The Naming Conundrum and the Looming Threat

He believed that this crucial companion deserved a name rich in depth and profound meaning.

“I’ve made up my mind; you shall be named—Cenarius?”

“Please permit me to decline.”

“My database indicates that name belongs to a robust, antlered male Night Elf from a game, a designation entirely incongruent with my current form.”

Upon hearing the name, Anmeng Yue, who stood nearby, let out a sudden ‘pfft,’ nearly spitting out the beer she had just sipped, before bursting into uproarious laughter.

“Come closer, my little ones, let me tell you what kind of utterly absurd name your game-obsessed master has bestowed.”

Still chuckling, she gathered the little Slimes closer, elaborating on the name’s full implication.

It was hardly surprising that Anmeng Yue possessed such knowledge; after all, like the Self-Disciplined Doll, she was a psychic魔物 (TL Note: A magical creature or monster, often with unique abilities), capable of accessing and reading memories.

Lin Ran’s face flushed crimson, and he cleared his throat, announcing once more—

“Then, Malfurion?”

“Hmm… I am truly sorry, but I may still have to decline that name.”

Lin Ran scratched his head, sinking into a mire of self-doubt.

‘He had merely intended to give the Self-Disciplined Doll a name that perfectly captured her inherent characteristics, so why was it being rejected? It seemed like such a fitting choice!’

‘Ah… this isn’t good. Even the Slimes are looking displeased. Could these two names truly be so unsuitable?’

‘Lim, Lim, where are you? Save me! Didn’t you adore the name I gave you?’

“What do you mean, you’re starting to doubt if the name Lim was well-chosen?”

Anmeng Yue, meanwhile, was laughing so hard she could barely breathe, collapsing onto the ground and gasping for air.

Lin Ran felt as though he had sustained three critical blows.

The Doll’s outright rejection, the mocking laughter of the bystanders, and even the betrayal of a loyal fan.

He drew a deep breath, then scooped up the still-giggling Anmeng Yue from the floor as if she were a fledgling chick.

“If you’re so capable, you try. Tell me, what name would be appropriate?”

“Just a regular girl’s name, you know? Girls want something cute.”

Anmeng Yue, having finally regulated her breathing, wiped away the tears that laughter had brought to her eyes, and responded.

“That’s true, actually.”

Lin Ran was somewhat speechless; he had been so preoccupied with concocting names based on the Doll’s characteristics that he had completely overlooked the most fundamental aspect: her gender.

He glanced at the Self-Disciplined Doll, who seemed to genuinely approve of Anmeng Yue’s suggestion for a cute name.

Given this revelation—

“Vera. It symbolizes elegance, and it perfectly suits her appearance, doesn’t it!”

This time, the name was met with universal approval.

Anmeng Yue observed the scene, and for some inexplicable reason, a wave of contentment washed over her, a warm, knowing auntie-smile gracing her lips, much like an old master witnessing their once-obtuse apprentice finally achieve mastery.

The Self-Disciplined Doll—or rather, Vera—shyly averted her gaze, a faint wisp of white smoke curling upwards from the crown of her head.

Alas, his moment of triumph lasted only a fleeting instant.

The next moment, his vision swam into darkness, and he collapsed into unconsciousness.

“W-w-w-what’s happening?! Why has Master fainted?!”

“Do not fret. His magical energy has merely been depleted. In fact, it’s a miracle he sustained consciousness for as long as he did.”

Hearing the commotion outside, which seemed to signal nothing truly alarming, Lin Ran allowed himself to sink into a profound slumber—

Before his consciousness entirely dissolved, he felt himself being gently lifted and carefully settled onto a soft bed.

Yet, even in the depths of his sleep, the activity beside him continued unabated—

“Lim, how do you Slimes reproduce, exactly~?”

It was Anmeng Yue’s voice.

“Well… if it’s with Master, then Master would need to… um… that…”

Lim’s voice was barely a whisper, as shy as a mosquito’s hum. She hoped Lim would be more demure and not emulate a certain Doll.

“No, no, not that! I mean, how do Slimes reproduce with other Slimes?”

“Oh, oh! That’s much simpler! If we consume a certain amount of the weeds from our homeland, we simply divide! By the way, that very grass is available in the dorm. Shall I bring some over?”

“Yes, please—!”

“Wait… this is! It’s *that* grass!”

Anmeng Yue’s voice, which had been lighthearted moments before, was now laced with profound shock.

