We chatted for a while, the conversation flowing easily between us. However, there was something I needed to know.
"Um, may I ask a question as well?"
"Of course," Reinhardt replied. "You were at the center of all this, Ryoma-kun. We felt we had to discuss it with you eventually."
"What would you like to know?" Elise asked warmly.
"First, is it safe to assume this entire incident has been settled?"
"Yes, there should be no more issues there," Reinhardt said. "The mastermind is no longer of this world. Once we secured the evidence, I led the Royal Capital Knight Order in a raid on his mansion and struck him down myself. I believe you’ve already heard something of his identity?"
"Based on my deductions from what Yudum-san told me, if I’m not mistaken… the mastermind was the current head of the Volkano family. He was the son of the Former Marquess Volkano, the previous ruler of the territory where Master Reinbach achieved his fame as a Contractor of a Divine Beast."
Reinhardt nodded and began to explain the circumstances in detail.
To summarize the situation:
The story went back to when the previous head of the Jamil Ducal House, Master Reinbach, first successfully contracted his Divine Beast. In an effort to protect his lands and people from a dragon attack, the Marquess of that time had led his army in a desperate struggle. He had even managed to repel them once, but he couldn't hold the city against the second and third waves of the dragon swarm. The casualties were high, and the city was ultimately reduced to ash by dragon fire.
The crisis eventually ended thanks to Master Reinbach's intervention. But while Reinbach was showered with honor and praise as the hero who contracted a Divine Beast, the Former Marquess was branded a failure and slandered as "incompetent."
"The political infighting among the nobility was ruthless," Elise added. "While the military nobles tried to defend him, the court nobles—who knew nothing of the battlefield—and his political rivals were merciless. They whispered behind his back, asking why he couldn't protect his own territory when Master Reinbach had resolved the entire thing 'alone.'"
"The house had lost its military and financial power, the Marquess himself had been wounded leading his troops, and the mastermind behind this recent incident had only just been born," Reinhardt continued. "To facilitate the reconstruction, the crown temporarily seized the territory from the Volkano family. It was a sequence of unfortunate events that piled up against them."
"Normally, the land would have been returned in time, and the family would have regained their status as a Marquessate. I even heard there was a private arrangement for a marriage with the daughter of another Marquessate… but it seems he could never accept the loss of his family’s standing."
When Reinhardt raided the mansion with the knights, they found only the mastermind and a single elderly servant. Every item of value had already been sold off. The man had consumed both poison and a magic medicine to enhance his physical capabilities before launching a final, desperate attack on Reinhardt.
In his final moments, he had even used a magic tool to set the mansion ablaze, intending to take everyone down with him in the fire.
"He had accomplices among the nobility, but they lack the power and the spine to oppose us openly," Reinhardt said. "Besides, we’ve already found evidence of unrelated crimes for some of them. They won’t be plotting anything else; they’ll be too busy trying to save their own necks.
"If there’s a lingering concern, it’s the involvement of the Dark Guild and the fact that all the valuables had vanished from the Earl’s mansion. Still, they won’t be able to pull off another large-scale operation like this anytime soon. My staff and the knights I left in the Royal Capital are continuing the investigation, and the assassin who targeted Serge will likely provide more leads."
I remembered him then. I’d almost forgotten, but the assassin who had tried to kill Serge-san was currently being held in the special room in my basement.
There had been a minor panic when he was first captured and disarmed; a check by one of my Poison Slimes revealed he had ingested a slow-acting poison. However, I’d used a Cleaner Slime to perform a gastric lavage—much like a gastroscope from my old life—and recovered a sample of the toxin. Thanks to that, the medical team was able to produce an antidote in time.
He was still physically exhausted, but his life was no longer in danger. I didn't know how much information he actually possessed, but he was certainly in for a rigorous interrogation once he recovered.
As I reflected on this, Elise took over the conversation, her expression turning somber.
"There is something else we must consider, Ryoma-kun. Something more pressing."
"And what would that be?"
"The recruitment offers you’re going to receive from other noble houses."
It was a bit late to realize it, but the majority of the city now knew what I’d done during the crisis. Word was spreading among the nobility as well. It was only a matter of time before my name and my deeds reached the ears of every influential family in the kingdom—if they hadn't already. I had known that was a risk when I chose to act.
