There was a troubling problem going around in the world in Nulwurn. Before Ning had even come here, there were people already missing everywhere.
Each Summoning Circle Ning had gone to, there was a global quest in it that mentioned something about missing people and needing help finding them.
Ning hadn't bothered with it since people that did disappear were mostly from the other side of the planet which he hadn't gone to and had simply assumed that those that were missing were on that side.
So, no matter how urgent the quest looked, he had never taken it.
However, now he was coming to realize that it wasn't something that was happening because of a random group of people kidnapping people, but rather this slime monster that was summoning them for something.
Ning sighed. "These… these people have been away from their family and loved ones for nearly two years. Do you know how much trouble you've caused them?" he asked.
The slime's hands moved to grab its head in worry. "I… I didn't know that. I… I thought I was creating humans," the slime said.
"You summoned 1340 people and did none of them ever tell you that they had families? Or that they wanted to go back?" Ning asked.
"Well, I… I didn't talk to them at all," the slime said. "I summoned them for the help I needed and then… I never saw them again. Oh god, I should return them, shouldn't I?"
"Yes," Ning said. "Do it quickly."
Ning turned towards the princess and said, "Listen, tell your mother you are fine and that I am fine too. I will see you later okay?"
"No, I don't want to go. Slimy makes me so strong. I want to get stronger," the princess said.
"But your parents are worried. The entire country is worried because you are missing. Joann is getting punished because you disappeared. Do you want that to keep happening?" Ning asked.
"N-no," the princess said softly. "But I want to see slimy."
Ning sighed. "Go home first. Slimy can call you again if he needs you," he said.
"Oh, okay," the princess said after realizing that she could come back whenever she wanted. "Slimy, send me home."
"Yes, yes, not just you, I need to send everyone home," the slime said. The slime's 'fingers' moved for a bit and a summoning circle appeared below the princess's feet.
Ning read the circle and couldn't believe that she was Rank 3 so easily. She could've probably grown to a higher level if the slime had given her more.
The princess waved her hands in goodbye and the slime did so too. Once she was gone, Ning finally turned to look at the slime.
"All humans are gone," the slime said. "Do you think I should let go of the beasts too?"
"Did you summon them too?" Ning asked.
"Well… not exactly, I guess," the slime said. "I met them and after meeting them I tamed them. Sometimes I tamed a single beast, sometimes it was a whole pack of beasts."
"So none of them were actually teleported here from someplace else?" Ning asked.
"No, every beast was someone I found while roaming around the world," the slime said.
"Hmm… I guess its fine then," Ning said. "You don't have to worry about it. Although, what exactly were you planning to do with so many beasts?"
"Uhh… nothing?" the slime said. "I just kept roaming around the world and they either tried to attack me or told me I was great because of my high rank. Either way, the result was they wanted to be my subordinates and so I tamed them."
"Did a summoning circle form beneath them when you tamed them?" Ning asked.
"Yes," the slime said. "So, I don't need to let go of them right?"
"I don't think you do," Ning said. "Although what do you plan by keeping them? You have them now so you need to do right by them."
"I know, I know," the slime said. "That's why I had to create, I mean summon humans in the first place."
"Oh, why is that?" Ning asked. Now that he thought about it, he still didn't really know why the princess exactly was summoned here.
"It's the things outside. I needed them to build those," the slime said.
"Outside?" Ning turned around to look at the leaf curtain that was blocking the view outside. He remembered seeing a giant opening with the trees cut down.
There were humans working there as well as beasts, but aside from that… what was there exactly again?
He was in such a rush that he had basically flown straight to this hollow tree where the princess was and hadn't even seen what was outside.
He walked up to the curtain and pushed it aside to walk outside.
It was afternoon here on the planet, so it was very bright outside. The first thing Ning saw after coming out was the giant opening he remembered.
Only it was much larger now that he was carefully inspecting it. It was enough to house a small village here.
He ignored the confused beast who much have been troubled because the humans had randomly disappeared around them.
Instead, he looked at the things they were building. Those structures… were those… houses?
"You're building houses here?" Ning asked.
"Yes," the slime said. "At first I didn't care for the beasts that were under me as they were all able to protect themselves, but as the group got bigger and families joined in, I realized that I needed to take care of their shelter."
"I tried having them build it, but… the beasts weren't… what's the word… sophisticated enough to build it, and… I guess I didn't know how to build it exactly."
"So, I started summoning humans to design it and later more to help build all of these houses," the slime said.
Ning nearly slapped his own face in frustration when he heard that. He remembered the multiple callings to help build houses back when he was in the arena.
That was this slime as well.
