77. A Gap in Time

77. A Gap in Time77. A Gap in Time

The whirlwind, or rather, the waterspout-like formation soon stopped, as if it had never happened, and everything became quiet.

However, there was still no sign of anything.

Just as I was starting to worry that something might have really happened, with a huge vibration, something appeared.

The water parted, revealing stairs leading downwards.

Then I heard Yong-yong's voice.

"Kyuung."

Was he telling me to follow the stairs down?

I carefully took one step at a time down the slippery stairs, wet from the water.

One wrong move and I could slip.

As I slowly descended, I saw a vast space with a huge statue.

"Yong-yong, where are you...?"

"Kyuung."

The sound came from behind the statue.

As I approached to check, I saw Yong-yong wrapped around something.

"What's that?"

"Kyuung."

He showed me what he was holding - fragments...?

He said that if we collect three more pieces, they can be combined into one, but he wouldn't tell me what it was.

And our Yong-yong said the other three pieces were also in this space.

In other words, he was telling me to find them.

This seems suspicious...

"You find them!"

"Kyuuung."

He whined that he used up all his energy opening this space, and even that was too cute...

No, you think I'll fall for that!?

"Kyuung!"

Our Yong-yong promised to be affectionate all day if I found the remaining pieces.

If I hear such words and do nothing, I wouldn't be a proper owner.

After confidently telling him to just trust me, I checked the inscriptions on the statues and walls, but I couldn't read them at all.

Giving up on the letters, I looked at the pictures and guessed.

"There must be one in each direction - east, west, north, and south! How about that!?"

"Kyuu." Searᴄh the Nôvel(F)ire.nёt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Yong-yong nonchalantly replied that he didn't know.

But something felt strange.

This unfamiliar feeling - what could it be?

And then I realized.

That's not our Yong-yong.

"Who are you?"

"Kyuung!"

He got angry, asking why I was suddenly acting like this, but I was certain.

"Where did our Yong-yong go!"

"Kyahaha! You figured it out!"

With those words, a bright light enveloped the surroundings, and when it cleared, a beautiful but sinister-looking woman appeared.

"Hello! I'm in the middle of a bet with your precious dragon. Something about resolving his blank space, or whatever."

The suspicious woman who had been rambling on for a while continued.

"If you had found all four pieces, I would have won. But alas! Alright! You win!"

With those words, our Yong-yong fell from the sky towards me.

"Yong-yong!"

"Kyuung!"

I thought we were going to have a touching reunion, but I was mistaken.

He was glaring at me with eyes that seemed to say, "How could you not know?"

"How was I supposed to know!? They looked exactly the same!"

"Kyuuung!!"

He said in a tearful voice that he was the only one being sincere, which made me feel guilty.

Only after I apologized did Yong-yong forgive me, and the pretty woman was rolling on the floor laughing at this scene.

"Ahaha! You two are so interesting! I'd love to stay and watch, but I can't. Here! I lost the bet, so take this!"

She handed a bead to Yong-yong, who swallowed it in one gulp.

After a while, Yong-yong, who had been staring blankly, looked at me and spoke.

"Kyuuung."

"Hm? What's wrong?"

Yong-yong said he just now realized what had happened all this time and rubbed his face against my cheek.

Could it be that Yong-yong had also forgotten until now? Like the others?

I thought Yong-yong would naturally know, but my assumption was wrong.

If I had asked earlier, he would have told me.

"Why didn't you ask?"

"Kyuuung."

Yong-yong answered that he wasn't sure about his memories, so he couldn't bring himself to speak up.

I hugged him tightly and said,

"We're family, aren't we? So you can tell me anything."

"Kyuu."

Just then, we heard the sound of someone clearing their throat.

"Ahem, sorry to interrupt this touching moment, but could you leave now? This is, well, my home."

With those words, we were kicked out.

We were transported back to where we were before entering the lake, and a protective barrier formed around my body.

It was time to go home.

Wait, don't tell me we're flying back again?

"Yong-yong, can't we take a bus on our way back?"

"Kyuung!"

"S-save me!!!"

After spending a long time in the bathroom when we got home, I was finally resting on my bed in my room when Yong-yong started urging me to go.

