Okay, so things have gotten much more complex than I thought with the slime creatures—
To praise me, they were dressing me in custom-made clothing, even putting a iron crafted crown on my head, with a ruby in the center of it, and bits of hardened slime material on the sides of it, indicating me as their king.
I was sitting in the middle of Sludge Village whilst they all hopped around me, dressing me up to fit a ruler.
I couldn't decline... because apparently this was their way of showing gratitude to their hero.
["All hail King Godfrey!"] They all shouted in sync.
One of the slimes even bounced towards me with their wife who was wearing a small ribbon on their head, and another slime next to them that seemed a bit smaller, but was pink in color.
Yeah, there's a multitude color of slimes if you were wondering.
["Great Hero, Godfrey, would you be willing to marry our daughter? She is madly in love with you, and she graciously accepts you as her future husband if you say yes!"] The slime who spoke must've been the father of this family— WAIT DID HE JUST ASK ME TO MARRY HIS DAUGHTER?
["U-Uhhhh— HUH?"] My sudden outburst caused the slime family to widen their eyes, a bit worried.
["I-I mean... huh, very interesting."] I tried to change my surprised tone of voice into a more subtle one.
("What the hell, how am I gonna marry a slime? No way in hell that's going down. Besides, I'm only 9 years old, can't they see that, or are they not use to humans being around them?")
I heaved a sigh, leaning my head next to the large eggshell next to me.
If you're wondering, yeah, the eggshell is from the dragon, also known as Zarathruuka.
The baby dragon inside the shell is someone I'll protect with my life, till the day I die.
I'll make sure of it from Zarathruuka's last wish.
["Yo, human, we need to talk."] Twirl came hopping through the pathway filled with hordes of slimes that surrounded me.
["Oh, Twirl, what's up?"]
Despite knowing my name now, he still calls me human.
["I've gathered my things from home, and I said my goodbyes to my family; in other words, I'm leaving back to Earth with you, and departing from Underearth, once and for all."]
["Departing to Earth with me? Why do you wanna do that so badly, Twirl?"]
This was a bit surprising, the fact he wanted to journey with me.
["It is true that I've only known you for a few hours, human, but I wish to explore the world. I, Twirl, will explore the whole wide world, and give stories to my future children when I'm old enough! That is my goal, and you're the only human I know that I can trust."]
Well, that was oddly wholesome, Twirl had a goal that not many would ever do.
I smiled at him, crossing my arms while I sat on the custom-crafted wooden throne made for me.
["Well if that's the case, why not? I see no harm in wanting to explore a little. But there's one thing you must know... my life is boring."]
Twirl scoffed at my remark.
["Then let's make it fun while we can, how does that sound, human?"]
["Hahaha, easier said than done."] I responded.
["Well Great Hero, what is your response to marrying our daughter?"] The Mother said.
I totally forgot to reply to them.
["O-Oh... well... I am already in a relationship."]
I had no choice but to lie.
["Multiple relationships are fine, don't you humans normally have that concept as well?"] The father asked.
["Well... not really, I'm not into polygamy relationships."]
I mean, it was a kink of mine to be in a multiple relationship in my previous life if they consented to it, but I guess kinks kinda go away, definitely after you reincarnated.
I felt bad, but she could find someone else willing to actually love her.
Besides, loving a bouncing blob sounded weird—
NOT TO BE RACIST OR ANYTHING!
["Excuse me everyone, I apologize for the sudden announcement, but it is time for me to depart back to Earth."] I stood up from the throne, raising my hand into the air.
["The Great Hero is leaving? B-But I didn't get the chance to get his autograph!"] One of the slimes shouted.
My announcement started a whole commotion, but that's inevitable, definitely from what I've done for them.
["I will return, you can trust me. It will be soon, but I'll visit you all again... only if you promise me to give the dragon a great burial, and to show respect to her grave. If that isn't done, I will never come back."]
