Yamada sat on a pile of rocks. It was, in theory, a throne. In reality, it was just a slightly organized mess of boulders. [rumble rumble]

  A goblin stood before him, trembling. "Your majesty, we have gathered resources as you commanded!"

  Yamada nodded sagely, as if he had any idea what he was doing. "Good work. Keep it up."

  Another goblin approached. "We also, uh, found something... strange."

  He raised a brow. "Strange how?"

  The goblin motioned, and two others dragged forward a tied-up human. A girl.

  She had silver hair, torn robes, and a blindfold over her eyes. Even tied up, she gave off the energy of someone completely in control.

  "What’s this?" Yamada asked.

  The goblin shuffled nervously. "She wandered into our territory, so we captured her. We thought she was a threat!"

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  The girl tilted her head toward his voice. "So, you’re the Slime King? Interesting."

  Yamada coughed. "Uh, yeah. That’s me. And you are...?"

  She smiled faintly. "You may call me Celia. I was searching for the one who disturbed the balance of fate." She paused. "I didn't expect it to be... a slime."

  Yamada frowned. "Okay, rude."

  "Not an insult. Just an observation." Her tone was unreadable. "You carry something strange within you. A power beyond comprehension."

  He forced a laugh. "Yeah, I get that a lot. So, uh, what do you want?"

  She tilted her head. "To follow you."

  Yamada blinked. "What."

  "You may not realize it yet, but the world has already begun shifting around you. Wherever you go, destiny will follow."

  The goblins gasped like she had just said something profound. [murmur murmur]

  Yamada squinted. "...Are you just saying dramatic stuff to mess with me?"

  "Perhaps." She smiled. "Or perhaps you should find out for yourself."

  Yamada sighed. This was getting ridiculous. But hey, if people kept believing his nonsense, maybe he really could pull this off.

  "Fine," he said, leaning back on his ‘throne.’ "Welcome aboard. Just don’t expect me to do any actual work."

  Celia chuckled. "Understood, my king."

  Somehow, that sent chills down his nonexistent spine.

  This was either the start of something amazing or a disaster waiting to happen.