"Kyuung kyuung!"

"J-just let me rest a little..."

"Kyuuung!"

My naughty Yong-yong was pestering me, saying he wanted to eat magic stones quickly.

With no choice, I put on the gear and logged into Arcana Online.

When I opened my eyes, I was in the middle of a forest where slimes lived.

[Summon: Yong-yong requests to be summoned.]

Accept / Reject

"Accept."

With those words, a bright light burst forth, and Yong-yong appeared.

"Kyuuung!"

"You really can come in!"

Feeling happy, I hugged Yong-yong and nuzzled him for a while, but he coldly pushed me away.

He was insisting that I give him magic stones quickly.

When I took out magic stones, he ate them excitedly.

After finishing his meal, we moved to the slime habitat, where slimes that had evolved into female forms greeted us.

"You've evolved safely! That's great! Shall we begin then?"

"......"

The slimes nodded with determined looks in their eyes. I handed out flags and headbands to them.

A revolution was about to begin.

*

*

*

[Did you know there's another protest happening in Cradle Village right now?]

This time they brought slime 'noonas' and are protesting lol

[Comments]

- A slime is a slime, what's a slime noona?

- [Author] A noona is a noona!

- So what is it, you fool!!

- [Author] Explaining it wouldn't be very noona-like!

- Aaargh!!!!

- Calm down and have a drink~

[Slimes are indeed noonas (video)]

Can you see? Can you see our slime noonas? lol

[Comments]

- Noonaaaaaaaa

- Let's go see the noonaaaaa

- This is definitely the village's fault

- The noonas did nothing wrong! It's the village's fault!!

[Do you know how much the noonas have suffered until now!?]

They've lived enduring all sorts of mistreatment from evil travelers and villagers, and now they're exposing it. Did you think they'd just sit still?

[Comments]

- But aren't we those travelers?

- [Author] Not me, I've never hunted

- Then where did you level up? lol

- [Author] I don't play the game?

- Then why are you on this forum, you idiot lol

The forum was on fire.

After rabbits, today it was slimes.

Then tomorrow will be goblins, and the day after, orcs?

As I drank coffee with my mind in a daze, it tasted sweet.

I thought I'd like to get some sleep, worn out from fatigue.

If only it had been whiskey instead of coffee.

"Give me some alcohol."

"Team leader. You can't lose your mind."

"Then what are we going to do about those slimes causing a ruckus over there!?"

On the monitor screen, Traveler No. 1 was leading slimes in a protest in front of Cradle Village.

Not just ordinary slimes, but slimes that had evolved to have human forms.

Moreover, their appearance was so provocative that it would have been a big problem if this wasn't an 18+ game.

The sound of slogans coming from the monitor.

"Cradle Village must change!"

"Cradle Village must change!"

"Cradle Village must change!"

What on earth are they demanding this time?

"So what are they demanding?"

"Well, about that..."

This time, the demands were even more complicated.

Now that they had taken on intelligent forms, they were asserting their right to receive equal treatment and respect as the villagers.

Furthermore, they were demanding that, as they had gained intelligence through evolution, they should be guaranteed rights and welfare befitting that status.

"Are you kidding me!? Aaargh!!"

"Team leader!? Calm down!"

"Huff, alright. Is that all?"

"Well, about that. There's more."

My head was throbbing with pain. Looking at the details, it was ridiculous.

There was even a demand to have a representative who could voice the slimes' opinions in the village administration.

"Why don't they just ask for a slime village while they're at it!?"

"That's also included."

"......"

I desperately needed alcohol.

And a lot of it.

"Bring me some alcohol!!!"

"Team leader!? It's working hours!"

"Aaargh! How can we just sit and watch this!!"

The stress was becoming unimaginable day by day.

What's the use of being on the management team if we can't do anything?

I felt like I might throw in my resignation first at this rate.

Just then, the door opened and the CEO came in.

"I'll meet with them and talk again."

"Please, I beg you!! We're all going to die at this rate!!"

"Hehehe, what we promised back then..."

What did the CEO mean? Did he make some kind of agreement when he met the traveler back then?

I don't care anymore. As long as I don't have to see protests for even one day.