I became the slime toy of the evil dragon girl?

Ian immediately spat Phoebe out, utterly speechless, but he didn't say anything, only helplessly saying, "The surface layer is cleared. The deep corruption has already fused with the flesh; forcibly removing it will kill you."

The purification process lasted less than two minutes.

Ian hasn't gotten [Titan Might LV.3] yet, but it'll be soon. He should be able to get a level 1 version during the next healing session.

At this moment, Phoebe collapsed to the ground, her face flushed.

The blackness in his right eye completely faded, and the black markings on his body almost disappeared as well.

The moment she was spat out, Phoebe knew what she had just done, and the slime in front of her knew it all.

Otherwise, how could she have just... spat it out?

Phoebe, contrary to her usual carefree self, blushed and whispered her thanks.

"……Thanks."

Ian showed no unusual reaction, simply continuing, "Two weeks. It will probably worsen again in about two weeks. At that time, the contract mark on the back of your hand will become hot as a reminder to come find me."

He turned to Lilith and Kiki: "Let's go, take them with us back to camp."

"Yes, Lord Ian," Lilith replied respectfully.

Behind them, three newly signed "temporary workers" were being led by the exploration team, walking unsteadily into the depths of the forest.

I survived, I survived like a slave.

But at least, I'm alive.

Phoebe clenched her left hand. Some strength had returned, though her right side was still weak.

She looked at the contract mark on the back of her hand; it was slightly warm, as if reminding her: the term was one year.

What if it can't be cured after a year?

She didn't ask, because she knew the answer.

That evil slime doesn't make promises; he only gives choices, and each choice comes with a hidden price.

……

……

Phoebe was awakened by the sunlight.

She woke up on a hide that had been peeled off from some wild animal.

Phoebe stretched, feeling a faint pain on one side of her body—a lingering effect of the corruption she had suffered the previous night.

Looking around, the tent was very simple.

Four berths and a small wooden shelf for holding kettles.

And then there's Barbara, who's sleeping with the Holy Scripture in her arms, a glistening drop of water running down her cheek—as eccentric as ever.

Nicole was already awake and was crouching at the tent entrance, looking out through the crack.

Phoebe leaned closer and asked in a low voice.

"What are you looking at?"

Nicole didn't turn around, she just shifted her position slightly to make room for others.

Phoebe squeezed through and got close to the gap.

Through the crack, the bustling monster camp came into view.

The monster camp under the morning light was completely different from what she had imagined.

There were no evil altars, no piles of bones, and no chaotic scenes of monsters fighting each other.

Although there were occasional explosions, they were not serious.

Instead, what she saw was... order.

Dozens of tents were neatly arranged on the cleared ground, with several walkways in the middle.

In the distance, a dozen rock monsters were slowly carrying huge stones, while several large, crystalline spiders were spinning silk and weaving something.

Further away, you can see a patch of strange trees that have been transplanted. The trees are still wilted, but you can already tell that they are the Sweet Forest species.

"They're...building a house?" Phoebe rubbed her eyes, seemingly a little incredulous.

"It's more like planning a... military fortress." Nicole's voice was soft as she pointed to the edge of the camp.

"Look over there, those dwarfs are digging a ditch, that must be a drainage channel. And over there, a lookout point."

Indeed. Phoebe saw a half-finished watchtower standing at the edge of the camp.

Several dwarfs dressed as craftsmen were hammering and banging away below.

This is so un-monster-like.

This is completely different from the kingdom's propaganda.

In her understanding, or rather, in all human common sense.

Monsters should be chaotic and savage.

My mind is filled with Waaaaagh! Hmm? This looks like an orc? Anyway, they're pretty much the same!

Goblins will abduct women to their lair, gnomes will simply blow everything around them up and steal some things in the process. Rock goblins will demolish houses.

But they would never... organize themselves for construction.

The tent curtain was lifted.

Lilith stood outside, her silver eyes coldly sweeping over the three of them. "Come out when you're awake. Lord Ian is waiting."

Inside the largest tent in the center of the camp, Ian was lying on the edge of a parchment.

The parchment depicts the surrounding terrain: the Emberthroat volcano, the original site of the Sweet Forest, and the area under construction in the middle.

He pointed to some markings on the parchment with his tentacles, talking to the old vampire opposite him.

"The magic pathway diagram is finished... How much of it did you say was finished?"

"84%, the central area is still unexplored. The magical flow in that area is very complex, and it's under the control of a half-elf."

Charles repeated in a low voice, an incredulous expression on his face.

"84%...tsk tsk tsk, you know what? When you said you could draw a network diagram, I thought it would take at least three years..."

Charles sighed, about to say something more, when he saw the three people at the door.

"Oh, they're here." Ian turned around and beckoned the group into the tent.

"Perfect timing. Mr. Charles, these three are Phoebe, Nicole, and Barbara. They are literate, can do arithmetic, and have some basic knowledge of human infrastructure. They are my newly recruited slaves... hardworking temporary workers."

"Slaves, aren't they? You mean slaves, don't you?!" Phoebe was even more worried.

Charles scrutinized the three, especially noticing the remaining black markings on Phoebe's right cheek. "Humans? Their blood reeks of decay? Lord Ian, this is a risk..."

Ian said nonchalantly, "They're just a few ordinary adventurers. Anyway, we've signed a contract, so it would be a waste not to use them."

A commotion suddenly broke out outside the tent.

Then came the roar of wings beating through the air, followed by the dimming of the light inside the tent, as if some enormous object had blocked out the sun.

"Hmm?" Ian looked towards the tent entrance. "How come it's at this time... is the deadline already?"

Phoebe was the first to rush out of the tent.

Then she froze on the spot.

The sky was obscured.

A black dragon, over thirty meters long, was slowly descending, its jet-black scales gleaming with a metallic sheen in the morning light.

The shadow cast by the dragon's outstretched wings covered half the camp, and all the monsters lay prostrate on the ground, trembling.

When the dragon claw landed, the ground trembled so much that Phoebe almost lost her balance.

Then came a powerful vortex of magic, and the black magical light in Phoebe's eyes twisted and contracted continuously.

In a dazzling transformation, the enormous dragon's body coalesced into the figure of a petite young girl.

A pair of delicate bare feet stepped on the mud, and the stark contrast made Phoebe's thoughts go haywire.

She yawned, her long black hair slightly disheveled, her golden vertical pupils holding a hint of languor, as she slowly surveyed the camp.

When her gaze swept over Phoebe, Phoebe involuntarily felt a chill run down her spine.

"Charles~ I've come to inspect! And by the way..." the petite girl drawled.

Vivian dragged something along the ground, pulling it along for a few steps before casually tossing it forward.

A person was thrown to the ground, rolled a few times, and then stopped.