?SOME TIME LATER?

  Everything is very bad. We've been walking through the forest for some time now, filled with various jokes and conversations. Kichiro-kun kept teasing Tadashi-kun, who snapped back in return, and I just walked silently, occasionally snorting at their stupidity, but inside feeling a slight warmth from their chatter. My legs were gradually recovering from fatigue. Muscles ached, feet burned, and there were even moments when one of my legs would seemingly give out for a second, and I'd lose my balance — stumbling, grabbing the nearest tree, my heart skipping a beat from the sudden near-fall. But looking at my friends, who walked with full energy — steps brisk, shoulders squared, faces glowing — I decided not to tell them about it. I don't want to be the one who complains. And yet, as soon as we left the castle and were searching for something, they kept complaining to me about how tired and hungry they were — voices whining, faces contorting. How quickly they change their tune. A slight irritation stirred inside. Why is it always like this?

  We walked without stopping, occasionally slowing down because of a river — where the water babbled, cold and clear, with pebbles at the bottom — and sometimes because of animals or simply a beautiful scene before us: a flock of birds taking flight, a deer flashing through the bushes, sunbeams piercing through the canopy like golden arrows. But even so, we're not robots to walk endlessly. After all, we need food and water. And what do we need to do to get that? Right! Get back to the city quickly! So I should ask when we'll reach our destination.

  — Tsukuyomi (tiredly, voice slightly hoarse from long silence): Kichiro-kun, when will we get there?

  — Kichiro (briskly, without turning around): Just a little further!

  — Tsukuyomi (with slight doubt): Really? Where is this place, exactly? Did you look at the map?

  — Kichiro: …

  — Tadashi (warily): Wait a minute…

  — Tsukuyomi: …

  — Kichiro: …

  I approached as close as I could. My steps became quieter, my breath held. I was now standing almost right next to him. Especially our faces. I looked directly into his eyes, while he stubbornly looked anywhere but at me — cheeks slightly flushed, gaze darting away.

  — Tsukuyomi (quietly but firmly, with emphasis): Kichiro-kun… did you look at the map?

  — Kichiro (nervously, with feigned confidence): O-of course! I'm not some kind of idiot!

  — Tadashi (squinting): How many times?

  — Kichiro (hesitating): Weeeeell, probably once… or twice…

  — Tsukuyomi (voice dropping, gaze growing heavier): When?

  — Kichiro (swallowing): Maybe in the city…

  I was just about to hit him on the head — fist clenched, arm raised, everything inside boiling with irritation — when he immediately curled up on the ground, covering his head with his hand, eyes wide with feigned terror.

  — Kichiro (almost shouting, but with a tremor in his voice): Why can't you take a joke!? Especially you, Mom! We've already reached the destination! It's right behind these bushes! – How is it that just when I was about to hit you, we reached the destination?

  I quickly approached the bush, but watching my feet so I wouldn't fall. The last thing I need is to get dirty and walk around in such soiled clothes. When I was half-crouching by the bush, I slowly raised my hands, moving the obstacles before me. My heart beat faster. Finally, we'll complete this quest and return to the city.

  I thought I'd emerge from this bush and gather various ingredients, but then I heard a sound. Not an ordinary sound you'd hear in nature. It wasn't from here. It couldn't be attributed to animals, insects, or plants.

  My confidence instantly plummeted, replaced by caution. Cold, sticky, like sweat on my back. I only moved aside the leaves obstructing my view, opening a path just for my eye.

  — Tadashi (whispering, with slight mockery): What an idiot you are. Joking at a time like this — you could've gotten hit on the head.

  — Kichiro (whispering, with feigned offense): Oh-oh, don't you get smart with me. Okay?

  I didn't want to interrupt their conversation, but because of that sound, I had to. Whispering, I got their attention and gestured with one hand for them to come over and be quiet. Finger to my lips, gaze serious.

  — Kichiro (whispering, with a slight smirk): Save the argument for later?

  — Tadashi (whispering, nodding): I think so.

  They also approached me half-crouching and asked quietly what happened. Eyes wide with curiosity. I just pointed to the field before us. In response, they just exchanged glances and also made a small gap. Now they saw the same thing I did.

  Slimes were roaming across the field — the low-rank ones. Green, gelatinous, crawling slowly, leaving shiny slime trails behind them. In many isekai, these monsters were the weakest. Low defense, attack, health, and intelligence. They could be killed with a single blow. In short, the weakest of the weak. Although I know one slime that's hard to call weak, but that's not important now. What's important is: should we attack them?

  — Kichiro (whispering, eyes blazing with excitement): Well, shall we start farming?

  — Tsukuyomi (whispering, with slight shock): What? Wait, slimes are our first quest?

  — Kichiro (with a smirk): Well, yeah. What else? Don't tell me you thought we'd be collecting flowers or something like that, Mom. – Am I sometimes so naive that I think the first day will have easy tasks? A slight embarrassment pricked inside.

  — Tsukuyomi (quietly): Well, yeah? I thought we'd at least get to know the area.

  — Kichiro (with slight mockery): Nah. We have a map, why would we need orientation? – Don't cry later if you lose the map.

  — Tadashi (calmly): So, are we fighting or not?

  — Tsukuyomi (with slight disbelief): Aren't you a little too calm about battle? Are you sure you haven't been watching anime behind our backs?

  — Tadashi (dryly): Nope. As long as I don't get covered in this slime. – Who'd doubt it. A slight smile flickered inside. Of course, Tadashi-kun thinking about cleanliness even now.

  — Kichiro (with excitement, eyes gleaming): Hey-hey-hey. Shall we not waste time? Whoever's last gets… uh, well, we'll decide by the end of the day! – after which he jumped out of cover and pounced on the group of slimes. And behind him, Tadashi-kun, shouting something unintelligible. Well, now I'll have to do something by the end of the day.

  I reached out a hand to stop them both, but they weren't listening to me anymore. I just quietly exhaled — my chest heaved and fell heavily — and then looked at my hands. They trembled slightly from fear. Not just fear that something would happen to my friends, but also from fear of feeling pain. I don't know since when, but I've always been afraid of feeling exactly that, so I tried to do everything perfectly. Even though I got beaten up during school… Come on, pull yourself together! I need to help my friends, after all!

  I also emerged from the bushes, running toward my friends. My legs still ached after the long walk, but concern for them was already pumping blood through my veins, making my heart beat faster. Even though the battle hadn't started, my friends were already in fighting stances, as if they did this every day: legs slightly apart, knees bent, bodies tense, gazes fixed on the field.

