violently, then rose, unleashing a large wave that revealed something even more monstrous.
Violet began to tremble as she stared at the enormous shape emerging slowly from the water and approaching the shore.
And now where did THAT come from???
Once the creature reached the bank, it climbed up, revealing the form of a massive Slime that advanced straight toward the rats—who, terrified, began retreating.
After a brief exchange of glances, the leader of the rats let out another horrifying screech, and at its command the smaller rats hurled themselves at the huge slime, biting and scratching at it.
The giant gelatinous creature did not react, letting the monsters crash into its soft, wobbling body.
Caught up in their frenzy, the rats didn't realize the slime's body was slowly absorbing them, giving them no escape.
One by one, the small rats were engulfed by the slime and began dissolving inside the gelatinous mass.
Seeing its pack swallowed whole, the leader threw itself at the enemy, shrieking in rage.
Violet watched as the monster was swallowed as well, thrashing and dissolving until it vanished completely.
Suddenly, silence fell.
Ghghghghghghg!
Violet trembled violently, gripping her staff so tightly she thought she might collapse.
The slime stared at her—its enormous, expressionless eyes fixed on her figure.
Then, slowly… the monster began to move toward her.
Violet wanted to run, but her legs wouldn't budge. She was trapped.
The slime dragged itself closer until it was only a short distance from her, then stopped, still staring at her.
"Please… don't eat me…"
The slime stared deeply into her eyes.
Then, from within the gelatinous mass, bubbles formed—growing larger and rising through its body until they reached its mouth.
The slime opened its jaws wide, and Violet squeezed her eyes shut, bracing herself for what she believed was inevitable: being devoured and absorbed, just like the smaller monsters moments before.
With her eyes closed, Violet saw her entire life flash before her…
Then she suddenly felt herself being engulfed by warm, thick, foul-smelling gelatin that covered her completely.
Sguashhhhh…
For a moment there was silence. Then Violet opened her eyes.
I'm… still alive?
She looked down at her body, coated in sticky slime, then lifted her gaze.
The slime was staring down at her, expressionless.
Then a sound.
"Buuuuuuuuuurp!"
With a horrifying, echoing retch, the slime spit something out, splattering it onto the ground right at Violet's feet.
Eyes wide in shock, she stared at the monster as it slowly turned away without a sound, dragging itself back toward the canal and sliding into the water until it disappeared completely.
Left frozen in place, unsure of what to say or do, Violet finally lowered her gaze to the ground to look at what the monster had deposited before her.
At her feet lay the bones of the poor rats the gelatinous creature had devoured—white, and completely stripped clean.
Gross…
The danger, just as suddenly as it had come, was gone. Feeling her strength leave her, Violet collapsed to her knees.
She stayed like that for a long time, unable to erase from her mind the terrifying scene she had just witnessed.
Why me… Why always me…
After what felt like ages lying on the cold floor of that awful place, Violet forced herself to move, though her legs were still trembling from fear.
She pushed herself upright, staring blankly into the distance. She glanced once more at the canal the slime had submerged into, and a sudden shiver ran down her spine, snapping her back to reality.
I need to get out of here. Now—before that thing changes its mind.
Turning into the tunnel behind her, Violet forced herself forward again, dragging her feet and her staff with her—its tip scraping across the stone floor.
She wandered through the tunnels for a long while, encountering no more monsters, until she noticed a recessed area with a small staircase leading upward.
Please… let that be the exit…
Climbing the steps with difficulty, she felt cooler air brushing against her face, and saw a bright light farther ahead.
Violet hurried toward it, finally stepping outside—only to be nearly blinded by the harsh mid-morning sunlight.
She looked around and realized that the opening behind her wasn't the same one she had used to enter the city sewers.
She was somewhere in the central districts of the town.
Where am I now?
She simply climbed up to street level, finding herself on a deserted road.
A little farther ahead, set into the wall of a tall building, there was a fountain.
Still covered in foul-smelling slime, Violet headed toward it and instinctively dunked her entire head into the water, shaking her hair with her hands, trying to clean it.
Stupid, stupid Violet! You almost died in there!
Once she came back up and made sure no one was nearby, she quickly removed her robe, plunging it into the water and scrubbing it. The slime peeled off and floated to the surface in thick blobs.
Brilliant idea, Violet. Next time you might as well throw yourself into a pack of wolves—at least you'd get it over with faster…
After rinsing the robe one last time and wringing it with all the strength she had left, she put it back on—still dripping wet.
It still smelled, but at least most of the slime the monster had vomited onto her was gone.
She felt drained, exhausted, and disappointed at how things had turned out.
I guess I should be grateful I'm even alive…
The guild, the rats, the slime—without realizing it, she had been swept away by excitement and had jumped into that mission completely unprepared.
"The life of an adventurer is really tough…"
Those words, spoken under her breath, felt like a sudden realization.
"…I've been foolish. Next time I'll make sure I'm properly prepared before taking on another mission."
It had gone badly.
No tails, no reward, and on top of that she'd almost lost her life.
But in the end, these were the risks of the profession she had chosen.
The sun was high in the sky, signaling that early afternoon had arrived.
I'll try again tomorrow!
With that thought, Violet set off, intending to return to the orphanage so she could finally rest.
Making her way through the narrow streets, she eventually found herself once again in the market square, forced to backtrack in an attempt to find the correct road.
She walked for a long time, lost in her thoughts.
