Once we finished verifying my credentials at the Adventurer Guild, we walked through the twilight streets and returned to our inn. From there, we each set about preparing for the next day's exploration.
Since I was permitted to stay in the servant's quarters attached to the noble suite, I followed Lord Reinbach back to his room. He handed his coat to Sebas and settled onto a sofa, letting out a small sigh.
"Quite a bit happened today, but I am glad everything went smoothly," he said.
"As am I. Thanks to you, the business at the guild wrapped up quickly. Now I can use my guild card without any worries."
Being flanked by Lord Reinbach—the former head of a Ducal House—as well as Siber, a former Knight Commander, and Remily, a former Court Mage, meant I was accompanied by three individuals who each warranted VIP treatment in their own right. It was a world away from the treatment I’d received at the other guild branch; here, the reception had been incredibly polite. It felt a little awkward, but the card verification was handled instantly. The results were clean: C-rank, no suspicious notes, and no hidden traps.
"For something of this magnitude, you can count on my support whenever you need it," Reinbach said. "As I told you before our match, Ryoma-kun, we owe you a great debt. This wasn't nearly enough to repay it, and I actually wish to thank you for something else as well."
"Something other than the matter regarding the end of the year?"
"Indeed. Thank you for sparring with Siber. To be honest, he has been heartsick for quite some time. Aging certainly played a part, but more than that, I think the suffocating days of paperwork simply didn't suit him. Since he became Knight Commander—especially these past few years—he seemed to grow weaker every time we met. But thanks to your match, his old vigor has returned. I never expected him to register as an adventurer on a whim, though. That man has always been one for extremes."
"I was quite surprised myself," I admitted.
None of us had anticipated that Siber would decide to become an adventurer then and there. Since it was so sudden, there was some talk of him returning to the Knight Order instead, but he had stood his ground. He argued that since he had resigned over everyone's objections, it would be selfish to ask for his job back now. He felt that as a man past his prime, he should spend his remaining years helping people as an adventurer. While I was occupied with my card, he had already finished his registration. He was granted Provisional A-rank, with a path to S-rank all but guaranteed. He’d been willing to start at F-rank, but the Guild Master of Teressa had practically prostrated himself, insisting they couldn't rank a legendary commander any lower.
"I’m just glad I could be of help," I said. "The match also helped me realize my own lack of experience, so I’m grateful as well."
"If it was beneficial for you too, then all the better. But that is that, and this is this. If you have any trouble in the future, please do not hesitate to reach out. I won't claim I can do everything, but I can do a fair amount. At the very least, I can offer counsel."
"Yes, I certainly will."
Reinbach nodded with satisfaction, then turned a worried eye toward me. "And how is your health? You did lose some blood during the match, even if it was only a little."
"It shouldn't be a concern. Ms. Remily closed the wounds instantly, so I'm just a bit tired. After some blood-replenisher and a night's rest, I'll be fine."
"I’m glad to hear it. I’ve already arranged for a hot bath, so you should head in first once it’s ready. Until then, feel free to rest in the next room."
"Thank you. I’ll take you up on that."
With a polite bow, I excused myself. Tomorrow, we would head for the undead-infested Town of Ghosts. I needed to get into the best possible condition.
The next day.
I left the city with Lord Reinbach's group in the morning, and we began the long trek through the western canyon.
Torel Canyon was a natural maze formed over many years. If one continued straight west, they would reach the national border via a wide, well-maintained highway. However, the Town of Ghosts lay to the northwest of Teressa. To get there, we had to veer off the highway and into a narrow valley flanked by towering cliffs.
In a straight line, it wasn't particularly far to our destination. However, the path was complex, full of branches and steep inclines. For now, we were just walking, but we were told we’d eventually need to descend cliffs with ropes. Depending on the state of the road, we might even need to take a detour, so we expected the journey to take two days.
Fortunately, Siber knew this canyon well and had volunteered to be our guide. Torel Canyon and the Town of Ghosts were frequently used for marching drills for rookie knights, and he had visited many times throughout his career.
"If we walk a bit further, we should reach a wider area," Siber called out. "It's a bit early for lunch, but the road gets rougher after that spot, so let's take a long break there."
"Understood," I replied.
"Indeed," Reinbach added. "By the way, Ryoma, your equipment today is quite different from yesterday's. It doesn't look like a ready-made product. Is it custom?"
"Yes. My side business is doing well, so I've been commissioning equipment development using slime materials as a sort of practical hobby."
I had been commissioning slime gear through Darson at Tigger's Weapons and Armor Shop for a while, but the research had ramped up significantly this spring. One reason was the new variety of slime threads available. Beyond Sticky Slime silk, I now had Fiber Slimes that could melt and reshape materials, Spider Slimes that produced tough, elastic silk, and Wire Slimes that could transform their bodies into metallic thread.
Another reason was my appointment as a Ducal House Technician. The craftsmen I’d been working with were now officially my research collaborators. In fact, the entire armor workshop had become my exclusive employees. They’d explained that they preferred working for me because the pay was better and the technical challenges were more rewarding than competing in the stagnant mass market.
