Harvest

“Heh heh heh... This really is a major discovery...”

After developing antibodies to the toxin, the Bloody Slime’s Poison Resistance level had increased.

I wondered what would happen in the case of Disease Resistance, and upon investigating, I found that it possessed antibodies against pathogens as well. Moreover, the variety was even more abundant than the toxins. The serum of a Bloody Slime might actually have the potential to become a universal antiserum for both toxins and bacteria.

“Wait... what time is it now?!”

The hands of the watch I pulled out were already pointing to two minutes before the scheduled assembly time.

“Crap!”

I hurriedly applied insect repellent, leapt out of my Dimension Home, and dashed toward the carriages.

When I get back, I’m going straight to Dinome-san’s place. I’m going to commission a watch with an alarm function!

As I ran with that resolve in my heart, the backs of the students came into view.

A large crowd had already gathered. I skirted the group of students and made my way to the cluster of instructors ahead.

“Yo, Ryoma. Right on time.”

“I’m sorry, Roche-san. I got distracted by my slimes.”

“I see. So, how did things turn out with that?”

“Thanks to you, things have finally settled down.”

“Is that so! Well, that’s good to hear.”

“Yes. Everyone, I’m sorry for causing such a commotion last night!”

Fortunately, the assembly point was close to the campsite, so I managed to avoid being late by the skin of my teeth. The people gathered there had apparently heard about last night’s events. Since everyone was listening in, I took this opportunity to give them my report.

“All right, it’s time, so let’s begin the morning assembly. Eyes on me! ...Gentlemen! Well? What are your thoughts after spending a night on the Plain of Poisonous Insects?”

“I’m itchy!”

“I couldn’t sleep a wink...”

Listening to the voices rising from the students, it seemed almost all of them had been bitten by bugs.

The morning assembly didn’t take long, as its primary purposes were roll call and safety confirmation, but I offered a final word before we finished.

“Those of you who were bitten likely had insufficient anti-insect measures. Once you’ve treated yourselves as best as you can, please thoroughly review the condition and usage of the tools you brought! We have two more nights of camping here; if you don’t make any improvements, you’ll be suffering the whole time! As I’ve said many times, you are free to ask the instructors questions! That is all. Dismissed!”

At the signal, the students began walking back toward their tents or the instructors.

Hmm? Roche-san was approaching me.

“Ryoma. I have something I want to consult with you about.”

A consultation?

“A few of the instructors have been approached by students asking about fighting styles and weapons. We were talking earlier about how, even though it wasn’t in the plans, maybe we should show them a light mock battle between instructors and explain things as we go. If you’re up for it, would you mind participating as an archer?”

“I don’t mind, but am I limited to the bow?”

“I wouldn’t say limited. Everyone has their own fighting style, after all. However, if we’re going to do this, I want to show them a wide variety of weapons and how to use them. Most of the instructors this time focus on close-quarters combat, so I’d prefer you to fight at a distance if possible. I heard a rumor, though—did you shoot down a bird in flight during your night watch?”

He must have heard that from one of the other guards. Indeed, I had happened to see a nocturnal bird flying by and shot it down to give its blood to the Bloody Slimes.

“I figured that if you have that much skill, it would be educational for the students. Could I ask this of you?”

“Sure thing.”

It seemed I could have declined, but my job here was that of an instructor. It was my duty to do what I could to ensure the students learned effectively.

“In that case, I’ll prepare some arrows for the mock battle by replacing the broadheads with ones that won't pierce stone.”

“I see! Then I’ll go check with the others and get back to you later. Well, I’ll be off then. I can’t keep the students waiting.”

Ah—

“Beck?”

“Yo.”

Beck, who usually gave the strong impression of always being with his companions, was standing alone today.

Without talking to anyone else, he had been watching me. As Roche-san left, he stepped forward.

Did he have some business with me?

“...Even when I’m careful, bugs keep getting inside the tent. I wanted to ask if there was some good way to stop them...”

Beck, who was usually quite bold, was strangely hesitant today.

He reminded me of my former subordinate, Tabuchi-kun.

“Insects getting in and out, huh... Even if you take proper precautions, they often sneak in along with people as they enter and exit. You should pay attention to fine details, like whether they’re stuck to your clothes or shoes... Also, if you’d like, I can teach you how to make a simple insect repellent. It’s something you can make just by crushing a medicinal herb that grows around here. If you smear it near the entrance of your tent, even flying insects will find it harder to approach.”

