Three years had passed since Ryoma Takebayashi had secluded himself in the Gana Forest to devote his days to martial arts and magic. As he stood there now, the thought of leaving the forest—
Hadn't crossed his mind even once.
"There, there... Good boys... Here is your food for today."
His living quarters consisted of a humble cavern he had expanded with his improved Earth Magic. By placing barriers at the entrance, he had secured a safe home. He could even craft furniture by using Earth Magic to solidify the earth and sand excavated from the walls.
As for sustenance, the forest provided plenty. By utilizing the knowledge granted by the gods and the non-elemental spell Appraisal, he could easily determine whether something was edible. In an environment where he lacked for nothing, Ryoma felt no strong desire to return to civilization. Instead, he spent his time indulging in hobbies that had been impossible in his previous life.
Specifically, Ryoma had become obsessed with the research of slimes.
It had started simply enough; he had intended to practice Taming Magic, one of the skills he’d been given, by catching a few local slimes. He kept them as pets for about half a year, and then something happened.
One morning, he woke up to find a slime with a completely different color than the day before. Panicked that it might be sick, Ryoma used the Taming Magic skill Monster Appraisal, only to discover that the common slime had evolved into a species called a Sticky Slime.
From that day on, Ryoma became fascinated by the cause of the sudden evolution and began dedicating his time to observation. The first thing he realized was that wild slimes occupied the absolute bottom of the ecosystem.
Because slimes lacked the power to hunt, Ryoma had never seen a wild one eat properly since his arrival in the forest. However, Ryoma fed his own slimes his leftovers and the carcasses of Green Caterpillars he frequently encountered while hunting. Unlike their wild counterparts, his slimes were receiving daily nutrition.
Furthermore, his slimes’ daily diet included Green Caterpillars, which were known for spitting sticky fluids as thread. Ryoma hypothesized that one of these factors was the trigger for evolution. He spent the following months catching new slimes and feeding them controlled diets of either gathered food or Green Caterpillars.
Two months later, every slime fed exclusively on Green Caterpillars evolved into a Sticky Slime. Meanwhile, the slimes fed only on regular meals excluding the caterpillars evolved into a different variety altogether.
This discovery sent Ryoma’s curiosity into overdrive. He captured slimes in bulk, feeding them various leftovers and local materials. As a result, Ryoma currently kept six distinct varieties of slimes.
Slime x13 The weakest monsters in the world, found everywhere. They are omnivorous, and an average individual is about 20 centimeters in diameter. They are mysterious creatures; if the core inside their jelly-like body is damaged, they die, and everything except the core vanishes. Skills: Digestion Lv2, Absorption Lv3, Division Lv1
Sticky Slime x153 Identical in size to a regular slime, but their bodies are composed of highly viscous mucus. They prey on creatures by spitting mucus or lying in wait to entangle them. Skills: Strong Adhesive Fluid Lv4, Adhesive Hardening Fluid Lv1, Thread Spitting Lv1, Jump Lv1, Digestion Lv3, Absorption Lv3, Division Lv3
Initially, they only possessed Strong Adhesive Fluid, Digestion, Absorption, and Division. Eventually, they developed Adhesive Hardening Fluid and Jump, which taught Ryoma that monsters could acquire new skills through training. As for Thread Spitting, Ryoma had been investigating the properties of the two adhesive fluids while researching evolution. He discovered that mixing the two types allowed the mucus to be processed into thread. He trained the slimes to replicate this process inside their bodies, and after much practice, they mastered the skill.
Acid Slime x100 A variety whose digestive capabilities improved drastically to process difficult materials like animal bones. They first appeared during the evolution experiments and have since increased through Division. Skills: Strong Acid Fluid Creation Lv3, Strong Acid Resistance Lv3, Jump Lv1, Digestion Lv4, Absorption Lv3, Division Lv2
Poison Slime x188 A variety created by feeding slimes poisonous herbs. While many slimes died unable to withstand the toxins, the individuals that survived eventually evolved. They have grown to this number through subsequent Division. Skills: Poison Fluid Creation Lv3, Poison Resistance Lv3, Paralytic Poison Fluid Creation Lv3, Jump Lv1, Digestion Lv3, Absorption Lv3, Division Lv3
Cleaner Slime x11 Slimes generally drink a lot of water, but Ryoma noticed certain individuals were strangely eager to drink the water he used to wash himself. After deciding there was no harm in it, he let them do as they pleased, which led to this evolution. Skills: Sanitization Lv4, Deodorization Lv6, Deodorizing Fluid Lv4, Disease Resistance Lv5, Poison Resistance Lv5, Jump Lv1, Digestion Lv3, Absorption Lv3, Division Lv1
Scavenger Slime x457 Ryoma, bothered by the smell of the combined toilet and garbage pit he’d dug in his cave, remembered seeing slimes swarming rotting carcasses. He threw about twenty newly caught slimes into the pit, resulting in this species. They possess a skill to return digested nutrients to the earth as fertilizer and divide much more frequently than other varieties. Skills: Disease Resistance Lv5, Poison Resistance Lv5, Scavenge Lv5, Sanitization Lv6, Deodorization Lv6, Deodorizing Fluid Lv4, Foul Odor Release Lv4, Nutrient Return Lv3, Jump Lv1, Digestion Lv6, Absorption Lv3, Division Lv6
Because he had shifted his focus toward breeding halfway through, the number of species was small, but his total count had reached over 900. Ryoma’s personality made him well-suited for repetitive tasks, and without anyone to check his behavior, he had lost all sense of restraint.
However, this life had healed his weary soul and given him new vitality. Despite the occasional encounter with bandits or large beasts, Ryoma lived a robust life, handling threats with his own strength and the sheer numbers of his slimes.
