"It seems I've been interfering with their business," Lime said casually.
"Exploiting children through the guise of running an orphanage."
While it was a human issue, it wasn't hard to imagine. Children, especially orphans, were the most vulnerable. The world was full of people who saw not exploiting them as foolish.
I lowered my gaze slightly. "What about cleaning up the mess? Quite a few people died."
Lime replied calmly, "I didn't join a human guild for no reason. They can handle that much."
"The guild will take care of everything?"
Rena stood beside me and answered instead. "This man is an appraiser. He has advanced appraisal skills."
Lime smiled and nodded. "Indeed. It's a scanning ability utilizing my racial traits. Thanks to that, I'm granted plenty of leeway within the guild."
"Our guild is quite practical. Would you consider joining? I pride myself on recognizing potential, and I believe you'd be an excellent member."
I hesitated briefly but shook my head. I had no interest in being tied down by a guild. Forming connections with others was inconvenient, especially given how often I might die and start over.
The more bonds I formed, the more complications I'd face in my next life. Even Rubia had left a significant emotional impact on me despite being someone I'd reluctantly taken under my wing.
The same went for Rena. Ordinarily, I wouldn't have cared about someone like her. Yet, here I was, half-dragged to an orphanage. Getting closer to others wasn't just troublesome now, it would also become a burden in future loops.
"No, I'll pass on joining," I said firmly.
"That's a pity. If you change your mind, please feel free to visit anytime," Lime replied.
"That won't happen before I die," I retorted. Then I nudged Rena. "Instead of me, shouldn't this one be applying for full membership? She's probably prepared for it."
I stepped back as Rena took over the conversation.
"Here's the contribution fee. I'm applying for a promotion to full membership," she said.
Rena placed a lump of silver coins, melted and fused together, on the table. Lime extended his hand.
His hand melted into a gooey mass, enveloping the silver lump. It was a grotesque sight. As his gelatinous hand swept over the silver, impurities were separated and fell to the side.
"Judging by the weight, this totals 91 roti. It meets the promotion requirement of 80 roti. Shall I proceed with your application?"
Rena nodded. Lime looked at her and spoke.
"Excellent. I'll send it to the headquarters, and the remaining amount will be refunded. From now on, your rights are equal to mine. You are now a full guild member."
A smile spread across Rena's face. This must have been what she wanted.
[Scenario Updated: Rena's Story]
— Rena has become a full member of the T&T Guild. Information access levels have increased.
— You can now engage with the T&T Guild more efficiently through Rena.
[Assimilation Rate has decreased.]
A scenario... update?
I reviewed the scenario message.
— Promote her to the position of T&T Guild Branch Manager! The 'Ally in the Shadows' scenario will activate.
What would fulfilling this condition lead to?
It felt like it wasn't far off.
While I pondered this, the sound of a drawer opening reached my ears.
Lime retrieved a glowing stone tablet.
"This is the headquarters' charter. It's a formal procedure for your promotion. Please read it aloud."
Rena read the words on the tablet aloud. "If you acquire information that poses a significant threat to Ember, you must share it through all available channels without delay."
After she finished, I couldn't help but interrupt. "Ember?"
All eyes in the room turned to me simultaneously.
"Is there an issue?" Lime asked, puzzled.
Hearing the word "Ember" stirred something I had nearly forgotten.
"I'm curious why Ember is mentioned in the oath. Doesn't it seem out of place?"
Lime explained, "Ah, that's because the guild's headquarters is located in Ember."
In a few months, Embermere would face a major threat.
The Empire would target the city-state of Embermere, renowned for its neutral port status, as the first strike in the Great War against the Free Confederation. They'd use the war as an excuse to crush Embermere's defiant anarchists.
I said, "One question."
"If the Empire were to invade the Free Confederation, wouldn't Ember be their biggest obstacle?"
Rena's eyes widened. Lime leaned forward, intrigued.
"So you're aware of the Empire's warlike tendencies," Lime remarked.
"Exactly. Geographically and politically, Ember would be a significant hindrance to an invader."
Watching Lime, a slime in human form, speak knowledgeably about human politics felt oddly surreal.
Lime continued, "That city-state, balancing between two powers, is likely to provoke the stronger aggressor. It's a thorny issue for the Empire."
