Malrik's POV
The forest around us grew denser, darker, but also strangely magical. Undine floated beside Aika like a shimmering guardian spirit, elegant and powerful, her form now refined after the contract was complete. She cast a faint blue glow on the mossy path as we walked.
Meanwhile, Issei and Saji were practically crawling behind me like lost puppies, offering over-the-top praise.
"Malrik, you're so amazing!" Saji beamed, eyes shining.
"Yeah, yeah! So cool and mysterious and stylish!" Issei added, fingers clasped together in mock reverence. "Please help us get a hot familiar too!"
I didn't even bother to answer. Just kept walking.
Ahead, Rias and Sona shared a mutual look of disappointment.
"How embarrassing," Rias said, voice flat.
"Truly," Sona muttered with a sigh, pushing her glasses up.
Aika chuckled as she walked beside Momo. "I don't know whether to be impressed or worried. Probably both."
Then I felt it.
Magic. Pure, untamed lightning magic.
I looked up sharply, scanning the treetops—and there it was.
A young lightning dragon, its azure scales glinting with energy, perched high above us like a watchful guardian. Small but majestic, it radiated raw power in every pulse of electric blue.
"There," I said, pointing.
Everyone looked up, awestruck.
"Whoa… how cute!" Asia gasped, clasping her hands together.
"I've never seen that kind before," Rias said, eyes gleaming.
Sona nodded. "That's because it's a rare subspecies. Lightning dragons almost never leave their peaks."
The Familiar Master, Towji, jumped onto a low branch, nodding solemnly. "Indeed, a rare race of dragon. The only chance you'll ever have to tame it… is now—while it's still young."
"I think it's perfect for Issei," Akeno said sweetly. "A lightning dragon to match the Red Dragon Emperor."
"Yes!" Issei shouted. "And if it can transform into a hot chick, even better!"
Undine, floating nearby, gave him a disgusted look and turned away.
Towji crossed his arms and sighed. "Just so you know… they only choose those pure of heart. Which means you, pervert, have less than zero chance."
"W-WHAAAT?!" Issei flailed dramatically. "I'm pure! I swear! Purely dedicated to boobs!"
Before he could even make his move toward the dragon—
SHLOOP.
The ground trembled.
Suddenly, gelatinous blobs burst out of the underbrush.
Slimes.
But not just any slimes.
Female-targeting, clothes-eating, pervert-baiting magical slimes.
And they were everywhere.
They didn't attack with claws or fangs—no. Their purpose was far worse.
They slurped toward the girls.
"Oh no—!" Aika shouted, slapping a slime off her leg as it tried to crawl up her thigh. "They're aiming for our clothes!"
Asia yelped as one tried to leap at her chest. "Kyaaa! Not there!"
Undine snarled and generated a pulse of magical water, vaporizing a few of them in one go.
Mittelt launched herself into the air with her wings, avoiding two slimes that were trying to pounce her from behind. "These things are disgusting!"
Rias and Akeno immediately conjured defensive magic to protect the group—but even they were flustered by the sheer pervy nature of the attack.
"This is beyond indecent," Sona muttered, blushing furiously as she sliced one in half with a spell. "Who would even create something like this?"
From the ground, Issei gasped, slack-jawed and nose bleeding. "T-This is the best… I mean… THE WORST! We must defeat them quickly!"
I calmly stepped forward, drew a blade made from my Sacred Gear, and pointed it toward the encroaching slimes.
"Alright. Let's clean this up before things turn into a magical strip show."
And with a flick of my wrist, the counterattack began.
———
Malrik's POV
The moment the slimes lunged for the girls again, I stepped forward.
"Vector Manipulation: Reflect."
With a flick of my fingers, a shimmering barrier formed in front of the girls—Aika, Asia, Rias, and the others—deflecting the slimes mid-leap. Their gooey bodies bounced off harmlessly, splattering to the ground like overcooked jelly.
"Thanks for that," Rias muttered, dusting herself off with a frown.
Before I could respond, one last slime surged out from a nearby bush, hissing with perverse intent. I drew my sword, ready to slice it down—
"WAIT!" Issei shouted, diving dramatically between me and the blob.
I blinked. "...You serious?"
Issei turned, arms outstretched protectively in front of the squirming slime.
"Don't kill it! I want this one!"
A long pause followed. Everyone stared at him.
Issei's eyes sparkled with twisted hope. "This is perfect! I can train it to sneak into girls' rooms, melt their clothes, tie them up—this is the ultimate dream familiar!"
Rias's expression flatlined. "Issei..."
She took a slow step forward, voice tight with disbelief. "Choosing a familiar is a serious decision. They're lifelong companions."
"Especially not something this perverted," Akeno added with a smile—though her tone was sharp.
Koneko simply said, "Pervert."
"But think about it!" Issei pleaded, turning to me now. "Malrik, back me up! This slime could be my ultimate secret weapon. Imagine the possibilities! A scouting tool… a tactical ambusher... a wardrobe removal specialist—"
Aika's eyebrow twitched. "You mean a magical hentai pet."
Issei paled. "W-What? No! I—I never said that—"
"You literally just did," Momo said flatly.
"Do you plan to enter every battle hoping your opponent is a busty girl in need of a slime bath?" Sona asked coldly.
Issei turned to Asia, desperate. "Asia, you get it, right?"
Asia tilted her head, confused. "I don't think you should use slimes for that sort of thing… it feels wrong."
The slime gave a bubbly glorp sound. Almost like it was agreeing.
I rubbed my temples. "Alright, Issei. You want the pervert slime? Fine. But you're feeding it, training it, and if it ends up in the girls' locker room—you're explaining that to Rias."
"Deal!" he said, hugging the slime. "You and me, buddy! Let's create a new age of perversion!"
All the girls collectively stepped back.
Aika sighed. "If that thing starts crawling around at night, I'm setting it on fire."
"Same," Mittelt said.
Rias closed her eyes and whispered, "What did I do to deserve this?"