Chapter 78 : Slimes Are Perverts (1)
*Are you having fun!?* Shula’s voice rang out over the sound of chatter nearby.
*Shula? You scared the crap out of me. Where have you been?*
*I haven’t been anywhere. I couldn’t speak. That stupid chapel you joined has protections up that interfere with non guild entities!*
*Oh. Wow, really? Sorry.*
*Sorry? That’s all you have to say?*
*Well…what do you want me to do about it? It’s not like I can change the chapel rules…*
*That’s true but…dammit. Anyway. I can’t talk to you when you’re inside the chapel so if you want something you’ll have to step outside.*
*Oh….okay. But what would I want from you?* Agni asked.
*Plenty of things.* Shula immediately answered, followed by an awkward silence.
*Like? Example please.* Agni thought.
*Well, like.. I, I saved you from those snatchers last week remember?*
*That’s true…you did but..you also torment me daily with insults. To be honest, I completely forgot about you.* Agni was mostly joking but she got the distinct impression that she managed to hurt Shula’s feelings.
*It was a joke.* She quickly thought, hoping to recover the situation.
“Hmph. It better have been!” Shula’s voice rang out loud and clear, so much so that everyone nearby turned to look at Agni who had absolutely no explanation for them. Thus she grabbed Katrin’s arm and hid her face.
“W-was that Shula? Can she speak now?” Katrin asked as she smiled to ward off the plethora of “wtf” looks being directed her way.
“I have no idea. We were just arguing and then she…got really loud. Katrin, I’m scared, she’s trying to possess me.” Agni whimpered, feigning distress as she clung to Katrin even more.
*Shut up stupid. Nobody wants a body with deformed tits.* Shula replied, this time in Agni’s mind.
Agni smirked as she was able to sense Shula’s playful intent.
*So how did you do that just now?* Agni asked.
*I don’t know. Why are you scared I’ll embarrass you some more?* Shula responded.
*Yep.* Agni responded instantly.
Soon the groups split up and went their own way and with Gates leading, Agni’s group soon found themselves deep in the Ermin Woodlands. Along the way Gates had several questions for them, largely pertaining to their magical abilities.
“So you fought to a draw with Gigi. Interesting, so you two really are skilled.” Gates said as he walked along casting a spell in the process. His pointer finger began to glow as an orb of translucent mana encompassed the tip. Gates swished his finger back to and fro several times before a puff of smoke occurred, accompanied by a brief flash of light.
“What’s that? It’s so cute!” Agni practically shouted as she rushed over to Gates’ side.
“This is a Spirit. I’m a Spirit Mage so I can borrow their powers for a ton of different things. This one,” Gates said, referring to the creature which was now hovering in front of him, “will allow me to track our prey a bit easier.”
The spirit was green in color and for lack of a better term resembled a cluster of leaves and mud. The reason Agni found it “cute” was due to its shape, which was more like a miniature child. The small creature motioned ,pointing Gates in a particular direction as the group made their way through the forest.
“S-So. How are you today?” Katrin said as she moved to keep pace with Ariadna.
“Fine.” The reply came.
“I see. It’s a bit warm out today. Are you going to be okay?” Katrin then asked, in reference to the fact that Ariadna was decked out in black from chest to feet.
“Yep.” The Trickster once again responded.
“I see. If you don’t mind me asking…what kind of abilities does a Trickster class have?” Katrin next asked.
Ariadna finally averted her gaze from the path before her to glance at Katrin as a strange smirk appeared on her face.
“This.” Ariadna said as she disappeared from Katrin’s side. Katrin was startled, so much in fact that she jumped backwards a few steps as the sight of Ariadna faded away.
“W-what happened? Are you invisible?” Katrin asked loudly as she poked her hand towards the position of Ariadna’s disappearance. In reality Ariadna had moved to the back of the party, just being Sypha due to the ability of her skill ‘Shadow Step’. She seemed genuinely pleased with herself as she watched Katrin gaze about helplessly. Sypha could only smirk as he continued walking. He was in the rear with Ariadna while Merri was just in front of them, several meters away. At the forefront of the party was of course Gates and the Succubus, Agni. Sypha watched her the most. There was something about her movements that drew his gaze.
As if she could sense him looking she turned her head and took notice of him, their eyes meeting for a short time.
*I wonder why he keeps staring at me.* Agni thought to herself as she turned around to play with Gates’ spirit more. The creature didn’t have a voice but rather it made a strange cooing sound each time she used her pointer finger to massage it’s stomach.
*That ass.* Shula said.
*Stop being stupid.* Agni responded.
*I bet he’s still looking if you turn around again…*
Agni wanted to dismiss Shula’s train of thought, so she gazed back once more and Sypha was indeed still staring in her general direction.
*Told you.* Shula said with a chuckle.
*Silence, possessor spirit. The power of Christ compels you.*
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“This place is much less imposing than the Lull Forest.” Agni remarked as they finally came to a stop some thirty minutes later. Gates had given up using his own spirit, which made a permanent home on Agni’s shoulder at this point. Katrin nodded her head in agreement, though she was still sulking somewhat at Ariadna’s earlier trick.
“Yes. It’s peaceful. Well, that is if you can get past all of the slimes.” Gates chimed in as he stopped in his tracks and looked around.
“Alright. Just a brief recap — slime’s acid will eat through pretty much anything but it won’t deal serious damage outright. If you find your health too compromised Sypha will heal you. Other than that — split up into teams of three and fan out. I think we’ll be able to defeat more slimes this way. Meet back here in an hour for a small break.” The minute Gates finished speaking a new timer appeared in Agni’s HUD.
*That’s really handy. I should hurry and reach rank one..* Agni thought.
“Let’s see. Katrin, myself and Merri. I think you would be a good pairing.” Gates said as he pointed to each.
“That leaves Agni, Ariadna and Sypha.” Gates said , motioning to the remaining members of the party.
“This way each group will have a support member as well as two attackers. We’ll make short work of these slimes.” Gates had just finished speaking when the sound of rustling bushes drew everyone’s attention. A small green blob, transparent in nature slowly wobbled out of the brush and made its way towards the nearest person — in this case Agni.
*C-cute!* She said as she knelt towards the incoming creature.
“Why didn’t you tell me they were so cute?” Agni asked, barely able to contain herself due to the wibble wobble of the Grimlock’s forward motion.
“Agni, that’s not really a good ide–” Gates began, but it was too late. The moment Agni reached out to touch the slime a spurt of green liquid issued forth from an opening one could assume to be it’s mouth. Agni was quick, but not fast enough thus the slime’s acid sprayed forth catching both her and Ariadna in the process.