"Then isn't the major threat already upon us?"
Lime clasped his gelatinous hands together, forming a bizarrely human-like gesture.
"Indeed, you're correct. However..."
He paused for a moment.
"Now that Rena is a full member, anything I know will soon be shared with you through her."
"That's right," Rena agreed.
Her coffee cup was still nearly full.
Lime added, "Ember has already... prepared a response. That's all I know."
"A response? Already?"
I kept my expression neutral, but internally, I shook my head. No. They hadn't succeeded. The war would happen, and Ember would be the first to fall into ashes.
Should I tell them? Lime might believe me.
I asked him, "By the way, are you a mage?"
"No. Aside from appraisal skills, I have no other abilities. My combat strength is... pitiful."
Pitiful? Hardly, I thought, suppressing a laugh.
"Ah, looks like you need to switch out your armor. I’ll go to the city and get some for you."
"Can I just repair this one?"
"It's possible, but the cost—"
"I don't care. I’d repaired."
I handed over my damaged armor.
"Is there anything else you need? Please don't hesitate to ask."
Of course, there were many things I needed. Starting with something Lime might know.
"What do you know about the Necron Cult?"
Lime's expression turned troubled. "I'm sorry, but we have an information-sharing agreement with them. Both sides are alerted if either investigates the other."
"So if I use you to investigate them, they'll find out?"
Rena's earlier comments came to mind. It was possible to extract information now and choose death later if necessary. However, I decided against a reckless approach. It was better to gather more information before taking such drastic measures.
I thought for a moment. Something else came to mind.
"Then..." I hesitated briefly before asking. "Do you know of an author named Kevin Ashton?"
Lime's expression suggested he was familiar with the name.
I leaned forward, excited. "Yes, Kevin Ashton. Do you have any of his books?"
Lime nodded, his movements meticulously human-like. "Yes, I own a few. He was the eldest son of a duke's family and a top-ranking mage of Azure Tower. I don't know his current whereabouts, though."
"A mage of the highest order?"
"Yes, a tower master-level mage. But my knowledge is fragmentary."
Without realizing it, I pulled out a lump of melted gold coins from my pouch and placed it on the table.
"Can I see those books?"
Lime returned from his study, carrying three books.
"Feel free to read them. I have a habit of collecting, so I'd rather not sell them."
That was fine with me. It was enough that I could read them.
"How much should I pay to borrow them?"
Lime shook his head. "Books only have value when read. I can't charge for something I didn't write myself."
After some back-and-forth, I forced a few silver coins on him for my own peace of mind.
The books were: Achievements of Kevin Ashton - Volume 4, Achievements of Kevin Ashton - Volume 17, Kevin Ashton and the Lewd Slime Maid.
I couldn't help but feel awkward about the titles. I had no desire to own them. I just wanted to glean their wisdom and move on.
While I was skimming through them, Lime casually commented from the side, "He frequently changes his name, so many don't recognize him by Kevin Ashton."
"Hmm... I'll just borrow these today."
"Take your time," Lime said graciously.
Although I wanted to delve into the books immediately, I remembered I had one more request for Lime.
"Could you appraise an item for me?"
I pulled out the red gem, the ruby I'd extracted from the giant spider's heart.
I placed it on the table. Its ominous crimson glow slowly spread, and its gleaming surface resembled a sinister eye.
"An interesting item," Lime remarked, extending a hand.
His hand melted into a green ooze, enveloping the ruby. I watched as his amorphous hand absorbed the gem's eerie glow.
"Scanning complete," he finally said.
The green ooze receded, reforming into a human hand. Lime smiled.
"This is a valuable gem. It has absorbed significant energy over time from blood and despair. It could be embedded into a weapon or..."
While he explained its uses, I didn't hear a word. Before me, a message appeared.
— Created from the accumulated sorrow and screams of humans consumed by the Webslinger.
— Usable as a material for the first stage of evolution (Class Change)
Condition: Exclusive to Monster Classes
Effects Applied Upon Evolving to the First Stage:
[Clue for Evolution Unlocked.]
[Assimilation Rate has decreased.]
I felt dizzy for a moment with all the new information.