Accident

The next day.

In the end, I decided against visiting the church in the town of Kereban. There was apparently a church in our destination, Gimul, so I figured I would just go there instead. Until then, I would offer my prayers to the portable stone statues I had carved the day before. And so, I settled in for what I expected to be another leisurely day of travel by carriage... or so I thought.

"It is a bit chilly, isn't it..."

"It is the rain, I suppose," Reinbach remarked.

"It is quite rare to see such a downpour this time of year," Elise added.

"We just have poor luck today, Elia," Reinhardt said, attempting to console his daughter.

A few hours after leaving town, we had apparently run into an unseasonable deluge. The road was a muddy mess, causing the carriage to sway violently and our progress to slow to a crawl.

It had been a long time since I felt such an obvious bout of bad luck. Ever since I arrived in this world, I hadn't really experienced anything that made me feel truly unfortunate—a stark contrast to my life back on Earth. We were inside a carriage, so maybe just being stuck in the rain counted as lucky? I considered the thought, but it seemed the universe wasn't finished with us yet.

The carriage lurched to a halt, and one of the guards immediately came to the window.

"My Lord, it appears the rain has triggered a landslide. I have confirmed from a distance that the road ahead is completely blocked."

"What? Are you certain?"

"Yes, sir. It is a total obstruction. There are massive boulders and fallen trees mixed in; we cannot pass as we are."

"What about a detour?" Reinhardt asked.

"From our current position, any detour would be a significant roundabout. There is one shorter route, but we have unconfirmed reports of a fairly large bandit group operating in that area. However, according to those with the Weather Prediction skill, the rain should let up in a few hours. I believe our best course of action would be to establish a camp away from the landslide, wait for the storm to pass, and spend tonight and tomorrow clearing the debris. That should be the fastest way to reach Gimul. I await your judgment, My Lord..."

Reinhardt considered the guard's words for a moment before responding.

"Very well. A long detour would be taxing for Elia, as she isn't accustomed to travel, and I want to avoid any dangerous routes. We will follow your recommendation."

"Thank you, sir. We shall begin preparations immediately."

The carriage began to move again. I heard there was a tree a short distance ahead where we could take temporary shelter, but the thought of being near a lone tree during a downpour made me uneasy... Well, there wasn't any thunder yet, so it was probably fine. I made a mental note to stay at least two meters away from the trunk just in case. That would maximize my safety against lightning strikes.

About five minutes later, the carriage stopped for good. As the scene outside became frantic with activity, Arone-san stepped inside.

"We are currently rushing to set up the camp. Please wait just a while longer."

Arone-san spoke with a polite smile, but I couldn't help but look past her. Outside, I could see the guards working like drowned rats in the freezing rain, and it started to weigh on my conscience.

Having been a cog in a black company back on Earth, seeing people working while I sat idle made me feel incredibly guilty. Even if I knew it was their job, and even if I knew an amateur getting in the way was usually a nuisance, I still felt a compulsive need to help. Then I remembered—I had a Rain Shield spell in my repertoire of barrier magic. I hadn't used it in so long that I'd almost forgotten it. That shouldn't interfere with their work at all.

"Um... may I use barrier magic?" I asked.

"What's brought this on so suddenly, Ryoma-kun?" Reinhardt asked, looking surprised.

I realized I’d been too abrupt. If I didn't explain the reasoning, it would just seem strange.

"Outside... people are getting wet. If I use a Rain Shield barrier... it will block the rain. It will make the work easier."

"I see! That would be a wonderful help. I’m sure they would appreciate it."

With his permission granted, I reached into my Item Box and pulled out a coat made of fur. The fur was on the inside and the cloth was on the outside, so it looked a bit like it was inside out, but I put it on as it was. The outer fabric was coated with Sticky Slime adhesive that had been dried until it was resin-hard. It was my favorite piece of custom rain gear, and it repelled water perfectly. Ever since I'd made it, hunting on rainy days had become much more comfortable.

