shines through their soft pale cheeks, warming Christophers heart.

Christopher picks the slime up in his palms holding them up to his face. "Do you have a name, little one?" They shake their head but not out of sadness. "Would you like to have one?" They look to beerwolf for approval which he provides. With their eager nods Christopher thinks of a name he thinks could fit. "...How about Jena-Jena? It means 'little bird'."

"Jena-Jena? I wove it!" Jena-Jena, JJ starts shining a radiant golden light. She looks at herself with awe. The shine vanishes soon after and questions arise.

"What just happened?" Christopher asks with concern. He inspects JJ closely. "Did you get a little taller?" he says, placing the palm of his hand on their head to measure them.

"I'm surprised you don't know, Your Majesty." Beerwolf says. "Though humans probably have never had to name a monster before. But when you name a monster, you enter into a taming contract with that monster. In exchange for a portion of your mana, they evolved, or I guess since they're a Slime, they matured."

"So what you're saying is, the stronger a Slime gets, the older they get?" Christopher says, boring his eyes into them.

"That's the leading thought at least. Slime's never usually survive long enough to mature. Though the Dungeon's provide some evidence for it. There is documentation of a colossaly sized Slime within the Fangreach Dungeon in Tholvia. It's apparently been there for sixty years" Beerwolf says.

"How do you even know tha-." Jasyn begins to say. Dime's text magnifies for Christopher to see.

(Dime) I sincerely apologise, Your Majesty, but I feel that this situation has more urgency to you.

"What is it dime?"

(Dime) Since your disappearance, those acquainted with you are adamant to speak to you directly. Heather and Haider have been especially persistent in demanding an explanation of both why the emergency alarm went off, and why I could not determine your whereabouts till the last hour. They will not accept any attempt to delay a meeting within The Capital Realm.

"*Sigh* Have them enter the realm. Entertain them for a couple hours, I'm going to need to separate from Sephicroth without destroying the environment, or what's left of it."

(Dime) Of Course, it will be done.