"Hold on a moment, Ryoma-kun... did you actually intend to ask for our cooperation once you decided to move forward with these plans?"
"I did... although, of course, I considered the possibility that you might refuse. If that happened, I would have simply accepted it. But you have all been so good to me that I thought you would at least be willing to hear me out."
Had I been relying on them too much? If that was the case, I should apologize—
"No, no! Quite the opposite! Simply listening to your ideas is no trouble at all," Reinhardt interjected.
"We were just under the impression that you intended to do everything alone, Ryoma-kun," the Duchess added.
Doing it all by myself? That was ridiculous. No matter how I looked at it, I couldn't handle it all alone. I might have said that "I" would do it, but I was certain I never claimed I would do it entirely by myself.
Even regarding my intent to lead the projects, I felt that saying, 'I want to do this, but there's a risk, so I'm staying out of it—you guys handle the rest!' would be incredibly insincere. Since my perspective was fundamentally difficult to understand in this world, I figured I needed to provide at least a basic proposal to get things started.
Serge-san and Pioro-san were both chairmen of major trading companies. In addition to their vast knowledge and negotiating skills, they possessed significant financial power and connections. Reinhardt-san was a statesman and the highest authority in the Jamil Duchy. Madam, as the Duchess, also held a corresponding amount of influence. If I could secure their cooperation, there would be no allies more reliable.
Even setting that aside, they were people who genuinely cared for me and provided the common-sense perspective I lacked. I had always intended to consult them beforehand.
"Is that so? Since your subordinates said the same thing we did, I was certain you were trying to shoulder it all," Reinhardt admitted.
"That I intended to do everything by myself."
"I had the impression that you tended to settle every matter on your own, Ryoma-kun. Regardless of the merits of your ideas, I was worried you were simply rushing headlong into danger," he continued.
The other three nodded in agreement.
So that was the image they had of me... It was a little hard to deny.
"Does this mean you've finally learned how to properly rely on others when necessary? Regardless, I’m happy you chose us as the ones to turn to. And regarding your earlier point... I think your way of thinking is fascinating. At the very least, it's certainly a fresh perspective that wouldn't come from anyone else. Ryoma-kun, I think you look at the world from a slightly different angle than we do. The ideas and solutions born from that might sometimes be hailed as brilliant masterstrokes, or they might be dismissed as eccentric nonsense."
He paused, then continued.
"However, the opinions of someone with that perspective are vital. If a situation persists for too long where only the same opinions are voiced, one's thinking becomes rigid. I’ve said a lot, but I want you to continue sharing your thoughts with us as casually as you did today."
As Reinhardt spoke firmly, I didn't sense any negative emotions from him or the others.
Of course, there would be times when they couldn't cooperate due to their own interests or obligations. However, I felt they were wordlessly telling me that they would never laugh me off without listening.
"Mind you, we can't always guarantee a favorable response," he added.
"That is only natural."
The fact that they were even willing to listen proved how flexible Reinhardt-san and the others were. However, to convince those around them, there would need to be a corresponding profit. I had given that some thought as well, so I decided to take this opportunity to present everything at once.
"Oh? It seems you have a trick or two up your sleeve. Perhaps I should brace myself," Serge said.
His tone was light, but the look in his eyes changed. I felt an atmosphere similar to when we negotiated the music box deal. Was he doing that on purpose? Regardless, I braced myself as well and began to speak.
"It’s not so much a trick as it is a simple matter. In the 'slime research' I do as a hobby, I’ve had several breakthroughs that seem likely to generate profit. I was wondering if I could share those with all of you."
"Coming back to slimes at this point is so like you, Ryoma-kun," Elise said with a smile, softening the atmosphere.
First, I turned to Serge-san. It wasn't a brand-new idea, but it concerned the production of the 'waterproof cloth' we had been trading since spring.
"I was curious about its reputation and looked into it, and I heard sales are still growing."
"Indeed. Previously, peddlers and transporters were the core customers, but lately, more individuals have been purchasing it for personal rain gear."
I remembered seeing people in the town of Gimul wearing rain gear made of the cloth on several occasions. More importantly, the volume of processing I periodically took on for the Morgan Company was steadily increasing. Since I left the work to the sticky slimes, I could still manage, but frankly, it was becoming a burden.
"How about it? Considering the potential for even higher demand, why don't we build a factory?"
In other words, a 'business transfer.'
While the process of applying the liquid to the cloth was best left to the sticky slimes, other steps—preparing the cloth, drying it, and preparing it for shipment—still required human labor. If I wanted to support employment in the future, I first needed to create opportunities.
"I will dispatch the necessary sticky slimes for the processing," I explained.
"And then increase the production volume with the hired personnel? I see... Indeed, the demand for waterproof products is growing. Establishing a system for mass production now would be a wise move."
Serge seemed slightly underwhelmed, perhaps because it lacked the controversy of my previous topic.
As for me, since production volume would need adjusting, I didn't mind if Serge and the Morgan Company took the lead in running the factory. As the provider of the sticky slimes, I simply wanted the role of an advisor regarding their management and use, along with a portion of the sales. I needed funds to expand the laundry shop anyway.
"And the right to choose the employees...?"
"I believe that should also be at your discretion, Serge-san. There's no need to forcibly hire former criminals. Sudden, forced changes only cause friction and confusion. For now, our goal is to achieve two things naturally: securing funds to stabilize the current shop and increasing general employment opportunities. Though, if you could hire people from the slums—those who are motivated but lack work—that would be ideal."
"Hmm. If it's merely a matter of financial hardship, I have no problem including them as candidates."
Requirements were relatively loose for construction or factory labor, so I figured this was within the acceptable range.
"Under those conditions, I will consider the proposal positively. We can discuss the scale, the compensation for the slimes, and the finer details another time."