The slimes all gasped, some even questioned me... but they eventually agreed to do so.
Zarathruuka deserved a burial, and I couldn't do it sadly.
I had to go back home, so leaving was my only choice.
["Alright Twirl, you ready to dip?"]
["Huh? What do you mean by 'dip'?"]
I chuckled at his question.
["Its just a slang of mine, it means leave."]
["I don't understand your human slang, but yes, let's get a move on."]
["Right! We'll be taking the eggshell with us, you think it can teleport safely?"]
Twirl looked at the eggshell, humming to himself in thought.
["Hmmm... it should be okay, theoretically."]
["Huh? So you aren't really sure?"] I asked.
["Walk with me, let me explain the truth."] Twirl responded.
What was he talking about by 'the truth'?
Was Twirl hiding something from me? Guess I'll find out.
I made my way over to the eggshell, picking it up and carrying it with two hands.
It wasn't that heavy, weighing at least 20 pounds, and being three meters in height.
["GOODBYE GREAT HERO! WE WILL WAIT FOR YOUR RETURN!"] One slime yelled, before multiple others departed me onwards.
I left Sludge village whilst carrying the egg in my hand, taking careful steps along the way, until me and Twirl was far away, outside the village.
["Ngh... alright Twirl, what is it you wanna tell me?"] After minutes of walking, I sat the egg down and took a deep breath, regaining my oxygen.
Twirl came to a stop, releasing a sigh.
["I panicked."]
Twirl vaguely said.
["Huh?"]
["I panicked and invited you to Underearth. There's something you must know, human, and it's; those of Earth, are not allowed in Underearth by any means necessary, even if another one from Underneath invited them. It's impossible to breach the boundaries between Earth, and Underearth, as the forcefield keeps the two separated."]
Huh, I didn't know that... but how did I come through?
["Then... how am I here?"] I asked which caused Twirl so mumble.
["I don't know..."] It was a small pause in his words. ["But I did know the risk of teleporting an earthling to Underearth, however I still took the risk without telling you. If you're wondering why underneath the earth looks like stars in the sky, it's because of the barrier that separates us. The barrier that separates earth and Underearth was created by a powerful warlock, ages ago. He made this barrier because Earthlings always tampered with Underearthlings, and he was tired of it."]
This was so much to take in... but I wasn't angry or anything. I understood where Twirl was coming from, he was panicking to save his family, so he took any risk that he could.
["Earthlings always captured slimes and other important creatures that were benefitting the world. From their constant hunt for slimes and other underearthlings, it was starting to make us go extinct at one point in time, and without one of us here in this world, the earth could die out."]
I see.
["How does the barrier prevent people from entering underneath, even for teleportation magic?"] I asked.
["It breaks down one's cellular structure and prevents them from regenerating on a cellular level. After it does that, it changes their biology before converting them into mana fuel to empower the forcefield and make it stronger... yet... you managed to survive through the cellular decomposition, and still regenerated after crossing the forcefield. I don't know how, but even the dragon did it!"]
Wow, I didn't know about that. I just felt nauseas after the teleportation, not like I was dying or anything.
["I see, that's pretty cool. That's nice to know, thanks for the info Twirl."]
Twirl slowly turned around to look at me with wide-eyes.
["H-Huh? You aren't mad at me, human?"] He asked me hesitantly.
["Mad at you? No, I understand where you're coming from. You took a risk of killing me to benefit your family, I would've done the same to anyone else if it meant I could save those that I love. Don't be so upset about that, alright?"]
Twirl started to have tears form in his eyes... slowly inching his way towards me in a roll.
["Human..."]
He suddenly leapt from the ground, charging at me like a bullet—
["THANK YOU FOR UNDERSTANDING, HUMANNNN! IM SORRY!"]
He clashed into my stomach, causing me to fall backwards.
["Gah—! O-Of course, Twirl!"]
He hit me like a semi-truck—!
But the question still lingers... how are we gonna teleport the egg back to earth???