  Kichiro-kun stood on the left, arms extended forward, fingers splayed. Between them, brightly glowing pixels began to gather — like tiny stars, slowly converging into a form. The staff formed gradually: first a thin wooden stick — gnarled, crooked, with uneven bark and knots, as if broken from the nearest tree and left unprocessed. At the end, an unusual stone, dimly glowing with a bluish light, held in place by a roughly tied rope wrapped around both the stone and the staff itself. The rope looked old, frayed, with threads sticking out. Kichiro gripped the staff with both hands — his fingers white from tension, lips stretched into an eager smirk, eyes gleaming with anticipation. Well, that's probably normal for a first-level mage's weapon… but it looks like it was assembled by a drunk lumberjack.

  Tadashi-kun already stood on the right. His weapon appeared a little slower, but more clearly. First, a wooden spear materialized in his right hand — long, with a roughly hewn shaft, a sharp-looking stone tied to the end with rope. The stone was uneven, jagged, as if simply chipped off a cliff. On his left hand formed a small wooden shield, barely covering his forearm, with a worn surface and several deep dents. Tadashi-kun gripped the spear tightly, pressed the shield to his body, spread his legs wider for stability — breathing deepened, gaze focused.

  At least someone's weapon isn't made only of rope and wood… but the shield is so small it could only cover your face.

  And mine, of course, is my beloved wooden katana… What? I won't describe how it looks, because it's not unique at all — simple, smooth, without a single crack, but also without a hint of anything special. Thank goodness it's not held together by rope. –W–

  I gripped the handle tighter, but my palms were sweaty, fingers trembling with tension. Now we were ready for battle, even though our clothes — already crumpled and soaked with sweat — ruined the effect. But that's not particularly important. What's important is that these slimes were gradually approaching us — quite slowly, lazily crawling through the grass, leaving shiny slime trails behind them, their bodies undulating like jelly.

  And as they approached, I noticed something… strange inside them. In the center of almost every slime, a rhombus-shaped crystal dimly flickered — in some it was perfectly smooth, in others slightly crooked, in others even cube-shaped, pyramidal, or spherical. The light inside the crystals was faint but pulsed like tiny hearts. I wonder, could the quest be because of these crystals? A slight curiosity stirred inside, mixed with anxiety. What if they're not so weak after all?

  — Kichiro: Well, while they're approaching, I should conjure something first! – he decided to attack the slimes from a distance while they weren't too close. His voice trembled with excitement, eyes blazing with eagerness, lips stretching into a predatory smile. Actually, that's a fairly reasonable decision. Why wait for the enemy when you can eliminate them from a distance, right? A slight relief stirred inside — at least someone's thinking with their head.

  When Kichiro-kun raised the staff above his head — his hands trembling, fingers white from tension — he muttered something under his breath. I didn't hear the words, just a quiet, faltering whisper almost drowned out by the wind, but at that same moment, the stone on the staff glowed blue. The light pulsed — brighter, then dimmer — as if a tiny heart beat inside the stone. But it's probably normal that it lit up and dimmed. And when I looked at Kichiro-kun's face, I noticed sweat on his forehead. Large drops ran down his temples, cheeks flushed, breathing became heavy, greedy. His knees shook, legs buckled, the staff trembled in his hands. Because of this, I started worrying about his condition — my heart clenched with anxiety. I'd seen how his skill worked when King Xerxes' son trained us, but no matter how much we trained, this skill came to him with difficulty. Not to mention how he used it on the dummies — after each time, he could barely stand on his feet. Lucky for him his mana reserve isn't like mine.

  — Tsukuyomi (quietly, with concern in his voice): Hey, Kichiro-kun. I hope you can withstand using just this one skill?

  — Kichiro (through his teeth, with a strained chuckle): Kh… D-don't worry, Mom! E-everything's fine. Besides, the little one's protecting me! – Even now he doesn't stop calling me Mom. -_-

  When I turned my head to Tadashi-kun, he just nodded briefly, confidently, signaling that he'd protect him after this attack. That calmed me down a bit, except… I'm not any better myself! I have practically the same problem as Kichiro-kun when using my skill! Everything inside tightened with fear — what if I also collapse after just one "Fangs"?

  Finally, above the stone appeared a small sphere of blue and white hue, palm-sized. Around it, the air seemed to swirl — invisible but perceptible: the grass around stirred slightly, leaves trembled as if from a light vortex. Yes, yes, we can't see the air, but it's just a metaphor, okay?

  Still, it looked mesmerizing — especially how the sphere pulsed, the light inside it flashing and fading, emitting a quiet, low hum like a distant wind in a chimney. The sound was muffled, but it gave me goosebumps.

  Kichiro-kun could barely stay on his knees — they trembled, breathing became wheezy, sweat streamed down his face, eyes squinting from strain. He aimed the staff directly at the crowd of slimes — his hands shook, the staff wavered, but the sphere still launched. It flew slightly to the side, which was quite expected since he still has no experience using it. The sphere touched the ground and spun in place for a few seconds, as if pushing the earth before it, tearing up the grass around, leaving a shallow furrow behind. Even so, several slimes were caught in its area of effect — their bodies instantly severed as if by a sword, slime splattering everywhere, the crystals inside cracking with a quiet crunch and crumbling to dust.

  Kichiro-kun dropped sharply to his knees, as if his legs had given out from sudden weakness. He managed to put a hand before him — his palm pressed into the soft earth, fingers splaying in the grass, leaving deep furrows. Breath came out heavy, ragged, chest heaving and falling too quickly. His face paled, sweat ran down his temples, hair stuck to his forehead.And the staff lay beside him.

  Tadashi-kun instantly stepped forward. Shield held before him, spear raised in his right hand, legs spread wider for stability. He positioned himself between Kichiro-kun and the approaching slimes — even though the small shield barely covered his torso, his gaze was steady, focused. Meanwhile, I knelt beside Kichiro-kun — the grass cool against my skin through my pants, my heart pounding with worry.

  I quietly placed a hand on his back. My palm felt his shoulder blades trembling, his heart beating fast and uneven under his ribs.

  — Tsukuyomi (quietly but firmly, trying to speak calmly): You're okay, I hope? Breathe slowly, or your throat will hurt.

  Kichiro-kun was still looking at the ground, and drops of sweat fell onto the grass, leaving dark spots. But hearing me, he nodded weakly, barely perceptibly, and began trying to breathe more evenly: inhale… exhale… inhale… exhale… Though occasionally he broke into a short cough, making his body shudder. After a few seconds, he slowly turned his head toward me. His eyes gleamed with fatigue, but the familiar spark of stubbornness had already ignited in them. Removing one hand from the ground, he showed me a big thumbs up. A weak gesture, trembling, but with a smile. Wordless, but clear: "Everything's fine."

  A small smile also appeared on my face, at the corner of my lips — almost imperceptible. Inside, something warm stirred, like relief mixed with pride for him. He was always positive, even when he could barely stand on his feet. Sometimes I just want to take a little bit of his positivity… But even so, I shouldn't forget where we are. I need to help Tadashi-kun as soon as possible. I stood up to full height, but my legs were still trembling, muscles aching — I gritted my teeth and straightened up.

