“Oh, my apologies. This isn’t the time for such old stories.”
Branch Master Taylor looked back down at the paperwork in his hands.
“Ryoma-kun, if I recall correctly, you currently keep over a thousand slimes.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Slimes are notoriously easy to contract with, but that number is still staggering. I have a feeling this might take quite a while. Shall we begin?”
“Yes, please. I’m ready.”
As we prepared to start, a question crossed my mind: how many monsters could an ordinary person typically manage?
“The most prolific tamer I know of handled about 300 Chain Bugs,” Taylor remarked, as if reading my thoughts. “But generally speaking, if someone has contracted with twenty monsters or so, they’re considered a tamer with a large stable. I can’t say for certain regarding slimes, since people rarely contract with them in high numbers, but I’ve never heard of anyone—regardless of the species—exceeding a thousand familiars.”
So, the size of my slime army really was in a league of its own.
With my curiosity satisfied, we began the diagnostic testing in earnest.
“Hmm… I see, I see.”
Two hours flew by. In that short span of time, I attempted to form contracts with an incredible variety of monsters.
Among bird-types alone, I tried sparrows, eagles, owls, and more. I cycled through the process of contracting and then releasing them over and over, switching species every few minutes. I did the same with insects, fish, mammals, and reptiles.
Every single attempt was a success. So far, there wasn't a single monster I couldn't form a bond with.
However, while the contracts themselves held, I noticed a distinct difference in feel. With many monsters, it felt as though my commands weren't being transmitted as clearly as they were with my slimes. Since those particular monsters were less inclined to listen, it confirmed that I did have specific strengths and weaknesses.
The trouble was that I couldn't see the underlying logic. While I could learn names and appearances during the test, my knowledge of monster ecology was still shallow. Every time a creature from a different region appeared, I was left with a dozen questions. The Branch Master, however, seemed to have spotted a pattern.
“It looks like you have a high affinity for monsters with swarming habits, Ryoma-kun.”
“Swarming habits?”
“Most likely. If you compare the monsters you felt most compatible with, that tendency is quite clear. Rimul Birds are highly social creatures that live in flocks, and as for the slimes… well, that’s likely a result of your unique research. Another possibility is prolific species. They don’t necessarily swarm like the others, but many of your successful subjects share that trait.
“I’d like to explain each one in detail, but we’d be here all night. I’ll recommend some books on monster biology; you should read them for the specifics. You can buy copies for yourself, or read them for free in the guild’s reference room. Knowing your monsters is a vital part of being an adventurer, after all.”
“Thank you very much. I’ll make sure to study up.”
The rest would be up to my own initiative. Still, “monsters that form swarms,” huh? I wondered what the root cause for that specific condition was.
“They say such things are rooted in an individual’s personality or way of thinking,” Taylor added. “But in truth, nothing is definitively proven. Just think of it as part of your individuality. What matters isn't the 'why' behind the conditions, but knowing them so you can decide what to do next. If you plan to expand your range of activities, why not look for monsters that fit your goals?”
“What to do next… well, I’ve definitely been interested in monsters that could serve as transportation.”
I had once tried to build a bicycle using Metal Slimes as wheels, but since they moved by rolling their own weight, they couldn't budge once I actually sat on the frame. If I just wanted a ride, I could use a Huge Slime, but they were far too conspicuous for everyday travel. As versatile as my slimes were, they just didn't work as a taxi service.
Usually, I was the one carrying them.
“An adventurer I worked with recently suggested the idea to me, and it’s been on my mind. Now that I have permission for bandit subjugation from the guild, I imagine I’ll be traveling a lot more.”
“A wise move. For travel, horse-type magic beasts are the standard. You can ride them or have them pull a carriage, and since they are herd animals, your affinity should be excellent. If you can use Taming Magic to communicate with them, it even lightens the load on the coachman.”
He went on to explain that I could choose species based on my needs—some were built for endurance over long distances, while others were better for heavy cargo. Branch Master Taylor emphasized that for a Tamer, the most important thing was to understand a monster’s strengths and how to compensate for its weaknesses.
