*Multiple POVs*
***
(MC POV)
I blankly stared at Yao Ya as Zheng Da tightly held onto me. Through my connection with Zheng Da I could tell that it– she was genuinely happy with her new form, even more so then when she first turned into the wolf. But I couldn't think about that now, as I had to react to Yao Ya's look.
"Sister Ya look, I can explain okay?!" I quickly blurted out before she could do anything drastic
The look of exasperation on her face faded and was replaced by a calm look, but in her eyes I still felt there was something there. Oddly enough it almost felt like she was more annoyed at the woman embracing me than I.
"Ok-ok, First of all this woman is Zheng Da." With that single sentence her facial expressions changed to one of surprise, her eyes widening a little.
"That's all that remains of that woman." Pointing at the pile of clothing nearby. Her lips parted creating a small distance between the top and bottom. She must be horrified by what happened, such a gruesome way to die.
"You should know how affectionate Zheng Da was with me before. She was only a slime yesterday so it makes sense that she doesn't know about human customs or any of the sort right?
We shouldn't discipline her for something she doesn't know! Instead we should just educate her on the rights and wrongs. She'll only distance herself away from us if we use heavy handed methods."
"*Sigh* I remember. You know you were speaking like you were her parent just now. I'm not against it though. I wouldn't mind doing that together, but won't it cause some misunderstandings since she's in the form of a grown woman?" Yao Ya walked over to the green robe on the ground, picking it up before bringing it over to us.
"Zheng Da you have to start wearing clothes when we're in public ok?" Yao Ya came over with a gentle smile while extending the robes out.
Zheng Da hearing her name being called stopped hugging me for a second and turned towards Yao Ya. Her brows furrowed and her expression turned fierce for a moment, but I only chucked it up to her not understanding how facial expressions work.
"You want Zheng Da to wear these... clothes?" Zheng Da looking at the clothing in Yao Ya's hand as she continued hugging me.
'Huh? Is she using third person speech again? I thought I heard her talk in first person earlier. It's almost like she's a child with her manner of speaking.'
"Yes, I need you to wear these clothes. If we're going to bring you with us you need to cover yourself up!" Yao Ya spoke as Zheng Da stared deeply into my eyes.
With a nod she reluctantly released the grasp of an arm which hooked onto me and got ahold of robes. Turning her head back towards me she asked, "Master, could you help me wear it?"
Immediately I realized two problems with that sentence. First she was now officially a woman and helping her wear her clothes was a bit problematic and second if she calls me master in public then others would completely misunderstand our relationship.
"Zheng Da I'm a man and you're a woman now so Yao Ya should help you not me. Also you can't call me master an-"
Zheng Da burst out before I could finish my sentence. "NO! You're Zheng Da's master! How could Zheng Da call you anything else? What else could Zheng Da even call you? And Zheng Da won't be helped dressing up if it's anyone but you!"
'Whoa, I didn't know she felt so passionately about the master calling thing. We have to address this though maybe after making her wear this robe first though.'
"How could you ask Brother Cheng to help you? If you truly consider him your master how could you make him dress you up?" Yao Ya came through and contradicted her
"E-eh? You you, you're right Miss. Master, Zheng Da was wrong. Miss Yao could you please help Zheng Da with these clothes." Zheng Da finally released the other arm, looking at Yao Ya.
"Of course, please this way. Brother Cheng no peeking ok? Hehe"
Turning away I spotted my sword laying on the ground nearby. I picked it up and noticed that it could do with some polishing and a few very minor repairs. Sitting down I took out the cleaning kit which Chen Huang had given me when we were in the stronghold.
..
"Master! Zheng Da is finished!" The moment the word master came out I felt as she pounced on me. Her momentum forced me to tumble down the hill once again, luckily I had already finished cleaned my sword a little while ago so there was no danger.
Reaching the bottom of the hill Zheng Da sat on top of me and I gained a sense of deja vu. It was the same face and similar position, but the only difference was the woman had a playful smile as she pinned me to the ground.
"Hehe Master I caught you!" Her arms were on either side of my head and plastered on her face was an innocent and playful face which contrasted heavily to the one the original body had just a while ago.
The robes she's wearing must of loosened a bit as we tumbled down since with just a slight tilt of my head I could see a deep valley with tall peaks drooping down towards me.
