"I'm starting to think that the more I research slimes, the more secrets I end up burdened with."
Of course, that just proved how valuable and convenient they were. Anything could be dangerous if handled incorrectly, but even so, I couldn't help but feel the weight of it all.
As I was lost in thought, Kiriluel spoke up to Fernobelia as if she had suddenly remembered something.
"Speaking of secrets... Fernobelia. Didn't you say you had something you wanted to discuss with Ryoma?"
"Oh, really?" I asked, surprised.
"Yes," Fernobelia replied. "The other day, you used Sand Magic, a technique that combines Taming Magic with a slime's Assimilation ability. I have a few points I wish to raise regarding that matter."
"Tekun chuckled. "Even though he had to deal with the fallout of the Selerepta incident, it’s quite rare for this anti-social scholar to join a gathering like this. You should feel honored."
Wait, seriously? Was there a conversation that important waiting for me? If he had told me sooner, I would have prioritized that over my slime research updates.
"There is no need for concern," Fernobelia said, sensing my unease. "Your dedication to exploring and learning about things that interest you is a commendable trait. Furthermore, organizing what you have learned and conveying it to others is a vital part of academic development."
"Thank you very much."
So, what was the deal with that magic? Could it be...
"First, let me clarify that I am not telling you to stop using that technique," Fernobelia began. "While there are certain precautions to keep in mind, I actually believe you should use it proactively. As Kufo mentioned earlier, there was a specific reason Ryoma was summoned to this world. I will refrain from a detailed explanation for now, but our verification of that technique suggests it may have a positive impact on the world's mana cycle."
"It does?"
"Indeed. Of course, the effect is indirect and slight... but as the Japanese say, even dust, if piled high, becomes a mountain. To solve great problems, one must accumulate such small successes. A marginal difference is no reason for dismissal."
I was stunned to learn that my magic could have such an effect. On an individual level, casting magic consumed mana. But from a global perspective, it actually helped restore it?
"If the details interest you, you should research them yourself," Fernobelia stated. "The result is only possible because of the unique properties of slimes."
"I see... Is that right?"
Fernobelia nodded as if it were the most natural thing in the world. It seemed he wasn't so much refusing to explain as he was intentionally leaving room for me to conduct my own research. Since slime research was my hobby and a source of joy, he was being considerate in his own way. As the God of Scholarship, he likely wanted to encourage me to reach the answer through my own efforts.
"Now, as for the precautions, there are three main points: the effect, the specificity, and the impact on the slimes. You likely already understand the effect, but that technique allows for significantly stronger and more precise magical control than usual. If you combine the vast mana characteristic of an Otherworlder with the power of numerous slimes, you may eventually be able to replicate 'Disaster Magic'—a power that once brought the world to its knees."
"Disaster Magic... I've never heard of it, but the name alone sounds ominous."
"In principle, it is merely a combination of ordinary elemental magic. However, the one who first utilized it was an Otherworlder—specifically, an ancestor of the Ducal House you serve, Ryoma."
"Ah, the one who specialized in magic?"
"The very same. During a time of war, that individual utilized powerful magic combined with scientific knowledge from Earth. They fired it incessantly as dictated by their commanders, causing immense destruction. Eventually, that power became known as Disaster Magic out of pure dread. I previously believed that reproducing such magic was impossible for ordinary humans, and even for Otherworlders, it would require a total specialization in the magical arts. However, given your current growth, I believe it is possible for you and your slimes. I would appreciate it if you used it proactively, but please be mindful of the timing and circumstances. The scale you used for the demolition the other day is more than sufficient."
"Thank you for the warning."
Fernobelia nodded slightly and moved on to the next point.
"Next is specificity. It has become clear that utilizing this technique relies less on raw magical skill and more on communication with slimes through Taming Magic, as well as a high level of slime aptitude. If these requirements are not met, the magic will not only fail to manifest but could potentially run wild. Given your high aptitude, you can use it without difficulty, but for others, it would be arduous; for those with poor compatibility, it would be nigh impossible. It is a highly selective technique. This advice isn't limited to this specific matter, but you should choose carefully whom you share your secrets with."
"I understand."
And finally, the point I was most concerned about: the impact on the slimes.
"The more you utilize that technique, the more the level of the slime’s Assimilation skill will rise. Once it reaches level ten, the slime will completely unify with its target and return to nature."
