The Slime demonstrated their usefulness almost immediately. After taking down the Earth Elemental-Bear they had the Slime use their Pocket dimension to carry it all the way back to town for them. Normally a Hunter would have to carry their bounty themselves or have a third party, normally from the guild, get their kill for them. The latter method cost money to do and lowered ones profits.
"How are you going to bring the slime into Town?" Judieth asked.
It isn't that hard for adventures to bring a live monster into town, all they needed to do was claim it's a tamed beast and make sure to get the right documents to keep it within town. The problem is that the group of Hunters obviously went out with the intention of collecting this slime specifically. They didn't know who knew what about that Hunters party intentions for the day.
So returning to town with a slime and a Hunter party disappearing after going out to look for a slime wasn't a good look. Especially since slime isn't really something you find in the area. Plus keeping the Slime a secret is just more convenient and less paper work. They could explain away the Pocket dimension by saying they had a magic Item that can store more than what its size indicates. Rare but not unheard of.
"I can decrease my size a bit, though it will still take two hands to hold me..." The purple slime said. They then shrunk down from their height of 157 cm to 60 cm. They still kept a humanoid look which was a little comical to look at.
"... Okay, but how do we hide you? Can you do anything else?" Ruby didn't want saving this slime to be pointless, so she needed a solution. Then she got an idea. "... Can you wrap yourself around one of us? like under our clothes?"
"Uh, I can, but are you sure?" The slime asked hesitantly.
"... Just do it. I want to see how it would look." She said reaching out her hand towards the Slime.
Still a little hesitant the Slime grabbed her hand going up her sleeve and wriggled themselves into Ruby's clothing rapping around her body. Ruby shivered when she felt the cool Slime glide across her body. With the monster so close she noted that the Slime's scent made her think of blackberries. After they settled down around her body Ruby proceeded to walk jump and swing her arms around. She quickly got use to the feeling of the Slime around her torso.
"... How does it look from the outside?" She asked the group.
"Nothing out of sorts from what I can see."
"You look normal, but doesn't that feel weird?"
"I think it's good. Let's head back."
"... Then let's go."
-- -- --
When the group got back to town they walked down the cobblestone street towards the Guild. They wanted to complete their Job and mark it as complete. For obvious reasons they all had their disguises active.
"... We're here to complete a job. Here's the job paper." Ruby said, handing the Guild employee a paper stating what job they were doing.
"Okay, the subjugation of one Earth-Bear, completed by "The Outcast." Can you tell me the location you left the body?" Seeing that the party didn't have any indication of carrying any part of the monster's body with them they assumed they left it where they killed it.
"We have it located in a magic item." Judieth said from behind Ruby. "So do you have anywhere we can place the body?"
"Understood, this way please." The Guild employee had someone take their place at the desk before leading the four of them to a larger room full of large tables. "Please put the body here if you haven't already dismantled it yourself already."
Ruby stuck out her right hand over the table and quietly asked the Slime to take out the Earth-Bear. The Guild employee looked confused when Ruby stuck out her hand but then was shock when the Earth-Bear appeared in front of them.
"Wow, I've never seen a Holding bag or box work like that." She said. "That's really interesting, and probably a little more convenient than pulling it out by hand."
"..."
"Well anyway I have confirmed that you have completed the extermination job, if I can have your guild cards please." Taking everyone's Guild cards, that were now copper, the Guild employee went over to a machine located at the end of the table. After putting the cards through the machine she returned the cards to them.
"Your Job completion has been recorded on your cards. Do you have anymore business with us today?"
"That's all, thank you." Judieth said.
With their business settled they made their way back to the Inn.
__________________________
Ruby's POV
Waking up early the next morning I sat up in bed groggily. The beds in the Inn weren't as comfortable as the ones in Judieth's forest home, but it was still much, much better than the one I slept on in the Lab. Rubbing the sleep from my currently Golden Brown eyes I looked around the room.
The room was dim only being lit with the early morning light. Then I noticed a figure standing near my bed. I instantly went on high alert and was about to attack before I realized it was the Slime we met yesterday. Though they looked different.
They now stood at my height of 175 cm tall with a more feminine form, even adding a modest chest size. A face was now visible, with sharp angler eyes, nose, and a mouth. A darker color of purple could be seen marked on the left side of their jaw. They even shape shifted hair, even if it was still made of slime. Actually looking more closely I realized the slime looked exactly like me... If I was all purple.
"Good Morning!"
"... Why do you look like me?" I asked a little dumbfounded.
"Because."
"... Whatever."
It was weird but honestly it was too early in the morning for me to actually care. I then realized the Slime next to me didn't have a name, and just calling it Slime felt weird to me. Maybe we should name it? Or should I start calling it "her" now since it took a female form? Wait, do they already have a name?
"... Do you have a name?" I asked.
"No. Do I need one?" They questioned.
"... I guess not, but it would be more convenient for me than just calling you "The Slime." I notice that the voice coming from... well "The Slime" was becoming more clear and feminine as we spoke.
"Oh! How about Tracy!"
"I'm partial to Jane."
Looking over to my right I noticed both Morella and Yuki sitting up in their own beds, apparently they were awake for a while. No good morning just joining in the conversation without any prompting. I'll admit I felt a little dejected not being greeted this morning. Not like it showed on my face.
"Hmm I want to have the same name as Ruby." The Slime said.
"... That's a hard no for me. Plus that would just get confusing." I said, very, very confused. Are they trying to replace me or something?
"Aww... I wanted to be more like you." I didn't really hear what she said since she mumbled it kinda dejectedly. I didn't think too much of it though.
For the next five minutes the Slime, Yuki, and Morella kept suggesting names, not being able to decide on one. 'At this rate we'll never settle on a name. Maybe I'll just decide on a name.' I figured I'll just give a name whether they liked it or not. I was tired of debating anyway.
"... How about Maisy? No. Your name is now Maisy." I said
"I love it!" Maisy exclaimed happily
Really? Well that was easily solved. 'She seems overly... attached? For some reason. I need to watch out for that, I feel like.' I wonder if Maisy here feels greatly in debt because we "saved" her. 'We didn't do it out of kindness so her feelings of gratitude are misplaced. At least they wont betray us any time soon.'
"Hey~ we gave you plenty of names and you rejected them all, but one suggestion from Ruby and you just take it without hesitation? That feels slightly unfair."
"My, my, seems like she's taken a liking to or dear Ruby here."
"..."
Deciding it was time to get ready for the day, and that the conversation should end, I got out of bed and started to change my clothes. Well more like attempted because no sooner than I started before Maisy started dressing me. I didn't try to stop her, mostly because I was dumbfounded.
Well after Morella and Yuki finished dressing as well (Maisy didn't even attempt to help them like she did with me) we set off to the Hunter's Guild after getting Judieth from her room. We aren't staying in this Town for much longer. Maybe another week, then we were off to my home town.
I really want to learn what happened to my mo- the woman who took care of me. She wasn't my mother but she treated me like I was her own child. The last I saw of her she was buying me time to run away while she distracted the towns folk coming after me.
I just needed to know if she was alive or dead.