The next morning, I returned to Gimul after wrapping up the inspection of the Experiment Ground. Standing on the plains, I saw the familiar town to my left and the new town to my right, where construction had progressed significantly. Watching the steady stream of people traveling between the two made it truly feel like I had come home.
I couldn't just stand there forever, though.
"Sorry to keep you waiting—we’ve arrived," I announced.
"It’s only been a few minutes. That hardly counts as waiting," Jeff replied.
"Space Magic really is convenient, isn't it? I wish I could learn it too," Yudum added.
Since Sebas and Master Rosenberg had parted ways with us at the Experiment Ground to head for the Ducal House, I had been the one to transport the rest of the group. Because there were so many people, I’d had them wait inside my Dimension Home for the trip, making me feel a bit like a shuttle bus driver.
"By the way, were there any problems inside? My tamed monsters were in there as well," I asked.
"Nothing happened at all. We weren't in there that long to begin with, and your monsters are very well-behaved, Boss," Miya replied. "The monster cub from the Sea of Trees was especially adorable, nyan."
"Yes, she was quite friendly, wasn't she?" another added.
The "cub" Miya and the others were talking about was Lino, the young Cannonball Rhino I had rescued in the Shulls Great Forest.
I had brought her back in my Dimension Home when I left the Sea of Trees. When I’d consulted Taylor, the branch master of the Gimul Tamer Guild, about how to raise her, he’d offered some sound advice.
"I’m sorry, but there is almost no information regarding Cannonball Rhinos," he’d told me. "They are monsters that essentially never leave the depths of the Sea of Trees, so capturing one alive and bringing it out of the forest is difficult to begin with. It’s not as if stray individuals haven't appeared in the past, so information isn't nonexistent, but I won't know the details until I look into it myself. For now, the best thing to do is to let her acclimate to the environment inside your Dimension Home. Sudden environmental changes cause anxiety for both humans and monsters, which often leads to health issues. You might want to take her outside or show her around, but I recommend waiting until she firmly recognizes the Dimension Home as a safe zone."
Following his advice, I’d kept her inside the Dimension Home except for essential business or brief changes of pace.
Thinking back, most of the monsters I had contracted with so far—the highly adaptable Slimes, the migratory Rimur Birds, and the stubbornly resilient Goblins—were naturally strong against environmental changes. This was a good reminder of the importance of the adaptation process, which I’d nearly forgotten.
I felt like I’d put some thought into it when I contracted with the Clever Chickens, but those guys were incredibly vocal about their comfort. If they were too cold in the winter or too hot in the summer, they complained until improvements were made. Eventually, they decided that the constant temperature inside the Dimension Home was the peak of luxury. Now they spent their days in their private quarters, eating, sleeping, and indulging in board games like a bunch of feathered shut-ins. In a way, they were thick-skinned—or perhaps they just had a different kind of high adaptability. I’d have to make sure to thank Kohaku, their long-suffering buffer, again later.
"If she wasn't intimidated by Miya and the others, it might be the right time to start letting her outside more often," I noted.
"She could probably run around if she wanted to, but there are other monsters in there too. Given how energetic she is, I think it’s starting to feel a bit cramped for her, so that would be for the best, nyan," Miya agreed.
"I’ll try it out while consulting with the Tamer Guild."
"Alright, let's get moving," Jeff said, already walking toward the gates. "There's no point in standing around chatting here."
We followed Jeff into town and headed straight for the Adventurer Guild. Once everyone had finished reporting the completion of the guard request, the group disbanded. Only Yudum, Eleonora, and I remained in front of the guild.
"Well, what should we do now? We didn't really decide on a plan for after we got back," I said.
"If it's no trouble, I would like to report to Master Caulm and continue the handover of duties, though that depends on his schedule," Eleonora replied. "What about you, Master Takebayashi?"
"If there's no urgent business, I think I’ll start preparing for my next trip to the Sea of Trees. I want to keep the time Kormi is left alone as short as possible. Even though I can travel back and forth easily with Space Magic, I still need to restock supplies. I’ll have the Goblins help me with preserved food and insect repellent, so I’ll let them rest today and start that tomorrow. For today, I’ll take a break too. I might walk around and visit some people who could help produce the Incense Sticks and Misangas."
When I mentioned my plan, Eleonora offered to accompany me as a matter of course, and Yudum followed suit. I had no reason to refuse, so the three of us took a leisurely walk through town. Our first stop was an alley near the slum district.
"I believe it was around here... Ah, there he is."
"Well, well? If it isn't the boss. What brings you to a place like this with such high-class company?"
The figure sitting in the shade of the alley noticed us at the same time I spotted him. He offered a suspicious smile. Clad in his usual rags, he was the Rat-kin Information Broker I had been dealing with since the end of last year.
"This is the first time you've met Eleonora, and I hadn't formally introduced you to Yudum either," I told them. "This man is well-informed about Gimul and has many connections. He can help us with various matters."
"I just pick up handouts and gossip in various places, but I'll tell you what I know," the broker said. "Since the boss introduced you, feel free to call on me. If I'm not around here, just catch someone nearby and say you're 'looking for the Ragged Rat.' The message will find its way to me."
