After leaving the shop in Calm’s capable hands, I made a beeline for Serge-san’s store. When I arrived, the sight was sobering.
The wooden walls of the storefront, which usually exuded a warm and welcoming vibe, were marred by sprawling, blackened scars from the arson attack. Several brawny men with grim expressions stood guard out front. I had lived in Gimul for over six months now, but I had never seen the atmosphere this tense. When I first moved here, it had been such a peaceful, gentle town. Seeing the state of this building felt like a direct reflection of Gimul’s current plight—it was heartbreaking.
"Forgive me, but do you have business with this shop?" one of the stern-faced men asked, jolting me from my thoughts.
"Ah, yes," I replied, snapping out of my daze. "I’m a regular associate of the chairman, but I’ve been away from the city recently. I heard about the fire as soon as I got back and came straight here. I realize I don't have an appointment."
After I explained the situation, the man glanced at one of his companions by the entrance. The other man nodded and slipped inside the building.
"We’ll check with the chairman. Please wait a moment."
"Thank you very much."
A few minutes later, I was shown into the usual reception room. After a short wait, Serge-san arrived. He looked a bit haggard, but otherwise appeared to be in good health.
"Ryoma-sama, it has been quite some time since we parted at the Jamil Ducal House."
"It’s been a while. It sounds like you’ve had a terrible time of it, but I’m just glad to see you’re safe."
"I apologize for making you worry. But as you can see, I am perfectly fine. Besides, I have significantly bolstered our security."
"Yes, I saw them out front. They look quite formidable, but they were very polite."
"Those are members of a mercenary troupe I hired from the Royal Capital," Serge explained. "People often imagine mercenaries as a coarse, rowdy lot, but the truly elite among them are quite personable and well-versed in etiquette. Unlike adventurers, who must be prepared to handle monsters and various environments, mercenaries specialize in 'dealing with human problems.' It is only natural that they avoid causing discomfort to the client or those around them. If they are trusted enough, they are even known to sit at the negotiation table with enemies."
I see. In this world, top-tier mercenaries also serve as something akin to professional negotiators.
"The current state of the town... certainly seems to require that level of professionalism," I noted.
"Unfortunately, that is the case. Beyond the arson at my shop, brawls and thefts are on the rise across the city. Do you know the cause?"
"From what I’ve heard, there’s been a massive influx of laborers, and the town is overflowing with people who have no work. But has public safety really plummeted this quickly?"
"The town office and the guilds are trying to respond, of course. They’ve closed off recruitment, but even as they try to stem the tide, more keep arriving. Apparently, there are even scoundrels posing as brokers who promise work in Gimul, take a referral fee, and then abandon the laborers just before they arrive. It is essentially fraud and kidnapping on a mass scale, and the authorities simply cannot keep up. I cannot say this too loudly, but this situation is intentional. Several noble factions are pulling the strings from behind the scenes."
"What? That’s—"
"It is likely petty harassment directed at the Jamil family. I cannot fathom the logic behind such a foolish act, but Reinhardt-sama has already moved to cut off the source of the turmoil. I know because I have been assisting him in a small capacity."
"Is that so?"
"Gimul is quite chaotic right now, but things should settle down soon. Until then, we must simply be patient and mindful of our surroundings."
"That’s a relief."
If the Duke was already on the case, then I just needed to solidify my own defenses and wait for the storm to pass.
"By the way, Ryoma-sama, I heard you brought something for me today?"
"Ah, right! As I mentioned before, I traveled to the Fatma territory for some adventurer work and happened upon a good opportunity, so I decided to try my hand at peddling. I’d like you to take a look at the goods I procured, along with some new prototypes."
"Ho ho! That is very intriguing indeed. So, what did you manage to find?"
I pulled one of each type of pottery I had purchased in the Fatma territory from my Item Box.
"Hmm. Tea bowls, teacups, earthenware pots, jars, and plates... these all look excellent for everyday use. The quality is quite respectable as well. What is the total volume?"
"It’s all listed here." I handed him the inventory list I had prepared.
"I see... For this amount, I can offer you this much. You won't make a fortune, but you’ve chosen very reliable goods."
"I made sure to consult with the local shopkeepers."
The price he quoted was about twenty percent higher than what I had paid. It wasn't a massive windfall, but it covered my travel expenses and provided a nice bit of pocket money. Considering it was a side venture during another job, it was a solid deal.
"Then I’ll gladly take that price."
"Splendid."
Next, I pulled out a jar—not for sale, but the gift I had received from the Lord of Fatma Territory. Judging by the packaging and the deferential attitude of the clerks who had held it for me, it seemed to be a significant item. I planned to display it in my shop, but I wanted to know its true value first. When I explained the circumstances and asked Serge to examine it, his expression immediately sharpened.
