Two days later, I parted ways with Serge-san, who still had business to attend to, and made my way back to Gimul ahead of him.
I arrived quite late at night, so I went straight home. I’d planned to tend to my familiars and head straight to bed, but as it turned out, sleep would have to wait.
One of the Cleaner Slimes I had brought back from the shop the other day was evolving sooner than I’d anticipated. It was currently in my room inside the abandoned mine, and there was no way I could sleep through this.
I watched with bated breath as the slime repeatedly released and absorbed mana. Its transparent body gradually turned a dark, murky color. I sat there, wondering when it would finally finish, and before I knew it, time had simply slipped away.
"Oh! Is it done?"
The mana finally settled, and the slime began to crawl across the floor. Its body was now a uniform, matte black. It looked like a charcoal ball—the kind made by kneading crushed charcoal together. Upon closer inspection, however, its body was still as gelatinous as any other slime. It would be more accurate to call it a matte black, viscous liquid.
Now then, let's check its species. I cast Monster Appraisal.
Deodorant Slime
Skills: Odor Absorption Lv8, Deodorization Lv6, Deodorizing Lv8, Odor Prevention Lv5, Foul Odor Release Lv2, Pungent Odor Release Lv2, Odor Absorption Fluid Lv7, Deodorization Fluid Lv5, Deodorizing Fluid Lv7, Odor Prevention Fluid Lv4, Foul Odor Fluid Lv1, Pungent Odor Fluid Lv1, Disease Resistance Lv5, Poison Resistance Lv5, Physical Attack Resistance Lv1, Cleanliness Lv4, Cleaning Lv1, Jump Lv3, Division Lv1
"A Deodorant Slime, huh? I’d predicted a Carbon Slime, but it seems it went in a different direction."
Looking at its abilities, it was clear this species specialized in smells. Every skill had something to do with odors or deodorizing. I decided to head outside to verify its capabilities.
After moving to a better spot for testing, I was able to confirm several things.
Odor Absorption was a skill that sucked in odors from the air.
Deodorization was a skill that removed odors from objects through physical contact. The two were similar, but their effective ranges were different.
Deodorizing literally erased scents, while Odor Prevention suppressed them and kept them from transferring to other objects.
Foul Odor Release was the same ability my Scavenger Slimes used to emit a stench.
Pungent Odor Release was similar, though it produced a sharp, stinging smell instead of a foul one. It wasn't toxic, but even a small whiff was enough to bring tears to my eyes. If the skill level increased, it could potentially reach the level of a tear gas canister.
The various "Fluid" skills allowed the slime to secrete liquids that mirrored the effects of the corresponding skills. These fluids were the same matte black color as the slime’s body and were highly viscous; calling them "mud" felt like a more accurate description.
The remaining skills were identical to those of a Cleaner Slime.
Finally, regarding its diet—it appeared the slime didn't choose between charcoal and dirt, but rather ate both.
"That might be why it didn't become a Carbon Slime... I should look into these fluids a bit more."
Excluding the foul and pungent ones, I collected samples of the Deodorant Slime's various liquids. For comparison, I also prepared some of the Cleaner Slime’s Deodorizing Fluid and examined them using Appraisal and various chemicals.
"...It’s definitely different from the Cleaner's."
After extensive testing with Koken-san and the others, the Cleaner Slime’s fluid had been adopted as a product for the shop. We sold it in three concentrations: "Normal" for the base effect, "Super" for a stronger version, and the undiluted "Hyper" solution. All were used by either spraying or applying the liquid directly.
However, if I used the Deodorant Slime’s fluid in the same way, it left a black stain on whatever it touched. That made it useless for things like clothing. But the Deodorant Slime’s version did have one unique trait: it could be diluted or mixed with other liquids by hand.
The Cleaner Slime’s fluid didn't have this property. For some unknown reason, adding water or other liquids after the fact caused its deodorizing effect to plummet. That was why we had to ask the Cleaner Slimes themselves to dilute the liquid inside their bodies for the three products we sold.
"The charcoal must have changed its composition and stabilized it."
Appraisal didn't provide any concrete answers, but even if the mechanism remained a mystery, the possibilities were exciting.
"I’ll need to keep a close eye on the Odor Absorption Fluid and the Deodorization Fluid."
The Cleaner Slime’s fluid had another problem besides its inability to be diluted. While its effect was undeniable, a cat-kin woman who frequently bought it in bulk once told me, "Sprinkling this makes the smell of the garbage dump disappear, and that helps a lot-nya. But as soon as more garbage is piled up, it starts to smell again-nya."
Others had mentioned that while it worked well for shoes, the scent would return while they were being worn. The Cleaner's fluid only worked on the contact surface and the immediate area, and its duration was relatively short. This made it difficult to treat large areas or environments where the source of the smell was constantly refreshed.
Deodorizing products were currently best-sellers, particularly among beast-kin with their sharp senses. If I could provide a product that solved the problems the conventional fluid couldn't handle, it would lead to even greater profits.
