Flat-Rate Bandits and a Clingy Slime

The smell of burnt resin still hung in the air when Ryo, Toru, and Yuna rounded the bend. The track widened into a dusty clearing, riddled with mule and boot prints.

Perfect ambush spot… What could possibly go wrong? Ryo thought, as the compass tugged impatiently forward.

They didn't have to wait long. Three figures leapt from the bushes with all the coordination of a grade-school drama club: a lanky boy waving a chipped sword, a shorter one holding a bow without a string (a detail he seemed unaware of), and a girl brandishing a plank full of nails like a royal scepter.

"Stop right there!" the swordsman squeaked, voice trembling. "Hands up and pockets open!"

Ryo arched a brow."Pockets? Do you see pockets on this tunic? I'm dressed worse than a medieval beggar."

The string-less archer assessed him."Uh… he's right, Sugi. Maybe we should ask for voluntary donations?"

"We're bandits, Chio!" screeched the third boy. "It's tradition!"

Yuna whispered to Ryo, "They look new."

Toru cleared his throat. "Children, go back home before you do something foolish."

Sugi the swordsman stepped forward—then tripped over his own foot and face-planted.

"Idiot, stand up straight!" scolded Chio, struggling to maintain dignity.

The third—an oily-ponytailed kid—raised the plank of nails. "Stay still or… or… I'll whack you!"

Ryo sighed. "Look, we don't want trouble. We're just looking—" traffickers almost slipped out, but he thought better of it—"just passing through."

The compass vibrated. Across its glass a brief message flashed:

Protection 20 % → 40 %

"Protection from what?" Ryo muttered.

Chio tilted her head, curious. "Does that gizmo… talk?"

"More than I'd like," Ryo answered. "Now, please—"

A hum cut him off. From the shrub Sugi had crushed, a pastel-blue slime oozed out. It was just big enough to cup in both hands and wore a clay ring like a collar. Two huge eyes and a tiny "ω" mouth emitted a soft plop~.

"What is that?!" ponytail yelped.

The slime slithered straight to Ryo's leg, hugging it with a loud schlup.

"Did it adopt me? Hey, I'm not a daycare!" Ryo protested, shaking his leg. The slime clung tighter and turned mint-green.

Yuna let out an "awww" that melted any attempt at toughness.

Chio lowered her plank. "It's… cute."

Toru stroked his beard. "Interesting. A bonding slime—rarely attaches to people."

Sugi stood, dusting himself off. "Uh—back to the robbery! We got distracted!"

Ponytail nodded. "Yeah! Flat rate: five coins or five slaps!"

"Who'd choose slaps?" Yuna asked.

"People without coins," ponytail said solemnly.

The compass pulsed again:

Protection 40 % → 60 %

Ryo whispered to the clinging slime, "Are you raising that bar? Walking buff?"

Plop~ The creature swelled with pride.

The bandits charged… slowly. Sugi swung at Toru, who simply sidestepped; the blade lodged into a stump. Chio tried to fire her cuerda-less bow; the arrow plopped at her own feet, making her shriek and stumble into Sugi.

Ponytail swung the nail-plank at Ryo. The slime reacted—ballooning and letting out a tiny poyo! that splattered sticky goo across the plank. Ponytail slipped and crashed flat on his back.

"Good slime!" Yuna cheered.

"Or girl?" Ryo added. "How do you check?—no, never mind."

Sugi whimpered. "We're failures!"

"No, no," Ryo lied, patting him. "You just need training. Maybe start with mugging snails."

Chio sniffled. "Mom was right—I should've studied accounting."

Toru sighed. "Children, step back. This road isn't for beginners."

Ponytail groaned. "We need money! The boss has to pay us…"

"Boss?" Ryo asked.

All three glanced at each other, terrified. "N-nothing. Secret."

The compass chimed, as if clarifying: 'Wisdom +1 (gossip).'

Ryo laughed nervously. "Great—my compass encourages rumors."

With some gentle interrogation (promising not to break their shins), they learned the "boss" was a veteran bandit named Haru who charged tolls and bought hostages to sell to traffickers. Yuna clenched her mother's kerchief.

Toru's brows knit. "Haru's still alive? I thought the temple had…"

"Ex-priest?" Ryo asked, recalling rumors. "Blond hair, compass tattoo?"

Sugi nodded. "Yeah. Says the broken compass ruined his faith."

The compass pinged indignantly. Pling!

"Guess we'll ask him in person," Ryo decided. "But first, peace contract—"

He produced two silver coins, pressing one into each novice bandit's hand. "Payment for guiding us to Haru."

Yuna frowned. "Aren't we following the compass?"

"The compass points to the temple, and Haru's on that route. Two birds, one stone."

The bandits accepted happily, dubbing themselves "Freelance Security & Logistics Associates."

The compass jumped to Protection 60 % → 80 %. Ryo noticed the slime glowed brighter each time. Inside, a tiny crystal core pulsed in sync.

"Gumi-chan," Yuna declared, petting the creature. "That's your name."

Plop~! The slime blushed—well, turned rosy.

By dusk they'd set up camp in a clearing. Sugi volunteered to cook but had only a hot stone and rancid bacon. Ryo shared his bread; Toru brewed herb soup.

"Bandits sharing a meal with their victims. Never thought I'd see it," Ryo joked.

"We're not victims," Yuna retorted. "We're a team!"

Chio smiled shyly; Ponytail—whose actual name was Doi—strummed the nail-plank like an imaginary guitar.

Meanwhile, Ryo tried detaching Gumi-chan from his leg to sit comfortably. The slime let go—only to latch onto his arm like a bracelet.

"I surrender," Ryo sighed. "Official new accessory."

Toru watched intently. "Bonding slimes link to spiritual energy. If that one chose you, your compass has awakened something."

"Great—now I'm a walking trouble beacon," Ryo groaned.

Under the stars they shared quick stories: Sugi needed cash for a ridiculous gambling debt; Chio dreamed of opening a bookshop; Doi followed the group because "adventure sounds cool."

Lovable losers, Ryo thought. Just like me.

The compass sent one final, faint message:

Protection 80 % → 100 % (Protection I unlocked)Effect: blocks one lethal hit with an improvised shield (1× day).

"Now that's useful!" Ryo exclaimed.

"One lethal hit per day?" Toru grumbled. "Let's hope we don't need two."

The slime spun happily around the soup bowl, slurping droplets and turning honey-yellow. Laughter echoed through the camp.

In the forest's darkness, blond eyes watched the fire. Haru, the ex-priest, traced the compass tattoo on his forearm.

"So you've appeared at last, bearer…" he whispered, voice thick with resentment.

End of Chapter 4.