Project-1004 (5): The Irresistible Baby Slime
The city was a wasteland of corroded, crumbling buildings. I dashed through them, locked in combat with bizarre-looking anomalies.
This time, my opponent was a squishy, chewy liquid monster. I'd always enjoyed fiddling with squishy liquid toys back in the day, but one that moved on its own? Kinda ugly.
I peeked out from beside a building window, eyeing the liquid monsters below, then consulted RatPT.
"RatPT, what should we do?"
"Okay."
I'd trained solo in the VR game at first, but for real fieldwork, I'd be fighting alongside RatPT, so we'd been operating together since yesterday.
Taking RatPT's advice, I ignored the wriggling liquid monsters below and headed up the stairs instead.
Tap tap tap.
Climbing stairs used to leave me breathless and heart-pounding, but was it the payoff from chasing soccer balls and puppies? Now, a little stair sprint barely winded me.
Super-tough healthy angel mode activated—I flung the door open with a bang.
The rooftop sprawled out before me.
And then.
-Eeeeek...
The liquid slime turned to face me, wriggling.
It was tense at first, but upon seeing me, it seemed to snicker.
"Hey! What's so funny...!"
Guess it figured my tiny frame meant I wasn't a threat.
"Judging people by looks is a bad habit...!"
I aimed my rifle at the naughty liquid slime to teach it a lesson.
Not the one-eyed shooting from training with RatPT and Instructor Ajeossi—no, both eyes open, like they'd taught me.
-Psst! Psst!
Holy water bullets poured into the slime's body.
-Keee...
The slime trusted its immunity to physical attacks, showing no fear of the bullets.
If these were regular rounds, it'd be right.
But my gun was no ordinary water pistol—it was loaded with holy water bullets!
-Keh?
The holy water rounds pierced its skin, holy essence purifying the liquid slime from within.
-Kaaaah!
The slime bounced in agony.
"Yeah, I know!"
Before RatPT's advice even popped up, I bolted forward.
I leaped into the air, evading the slime's gaze mid-jump, and pulled the trigger.
-Psst... Psst.
My stance wobbled, but my aim held steady—the holy water blanketed the slime's eye.
-Kraaang...
The critically hit slime screamed as its skin began to melt away.
I stood in the corner, watching its demise intently.
About three seconds later, the dark-colored slime vanished.
-Kyuu?
In its place popped a tiny baby slime, the classic grape-purple hue everyone pictures.
"RatPT, does that look dangerous?"
"Ooh...! Can I hug it then?"
"Hehe..."
With RatPT's okay, I crept toward the baby slime, moving stealthily like in "Red Light, Green Light."
But the baby slime's senses were sharper than I thought. It glanced around, then whipped its gaze to mine.
-...
Instinct kicked in—it froze, sensing I was a threat.
Then.
-Boing boing!
It bounced away desperately with its cute little body.
But I'd chased way more stubborn soccer balls—I snatched it up before it could escape.
"Whoa..."
Hugging it, I was in awe. Squish squish, just like a toy liquid monster... but with a cool, refreshing body temp—not cold, perfect for chilling my chest like a living AC.
-Kyuu...
Realizing escape was futile, it stopped struggling. If anything, it seemed to enjoy my warm embrace.
"Hehe... squish squish... so nice..."
We were both blissed out when a sweet scent wafted up.
I stared down at the baby slime.
-Kyuu...?
It trembled with uneasy eyes.
I swallowed hard.
"Can I just lick it once...?"
The slime shook its head wildly, but that sugary aroma tempted me.
Just a little... just a little...
I stuck out my tongue and gave it a tiny lick.
"...!"
Bliss. Straight-up grape candy!
-Kyuu...
RatPT, initially freaked, seemed convinced once I survived unscathed. Sorry, baby slime, but after savoring that sweetness, I let it go.
-Boing boing!
It bounced away happily.
Training quota met for the day. Time to say goodbye, sadly.
I smacked my lips wistfully and waved.
"Bye-bye."
-Kyuu...!
The baby slime boinged off, and I hit the clean exit button.
Then, end game.
[Would you like to end the Full Immersion VR Training Program?]
"Yes."
-Hiss...
VR ended; eyes open—no ruined city, just the pristine white capsule.
"Ughhh..."
I wrinkled my nose at the sloshing liquid inside and hit the open button.
-Hiss...
The lid slid open. I hit auto-dry, grabbed my clothes, suited up, and stepped out slowly.
"..."
Han A-young stood there, eyes meeting mine.
She'd come down to the training room to watch.
She said nothing, but feeling guilty, I scratched my head and looked away.
VR made it okay, but licking an anomaly? Risky.
"I'm outtt..."
I sidled up for a greeting; she brushed water from my hair.
"Good job. Our angel's gotten so strong."
"Haha..."
"Let's dry you off first."
"Sure."
Holding her hand, we headed to the lounge inside the training area.
A week of training made it familiar now.
I plopped on a chair, reaching for the hairdryer cord—
"Hold on, let me do it, angel."
"Huh...?"
She grabbed my hand, stopping me from plugging in.
"Wet hands on a cord could shock you—dangerous."
"Oh...!"
She sat first, patted her lap.
"Hop up. I'll dry it."
"O-okay..."
A bit embarrassing to sit on her lap, but who refuses a blowout?
"Up you go..."
I hopped on; she pulled me close, nestling my head against her chest.
Mmm... A-young unnie's are big too...
Enjoying the natural pillow, the dryer hummed to life—lukewarm air, gentle on my strands.
"Ehehe..."
My face melted into a goofy grin from the fluffy bliss.
Poke.
She prodded my cheek.
"Angel."
"Yeah...?"
"No matter how tasty they look, don't eat anomalies, okay?"
I nodded.
"I won't eat any more."
"Good girl."
Hair dried, she braided it while I casually asked,
"But in real life, do baby slimes taste like grapes too?"
"Angel..."
"J-just curious!"
She shook her head, stretching my cheeks like mochi.
"I'll supply unlimited grape candy from now on. No more slime-licking."
Unlimited grape candy...!
I nodded vigorously.
"Yes...! I won't!"
"But brush after candy—and gargle properly?"
"Yes! Brush and gargle extra hard!"