The next morning, I woke up, performed my morning routine, and began gathering the slimes. That was when I spotted it—a slime I didn't recognize.
It was definitely one I had a contract with, but I’d never seen its like before. I used Monster Appraisal to check its status.
Medicine Slime Skills: Medicinal Fluid Creation Lv3, Poison Resistance Lv3, Disease Resistance Lv5, Physical Attack Resistance Lv1, Jump Lv3, Digestion Lv3, Absorption Lv3, Division Lv3, Spearmanship Lv1.
A Medicine Slime. I didn't remember contracting one, so this had to be an evolution.
"It has Spearmanship in its skill list. That means its previous form was a Poison Slime!"
If you think about it, just as medicine can become poison depending on the dosage, poison can be refined into medicine.
"I’ve never had an already evolved slime reach a second stage before. So it is possible? But why so suddenly? Did it meet the evolution requirements somewhere?"
Slime evolutions were usually determined by their diet. If so, were the requirements for a Medicine Slime related to actual medicine? When would it have... Oh, right. The night before last, I had spilled some medicine and it was cleaned up before I even realized it. I’d assumed a Cleaner Slime had done the work, but was it this fellow instead?
To confirm my theory, I gathered the remaining Poison Slimes and poured a bottle of the antidote I’d made into a stone vessel. Five slimes immediately crowded around and began drinking.
"Oh, they’re drinking it. They really were Poison Slimes after all."
The one that evolved earlier had only consumed a single bottle. By simple math, it would take five bottles for these five slimes. I added four more bottles of antidote to the vessel.
While they were occupied, I fashioned several more vessels and gave the Medicine Slime a command.
"Show me what kind of liquids you can produce."
As I set out the containers, the Medicine Slime began spitting out various fluids. They ranged from thick, viscous gels to watery liquids. I appraised them one by one.
Wound Medicine Hemostatic Agent Antidote Fast-acting Poison Slow-acting Poison Fast-acting Paralytic Poison Slow-acting Paralytic Poison Antibacterial Agent
"The range is incredible. I suppose Medicinal Fluid Creation covers both toxins and cures. But what is this Antibacterial Agent?"
Appraisal provided the details.
Antibacterial Agent: A liquid produced within the body of a Medicine Slime with a potent bactericidal effect. When applied, it kills bacteria and viruses on the treated surface. Unless kept in a sealed container, the moisture evaporates rapidly. Harmless to the human body.
It was a disinfectant! This was a huge relief. I’d been a bit worried about hygiene whenever I traveled outside the Jamil Duchy.
Actually, I’d lost track of time. I needed to get to the shop.
I hurriedly collected all the slimes and headed for town, but by the time I arrived, the doors were already open. I slipped in through the employee entrance and immediately ran into Caulm.
"Good morning, Manager."
"Good morning, Caulm."
"Is everything all right, Manager? You've been a bit late these past two days."
"Oh, did you notice? I’ve just been a bit busy with some personal business."
"Is that so? Well, as long as you're well. But please, consult me if anything is bothering you."
"Thank you, I appreciate that."
"On that note, I would actually prefer if you continued coming in at this time from now on."
"At this time? Why?"
"When you arrive before the shop opens, you inevitably end up doing the preparations yourself, which leaves the staff with nothing to do. This is a good opportunity for the newcomers to train. Please, take this chance to get used to delegating work to your subordinates."
I realized I’d been inadvertently stealing their jobs.
"I see. Well, if that's the case, I suppose I have no choice."
I understood the reasoning, but it felt like my workload had decreased yet again. Then I remembered the windows.
"Actually, Caulm, are Fei or Li Ling free right now?"
"Fei is currently watching the storefront, and Li Ling should be in the breakroom. Did you need them?"
"I’ve come up with a plan for the shop's security and I wanted their professional opinions."
"I see. Please wait in the manager's office. I'll fetch her immediately."
I waited in the office, and since the breakroom was just across the hall, they arrived within moments. I really should have just gone to them myself.
"Good morning, Boss. I heard you have business with me, yo."
"Good morning, Li Ling. It’s about the shop's windows. If someone really wanted to break in, they could get through those wooden shutters fairly easily, couldn't they?"
"That's right, ne. With a hammer or an axe, it would be simple. We keep watch with that in mind, yo."
"I appreciate that. But I thought if we could make the windows unbreakable, it would make everyone's lives easier."
"That is true, ne. But how?"
I pulled a Concentrated Hardening Fluid Plate from my Dimension Home. Caulm's eyes widened the moment he saw it.
"Is that window glass?"
"Something similar, but not quite."
"With that level of transparency and that shape, I can't imagine it being anything else. Even if it isn't glass, it’s a perfect substitute! Did you make this yourself, Manager?"
He really latched onto the commercial potential. I intended to use it for the shop, but I didn't want to start selling it yet.
"I’m sorry, but I don't plan on putting this on the market. The production volume is too low."
"I see... My apologies for overstepping."
"Don't worry about it. As you guessed, I want to use this as a glass substitute. It looks like glass, but it's incredibly durable."