“Yeah, okay. Please.”

And so, I led Beck out to the meadow area.

“Is around here okay? We’ve barely walked at all.”

“It’s a plant that grows basically anywhere in a sunny meadow.”

Honestly, I think we could have found it just by looking around without even leaving the campsite.

“Look, this is it. This is Valminist. It’s a herb packed with components that insects hate. If you crush it well and add it to water, it becomes a simple but effective liquid with insect-repelling properties. However, depending on the concentration, the effect won’t last even a day, so it’s best to harvest it and crush it right before use. Also, it irritates the skin, so don’t apply it directly to your body. For now, let’s collect about as much as you can carry in both hands for tonight.”

“Got it.”

We began harvesting in silence, standing back-to-back.

There were no other eyes or ears around us. The wind blowing through swayed the grass and flowers, and the rustling sound they made was loud in the quiet air.

“Hey.”

“What is it?”

As if he had finally made up his mind, Beck spoke quietly.

“I heard Gazel and his group caused you some trouble. Look... I’m sorry.”

“Eh? About that? Why are you apologizing, Beck?”

“Why? Well, they’re kids from the same slum as me. I’ve known them forever. We weren't even on bad terms until we became adventurers.”

“Is that so?”

“...Come to think of it, I might have done nothing but complain to you, Ryoma. Before we registered with the guild, we were even talking about forming a party together. But then I heard Wist and the others were going to register too, and I was worried about them, so I decided to stick with them instead. From there, we spent more time apart, and before I knew it...”

I see. They had been at odds for a long time, but it wasn’t that he didn’t care what happened to them.

“Saying bad things about Wist and the others is a different matter, though! I don’t like that, and I have no intention of backing down on it!”

“I understand... For now, please rest easy. I’m not bothered by that incident anymore. In fact, I already told Gazel and his friends that myself.”

“Really? I didn’t know that much.”

It seemed Beck hadn't been there at the time but had caught wind of it from other participants.

“Even so, did you really think I would give them such a terrible punishment?”

“No, I mean, you’re a reasonable guy, but you’re ruthless to your enemies. I heard you beat the crap out of some bandits who targeted your slimes. I hear people say all the time that ‘it’s bad news if you target Ryoma’s slimes.’”

“...I did indeed beat up those bandits, and I heard that story from Gazel-kun and the others, but... Really? Is it really that common a thing to hear?”

“Why would I lie about that?”

I might need to have Caulm-san check into this once we get back...

Having finished collecting the plants for the insect repellent, Beck’s concerns were resolved.

However, because he had separated from his companions to talk to me, he didn't know where they were currently located. Since he was here anyway, he offered to help me with something else as a thank you for forgiving Gazel, rather than going to regroup immediately.

With that being the case, I moved to the woods next to harvest one more thing.

“We’re going pretty deep in, huh.”

“I already went through the shallow areas and the riverside during yesterday’s water and food gathering. If it exists, I think it’ll be further in.”

“It was the ‘Gilkoda Leaf,’ right? Does it sell for a lot?”

“Not at all. It contains toxins along with its medicinal components, so it isn't handled by pharmacies. It can be used as an insect repellent for clothes and books, though.”

While it was recognized as a medicinal herb, it was a material one rarely had the chance to see. Although I had never seen the real thing, I had found the name and description while checking information about this region.

“The main characteristic of Gilkoda is that it bears foul-smelling fruit. If you touch this fruit, your skin will break out in a rash, so please be careful.”

“If it’s smelly, I wonder if we could find it right away if Ruth or Mimil were here?”

“Those dog-kin siblings... They might be able to find it, but I think they’d hate it.”

“Is the smell really that bad?”

“I’ve never seen the actual thing, but I know of a medicinal herb whose leaf characteristics, medicinal properties, and even toxin symptoms match it perfectly. That’s why I wanted to check it for myself.”

The Gilkoda tree, which bears smelly fruit. When I looked into the details, the characteristics matched the “Ginkgo” tree, which is used as a roadside tree in Japan and paints the autumn in shades of yellow.

While this world contains flora and fauna that do not exist on Earth, there are also many plants and animals with characteristics and properties similar to those on Earth—like the barley and potatoes used in everyday cooking, or “Yomugi,” which resembles mugwort.

