Chapter 26: Chapter 24 – Ore mine end

Slade rampaged against the beholders, defeating their remaining forces. He let them surrender, but Slade feared that Violet would suffer from his naive action like Milia and Shaki suffered from the gnolls’ betrayal.

“How about we serve you instead?” the Evil Eye asked.

“Wha-? No, not me! Serve that cute girl there, instead!” Slade said.

With power came responsibility, and Slade wanted none of that.

“We’ll become your citizens and work hard to generate sovereign points.”

“Okay?” Slade had no idea about their worth.

“Judging by your audacity to invade with a handful of troglodyte pawns, I bet your sovereign is poor. How many citizens are living within your Dungeon? Tell me,” the Evil Eye asked.

“Uh… That’s confidential,” Slade muttered, sweating bullets.

“See? We have much to gain from each other, but we refuse to become slaves. How about you become our middleman?”

“Being a representative sounds like a big hassle!” Slade said.

“You’re a beholder like us. If you can understand us and provide the freedom to flourish, I don’t mind helping someone like you,” it said, ignoring Slade’s complaints.

“Someone like me???”

What does it know about me? Slade couldn’t tell whether it was a compliment, sarcasm, or both.

“We’ll do the laundry, cleaning and unethical cooking experiments for your sake, so be grateful.”

The image of a beholder in a French maid uniform popped in the slime’s mind.

“Oh hell no! Too bad for you, it just happens to be my specialty as a Toilet Slime. Stains and piss are my staple foods!”

“Uh… Are you fine with that? It sounds fucked up,” the Evil Eye said.

It has a point.

Slade went silent. Will he ever be able to gain the respect of the one he loves if he has to eat everyone’s shit? At the very least, he wouldn’t be able to.

A system window popped up in front of Slade.

[Ore mine conquered.

Warrior Tomb conquered.

Slade has gained levels.

Slade is now a level 20 Toilet Slime Pet.

Attack skill+1 Defense skill+2 Spellpower+1

You have acquired personal skill: Spliceshift - Combine up to 2 shapeshift forms.

You may learn either Advanced First Aid or Basic Diplomacy as secondary skills.]

I’ll choose Basic Diplomacy… That’s what I need right now to stop the beholders from hurting Violet, Slade thought.

[You receive Secondary Skill: Basic Diplomacy - Provides help and knowledge during negotiation.]

[Synergy detected between Diplomacy and Shapeshift!

Increase the level of Shapeshift Form from succeeding diplomatic deals involving the Form’s species.]

“If you are still hesitating… I am willing to follow you in battles. I am a level 43 warlock. Here, take this proof of loyalty.”

The Evil Eye lifted a grimoire at Slade.

“This is my spellbook. None of my comrades can cast magic without it,” it said.

[Basic diplomacy activated.

Your side offer: Protection and freedom for the beholders under your responsibility.

Reward: level 43 warlock and an undefined amount of Sovereign Points.

Insights:

The beholders suffered heavy losses, and no longer wish to pursue a vain battle

The beholders seem to admire your mercy

The Evil Eye is grateful for being healed and offers its most precious item

Conclusion: Low probability of long-term betrayal on the proposed terms.]

I just wanted them to surrender… How did it end up with me taking beholders under my responsibility?

Slade gulped as he took the book.

“It seems like we have a deal,” the Evil Eye concluded.

[The beholders join you for the greater glory!

Shapeshift Synergy: Beholder form leveled up.

Learned skills: Beholder Tongue and True Sight

Unlocked skills: Beholder’s Convergence]

Good, I don’t have to switch to beholder form to understand the Evil Eye.

The slime looked at his status window and saw the 4 gnolls and the 43 beholders stacks in “Slade’s army”.

He groaned, feeling the weight of responsibility.

At least, I’ll look cool to Violet if I manage her citizens.

[For hiring gnolls and beholders, you are granted the ‘Mediator’ title - decrease morale penalty from interracial conflicts.]

Nice!

[For putting the greater glory before your own interests, you are granted the following titles.

Pushover - decrease charisma.