"Hey! Zheng Da you can't just do that to Brother Cheng! Get off of him right now!" Yao Ya appeared out of no where, possibly because I was distracted, and gently pulled Zheng Da off of me.
"How did you loosen your robes already?! I just tightened those!" While Yao Ya readjusted Zheng Da's clothes I picked myself off the ground.
"Eeehh! It's too tight! Can't Zheng Da wear it looser?!" Watching as Zheng Da acted like a child while in a grown woman's body was an interesting sight, causing me let out out a light chuckle.
"How about this If you could become say, this tall and more child like then I promise I'll let wear it looser how's that?" Yao Ya made a proposal to Zheng Da, with her hand she lifted it to a point around just below her chest
'How is Zheng Da supposed to look more child like when she's never even seen a child? Would she just turn into a smaller human? Guess I'll only find out if she accepts.'
"Hmmmmmm... Ok!" Suddenly, Zheng Da started to shrink her whole body and as she shrunk her facial structure morphed as well.
As she changed Yao Ya and I were amazed, though I don't know what she was amazed with I felt it was incredible that she could morph into something she hadn't seen first hand before.
The features of the woman before morphed and rounded out . Her eyes started becoming quite big in comparison to the head. Her height went down to the imaginary mark which Yao Ya had set earlier. If I had to put one word on that face it might have to be a Loli.
But there was one glaring issue which seemed to have not changed much at all. The Loli Zheng Da still had the large mountain peaks hanging onto her chest from before. It was even more accentuated with the small body of the new Loli Zheng Da. No it was more appropriate to call her an Oppai-Loli now.
Without even having to act the robes had loosen during the transformation as she became smaller.
"Now Zheng Da feels so free! Let's go Master!" Tugging at my hand Zheng Da pulled me onto the road I spotted earlier and began skipping while holding my hand.
***
(Yao Ya POV)
Following behind them I offered a suggestion as an alternative to Zheng Da's "Master."
"Zheng Da how about you call Brother Cheng Something else instead? Master won't be an appropriate word to use if we get to a city."
"Hmmm.. Ah then how about daddy?"
"NO! L-let's pick another." Instantly Darling rejected the idea Zheng Da said and her little face turned a little fearful.
"I-I'm sorry Zheng Da I didn't mean to yell like that, why don't you pick another name and I'll accept it this time?"
"Really?"
"Really"
"Okay... Papa!" Hearing his new name Darling had a bitter smile, but still accepted.
I was about to object, but then I realized there were a few plus sides to calling him that as well. First I could be closer with him over all as naturally I would be the mother in this situation. Second under the pretense of taking care Zheng Da I could spend more time with him. And third it could help show my caring side to Darling so he'll think of me as the perfect one.
Although, this was an unexpected plus, ever since I came out of the portal this slime has been creating new problems for me to solve.
I truly thought that was the woman from before when I came out and immediately started thinking of a way to dispose of her, but when I knew it was that purple slime from before even more complicated problems arose.
First of all it appears it could turn into anyone if it consumes them, which wouldn't be bad if I could just get rid of her, but it had to become Darling's pet and now if anything happened to it then I would become suspicious since I was the only other person around.
Second, it seems it's gaining intelligence with each consumption. Although I don't know how well it could communicate when it was a wolf could it really be just as good now? I know for a fact too that it had no means of communication when it was pure slime, at least before the cave incident.
Third, what is stopping it from trying to consume me in the future? It could possibly turn into me and take my place, though if the purple is always there then it might be a little difficult for it.
I also know for a fact that it said "I" the first time. Was it a fluke? Or is it intentionally playing dumb for some reason? It's acting like a toddler now, only speaking in third person. Maybe it even wanted me to tell it to shrink so it would appear more child like to Darling. It had yet to show any flaws if it is faking it and even when I was alone to clothe it, while trying to get some kind of unnatural response, it didn't break it's act.
Maybe I'm just overthinking it, but I can't be sure yet so I have to keep my guard up around it. For some reason it doesn't seem to want to harm Darling which is good though, but when it was in wolf form before I saw quite a vicious glare from it purposefully directed at me.
Trying to think about solutions for this is giving me a headache.