I was still processing the fact that I was standing in front of a massive, scaly dragon when it let out another irritated huff, snapping me back to reality.
"Seriously?" the dragon grumbled, its glowing eyes narrowing. "You're not going to bow down to my greatness or something? Not even a little bit?"
I blinked, caught off guard. "Uh... no? I mean, you're a dragon, so I kind of expected you to be all... terrifying and powerful, but you're acting more like a giant, overgrown cat."
The dragon's tail twitched at the insult. "Excuse me? I'm a Storm Dragon! Not just any regular dragon! I have immense power, you know?"
I couldn't help but grin. "Yeah, right. You're acting a little... more high-maintenance than I expected from a dragon."
"I'm not high-maintenance! You're just... impossible! Can't a dragon just be left to nap in peace without getting mocked for it?" The dragon puffed its chest and folded its arms dramatically, looking away as though it were offended.
"Well, I guess I didn't expect to meet a dragon who acted like they were part of some soap opera," I muttered, trying to hold back my laughter.
"I'm not being dramatic!" the dragon huffed again, clearly irritated but trying to hold onto its pride. "You... You should be honored that I'm even talking to you!"
"Sure," I said, rolling my eyes. "I'll make sure to frame this moment forever."
The dragon scowled but couldn't suppress the hint of a blush that crept up its scales. It quickly turned its head away, looking even more flustered. "Whatever. Just... just ask your questions or whatever."
I raised an eyebrow. "Alright, fine. I'm looking for a slime. A unique one, actually."
"A slime?" The dragon's ears perked up in interest despite itself. "What's so special about this slime?"
"Well, I've heard it can talk and has some weird abilities," I explained.
"A talking slime? That's a new one," the dragon muttered, clearly intrigued. "I've seen slimes around, but not one that talks... That's... different."
"Right?" I nodded, glad the dragon was finally being somewhat helpful. "I thought maybe you would know something about it. You've lived here long enough, after all."
The dragon glanced around, clearly trying to avoid looking too interested but ultimately giving in. "I mean, I don't keep tabs on everything that happens in these forests, but... yeah, I've seen one around here. It's... not like the other slimes."
"How's it different?" I asked, leaning in slightly.
The dragon looked thoughtful for a moment before sighing. "It's clever. Sneaky. And it's always getting up to something mischievous. It's not dangerous, but it's a pain in the neck."
I chuckled. "Sounds like exactly what I'm looking for."
The dragon's eyes narrowed. "You sure you want to deal with it? It's a trickster, always pulling pranks. It'll mess with you just because it can."
I grinned. "Well, if I want to find it, I guess I'll have to put up with its antics."
The dragon sighed heavily. "Fine. It usually hangs out near the big oak tree to the north. But don't say I didn't warn you. It's unpredictable."
"Thanks," I said, giving the dragon a mock salute. "I'll keep that in mind."
As I turned to leave, the dragon added one last comment. "Oh, and don't think for a second that I'm soft on you, just because I'm talking to you now. I'm still a dragon, remember?"
"Sure, sure," I muttered, walking away. "I'll keep that in mind, too."
As I ventured further into the forest, I couldn't help but chuckle at the strange encounter. A sulking, tsundere dragon and now a troublesome slime? What kind of world had I been reborn into?
When I arrived at the big oak tree, the area felt oddly peaceful. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth, and the leaves rustled lightly in the wind. But there was something else—something faintly... off. I could feel eyes on me, but the forest was eerily quiet.
Suddenly, from behind the oak tree, a small slime bounced out, its gelatinous body shimmering with an odd iridescence.
"Oh, you're the one looking for me, huh?" The slime's voice was smooth, almost too smooth for something so small.
I blinked in surprise. "Wait... you can talk?"
"Yeah, I can talk," the slime said with a cheeky tone. "And I've been watching you for a while. You seem like an interesting one. But don't think I'm just going to roll over and help you out, no-no. You'll have to earn it."
I crossed my arms, trying to look as serious as possible. "I'm not here to fight you, I just need some information."
The slime wobbled, clearly amused by my straightforwardness. "Information, huh? And why would I help you with that? What's in it for me?"
I narrowed my eyes. "I'm not here to play games, slime. I've got things to do."
The slime wobbled closer, its slimy form shifting in a way that made me uneasy. "Games? Who said anything about games? You think I'm just gonna tell you what you want? No way. If you want to talk to me, you've gotta show me something interesting first."
I sighed. It seemed like this slime was exactly the trickster the dragon had warned me about. It was going to be a long day.