Reluctant Leader - personal moral penalty according to the size of the supervised army.]

What the!?

Having no mental energy left, Slade kicked the mocking system message from his mind.

He couldn’t resist taking a peek inside the spellbook, but he couldn’t decipher the strange sigils.

“Can I give it to my sovereign?” he asked.

“It’s fine. I have plenty of books to finish on my bedstand. Also, my name is Griscent,” it said. It blindly probed, reaching for Slade’s tentacle.

“Mine is Slade, nice to meet you.”

They exchanged a wiggly shake.

“From now on, we will follow you as long as you treat us reasonably and respectfully,” Griscent said.

Slade chuckled because it said it so grandly despite its pathetic state.

“Apparently, being laughed at is your definition of respect,” it said.

“Ah, sorry.”

“It’s fine, it was a joke.”

Fuck, its speech is so monotone that I can’t fathom what’s going through its mind.

“I’m thankful for this great reconciliation. We get to live and preserve the mother-pillar, and you get free sovereign points,” the Evil Eye said.

The slime swallowed his insecurities for the sake of the greater good, but a nefarious plan budded in his mind.

I’ll fucking push my responsibilities on someone else at the first opportunity I get.

“Alright, Griscent. Here’s your first mission: Can you explain our deal to my sovereign? I’m scared about her reaction if she knew I could talk.” Slade remembered that his voice reveal didn’t go very well.

“Already scheming behind your sovereign by hiding your true power, huh? I like that.”

It got to be a joke, right? I can’t fucking tell!

“I have an interesting tip for you. A hero can only be bound to 3 orders at once. Also, you can always retreat from life-threatening situations regardless of your sovereign’s orders.”

Is that how Griscent left its previous Dungeon?! Wow, it might actually be really helpful if I need to get away...

The slime returned inside the golem. He walked back to Violet with the beholders in tow.

He lifted his arms in victory, holding the spellbook in one hand and the squished Evil Eye in the other.

“Grhuhgr? Rrrkrkr... (Could you not expose my delicate body like that in front of everyone? I’m quite shy…)” Griscent groaned.

“We won!” The gnolls cheered as the golem came back with the defeated enemy commander.

Meanwhile, the rooks were already celebrating the victory, since they received the same pop-up message as Slade.

“Hey, I picked up Weaponsmith (Offense) as my secondary skill. What about you Shaki?” Milia asked.

“Logistics… Also Milia, don’t rush alone ever again,” Shaki said.

“Come on! Everything went fine. Look, my plot armor is OP! Didn’t you see my power up in the middle of the battle. I even changed hair color.” Milia flexed her biceps.

“Ah… I need to take a rest, a nap maybe.” The tired troglodyte just rolled into a ball on the ground, next to Metiva.

Violet stood next to Lorely, welcoming the golem.

“I take it that the beholders surrendered,” she said.

Slade lowered his hands, presenting the spellbook to her and the wounded Evil Eye.

“Assumption correct. Request for Dungeon citizenship under Slade’s supervision. Offering personal spellbook as token of loyalty,” Griscent said.

Violet took the book.

“Oh, very good! I will accept you as my villagers. Then… How about turning this place into a proper Dungeon? Since there is already a Pillar of Eyes, it would save precious resources,” she said.

“Proposal accepted. Home renovation required,” Griscent said.

“That’s a wonderful idea! Having a back-up town is a relief,” Lorely said.

“I will summon the town Core. Can you tell me where’s the safest place here?” Violet asked.

“Palace. Tunnels excluded for risk of suffocation, flooding and collapse,” Griscent said.

“Please wait!” Metiva said.

The gnolls approached.

“Oh, are you angry that we’re making a town in a gnoll grave?”

“That is certainly questionable, but… I want to serve lord Slade’s as well,” she said.

“What’s with this popularity? Slade can’t even talk. Are you trying to take advantage of my slime?” Violet asked.

The matriarch gave a look of confusion.

“Slade can talk,” Shaki said.

“Heh?” Violet blurted.

“Gogooh... (Mission failed),” Griscent said.

Don’t hesitate to tell me if there are missing tags I should add.

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