I arrived back in Gimul around noon the next day and decided to head straight to the shop.
"Welcome back, Boss," Caulm-san greeted me.
"Good work to you too, Caulm-san."
After our initial greetings, we sat down for a briefing.
"Operations are running smoothly, but we did have a minor incident while you were away," he said.
"An incident? Tell me more."
"Certainly. You mentioned that the charcoal you kept in the kitchen could purify the air and absorb moisture, correct?"
"That’s the general idea, though the effectiveness depends on the quantity and the type of wood used."
"Well, Fina and some of the others decided to test it out. However, the charcoal they set out kept disappearing without a trace. For a while, there was quite a stir about a 'charcoal thief' being on the loose."
"A charcoal thief? You said 'for a while,' so I assume the matter is settled?"
"Yes. The culprit turned out to be the Cleaner Slimes."
"The Cleaners?" I asked, surprised. No way. "Were they actually eating it?"
"They polished off every piece of charcoal in the slime waiting room. Only a few of them are doing it, but according to Maria, those specific slimes have stopped eating the dirt from the laundry entirely since then. Do you think they might be ill?"
"It’s probably not an illness, but I’d like to see them for myself."
"Of course."
Caulm-san stepped out of the office. He returned a few moments later with Maria, who looked a bit sheepish. The two of them were each cradling a Cleaner Slime.
"Sorry for the trouble," I said. "Please, come in."
I listened to the rest of the story while observing the slimes. It seemed that during the morning shift, Maria had given the slimes the command to "eat whatever you like," and that’s when these specific Cleaners developed a taste for charcoal.
"And you say they won't eat anything else now?" I asked.
"Well... it’s more like they prefer the charcoal so much that they’ve become indifferent to the laundry," Maria explained. "The other slimes usually end up eating the dirt before these ones even get close."
"Ah, I see."
In that case, they could still work, but there was no reason to force them to do laundry if they didn't want to.
"It doesn't look like they're sick. It’s more likely they're preparing for an evolution. When slimes evolve, their abilities and diets can change significantly. I’ll take charge of these two for now. Maria, please let me know if any other slimes start showing similar preferences. It’s possible they might damage the clothes if their tastes change too abruptly, so I’ll leave it to Caulm-san to decide on our official policy for that."
I turned back to Maria. "Please continue managing the rest. If we do run into issues with damaged laundry, we’ll handle it by compensating the customers and isolating those slimes."
"I’ll do my best!" Maria chirped.
"I’m counting on you. Caulm-san and I will support you, so don’t worry too much. In fact, personally, I feel like I should be thanking you."
I had a strong hunch that a new type of slime was about to be discovered. I was genuinely excited—I’d even consider giving her a bonus for this. As soon as I got home, I’d have to expand my charcoal kiln. Maria seemed visibly relieved as I spoke.
I transferred the contracts for the two slimes to myself, settling the matter. Once Maria headed back to work, I gave Caulm my own report.
"...So, the Lenaf branch is officially open for business. We'll be receiving regular reports from them moving forward."
"That is excellent news."
"It is. That’s all for the business side of things, but... there is one more thing I wanted to tell you personally."
I told him about my decision to return to my old home in the forest to retrieve my grandparents' belongings. While I had originally met Caulm through Serge-san's recommendation, I had come to truly trust his work ethic and judgment.
"Because of that, I plan to gradually increase my activity as an adventurer again."
"I see. So you are returning to your original path."
"I apologize for the extra burden this might place on you, but I’d appreciate your help."
"Of course. Leave the shop to me. I will provide whatever support you need."
Caulm accepted the news with a determined, supportive smile. I felt confident leaving the business in his hands.
"By the way, where exactly is your hometown, Boss? I don't believe I've heard the name of your village."
"Are you familiar with the Shulls Great Forest? It’s deep inside there... Wait, why are you looking at me like that?"
The moment I mentioned the name, Caulm—usually so composed and professional—wore an expression I had never seen before.
"Cough... pardon me. I was just... a bit taken aback. It’s a miracle you’re even alive."
To think that was the only thing he could manage to say.
"Is it really that dangerous?"
"A vast, unforgiving jungle filled with countless monsters... I’ve heard that once you reach the interior, you encounter A-Rank beasts regularly. Without the fortified bases built by our predecessors, even resupplying is impossible. Logically speaking, just making it out of there alive is considered a feat of legend."
"Hahaha... well, I plan to go back the right way this time, which means I need to raise my adventurer rank first. I’ll make sure I’m fully prepared and back in top form before I set out."