"Does that... mean the slime dies?"
"From our perspective, no," Fernobelia replied. "But from a human perspective, yes, it would be death. I will not deny that it would mean a final parting with your familiar."
To be honest, that was the heaviest news yet. In exchange for immense power, I would be cutting my slimes' lives short. Up until now, I figured I just had to be careful about where I used it to avoid public eyes or collateral damage. If the gods were worried about the world's mana and my magic could help improve it, I had intended to use it as much as possible in secret. But this...
"I said I wanted you to use it, but I will not force you. The decision is yours."
"Thank you."
Logically, the fate of the entire world should be more important than my personal feelings and the life of a slime. As gods, they could have easily commanded me to do it, so I was truly grateful that Fernobelia respected my will.
While I was processing the shock, I noticed the atmosphere in the Divine Realm shifting. The other gods were looking at Fernobelia with exasperated, half-closed eyes, glancing back and forth between the two of us.
"What?" Fernobelia asked.
"Well, if Ryoma is satisfied, then fine," Kiriluel said, "but Fernobelia, you really should explain things better."
"Yeah, you were so stingy with the info that the mood got all heavy for no reason," Tekun added.
Willieris sighed. "I understand you wanted to leave room for his research, and it seems Ryoma understands too, but still..."
"Ryoma is far too tolerant," Selerepta chirped. "Even I, who has just been forgiven, think it's weird. You really should have pushed him for more details, Ryoma-kun."
Kiriluel, Tekun, and even Willieris and Selerepta—who usually seemed to be at each other's throats—were all in agreement.
"Ryoma-kun," Gain said, "Fernobelia isn't lying, but a slime won't return to nature just from using that magic a few times. There's no need to be quite so solemn about it."
"Exactly," Lulutia chimed in. "The mana problem is something we should be handling anyway. If you don't want to use the magic, you don't have to."
"More importantly," Kufo asked, "do you remember how the slimes were acting while you were using that magic?"
I thought back to the demolition project. I had originally intended the magic to be a sort of experiment—a game, even. The slimes seemed like they were having fun. They actually looked more energetic afterward.
"So, it has a positive effect on them too?"
"Yes," Kufo confirmed. "At the very least, using that magic doesn't cause them any pain. Fernobelia told me that much himself."
I looked at the God of Scholarship. His expression was as blank as ever, making it hard to read, but he nodded with just a tiny hint of awkwardness.
"Explaining every detail would rob Ryoma-kun of the joy of discovery," Gain noted. "I understand that, but you really did focus a bit too much on the negative aspects, Fernobelia."
I see... I'd put the issue aside for now then. I would use that magic only during emergencies or when truly necessary, while keeping a close eye on the slimes' Assimilation levels. In the meantime, I’d keep up my research so that one day, I could figure out exactly what Fernobelia was hiding. It might take decades, but I was in no rush.
When I shared this plan with the group, Grimp spoke up.
"That’s the right way to look at it. You still have plenty of time, Ryoma."
Everyone agreed, and the topic finally came to a close. However...
"Fernobelia is... pfft, kukuku!"
A joyful laugh erupted from right next to me. Fernobelia looked significantly annoyed.
"Selerepta, what are you implying?"
"Oh, it's just that I’ve never seen Fernobelia being so considerate before! Besides, he likes Ryoma-kun so much that he wouldn't even mind if you dropped the honorifics, but he just can't bring himself to say it. I think people back in Japan would call that a 'tsundere,' wouldn't they?"
"Do not be absurd! I simply value his dedication to learning and research. That evaluation is not limited to Ryoma. Even the Otherworlder who used Disaster Magic—setting aside their motives—showed a level of ingenuity and effort that I purely respect—"
"I’ve heard there’s no market for male tsunderes, though," Selerepta interrupted.
"—Listen to me! Stop deciding things on your own and moving the conversation forward!"
Selerepta just laughed and ignored the shout. "Well, it's not just Fernobelia. Watching how everyone interacts with Ryoma-kun is just so refreshing. Everyone acts slightly different than they usually do."
The other gods—excluding Selerepta—seemed to have no response to that. They all went silent. Was my influence really that noticeable?
"Oh, it's definitely your influence," Selerepta said, grin widening as he turned his head toward me while still lying face-down. "Haven't you heard? Normally, living humans can't set foot in the Divine Realm. That goes for Otherworlders too. Usually, the only way to communicate with us is through the 'Oracle' skill, which is only held by a tiny handful of high-ranking clergy. And even then, they can only hear our voices."
