Chapter 2 – They Who Followed Me Home
The sun was beginning to set as I walked along the narrow forest path toward home. The air felt calm and peaceful… or at least, that's what I thought.
For some reason, I had this strange feeling—like I was being watched.
But I ignored it. Probably just my imagination.
As soon as I stepped out of the forest, I saw the wooden fence and the thin smoke rising from our chimney.
Home.
I sighed in relief and stretched my arms.
"Finally... I'm back."
But before I could open the door—
---
"ZENO?! GET READY FOR BATTLE!!"
My father—Theron Arclight—burst out of the house wielding a giant axe like a man possessed.
"EH?! WHAT'S GOING ON?!"
He pointed behind me, eyes wide with panic.
"MONSTERS!! RIGHT BEHIND YOU!!"
I turned around—and yup, they were there.
"...Bloo?! Gobu?! YOU GUYS FOLLOWED ME?!"
Bloo, the chatty blue slime, and Gobu, the polite goblin, were both standing there waving at me cheerfully.
"Hi Zeno! Your house looks cute!" Bloo said while bouncing.
"We didn't want to be separated… so we followed your footprints," added Gobu.
My father tightened his grip on the axe.
"Zeno. Get inside the house. I'll handle them."
"Wait! Dad, they're not dangerous! I can explain!"
I quickly stepped in front of them, spreading my arms. Dad stared at me, then at them, then back at me.
A long sigh escaped him.
"Alright... explain."
---
So I did. I told him everything. About the rat monsters, how I saved Bloo, and how Gobu just wanted help and never attacked.
Yes, they were monsters—but they weren't evil.
Dad stayed silent for a moment.
And finally—
"If they're your friends… and they don't mean you harm… I'll accept them."
"Phew... thank goodness." I let out a breath of relief.
But then I remembered something important.
"...Wait… how are we going to tell Mom?"
Dad's face turned pale.
"Erine might literally roast them before we even say a word."
Silence.
Then Bloo spoke up.
"Maybe we can hide on the roof?"
"No, Bloo. Mom prefers throwing lightning from inside the house," I replied.
After some discussion, we agreed—let's face this together. As a team.
A weird team, but still a team.
---
Dad knocked on the door. Mom opened it.
The moment she saw us—
"MONSTERS!!"
Her hand glowed with magic. A bright spell began forming in her palm.
"WAIT MOM!! DON'T CAST IT!!"
I jumped in front of Bloo and Gobu. Dad also stepped in to block her.
"Calm down, Erine! I'm here too! Don't blow up the house!!"
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH MONSTERS IN FRONT OF OUR DOOR?!"
"They're not evil! They're my friends!" I shouted.
Bloo stepped forward.
"Mrs. Zeno's Mom, my name is Bloo! Zeno saved me from some mean forest rats! I don't want to hurt anyone!"
Mom froze.
"...A slime... can talk…?"
"Yes! I'm a special slime!" Bloo said proudly.
Gobu stepped forward too, brushing off his torn sleeve.
"Why are you all so surprised? I'm Gobu. That's the name Zeno gave me."
Mom and Dad stared at him like he was an alien.
"...A goblin... that speaks…?"
"AHEM!" I coughed. "They're not just any slime and goblin. They're my friends."
Mom looked at me, still tense—but slowly, she calmed.
"Zeno, I love you… And if Bloo and Gobu truly mean no harm… I'll trust them."
Dad nodded.
"But Zeno… the villagers won't accept them. Goblins and slimes are considered enemies. If they get caught..."
"We can live under the house!" Bloo offered cheerfully.
"I can disguise as a watermelon," Gobu added with a straight face.
We all paused.
Then Mom laughed. Genuinely.
"You're all so weird… but kind of adorable."
---
"Dad, Mom… I want to become an adventurer. Not just any adventurer—I want to reach SS rank! Even higher than you, Dad!"
Dad raised an eyebrow, then smiled.
"That's a great dream."
"Our son is amazing~" Mom said proudly.
"I want to become the most awesome slime ever!" Bloo shouted.
"I'll… become strong and smart too. Maybe," Gobu said, scratching his head.
"Hey, Bloo, Gobu… do you guys think you can evolve?" I asked.
Bloo thought.
"I'm the only slime I know that can talk, so… maybe?"
Gobu nodded.
"I don't know either… but maybe I'll get stronger somehow?"
Dad and Mom smiled, watching the two monsters with new eyes.
And that day, my family got a little weirder…
…but also, a little warmer than ever before.