To demonstrate, I struck the plate as hard as I could with my bare hand, without using any Strengthening magic. Seeing that, Li Ling’s eyes narrowed.
"Boss, mind if I give that a try, aruka?"
"Of course. I have spares, so don't worry if it breaks."
I stepped aside, and Li Ling took a stance. She struck the plate with her fist several times, but it didn't even vibrate. She eventually used Strengthening magic to deliver a heavy blow, but even then, it only developed a few hairline cracks.
"It is certainly sturdy, ne. If we install this on the first floor, intruders will have a nightmare of a time getting in. However, if we’re ever cornered and need to break a window to escape, we won't be able to do it easily, ne. We’ll need to keep that in mind."
That was a valid point I hadn't considered.
"True... If I can add a mechanism to let them swing open from the inside, that might solve it. I'll have to think about the design."
"But for keeping people out, it is excellent. Even just replacing a few key windows would limit where an intruder could sneak in, yo. As long as we know the limits, we can adapt."
"I see. Then shall we go ahead and start replacing the windows with these?"
"Please do."
I began the work of swapping the wooden shutters for the hardening fluid plates. I started at the back of the shop where there were no customers, moved to the side facing the neighbor's property, then the street-facing side. I was just about to start on the front windows facing the residential district when I heard shouting from the storefront.
"What the hell did you do to my laundry?! Does this shop make a habit of shredding people's clothes?!"
I rushed to the entrance to find a rough-looking man looming over Fina. Fei had already stepped between them. On the counter lay a garment torn from the collar all the way to the waist. We didn't do any laundry that would result in damage like that. The bag it came in was intact, so it hadn't been snagged during transport either.
Even though I knew it was a scam, it was infuriating. Legitimate complaints are one thing, but I wouldn't tolerate blatant harassment. When dealing with malicious customers, it's vital to remain firm. Giving in to unreasonable demands only invites more trouble.
I spoke up, catching the man’s attention. "Is there a problem, sir?"
"Manager?" Fei reacted first. I gave him a quick glance, signaling that I would handle it. He caught my drift and stepped back, though he stayed in a tense posture, ready to strike if needed.
"Aah?! What do you want, brat? Get lost!"
"I’m afraid I can't do that. I’m the manager of this shop. Is there something wrong with our service?"
The man’s brow furrowed, and he redirected his aggression toward me. "Damn right there is! What kind of operation are you running here?! My best clothes are in tatters! You’re going to pay for this, you hear me?!"
"May I examine the garment?"
I took the clothes and inspected them. It’s important to show the crowd that you’re taking the complaint seriously. If you dismiss it out of hand, it looks bad to the other customers. I didn't care what this thug thought, but the onlookers were a different story.
Sure enough, the collar had clear incisions made by a blade. It had been sliced and then pulled apart by force. If we hand-washed things, a tear might happen, but a Cleaner Slime lacks the physical strength to rip fabric like that. It was a clumsy setup.
If he wanted to frame our slimes, he should have at least brought something that looked dissolved.
"Sir, I’m afraid I cannot accept this false accusation."
I looked him straight in the eye as I spoke.
"Aah?! You’re calling me a liar?! Look at the damn shirt! It’s ruined! You won't apologize and instead you blame the customer?! What kind of trash shop is this?! You’re nothing but scammers!"
He began shouting at the top of his lungs, clearly trying to incite the crowd.
"Then allow me to prove it."
"Huh?" The man looked confused.
"Please wait a moment. I will perform a live demonstration of our laundry process for everyone here. Once you see it, you’ll realize that such damage is impossible."
I left Fei to keep watch and fetched a single Cleaner Slime. I stepped around the counter to the customer side.
"I’ll need some laundry for the demonstration. Is anyone willing to lend me some items? I’ll wash them for free as a thank you."
A few people spoke up immediately. "Here, take mine!"
I took a bag from a man who looked like an adventurer. When I emptied it onto the counter, a shirt and trousers caked in dried blood fell out.
"Now, everyone, please watch."
I gave the Cleaner Slime the command. As usual, it took the clothes into its body, and the bloodstains vanished within seconds. The crowd gasped in amazement as the process finished in no time.
"What do you think? As you can see, the clothes are perfectly intact. There is no damage whatsoever."
"Th-that’s just a fluke..."
"If you truly believe that, I’ll keep going until you’re satisfied."
By the time I’d finished the laundry for ten different people, the man had gone silent. I decided to finish him off with logic.
"In the first place, a slime cannot cause damage like this. They have no claws, no teeth, and very little physical strength. Our slimes take the clothes inside and consume the dirt. Unlike traditional washing, there is no scrubbing or mechanical force involved. This method is actually much gentler on fabric than any other.
In fact, I’ve been washing my own clothes this way for three years, and I’ve never had a single tear. I can say with absolute certainty that this damage did not happen in my shop."
The crowd murmured in agreement. As long as the regular customers were satisfied that it wasn't our fault, I didn't care about the thug.
"Now then, you are obstructing our business. I’ll be handing you over to the Guard Force. Will you come quietly?"
"Tch! Like hell I will!"
