Slamming the door, Himo left the dumbfounded lord outside. Together with Phylia, he walked around in the mansion.

The walls were adorned by paintings, each picture frame made in gold. A luxurious carpet covered the floor, stomped on by the several sofas. Tens of rooms held many cabinets filled with antiques. Even furniture such as tables had gold ornaments.

“As I thought, this isn’t something he should have.” Himo rested his chin on a hand. “Let’s go out.”

Followed by Phylia, Himo strolled on the streets. There was no trace of the lord. Where did he go? Himo frowned. After a second of thought, he walked up to a cat-woman. Like the others walking at the sides of the street, she wore only rags and was starved. From the wrinkles on her face, she appeared to be in her forties, but she was actually just in her twenties.

Gifting her pre-cooked meat, Himo said, “Hello, do you mind a question?”

“Sure, what is it?” While she was wary, there was nothing she wouldn’t do for some food.

“Does the lord of this place do something strange? Compared to the rest of the village, his mansion is way too luxurious.” As soon as he said those words, not only the woman he was talking to but also every person in the area paled and ran away. From that moment, everyone began to avoid him at all costs.

Himo was dumbfounded. He turned toward Phylia. “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”

To his question, she had only a single answer. Morphing her hand into a candy.

Seeing that, he chuckled and stroked her head. “The one you ate was the last one, but I promise that I’ll search for some more.”

Phylia froze. She regretted finishing the candy so quickly. Why didn’t she savor it more?

[The user could buy candies from the shop. There is a special discount only for today—one candy, one BS point.]

...No, thanks.

After strolling a bit more, the two walked back to the mansion. 

Himo glanced at Phylia. “Let’s go to sleep. If something happens, wake me up.” 

Soon, the two occupied a canopy bed(after changing its sheets), and Himo fell asleep. Phylia, meanwhile, morphed into a pillow for him. As slimes don’t need to sleep, she spent the night by stroking his snow-white hair in the same way he had done to her.

And naturally, Himo didn’t notice it.

-----

Sprawled on the red canopy bed, Himo’s sleepiness fought desperately against Phylia’s pokes. It didn’t last long. Assaulted by the combined attack of Phylia and the sunshine from the window, his eyes had no choice but to open. “Good morning…” He rubbed his eyes, still half asleep.

She nodded.

He then prepared himself quickly before walking out of the bedroom. Over them, six shadows slunk through a hidden compartment on the ceiling—they awaited the perfect moment to strike.

Himo, meanwhile, headed for the exit. Following the way out, he walked through a room filled with invaluable paintings and raised an eyebrow. “I didn’t see this room before… just how big is this place?”

Abusing his distraction, one of the shadows darted toward him, sending a kick to his nape. But Himo avoided to the side, grabbed its leg, and threw it to the wall—over the paintings. With a thud, the shadow crashed on the paintings, making a hole in the wall. No painting survived the attack.

Another shadow yelled at the sight, “My paintings!”

Himo recognized that voice instantly. “Welcome back, supposed Lord! How was sleeping on the mud?” As he said that, the other four shadows darted to his back—only for a dark violin to cover their sight. Like a baseball batter, Himo slammed the violin over the four figures, sending them over the wall. And thus, four new holes appeared. Shattered antiques and destroyed paintings fell to the floor.

“My house! My mansion! My dwelling! Noo!” The lord paled. He dashed out of his hiding to attack Himo, but like the others, a single kick helped him to increase the number of holes yet again. He passed out.

Aside from the lord, the other five seemed unhurt albeit surprised. They were three girls and two men, all in the first string—Dantian Core Formation realm cultivators. They wore black suits and wielded swords. It was clear that they were a team.

"So..." Himo smiled. "Who is the leader among you?"

Hearing his question, they couldn’t refrain from glancing at the lord whose legs dangled from the hole in the wall.

“That guy? Really?” Himo was speechless. Until then, he had thought of the lord as a mere lackey.

The five let out a heavy sigh. After a few seconds, a woman stepped forward. “Putting that aside, we’re here for you two. Shu Himo and Shu Aria, correct? We are here specifically to take the both of you away. You have no right to refuse, and if you pose resistance we will—”

“What did you just say?” Himo’s tone turned frosty. The atmosphere grew sharp as goosebumps arose on the arms of the five. “You’re aiming at my sister?” With but a stacked [Hopper_x2], he darted to her and punched her abdomen, sending her crashing against a wall. She spurted blood.

“Phylia!”

Hearing his call, Phylia leaped on the woman and engulfed her body. Under the horrified gazes of the four, the green slime melted her body from the inside, studying the structure of her organs. Analyzing from vocal cords to stomach and more, Phylia accumulated the knowledge of how to emit sounds—how to speak. While it was impossible to reproduce it accurately, she could at least copy the shape.

Before that sight, the color drained from the four’s faces. “Retreat! Now, fast!” They abandoned the lord to his destiny and dashed out—

A dark blade severed their lower body.

Holding the scythe on his shoulder, Himo sneered at the four. “Did you think I would let you escape? Answer me. Are you in cahoots with the assassins from the last time?” Folding his arms, he waited for their reply.

But it never came. Even after several minutes, none of them moved a finger.

Staring at the pool of blood soaking the floor, Himo scratched his head. “They passed out. I fear that I exaggerated a bit...”

[They are clearly dead. It’s already way past exaggerating “a bit”.]

As if he didn’t hear the system, Himo’s eyes brightened at the sight of a round man stuck in the wall. “There is still that guy!”