As she walked, Miya sighed quietly, realizing that the castle was much more expensive than she had imagined. She mused, "I ought to have asked Lyssa for directions to the library, but knowing her, she would have diverted the conversation to her slime activities!" With a heavy sigh, Miya continued her journey through the corridors.
As Miya traversed the corridors, she paused at one of the castle's windows, gazing out at the relentless downpour. She contemplated the duration of her stay since her arrival, placing her hand against the glass as she peered outside. A wave of nostalgia washed over her as she thought of her friend Lyssa back home and her former job. Tears began to stream down her cheeks as these memories flooded her mind.
With a wistful expression, Miya looked out the window at the falling rain, feeling a deep sense of homesickness and confusion. Suddenly, she became aware of a bouncing sound approaching her, accompanied by the sound of footsteps. As she turned her attention back to the window, the footsteps intensified until they finally came to a halt. "Lady Miya, is everything okay?"
Miya turned to the girl standing behind her and recognized her as a slime girl. Narrowing her eyes, Miya felt an overwhelming sense of fear and wanted nothing to do with her. “Lady Miya, are you lost? I can assist you,” the girl offered. Miya shook her head in response to the girl's inquiry.
“I am perfectly capable of locating the library on my own; I do not require assistance!” The slime girl observed Miya's evident fear and sighed, shaking her head as she continued, “Lady Miya, I assure you, I mean you no harm. If you need help finding the library, I can guide you. I promise I will not cause you any harm.” Miya glared at her, her anger rising. “Oh really? Tell that to Lyssa, who has subjected me to slime-related incidents. I can’t even remove the undergarments that came with this dress!” The slime girl responded with a giggle.
"You are aware of the Under Kingdom, are you not? Beneath the castle we currently occupy lies the realm of slimes, governed by Lady Lyssa. It would not be surprising if she had engaged with your form in some manner. However, there is no need for concern regarding your attire; I can assist in removing any remnants of slime, should you desire it."
Miya was taken aback by the girl's response. "What exactly is the Under Kingdom, and are you familiar with a place referred to as the Dark Kingdom?" Miya inquired. The slime girl shook her head and explained, "The Under Kingdom consists of ancient cities and tunnels filled with slime grottos. These tunnels connect to every type of slime grotto, from crystal slimes to dark purple and even red slimes. All varieties of slimes inhabit that domain." Miya listened intently to the girl's explanation.
Miya inquired, “Is Lyssa the queen of the slimes in the underkingdom?” The slime girl, smirking, responded, “In a sense, she holds that position, though we refer to her as Lady Lyssa or Mistress Lyssa rather than queen. She is indeed the leader of the slimes, having been chosen after our kind captured her and transformed her into a slime girl. One day, she ventured into the slimes' grottos and unfortunately fell into one of our traps.” Miya gazed at her in shock, absorbing the revelation about Lyssa. “I understand. By any chance, do you have knowledge of the dark kingdom?”
Feeling a sense of unease in the presence of the smiling slime girl, Miya replied, sensing that the girl might have sinister intentions. “You should explore that topic on your own in the library. I possess some information about the Dark Kingdom, but it is limited. If you wish, I can guide you to the library!” With a sigh, Miya responded, “I would appreciate your guidance.”
The slime girl approached Miya with a mischievous grin, her laughter echoing in the air. Miya, feeling a surge of fear, backed up against the window as the slime girl drew nearer. "I would be delighted to guide you," she said, her tone both playful and reassuring. "It may be a bit uncomfortable, but please endure it; I assure you it will be over quickly." Before Miya could protest, the slime girl enveloped her in a slick embrace, merging with her Lolita dress. Miya gasped as her attire became coated in slime, and to her astonishment, her dress began to speak. "Return the way you came, take a left, and avoid the right turn, as that would lead us into a hallway that does not lead to the library."
Turning left, Miya proceeded down the hallway that directed her to the library. She quickened her pace, with intent on uncovering details about her own identity and the Dark Kingdom. Her slime Lolita dress appeared to whisper warnings, urging her to avoid specific rooms along the way.
Miya hurried into the library, ultimately arriving at her intended location. Taking a deep breath, she paused to survey her surroundings before beginning to stroll along the aisles of bookshelves in search of information regarding the dark kingdom. As she moved her hand along the spines of the books, she diligently sought any material related to the dark kingdom.
Miya retrieved a book from the shelf and opened it. She began to examine its contents, turning the pages and reading the text within.
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Miya blinked as she read through the book, understanding only half of its contents, while the remainder was inscribed in a language she could not decipher. Turning the page in hopes of uncovering more information, she found herself at an impasse. Shaking her head in frustration, she murmured, "So close; perhaps there are a few more books about the Dark Kingdom." With renewed determination, she began to search for additional literature, pulling several more volumes from the shelves.
With a stack of books cradled in her arms, she traversed the aisles, seeking any information related to the Dark Kingdom, gateways, or individuals from other worlds. Afterward, she made her way to a desk, where she placed the books down, set a few aside, and took a seat to delve into one of the texts.