The man swung a fist at me. I pivoted, seized his arm, and threw him over my shoulder. He hit the floor with a heavy thud, his legs kicking the counter as he went down.
"Gah!?" He groaned, writhing in pain.
"That was self-defense."
With so many non-adventurers watching, I had to be careful not to look like a bully. This was enough. "Fei, if you would?"
"Understood, Boss."
Fei quickly restrained the man and dragged him to the back.
Once the Guard Force arrived to take him away, the shop returned to its usual routine. By the time everything settled, it was noon. As we sat down for lunch, Fina approached us.
"Manager, Fei, thank you so much for helping me."
"It's all in a day's work, yo. Besides, the Boss did the heavy lifting today," Fei said with a shrug.
"I’m the manager," I added. "I can't just stand by when someone causes trouble in my shop."
"You’re really strong, Manager!" Fina said, her eyes wide.
"But Boss, was it okay to do all that laundry for free, aruka?" Li Ling asked.
"It’s a small price to pay. It was more important to prove that man was lying than to make a few coins. If the customers thought we were actually ruining clothes, we would have lost far more in the long run."
Carla nodded in agreement. "Exactly. Reputation is everything."
I never expected to please everyone. There will always be people who want to complain, and that’s their business. I can't stop that, and I don't intend to. But I won't let them drag my shop's name through the mud.
"Still, Manager, if you're going to fight, please warn us first. My heart nearly stopped," Carla teased.
"We didn't know you could fight like that..."
I realized then that I usually come across as a normal eleven-year-old. I keep forgetting that my outward appearance doesn't exactly scream 'martial artist.'
"Sorry, I should have mentioned it sooner."
Reporting and communication—it really is the foundation of any business.
After lunch, I finished replacing the windows with the hardening fluid plates without any further incidents. By late afternoon, I headed over to Serge’s shop. With the Medicine Slimes in the picture, I needed bottles and compounding tools.
"Welcome, Ryoma-sama."
"Hello, Serge. I’m here for some personal shopping today."
"I see. What can I get for you?"
"I need to buy a large quantity of medicine bottles."
"A large quantity?"
"Yes. I’m studying medicine-making, and I have some free time now. Since I’m an adventurer, I want to be prepared for any injuries."
"I see... However, if you're buying in bulk, you would be better off registering as a pharmacist with the Commerce Guild. You can buy from wholesalers through the guild for a much lower price."
He was right. Serge was always looking out for my best interests.
In the end, I took his advice and didn't buy the bottles there. Instead, I picked up some more cloth for the waterproof fabric and left.
When I arrived at the Commerce Guild, I was shown straight to the reception room.
"What is it today? More talk about labor?" the Guild Master, Griselda, asked.
"No, it's something else." I explained the situation.
"I see... so you want wholesale bottles. Kid, just how good are you at compounding?"
I pulled out the bottle of antidote I’d made at the mine and handed it over. Griselda appraised it and gave a sharp grin.
"Not bad. This is definitely professional grade. If you can make stuff like this, you could make a decent living as a pharmacist."
"I don't have plans for that right now."
"I suppose your laundry shop keeps you busy enough. But it’s good to have a backup trade. If you ever need extra cash for expansion, I’ll buy whatever you make. I’ll even handle the distribution."
"Really?"
"I have high hopes for you. Besides, before I became Guild Master, medicine was my specialty. This is high quality; I could sell this easily."
I hadn't realized Griselda was a medicine expert.
"Thank you. I'll keep that in mind."
I purchased a mountain of bottles, along with pots, funnels, and other tools. I also grabbed some food on my way out of the city and headed back to the mine.
The sun was still up, so I ran back on foot. I passed several adventurers returning from the marshes, likely done for the day with their frog hunting. As the scent of the marsh mud reached my nose, a thought struck me.
When I cleaned the cesspool, I used deodorizing fluid on a cloth to handle the smell. Wouldn't a deodorizing spray be a huge hit here? There were all kinds of products like that in my previous world. I decided to talk to Caulm about it tomorrow morning.
That night, after a quick dinner, I spent my time studying the Medicine Slimes. I got so absorbed in my research that I stayed up much later than intended.
It was worth it, though. I watched the five Poison Slimes I’d fed that morning finally evolve into Medicine Slimes. My hypothesis was correct. It made me wonder if other slimes had hidden evolution paths as well. Slime research was truly a bottomless well.
With a sense of satisfaction, I decided to have a drink from the goblet Tekun had given me. But I quickly discovered a catch.
"He gave it to me out of the goodness of his heart, so I shouldn't complain, but... the fuel efficiency on this thing is terrible."
Following Tekun's instructions, I channeled mana into the goblet, and wine began to bubble up. However, producing a single cup cost me nearly 30,000 mana. I checked my status board to confirm. Even with my massive pool, I could only manage six cups before running dry. Was that a lot for a nightcap? I wasn't sure. Considering it was creating alcohol from nothing but mana, I suppose a high cost was to be expected.
I didn't drink much outside of social events, so I decided to stop at two cups. I drained the wine and climbed into bed. It was delicious, but as I drifted off, I realized I’d forgotten to prepare any snacks again. I’d have to remember that for next time.