  — Tsukuyomi (with a slight smirk, but voice a little tense): Well, hopefully we won't be a burden to you soon.

  — Tadashi (surprised, eyebrows rising): What? We?

  — Tsukuyomi (quietly, with slight irony): …Remember yesterday?

  — Tadashi (remembering, sighed, corners of his lips twitching): …Ahh, right… So now I need to protect you too?

  — Tsukuyomi (shrugging, but with a note of tired resolve): Who knows. Let's hope it doesn't come to that.

  — Tadashi (nodding briefly): Me too.

  Even though we were ready for battle, we couldn't leave Kichiro-kun either. Right now he was severely exhausted and vulnerable — sitting on his knees, breathing heavily, staff lying nearby, hands trembling. Sometimes I wish it were like in many isekai, where heroes easily use their first skill and can cast them several times in a row without getting winded. But it turns out that's only in fairy tales. :_)

  — Tsukuyomi (sighing, with slight determination): Well then, I'll go first.

  — Tadashi (sharply, eyes widening): W-what!? You want to go toward them yourself!?

  — Tsukuyomi (calmly, but with a note of tension): It's better than waiting for them to come. Otherwise, it'll become harder to protect Kichiro-kun.

  — Tadashi (after a pause, nodding): …Okay. And I, as I understand it, stay put, right?

  — Tsukuyomi (briefly): That's right. And I wanted to test how well I've mastered this skill.

  After which I headed straight toward the crowd of slimes. Steps slow, cautious, katana gripped tightly in my hand, palms sweaty. This might be risky, but they're just ordinary slimes. But even so, better not to be careless against them, and also to make sure I don't get surrounded. Everything inside tightened with a mix of fear and resolve, heart pounding in my ears, breathing quickened, but I walked forward. Behind me remained Tadashi-kun — shield at the ready, spear raised, gaze focused. Kichiro-kun sat on the ground, breathing heavily, but looked at me with a slight smile, like, "go ahead, Mom, show them." I felt the grass rustle underfoot, the wind cool my sweaty back, the slimes slowly crawling toward me.

  I looked at the nearest slime, which was only two steps away from me — a green gelatinous mass slowly undulating, leaving a shiny trail of slime on the grass. The crystal inside pulsed dimly, like a tiny heart. I decided to target it first. My own heart pounded in my ears, palms sweaty on the katana's hilt. As soon as it was within my attack radius, I decided to first try killing it with my own strength, since I didn't want to waste mana on just one slime. The "Fangs" skill was draining enough as it was.

  The only problem was that in Japan, I never practiced or was interested in kendo or iaido. I didn't even have any understanding of the various ways of wielding a katana — yesterday we just tried to use the skill, not study fighting styles. So my first attack came out clumsy — I just swung from top to bottom, putting all my strength into the strike, but my movements were stiff, uncertain, as if my hands had forgotten what to do.

  The slime also didn't stay still — it lazily swayed to the side, and my katana didn't hit it flat with the blade, but rather somewhat sideways. The wood struck the jelly with a dull squelching sound. From such a hit, the slime only shifted slightly, like jelly on a plate, as if it hadn't felt anything. And the most surprising thing was that after my strike, I was thrown backward — a sharp push to my chest, as if someone had shoved me with an invisible hand. From the surprise, I lost my balance, my legs tangled, and I crashed to the ground… well, you understand which part of me landed first. Pain shot through my tailbone, cheeks flushed with shame, everything inside tightened with humiliation.

  — Tadashi: Hey, you okay!?

  — Tsukuyomi: Y-yeah, don't worry about me!

  Amazingly, that slime pushed me away after I hit it. As if it converted my strike against me. Why didn't you just die like a starting monster? Irritation and slight panic stirred inside — I quickly jumped up, holding the katana before me, hands trembling, breathing ragged.

  I didn't think I'd have to use a skill against a single slime. But it's better than getting wounded by this monster… Why do I feel that if other isekai protagonists were watching me, they'd be laughing at me for not being able to defeat an ordinary slime? Oh well, that's the protagonist's role, not mine. They're supposed to defeat everyone

  with one hit and be very kind, magnanimous, perceptive, and so on. Eh, I'm even curious now — who is the protagonist in our class? The closest candidate is Masanori-kun, and the most distant is Tsuyoshi. I think no words are needed to explain why.

  Anyway, I raised my katana above my head, ready to swing. Hands trembled from tension, palms sweaty, fingers barely holding the hilt. Only one word flashed in my mind to activate the skill — since I haven't yet learned to do it automatically, I still have to think it mentally. It's better than saying it out loud, at least. "Fangs."

  The katana glowed bright blue again, as if lightning ran along it — crackling, alive. Thin cracks of light ran along the blade, ready to flare with energy. Lucky it's lightning and not fire — otherwise the katana would probably just burn up. Everything inside tightened with excitement and fear. What if I miss again? What if I don't have enough strength? But I understood that doubting right now wasn't the best idea.

  A thin wave of blue energy shot from the katana — narrow, sharp, like a blade. It flew at insane speed, cutting through the air with a high-pitched whistle, and it felt like it could cut through anything. The wave passed through the slimes, and I was glad that I'd finally managed to hit the target. Especially that I hit right through the crystal inside one of them. It cracked with a quiet crunch, the slime melted in place like jelly under a hot knife, and spread into a shapeless puddle.

  But the joy lasted a second. My arm hurt badly, as if I'd lifted several kilograms exceeding my own weight. My wrists ached, forearm muscles cramped, fingers went numb. Heavy breathing burst from my chest — short, ragged, heart beating faster than usual, blood pulsing noise in my ears. Sweat broke out on my forehead despite the cool wind around — drops ran down my temples, stinging my eyes. This situation reminded me of the sparring with Masanori-kun, when we first tested what we were capable of. But this time I won, even if against a slime, and didn't fall — I stood in place, using the katana on the ground as support. I started breathing slower — inhale… exhale… inhale… exhale… following my own advice, trying to get my lungs back to normal. But looking at the remaining slimes and the small crater from my strike, I understood I needed to hold on and attack again. Even though I was already at my limit — legs trembling, stabbing pain in my chest, hands barely obeying.

  But then the slimes looked at me with a different expression. Not stupid, not indifferent, but… wary? That alarmed me greatly — everything inside went cold, goosebumps ran down my spine. And later their bodies began to change, which surprised me even more. Sharp tips appeared on their bodies, like pyramids — edges sharpened, surface hardened, gradually crystallizing. The green slime transformed into a hard, shiny shell. They all changed simultaneously — their bodies deformed, stretched, the crystals inside flashed brighter. They looked at me and at the slime I'd defeated, and in that look was something new. Not rage or even fear. But rather… calculation?