He hurriedly pulled white gloves from his pocket and began to carefully unpack it. When he finally placed it on the desk, I saw a jar with vivid, intricate illustrations painted on a bluish-white surface. It looked magnificent, but...
"Is it really that incredible?" I asked.
"This bluish tint to the clay and the distinct style of decoration... This is almost certainly an artifact excavated from ancient ruins."
"Ancient ruins? You mean—"
"Remnants of an ancient civilization that possessed incredible technology. They are found rarely across the world, but I recall some were discovered in the Fatma territory long ago. As you can see, it is a masterpiece of art, but the manufacturing process has been lost to time. To find one in such perfect condition is exceedingly rare; its historical value is immeasurable. I’m not even confident I can give you an accurate appraisal. If you must know its price, you would need to consult a specialist."
"Why on earth would the Lord give something like this to me?"
"I couldn't say. But if this was a reward for a request, then the Count must have appraised your work as being equal to its value. What exactly did you provide for him?"
I hadn't mentioned the pearls or the shells yet, so I explained about cleaning the hot spring, the food, and the method for preparing the poisonous fish.
"I see. Count Fatma is a famous gourmet with a wide network of fellow enthusiasts. He would want the latest culinary information as quickly as possible, and he likely has the confidence to use it to his advantage. If your 'Gyoza' dish creates a new economic boom that enriches his territory for the next ten or twenty years... well, from that perspective, gifting this jar makes perfect sense."
If he says so. For now, I’ll treasure it. If I’m going to display it, I should probably build a custom security case.
"Now, moving on. From here, we have Slime products."
"Ah, new Slime inventions. Now I am truly curious."
First, I produced the acidic mucus I had used at the hot spring. Beside it, I lined up a spool of thread. Serge’s eyes immediately locked onto the thread.
"This acidic mucus is a mixture of Sticky Slime adhesive and Acid Slime secretions. It requires careful handling, but it’s perfect for dissolving mineral deposits—like cleaning yellow stains in a toilet."
"That would be in high demand for households, but especially for inns. It will come down to the safety instructions and ease of use. But what about this thread? It is clearly different from standard Sticky Slime thread."
As I expected, Serge was far more interested in the thread than the cleaning gel.
"This was produced by a Slime that evolved just the other day while I was returning from the Fatma territory."
"Ho ho! And what sort of Slime might that be?"
"A Fiber Slime. It evolved from a Sticky Slime after eating nets. Based on the name, the condition seems to be consuming fibrous materials. This particular individual was always skilled at Thread Spitting, so that probably played a role. Its new skill is called 'Fiberization.' It dissolves substances taken into its body and then spits them out as structured thread."
When I first grasped the nature of this skill, I was immediately reminded of "Rayon" from my previous life. Rayon is a regenerated fiber made by dissolving cellulose—the main component of plants—into a chemical solution and spinning it into thread. Because it was designed to mimic silk, it was often called artificial silk.
The Fiber Slime’s skill didn't require external chemicals, but the process was remarkably similar. Once I realized that, I followed my intuition and fed the Fiber Slime cellulose. Specifically, I gave it the fluff from a Fluff Slime, and the result was this one hundred percent Slime-produced thread.
"I’ve named it 'Slime Rayon'! I only have one evolved Fiber Slime right now, so mass production isn't possible yet, but the material is just Fluff Slime fluff, which I have in abundance. I can even use fertilizer to increase the fluff supply whenever I need. What do you think of it as a product?"
"This is magnificent! The luster, the texture... It is slightly different from natural silk, but it is incredibly close. Weaving this would produce a breathtaking fabric. And from a merchant's perspective, the ease of procurement is a dream come true."
Natural silk depends on silkworm cocoons, which limits production volume and timing. But with Slime Rayon, as long as I have a Fiber Slime and some fluff, I can produce it anytime. I could eventually increase production by having the Slime divide.
"This allows us to keep natural silk as a luxury for the nobility while offering Slime Rayon as an 'alternative' for commoners. We can differentiate the markets perfectly," Serge noted.
"It’s hard for a newcomer to break into an established, competitive market, after all."
"Exactly. And as long as this is marketed as an 'alternative,' the genuine article remains a status symbol. The nobility will still scramble for 'the real thing,' so we won't be seen as enemies by silk producers. We’ll need more production capacity to sell to the public, but that is only a matter of time. May I keep this spool?"
"Of course. I’d love for you to run some tests on it."
"Certainly. I shall put it to good use."
The potential for Slime Rayon was huge. But I had one last item.
"Serge-san."
"It seems I must brace myself for whatever is coming next."
"Yes. This is also something a Slime became able to make after evolving, and even I was shocked. I believe it is the most valuable thing I have ever shown you."
"For you to say that is rare indeed... I am ready."
Serge’s expression became incredibly solemn, much like when we had discussed the Bloody Slime serum. In front of the resolved merchant, I placed a small box containing the greatest treasure of my trip: a pearl produced by the Pearl Slime.