I threw it on and hopped out. Once I got close enough to the groups of workers, I activated the spell.

"Become a shield that envelops them and blocks the descending rain—'Rain Shield'!"

As I spoke the incantation, a dome-shaped barrier manifested around the workers, shunting the rain aside.

Since barriers and mana are invisible to the naked eye, the people inside were startled by the sudden cessation of the rain. Camille-san was the first to realize what had happened and waved to me in thanks. The others followed suit, but I just waved back and moved on to my next target.

I couldn't cover everyone with a single barrier, so I had to set them up in four different spots where people were clustered. I went around casting the shields, ending with the horses and the carriage itself, before heading back inside.

"Welcome back, Ryoma-san. Good work," Eliaria said.

"Good work... 'Wave'."

I gave a short reply to the Young Lady and Sebas-san as I pulled off my gear. I used a basic Water Magic spell to blast the moisture off the surface of the coat so I wouldn't track water into the carriage, then returned to my seat. I took a breather with the warm tea they had prepared, and before long, the conversation turned to my gear.

"I haven't seen rain gear like that elsewhere. Did you make it yourself, Ryoma-kun?" Reinhardt asked.

"Yes."

"It seemed to repel water remarkably well," Sebas noted. "But I do not recall any beasts in the Gana Forest possessing hides with such properties...?"

"I just applied Sticky Slime adhesive... then let it dry. It won't let water soak in. It just bounces off."

"Sticky Slime adhesive has such a property?"

I blinked. Did they really not know? "You didn't know?"

"I have only ever heard of Sticky Slime adhesive being used as a glue," Sebas admitted.

Is that so? For some reason, Reinbach-sama and the Duchess's eyes began to sparkle. Is this another new discovery? Just how little research has been done on slimes in this world?

"Would you mind if I tested that fabric for a moment?" Reinbach-sama asked.

"If it's just a test..."

I pulled out several scraps of cloth from my Item Box.

"This is processed cloth. It's thin, so you can tell it's waterproof... It's a bit tattered, though. But I processed it after the Cleaner Slimes were done with it, so it's clean."

Most of it was originally scraps from bandits' clothes or goblin loincloths, so I hoped they would overlook the ragged edges.

When I handed the cloth over, not just Reinbach-sama and the Duchess, but even Reinhardt-sama and Sebas-san took pieces. They wrapped their hands in the cloth and reached out of the small carriage window, exposing them to the rain pouring off the edge of the barrier.

"Ho! It truly does repel the water!"

"The moisture isn't soaking in at all," Elise marveled.

"While it still feels a bit cold from the water, if we were to line it with fur like Ryoma-sama’s coat, it would be exceptionally comfortable," Sebas remarked.

"Ryoma-kun, you must cooperate with us to develop this as a product—"

"Excuse me, did someone call?"

As the four of them were busy testing the fabric's water repellency, Arone-san opened the carriage door. She had been sitting on the rear exterior seat, where the arrangement was to signal by hand if anyone needed anything.

"Ah, no, it's nothing. We were just looking at the rain gear Ryoma-kun developed," Reinhardt explained.

"I see. Then, please excuse me."

As Arone-san turned to close the door, I noticed her clothes were damp. She must have been doing some work outside the range of my barriers.

I hurriedly called out to her and reached into my Item Box. I pulled out a curtain—likely a stolen good from the bandits—that I had already waterproofed.

"Wait... Arone-san."

"Yes? What is it?"

"This... it's waterproof."

"May I truly borrow this?"

"It's cold if you're wet. Even if you just drape it over yourself."

"Thank you so much. I shall make good use of it."

Arone-san gave me a grateful smile and left. Inside the carriage, the rest of us continued to talk excitedly about the waterproof fabric.

From what I gathered, leather products were the standard for rain gear in this kingdom. Large items like tents were heavy and cumbersome to transport. In contrast, waterproof cloth was made by simply drying slime adhesive on fabric, making it light and far more compact than leather.