  If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

  What happened to them, and why do they look like this? Did I do something that made them transform like this? Everything inside went cold, fear squeezed my chest with an icy hand, breathing became short and ragged. But then why didn't they do anything when Kichiro-kun attacked them? My heart pounded so hard that it hummed in my ears. These weren't the harmless slimes anymore. They'd changed and were looking specifically at me.

  Even so, I decided to step back a little. Step by step, heels pressing into the soft earth, trying to protect myself. But I couldn't go too far — my legs trembled, knees buckled from fatigue, and inside screamed: "If they focus on my friends, I'll never forgive myself." So I decided to stand my ground and hold this position. Legs spread wider, katana raised with trembling hands, breathing ragged. Better I suffer than them… don't get me wrong — I don't want to protect them because I care, it's just that if they get hurt, I'll have to look after them and come at their first call, which I really don't like… Nothing more!

  Anyway, I decided to raise the katana again. Hands trembled so much that the hilt nearly slipped from my sweaty palms, forearm muscles burning from the previous strike. In my head, that word flashed again. Fangs. Energy surged through the katana, taking my last bit of mana, as if someone had ripped a piece of air from my chest. The feeling that I might pass out now and lie in bed for several days. My head spun, darkness crept into my eyes, but I wasn't about to give up so easily. Teeth gritted until they creaked, chest burning with resolve and desperation.

  I swung the katana directly at the slimes — but horizontally this time, trying to hit as many as possible, putting all my remaining strength into this swing. Although I didn't know if it would work, since the wave was quite small, even smaller than my katana. From such a swing, I lost my balance — legs gave way, body swayed back, and I crashed to the ground, unable to stay standing. The impact hit my tailbone against the hard earth. Pain shot through my spine, breath knocked out of my lungs. Now not only my arms hurt, but my insides too — or so it seemed. Right now I was even a bit nauseous and dizzy, and the thought of getting up didn't matter, since I had no more strength. I thought that even so, I could hold them back… but I was wrong.

  I saw the strike hit them directly. The blue wave crashed into the crystallized bodies with a loud crack, energy flashed brighter, scattering sparks. But they approached at the same pace as before, as if nothing had happened. My strike didn't even leave a scratch on them, and barely noticeable energy sparks ran along those sharp edges, like static electricity. I don't remember my skill having an electric element.

  Damn. I can't even stand up. My arm won't obey, fingers tremble, wrist burns with fire. Now I understand how athletes in the ring feel when they're knocked out. But in my case, I'm conscious, but without strength and mana. Why doesn't this system have any leveling for specific body characteristics? Stamina wouldn't hurt me, honestly. Everything inside tightened with powerlessness and anger at myself. Tears of frustration welled up in my eyes, but I held them back. The last thing I need is to be a crybaby here.

  And now, these slimes were practically before me. I could only watch as these slimes would now attack me. They were already preparing to strike. Bodies tensed, sharp pyramid tips raised like spikes, ready to jump. Great, they don't just crawl, they jump too. And considering their bodies are like stone, they'll crush me in no time. Fear gripped my throat. Cold, sticky, breathing became shallow, hands trembled so much that the katana fell from my fingers. At the last moment, I closed my eyes — eyelids squeezed painfully, body tensed in anticipation of the strike, heart stopped. Well, this is it…

  But then a sound was heard. A dull thud, a crack, a short cry. Slowly opening one eye, I didn't see the slime that wanted to kill me before me. Only Tadashi-kun lying on the ground — he lay on his stomach, shield thrown aside, spear stuck in the ground nearby, face contorted with pain and surprise.

  I was bewildered — how did he get here so fast? And most importantly… why is he lying on the ground? Everything inside turned over, fear for him mixed with sudden gratitude and guilt. Tadashi-kun… you idiot…

  — Tsukuyomi (voice trembling, hoarse, with anxiety): H-hey… a-are you okay?

  — Tadashi (wincing in pain, but trying to speak calmly): More or less. But it still hurts… – What do you mean it hurts? Did you fly here or something?

  My heart clenched with guilt and worry — I watched him lying on the ground, shield thrown aside, spear stuck nearby, face contorted with pain, breathing heavy.

  Not giving the slimes a second, Tadashi-kun quickly got up — with a quiet groan, gritting his teeth, brushing dust and dirt from his clothes with sharp palm movements. Well, you certainly found time for that… After these unnecessary actions, he crouched slightly. Legs trembled a bit, but he held the small shield forward, spear raised, gaze focused, shoulders tense. Seems he'll really have to protect me too… Wait, where's Kichiro-kun!?

  — Tsukuyomi (voice breaking, coughing from his throat): H-hey, Tadashi-kun! W-where… cough… where's Kichiro-kun!? You didn't leave him, did you!?

  — Tadashi (with slight irritation, but firmly): Haa? What do you take me for? I'm not so corrupted as to abandon a friend! You'll probably be surprised, but his mana recovers quickly. Of course, he still can't use that skill, but he can at least somewhat defend himself.

  With heaviness in my chest, I barely turned around — my neck aching from the strain — and saw Kichiro-kun standing in place, leaning on his staff. He was breathing heavily, chest heaving, face pale, sweat running down his temples, but he held on. There were no slimes near him, which calmed me a bit — I didn't want to see them lying in bed with wounds. Relief stirred inside. Weak, but real.

  — Tsukuyomi (quietly, with a guilty sigh): S-sorry… that you have to look after us, Tadashi-kun… cough…

  — Tadashi (calmer now, but with a slight smile in his voice): …I don't think you should apologize. You already do enough for us. Sometimes it pisses me off that I get under your feet, and every time I'm surprised you haven't ditched me yet? – Because of the pain in my head, I couldn't understand what he meant. But hearing something like that from him was clearly pleasant — warmth spread in my chest, despite everything. A slight smile touched my lips — weak, but sincere.

  Finally, a few seconds after Tadashi-kun's words, Kichiro-kun came to us. Steps heavy, using the staff as support, face pale, but eyes already lit with their usual mischief. He immediately knelt beside me, looking directly into my eyes. When our gazes met, he didn't have that smirk — only worry, an examining look, lips pressed together.

  — Kichiro (quietly, with concern): How are you… well, okay?

  — Tsukuyomi (weak smile, voice hoarse): I'll live, overall. Just my body aches, that's all. – I regretted my answer — I was too honest. When he heard my response, that smirk appeared on his face in an instant :]. Then he covered his mouth with his palm, clearly holding back laughter — eyes gleamed, shoulders shook.

  — Kichiro (laughing through his fingers): So, does the earth smell nice?

  — Tsukuyomi (tiredly, but with a slight smile): …Ha-ha, very funny… And you've got nothing better to do, I see?

