The Next Day
"Well then, shall we go?"
Having officially entered the Ducal House's service as a technician last night, I was to accompany Reinhardt-san and his wife on their inspection of the city. I climbed into the waiting carriage and sank into the soft seat; a servant outside gently closed the door, and the carriage set off with a smooth glide.
During the ride, we engaged in light conversation, but the two of them kept a close eye on the state of the city through the windows. They didn't peer out overtly, but while maintaining a graceful, poised posture, they seemed to be constantly scanning the atmosphere and surroundings from the corners of their eyes.
"Oh my," the Madam murmured.
"Did something catch your eye?" Reinhardt-san asked.
He responded instantly to her voice, but she simply shook her head.
"Just past that corner earlier, I saw members of the security company, judging by their uniforms. The people gathered around them had such warm, favorable expressions that it simply piqued my curiosity."
"In that case, it was likely one of the men who served in the firefighting unit," I offered.
"Ah, the ones who handled the fires with that fireproof equipment. That makes sense, then."
The unit members were the city's newest celebrities. Apparently, they were frequently hailed while walking the streets, and when they went out for drinks, shopkeepers and other patrons would often insist on buying them a round. I’d even heard that some had been approached by parents asking if they’d take a daughter of marriageable age as a wife.
Even with magic-enchanted fireproof equipment, they were the ones who had charged into the flames, exposing themselves to danger to perform rescues. It was only natural for the victims they saved, as well as the rest of the townspeople, to feel a deep sense of gratitude.
...To be honest, when I first proposed the concept for the firefighting unit and the fireproof gear, I hadn't actually envisioned them charging into burning buildings.
That was to be expected; I was a complete amateur when it came to firefighting. Regarding the equipment, I had used the firefighting teams from my previous life as a reference. I’d once been forced to join the local youth association in an area where I lived and received disaster prevention training from a neighbor—a former firefighter who never missed an opportunity to mention he’d been in a "Ranger unit"—but that was the extent of my knowledge.
With only that much experience, and using makeshift equipment at that, I didn't feel I could ask members of the security company—who were originally laborers with no real stake in this city—to jump into a literal fire. I figured that even if I did ask, no one would actually do it.
However, unexpectedly... though it might be rude to put it that way, they volunteered. When I was explaining the gear's capabilities and used potential experimental results and future goals as examples, several men, led by the Macho Squad captain, spoke up immediately.
At first, as the one who’d proposed the gear, I was the one trying to talk them out of it. But as we repeated experiments and improvements, and as their trust in the equipment grew, more voices joined in, saying they wanted to do it too. Even the craftsman team I’d commissioned to produce the gear got fired up... eventually, breaching burning structures became an official tactic. Following the firefighting unit’s success, the craftsmen have even started coming up with further improvement plans for fireproof equipment.
I, who vaguely knew about firefighting teams in Japan, provided the initial draft, but the ones who realized it in this city were the local craftsmen and the men who stood against the flames. In that light, the current situation was the direct result of their own effort and passion.
Of course, the Guard Force that had been protecting the city since the beginning was also being properly recognized. Although adventurers had been viewed with a wary eye for a time, the honor of those who cooperated to protect the city had been preserved. The Tamer Guild, the Commerce Guild, and the Town Office were focusing their efforts on post-incident response and support, earning their own share of gratitude from the townspeople.
"Hmm?"
"Oh, did you see something concerning, Reinhardt?"
"No, I just noticed there are an unusually high number of cat-kin around here. Is there something in this area?"
"Ah... there’s an inn nearby where many cat-kin stay," I explained. "That’s probably the reason."
"Heh. Looking at your expression, I take it Ryoma-kun is involved with this inn as well?"
I wondered what kind of face I was making. I couldn't see it myself, but Reinhardt-san’s intuition was spot on.
"It’s not so much that I’m involved; it’s that I’m the owner. I built a place for laborers where they can get a night’s sleep for next to nothing—literally just the bare minimum space and bedding. For some reason, it’s become incredibly popular with feline beastfolk."
The concept was based on the "capsule hotel" I used to rely on occasionally in my previous life. Not the fashionable ones that were starting to trend around the time I died, but the old-fashioned kind with minimal facilities.
