Slimes' Greedy Wishes and the Gate's Rebirth

Bbi-! A pair of sparkling eyes locked onto me. What the hell could they be scheming to make their eyes shine like that? I was already getting anxious. What if they demanded I hand over my position as owner or something? Whitey might not pull that shit, but Blackie? That little bastard was totally capable.

But I couldn't just ignore them. Not with those expectant eyes staring me down. Fuck it, I gave in.

"So, what do you want?"

Bbi-! I sighed and asked what they were after. Blackie seized the moment and made its move.

Bbiik… Wow, that glare was ferocious. Whitey was staring daggers at Blackie, eyes screaming it could kill right then and there. But Blackie didn't give a damn. It brushed off Whitey's glare like nothing and waddled over to me, heavy eyelids be damned. Pure confidence in its own agenda.

"Alright, you first." Sorry, Whitey. Should've raised your hand faster.

Blackie met my eyes with a face full of anticipation at my question. Whatever this punk wanted, if it was too outrageous, I'd shut it down on the spot. I shot it a look that said pick something reasonable.

Bbi-! Blackie pointed at something like it had made its choice. Its stubby, squishy hand jabbed in a direction. I followed its gaze.

"…What? You want me to buy you pants or something?"

There was my pocket—the right one on the black shorts I was wearing. Did it want clothes? Wait, did slimes even grasp the concept of clothing? As that thought crossed my mind, Blackie started freaking out.

Bbik-! Bbik-! It shook its head wildly and stomped around. What the fuck did it want? It kept squeaking bbi-! bbi-! like I was supposed to magically understand. I calmed the thrashing idiot down first.

"Okay, okay, got it. Not that, right?"

Bbiii—! Jesus, so damn demanding. Blackie nodded furiously and pointed at my right pocket again. What the hell did I even have in there? I couldn't figure out why it kept jabbing at my pocket. I'd never put anything in there it'd want…

Still, it was insistent, so I figured I'd check.

"Lemme see what's in this pocket…"

I reached into the right pocket of my black shorts. Felt something rectangular.

"A smartphone…?"

Bbik-! The pinnacle of modern tech.

"You… want my phone?"

Nod. Nod. Nod.

No fucking way. A jelly blob wanting a smartphone? More shocking than if it'd asked for a weapon or treats. Modern MZ slimes were out here craving SNS? I poked Blackie in disbelief.

"Dude, what're you gonna do with something bigger than your whole body? You even know how to use it?"

Bbiiiing—!!!

'Ow, my ears. Fuck.' Guess it did. Or at least, that reaction screamed it had plans. Rolling on the ground like a deranged brown gorilla from Banana hell, blaring like an air raid siren. Shit. If I didn't give in, it'd probably hold a knife to my throat.

"Fine! Stop! It's mine anyway. I'll buy you a new one later!"

Bbi! Blackie froze like nothing happened. Where'd it learn that tactic? Sneaky little shit. Boy or girl, didn't matter. As soon as it calmed, it ditched me and bolted to the slimes.

"…Sigh."

Looked like it ate shit and died happy. Whatever. A cheap flip phone would do the trick~ Should've specified smartphone if it wanted the real deal.

I watched Blackie's excited waddle back to the slimes. Have fun playing—your phone's a goddamn flip phone, bitch.

"One down."

I turned from Blackie to Whitey. Honestly, this one was the real problem. No clue what it'd want. Blackie was predictable—something materialistic. But Whitey? Zero read. Those blank eyes felt like staring down an unpredictable natural disaster.

"…Whitey, what do you want?"

Unsettling, but I asked anyway. No response. No squeak. No movement. Just staring. Couldn't it twitch or something? This creepy fucker was seriously freaking me out.

"Nothing at all?"

I met its piercing gaze. Maybe that was a good thing? A flicker of hope rose—then shattered with a slow head shake. My patience was fraying. If you want something, say it. Why just stare…?

Then it hit me. Its gaze wasn't on my eyes. A bit lower.

"…My hair?"

Bbi…! Whitey nodded vigorously. Uh… why the hell hair? Everything else made sense, but hair? What for? I blanked out. No idea what it planned, but it felt wrong. Unsettling.

"…Not what I'm thinking, right?"

Misunderstanding? Probably wanted something else, and I jumped to hair. Right?

Bbi…! Nope. Its eyes bulged, locked on my hair—specifically the white strands. I stared back with a weird mix ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠of emotions.

Bbi, bbi…?

"Uh, yeah, okay, here."

Its eyes drooped like it might cry. I soothed it as best I could and reached for my hair. Fine, silver lining: free reward, just one lock of hair. No cost. Think positive.

Slowly plucked a strand. Those expectant eyes were too much— I turned my head away with my other hand.

Snap—

"Hiss— ow, that stings."

A sharp sting. Three long white strands in my hand. They say plucking hair causes baldness. This punk wouldn't take responsibility, so why hair of all things?

I sighed ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and tossed the strands over like trash.

Bbi…! Ecstatic, the creepy little shit. Eyes blooming with joy as it snatched them up.

"…Whatever makes you happy."

Something obsessive and manic in that gaze. I looked away. No need to peer into the abyss—better not know. Kinda scary, too.

And right on cue, a message popped up.

"Yes! Finally, my reward!"

One slime got my phone, the other my hair. If nothing for me, I'd be pissed. Now my excitement peaked. Message confirmed: quest cleared.

That meant factory operations fixed and rewards. Sweet.

"Woohoo— come to mama, rewards!"

High on life, better than anyone. Old saying: good things come to those who wait.

"Kiyaat-hoo!"

Dopamine exploded. The blue window felt like cosmic validation, sending shivers down my spine. Auction stock secured. Urgent issues? ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Solved.

Clink-clink— Goblin Head Smoothies rained down below the message.

"Come here, mama's gonna hug you tight!"

I leaped in, swimming through them like an angel in treasure. All money. No clue the value, but enough for dozens of chickens at least.

Then—

"Upgrade?"

New message. Oh yeah, quest reward included gate level-up. What changed? No clue, but probably good. I stashed the smoothies and stood, brushing off to watch.

A white membrane spread from me as the baseline. Rumble— The gate interior shook violently. Indescribable—like an earthquake warping space itself.

"Wh-what the fuck? This is 'upgrade'?"

Gonna kill us all? Hidden trap all along? Panic surged.

But no. The membrane hit the horizon, vibrations stopped.

Fwaaah— Blinding light swallowed me and the slimes.

*

Moments later, light faded. Unfamiliar ceiling.

"Wh-what is this?"

I sat up. Soft sensation. Was it a dream? Sleeping in the new house? Brain fogged.

Then surroundings hit: Not home. All wood materials. Furniture I'd never seen: fireplace, rocking chair, bed. What the hell?

No time to process—a message appeared.

"N-no, give some explanation!"

What the fuck, system? Don't hoard the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠info—tell me! One-sided bullshit. No dice.

"Fea…tures? Manager? Invitation?"

Just cryptic bullshit, then poof. Gone. Cold as ice.