Furthermore, traditional rain gear was a pain to maintain. Leather easily stained from rain and mud and was prone to mold. To prevent that, you had to clean it, oil it, dry it... it was a lot of labor.

Waterproof cloth, however, repelled dirt and could be easily washed. You could just rinse off caked-on mud and let it dry. Personally, I just used the 'Wave' spell to blast off the water or hung it up for a bit. I’d never had any issues with it.

Once I finished the basic explanation, the conversation shifted to potential applications. I suggested things like raincoats and umbrellas based on my knowledge of Earth, while they told me more about the current state of gear in their world. I finally felt like I was experiencing a real "other world" trope! Though, come to think of it, I seemed to be drifting toward the "internal affairs cheat" route. My gifts were supposed to be for magic, weren't they? I suppose modern knowledge plus physical products equaled a cheat in this world.

While we were talking, the tent preparations were finally finished. To be honest, I'd almost forgotten we were waiting.

"Sorry to keep ya, the tent's all set," Zeff said, popping his head in. "Also, the boys wanted me to pass on their thanks to the kid."

"You're welcome," I replied.

"How much longer until the rain breaks?" Reinhardt asked.

"The skill users say about two or three hours. We'll start clearing the landslide as soon as it stops."

"Understood. Have the men take turns resting until then. The Earth Mages have a big task ahead of them, so make sure they get a longer break."

"Got it."

Zeff-san headed off to relay the orders, and we moved into the tent. I was surprised to find it was quite large and luxurious, with a wide central area and four private rooms partitioned off.

"The carriage was quite rough today, so you must be exhausted. Please, rest well," Reinbach-sama said.

"Yes. I'll rest up so I can work hard later."

Since I was getting a free ride and they were paying for my food and lodging, I felt I had to contribute. Besides, it would be good training. But Reinbach-sama just tilted his head in confusion.

"Work hard? at what?"

"Using Earth Magic... to clear the landslide."

"The guards will handle that. You're a guest; you should be resting."

"You have all... taken such good care of me. And it will be good practice for me, too. Please, let me help."

"Hmm... well, if you insist that much, I suppose I shall accept the help. However, you must stop the moment you feel tired. You've already been casting barriers, and running out of mana is a miserable experience."

Ah, he was worried about me. I really appreciated the sentiment.

"Thank you. I'll be careful."

A few hours later, the rain stopped exactly as predicted, and the work to clear the landslide began. Around me, the guards who could use Earth Magic had split into teams and were steadily working through the debris. The teams led by Earth Mages were particularly efficient, using 'Break Rock' to shatter boulders and 'Rock' to solidify loose soil into manageable chunks.

I joined in as well. I used a composite spell I had developed while digging out my cave in the forest: 'Create Block.' It was a synthesis of 'Break Rock' and 'Rock' that simultaneously transformed large amounts of dirt and stone into uniform, brick-sized blocks. I then had my slimes carry them away.

Once I started, I realized my pace was on a completely different level. While the others had to cast separate spells for the rocks and the soil, I was processing everything at once. Furthermore, having the slimes lined up in a bucket brigade meant the blocks were cleared away instantly. All I had to do was keep casting. It was incredibly easy and the work vanished at a staggering speed.

One of the guards, a man I hadn't spoken to much yet, eventually approached me.

"Do you have a moment?"

"What is it?"

"You're Ryoma-kun, right? That magic... how are you doing that? I can use Earth Magic, but I'm primarily a swordsman, so I'm not exactly an expert... I've never seen a spell that handles dirt and stone at the same time. If you don't mind, could you teach me?"

"It's a spell called 'Create Block'... if you can use 'Break Rock' and 'Rock,' you can probably do it. Break Rock turns rock into soil, and Rock turns soil into stone, right?"

"Yeah, that's the gist of it."

"So, you cast the magic while visualizing the process of rock becoming soil and soil becoming rock as a single, continuous step. If you do that, the rocks in range will soften into soil... and then all the soil will fuse back together into a single block. At that moment, if you visualize specific dimensions beforehand, you can produce blocks of that exact size. In my case, I make them this size so the slimes can carry them easily."