"In that case, you should speak with Lord Serge. I’m sure he can assist with supplies, and since the Morgan Company has many branches, it would be quite convenient for you."
I got the impression he was debating whether or not to try and talk me out of it, but in the end, he gave me solid advice and his full support.
After leaving the shop, I stopped by the Morgan Company before heading home. The atmosphere there was even more hectic than usual. I considered coming back another day, but a clerk who recognized me ushered me inside to see Serge-san.
When I shared my plans with him, he had a similar reaction to Caulm.
"So you were raised in the Great Forest, Ryoma-sama? That must have been incredibly difficult."
"To be honest, I was so focused on finding my way out at the time that I don't remember all the details."
"I suppose that’s only natural. They say that even the most hardened adventurers who venture there come back speaking of the sheer, terrifying tenacity required to survive. It is not a place for someone like me. But what brought this on so suddenly?"
"The monsters I ran into in Lenaf reminded me of the ones back home. Besides, I’ve heard rumors that the village is abandoned now."
"Given the location, that wouldn't be surprising."
"I want to go back to see for myself. It’ll be a long time before I'm ready, but I’ve decided to make it my long-term goal as an adventurer."
"I see. Then I shall support you however I can. Please, make use of the Morgan Company whenever you find yourself in need of supplies."
"Thank you, I appreciate it. ...Actually, is something happening today?" I asked, noting the frantic pace of the staff again. "I hope I didn't come at a bad time."
"On the contrary, it’s good you came today. I’ll be away in the town of Kereban for the next week for the Magic Tool Fair. We’re just finishing the final preparations."
"A Magic Tool Fair? That sounds fascinating."
"Are you interested?"
Something in Serge-san's eyes shifted. It was the unmistakable glint of a hobbyist finding a kindred spirit.
"I haven't had much chance to see many different kinds. Are you a fan of them, Serge-san?"
"I’m somewhat embarrassed to admit it, but I’m quite well-known among collectors. This trip is half business and half personal passion."
"I had no idea. It sounds like fun just to walk around and see what's available."
"Exactly! Even magic tools designed for the same purpose can vary wildly depending on the artisan or the workshop. And at fairs like this, you find apprentice works and unique pieces that don't usually hit the open market. There’s a certain joy in finding a piece you love or discovering a promising new talent."
Serge-san's eyes were practically glowing now.
"I’ve tried my hand at making them myself, but I simply don't have the skill of a true craftsman."
"Can you use Enchantment Magic, Serge-san?"
"Oh, no. My mana pool is quite small, so I can barely use any Elemental Magic. However, some types of magic tools can be assembled without using any mana at all. One moment."
Fully in "enthusiast mode," he hurried out of the room and returned almost immediately with a wooden box.
"Have a look at this."
He pulled a gear out of the box. It looked like an ordinary gear, but...
"Oh, it's moving."
As soon as Serge-san channeled a tiny bit of mana into it, the gear began to rotate slowly on the table.
"This is a gear enchanted with the No-Attribute Magic 'Spin.' It rotates in a set direction when mana is applied, making it a primary power source for various machines. The most famous example would be the Magic Carriage."
So, a magical version of a car? I hadn't seen one yet.
"Unfortunately, they aren't very practical. You can power them with your own mana or use Mana Stones, but they lack the horsepower to move the weight of the carriage and passengers efficiently. Between that and the cost of Mana Stones, a standard horse and carriage is much better for work. However, they hold a massive race in the Royal Capital once a year. I actually own one myself as a hobby."
I could feel the intense heat of his passion despite his calm explanation.
"Ah, but I’m getting off-track. While there are many types of magic tools, you can use pre-made components to build entirely new devices without needing to cast a single spell yourself. Many artisans specialize in exactly that."
"That sounds very interesting."
"If you'd like, please take these."
"Wait, I couldn't possibly..."
He held out the entire box of gears. I tried to decline, feeling it was far too much to accept, but Serge-san just scratched his head.
"I bought these at last year's fair, but I haven't found a use for them..."
Apparently, he had bought them as a "proactive investment" in a young apprentice's work while buying things he actually wanted. To put it bluntly, they were just taking up space. He insisted I take them.
"Thank you very much. I'm sorry for dropping in unannounced and leaving with a gift."
"Not at all. You’re doing me a favor by clearing out some dead stock. I should be thanking you."
"If I ever think of an interesting way to use these, I’ll be sure to come and show you."
"Oh! Please do. I’ll be looking forward to it."
I said my goodbyes to a beaming Serge-san. I felt a strange sense of kinship with him today.
Now then, time to head home and check on those slimes.