The next morning.
Last night, Hughes and the others had arrived in Gimul. Knowing they would be assisting with my workload for a while filled me with a fresh surge of motivation. I was fired up and ready to get to work, except—
"I’m actually on vacation, aren't I?"
Even when I said it out loud to confirm the reality of the situation, the result remained the same. I was on holiday.
The reason was simple: I hadn’t taken a single day off since returning to Gimul from the Fatma territory. The Guild Master had mentioned to Hughes and his team that I had jumped straight into meetings with Serge and her the very moment I got back.
Consequently, for the next three days, my duties were handed over to the highly capable maids and the men from the duke’s household. I had even been slapped with an "office ban"—a strict prohibition from even setting foot in the shop. They had even offered to take care of my every need from dawn until dusk, though I drew the line at being waited on that extensively and managed to decline. Regardless, for the next three days, I was to be completely separated from my work.
I had managed to schedule an appointment for the day after tomorrow, which was the final day of my long weekend, but today and tomorrow were completely free. If that was the case...
"It’s been a long time since I’ve spent an entire day on slime research!"
I hadn’t been able to secure a solid block of time for it lately. I wanted to properly organize the data on the slimes that were evolving one after another thanks to the food I had gathered in the Fatma territory. There were also a few things I wanted to test, inspired by the acidic mucus I had synthesized while I was away. I decided to use this opportunity to get as much done as possible.
Time flew by, and before I knew it, night had fallen. I had spent the entire day from morning until just a few moments ago conducting experiments and observations. Now, I sat down to compile my research notes.
First, regarding the new evolutions triggered by the food from the Fatma territory, I decided to create a table mapping the base species to their new forms based on the diet provided.
Pre-Evolution Species | Diet/Condition | Post-Evolution Species Sticky Slime -> Crab Slime -> Spider Slime Sticky Slime -> Crustacean Slime -> Crust Slime Sticky Slime -> Net Slime -> Fiber Slime Acid Slime -> Shellfish Slime -> Shell Slime Acid Slime -> Shellfish & Egg Slime -> Pearl Slime Poison Slime -> Charcoal & Sand Slime -> Filter Slime Poison Slime -> Poison Needle Slime -> Sting Slime Metal Slime -> Net Slime -> Wire Slime Bloody Slime -> Parasite Slime -> Awaiting Evolution Stone Slime -> Sand Slime -> Sand Slime Stone Slime -> Pottery Slime -> Awaiting Evolution Weed Slime -> Waterweed Slime -> Aquatic Weed Slime Weed Slime -> Algae Slime -> Algae Slime
That was the overview. Next, I summarized the observation records and my thoughts on each new species.
I started with the three variants that evolved from the Sticky Slime.
Spider Slime Appearance: A Sticky Slime that has become slightly smaller in size. Skills: No skills were lost through evolution. It newly acquired Nesting and Trap Technique. Remarks: These slimes have begun building nests out of thread on the walls of the mine shafts. They move through the air by traveling along these interconnected strands, exhibiting behavior very similar to a spider. Additionally, the properties of the thread they produce seem to have changed slightly. As a test, I asked both a Sticky Slime and a Spider Slime to produce the strongest thread possible. I had them bind my arms and then attempted to snap the strands. I found that the Spider Slime’s thread possessed more elasticity and was harder to break, feeling significantly more robust. (Note: This is based on my personal physical sensation and is subjective.) On Earth, spider silk was a major focus of research due to its incredible structural properties as a fiber. While the thread from a standard Sticky Slime is already quite tough, the Spider Slime’s silk appears to have undergone a further structural shift. I intend to consult a specialist later regarding its potential as an industrial material. Regarding the smaller size, it might simply be individual variation. I will determine the average size once I have a larger population to observe.
Crust Slime Appearance: No noticeable physical changes. Skills: No skills lost; newly acquired Carapace Generation. Remarks: I discovered that Carapace Generation is a skill where the slime hardens its secreted fluids to wear them as a protective shell. Being encased in this shell doesn't seem to hinder its movements, so it serves as a pure boost to its defensive capabilities. Furthermore, when I used Appraisal on this carapace, it turned out to be nearly identical in composition to the Hardening Fluid Plates I have been manufacturing. Since those plates were originally made from Sticky Slime secretions, this is a logical evolution. When I gave the command, the slime was able to spread the fluid used for the carapace onto a flat surface to create a Hardening Fluid Plate. With the Crust Slime, I can now produce these plates without using alchemy. However, their fundamental nature as slimes remains largely unchanged. Much like the Spider Slime, this appears to be an evolution that incorporates the traits of other organisms while carrying over and enhancing its original slime properties.
Fiber Slime Appearance: No noticeable changes. Skills: No skills lost; newly acquired Fiberization. Remarks: By feeding these slimes the fluff from Fluff Slimes, I can produce Slime Rayon. I wonder if I can produce different types of fibers by changing the feed? For example, feeding them metal or glass to create wire or glass fibers is something I’d like to test in the future.
Next, the two species that branched from the Acid Slime.
