The next day.
I prepared my slimes and the work clothes I had crafted the previous day. Before heading out, I informed the others.
"Well then, I'm off."
"We're counting on you," Reinhardt said.
"Have a safe trip, Ryoma-san," Elise added.
"Good luck!" Elia cheered.
"We'll be busy on our end as well," Reinbach noted.
With everyone seeing me off, I headed for the guild. Upon arrival, I spotted the receptionist from the day before and approached her counter.
"Good morning."
"Oh, it’s the boy from yesterday. Ryoma-kun, right? You actually came back."
"Yes. I’d like to officially accept the request..."
"Right, I heard. Thank you for taking that job. We were truly in a bind over it."
"Please, process the paperwork."
"Sure thing... There, all set. Take this request form and start with the West District. This is the key to the cesspool entrances; don't lose it."
"Understood. I’ll be on my way, then."
"Take care!"
I left the guild and headed to the far western edge of the Town of Gimul. When I reached the public toilet’s cesspool, I used the key to open a door set into the brick wall. Inside was a small brick hut with another door.
I stepped through the first door. When I tried to close it behind me, I noticed there was no keyhole on the inside. It seemed to be a double-door structure designed so it couldn't be locked from within. Well, leaving it unlocked shouldn't be a problem.
With the outer door closed, I changed into my coveralls and makeshift chest waders. Then, I opened the hatch to the cesspool itself.
"Ugh!"
I slammed it shut instantly. The reason was obvious—a cesspool that had been neglected for months emitted a stench so foul it was physical. The stinging irritation in my nose actually brought tears to my eyes. My Scavenger Slimes seemed perfectly fine, so I sent them in first with orders to divide and start processing the waste, but the shock of the smell lingered.
Once I finally composed myself, I asked a Cleaner Slime to soak the cloth covering my mouth with deodorizing fluid. My eyes were still stinging, so I had another Cleaner Slime sit on my head and drape itself over my eyes like goggles. Since their bodies were highly transparent, I could see perfectly. Cleaner Slimes were truly a godsend.
Fully equipped, I descended the stairs into a wide underground passage. On either side of a central path, massive mounds of filth were piled high. The Scavenger Slimes swarmed over them, working diligently. I followed behind, using Mist Wash to blast the waste off the ceiling and walls. Then, I used my original lightning spell, Range, to heat and sterilize the remaining water.
I had only hoped to make the place a bit more presentable, but the effort was a resounding success. When I checked with Appraisal, the description changed.
Previously: Filthy Ceiling: A ceiling with filth clinging to it in places.
Now: Stone Ceiling: The ceiling of a public toilet cesspool in the Town of Gimul. Disinfected through cleaning and heating; clean.
The Appraisal data had officially updated. It seemed the heat sterilization had been the key. I often wondered where this information actually came from, but it had never steered me wrong before. It was certainly useful in times like these.
I continued the work, but it took five hours just to finish a single cesspool. Then, an unexpected development required another three hours of my time.
The Scavenger Slimes had consumed so much waste that they were ready to divide. I felt the sensation through our taming contract. Since the cesspool was hidden from the public, I took the opportunity to let them undergo division right there. I had twenty-nine more cesspools to go, and more slimes meant the work would proceed that much faster.
Once the division was complete, the Scavenger Slime count reached 1,464. Since I started with 730, four of them must have divided twice in a row. They must have stored up a massive amount of nutrients over the last two days.
With the day's physical labor done, all that remained was the report. I wasn't being rushed by anyone like in my previous life, so I took a moment to leisurely check if the slimes had undergone any other changes.
That was when I noticed a shift in their skills. Cold sweat began to roll down my cheeks.
These were their skills before the cleaning: Disease Resistance Lv5, Poison Resistance Lv5, Scavenge Lv5, Sanitization Lv6, Deodorization Lv6, Deodorizing Fluid Lv4, Foul Odor Release Lv4, Nutrient Return Lv3, Jump Lv2, Digestion Lv6, Absorption Lv3, Division Lv6.
