“Mmm... this flavor, this aroma—it’s as if it were freshly prepared in the city. I can hardly believe this is preserved food. Furthermore, to be able to eat it in such a short time just by boiling the bag... it’s perfectly suited for both camping and marching. Had I known about this back in my heyday, I certainly would have negotiated to have the knighthood and the army adopt it!”
Once the Goblins finished preparing lunch and I presented the heated retort rations, Siber was the one who bit into the topic with particular intensity.
“Siber-chan, I understand how you feel, but you’re getting a bit too worked up,” Remily teased.
“Still, being able to eat a proper meal outdoors on such short notice is a massive advantage,” Reinbach added.
“This freeze-dried soup is the same,” I said. “You just pour hot water over it and it’s ready. It’s obviously great for adventurers, but I’m sure it would make excellent military rations as well.”
“Ryoma, do you have plans to sell this? If you do, I’d like to buy some, even if the price is a bit steep,” Siber asked.
“I’m glad you like it, but regarding these preserved foods, I’ve already shared the manufacturing process with the current head of the Jamil Ducal House, Master Reinhardt. I’ve entrusted everything to him.”
“Mmm... I see... indeed, considering how useful this is, it’s likely too much for an individual without a noble title to handle alone.”
“If you didn’t have a backer, there’s no doubt some foolish noble would come after you for it,” Remily said. “I think you made a good call. Ah, this is really delicious. Even so, slimes are surprisingly useful, aren't they?”
After muttering that, Remily suddenly fell silent, appearing lost in thought. She was still eating, so it didn't seem like the taste was the problem. I wondered what was on her mind.
“What’s the matter? You’ve gone quiet all of a sudden,” Reinbach noted.
“Hmm, hearing Ryoma talk about slimes made me realize what a waste things are. I heard from an acquaintance in the Royal Capital a little while ago that the Slime Research Room at the Royal Monster Research Institute is going to be closed down.”
“What? Is that true?” I asked.
The Monster Research Institute in the capital—if I recalled correctly, that was where Koken had worked before he came to my shop.
“What? Hadn’t you heard from Reinhardt?” Reinbach asked.
“I haven’t heard anything specific about the Royal Capital... I knew from a former researcher that the Slime Research Room was being neglected, but this is the first I’ve heard of it actually closing.”
“In that case, do you know that sightings of monsters and the damage they cause have been on the rise over the last few years?” Remily asked.
“Only as a rumor.”
“According to the records, there have been several periods in the past where monster populations spiked and caused significant damage, so the country's upper echelons are on high alert. There are many vital resources in war, but ‘information’ is at the top of the list, right? If the enemy is a monster, you need information on monsters. There’s a chance that subspecies or new species with unusual traits will increase too, so that’s when they rely on monster researchers and the Royal Monster Research Institute where they all gather. The workload for researchers is only going to increase from here on out, so the institute's management decided they should cut off low-priority research while they can and concentrate their funds and materials elsewhere. At least, that’s how they judged it.”
The suggestive tone in her voice was concerning, but I was more worried about what would happen to the researchers themselves.
“What will happen to the people who were in the Slime Research Room?”
“There’s no need to worry,” Reinbach assured me. “The Jamil family has agreed to take in and look after any of the dismissed researchers who wish for it.”
“Is that so!?”
“Yes,” Sebas added. “Apparently, His Majesty the King made a direct suggestion before the decision to close was finalized. I was involved in some of the arrangements, but since the Master said he intended to let them continue their slime research in the ducal territory, we naturally assumed they would be placed under your command, Ryoma-sama.”
“Entrusting the slime research to them...”
Hearing Sebas's words, one possibility came to mind.
It was something that had come up when I was meeting with Reinhardt to discuss the future after I was appointed as a technician. He had taken an interest in the food production base I was using and mentioned creating a new agricultural village to verify its effectiveness.
The purpose was twofold. First, it would serve as an experimental site to see if the Slime Farming Method was viable for people other than me and to objectively evaluate its results. Second, the Jamil family would buy all the resulting crops to bolster their stockpiles for emergency food aid.
Since they were looking at everything from processing preserved foods to building factories, expansion was almost guaranteed. For that reason, the plan was to leave the village’s creation and management to a third party so that I wouldn't be directly involved.
As far as I was concerned, it was a good deal as long as I could continue moving freely, so I had agreed... but the real reason Reinhardt made that proposal might have been because of the King’s suggestion. Since it involved a deal with royalty, there were likely things he couldn't just talk about.
“The cost-effectiveness is a concern, but it would certainly be reassuring to have a village specializing in relief supplies using the manufacturing methods for these preserved foods,” Sebas remarked.
“If someone needs to be the face of that project, it’ll be much easier to move things forward with a researcher from the Royal Capital than with a young boy like Ryoma,” Reinbach added.
“Another possibility is that the researchers they’re taking in are, for whatever reason, ‘people who were kicked out of the institute.’ Maybe they’re taking them in but keeping them under observation for a while?” Remily suggested.