****

“So what kind of grass is it?! Is it so hard to just say it clearly?! Don’t be a riddle-speaker!!”

By the time Lin Ran awoke, it was already the pre-dawn hours of the following day.

His very first utterance upon awakening was, surprisingly, a complaint directed at the fragmented conversation he had overheard before losing consciousness.

“Oh~ you’re awake.”

Vera, the Self-Disciplined Doll, observing Lin Ran’s awakening, immediately approached to conduct a series of thorough examinations.

“Body temperature 36.7 degrees Celsius, normal. Mental state stable. Magical energy reserves have recovered to 80%…”

“Therefore, without further delay, please provide me with additional genetic samples.”

Lin Ran’s face darkened with unspoken exasperation. Could it be that the very first words he registered after regaining consciousness from a blackout were *these*?

Yet, glancing at Lim, who lay deeply asleep beside him, surrounded by a multitude of tiny Slimes, a sense of relief nonetheless washed over him.

‘At least these little creatures offered a measure of comfort—’

However, the fact that many of them clutched several strands of the weeds grown in the dormitories only served to deepen Lin Ran’s bewilderment.

“These weeds…”

Noticing Lin Ran’s slight confusion, Vera promptly clarified:

“It is also known as Slime Grass. The magical energy it contains is immense, and keeping it near you will aid in the swift recovery of your own magical power.”

Lin Ran finally grasped the situation; the seemingly ordinary weeds he had collected back then were, in fact, an extraordinary treasure.

As for magical energy, he had vaguely overheard Anmeng Yue and Vera discussing the expenditure of magic during the naming process over the past two days of his unconsciousness, thus finally understanding the reason for his sudden collapse.

However…

“The effects aren’t particularly noticeable… Vera, do you feel any inclination to evolve?”

“I am a high-level 魔物 (TL Note: A magical creature or monster, often with unique abilities), and the conditions for my evolution extend beyond merely receiving a name. If you wish to observe evolution in action…”

Vera clapped her hands, and a procession of Little Dolls marched in, forming a neat line.

This spectacle, initially reminiscent of a troop of adorable lolis on parade, was undeniably heartwarming and charming.

However, upon witnessing it, Lin Ran’s heart seized, and he nearly choked, feeling as though he might just ‘驾鹤西去’ (TL Note: A Chinese idiom meaning to die; literally, ‘to ride a crane to the west’).

The reason was disarmingly simple.

The evolved Little Dolls now clutched a new weapon in their hands.

Fire axes.

Indeed… the evolved Little Dolls had assumed the very form of the Little Dolls from his dream—the terrifying appearance they took on during their first evolution, when they had relentlessly pursued him.

“Um… Vera, doesn’t that imply that if they continue to evolve…”

Lin Ran’s voice trembled with barely contained horror. He was already envisioning the Doll from his dream—the one as massive as a dormitory building, with three heads, six arms, and mastery over eighteen types of martial arts—manifesting before his very eyes…

“Yes, you are correct.”

Lin Ran’s vision went utterly black once more.

“If you intend to faint, please wait just a moment longer. I need to prepare for the collection of genetic samples; you may faint once I am ready.”

Lin Ran harbored a profound suspicion.

‘Had Vera, after receiving her name, acquired a ‘腹黑’ (TL Note: A Japanese term, ‘haraguroi,’ meaning outwardly sweet but inwardly black-hearted or scheming) trait in addition to the human emotion of shyness?’

Just then, a frantic scramble of footsteps echoed from downstairs, moving with alarming speed, clearly indicating a state of urgency.

Immediately thereafter, the wooden door burst open, startling even the Slimes awake.

Anmeng Yue clung to the doorframe, her breath coming in ragged gasps.

“Th-this is… terrible! Lin Ran! Outside… outside, a huge crowd has gathered!”

“They… they’re claiming there are 魔物 (TL Note: A magical creature or monster, often with unique abilities) here, that you’re harboring them, and they intend to kill them for their crystal cores!”

Lin Ran sprang to his feet almost instantly, hastily donning his clothes before asking in a low, grave tone.

“What’s their combat strength like?”

“Their combat strength is rather ordinary, mostly common folk. I estimate… a few of the newly evolved combat Little Dolls could easily dispatch them.”

Upon hearing this news, Lin Ran’s brows furrowed even deeper in thought.

He cast a glance at the adjacent legion of Little Dolls, all eagerly clutching their fire axes.

“That, ironically, might prove to be a bit of a problem…”

****