And these were their skills now: Disease Resistance Lv7, Poison Resistance Lv6, Scavenge Lv6, Sanitization Lv7, Deodorization Lv7, Deodorizing Fluid Lv5, Foul Odor Release Lv6, Nutrient Return Lv5, Jump Lv3, Digestion Lv7, Absorption Lv3, Division Lv6.
The levels had risen across the board, but the one that chilled me was Disease Resistance. It had jumped two levels at once. For that skill to rise, the slimes had to be exposed to actual pathogens. In other words... this place was a literal breeding ground for plague.
I mean, I knew it was a cesspool, so it was obviously unsanitary. But Elise had told me that Disease Resistance Level 5 was enough to protect against malicious, life-threatening illnesses.
For it to jump another two levels meant that full-blown epidemic-level pathogens were present. This was incredibly dangerous. I had to report this immediately, but first, I needed to sterilize myself. It would be a disaster if I carelessly walked out and started spreading an epidemic.
I fought to calm my racing heart and hurried back to the entrance. I checked the slimes’ health via Taming Magic and Appraisal. They seemed fine for now.
Once outside, I had a Cleaner Slime sanitize the slime carrier, the slimes themselves, and my entire body. Then, I had the Scavengers and Cleaners thoroughly sanitize the ground around the entrance where I had walked. I checked everything again with Appraisal. Once the descriptions for my gear and slimes no longer mentioned words like "soiled" or "pathogen" and were listed as "clean," I knew the sanitization had worked. I locked the door and used barrier magic to seal it shut before rushing to the guild.
I drew plenty of stares on the way. I hadn't taken the time to change out of my strange gear, but I didn't care. I needed to get to the Guildmaster and the Ducal House as quickly as possible.
As I neared the guild, I slowed down to catch my breath. If I burst in shouting about a plague at the front desk, it would cause a panic. I had to act like a normal adventurer returning from a job.
When I walked in wearing my bizarre outfit, people pointed and laughed, but I ignored them and went straight to the counter. It took everything I had just to keep the urgency off my face.
"Excuse me."
"Oh, Ryoma-kun... what on earth are you wearing?"
"They're work clothes I made for cleaning! They might not be stylish, but they’re functional and water-resistant. Perfect for working in mud or swamps."
"I suppose they do look practical..." she said, while a few nearby adventurers nodded with interest.
"Anyway, I’ve finished for the day and I'd like to report to the Guildmaster. Is he available?"
"To the Guildmaster? Well, I can go ask, but he has guests. You might have to wait."
"Please. I really need to speak with him."
The receptionist went into the back and returned a few minutes later.
"He said it’s okay. Follow me."
I was lucky to be seen so quickly. However, the receptionist stopped me before we reached the door.
"The guests inside are very important people, so please be on your best behavior. I’m sure you’ll be fine, but just a reminder."
"Thank you, I'll be careful."
She knocked and announced me.
"Enter," Wogan’s voice called out.
I stepped inside to find the Guildmaster, the four members of the Jamil family, and Sebas.
"Good work, Ryoma-kun," Reinhardt said.
"Everyone... why are you here?"
"We heard about the situation from the Guildmaster. We've mobilized our guards to help gather information on the city's management."
"I see..." That was a lucky break for me.
"So?" Wogan asked. "What’s the matter? And what’s with that outfit? You’re getting more eccentric every time I see you."
"These are my cleaning clothes. They're built for functionality, so please ignore the appearance. More importantly, I've just returned from cleaning the city's public toilet cesspools."
The atmosphere in the room shifted instantly. Sensing my gravity, their expressions turned serious.
"Right, the job we discussed yesterday. What about it?"
"My cleaning method involves water magic and Scavenger Slimes. Scavengers consume filth and possess the Sanitization skill. But here is the problem: filth is a breeding ground for disease, and Scavengers have a Disease Resistance skill to cope with that. Until today, my slimes were at Level 5. After finishing just one cesspool, they jumped to Level 7."