  — Kichiro (with feigned seriousness): Well, the view's better from down here. :D

  I should have asked that butler not to heal you back then. Don't do good if you don't want evil. That's exactly about this bastard… I can't believe I have such a terrible son. :(

  — Tadashi (sharply, with irritation): So I'm protecting you, and you're just chilling here!?

  — Tsukuyomi (confused): Umm, well…

  — Tadashi (indignantly): Damn it, I meant Kichiro-kun!

  — Kichiro (innocently): I'm kind of here too…

  — Tadashi (shouting): Bullshit! Don't make excuses!

  — Tsukuyomi: ... – This is classic, arguing during battle, right? Well, you two continue, I'll rest a bit… My body really hurts nonstop.

  I leaned back, supporting myself on my elbows. Each breath resonated with dull pain in my ribs, hands trembled, and fatigue pulsed in my head. The slimes kept coming, or sometimes retreating. Their bodies undulated like living jelly — some in armor of sharp crystals, others ordinary and soft. Tadashi-kun didn't let them get too close: he stood firm, shield held forward, spear flashing with quick thrusting movements, knocking slimes back with dull thuds. And Kichiro-kun… this is the first time I've seen a MAGE hit someone not with magic, but with their staff. No-no-no, rather a stick, exactly. He swung it like a club, with quiet "bam-bam" hits, driving slimes away from himself — face focused, but that same stupid smirk flickering in his eyes.

  There were more and more slimes, crawling from all sides — green mass slowly surrounding us. Each was in that form I'd already fought: sharp pyramid spikes, hard as stone. But there were some slimes that apparently hadn't transformed. They remained soft, almost defenseless. I didn't know when this would end, even though my strength was gradually recovering and mana slowly returning, like a thin stream of water in a dried-up well. It wasn't enough, as luck would have it. I'd have to take a risk and attack those slimes that weren't protected. The only problem was that they were in a bunch of these armored slimes, making the task nearly impossible. But it was better than letting the horde accumulate, and it would only be a matter of time before our defense was breached. Everything inside tightened with tension and resolve. I didn't want to return with failure. Not today.

  — Tsukuyomi (slowly standing, leaning on the katana, voice hoarse but firm): Guys… I think it's time to act…

  — Tadashi (not taking his eyes off the slimes, spear flashing): What do you mean?

  — Tsukuyomi (pointing with a trembling hand): Do you see those slimes that look ordinary? We need to break through and kill them. – The answer wasn't long in coming, and you've probably guessed who objected to this idea.

  — Tadashi (sharply turning to me, eyes wide with shock): Are you out of your mind!? Do you understand they'll simply trample you without any effort!? Kichiro-kun, tell him this is a terrible idea!!

  — Kichiro (thoughtfully, scratching his head with the staff): Hmm…

  — Tadashi (with threat in his voice): Don't you dare…

  — Kichiro (with a smirk, shrugging): Well, Mom is kind of right.

  — Tadashi (in despair, throwing up his hands, voice breaking): What the… you guys are just… well, crazy… haa, fine, do what you want! But I don't promise I can protect you — I need to protect myself first!

  In the end, Tadashi-kun gave up, realizing he couldn't stop us. Even though he yelled at us, he even said he'd try to protect us, even though we didn't ask. How sweet. This son turned out more or less normal, unlike the younger one. My chest warmed at that thought, despite all the fatigue and pain.

  — Tsukuyomi (with a slight smile, nodding): Thanks. Kichiro-kun, how many of these slimes did we need to kill?

  — Kichiro (quickly, with enthusiasm): Just three. We killed two, only one left.

  — Tsukuyomi (sighing with relief): Good news. Do you think you can hit it?

  — Kichiro (with sarcasm, rolling his eyes): You should ask first if I can even cast anything, Mom. – Thanks for the sarcasm.

  — Tsukuyomi (wincing in pain, but continuing): Got it. Same here, I can't activate the skill either… wait, didn't you take the quest? Aren't you supposed to kill the last one?

  — Kichiro (freezing, eyes widening): ?Oooh… right… – Great. Along with the good news came the bad.

  I gritted my teeth, my jaw clenched from tension, thoughts feverishly spinning in my head. I didn't want to go back with a failure. Not now. How can you defeat a slime that ordinary attacks don't affect? When I hit it... That's right! When I hit the slime, it pushed me back with equal force. You might think they're immune to such attacks. But that was a mistake on my part. I just hit it with my katana, which doesn't even have a sharp edge, and I missed, striking the slime with the flat side. But Kichiro-kun's staff has a sharp edge at the bottom, and if he pierces them with that, it should work! Hopefully, my theory will be correct.

  — Tsukuyomi (voice hoarse from fatigue, but firm, eyes burning with stubborn determination): Listen carefully, Kichiro-kun! I know you don't have much strength left, but can you pierce those non-deformed slimes with the sharp edge of your staff?

  — Kichiro (bewildered, wincing in pain, sweat running down his temples, voice trembling): Huh? With this staff? Well... I don't know, honestly. It's only good for spells, isn't it?

  — Tsukuyomi (sharply, stepping closer, voice rising, almost shouting from desperation and hope): That doesn't matter right now! I'm asking you, can you do it?!

  — Kichiro (after a short pause, exhaling through gritted teeth, eyes lighting up with stubborn fire): W-well... I can do it! You only live once! – That was out of place, dude…

  Everything inside tightened — anxiety, pride, and slight horror at his recklessness mixed into one bitter combination. My heart began pounding faster.

  — Tadashi (with a crooked smirk, but voice tense, spear already raised): Good luck! Don't die out there! – Excellent support!

  Kichiro-kun turned and dashed in the opposite direction from the slimes — steps heavy, uneven, using the staff as a crutch, body swaying from exhaustion, but he stubbornly pushed forward, hair flying in the wind, face focused, lips pressed into a thin line. I stood next to Tadashi-kun, gripping the katana with both hands, fingers white from tension, breathing ragged. We both did our best not to let them break through our position. Tadashi-kun's shield flashed, knocking slimes back with dull thuds; my katana slashed at the nearest one but only pushed it away. Though we had nothing much to protect except ourselves... I slipped up a bit, it happens.

  The crowd of slimes pressed harder and harder on us, like in games where enemies get stronger with each wave. We were lucky they didn't merge into one whole, otherwise I don't know what would have happened to us. We fought back — Tadashi-kun stabbed with his spear, I slashed with my katana — but the damage was minimal. The slimes just crawled back, swayed, but didn't die. Everything inside boiled with powerlessness and anger. Arms burned, lungs burned, sweat stung my eyes.

  — Tadashi (shouting, voice breaking from strain): Damn creatures! These monsters aren't so dumb after all!

  He pushed me back with his shield hand — a sharp movement, the shield hard, my shoulder aching from the impact. At first I didn't understand, then he pointed to the right side. Finger extended, eyes wide with shock. It shocked and angered me simultaneously — everything inside flared with rage. The slimes were trying to sneak around from the side to catch us off guard and cut off our escape route. Indeed, these slimes are quite cunning, even without brains.