I did put effort into the fluffy futons using Fluff Slime fluff and the soundproofing between the walls, but since the layout basically consists of bunk beds crammed together, the rooms are essentially narrow boxes... but for feline beastfolk, that narrowness apparently appealed to them.
Once, I took Miya-san, a cat-kin adventurer, Mizeria-san, a tiger-kin, and the maid Lulunese-san there to get their feedback. Their answer was, "It's certainly narrow, but for some reason, it’s calming," so it must have suited their racial sensibilities.
Customers of other races usually stayed there because it was cheap, or because they had no other choice—a demographic that was exactly what I’d aimed for—so they didn't become repeat guests. As a result of only the feline beastfolk customers increasing day by day, it had turned into an inn almost exclusively for them before I even realized it. That particular capsule hotel was located right near here.
"I’d received a brief report about the inn, but I didn't know it was quite like that."
"I leave the day-to-day operations to the people I’ve hired, after all. I only show my face occasionally. As long as I don't get a report about a problem, I’m usually at my other jobs or work sites."
But that was probably the right level of involvement for me.
After that, I continued to exchange words with the two of them while looking at the city through the carriage window. I spoke as much as I understood and as much as I could on the spot, but since they would investigate anything of concern later, even the travel time was no break for them.
While watching the two of them work as nobles, I was swayed by the carriage for several dozen minutes. Eventually, we arrived at an area in the north of the city where rows of temporary housing had been erected. It was originally a site for large lumber wholesalers and warehouses, but it had been devastated by the fire.
Through negotiations between the Town Office and the business owners, this temporary housing district was born to effectively utilize the remaining unburned timber and the vacant land. However, it was still incomplete. The original buildings had all been demolished, but the debris hadn't been fully cleared, and rubble still covered half the land.
My next job was to clear that debris. Meanwhile, Reinhardt-san and Elise-sama would perform a visit as members of the Ducal House. As if to welcome the carriage, a wave of people had gathered outside the window. It wasn't just the residents of the temporary housing; other townspeople seemed to have gathered as well.
"Well then, I’ll go ahead and make preparations."
I said this with respect for the two who were about to stand before that crowd. The two, who had taken on dignified expressions befitting their rank, nodded lightly and stepped gracefully out of the opened door.
What kind of emotions were in the hearts of the people looking at the Ducal Couple? Even listening closely, I heard neither cheers nor jeers; the surroundings were strangely hushed. However, from what I could glimpse through the gap in the door, everyone’s attention was fixed solely on them.
Taking advantage of the moment when everyone’s eyes were focused on the two walking, led by security personnel, I quietly slipped out of the carriage and headed for the workspace.
"Over here!"
I joined the field manager dispatched from the Town Office and confirmed the task.
"What about the transport carriages?"
"Five are waiting along the road."
"Ah... I don't think that will be enough for the wood scraps alone. Considering we'll be turning the debris into stone blocks, could you increase the number?"
"It's possible to request more, but won't you be able to make it in time by swapping them out as soon as loading is finished? I heard you’d be sorting the debris into wood and stone before loading..."
"I'll be using a method that’s a bit out of the ordinary, so the efficiency will be much higher. If possible, I'd like you to line up the carriages in a row along the debris."
"I-I understand. It would be a problem if we blocked traffic, so I'll handle the restrictions as well... I think it will be around the time the Duke finishes his visit, but I'll make it happen."
"Thank you. I appreciate it."
After finishing our detailed meeting, everything was set. I was on standby until the Duke and Madam arrived. While I was waiting and confirming the work procedure...
"U-Um, excuse me."
"Eh?"
A small voice called out from behind. I’d noticed some unfamiliar children watching me for a while, but I didn't think they’d actually speak to me.
Looking back, there were five children. Four of them were smaller than me, and the youngest looked about five years old. One middle-school-aged boy was mixed in with them, perhaps tasked with looking after them. I felt like this had happened before...
Based on the direction of the voice, I think the older boy was the one who had spoken, but he was restlessly scanning our surroundings.
"Yes? Is there something I can do for you?"
"Yeah! This!"
When I replied, the boy standing closest was the one who answered. In both hands, which he thrust forward, was something resembling a snowman without a face or decorations.