Tired and feeling a bit of pain in her feet, Violet finally stopped and sat down on a small stone stairway—just a few steps in a quiet, lightly traveled street.
In the distance, she saw people walking peacefully.
Two well-dressed adults holding the hand of a small child.
Violet watched them for a moment.
They were smiling and looked happy. She found herself imagining what her life might have been like if she had stayed with her own parents.
A feeling of emptiness washed over her.
No point thinking about that too much…
Violet shook those thoughts away, focusing instead on what she needed to do the next day: return to the guild and accept a new assignment, so she could shake off the failure of this long, exhausting day.
Then a voice.
"Violet!"
A figure ran toward her, smiling and waving, before stopping right in front of her.
Violet stared at the young girl, who was looking at her with teary, emotional eyes.
"…Nilly!" Violet jumped to her feet.
"Violet, it's been so long!" Nilly threw herself at her, hugging her tightly.
"I'm so happy to see you! But… what are you doing here? Are you working at a shop too? Don't tell me you got lost again!"
Violet flinched, suddenly realizing she was once again in the city's commercial district.
"What? Lost?"
She looked Nilly in the eyes.
The girl was her same age—slightly taller, with a slim build, bright blue eyes, and a short, golden blond bob haircut.
"You look great, Nilly."
The two girls studied each other with curiosity.
"Thank you! You look great too! It feels like forever… How have you been?"
Violet and Nilly had grown up together as orphans in the same home since they were little, and they had always been good friends.
Then one day, people came to the orphanage doors. A man and a woman, welcomed in by Mama Célene, explained that they had never been able to have children, but would be more than happy to adopt one of the kids living there.
They chose her—Nilly.
A mature, lively girl whose bright eyes had immediately won them over.
And they took her away with them.
Years had passed since then.
"I… yes. For now. I still live at the orphanage," Violet admitted with difficulty.
"But I'm about to leave, you know? I registered with the guild today."
Nilly gave her a more careful look, noticing the staff and the unfamiliar clothes.
"Really??? Wow! That's amazing! So you actually did it!"
Nilly hugged her again.
Violet had dreamed since childhood of going on great adventures.
Nilly, instead, had always hoped someone would take her away, adopt her, and teach her a trade so she could live peacefully.
Her wish had come true.
"Yes, well… I'm still inexperienced, but I think with time, you know… Anyway—are you still working at the shop?"
Violet spoke quickly, trying to shift the attention away from herself.
"Me? Oh, well, I can't complain. I'm still working at my family's bakery, as always. Ah! And I have a boyfriend!"
Nilly stretched out her hand, showing Violet a silver ring with a small gleaming stone set into it.
"A boyfriend?" Violet's curiosity turned dangerously nosy.
"Yes! He's an apprentice at one of the jewelers here in the commercial district. Well, actually, he's the owner's son. He asked me to marry him… Can you believe it?"
Violet, though genuinely happy for her friend, stared at the ring, feeling her blood boil with envy.
"Of course, we're still young. We need to wait until we're of age. But he's really kind, and he cares about me so much."
Seeing the sparkle in her friend's eyes, Violet couldn't do anything but congratulate her.
"I'm happy for you, Nilly… Truly."
Nilly stepped closer, taking Violet's hands in hers with a bright smile.
"Thank you, Violet. That means a lot."
Then a voice in the distance caught Nilly's attention. A tall, handsome young man was waving at her from down the street.
"Sorry, Violet, I really have to go."
Nilly hugged her again.
"Say hi to Mama Célene for me! And come visit sometimes—tell me about your adventures! See you soon!"
Nilly dashed off toward the boy waiting for her.
Violet watched them walk away, hand in hand, until they vanished from sight.
What a hellish day…
The sun was already sinking, and the shadows of the houses stretched across the ground, long and distorted.
"Well… I should head back."
Lost in thought, Violet crossed the city, eventually reaching the river. She found herself walking over a wide stone bridge that stretched above a broad, calm stream, surrounded by people coming and going from the central districts.
Once she reached the opposite bank, the scenery slowly changed.
The houses grew lower and simpler, and the smells drifting from this part of town became stronger.
The dirt road stretched straight ahead, and Violet followed it until she reached a large, dilapidated-looking building surrounded by a low wall.
She walked along it, approaching the main entrance of the orphanage.
In the distance she heard children's voices—loud, cheerful, chaotic.
They're all still outside?
Violet approached the small wooden gate leading into the orphanage yard and stepped through it, feeling the exhaustion of the long day finally settle into her bones.
"Now I'll take a nice bath and then—"
Splash…
The moment Violet set foot inside the courtyard, a full bucket of water crashed down on her.
Soaked from head to toe, she froze wide-eyed as the children—just as shocked as she was—stared at her in terror.
There were four of them.
Two human boys, Gal and Piro; a feline-looking therianthrope boy, Negis; and a tiny girl with rounded ears and a fluffy reddish tail, Lili.
Now dripping wet again, Violet watched fat droplets slide down her body and pool at her feet.
Her eyebrows twitched upward, beginning to tremble uncontrollably. A thick vein throbbed on her forehead.
"Who… who did this?"
The children stood frozen, watching her expression morph into that of a rabid beast ready to devour them all.
"S-sorry, big sis…"
Negis stepped forward, still holding the empty bucket in his hands.
"W-we were just playing, and then you walked in, so—"
"So it was you???"
Violet's face went bright red.