Code S.L.I.M.E.

Chapter 17: Is The Public Food?

CHAPTER 18 IS ALREADY COMPLETE, SO DON'T COMPLAIN, also join our discords

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Aoki's POV

Later that night, I was in Mother's office sitting on his desk.

Mother was being told various things by the largest of all the goblinkin. "The force of the explosion was enough to shatter some windows and cause hearing damage in the nearest populated area. Several healers were sent in response to the explosion, and once civilian property damage has been fully assessed, a repair fund request will be submitted for your approval."

"Right," Mother replied, not fully paying attention.

"There is an unusual field of magic in the area, according to military scouts. If you could investigate this phenomenon yourself, Lord Rimuru, it would be most helpful."

"Yeah, sure, I'll squeeze it in when I have time." Mother leaned back in his chair, looking up at the ceiling.

"... It seems we're also due for some unusual rain tomorrow," he muttered. "Rain with enough magicules that we can't let humans get exposed to it."

"I'll just ask Veldora to send it somewhere without any people." Mother was less efficient in his work than usual. He seemed distracted, and it wasn't the Thought Communication I could tell he had just opened with Uncle.

It must be because I hurt him. I hopped off his desk, and he gave me a concerned look as I settled in the corner of the room.

I refused Mother's offer to sit on his head throughout the night, deciding to stay on top of the desk. I did not want to be near Mother when I'd so recently hurt him.

Even if Mother claimed he was at fault. It just wasn't true.

I had taken control of the Null Energy...

Just a simple thought that I could, and I tried it. I wanted to feel it, feel the power that created me. That defined Mother. More than anything else, I needed to control it myself.

That wasn't what happened. It slipped away from me through holes I couldn't even see.

"Aoki." Mother placed his palm on top of me.

I recoiled and moved away, not wanting to hurt him again. Somehow I'd managed it. Mother was supposed to be invincible, but I'd managed it. I wouldn't do it again.

Mother kept staring at me, with his mouth in a thin frown. "You have been doing that all night, the sun's up now... Are we not going to have time to calm down?"

"I hurt Mother." There was no other response more worthy, and I'd repeated it a dozen times already.

Mother sighed again, before moving to be in front of the desk. "Maybe you did, but it was a situation I caused. Don't forget Aoki, I am always in control. Even if it doesn't seem like it."

Mother didn't feel completely confident, despite the words. I could feel it in his aura, and I knew only I could feel it.

[[Allow me.]] Father appeared next to Mother from a black portal. She then scooped me up, denying any attempt to escape, before sitting on the couch with me in her lap.

"Thank you, Ciel." Mother moved to pat me on the head. "Now then, we have a few minutes, how about taking a nap, Aoki?"

"No." I refused to sleep, I'd blocked one of Mother's attempts to activate the skill for me. Father would be harder to stop, but it didn't feel like Father was considering doing it by force.

Mother looked outside, as the light of the sun started peaking over the top of the building next door. "Ciel, how long until breakfast?"

"Thirteen and a half minutes, Rimuru." Father was petting me gently, while giving me some new information through physical contact. She began explaining how to create a 'stabilizing magic circuit' because she thought I was being too reckless with my use of magic.