  Because of this sudden development, we had to quicken our retreat — feet slipping on the grass, breathing ragged, we moved backward without turning our backs. I can't believe that from a few slimes, we ended up with several dozen. Usually in isekai, they introduce slimes in small groups, but here it's a whole swarm, from what I can see. At situations like this, I nervously smiled involuntarily — lips twitching, everything inside seething with adrenaline. The sun was gradually setting, painting the sky orange, turning this battle not into farming, but into a fight for survival. Orange sunbeams hit directly in our eyes, blinding us, as if trying to hinder us. The field swarming with slimes, only trees around us — shadows lengthening, air cooling.

  But something brought me to my senses — someone's shout from the direction of the slimes, so loud, triumphant. I squinted slightly because of the sun but clearly saw a silhouette. And in that silhouette, there was joy — contagious joy. Everything inside flared with relief. He managed to do it.

  There stood Kichiro-kun, staff raised high. A clear silhouette against the sunset. On the tip of the staff, part of a slime dangled, slowly dripping down like viscous sludge. But his joy quickly changed from "Ha-ha-ha!!" to "AAAAAAHHHH!!!" and his voice broke into panic. He ran quickly toward us, getting as far away from the slimes as possible. Legs flashing, staff swinging in his hand. And there our hero was, having reached us, after which we were practically running away. Chaotic steps, stumbling over tussocks, ragged breathing.

  Everything inside mixed — relief that he was alive, anger at his recklessness, and slight joy that, it seemed, we had won. But the slimes were still crawling slowly, but inexorably. We ran without looking back, hearts pounding in our throats.

  — Kichiro (gasping from running, eyes gleaming with delight, voice trembling from adrenaline and fatigue): Mom, you're a genius! We finally did it! – The words hit my chest like a warm wave — pleasant as hell. Despite the pain in my arms, the burning in my lungs, and the dirt on my clothes, I felt the corners of my lips curl upward on their own. Thanks.

  — Tadashi (with a crooked but sincere grin, wiping sweat from his forehead with his sleeve): Yeah, you're something else. – Oh, you're flattering me… Something stirred inside — a mix of embarrassment and gratitude. Even in moments like this, they know how to lift my spirits.

  — Tsukuyomi (with a slight smile, voice still hoarse from running): Come on, guys. So, I guess after that, your card glowed green, right?

  — Kichiro (still breathing heavily, but with a satisfied smirk): Yeah, that's right… Did it glow, though?

  At this question, all three of us stopped instantly, as if someone had pressed pause. Our feet seemed rooted to the ground. Tadashi-kun and I slowly, synchronously turned our heads toward Kichiro-kun. He stood ahead, sweat running down his temples, eyes wide open, lips trembling, and staring straight ahead, not at us.

  — Tsukuyomi (quietly, almost in a whisper, with growing horror): Huh?

  — Tadashi (voice low, dangerous): Hah?

  — Kichiro (nervously, trying to joke): What? – Don't play dumb.

  Without a word, Tadashi-kun approached him from the other side — steps heavy, slow, like a predator. He placed a hand on Kichiro-kun's shoulder, fingers clenching so hard his knuckles turned white. Restrained fury radiated from him in waves — gaze heavy, lips pressed into a thin line. I also approached slowly, with cold in my chest. My eyes were probably just as icy now, blue as the winter sky. We surrounded him from both sides, like a silent, menacing shadow.

  — Tadashi (voice low, almost growling, eyes burning): Kichiro-kun… can you show us your card?

  Kichiro-kun still stared straight ahead — face pale, sweat now streaming. With a trembling hand, he reached into his pocket, pulled out the card — his fingers shaking so badly it almost fell. Tadashi-kun took it slowly, as if afraid to see what he already knew. He looked at the round crystal in the center, and his face darkened.

  — Tsukuyomi (quietly, but voice trembling with anger and disbelief): What color is it, Tadashi-kun?

  — Tadashi (shortly, with cold fury): Gray. – Silence fell, heavy as stone. Only breathing — ours, all of us, ragged.

  — Kichiro (swallowing, voice thin, almost pitiful): I… can explain…

  ?A FEW... SECONDS LATER??

  Kichiro-kun lay on the ground, face pressed into it with his whole body. Arms spread out to the sides, as if trying to embrace the earth itself, face buried so deep in the grass that I genuinely wondered: is he even breathing? But I noticed his back slowly rising and falling. Okay, he's breathing.

  Near his hand lay the card, just sitting there in the grass, so innocent, as if it had nothing to do with anything. Tadashi-kun, meanwhile, stood a little to the side, cracking his fingers one by one: crack, crack, crack. Methodically, almost mechanically, and with the same heavy, unblinking gaze, boring through Kichiro-kun's body. As if a look could lift someone off the ground. Spoiler: it can't. I know, I've checked — not on him, just in general life.

  And I, meanwhile, silently stepped aside a little, stood by the nearest tree, leaned my back against it, and crossed my arms over my chest. Above my head, leaves rustled quietly. Somewhere in the bushes, a bird was rustling. The forest lived its own life, completely indifferent to our little tragedy.

  Why didn't the card glow then? I stared at it, as if it could answer me itself. But it didn't answer, just lay in my hand and remained silent.

  The broken card theory I dismissed almost instantly. Impossible for this fool to have managed to break it on the very first day. Physically impossible. I sincerely hope so, because if it turns out it is possible, I'll have questions about the laws of physics in this world. A thought flickered about a different type of slime. But no, that version crumbled immediately. I saw them close enough myself. They looked like ordinary slimes. Standard, no surprises. So what was the quest completion condition?

  I rubbed my temple, then the bridge of my nose. Thoughts circled round and round, piled on top of each other, scattered and converged again at one point. And the longer I thought, the more distinctly I felt an extremely unpleasant realization beginning to loom at the edge of my consciousness. The kind of realization that your brain instinctively wants to push away, because if it turns out to be true, it'll be very, very humiliating... Don't tell me we failed to notice something obvious?

  I slowly turned to Tadashi-kun. He had just finished cracking the knuckles on his right hand and was moving on to his left.

  — Tsukuyomi (quietly, carefully choosing his words, as if each one might explode): Tadashi-kun... you noticed something like a crystal inside those slimes, right? When we were fighting them.

  Tadashi-kun stopped cracking his fingers. He slowly lifted his head and looked at me with the expression of someone who senses they're about to be upset but doesn't yet know how badly.

  — Tadashi (slowly, cautiously, like navigating a minefield): Um... yeah? I noticed. Why?

  — Tsukuyomi (quietly, looking off to the side): It seems... our quest is related to that.

