A Blade Made of Slime

Chapter 15: Where the Water is Running

The party had raged on for quite a bit of time. Fran used up about 100k gold just for paying for everyone's drinks, which was insanity. Although at least that boosted Fran's reputation with her guildmates even further.

Most of the people in the guild were either passed out, nearly passed out, or weren't alcoholics. Part of me really wanted to join in but I was a complete stranger here. Even if there was some great alcohol here, I wasn't about to dive in and get smashed.

Fran had come out stumbling from the guild. One might think she got smashed too but she was just heavily sleep deprived since it was late at night and she had used up a load of energy fighting all sorts of enemies today. Not to mention but the past few days had been rather intense on her body. All sorts of stat developments and rapid growth had definitely pushed her body beyond its limits at times so I'm not surprised she was in this sort of state.

"Fran."

"Nn... mastah?"

"Come here."

I picked up Fran from her spot and levitated her onto my back. Once she was comfortably held onto, I began making our way back towards the inn.

"You really worked hard today."

"Nn... I did... very sleepy..."

"Yoshi yoshi... don't talk too much though. You've got no energy left...."

Even my Stamina Heal wouldn't do much to heal her fatigue in this state.

"Nn..."

I continued carrying her on my back. She was a leopard on the outside but once she was exhausted, she was nothing more than a little kitten. She was mentally mature but...

She was only twelve years old.

She wanted to do things herself and achieve things that only people in their twenties or thirties could accomplish. Her body was not at all suited to this sort of thing either.

Tomorrow, I would give her the best kind of celebration for the hard work. I wasn't going to let her work the next day no matter how much she annoyed me otherwise. It was going to be a celebration for her. She needs to know that she is still a child and that I'm there for her.

I eventually made it back to the inn but by the time I did, Fran was already asleep on my back. Seems like she found my back comfy enough to sleep on.

The receptionist was about to greet us but I had placed a finger over my mouth to shush her. Seems like she had instantly caught on and went silent. Although I overheard a comment from her.

"Thank you Fran for protecting our city."

Seems like the average person knew exactly who was to thank for the saving of Alessa. She really was a big deal now.

Eventually I reached Fran's room and made my way inside, she was still comfortably sleeping on my back but it was better if she slept on her bed. I gently removed the scabbard off her back using a bit of Telekinesis. I wanted to change her out from the armor but she'd probably wake up from me trying that so I just ended up laying her down comfortably on her bed before pulling the covers over her.

She was resting comfortably in the bed for the most part but...

She kept twitching her hands in the bed as if she were looking for something.

"Sheesh... here."

I gave her back the scabbard and sure enough her arms wrapped around it almost immediately after she felt it. She could not stay a single day without my blade in her arms.