The man nodded thoughtfully and tried it on a nearby boulder. The resulting stones were a bit irregular in size, but he successfully transformed the rock and the surrounding dirt into portable chunks.

"Whoa! It actually worked! It’ll take some practice to get the size and volume consistent, but the mana consumption feels lower than casting the two spells separately. Thanks, Ryoma-kun!"

"Not at all... I'm glad I could help."

He asked if he could teach the technique to the others. Since it didn't matter to me if one person knew it or twenty did, I gave him my blessing. The man ran off to the other Earth Mages and began explaining the 'Create Block' method.

While the guards worked, I continued my silent labor until the sun began to set. When the order came that we were finished for the day, I headed back to the tent.

"Welcome back, Ryoma-kun," Elise-san greeted me.

"I'm ba—"

"Mph!"

"You worked so hard! You're such a good boy, Ryoma-kun!"

"Le-Let go... can't... breathe..."

Before I could finish my greeting, the Duchess had pulled me into a crushing hug. It was tight! My nose and mouth were completely buried in her chest. Please, let go...

"Madam! You are crushing him! Please, let the boy go!"

"Eh? Oh!"

"Gah! Cough..."

"I'm so sorry! Are you alright?!"

"Wheeze... Yes, I'm fine. Um... Lilian-san?"

"Y-Yes!"

"Thank you. You saved me..."

"Not at all; I'm just glad you're safe. Dinner is ready; would you like to eat now?"

"Yes, please."

She guided me to the table in the back room.

"Ah, Ryoma-kun. It sounds like you did great work today. Thank you," Reinhardt said.

"Can you manage a meal? Do not overexert yourself, now," Reinbach warned.

"I feel fine, really."

"Is that so? I heard you were using quite a bit of magic."

"It was amazing," Elise said. "That magic... 'Create Block,' was it?"

"Yes."

"Between Ryoma-kun’s magic and those slimes, the efficiency was incredible. And since he taught the spell to the other mages, we’re going to be finished clearing the road much sooner than we expected."

"I'm glad to hear that."

Apparently, by the time the workday ended, one person had mastered 'Create Block' perfectly, while three others could use it reasonably well. The person who had mastered it was named Gorche, the man who had approached me earlier.

The food was served, and we all began to eat. During the meal, Eliaria suddenly asked me a question.

"Ryoma-san, how much mana do you have exactly?"

"?"

Now that she mentioned it, I wasn't sure. Since I used magic every day, it should have been increasing, but...

"Is something the matter?" she asked.

"I... don't know."

"What?! But normally, everyone goes to the church by age ten to—ah, that's right. You were living in the forest. Then, how have you known your limits until now?"

"By my physical condition and... intuition."

"Is that really safe?"

"It's not a problem once you get used to the feeling. Is it normal to have it measured at ten?"

"In most families, children go to the church on their tenth birthday to have their Status measured," Reinbach explained. "They check their mana values then to decide if they should pursue a career as a mage. We nobles usually do it on the fifth birthday to start training early. Still, given how much magic you were using without collapsing, you must have quite a formidable capacity."

After that, we talked about our plans and the city we were heading to. Once dinner was over, I was given my own room in the tent. There was nothing left to do today, and tomorrow would be another day of clearing debris and traveling. I crawled into bed to get some early sleep, but one thing stayed on my mind.

During the meal, when the topic of my mana came up, the Young Lady had been stealing glances at me. It was a strange, searching look. I wondered what she had been thinking.

The conversation about mana had been brief, and it felt like the adults had steered the topic away quickly. Had I said something wrong? It bothered me, but the moment to ask had already passed.

I decided I would try to ask her casually when I had the chance. If that didn't work, maybe I'd wait until we were a bit closer.

How long had I been lying there thinking? My eyelids felt incredibly heavy.

I gave in to the exhaustion and let myself fall into a deep sleep.