+++

Even with Count Rudendion's permission, the slime could not go outside right away. He still had work to attend to, so the inspection was scheduled for the next day.

Beaming at the thought of finally going outside with the slime, Jessi chatted away. They could go out together tomorrow. She was so excited. There were all sorts of things in the county, so it was sure to love them—and on she went.

The slime understood everything Jessi said, and its excitement kept mounting. The viewers watching its ever-running stream were secretly looking forward to it, too. After the elf village, they now practically had a human village tour stream lined up!

And this was no village out in the sticks, but an enormous settlement—a place called a city.

▶When do we see the hooman village? When do we see the hooman village? When do we see the hooman village?

▶Oh, a spammer's here.

▶This stream really has gotten pretty big.

▶Lmaooo how could anyone resist hooman food mukbangs and listening to those nasty hoomans' made-up stories lol

▶Bet more trolls will show up?

▶Isn't it about time to pick a mod?

▶Problem is, Squishy doesn't know about that stuff.

▶Fact is, this stream's getting obese.

▶If it's obese, wouldn't that make it normal?

As anticipation grew, word of the slime's stream spread, bringing in more viewers. The problem was that some of those newcomers took pleasure in nothing but upsetting others and manipulating their emotions.

So far, it had mostly been harmless messing around. Once those troublemakers started pouring in for real, however, there was a serious risk that malicious messages would flood the chat, enough to make anyone wince the moment they opened the stream.

Spammers who endlessly posted nonsense. Abusive assholes who picked fights for no reason and hurled insults. Delusional cranks who suddenly unloaded wild speculation nobody had asked for.

Quite a few intelligent monsters were trolls so awful that someone randomly shouting, "Ah! S*x!" seemed like a cute little prank by comparison.

Naturally, even the viewers who had watched the slime from the beginning were starting to worry that something needed to be done. Just as they were wondering how to protect this soothing stream and its simple pleasures...

▶[Noblesse Fire has donated 10 coins.]

▶[Message: Hey! Squishy! Pick a mod already!]

Noblesse Fire, the fire dragon who was the very first viewer of the slime's stream, sent a donation message without a moment's hesitation.

The message reached the slime's soul directly. It had been eating cake as a snack in Jessi's room, paying no attention at all to the chat.

'A mod?'

Tilting its body, the slime tried to recall the knowledge that had been instilled in it. After about ten seconds of thought, it finally remembered what a moderator was: simply put, someone who managed the chat on behalf of the monster streaming.

Having recalled that information, the slime asked the chat.

▷Do I need to pick a mod?

▶It'd be a good idea.

[Noblesse Fire]▶You think I told you to pick one for no reason? Just pick one! It'll be a pain when all sorts of riffraff show up.

▶Wouldn't that old fart be the first to get kicked once there's a mod?

▶Lmaooo he only backseats in the reverse-scale stream lol cut the old dragon some slack lol

[Noblesse Fire]▶Who are you calling an old dragon!!!

▶Anyway, yeah, we do need a mod.

After reading the chat, the slime asked a perfectly reasonable question.

▷Who will be the mod?

Choosing a moderator was all well and good. But who should it appoint?

Several anonymous viewers volunteered in response.

▶Me me me me me! I'll do it! I'd be great!

▶That asshole's a spammer.

▶I've got tons of mod experience. Pick me and you won't regret it.

▶That bastard's a nasty piece of work who kicks anyone he doesn't like even a little.

▶Do you know who I am?! Do you?!

▶You're the mod for the Ooh-Hoo Ooh-Hoo skin-shedding strip stream.

▶Fuck, how'd you know?

▶Pick me and I'll do everything in my power to keep the chat clean!

▶That fucking asshole kicks every single person who joins.

▶Tsk... Busted.

Several anonymous viewers put themselves forward, but their identities were soon exposed, thanks to people who had suffered at their hands and recognized them immediately.

The slime was watching the chat scroll by, wondering whom to choose, when another donation arrived.

▶[Free Spirit has donated 5 coins.]

▶[Message: Squishy! Let me do it.]

[Noblesse Fire]▶What, the Smartass wants to be a mod?

▶Never seen the Smartass mod before.

[Free Spirit]▶Yep, first time. I've been keeping records of the assholes I see in different streams, so don't worry.

▶You actually keep records of that?

▶Must have fuck-all to do.

'The Smartass?'

The Smartass might give the slime advice, but he had never steered it toward anything bad. Those accumulated experiences made it feel, without consciously thinking it through, that it could safely entrust him with the job.

Then the system detected its thoughts and spoke.

[Would you like to grant moderator privileges to Free Spirit?]

'Yes!'

The slime made its decision quickly.

▶[Notice: Squishy has appointed Free Spirit as a moderator.]

[Free Spirit]▶Thanks for trusting me, Squishy. I'll kick trolls as soon as I spot them, yep.

▶Why not me! Why not me! Why not me!

▶[Anonymous 5889 has been kicked.]

▶Definitely works lol

▶First time I've seen a kick notice in this stream lmaooo

▶Ah! Kick s*x!