"Thank you very much."
That was a good start. Next was my proposal for Reinhardt-san. This wasn't entirely new either, but I suggested using scavenger slimes for the town's waste management.
"Waste management is a public service. It's also an important source of income for the people in the slums. Wouldn't this take that away from them?"
"I considered that. However, upon investigating Gimul, I found that the amount of trash produced daily is far more than the slum dwellers can keep up with."
It was true that people from the slums, like Beck and his group, actively collected trash for money. However, they couldn't possibly carry it all. The town had to hire outside staff, and many residents ended up processing their own waste. The overflowing garbage dump next to Miya-san's house—the site of my first job as an adventurer—was just one example. There were many more like it.
"Furthermore, the current method for processing collected trash is burial. Depending on the item, they are sometimes burned first, but this requires significant labor and fuel. While we would need a tamer as a site supervisor, using scavenger slimes would eliminate fuel costs. If the labor required for processing is reduced, that extra manpower could be redirected to trash collection itself."
Most importantly, scavengers with the nutrient return skill produced fertilizer. I had been using it to grow food for years with no ill effects, and it was a high-quality product that could reduce the burden on wood magic.
While I had discovered a side effect that could cause mana mutation in plants, that was a risk common to medicinal fertilizers as well. Even with ordinary fertilizer, too much can hinder growth. It was simply a matter of finding the right amount. If we could establish the proper dosage and precautions, it could be used in agriculture or even sold as a product.
"We could use those sales to supplement the wages of the workers. However, it's not a guaranteed success, and there are still many uncertain factors."
"True... If you don't mind, could you let me have some of that fertilizer? I'd like to show it to our gardener. He’s an expert on plants and chemicals, so he might have some valuable insights."
So, I agreed to entrust Reinhardt with the scavenger fertilizer. For now, that matter was settled. I would wait for the gardener's evaluation before proceeding.
Next, I explained to Pioro-san that I had successfully mass-produced running mush using the scavenger fertilizer. I added that I was currently researching how to cultivate edible mushrooms without causing mana mutation. I had heard that stable mushroom cultivation was a fast track to wealth, so I expected him to be interested, but...
"Ryoma, are you for real?"
"It's true. Right now, they all turn into running mush, so I can't grow normal mushrooms yet, but the methodology is sound. I already told Grisiela-san and showed her a basket full of evidence. You can check with her, or if you can use space magic, I can pull some out right now..."
"...If you're going that far, I guess it must be true. Kid, don't just drop such outrageous bombs so casually."
I had definitely caught his interest, but he looked like he had a headache.
Moving on.
"Recently, a former slime researcher I employed discovered that cleaner slimes have a certain beauty effect."
"Beauty? Now that is interesting," Elise said.
"Yes. This proposal is specifically for the ladies."
By having cleaner slimes remove excess keratin and sebum, the skin could be made remarkably clean. Depending on one's age or constitution, it might cause slight dryness, but that could be countered with proper care.
My knowledge of medicine included several beauty-related formulas. Furthermore, Fei-san had told me that in the Jilmar Empire, where medicine was too expensive for commoners, treatments like acupuncture, acupressure, and massage were highly developed. Fei and his daughter had mastered those techniques.
Beauty was outside my expertise, but I remembered a female coworker in my previous life who was obsessed with it. I hadn't understood her fervor back then, but I knew the passion of a woman seeking beauty was a force to be reckoned with.
"If we combined slimes, medicinal knowledge, and foreign techniques into a single service dedicated to beauty... what would happen?"
"I find myself very intrigued," Elise admitted.
The idea was still vague, but her reaction was promising. Noblewomen were said to spend money on beauty as if it were water. If this caught on, the profits would be astronomical. And more importantly, if I could establish a network with noble ladies...
"Ryoma-kun, what a terrifying thing to think of at your age..." Serge muttered.
"Your insight into capturing the hearts of the ladies is remarkable," Pioro added.
"There are many husbands among the nobility who are wrapped around their wives' fingers, after all," Reinhardt noted.
"You’re quite the strategist, aren't you?" Elise teased.
"...No, honestly, even though I'm the one suggesting it, I'm the least inclined to actually do it."
It was a fun thought experiment, but I knew it would be incredibly high-risk, high-reward. Women were strong, but depending on the situation, they could be terrifying. I had learned that lesson well in my previous life.
"Well, this is just a 'wouldn't it be interesting if we could do this?' kind of thing."
"Oh, and here I was starting to look forward to it... Well, if you ever change your mind, feel free to consult me."
She didn't push it, but she clearly hadn't lost interest.
"Ah... at any rate, you've certainly been thinking about a lot of things, Ryoma-kun," Reinhardt said, throwing me a lifeline.
"I've just found myself interested in many areas."
If it was about slimes, I could talk for hours. I still had plenty of other ideas.
"By the way, is it really alright for you to talk about all this so freely?" Reinhardt asked.
"I don't have the time or the specialized knowledge to carry it all out by myself."
To be honest, once I reached the point of understanding that 'this slime can do this,' I was eighty percent satisfied. If there was someone I could trust who could put that knowledge to better use, I felt it was better to let them handle it.
"Normally, people are far more stingy with such secrets," Serge commented.
"I don't consider it a waste if I'm sharing it with all of you."
"You have no sense of self-interest... Ryoma-kun, please be careful not to let yourself be deceived by the wrong people, alright? If you have something on your mind, we will always be here to listen," Elise said warmly.
"No matter what it is, talk is free," Serge agreed.
"And if it’s a way to make money, it's even more welcome," Pioro added.
The night was growing late, so we ended our discussion there. However, I felt like the four of them were worried about me in a different way than they had been earlier.
Ah, wait... I forgot to mention the bloody slime's serum. That was supposed to be the most important part...