I had heard that before. I knew I was considered unusual even among Otherworlders.
"Exactly. Even though we have to call you first, you can come here in spirit and talk to us face-to-face. No one like you has ever existed in this world. That’s why none of us—myself included—have much experience actually talking to people like this. To be honest, we gods don't even need to talk to each other. We can send information or images directly whenever we want. Misunderstandings like the one between you and Fernobelia just don't happen among us. And since an Oracle is basically just a god shouting at a person, it's not exactly a conversation."
"I see... So that explains why the information I first got from Gain and the others was so confusing."
"Yeah, there was a gap in perception, but the way they delivered the info was also a mess. Things that are common sense to us are completely alien to you, right? Watching everyone struggle to communicate while worrying about those gaps is just so entertaining."
He laughed, but I wondered if it applied to him too.
"Me? Maybe I'm a little different... but I’m always fair. Do you really think I’d bother with restraint or consideration, regardless of whether it's a human or a god? Don't be silly."
"I feel like I asked a pointless question," I muttered.
The other gods all nodded in unison. Selerepta didn't know the meaning of the word 'restraint.'
"Even so, I do want us to get along! You guys are so mean."
"Fine, I get it. Just stop clinging to me. You're heavy... wait, no you're not."
He was light. Eerily light. He was still incredibly annoying, though.
"It’s irritating to have it pointed out by Selerepta, but he’s right," Gain admitted. "We have changed. Come to think of it, we only started gathering like this frequently because Ryoma-kun arrived. I can't remember the last time all nine of us were in the same place."
"We used to meet back when the world was first born," Kufo recalled.
"The world was smaller then," Willieris said. "But then it expanded and developed."
"Since we can just send each other the information we need, we eventually started acting on our own," Kiriluel noted.
"And if we did meet up, we usually only called on the people who were absolutely necessary," Tekun added.
"Reflecting on my own actions, I admit I prioritized necessity over social calls," Fernobelia said.
"And we definitely stopped sitting around drinking and talking like this," Grimp finished.
The gods all nodded solemnly. It sounded a lot like how remote work had advanced to the point where people never actually saw their colleagues in person.
"It's exactly like that," Gain said. "But in our case, we might go centuries or even millennia without meeting. There’s even one of us who never shows their face at all, to the point where I've forgotten the last time I saw them. I’m truly grateful to Ryoma-kun for giving us a reason to come together again."
"I didn't really mean to do anything, but I'm glad it worked out that way."
Everyone was smiling peacefully, which made me feel good too.
"Was there anything else we needed to discuss?" I asked. I could talk about slimes for hours, but I wondered if there was anything else of national importance.
"Warnings like the one about that magic are rare," Grimp said. "I have plenty to say about agriculture, but it’s no use dumping it all on you at once. Master what we talked about today first. I've got nothing left for now, but..."
Grimp looked around at the others.
"If no one else is going to talk, I guess I will," Selerepta said from beside me.
"I'm listening..." I said cautiously.
"Don't look at me like that! Kiriluel and I were actually talking about this earlier."
"Me?" Kiriluel blinked. "Oh, wait. What are you talking about, Selerepta?"
"About how Ryoma-kun needs to polish his intuition. Remember?"
"Intuition? Oh, yeah, we did talk about that during the breaks in your training. I thought you were just trying to stall for time."
So they had actually discussed this. But why intuition?
"Look, Ryoma, you're a bit of a logical thinker, aren't you?" Kiriluel asked.
"I mean, I guess? It's hard to tell from my own perspective."
"It's not a bad thing," she continued. "But everything has a time and place. For instance, when you're explaining something to someone, you need logic and a clear sequence. But sometimes, it's better to just move instead of overthinking things."
I nodded, following her lead. They explained that while everyone has their own balance, I tended to lean too heavily toward the logical side.
"Selerepta and I both agree that you're naturally a sensory type—someone who excels at intuition and sudden inspiration."
"Really?"
"Yeah," Selerepta added. "You probably became so logical because of your environment in your previous life. Over here, we rely a lot on the experience and 'feel' of experts. But on Earth, science is everything, right? Data and evidence are what matter. To survive in a world like that, you had to force yourself to think logically. Since you struggled with communication, you probably worked even harder at it. But in the process, you lost touch with your natural strengths."