He expected this peaceful life to continue forever—
Or so he thought, until change arrived that day. During his routine hunt, he spotted a group of five armored individuals in the forest instead of his usual prey.
(It’s rare to see people... Their equipment is uniform, so they don't look like bandits. This is the first time I've seen anyone other than bandits since coming to this world, isn't it? Well, I suppose that’s what happens when you hide in the middle of a forest... Is someone injured?)
Observing from the safety of the brush, he saw that one of the five was wrapped in bloodstained bandages instead of armor, leaning heavily on a companion’s shoulder.
"Ugh... Argh..."
"Stay with us, Hughes!"
"Camille, what about your mana?"
"I'm sorry, not yet..."
(He looks bad... They don't seem like bandits, so I can't just ignore them. I suppose letting them rest at my home is fine. Even if they turn out to be hostile, I have my emergency preparations.)
Ryoma stood up from the bushes, intending to speak. But then...
(How do I even start? "Hello"? No, this isn't a casual situation. "Hey, you guys!" ...No, that's rude and will put them on guard. Then how—seriously, how do I talk to people!?)
He wanted to help, but after three years of total isolation, he couldn't think of a single appropriate thing to say. He stood there frozen until the group, who were scanning their surroundings for danger, spotted him first.
"Who goes there!?"
"Wait."
The man at the front immediately leveled his sword at Ryoma, but a man behind him stopped him and stepped forward slowly.
"Forgive us for pointing a blade at you. We’re a bit on edge. ...Anyway, what is a child doing out here? This is no place for a boy your age. Are you lost?"
Ryoma tried to respond, but the words wouldn't come out smoothly.
"Hunting... was doing."
"Hunting? You were?"
Ryoma simply nodded in affirmation.
"It’s dangerous here, but... very well. You looked as though you had something to say?"
Ryoma pointed at the wounded man.
"Injured person... there."
Ryoma reached for a leather pouch at his waist. Seeing the movement, the swordsman stepped forward again, positioning himself as a shield for the man Ryoma was addressing.
Realizing that the knife on his belt made his movements look suspicious, Ryoma leaped backward. He quickly pulled a bottle of his homemade medicine from the pouch and held it out with both hands to show he meant no harm.
"...Is that medicine?"
When the swordsman asked, Ryoma nodded again and managed to force out a few more words.
"Injury... bad. Use medicine."
"You’re offering to let us use it?"
"Hurry."
The group exchanged glances. Camille, the gentle-looking man, took the bottle warily. After inspecting the contents, he gave it to the injured man. Within moments, the man’s color returned, and the group’s tension eased slightly.
"You have our thanks for the medicine. This should buy Hughes some time."
"House... can rest. Come rest. (I'm so pathetic...)"
Despite his broken speech, his message got across. Though frustrated by his own social regression, he managed to invite the group to his home. Ryoma led the way into the thicket, but their progress was slow due to the injured man. Behind him, he could hear them whispering.
"Why is a child out here?"
"He looks so young..."
(I’m an eleven-year-old kid right now, so it’s only natural they’d be suspicious of me being this deep in the forest. Still, it doesn't feel great. I hope they relax soon... Should I try small talk? No, while I have a "backstory" ready for why I'm here, I might dig my own grave if I talk too much.)
"Is there really a place to rest up ahead?"
"I don't know. But that potion was effective, and he doesn't seem hostile."
"Hunters sometimes set up safe zones in the forest. It might be a campsite of some kind."
(Exactly. As long as you don't attack me, I won't attack you. ...I know, I’ll collect the prey from my traps as we go. That way I can feed them while the injured guy rests. If I do that much, any decent person would realize I'm not an enemy.)
Ryoma stopped and called out to a Sticky Slime he had stationed near a trap using their contract bond. The group stopped behind him, confused.
"What's wrong?"
"Trap... prey... caught. Back soon."
As he spoke, Ryoma observed the man who had been questioning him.
(This man is likely the leader. Everyone, including the swordsman, follows his lead. The others must be his guards.)
As Ryoma was thinking, a Sticky Slime emerged from the tall grass, dragging the carcass of a Horn Rabbit. The leader, unaware the slime was a familiar, drew his sword with a practiced hand.
(Oh no!)
Ryoma lunged forward, scooping up both the slime and the rabbit.
"...Is that slime your tamed monster?"
Ryoma nodded vigorously. The man looked at Ryoma and the slime again before sheathing his blade.
"My apologies. I didn't realize it was your familiar."
(As long as the misunderstanding is cleared. I really need to speak more.)
Since slimes were monsters, it was only natural to assume it was a wild one. After conveying this with some effort, Ryoma stowed the slime and the prey in his bag, and the group resumed their trek. However, the slime served as a conversation starter, and the silence began to break.
"A slime... that brings back memories. I started my first contract with a slime as well."
"...Tamer?"
"A former Tamer, yes. The monster I traveled with grew too old for combat years ago, and I haven't made a contract since. In my younger days, I led Red Horses and Blizzard Apes."
"...Amazing...? (I don't actually know those monsters...)"
"My family has been a lineage of Tamers for generations, you see. I was taught the tricks of the trade since I was a boy. I have no real talent for magic, but I’m quite proud of my skill with a sword."
(A lineage... and with guards. This man is either a noble or a person of significant wealth and power. Stay calm. The gods told me this country is relatively lenient regarding the status gap between commoners and nobles. They specifically chose a place where I could live easily. Based on his behavior, he seems like someone I can get along with. I'll treat it like an informal business mixer... though I still can't let my guard down.)
While Ryoma focused on maintaining his composure and collecting his prey, another ten minutes passed. Finally, the party arrived at the cliffside where Ryoma’s home awaited.