"The set I’m wearing now is the result of that partnership. It's a form of Cloth Armor," I explained. "It's based on Spider Slime silk, which is incredibly strong yet flexible and elastic. I prioritized ease of movement."
The Spider Slime base was sturdy enough to serve as work clothes on its own and didn't hinder my joints. When describing the concept to the craftsmen, I’d compared it to an athletic "jersey," and they had taken that quite literally. I’d also layered in "Blade-resistant Cushioning Material"—woven Sticky Slime thread and padding—at key points. My experiments showed it could stop blades and close-range arrows even without magic reinforcement.
"I see," Siber remarked. "I thought you weren't wearing a breastplate today because I’d broken your old one."
"Actually, it was just a good opportunity to switch. I’m a bit frugal, so I usually wait until gear is falling apart before I upgrade... Oh, I also have vest and coat attachments I can wear over this if necessary."
Those attachments could be fitted with plates made of a "Glass Fiber Reinforced Plastic" composite—glass thread created by Fiber Slimes mixed with hardening fluid. I’d discovered that Fiber Slimes could melt and reshape almost anything, including metal, into thread-like strands.
"Even if it takes continuous attacks, it won't be pierced easily. In my tests, it could withstand a single blow from a C-rank beast without being penetrated."
"Not bad at all for light gear," Remily said, sounding intrigued. "I can see you move easily in it. Can I buy some too?"
"I’m not selling it publicly yet, but I can certainly provide some for you. You're a friend of Lord Reinbach, and your credit as a former Court Mage is more than enough. I’ve only been able to get feedback from a male perspective so far, so I’d really appreciate your opinion."
"Then I’ll take you up on that. Since Siber-chan is becoming an adventurer, I figured I’d join him so he doesn't have to be a lonely old man."
"I admit I'm getting on in years, but—" Siber started to protest.
Remily silenced him with a look that could kill. I felt a chill even though I wasn't the target.
"—Urgh! Anyway, I see it. Let's rest up ahead." Siber cleared his throat and pointed toward the end of the valley. We emerged into a wide, circular clearing that looked like a crater, surrounded by smooth cliffs.
"It’s wider than I expected," I noted. "It looks like people have maintained it."
"The Knight Order uses this spot for camping during drills," Siber explained. "It's not officially managed, but decades of use have made it orderly. Torel Canyon was actually a massive magic experimental site in ancient times, and the Town of Ghosts was originally a prison and execution ground. There are many places here shaped by human hands."
"I see... Um, everyone, may I bring out my tamed monsters? I’d like to let them stretch their legs, and they can help prepare lunch while I show Ms. Remily the armor."
"I don't mind," Siber said. "Monsters get stifled if they're kept inside all the time."
With their permission, I opened my Dimension Home. I’d done this many times, so I expected my monsters to come out ready to work. The first to emerge was the Emperor Scavenger Slime.
"Nuo!?" Siber jumped back.
"What in the world is that...?" Remily stared.
Reinbach and Sebas, who were used to my antics, weren't as shocked. I briefly explained that the Emperor Scavenger was a collective of ten thousand slimes.
"I saw you with a lot of slimes yesterday, but... ten thousand?" Siber muttered.
"I’ve never seen anything like this in my life," Remily added.
While they were processing the massive slime, my Goblins began filing out behind it. They were dressed in clean clothes and carried tools and supplies, looking nothing like their wild counterparts.
"What is the matter?" I asked when I noticed the group staring again.
"Well... this also went a bit beyond my expectations," Reinbach said, speaking for the group. "Goblin packs are strictly hierarchical. The leader hoards the food, meaning the lower ranks are usually thin and weak. You can usually judge a goblin's strength just by its physique. But your Goblins... they all look remarkably robust. It's clear they're eating very well."
"They eat about as much as a human," I explained. "And I give them Nutritional Supplements for their development. I was curious to see how it would affect them."
"I see. And the Hobgoblins over there... physically, they’re on par with Goblin Knights. Tell me frankly, Ryoma-kun—do they ever rebel?"
"They have," I admitted.
The first time was shortly after the first cycle of births. The new Goblins reached adulthood rapidly and tried to gang up on me. My original eight were loyal, but they were outnumbered.
"I intentionally showed an opening and let them attack, then I beat them all into submission. Now, I'm at the very top of their hierarchy."
"I suppose someone who can trade blows with Siber wouldn't lose to a few young goblins," Reinbach mused. "So you established your dominance through power."
"Yes. Here, I'll show you." I sent a command through Taming Magic for them to leave the guests alone.
"Gobbu!" "Gigih!"
The Goblins immediately saluted or nodded toward me before setting to work on lunch. They didn't understand human speech, but their body language was unmistakable.
"As you can see, I have a firm grip on them," I said. "I’ve seen how fast they breed, so I’m very careful."
"I see... It seems my concern was unneeded," Reinbach said with a gentle, slightly wistful smile. "You really don't act like a child, Ryoma-kun. It feels as if I'm speaking to another adult."
I wasn't quite sure how to answer that. I simply turned my eyes toward the Goblins as they began to cook.