“It’s a pity they were treated poorly, but we don't know their current character,” Siber said. “Some might be desperate with nowhere to go, while others might be too impatient for success. If we were to let people like that meet Ryoma immediately, there’s no telling if they might give in to temptation.”
As he spoke, Siber looked toward my equipment, including the preserved food and the Field Cooker. The three veterans and I all agreed with his logic.
“It would be a lie to say there’s no risk, but managing such things is where a lord shows his true skill. The researchers have been given a job and a chance to start over. The rest depends on Reinhardt and their own efforts,” Reinbach concluded.
“I suppose you're right.”
One of the perks of the Slime Farming Method is that it’s easy to secure farmland. Just like I did in the middle of Gimul, all you need is a large warehouse or two to start producing food and preserved goods even within a city.
The Jamil family should have no trouble finding trustworthy personnel, and since magic exists in this world, they could set up a decent living environment relatively quickly even in a brand-new settlement. I hoped they would succeed.
On a separate note, there was one more thing I was curious about.
“By the way... what kind of person is His Majesty the King? If you don't mind telling me, I'd like to know.”
King Elias de Reefaul... I only knew his name. But since my information had likely reached him through Yudam, and since this recent matter involved him, I wanted to know what kind of personality he had.
When I explained my reasons, everyone except Remily hesitated for a moment.
“If you’re worried about Elias-chan, I think you’re fine,” she said. “He’s a bit unconventional for royalty, but he’s a reasonable boy.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, there’s no doubt about that,” Siber confirmed. “He makes tough decisions as a King, but he isn’t heartless. He’s known about the unfair treatment of the Slime Research Room for a while and was quite resentful, saying, ‘Grown men shouldn't be doing such ridiculous things.’ Besides, the staff at the Royal Institute are the ‘brains of the country.’ The slime researchers should be talented individuals in their own right. This move was likely a desperate measure to clear the air.”
“Even if he hadn't fired them and had just moved them to another lab, there was no guarantee their treatment would have changed,” Remily added. “If he thought the same neglect would continue in secret, he probably figured it was better for the researchers and the country to just separate them and let them research in a new environment.”
“And if that research proves valuable, the country can still access that technology through the Jamil family,” Sebas noted. “The Court Nobles won't like it, but His Majesty isn't afraid to make bold decisions when necessary.”
“If His Majesty had been gathering information through the son of the Verdure family, then he almost certainly factored you into his plans, Ryoma,” Reinbach said. “But now that you’ve officially become a technician for our house, he won't issue unreasonable orders over Reinhardt’s head. Disregarding the rights of a noble just because he’s royalty would only damage his own reputation and that of the Crown. He isn't the type to ignore those kinds of consequences.”
Reinbach laughed as he spoke. The others, while choosing their words more carefully than Remily, all agreed that there shouldn't be a problem. That was a relief.
“I understand. In that case, I'll consult you if anything comes up.”
“My, you’re quite casual about it. Is that all you wanted to know?” Remily asked.
“It would be a lie to say I’m not curious, but knowing he isn't an unreasonable person is enough for me. I expected that information about the New Year's events would leak eventually, and since I’ve entrusted the handling of it to the Jamil family, I’m fine with whatever they decide. I trust them enough to feel that way.”
When I answered with a smile, the others smiled back.
That peaceful moment was interrupted by a cry from the distant sky. The Goblins, hearing a high-pitched, crow-like screech, immediately signaled an alert. The Goblins who had been eating stood up, and several reached for their weapons.
“Those are Harris Crows,” Remily said. “They must have been drawn by the smell of our food.”
“Most likely. Ah, there’s no need to take them seriously,” Siber said. “Their numbers are large, but they’re weak individually and quite cowardly. They’ll flee if you just scare them a bit. Watch.”
I had been quieting the Goblins and preparing to use magic myself. However, Siber stopped me and chanted, “Tornado.” A powerful vortex of wind spiraled up from his hand toward the sky, scattering the twenty or so birds that were closing in. He didn't seem to do much damage, but the flock of Harris Crows dispersed and fled as fast as their wings could carry them.
“It’s a hassle if you actually try to kill them all. This is faster and saves on mana and stamina,” Siber explained.
“Thank you, Siber-san.”
“Think nothing of it. I can handle any number of those pests. Yesterday reminded me that I’ve still got plenty of fight left in me! Hahaha!”
...Siber certainly seemed different today.
“Siber, don't get carried away and overexert yourself,” Reinbach warned. “Your spirit might feel young, but you’ve definitely aged. We can't move like we used to, and we might not be able to bail you out if you get into trouble.”
“I know that. But I’m not going to lose to birds of that level.”
“Good grief, you’re so flighty. You’ve been simple-minded since we were kids—”
“Look who’s talking! You were the one who used to charge in without thinking—”
Siber seemed a lot more energetic, almost cheerful... but then he and Reinbach started bickering again. Still, it wasn't a hostile atmosphere. Sebas and Remily had already gone back to their meals as if nothing had happened; they truly must have known each other for a long time.
I felt a little envious that they could still have a relationship like that even as they get older.