▶Why aren't you kicking that mating parrot?

[Free Spirit]▶Honestly, that's pretty tame, so I'm letting it slide.

'I picked a mod!'

The slime felt a little pleased at having done something new.

"Alexandros II? What's wrong?"

Jessi asked when she saw the slime sitting blankly instead of eating its cake while it chose a moderator.

"Don't you like the cake? Are you tired of it?"

Since it had suddenly stopped eating, she wondered whether it might have grown tired of cake.

'I'm not tired of it! It's yummy!'

While staying at the mansion, the slime had learned a few gestures for communicating its wishes by observing Jessi. What it did now was one of those newly learned methods.

It shook itself from side to side!

Using the same knack as when it tilted its body, it held its lower half steady and twisted its upper half left and right. The motion resembled a person shaking their head. Having done that, it immediately absorbed the cake.

"Heehee, you're eating well. You must have been thinking about something else!"

Jessi could relate. More than once, Nina had scolded her for spacing out over something she had read while she was eating.

+++

The next day, Jessi put on her dress with Nina's help, then hummed cheerfully.

"Hmm-hmm-hmm-hmm~."

"Are you that excited, my lady?"

"Yes! I get to show Alexandros II how wonderful our county is!"

"Our county is lovely, certainly. But... do you really intend to go out like that?"

"Yes! This is the best way to show people that Alexandros II is safe, isn't it?"

Nina's gaze traveled up to the top of Jessi's head. Perched there was the slime.

"His lordship won't approve."

"I already showed Father once! He said I looked adorable!"

"Oh, my lord..."

Nina slapped her forehead at the count's hopelessly doting behavior.

A little later, with her preparations complete, Jessi went to Count Rudendion's study.

"Father! I'm ready!"

"Oh, Jessi. You look truly beautiful today, my angel. But why have you put that slime..."

"It's Alexandros II, Father!"

"Why have you put Alexandros II on your head?"

"People will think it's safe this way! A monster that's safe even sitting on someone's head!"

"I see. You've thought it all through. That's my daughter."

A monster perched on her head rather than held in her arms. People might certainly find it strange, but they could hardly think it dangerous.

Besides, if anyone tried to attack the slime on Jessi's head, monster or not...

'Someone like that has no right to exist in this world.'

They would not escape Count Rudendion's wrath.

Taking Nina, Finn, and three elite members of his order of knights, he left the mansion with Jessi under the pretext of an inspection.

Naturally, their inspection drew people's attention. No one could ignore the appearance of the count's family, who ruled this territory.

Above all...

'A slime?'

'That's a slime, isn't it?'

'A slime on her head?'

'What is that? Is it real? Or is it a h-hat?'

The slime on Jessi's head was bound to draw stares. The people were puzzled, full of questions, or trying to think of other explanations. But if they kept watching, they could tell it really was a living slime.

'Wow! Wooooow!'

It was quivering all over, after all, overwhelmed by the sights outside!

"Jessi, the sli— ahem, Alexandros II keeps trembling."

"Heehee, I think it's happy to be outside! When Alexandros II is happy, it trembles or does cute little hops!"

"Does it? Isn't it heavy?"

"Not at all! And the trembling actually feels nice!"

Although they had come out because Jessi wanted to take the slime on an outing, an inspection was still an inspection. Count Rudendion followed his usual route and observed the people of his territory.

Jessi had no complaints. They visited all sorts of places on the inspection, so there was no chance of getting bored. Besides, seeing the slime quiver with excitement made her glad she had brought it outside.

"My lord! Thank you, as always!"

"My lord! Could I interest you in some fresh fruit?"

"Lady Jessi! This bread is fresh out of the oven today! Would you like some?"

As the count and Jessi passed nearby, the stallholders called out to them with smiles. It was a testament to Count Rudendion's character, reputation, and benevolence.

He collected little in taxes. When he needed to raise them, he made a public announcement, and when that need passed, he announced it again and actually lowered them.

To the people of his territory, Count Rudendion was a truly worthy ruler.

They also already knew that he was an utterly doting father. So while the slime on Jessi's head fascinated them, they raised no objections. If it had been dangerous, the count would never have allowed it onto her head in the first place!

If a man who adored his daughter that much let it stay there, it must be that safe.

'Bread!'

The slime gave a tiny bounce on Jessi's head.

"Hmm? What's wrong, Alexandros II?"

'Alexandros II?'

'The slime's name is Alexandros II?'

'It's a slime, but it has such an impressive name.'

'Why the Second?'

Jessi immediately held out both hands in response. The slime jumped down from her head, landed on her hands, and stretched its body to point toward the bread stall.

"Do you want some bread?"

It bounced!

"Heehee, all right! Father! Alexandros II says it wants bread!"

"Very well. Let's have some, then."

"Yes!"

Watching Jessi beam as she carried the slime toward the bread stall, the count thought to himself.

'It really is an extraordinary slime. Can I truly allow it to remain by Jessi's side...?'