"I hear what you're saying, but it doesn't quite click..."
"Think about your failure the other day," Selerepta said. "You mentioned that the atmosphere in town and the meeting hall felt like your old company, and it made you rush things."
"Right. I felt a sense of dread and went into overdrive."
"Exactly. If you had been handling your 'senses' correctly, you wouldn't have just charged ahead blindly. You would have understood why you felt that way."
"But it was just a gut feeling that something was wrong. There was no evidence."
Selerepta sat up and made a theatrical "you just don't get it" gesture. I decided not to take the bait.
"I don't get it. Please explain."
"Fine, fine. 'Intuition' might sound abstract, but I'm not just blowing smoke. It’s about how living things learn. Imagine a dog and its owner. If the owner hits the dog with a stick every day for no reason, how will the dog react?"
"It would fear the owner," I replied. "It would run away or become hostile. It certainly wouldn't be friendly anymore."
"And why?"
"Because being hit hurts. It might get injured. No one wants to be in pain."
"Exactly. The dog learns that being hit hurts. It learns that the stick and the owner are sources of pain. And once it learns that, it acts to avoid the threat. It’s not a specialized skill; it’s survival instinct. The self-preservation instinct inherent to all living things. Technicians are the same, right, Tekun?"
"Right," Tekun said. "A master blacksmith knows the temperature of the forge, the color of the flame, and the timing by feel. They can even sense the humidity of the day and adjust accordingly. You can't underestimate the senses your body remembers."
"And Ryoma-kun," Selerepta said, "you carried over all your memories and experiences from your past life. You see where I'm going with this?"
He slumped back down onto the table. I realized he was right. During the meeting in Gimul, I had been exactly like that dog. I sensed a threat based on past pain and moved to eliminate it. I finally understood what Tekun meant about the body remembering.
"Selerepta..."
"Nn?"
"I didn't realize you were the type who paid such close attention to people."
"Wait, that's what you're taking away from this? I'm a god! Of course I pay attention!" His smug look vanished instantly.
"Well, after our last encounter, I had you pegged as the arrogant type. Honestly, I'm just surprised."
"Wow, okay."
"But I do understand what you're saying now. Thank you."
"Good. Bad memories and fears are just another form of experience. If they bind you, people call them 'trauma,' but if you master them, they become a powerful weapon. You should work on your intuition and senses, Ryoma-kun. Even if you went overboard last time, you were still able to sense the situation. It suits you."
"I will. I'll try to keep it in mind."
As I spoke, the light around me began to intensify.
"Ah, looks like our time is up," Gain said.
"I see. I forgot there was a limit. But we talked more than usual today."
"Because there were nine of us calling you this time," Lulutia explained. "The time you can stay here is proportional to the number of gods present. We should definitely do this again soon."
While everyone was saying their goodbyes, Selerepta leaned in.
"By the way, Ryoma-kun, are you heading straight home after this?"
"Back to the church? I think so. I don't have any other plans today, so I was going to research the magic and—ah."
"Something wrong?"
"No, I realized I should drop by the 'Children's Home.' I've got the kids there doing some simple jobs, so I should check in on them."
"Hmm, sounds fun."
Despite asking, he seemed to lose interest immediately. No, that wasn't right. It was more like...
"...The night three days before the end of the year," he whispered.
"What?"
"If you go to the abandoned mine alone, you might find the clarity you're looking for."
"What does that—"
The light became blinding, and it was time to go.
"Bye! See ya!" Selerepta shouted.
"Until next time!" the others added.
I was swallowed by the light in an instant. When my vision cleared, I was standing back in the church chapel.
"...Phew."
The night three days before the end of the year. If you go to the abandoned mine alone, you might find the clarity you're looking for.
Selerepta had clearly been waiting for a moment to slip that message to me without the others noticing. I didn't know what he meant by 'clarity' or what his angle was. There were too many unknowns, but one thing was certain.
Selerepta was definitely plotting something again. The guy just never learned.
"Time to head out."
I stood up and started toward the exit, but I didn't get far.
"Takebayashi-san! Excuse me, do you have a moment?"
"Oh, hello. Yes, I'm free. What can I do for you?"
"It's about the soup kitchen you're helping us with. I was wondering if we could discuss the details..."
One of the church sisters stopped me, and I spent the next while discussing the upcoming charity event.