[Thank you so much, Justin_Matlock_0090, for the Magic Castle Super Gift!! I’m adding 2 more bonus Chapters to the stockpile for you!! And you picked the perfect time to send this gift, since the next Chapter introduces the characters of the story’s Magic Castle sponsors, hehe. You’ll be supporting characters with a few appearances throughout the story! Any ideas or suggestions can be sent via my Discord DM; I’m completely open to adding small details as long as they aren’t too over-the-top, please XD]
"So are we okay now?" Lohan asked, artificially blinking the two little eyes he’d formed.
Lisa looked at that funny, cute scene and laughed. "Yes, I’m sorry again for being irrational."
Lohan didn’t dwell on the subject any further and formed a tiny little hand into a fist, pointing it forward and "looking" at Lisa.
Although the eyes had no actual function, since he could still see 360 degrees around himself, Lohan gradually realized that having eyes like this was a great way to improve his interaction with other people.
The biggest challenge with these eyes was forming them the first time; after that, he only needed Morphological Memory to keep this form active at all times.
The energy consumption and focus required were very low, practically nonexistent for someone who digested thousands of units of biomass per hour.
Lisa looked at that small fist and was initially confused.
Until Lohan waved his fist in front of her, subtly pointing at her paw. Then the fox hesitantly extended her small paw forward, and Lohan stretched out his fist, touching Lisa’s paw in greeting.
Lisa’s eyes sparkled at the sight, her mouth opening slightly in surprise but with the corners turned up.
It was the first time Lisa had exchanged such an archaic greeting, but the feeling was very good.
Seeing that they were basically on good terms again, Lohan prepared to finally ask about Lisa’s real name, to confirm if she was the Isabella Vance who had studied with him in college.
But suddenly a notification popped up in front of Lisa, causing her eyebrows to rise slightly and a smile to appear on her face.
"Alice has arrived in Thalendor!" she said excitedly. "Come on, Halon, I want to introduce you to my best friend!"
Lohan watched the sparkle in Lisa’s eyes and felt he could wait to confirm that later.
’I can ask that later; it’s not like that answer would change anything for me anyway.’ Lohan thought, pulling the small, jelly-like hand back into his blue mass.
He decided to set the matter aside for now. After all, they had a guild to build, and if Lisa trusted this "Alice" so much, she must be an important ally for Astralis Requiem.
Despite the decision, a twinge of apprehension still nagged at his mind.
Finding new Players was always a risk... he remembered how other guilds acted, treating everyone beneath them like trash. But Lohan took a deep breath, or the equivalent of it, feeling the Mana circulate within him, and sought confidence.
He was no longer some random kid with no future from the Lower Zone, or a weak slime that only digested grass; he was Halon, the first PK of the Open World, Vice President of a pioneering guild, and a Level 9 Predator with a Double Mythic Base.
"It’s okay, Lisa. Let’s go meet her; I’m curious to meet my best friend’s best friend." Lohan said, trying to sound confident as he winked at her with one eye.
Lisa nodded, her tail swishing with an energy Lohan rarely saw. She crouched down, allowing him to climb onto her back, and dashed toward the main gates of Thalendor.
To do this, Lohan didn’t wrap Lisa’s body in the living armor, since she had specifically asked him not to do that in front of her friends.
Upon reaching the entrance to the elven capital, the guards, recognizing the [Thalendor Level 3 ID Cards] that Lohan promptly displayed with his little jelly hand, respectfully made way for them.
They crossed the main arch, where cascades of crystal-clear water created eternal rainbows, and proceeded to a square near the Great Horizon Bazaar.
Passing through the gate, Lohan climbed down from Lisa’s back and rolled beside her, using his enhanced vision to search for the group.
Then he spotted a group of six people acting completely differently from the people of Thalendor.
They were standing near a crystal statue, and the discrepancy in aura between them and the surrounding NPCs was clear to his [Instinctive Perception Lv 15].
At the center of the group was a girl who seemed to float even while standing still.
She had short, layered hair, black as a raven’s wing, and eyes that sparkled with curiosity at everything around her, clearly marveling at the cityscape.
That was Alice. As soon as she saw the white fox approaching, she leaped with joy, waving her arms in an infectious manner.
Around her, five figures maintained a professional guard posture. Lohan activated his [Chemosensory Aptitude Lv 11] and sensed that everyone there exuded a density of Mana far superior to that of ordinary adventurers.
Alice ran toward Lisa, completely ignoring the "elite" composure the group of soldiers was trying to maintain.
"Bella! You’re finally here!" Alice exclaimed, stopping just inches from the fox and staring wide-eyed at the blue Slime beside her. "And this must be the famous Halon! Oh, he’s so much cuter and shinier than I imagined! Can I touch him? He looks as soft as a little blueberry!"
Lohan froze, surprised by Alice’s over-the-top excitement.
He realized that Alice was the exact opposite of Lisa’s coldness, and that overflowing energy left him momentarily unsure of how to react.
The soldiers behind Alice looked at the pair of monsters approaching with curiosity; they followed close behind, maintaining a respectful distance from the "Mistress," but Lohan felt the distinct gaze of each one upon him, trying to understand how these creatures would lead them in creating an Elite guild.