Shell Slime Appearance: It resembles a hermit crab living inside a spiral shell, like a turban shell. Skills: No skills lost, but Strong Acid Generation was replaced by Weak Acid Fluid Creation. It also acquired Shell Generation. Remarks: In some ways, this was the most surprising evolution. Its appearance has changed more drastically than any slime before it. When I analyzed the "weak acid" produced by its new skill, I found it was a high concentration of Succinic Acid—an umami component found in high quantities in shellfish. While it isn't edible in its raw state, I know it can be processed with alchemy into Disodium Succinate for use as a seasoning. The mock-oyster sauce I made for my late lunch using it was delicious.
Pearl Slime Appearance: It has a milky white body with a unique luster. It looks like a giant pearl. Skills: Because its body shifted from a jelly-like state to a solid one—similar to a Metal Slime—its skill set changed completely. Its defining skills are Protective Fluid Creation, Coating, and Crystallization. Remarks: Using these skills, it can produce pearls, which are incredibly rare in this world. Consequently, the asset value of these slimes is astronomical. While the Pearl Slime itself isn't dangerous, the security risks associated with owning them will require careful management.
Two species evolved from the Poison Slime.
Filter Slime Appearance: It has very little moisture and is entirely black. Because parts of its body reflect light, it looks like a clump of black sand. Skills: Perhaps because its body became near-solid, it lost almost all the skills it possessed as a Poison Slime. However, its Poison Resistance was significantly strengthened, and it gained a new skill called Filtration. Remarks: Experiments confirmed that, true to its name, this slime consumes poisons and precipitates by filtering liquids and gases through its body. I’ve already verified that Filtration can assist in medicine production and serve as a water purifier. I have endless ideas for this species—perhaps using them in gas masks or in conjunction with Bloody Slimes for medical procedures like artificial dialysis.
Sting Slime Appearance: The purple hue of the Poison Slime has deepened, and the core is no longer visible. Skills: No skills lost; newly acquired Poison Needle. Remarks: The Poison Needle skill allows it to extrude venomous spines from its body. When I asked it to demonstrate, it looked exactly like a deep-purple sea urchin—specifically a long-spined sea urchin. Since it already possesses the Spearmanship skill, I asked if it could form a single, thick, long needle and wield it as a spear. The attempt was successful. Even more impressive—and terrifying—was that the spear retained the same structure as the needles; when it stabs a target, poison is injected through the tip like a syringe. It’s likely mimicking the biological structure of the organisms it ate, but the result is a truly wicked weapon. The ability to inject toxins the moment a strike lands is incredibly effective for combat. For instance, if I used... actually, imagining the possibilities is too dangerous. I'll refrain from writing them down.
One species from the Metal Slime.
Wire Slime Appearance: Very similar to a Metal Slime, but about one size smaller. Skills: No skills lost; newly acquired Expansion and Contraction. Remarks: It can stretch its body into a thin thread. It can also turn that thread into a wire saw or barbed wire. The maximum length it can reach is proportional to the individual's volume, though the core itself cannot be stretched or deformed.
One species from the Stone Slime.
Sand Slime Appearance: A mound or clump of sand. Skills: Because its body transitioned into sand, it lost its Stone Slime skills. In their place, it gained Scatter, Cohesion, Moisture Absorption, and Drying—identical to the Ash Slime—as well as Assimilation, like the Mad Slime. Remarks: During my experiments, I realized a new possibility for this species. I’ll conduct further tests and verification starting tomorrow before summarizing those findings.
Finally, two species from the Weed Slime.
Aquatic Weed Slime Appearance: Waterweeds float inside the slime’s transparent body. It looks like a glassless aquarium. Skills: No changes from the Weed Slime. Remarks: While its abilities haven't changed, it has adapted to life underwater. It can survive on land for a short period, but it clearly prefers being submerged. Since I didn't have a proper tank ready, I’ve had them living in a temporary tank made of Hardening Fluid Plates. I’ll make a larger tank or perhaps an ornamental pond for them when the weather improves. Their diet is similar to the Weed Slime; they multiply the waterweeds inside their bodies and eat them, or sustain themselves through photosynthesis, making them very low-maintenance. They’re quite beautiful to look at, so this might be the perfect species to use when trying to introduce others to the appeal of slimes.
Algae Slime Appearance: A mass of green algae. Skills: No changes from the Weed Slime. Remarks: Like the Aquatic Weed Slime, this is a water-dwelling species. It grows and eats its own algae and produces nutrients via photosynthesis. When I sampled and appraised a portion of its body, I found it was incredibly rich in nutrients. On Earth, certain types of algae like Euglena were studied for use in supplements and health foods. I’m considering whether the Algae Slime can be used for similar purposes. I’ll need to set up a dedicated tank or pond to cultivate enough for research.
...That should cover most of it.
Honestly, there were still dozens of things I wanted to try. But if I pushed myself and the maids found out I stayed up all night again, they would probably start assigning someone to watch me twenty-four hours a day. I had to stop at a reasonable hour.
The fact that I could actually stop myself—maybe that was a sign I’d grown a little?
"...Yeah, right."
Well, it was a bit too early to sleep just yet. I think I’ll spend a little time preparing for the day after tomorrow.
And so, the night gradually deepened.