The real question was the effectiveness and longevity of the new fluids. Determining the duration would take time, and I couldn't turn it into a product until I’d verified it worked in a normal household environment. I decided to call it a night.
"...Actually, maybe I'll wash up first."
By the time I’d finished, the clock showed it was just about the right time to start getting ready for work.
"And that’s the situation."
"So you came straight here without a wink of sleep..." Caulm-san said, looking thoroughly exasperated as I finished my report.
"I just lost track of time. So, anyway, would it be alright if I used the shop for some experiments?"
"This bag... is it the Odor Absorption Fluid you mentioned? As long as it isn't dangerous, I don't see a problem."
"I want to see if it works in this state and how long the effect lasts in a place where people are actually moving around. Mostly, I'll just be leaving it out for a while. I’ve confirmed it adsorbs odors, but there seems to be a limit to how much it can take in. It hit its limit almost instantly with the Scavenger's stench."
"Meaning the effect stops once the fluid is saturated?"
"Exactly. It might just be that the Scavenger's smell was too strong, so I want to place it in various locations to gather more data. It’s non-toxic, so there’s no danger."
"In that case, I have no reason to object. If this leads to a new product, it’s all the better. I look forward to seeing the results."
"Then I’ll be off. I'm going to visit a few people who might be willing to help with the testing. Oh, I almost forgot—here’s a souvenir. These are baked goods that are popular in Keleban right now. I tried some myself; they aren't too sweet, which I liked."
"Thank you. I’m sure the ladies on the staff will be delighted."
After asking Caulm-san to distribute the snacks, I headed to the flower shop next door.
"Hello, Pauline-san."
"Well, if it isn't Ryoma-kun! I haven't seen you around lately. How have you been?"
"I've been traveling between Lenaf and Keleban. I'm doing great. Also, here's a little something from my travels. Since they're baked goods, they should keep for a bit, but please enjoy them soon."
"Oh, thank you! The children will be thrilled. Did you come by just to give me this?"
When I asked if she would be willing to help test the Odor Absorption Fluid, she agreed immediately.
"Of course. Your shop is always helping us out, after all. A new product sounds exciting, and leaving a little bag out won't bother me at all."
"Thank you. If you notice anything unusual, please let me know. Any feedback will help me improve the final product."
"Then you can count on me to give you a piece of my mind if anything goes wrong," Pauline-san said with a boisterous laugh.
"Actually, there was one more thing. Do you have any Dante Flowers in stock?"
"If it’s Dante you’re after, I have some that came in this morning."
She walked over to a corner of the shop and brought back a container filled with dozens of yellow flowers. The stems and heads were quite large, and while the petals were fused together, the bright yellow color reminded me of a dandelion.
So this was Dante. I’d found what I was looking for, but I noticed they were all cut flowers. They didn't have the roots.
"Do you have the roots for these?"
"I trimmed them off and threw them away after they arrived... Don't tell me it’s the roots you wanted?"
"Yes. A drink made from Dante roots is very similar to one from my hometown."
"Sorry, but today's batch is already in the bin. It'll be a while before the next shipment... wait. You were growing a lawn the other day, weren't you? Does that mean you can use Wood Magic?"
"I can, yes."
"Then how about these? Dante seeds. If you want them in full bloom, it'll be at least a week."
"That works for me. How much for a bag?"
"Fifty Suut."
The seeds were shaped like sunflower seeds, with a few dozen in each bag. If I was going to make tea, though...
"One bag might be a bit small."
"These are meant for hobbyists, so the portions are small. I should have thirty bags in the back."
"Then, for the initial experiment, I'll take ten bags, please."
"Coming right up. I'll go get them for you."
If I grew all ten bags, I’d have more than enough to work with, even if I messed up a few times. I could worry about mass production after I confirmed it worked. I pulled out my wallet to pay.
"There you go. That'll be five hundred Suut total. Since you're using Wood Magic, just be careful of Mana Mutation."
"Mana Mutation? What's that?"
"It’s what happens when you use Wood Magic to force a plant to grow and things go sideways. The stuffy scholars have some complicated name for it, but basically, the plant ends up with the wrong color or shape, or it turns poisonous, or it starts moving around like a monster. Apparently, the mana influences it. Some plants mutate easily and others don't, but you'd have to ask an expert for the details."
"I see. I had no idea."
"Ahaha! Well, they say it usually takes several people casting magic at once or a massive amount of mana for it to happen. It's not like it happens every day, so you should be fine. More importantly, let me know if that drink turns out well. If you’re buying, I’ll stock as many flowers and seeds as you need."
"Thank you. I’ll be sure to let you know."
Mana Mutation... it sounded like there were all sorts of variations. I was actually a little curious about how it worked. I might try an experiment with that someday, but for now, the dandelion coffee took priority.
I carefully placed the seeds into my Item Box and left the flower shop.
Next on the list was the butcher shop—I needed to negotiate the fluid experiment and hopefully get some blood while I was at it. After that, I’d head to Miya-san's house. I wondered if Raypin-san would be interested as well...
With that, I set off to visit anyone else who might be willing to lend a hand with my research.