If I were going to get a new familiar, I definitely needed to hit the books first.
Perhaps we had talked a bit too long; by the time I stepped out of the guild building, the sun was already starting to dip toward the horizon. Still, the trip had been worth it. Beyond knowing my aptitude, seeing so many different creatures had given me several new ideas for how to utilize my slimes in the future.
I decided to check in on the shop before heading home. When I arrived, however, I was immediately greeted.
“Boss, you’ve arrived at the perfect time.”
Caulm-san looked as though something unusual had happened. I waited in the manager’s office, and shortly after, he carried in a small, unfamiliar wooden box.
“What’s this?”
“It’s a high-tier species of slime. At least, I believe it’s a variety you don’t already have.”
“A slime?”
Now he had my attention. “But why is it here?”
“It was brought in just a short while ago. Someone found it on the road between town and the mines. You bought a slime from an adventurer once before, didn’t you?”
“Yes, I bought a Bloody Slime.”
“Word must have spread. It seems someone happened upon this one and brought it here hoping to turn it into quick cash. It was a bit sudden, but since I hadn’t seen this type during my time working for you, I assumed you would want it. I took the liberty of buying it.”
“I appreciate the thoughtfulness. I’m actually very happy you did. How much was it?”
“A thousand suut.”
Wait, that cheap?
“It is a slime, after all. It doesn’t seem capable of magic, so most shops would have haggled the price down even further. It’s hard to find anyone who would buy a slime in the first place, so the seller was delighted with the offer.”
“I see. Well, as long as they were happy, then I’m happy.”
“Looking ahead, would you like me to continue purchasing slimes if similar situations arise?”
“If it isn’t too much of a burden on the staff, then yes, please.”
“Understood. I’ll make sure to bring any sellers to the back to negotiate from now on. Could you provide me with a list of the slimes you currently own? It will help me with appraisals and pricing.”
“Of course. I can do that easily.”
“There is one more thing. I have a message from Belle-san, the nun. It seems grass has started growing out of the slimes they keep at the church. The children are worried it might be a disease, so she asked if you could take a look when you have a moment.”
“Are they acting sickly?”
“No, they seem perfectly fine otherwise. Just… grass.”
“If that’s the case, it’s probably an evolution. I understand. I’ll head over there right away.”
I decided to make the church my final stop for the day. But first, I had to see what was in the box. Once I was sure Caulm-san had finished his report, I carefully lifted the lid. Inside was…
“…A rock?”
It looked like an ordinary, fist-sized pebble. For a split second, I wondered if I’d been scammed, but I knew Caulm-san was too sharp to buy a literal stone. Just to be safe, I reached out before it could potentially bolt.
“Taming Contract.”
The magic took hold instantly. It was definitely a monster. Curious, I followed up with a Monster Appraisal.
Stone Slime. Skills: Hardening Lv2, Physical Attack Resistance Lv2, Digestion Lv3, Absorption Lv3, Division Lv3, Mimicry Lv10.
It really was a slime. Its skill set was very close to the Metal and Iron varieties, but it had one skill they lacked: Mimicry. And at level 10, no less. I suppose it was similar to how a Bloody Slime looked like nothing but a puddle if it stayed still, but this was on another level. It looked exactly like a rock. In fact, I was impressed the person found it at all.
“Apparently, they were frustrated with a coworker and kicked the rock on a whim,” Caulm explained. “They said they were startled when the pebble they’d just sent flying started crawling away.”
“Talk about a lucky find.”
This slime’s diet was almost certainly stones. I’d have to experiment with different types of minerals to see if it had a preference. Once I figured out the basics, I wondered just how I could put those skills to use…
“Boss, I’ll be getting back to my duties now.”
“Ah, right. Thank you, Caulm-san.”
After seeing him out, I spent a few more minutes staring at the Stone Slime, my mind racing with possibilities.