My Slime Wife: Training and Pampering Her Makes Me Stronger
Chapter 12: The Ungrateful Women

Chapter 12: The Ungrateful Women

The campfire was still burning.

Although the goblins had been defeated, the flames continued consuming the remaining wood beneath the cage.

Liam carefully walked forward.

Above the fire, the two women were still trapped.

Their eyes were still filled with fear.

After everything they had been through, they couldn’t know if they were truly safe yet.

Lydia moved beside him.

Her small green body approached the flames.

Then a message appeared.

[Lydia: Liam.]

He looked at her.

"What is it?"

The slime moved slightly.

[Lydia: I think I have an idea.]

Liam waited.

[Lydia: I want to try consuming the fire.]

His eyes widened.

"The fire?"

He looked at the bonfire.

"Lydia, that sounds dangerous."

But she didn’t seem worried.

[Lydia: The goblins tried attacking me with fire.]

[Lydia: And I didn’t feel anything.]

[Lydia: Maybe I can absorb it.]

Liam thought for a few seconds.

It was true.

She had been attacked by burning spears.

And she hadn’t suffered any damage.

Thanks to the fire resistance she obtained from that strange pepper the system had called "Sacred Flame."

Although it still seemed ridiculous to him.

He sighed.

"Alright. If you think you can do it..."

He smiled as he watched the slime move.

"I trust you."

The slime slowly advanced.

Lydia approached the bonfire.

And then...

She dropped herself onto the flames.

The fire surrounded her body.

For a moment, Liam felt worried.

But nothing happened.

The gelatinous mass remained intact.

The flames began disappearing.

Slowly.

As if they were being absorbed into Lydia’s body.

Liam watched in surprise.

"It worked..."

The fire disappeared faster and faster.

Until finally, the bonfire was extinguished.

Only smoke remained.

Then a message appeared.

[Your Slime has consumed Charcoal.]

Liam stared at the window.

"Charcoal?"

He blinked.

"Well... that actually makes some sense."

He looked at the black remains of the fire.

"But before this, the system called a simple pepper a Legendary Flame."

He shook his head.

"I don’t know who created this system, but they definitely have a strange way of classifying things."

Lydia moved slightly, as if she was laughing.

Liam smiled.

Then he looked back toward the cage.

The women were still watching him.

Now with less fear, but still confused.

"Don’t worry."

Liam said.

"We’re going to help you."

The two women quickly nodded.

Liam looked at the wooden structure.

The cage was hanging above what had once been the bonfire.

The main rope was tied to a high branch.

"I need to climb up."

He looked at Lydia.

"Lydia. Can you help me?"

The slime approached.

[Lydia: Of course.]

"I need to get up there and cut the rope. And then..."

He looked down.

"I need you to cushion the fall."

The response came immediately.

[Lydia: Don’t take your eyes off me.]

Liam smiled.

"Understood."

Then Lydia began moving.

Her body stretched.

First, she wrapped around his legs.

Then she moved underneath his body, like a living platform.

Liam felt himself begin to rise.

The gelatinous mass stretched farther and farther, until she brought him close to the top of the cage.

"This is still strange."

He muttered.

But by now, nothing could surprise him anymore.

From above, he watched Lydia position herself.

She moved slowly and carefully.

Passing over the ashes of the bonfire.

Trying to find the best position to catch the fall.

[Lydia: I’m almost ready.]

Liam looked down.

The small slime began expanding.

Covering a large area.

[Lydia: I think we’re good.]

He nodded.

He took a stone he had picked up earlier from the ground.

It had a slightly sharp edge.

It wasn’t a perfect tool, but it was enough.

He began cutting the rope.

The fibers started breaking.

But then he heard a sound.

Crack.

Liam looked up.

The rope was no longer holding.

The weight of the cage, the two women, and himself...

It was too much.

"No..."

The rope snapped.

The cage fell.

The women screamed.

Liam closed his eyes.

But before they hit the ground, they landed on Lydia.

The gelatinous mass completely absorbed the impact.

The cage tilted.

But nobody was injured.

Liam opened his eyes.

They were still alive.

"That was close."

The slime beneath him moved.

[Lydia: But it worked.]

He smiled.

"Yeah. It worked."

◇◆◇

After a few minutes, Liam managed to free the women.

He removed their ropes.

Then he took away the cloth covering their mouths.

The two women breathed deeply.

And before he could say anything...

One of them hugged him.

"Thank you! We thought we were going to die."

The other approached as well.

"You saved us. And that little green thing too."

Liam was surprised.

But then the questions started.

"Are you a hunter?"

"Is that creature part of your awakening?"

"Are you famous?"

One of them touched his arm.

"How long did you train?"

The other did the same.

"You have muscles."

Liam became completely uncomfortable.

Meanwhile...

The messages began appearing.

[Lydia: Liam.]

[Lydia: Are these women crazy?]

[Lydia: They won’t stop touching you.]

Liam tried to ignore it.

[Lydia: Tell them to stay away from my man.]

"Lydia..."

He whispered.

More messages appeared.

[Lydia: Liam.]

[Lydia: Liam.]

[Lydia: Liam.]

He coughed.

"Ahem."

The women stopped.

"I want to clarify something."

He pointed toward the green slime beside him.

"That slime... is my wife."

The two froze.

"Your... wife?"

Liam nodded.

"Yes. And thanks to her, we were able to save you. So show some respect."

The women looked at Lydia.

The small slime moved from side to side, as if nervous.

Then one of them made a face.

"That thing?"

The other frowned.

"But... it’s just jelly. It doesn’t even look like it can talk. It’s a monster."

The atmosphere changed.

Liam stopped smiling.

He stared at both of them.

Then he slowly rolled up his sleeves.

"Her name is Lydia..."

The slime moved.

"And I think she’s hungry."

The women stepped back.

"What?"

Behind Liam...

Lydia’s body began expanding.

Bigger.

Wider.

More threatening.

The small green mass they had looked down on moments before now seemed capable of covering the entire space behind him.

Liam crossed his arms.

"If you don’t want to become her food... you should apologize."

The two women went pale.

They looked at Lydia.

Then at Liam.

And finally lowered their heads.

"We’re sorry..."

"We’re really sorry."

Lydia slowly returned to her normal size.

Liam smiled.

"That wasn’t so difficult."

The slime moved happily.

Lydia returned to her usual, less intimidating form.