"Is this... for me?"
"Yeah! Thank you for helping me!"
"Helping... ah!?"
It was then that I finally realized. The boy in front of me was the child I’d rescued from the kidnappers the other day.
"Oh, you’re from that time... you’ve recovered well."
"Yeah! When I woke up, my mom and dad were there!"
"The kid heard about you from his parents and said he wanted to thank you," the older boy explained.
"I see... thank you. Then, I’ll gratefully—eh?"
If it was a thank-you gift, I would take it gladly. But as I reached out my hand, the snowman moved. It wasn't that the child holding it moved his hands; the snowman itself moved. To be more precise, the upper section—the part above the "neck"—shifted as if to dodge my hand. Could this be...
"Ah, you can't!"
"This one hates being touched by hands—"
"If you try to touch it directly, it’ll run away!"
Hearing the other children’s warnings, I was almost certain. I used Monster Appraisal to confirm...
"Snow Slime" Skills: Flight Lv1, Cold Retention Lv3, Weight Reduction Lv10, Absorption Lv1, Division Lv3
"A slime! And it’s a snow variant, not ice! I’ve never seen this kind before!"
"Apparently he found it while playing in the snow. Then, he heard you liked slimes and wouldn't listen until we brought it here to give to you."
"No, no, no! There’s absolutely no need to look so apologetic! I’m very happy! Thank you very much!"
"O-Oh... you really do love slimes, don't you..."
I thanked the older boy—who was still scanning for trouble—as well as the other children, and formed a contract with the Snow Slime. Since the Snow Slime would likely be weak to heat, just like an Ice Slime, I used magic and debris to fashion an impromptu cold box.
I never expected to encounter a new slime species at a time like this. In nature, it seemed similar to an Ice Slime, but what made them different? What had caused the evolutionary split? It probably wasn't just moisture and temperature.
While I was pondering this...
"Oh? Have you made some friends?"
"You look like you’re having fun, Ryoma-kun."
"Ah, welcome back! Thank you for your hard work!"
Reinhardt-san and the Madam had arrived earlier than scheduled. Moreover, behind them, with security personnel in between, a crowd of townspeople was pressing in. The children who had given me the slime looked troubled, and the older boy had turned pale.
"Ahem, excuse me. The other day, by chance, I ended up helping this boy here, and these are the good children who came to say thank you. Furthermore, they discovered a rare High-tier Species of slime and gave it to me. I don't yet know what research on this slime will yield, but it is undoubtedly a precious sample and will be a great help to my work."
"Fufu, I see. If it helps Ryoma-kun’s research, then in the long run, it may benefit the Ducal House and the territory as well," Reinhardt-san said with a warm smile, which finally brought smiles to the boys' faces. Only the eldest was still bowing repeatedly like a toy bird. He wasn't being scolded, but it would probably be best for his nerves to let him go. Since the Duke was here, I had a job to do...
"Your Grace, shall we begin?"
"I don't mean to rush you, but if you’re ready, I’d like to see you start. Let’s get these children to a safe place first."
"Yes, sir! Come along, children, this way."
Following Reinhardt-san’s instruction, one of the security guards politely led the boys away.
I looked toward the road facing the debris-filled lot, and as I’d requested, about ten carriages were lined up in a row. When I asked the field manager if I could start removing the debris, he gave the okay immediately. In fact, he looked like he thought making the Duke wait even a second longer was a capital offense.
"Well then, I shall begin."
My task today was to clear the remaining debris. I could have cleared it all at once using Slime Magic, but today I was going to use a different method.
"『Dimension Home』"
Out of the familiar Space Magic portal emerged a thick, long, translucent tentacle. The people watching nearby stirred at the sheer size of it. Against that backdrop of murmurs, the "Emperor Scavenger Slime"—a collective of 10,000 Scavenger Slimes—revealed its full, massive form.
"I-It’s huge!"
"What kind of monster is that...?"
"Mama! Look at the giant slime!"
"Goodness. I didn't know slimes could get that big."
"Where do you even catch something like that?"
"Don't ask me. But for that boy, it wouldn't be strange for him to have a rare slime like that."
"...That’s true."
...I wondered why, despite being surprised, they all seemed to reach a strange sense of acceptance.