"We cannot ignore this, neither as your friends nor as nobles," Elise said firmly. "To shield you from unnecessary trouble, we want you to officially become a technician of the Jamil Ducal House."
"You mean the exclusive technician position? If I remember correctly, you mentioned the rank of Third-class Technician before."
"That was what I had in mind when you last visited the mansion. However, considering your proactive role in resolving this incident and the support you’ve provided during the aftermath, we believe the rank of 'Second-class Technician' is more appropriate.
"In particular, your research into the Slime Fields for high-efficiency farming and the nutritional supplements derived from Algae Slime has the potential to save countless lives from famine in the future. That alone makes you worth appointing and protecting."
"And so, Ryoma-kun, I’m asking you once again to accept this offer," Reinhardt said. "What do you say?"
It was an incredibly generous proposal. In terms of avoiding future headaches, it was easily the best possible option. Despite that, I couldn't bring myself to answer immediately.
Elise leaned in, her gaze soft but searching. "If you have any concerns or specific requests regarding your treatment, please don't hesitate to tell us."
"I have no complaints about the treatment at all," I replied. "The problem is me. As I think you’ve realized, I’m a far more selfish person than you probably believe. If I take the title of a Ducal House Technician and then cause some sort of trouble, it would become a scandal for your family as well. To be honest, that prospect makes me uneasy."
Looking back, I realized that the reason I’d spent so much time hiding in the forest or living in an abandoned mine was because, somewhere deep down, I was afraid of the city and the weight of human relationships.
Even in Japan, I’d always felt like a "misfit." If I felt that way in the world I was born into, how could I ever truly blend into this world, with its entirely different cultures and customs?
Besides, common sense, rules, and values all shift with time. Even if information didn't move as fast here as it did on Earth, the gap between generations would still be there. Would I be able to adapt?
I had been out of sync with my peers even when I was young. I’d like to think I hadn't started making "kids these days" comments yet, but what would happen as I grew older in this life?
In the past, I would have told myself to "work harder" or some other optimistic platitude. I would fail, pick myself up, and tell myself "next time" or "this time for sure," pushing myself until I broke. I was only ever positive in words; I never truly trusted myself.
Now that I’d recognized that, I knew I couldn't do that anymore. And being able to say that made me feel lighter. Even if my outlook was pessimistic, it was honest. If I lived as I pleased and ended up being scorned for it, then so be it. That would be my own fault, and I could accept that.
...But I couldn't stand the idea of causing trouble for the Jamil family or those around me. In human society, it was all too common for an entire organization to suffer because of one person’s actions.
On Earth, the "part-time job terrorism" that periodically went viral was a perfect example. I couldn't bear the thought of repaying the kindness I’d received by dragging their name through the mud.
I did my best to convey these honest feelings, choosing my words with care. It felt like I was rejecting their goodwill, but to my surprise, both of them broke into smiles.
"I suppose it’s a bit late for this, but you really were independent all along, Ryoma-kun," Elise said. "You truly are much more of an adult than we gave you credit for."
Then, her expression shifted. "However, we aren't backing down this time. I told you your deeds were already widely known, didn't I? A noble who fails to properly evaluate merit and grant a fitting reward loses the respect of their vassals. Other nobles would look down on us as well. In short, our credibility would be at stake.
"Therefore, you have no choice but to accept, even if you’re reluctant. You understand how an individual’s actions affect those around them, so surely you understand that?"
"Elise is right," Reinhardt added. "And you might be forgetting, but there are conditions for maintaining that status. You'll be expected to report on your research progress or contributions every year. I’ll be patient, of course, but if you fail to show results, the status will be revoked. The same applies if you cause a scandal; I have the discretion to revoke your rank and cast you out immediately.
"If I decide the liability of keeping you outweighs the benefits, I will cut you off without hesitation. That is my duty as a noble."
It was a cold, one-sided ultimatum that left no room for argument. I suspected it wasn't entirely a lie, but I also knew they were saying it for my sake. They were telling me that they would take responsibility for cutting me loose if the worst happened, so I shouldn't worry about it.
They probably hated having to force an answer like that, let alone talking about cutting me off. If I kept arguing, I’d just be being stubborn. Since it was an undeniably generous offer, I decided to give in.
"I understand. I humbly accept the position of technician."
The tension broke, and they both smiled warmly again.