"Understood. My name is Eleonora," she said.
"I'm Yudum. I look forward to working with you."
After the brief introductions, I explained that I was looking for labor to manufacture Incense Sticks. He immediately offered a suggestion.
"In that case, why not talk to the Chimney Sweeps?"
"Chimney Sweeps?"
"Yeah. Boss, you're worried about the workers' health, right? You want people who can do the job while being careful not to inhale fine wood dust. And if they can supervise the kids who’ll be making the incense from that dust, that’s even better. Every Chimney Sweep knows that breathing in ash and soot makes you sick—it's common sense in their line of work. They’re already used to working while being careful not to breathe the stuff in. I think they’ll find it easy to understand your concerns. Plus, because of the nature of their work, they often need children with small hands to get into narrow spaces, so they're used to teaching and looking after kids. Their work is also mostly between spring and autumn. During the winter, when fireplaces are actually in use, they have almost no work, so you'll find plenty of people looking for a job."
"They sound like perfect candidates. What do you two think?" I asked my companions.
"They meet the conditions we're looking for," Eleonora agreed.
"As long as their skills are sufficient, we just need to interview them," Yudum added.
Since the two of them were satisfied, I decided to approach the local Chimney Sweeps.
"Is it a done deal then? Shall I go around and put the word out?" the broker asked.
"Actually, I’ll be away in the Sea of Trees for a while, and I still need to prepare a workspace. For now, could you just mention that I have a plan in the works? We’ll put out a formal recruitment call another time."
"Understood. Everyone knows about your generosity, Boss. People will flock to you whenever you're ready."
"I'm glad to hear that. Here, this is for your help today. I'm sorry it's just leftovers, but I hope this suffices."
I took two large bottles of Shirozake and the rest of this morning's bread from my Item Box and handed them to him. Since I was asking for both a consultation and to spread the word, I thought about giving him more, but the man's face lit up instantly.
"I’m more than grateful for this. This is plenty."
"Good. I look forward to working with you again."
"Same here. Don't be a stranger."
Once the man was paid, he immediately disappeared into the depths of the alley. His habit of not lingering for small talk was very typical of an Information Broker.
"Well, that's one step forward for the Incense Sticks," I said.
"The other ritual tools you wanted were rope and Misangas," Yudum noted. "Do you have another lead for those?"
"Regarding the rope, Jeff mentioned it isn't a job suited for the slum children, so I’m thinking of looking for slaves. I heard from the Moulton Slave Company that it's possible to rent slaves temporarily at a lower price than a purchase. People from farming backgrounds would be ideal. However, that depends on their availability, so I'll handle that after I return from the Sea of Trees next time."
"Understood. I shall prepare a letter of introduction later," Eleonora said.
She was remarkably efficient, finding and proceeding with work on her own without me even having to ask. She was a true professional.
"Thank you. As for the Misangas, I’m thinking of asking the children at the church orphanage. The older children there already sell small items they make, and even the younger ones can handle making Misangas. We don't need massive quantities right now, so I want them to work within a range that doesn't burden them. If we run short, we can always ask the slum children to help too."
I had timed our visit to the church to avoid the busy morning hours. It seemed like the right time, so we headed there next. When we spoke to Sister Belle, she agreed immediately.
"Thanks to everyone's donations, we are able to raise the children without major hardship," she said. "However, the day will eventually come for them to leave us. When that time comes, having even a little money they've earned themselves... the struggle they face in their new lives is very different depending on whether or not they have funds to start out with."
The use of donation money was strictly regulated, and the church could not provide departure funds to the children when they left the orphanage. Therefore, while the children were supported by donations during their stay, they made small crafts to save up for their futures. Near graduation, they would look for work and set out on their own with their personal savings.
Because of those circumstances, my proposal—coming from a reliable partner and involving work that was neither difficult nor dangerous—was a true blessing. Belle, who cared deeply for the children, bowed her head repeatedly in gratitude.
Afterward, the conversation turned to the purchase price for the Misangas. Yudum, who excelled at negotiation, took the lead there. I think we settled on an amount that satisfied everyone.
"I’m glad Yudum was here to help," I said afterward.
"I am also impressed by your negotiation skills, Master Verdure," Eleonora added.
"It was only because both sides were eager to reach an agreement," Yudum replied modestly. "There were almost no points of conflict. At most, you didn't want to exploit the children because you know Misangas fetch a high price as ritual tools, while Sister Belle was worried that earning too much too easily wouldn't be good for their education. It was a minor point of adjustment, really."
"Even so, I’ve seen some truly terrifying negotiations in the past," I said. "It’s a miracle some of them didn't end in blood."
"Wait, what kind of negotiations were those?" Yudum asked with a laugh.
"Anyway, it’s almost noon," I said, changing the subject. "Let's find somewhere to eat."
"That was a blatant subject change," Yudum noted. "But fair enough. I heard from a regular at the Laundry Shop that a new restaurant opened nearby. The prices are a bit high, but the food is supposed to be delicious. Want to try it?"
"That sounds great!" I said.
"I shall accompany you," Eleonora agreed.
And so, following our whims, we turned our steps toward the center of town.