Oh well, I’d already achieved half of today’s goal.
Even when compressed to its limit, the Emperor Scavenger Slime was a sphere with a radius of about three meters. Since a standard small room is roughly three meters per side, its volume was effectively equal to about four rooms. In a normal life, one would never lay eyes on a slime of this scale.
That was exactly why its appearance left such an impact on everyone watching.
To avoid future headaches, I had to make the public aware that I had officially become a technician for the Ducal House. However, even if age wasn't a factor in the requirements, I was clearly very young. There was a good chance people would suspect favoritism.
Therefore, it was decided that I would demonstrate my qualifications in a "form that is easy for anyone to understand." For that purpose, I decided to lift the ban on my "combined slimes," which I’d previously kept hidden from the public eye.
This was, so to speak, my public debut as a technician. Of course, I had to perform the actual work flawlessly; I had to clearly show how useful I could be.
"Now, I will begin! I’ll start by loading the timber first, so the coachman in charge of the lead carriage, please get ready!"
After calling out to the transport team, I issued instructions to the slime.
The Emperor Scavenger Slime responded by expanding its already giant body even further, spreading itself over the entire debris-strewn lot.
"Now, it’s a general perception that slimes are weak, and that is often a fact. However, even a small slime can lift light objects, and when they reach this massive size, as you can see, they can easily lift heavy debris and timber.
Furthermore, while slimes lack sensory organs like eyes or ears, they possess a high capacity for perceiving external information and distinguishing objects. For instance—"
Debris of all sizes was pulled into the giant slime’s body, sorted in an instant, and then spat out from the tips of extended tentacles. Stone materials used for walls remained wrapped within the slime’s body and were piled up near me, while timber fragments were lined up neatly onto the cargo beds of the waiting carriages.
It was like watching a heavy machine equipped with a conveyor belt. Even in a world with magic, it was rare to see debris cleared with this kind of efficiency. The coachmen, who had been relaxing and thinking their work wouldn't start for a while, were suddenly scrambling.
I felt a little bad, but I had the slime speed up even more.
At this point, I shared the Emperor’s vision. Accurately pinpointing the locations and shapes of the remaining rubble, I cast Earth Magic.
"『Create Block』"
Massive amounts of debris turned into uniform stone blocks and were immediately absorbed into the slime’s body.
"I’ll be processing the stone materials simultaneously, so please be ready to receive them!"
As soon as one pile of debris vanished, the next was already being processed. Whenever rubble accumulated, I used magic to turn it into stone. Meanwhile, the transport carriages were being filled to capacity with either wood or stone, and the lumber wholesaler site was cleared before our very eyes.
Watching it must have been satisfying. The murmurs from the crowd were gradually turning into cheers.
One hour later.
"Whew..."
"Good work, Ryoma-kun."
"You must be exhausted. Here, have something to drink."
"Thank you. The physical fatigue and mana consumption aren't that bad, but I was still a bit nervous. There were so many people watching, after all."
According to the initial briefing, the debris of two large buildings had remained, but the actual work had finished in about thirty minutes. However, as I’d feared, there weren't enough carriages, which caused a thirty-minute delay as we waited for more. Being the center of attention during that entire time was the hard part.
How should I put it? Perhaps because it was now public that I was a technician, the way people looked at me was clearly different from before. It wasn't a bad impression—not like malice or hostility—but it was... itchy, in a way.
"I'm sorry, but it’s only for today, so please bear with it," Reinhardt-san said.
"It’s fine. It’s to prevent trouble later, after all."
"Don't be so determined to suffer. More importantly, let’s eat a good meal and do our best this afternoon. The shop we’re going to now is also one of yours, isn't it, Ryoma-kun?"
"Yes, but... are you really going there?"
Since it was lunchtime, I was to eat out with the two of them... but I’d assumed we’d go to a high-end restaurant like the one I’d visited with Oresto-san. Instead, the two of them actually intended to go to "Workers' Ally," the budget diner I’d established.
True to its name, the diner’s motto was "cheap, fast, and filling," with a very wallet-friendly menu. It wasn't that the food was bad, but I definitely didn't think it was the kind of place nobles—especially the Duke and Madam—should be visiting.