  At that moment, silence fell. The kind of silence where you can hear everything. The rustling of leaves, a woodpecker knocking somewhere far away, Kichiro-kun breathing softly into the grass. Tadashi-kun looked at me, and I looked back at him. Somewhere high in the branches, that same bird finally fell silent, as if it also understood and was now waiting.

  I watched it dawn on Tadashi-kun. Slowly, but inexorably, like sunrise or the realization that you forgot to turn off the stove. His eyebrows rose, his mouth began to open slightly. That particular expression appeared in his eyes. Wide, bewildered, almost childish, like someone who's just been hit on the back of the head with something heavy.

  — Tadashi (strangled, voice gone hoarse, still hoping he misheard): ...Don't tell me that... Nooooo!

  — Tsukuyomi (squeezing his eyes shut, pinching the bridge of his nose with two fingers): Daaaaamn!

  — Kichiro (from the grass, not lifting his face, voice hollow and defeated): Mooooom! – This isn't a theater, by the way. Although from the outside, it probably looked exactly like one.

  Well, we're idiots. Real, choice, rare idiots, and I'm saying this without a drop of self-irony, absolutely seriously. To miss something so obvious takes real effort. The quest condition was literally right in front of us this whole time. Inside every slime. Glowing, by the way. A little crystal, neat, noticeable, clearly not there for no reason. And we, three smart, promising adventurers, methodically, diligently, with full dedication... smashed them. Bravo to us.

  On top of that, going back right now in this condition is dangerous — it's a forest after all, it gets dark early, who knows what else might be out here in the evening. I started pacing nervously back and forth, cutting an invisible circle through the clearing. Step, turn, step, turn. The grass rustled softly underfoot. Twigs crunched, my head buzzed. I felt like a kettle about to boil, but with no whistle and nowhere for the steam to go. Tadashi-kun, meanwhile, first just sat on the ground, then slowly slumped lower, and finally just lay on his back next to Kichiro-kun — silently, without words, without any attempt to pretend everything was fine, staring at the sky. The sky, judging by his face, wasn't telling him anything good either. Kichiro-kun was clearly in no mood for jokes or anything at all right now: he'd given it his all, spent literally everything he had, and now lay quietly like a rag doll abandoned in the middle of the clearing. Even the grass around him was flattened, as if the earth had also sighed and decided to support him a little.

  — Kichiro (from the grass, melancholically, addressing no one in particular): And when I stabbed that slime... I was aiming right for its crystal. On purpose, because I thought that was right. – Why did you say that? Seriously, why? What was the point of saying that out loud, at this particular moment? We already feel crappy enough. Cats are scratching at our souls, our heads are foggy, our legs are throbbing. And on top of all that, we're hungry — we barely ate this morning, and we've spent so much energy it feels like we've been hauling rocks up a mountain all day, not fighting a handful of ordinary slimes.

  I took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. Looked at the sky — the sky was indifferent, as always.

  — Tsukuyomi (stopping, voice steady): That's it, enough. We've had more than enough for today. We're heading back, guys.

  — Tadashi (lying on the ground, not moving, staring at the sky, voice dull): What about the quest?

  — Tsukuyomi (quietly, but firmly): I don't give a damn about this quest. Spent all my nerves on it. Spent everything I had on it. We're going back to the city, we'll eat properly, get some sleep, and complete it tomorrow.

  — Tadashi (after a moment's pause, reluctantly): Okay... And what about him?

  He didn't move. Just glanced sideways at Kichiro-kun, who was still lying on the ground. Still motionless — well, no, one hand was now on his stomach. Probably to look slightly more alive, or maybe it just slid there on its own. I silently looked at him for a few seconds and counted to myself. One. Two. Three. Four. Five. No new ideas appeared.

  — Tsukuyomi (absolutely calmly, in the tone of someone who has made a considered decision): Leave him here. His own fault, he should have read the quest description properly.

  — Tadashi (propping himself up on one elbow, doubt in his voice): Uh... but...

  — Tsukuyomi: Leave him, I said.

  Tadashi-kun closed his mouth. Was silent for a moment, then with a groan got up, brushed the grass and leaves off his clothes, and stood beside me. I turned and started walking away. Tadashi-kun followed, slowly at first, then matched my pace.

  And then a hand appeared from the grass. Slowly, solemnly, and with meaning. Like the hand of a drowning man who sees a board floating by and is gathering his last strength. Then a second hand appeared. Then a disheveled head with grass in his hair. Kichiro-kun raised himself on his elbows, looked after us, and something flickered in his eyes. Something between hurt, panic, and righteous indignation.

  — Kichiro (loudly, with feeling, voice breaking mid-sentence from outrage): Hey!! You're abandoning a child here!! That's inhumane, it's irresponsible, and anyway, don't leave me here alone, please!!

  Tadashi-kun immediately faltered in his step. I could physically feel him slowing down, the "must help" instinct starting to battle with the "Tsukuyomi said keep walking" instinct. Without turning around, I quietly threw out:

  — Tsukuyomi: Don't look back. Just ignore him and keep walking.

  — Tadashi (under his breath, with notes of guilt): ...But he's alone there. In the forest. Almost no strength left...

  — Tsukuyomi: Keep walking.

  Tadashi-kun exhaled heavily but nodded and walked forward. Though the way he kept glancing back over his shoulder made it completely obvious: he was worried. What if he tripped over a root.

  From behind came rustling, then the sound of grass. Then hurried steps, and a few seconds later, Kichiro-kun caught up to us. Out of breath, disheveled, with grass in his hair and a leaf stuck to his cheek, but alive, on his feet, and even moving relatively quickly. The body's last reserves — a great thing when there's nowhere to run.

  I can't anymore. Seriously, without exaggeration, I can't anymore. Right now, immediately, without delay, I need food and rest. Preferably in that order, though I'm open to discussing options. My legs are throbbing like I didn't just walk through a forest, but carried something heavy. My head is foggy, thick as jelly. And somewhere in the region of my stomach, a hungry void is howling quietly but very persistently — one I've been diligently ignoring for hours. Can't ignore it anymore.

  God, we're probably the first heroes in the history of this world who managed to fail their first quest. No, really, I've heard stories about adventurers, read about them, and all of them, every single one, completed their first quest. With difficulty or ease, through pain or joking, but they completed it. Because the first quest is meant to be completed. It's tradition, almost a law of the genre. And then we came along.

  We came to slimes — ordinary, standard, innocent slimes — and because of the stupidity of one specific person, whose name out of politeness I won't mention, we failed the quest. Not because the slimes were strong, not because we were unlucky. But because we didn't read the quest description properly. Fully, to the end.

  No. Today, only rest. Food, silence, and not a single slime on the horizon. That's it, period, conversation over, I'm closing this topic until tomorrow.

  ...

  We did make it back to the city. Empty-handed, with tired faces and the remnants of our dignity — though honestly, there wasn't much of that left either.