Miya focused intently on the text within the book, comprehending the individual words yet feeling an overwhelming frustration at her inability to read them fluently. She longed for a means to translate the text so that she could fully engage with the material. The slime, which had taken the form of her dress, seemed to sense her thoughts and responded, “These books possess magical properties, requiring mana for comprehension. You must channel your mana into the book to facilitate translation.”
With a sigh, she addressed the slime, “How am I supposed to do that? I have never utilized mana before; this is all unfamiliar to me.” The slime chuckled lightly as it replied, “Simply think of translating the words, and the book will interpret them for you. However, since your mana reserves are limited, I will assist you.” Miya gasped in alarm as she felt the slime, which was entwined with her clothing, penetrated her body, causing a sudden surge of energy as her mana pool replenished.
Before her eyes, the text began to transform into a language she could understand. A smirk crossed Miya's face, though she mumbled in discomfort due to the slime's presence as she sat at the desk, book in hand, finally able to read the contents before her.
As Miya examined the ruins of the castle illustrated in the book, a profound sadness enveloped her. Tears started to fall from her eyes as she fixated on the castle. "Mama," she uttered, absentmindedly wiping her eyes when an unexpected thought struck her. "Wait, why did I just say that!"
A mystical rune seal emerged on the book's page, radiating light upon hearing Miya's words. She stared at the rune, unable to comprehend its sudden manifestation. As she delicately glided her fingers over the rune seal, it started to glow and pulse, resonating with her touch.
Meanwhile, the slime took note of the luminous rune in the book and quietly communicated with an unseen presence as Miya continued to trace her fingers along the rune. She contemplated the reason for its appearance, and as if responding to her thoughts, the seal slowly began to fade, morphing into an image that remained elusive to her understanding.
Miya noticed a striking new image of a woman adorned with horns, positioned amidst ancient ruins. The woman, brandishing a sword, seemed to be soaring through the air. While Miya could not definitively identify her, the figure felt oddly familiar. Flashes of memories flooded her mind, particularly a tender moment when the woman kissed her face and whispered, "I love you, my sweet baby girl!" Startled, Miya blinked and rubbed her eyes.
Miya experienced a sense of shock upon discovering the same woman from her dream illustrated in the book. Was this Asami truly the woman from her visions? She might have been her mother. Could she be linked to this dark kingdom? The pieces were not fitting together, and as sleepiness overtook her, Miya closed the book, placed it on the desk, and yawned, feeling increasingly weary.
“Lady Miya, it has come to my attention that Lady Sora requests your presence in the main hall. It would be prudent for you to rise and join her and Lady Lyssa.” Miya stifled another yawn and examined her dress while she listened to the slime. "How do you know this? I cannot even hear them!" the slime responded with a lighthearted giggle.
The concept is straightforward: every slime residing in the castle or the underkingdom is linked through a hive network. This connection enables us to hear each other and communicate information to individuals within our network. Lady Sora shares a bond with Lady Lyssa, thus establishing her connection. Furthermore, I am presently by your side, transmitting the message that Lyssa has just asked me to convey to you.
With a nod, Miya stood up and began to follow the directions given by the slime dress to the castle's main hall, subsequently heading towards Sora's bedroom, where the two were waiting for her. She walked through the corridors, making several turns before arriving at Sora's bedroom. After knocking on the door, she was granted entry shortly thereafter.
As Miya stepped into the room, Sora quickly caught her, pulling her down onto the couch with a playful smirk. "Ah, my beloved daughter has arrived," Sora declared, eliciting a tiny squeak from Miya as she was drawn down. "Daughter!" Sora giggled, nodding enthusiastically while planting a kiss on Miya's cheek. "Yes, my little one, you are now under my care!" With that, Sora encircled Miya's neck with her hand and secured a collar around it.
Sora remarked with a playful tone, "With this beautiful collar adorning your neck, you are now mine, and no one can take you away from me!" She giggled as she gently caressed the collar around Miya's neck before leaning in to kiss her once more.
Lyssa laughed softly while watching the two. "Miya, did you uncover anything in the library?" Miya nodded and answered, "Yes, I came across a book regarding the dark kingdom, but I was unable to read extensively. Thankfully, the lucky slime in my previous dress granted me some mana before Sora made me switch outfits."
Sora lovingly patted Miya. "I understood that you required a change of clothing, and I sensed that the dress was causing you discomfort. Now that you are wearing your new dress, I trust you feel more at ease." Miya smiled and nodded in response, saying, "Thank you, Mama!" Sora giggled, kissed Miya, and patted her affectionately once again.
As Miya drifted into slumber, she found herself nestled in Sora's arms. Sora embraced her tightly, bestowing kisses and tender strokes upon her as she slept. Concurrently, Lyssa and Sora engaged in dialogue through the hive network, deliberating on methods to fortify Miya's mana pool.