"This is an inspection too, you know. It’s important to see what the townspeople eat on a daily basis."
"Besides, we spent some time as adventurers ourselves. We used to visit town taverns quite often back then."
"Now that you mention it, I have heard stories about that."
It was a bit late to realize it, but the Jamil family were all quite approachable for nobles. Perhaps that was why they didn't seem like typical aristocrats, in the best way possible.
"Exactly. I told you before that our family has a tradition of making us travel alone when we come of age, didn't I? It’s to understand how our people live. History is full of stories about leaders who failed to understand their people’s feelings, leading to armed uprisings."
"I have heard that, yes."
"If we were seen eating an elegant meal at a luxury restaurant while the city is struggling, what would people think? Even if they understand the logic, it wouldn't sit well with them emotionally," the Madam explained.
"I suppose you’re right."
"Even nobles don't eat grand meals every single day. Besides, we want to savor our meal at a relaxed pace, so a normal shop is perfect. So, what’s the popular dish at this place?"
"Um... my personal recommendations are the Sprint Rabbit Nikujaga, the Potato Salad, and a stir-fry made with Goblin Grass, eggs, sausage, and tofu. Would those be alright?"
I focused on keeping prices low, but I couldn't run a healthy business by just lowering prices at the expense of profit, and there were many other competing restaurants. If I sold the same things as everyone else but cheaper, it would be a nuisance to other shops... so, I differentiated my diner by using ingredients that were perfectly legal but not commonly eaten, which helped cut costs.
For example, Goblin Grass was a plant about the size of okra that looked like bitter melon. The taste was also similar—quite bitter—so while it was edible, few people chose to eat it.
Its name supposedly came from either its high nutritional value, its association with scavenge habits, or the fact that Goblins liked to eat it. Others said it gave you vitality if you ate it. ...In more vulgar circles, it was sometimes called a "Goblin’s 'thing.'"
"I ate it a few times during my adventurer days, so I know it’s safe. As for the taste... well, that depends on the cook."
"If anything, I'm not entirely sure what this... tofu? is," Reinhardt-san admitted.
"Tofu is a processed bean product. You crush and squeeze beans to get their juice, then add a solidifying agent to make it firm. I learned how to make it in a village in the Fatma Territory."
Learning how to make tofu had been incredibly useful; I could use soybeans to make tofu, okara, or kinako. There had also been a fish-based seasoning similar to soy sauce there, so I wondered if a Japanese otherworlder had lived there in the past.
"...The journey to the Fatma Territory was certainly fruitful, then."
"? Yes, I believe it was a very good experience."
I wondered why the topic had suddenly shifted, but Reinhardt-san was looking at me with a warm, supportive smile.
"Um, did I say something strange?"
"No, not at all. I was just thinking that you’re fine exactly as you are."
"I agree. I think you’re wonderful just the way you are, too," the Madam added.
I didn't quite catch their meaning, but she seemed to understand his intent.
"Ryoma-kun, you might not notice it yourself, but you looked like you were having so much fun. It’s not quite the level of when you talk about slimes, but you always look so happy whenever you talk about the things you saw or the knowledge you gained."
"It’s true that I’ve always enjoyed investigating and experimenting with things."
"And that’s how it should be. You should continue to see and learn about this world as you please. That will surely become your strength, and in turn, it will help us as well."
"That’s right. ...Oh, looks like we’re almost there."
The carriage began to slow down, and cheerful voices filtered in from outside. Since it was lunchtime, the diner seemed to be doing a brisk business. Looking out the window, I could see a line of customers stretching out the door. In the bustling diner, I saw the smiles of the townspeople.
The city and its people had been deeply wounded. Even so, they were looking forward. Neither in the heart of the city nor among the people at the temporary housing had I seen a single person sitting by the road in tears. Everyone was fighting for their own tomorrow in their own way, and the city was already regaining its vitality.
It wouldn't take long for the city to return to the way it was before. I wasn't a god, so I couldn't know the future, but I had a strong feeling.
...If I could live my life as I pleased while being of help to the city and to everyone else... If I could continue to do that, it would be the greatest happiness I could ask for.
Wishing for that from the bottom of my heart, I intended to keep walking this life together with everyone.