Shocked exclamations filled the room.
"What!?"
"Is that true!?"
"It is. I believe a malady capable of forcing that kind of skill growth has manifested in those cesspools. I realized the danger before I left the site. I used Cleaner Slimes to sanitize myself and my gear, and confirmed I was clean with Appraisal before coming here. I also sanitized the area around the entrance and sealed it with barrier magic. For now, the site is contained."
"I see. You did well. But if a plague is already breeding there..."
"Guildmaster," I interrupted. "My slimes are capable of processing the source. I intend to continue the work, but I need you to prohibit anyone else from entering the cesspools until I'm finished. We need guards who can keep their mouths shut to ensure no one wanders in."
"Of course we'll do that. But kid... you know there’s an epidemic in there, and you still want to go back?"
"Can't the slimes do it alone?" Elise asked. "You can give them orders from a distance, can't you?"
"It's far too dangerous!" Elia cried.
"We will arrange for experts to handle it," Reinbach added.
They were all trying to stop me, but I couldn't back down. I was the only one who could do this safely.
"The slimes can't do it alone. The waste is caked onto the walls and ceilings; I have to wash it down with magic for them to eat it. If we don't clear it all out, it will just spread again. I appreciate your concern, but please, let me handle this. Sending in a large group of people only increases the risk of someone getting infected and carrying the plague into the city. I can do this with just my slimes. It is the safest and fastest way."
To convince them, I brought up my status board and displayed four specific skills. If there was ever a time to use my "cheats," this was it.
Health Lv7 Life Strengthening Lv3 Super Regeneration Lv3 Endurance Strengthening Lv6
Wogan stared at the board, his jaw dropping.
"Health Level 7 is a skill that resists anything that harms the body, like poison or disease. At this level, my risk of infection is significantly lower than anyone else's. Even if I did get sick, Life Strengthening and Super Regeneration would ensure I recover where others would die. I can even work for days without sleep if I have to. There is no one better suited for this than me."
Silence fell over the room. No one could argue with the logic of my stats, even if they clearly hated the idea. Finally, Reinbach spoke up.
"It seems... there truly is no one better suited. We are essentially asking you to shoulder all the risk, but please... we leave the city in your hands." He stood up and bowed deeply to me.
"Of course."
"Fine," Wogan grunted. "I'll handle the guards. I’ll pick people I trust who have their own resistance skills. We’ll keep this quiet to avoid a panic."
"Thank you. Fortunately, the cesspools are contained enough that it hasn't spread yet. And based on the fact that my Cleaner Slimes didn't see a level increase, I don't believe this plague is an airborne infection."
"Airborne infection? What's that?" Wogan asked.
I realized the terminology might be different here. In this world, they treated "maladies" as almost supernatural entities.
"Plagues spread in different ways," I explained. "Some spread through contact, others through contaminated food or water. An airborne infection is when the 'poison' floats in the air and people catch it just by breathing. Those are the hardest to stop. But since the slimes that didn't touch the filth didn't develop resistance, this is likely a contact or oral transmission type. As long as we remove the source—the filth—and I am careful not to carry anything out on my person, we can stop it. I’m no expert, but that is my assessment."
"You talk an awful lot for someone who claims not to be an expert," Wogan remarked. "I've never heard of those categories before."
"Where did you learn all this, Ryoma-kun?" Elise asked.
"My grandmother taught me," I lied, falling back on my usual excuse. "She was a medicine researcher, so she knew a lot about how diseases work. I just picked it up from her while she was working."
That seemed to satisfy them. The conversation shifted to logistics and coordination. We decided I would resume the work tomorrow.
However, a new conflict arose when I suggested moving to a different inn. I didn't want to risk infecting the Jamil family if I was carrying something, but the entire group—including the maids—adamantly refused.
They argued that if I was going to be in danger, I should be where they could watch over me and respond instantly if I fell ill. In the end, Elise and Elia actually started crying while they scolded me for trying to push them away.
I eventually gave in, moved by the fact that they cared for me so deeply.