What if Gilkoda really was the Ginkgo tree?

As I was thinking that, the blowing wind carried a pungent odor to my nose.

“Is this the smell you meant?”

“It’s that way. Let’s go.”

After walking toward the windward side for a few minutes.

“...”

“Whoa. But man, it stinks...”

Before our eyes stood a grove of Ginkgo trees, dyed a vivid yellow and radiating light as they caught the sunshine.

“‘Appraisal.’”

Gilkoda Leaf A leaf containing medicinal and toxic components. Medicinal components: Flavonoid, Ginkgolide Toxic components: Ginkgolic Acid

When I used Appraisal on a fallen leaf, the components appeared with names I recognized. There was no doubt. It was a Ginkgo!

“‘Item Box.’ Beck, use these. A hand towel and Deodorizing Fluid. Also, a back basket for harvesting and gloves too.”

I’ve heard that the Ginkgo trees used as roadside trees are only the male trees that don’t bear fruit, but no such consideration was made here. This was their natural state.

While being moved by the beautiful autumn colors, I finished preparing the countermeasures for the smell and the rash and set to work on the harvest.

“Thanks for helping out. I was able to collect plenty thanks to you.”

“Don’t worry about it. I got a good story to tell Wist and the others as a souvenir too.”

The Gilkoda harvest ended without a hitch, and we returned safely to the campsite.

“Well then, I’m going. I have to make the insect repellent before those guys get back. You said I can use it if I put it in water and crush it, right?”

“Right. Just be careful not to let it touch your skin, and mind where you apply it, and you’ll be fine.”

“Got it!”

Beck headed back to his tent carrying a pile of Valminist.

“Time for me to get started, then.”

Returning to my base, I activated Dimension Home inside. I had to process what I had harvested before my shift started.

First, the Ginkgo leaves. They were stuffed into two back baskets, but they still contained fine debris like grains of sand.

First, I transferred all the leaves into a large container and used alchemy to quickly clear away the debris. Inside the circle, the container and the leaves remained, while the debris was cast outside. I had the Scavenger Slimes clean up the debris, and while I was at it, I used Separation to remove the toxic Ginkgolic acid. With this, the safe Ginkgo leaves were complete!

“I’ll set these aside for now...”

Next were the mushrooms I had gathered on the way back. These were for a mushroom cultivation experiment. Last night, I hadn’t been in any state to deal with it because of the Bloody Slime incident, but I still had time today.

“‘Item Box.’”

I pulled out the fallen logs I had found in the woods.

From these, too, I first extracted insects and debris using alchemy and asked the Scavengers to process them.

“‘Polish Wheel.’”

Next, I turned the logs into sawdust. Using high-speed rotating wind and sand, I steadily crushed the semi-dried logs. It felt a little coarse, but this was the first experiment; it would do. I set the completed sawdust aside for a moment.

Next, I placed the mushrooms in a bowl and performed Separation with alchemy.

Since I was trying to grow mushrooms, I couldn't do anything without the original fungi. Using the sawdust as a medium, I obtained the starting mycelium. Furthermore, as a nutrient source, I received fertilizer from the Scavenger Slimes that had helped with the cleaning.

With the three components now gathered, I used alchemy to mix them together evenly. After transferring the mixture to a flat container about the size of a tatami mat, I added what I deemed to be an appropriate amount of moisture.

“I wonder how this will turn out...”

I had no experience with mushroom cultivation. I hoped it would become a good mushroom bed... but what will be, will be.

“Also... ah, that’s right.”

I had spent last night in my Dimension Home, but tonight I would sleep properly at my base. I had to prepare for that too.

I brought about twenty Sticky Slimes with me and stepped out of the Dimension Home.

“I’m counting on you.”

As I gave the instruction, the Sticky Slimes promptly crawled up the walls from the floor and stuck themselves to the ceiling. Then, by simply letting their tentacles hang down, the simple flypaper I had used once before was complete.

I’ll leave the extermination of any winged insects that invade the room to them!

I could feel their motivation from their lightly swaying tentacles. They were very reliable.

After that, if I set up a mosquito net and placed some insect-repelling incense and a pig-shaped incense burner, I could spend the night comfortably.

Is there anything else I should do...

In this way, I spent my time working on improving my environment until it was time for my shift.