"Wonderful. Then I’ll need you to sign some paperwork. Also, what should we list as your field of expertise? You seem to have your hands in everything."
"I’d like it to be 'Slime Research' then."
As Elise had noted, I’d done many things, but slime research had been the consistent core of my work. If I was going to call myself an expert in anything, it had to be that.
"I had a feeling you’d say that," she laughed.
"Is that a problem?"
"I don't think there's a precedent for it, but it's not exactly against the rules. Now then... oh yes, there was the matter of Baron Verdure's son."
The name didn't ring a bell at first, until a face popped into my mind. "Do you mean Yudum-san?"
"That’s the one," Reinhardt said. "Did you not know his family name?"
"I only knew he was a noble from a Baron family. He told me he didn't have the right to use his name, and I didn't want to pry. Sorry for interrupting."
"Don't worry about it. If you have questions, please keep asking them," Elise said. "To get back to the point, I mentioned before that a Second-class Technician receives status guarantees, financial aid, and access to research space and manpower as needed. We were wondering if you would like to hire Yudum Verdure as part of that manpower?"
"If I’m going to hire someone, I’d certainly prefer someone I know like Yudum-san. But doesn't he already have an employer?"
"About that... we’ve actually taken custody of him for the time being," Reinhardt explained. "His Majesty the King is a man of his word, but Yudum was essentially acting as a spy. Handing over his custody is partly a gesture of apology for the secrecy. Of course, there’s more to it than just that."
Reinhardt-san took a slow sip of his tea, looking slightly weary. It seemed there had been some complicated political maneuvering behind the scenes. If they and the King were all in agreement, I didn't see a reason to object.
I’d kept Yudum-san by my side knowing he was a spy anyway, so there was no reason to turn him away now.
"So, he’s technically working for us now," Elise said. "But it would be difficult—though not impossible—to suddenly bring someone we don't know that well into our personal circle. So we thought, instead of stashing him in some random post, why not have him continue working for you as part of your 'manpower' arrangement?"
"We asked him, and he was quite eager to work for you," Reinhardt added. "He liked the way you treated him, and since he really was on a journey to improve his martial arts, he figured staying at a shop where you and other strong warriors congregate was the best way to hone his skills."
"I see. If the Ducal House and Yudum-san are both fine with it, then I’ll take him. He has a good reputation at the shop, and since we’re likely to get even busier, I’d appreciate the help."
"Then it's settled. And since he's under our custody, he won't be permitted to leak any of your information or secrets, even to the Royal Family. You can rest easy on that front."
"Once you’re officially a technician, your shop can be treated as your 'workshop' or 'experimental grounds,' so make sure to use that to your advantage in your business dealings," Elise noted with a wink.
That was a huge relief. I’d already been under their protection, but having an official post would make that backing even more ironclad and boost my shop’s credibility significantly.
"Thank you very much."
"It’s mutual, Ryoma-kun. You’re providing us with your technology and knowledge. In fact, I wish you’d make more demands of us."
I thought about that for a moment, but nothing specific came to mind. "Demands... well, right now, we’re short on wood, especially firewood for fuel."
"We’ve already requested aid from the neighboring cities," Reinhardt said. "The Ducal House’s Space Mages are handling the communications and transport, so it should start arriving in a few days. But that’s a demand for the city’s sake, not your own."
"That’s really all I can think of for now."
"It doesn't have to be right now. Just tell us when you need something," Elise said, shaking her head. "Honestly, for someone who calls himself 'selfish,' you spend an awful lot of time thinking about others."
They both looked at me with exasperated affection. But being selfish and my current actions weren't contradictory at all.
"It’s because I’m selfish that I act this way," I explained. "Just as a truly wicked person doesn't look the part, purely egoistic actions are quickly loathed by others and don't lead to long-term gain. If you pursue selfish thinking to its logical extreme, you realize that acting altruistically on the surface is actually the most efficient way to get what you want."
"I understand the logic, I suppose, but..." Reinhardt started.
"In the end, that just means you’re working for the sake of others, doesn't it?" Elise finished.
A few seconds of silence followed her words, the two of them looking at me like parents with a particularly difficult child.
Then, we all burst into laughter at once. Once the laughter died down, we spent the rest of the night hammering out the finer details.
The night passed peacefully, the weight of the recent crisis finally beginning to lift.