  That same soldier who had let us out in the morning was still at his post. Spotting us from afar, he seemed to understand everything without words, from the way we walked: slowly, hunched over, with the look of people who had wanted to accomplish a feat and returned with nothing. He silently checked our card — probably out of habit from his work — and just as silently let us inside. Then he looked at our faces and quietly, almost imperceptibly exhaled, whether with sympathy or just because.

  But when his gaze fell on Kichiro-kun — the grass in his hair, the leaf stuck to his cheek, the completely devastated expression — the soldier involuntarily smiled. Quietly, with the corner of his lips. Serenely, maybe? Like a person who's looked at something very small and helpless and felt a little better. I decided not to pay attention to it, and we walked inside.

  Kichiro-kun pulled the city map from his pocket, studying the street. We jostled a bit with our elbows, trying to make out the right streets, and finally found what we were looking for: a place to stay for the night. The inn was marked with a separate icon — a little house with a roof. Without the map, honestly, we'd have wandered until morning. Even with the map, we spent quite a bit of time.

  The city turned out to be big. Very big — much bigger than it seemed from outside. Streets branched off in all directions, alleys forked, signs were covered in unfamiliar names, and at every other intersection we had to stop, check the map, and make sure we were going the right way, not somewhere completely wrong. Kichiro-kun confidently turned the wrong way a couple of times, and I silently turned him back, just with a look. He smiled guiltily, and Tadashi-kun walked beside us, pretending everything was going according to plan.

  The inn was found in a quiet alley, slightly off the main street. It looked... ordinary. Honestly, I'd expected something more distinctive, at least a nicer sign. But no: just an ordinary building, slightly larger and taller than the neighboring houses, with a wooden door and a couple of windows on the first floor. Nothing extra, nothing remarkable. Just a place to sleep, and that's all we needed right now.

  Inside, we were met by an employee — a young guy with neatly combed hair and the professional smile of someone used to greeting tired travelers and always ready to take their money. He greeted us, immediately asked about rooms and number of nights. His words were polished, quick — clearly said them a hundred times a day. Kichiro-kun handled the negotiations, of course. I didn't interfere, just stood nearby and watched as he seriously inquired about rooms, chose, clarified, haggled a little. In the end, he found something suitable for three, with food included. Cost us ten silver... Ten silver. I'll need to figure out how the local currency works and how much that is in understandable terms — whether it's a lot or a little, and whether I should even worry. For now, I just accepted it as a given.

  Within an hour, we were sitting in our room, fed — which in itself was a small miracle. Kichiro-kun had arranged dinner too, so they fed us simply, without frills, but quite decently. My stomach finally stopped complaining, and that alone was an achievement for the day.

  The room looked... well, like a room. Ordinary. Three beds, a table, a window with wooden shutters, a floor of time-darkened boards. Compared to that room in the castle, it was night and day, of course. That place had something like coziness and order. Here, just old walls, old furniture, and the feeling that a lot of different people had slept here before us. In several places on the walls, there were holes. Quite small, but noticeable. I carefully tried not to think about what might crawl out of them at night. Rats are bad enough, but bugs are worse. Brr. A slight shiver ran down my spine just thinking about it. No, not thinking.

  I pulled off my outer clothes, neatly folded them on the chair by the bed, and was practically collapsing onto the pillow when a voice came from the darkness near the other beds. Of course.

  — Kichiro (quietly, but with that slyness in his voice that I could feel even with my back turned): Hey, Mom! Remember when I said whoever was last out of the bushes would have to do something? – Please, please, no. I'm on the verge, practically asleep already.

  — Tadashi (perking up, voice sleepy but interested): Oh, right. I'd almost forgotten about that. – Forget it again. Immediately, I recommend it to both of you.

  But I already understood there was no escape. I got up from the bed and walked over to them. They were both lying on their beds, looking at me with the cutest, most innocent, most disarming expressions they could muster. Big eyes, slight smiles, and complete innocence. Think it works?... Yeah, it works. I hate myself a little for that.

  — Tsukuyomi (crossing my arms, voice stern but already without much hope): So what do you want?

  — Kichiro (hands tucked under his cheek, voice as sweet as a three-year-old's): Well... since today was such a hard day... we'd like to hear from our beloved mommy... – don't butter me up – ...a nice, good bedtime story. – A giant child.

  I looked at them for a long moment. Then closed my eyes, then massaged the bridge of my nose with two fingers, slowly and deliberately.

  I lost that bet — a fair, well, relatively fair bet. The condition had been stated. And now I had to fulfill my part, whether I wanted to or not. A deal is a deal, even if it was made in the forest next to slimes, when no one was in their right mind.

  — Tsukuyomi (exhaling): So, you want a bedtime story?

  — Kichiro and Tadashi (in unison, almost joyfully): Yes!

  — Tsukuyomi (clearing my throat, gathering my thoughts): A-alright. Ahem. Then I'll begin.

  They immediately got comfortable. Kichiro-kun pulled the blanket up to his chin and stared at me with the look of someone ready to listen very carefully. Tadashi-kun closed his eyes, but from the way he lay, it was clear: he wasn't asleep, but listening. Well. Since they want a story, they'll get one.

  — Tsukuyomi (seriously, in the tone of a real storyteller): ...A slime lived in the forest. It was dumb. You were dumber. The end. Goodnight.

  — Kichiro (mouth wide open, face frozen in silent shock): :0

  — Tadashi (with the expression of someone whose inner something just broke): <:_[]

  I got up, turned around, and headed to my bed calmly, with dignity, not looking back. Guys, I want to sleep, and I've earned it. Today was a long day — we failed the quest, walked through the entire city with a map and no proper food, terrible rank, and the only thing I want right now is to close my eyes and not think about anything. Including bedtime stories.

  — Tsukuyomi (getting into bed, pulling up the blanket): Good night.

  — Kichiro and Tadashi (quietly, a little bewildered): G-good night... Mom...

  I closed my eyes. The blanket turned out to be warm — unexpectedly warm for such a simple inn. I automatically pulled my legs up toward my stomach, curling into something like a ball. Maybe it looks strange, maybe cute. I don't care — no one can see, and if they could, I'd pretend it's supposed to be like that. Silence. Finally, silence.

  — Tadashi (whispering, very quietly, clearly thinking I'm already asleep): Nice one. You made Mom mad.

  — Kichiro (whispering, offended): I'm not a robot — I make mistakes. And anyway — even robots make mistakes sometimes, in case you didn't know. – Are you serious?... Are you seriously doing this right now?

  — Tsukuyomi (not opening my eyes, voice annoyed but clear): Who did I tell to sleep!?

  To be continued...

  :#-?;';3)?7?&1?(?;?(?)...

  Hmm. Turns out monsters weren't such an easy first enemy... So I did everything right. :)