The next second...
"Oh..."
"Serge-san!?"
He collapsed back into his chair as if he had suddenly suffered a drop in blood pressure. He held up a hand to indicate he was fine, but he was muttering incoherently. He seemed to be performing some frantic mental arithmetic, and it took several minutes before he returned to his senses.
"Forgive me."
"No, I’m the one who should apologize for startling you."
"Startled? Yes, I was startled. Quite so." Serge nodded emphatically. "This is clearly a pearl. If it were just one, I would not have been so shaken, but Ryoma-sama... you said you 'became able to make' these, didn't you?"
"That’s right. A recently evolved Slime has a body made of pearl and a skill to produce them. I knew I had to be careful about who I told, so you’re the first person I’ve mentioned this to."
"That is a relief... truly."
"Actually, what is the market rate for pearls? I only know they’re expensive because they aren't harvested in this country."
"The price fluctuates, but to obtain even one bead of this quality, you would need a Small Platinum Coin."
A Small Platinum Coin? That was an astronomical sum—about a million yen.
"That much?"
"There are many reasons for the high price," Serge explained, his voice gaining an uncharacteristic intensity. "To get pearls, you must harvest shells from the sea, which is dangerous due to sea monsters. Even then, the chance of finding a pearl in a shell is one in tens of thousands. Furthermore, the color and shape vary wildly; those suitable for jewelry are even rarer. And since this country doesn't produce them, merchants must travel abroad, compete with others, pay customs, transport fees, and guard costs. One Small Platinum Coin is practically the lower limit."
Serge had become remarkably talkative. I could feel the sheer weight of the value he was describing. That much money...
"If they’re that valuable..."
"Ryoma-sama?"
"..."
A thought—an inspiration—suddenly clicked. Fragments of unrelated ideas in my head began to fuse together at high speed.
"Ryoma-sama, what is the—"
"Serge-san."
"—Yes?"
"Do you remember my idea for a waste processing plant?"
"The one where you use Scavenger Slimes to process the town’s trash? I remember, but what of it?"
"In the village I stayed at in the Fatma territory, I collected the local household waste every day. It’s great food for the Scavengers, but more importantly, because their lifestyle is different, I found materials in their trash that triggered new evolutions—like the Fiber Slime. When you collect waste from an entire village instead of one house, you get a massive volume, and the Slimes evolve much faster. Collecting waste has huge benefits for me."
"H-Haah. I suppose that would be true for you."
"Exactly. So, I want to build a waste processing plant for my own sake—as a hobby, really. But to do that, I need people to collect the trash, people to sort it for evolution experiments, and people to manage the whole operation. It’s dirty work, and I used to think finding workers would be impossible. But right now?"
"Wait. 'The town is overflowing with people seeking work.'"
"Exactly! To put it another way, isn't this a buyer’s market for labor? I don't know the motives of the nobles who sent them here, but many of those laborers just want an honest job. I’m sure there are capable people among them. And since they’re desperate for work, they won't have unreasonable demands. I don't want to exploit anyone with unfair wages or bad conditions, but if they’re willing to work, isn't it a win-win for everyone?"
"There are always those with inflated self-importance, but I see your point," Serge conceded.
"And then there’s this." I gestured to the box of pearls. "Starting a business and hiring people takes capital. Ideally, the business should pay for itself, but..."
"Even if the business earns nothing, selling just one of these pearls would keep you afloat for a long time."
"Right. And there’s so much more I want to do. I need to bolster my shop’s security, prepare for the Great Forest, train myself, study medicine, research new tools and preserved foods, and continue my Slime research. I’m already so busy I can barely keep up. If I try to do it all myself, I’ll never make it to the Great Forest. But everyone has been telling me for a long time: 'You don't have to do it all yourself.'"
"Indeed, we have."
"It’s just as you said. I want to do the Slime research myself, but for things like food research or tool-making, I should just find people to do the work for me! Don't you think?"
"...Ryoma-sama. I don't disagree with you, but... doesn't this simply mean you want to provide jobs for the unemployed?"
"What? No, that’s the sort of thing for the government or the nobility to handle. It’s not a job for a private individual like me. I’m just going to use this windfall of cash to buy myself some free time so I can focus on my hobbies. It’s all entirely for my own sake. It just so happens that people get jobs as a result."
"Are you quite sure about that?" Serge asked, peering into my face with a skeptical look.
I wondered why he was looking at me like that. He eventually let out a sigh, seemingly coming to a conclusion of his own.
"I understand. However, launching new ventures—especially a waste processing plant—will require a great deal of groundwork. For now, why don't we head to the Commerce Guild and hash out the details with the Guild Master?"
"Thank you! Yes, let’s do that!"
Turning a crisis into an opportunity—that was the plan. By shifting my perspective, I realized I could turn this bad situation into the perfect chance to move forward.