Thank You, Slime*4
After that, we handed our research results over to Laperesiana-sama, and were relieved by the exchange of:
“‘Please give the candy-colored slimes a massage from time to time…’”
“‘Even without being asked, we will. The Third Knights Order will commit our full hearts and souls to the task…’”
Then we headed back to Panis Village.
On our way out, the knights of the Third Knights Order were already gathered around the candy-colored slimes, smiling as they said, “Oh, you’re so cute,” “So cute,” “So… cute…” while giving them oil massages.
The slimes looked absolutely delighted. Good for you guys. Live happily, alright!
And so, upon returning to Panis Village, we created a brand-new industry.
That was… the Slime Ranch!
“From here on, the demand for slimes is guaranteed to skyrocket…! If so, then this Panis Village, with proper facilities and the ability to cheaply raise slimes, must become the vanguard of the slime livestock industry!”
This time, we discovered an effective method of using slimes to improve agriculture.
And at the same time, it seemed like this idea could also transform into “a way to produce potions more efficiently.”
Up until now, we had only extracted water-soluble mana (not that I actually know if mana has something like water-soluble solvents), but if we began extracting with oil or slimes, we might be able to create even more incredible potions.
… And so, I heard that the researchers in the royal castle were all now scrambling to begin studies on magic that uses slimes.
Magic research hadn’t been advancing all that much until now, but everything we did to analyze “Blessings” this time apparently lit the research spirit of the scholars on fire.
Well… I am someone with knowledge from another world.
Looking at this world’s magic from that perspective, there are quite a lot of things worth poking at, so it’s easy to say “you should research here.”
But for the researchers of this world, the things that had always been there, the things they took for granted, were so unquestioned that it was hard for them to doubt them at all.
If I managed to throw a stone into those stagnant waters?
Well, that’s something to be proud of.
And so, researchers have been arriving in droves to Panis Village as well.
Apparently, our village is now known as:
“The vanguard of magic research!”
“The mysterious village where mana-rich gemstones are plentiful and slimes are everywhere!”
“There is no better environment for research!”
… So, taking advantage of the situation, I asked the researchers to donate books.
At the same time, I started a new business:
“You may present your papers and books in the Great Panis Village Library! Copies will be sold for a fee, and 20% of the profits will go directly to the researcher!”
This business model was apparently completely unfamiliar to the researchers, but… well, it’s a good opportunity.
Panis Village will take the lead in intellectual property too!
… And so, the Slime Ranch was born.
This also became a new business for adventurers.
Since we want every slime born here to be a Panis Village slime… we posted a request to adventurers saying, “Can you capture slimes from elsewhere for us?”
Originally, Panis Village’s selling point was “A monster-free dungeon, safe even for retired adventurers!”
But now, we also want to attract adventurers who can fight at least a little.
So adventurers have begun to capture slimes in places like Lisas-san’s favorite dungeon near the royal capital, or the dungeon said to be near the town of Lark—catching them, stuffing them into bags, smacking the bags every now and then, and carrying them to Panis Village to sell.
A whole system is forming.
And the slimes brought in, once wriggling and flailing, are tossed into the hot springs, massaged by the Slime Ranch staff, given delicious mana-rich water to drink…
and are reborn as glossy, plump, well-behaved, satisfied slimes.
… And the slimes produced like this are shipped to the royal capital.
There, they are treated with great care in the royal capital and the surrounding towns, as excellent cultivators who raise crops with rhythmic, squishy diligence!
… Thinking about it carefully, isn’t this less a slime ranch and more a slime welfare center? A slime rehabilitation facility? Or maybe a slime employment agency…?
Well, as this new business gradually spreads through the kingdom, the future food problem, and the escape from the church’s control, will likely progress little by little.
With this, we no longer need to rely on the church’s “Blessings.”
Laperesiana-sama will be able to act freely as well. Probably.
Now then.
While I was rearranging various parts of the village and reporting the slime research to Laperesiana-sama, one day—
“Alright, then let’s put this herb, and this herb, and this herb into the slime… and steam it!”
Today again, as part of an experiment, I began turning slimes into potions.
“Off you gooo!”
“They look kind of excited… I guess slimes really do like steam baths.”
… We’re steaming slimes stuffed with herbs, straight into their bodies.
Well, if heating works even without soaking them in water, then this is optimal.
Steam baths require bigger construction projects than normal baths, so that’s a downside…
but inside Panis Village, this is still the fastest method.
“Then for this slime, I’ll put in this herb, that herb, and that herb… and steam!”
“The slimes really have grown to like this kind of thing, huh?”
“It’s fascinating. I never imagined slimes would have preferences back when I used to explore dungeons.”
The slimes rotate into the steam baths one by one, extracting mana from the herbs inside them… and they seem to enjoy it.
Well, if the slimes are happy, that makes us happy.
It’s always better to do something the other party likes rather than something they hate.
And as a result of steaming herb-filled slimes…
“It turned into a potion!”
“Which means… this slime can heal injuries now!?”
“Exactly! A small, lower-output version, like a generic brand!”
The slime jiggled contentedly, filled with several kinds of herb-derived mana…
thus becoming a healing slime with potion-equivalent effects.
“Oh… holding it is incredibly soothing… what is this…”
When I held the herb slime, I felt healed from deep within my heart.
Amazing.
This slime is basically Edele-san!
“So inside the slime is healing mana, and the slime can use it?”
“Yeah. Or it might break the healing mana down into smaller parts and recombine it into another type of mana.
Eventually, it’ll probably do that.”
Well, for now, it’ll remain as a slime with some amount of healing mana.
Eventually, they’ll break it all down and eat it up, I think.
… Right now, this slime is holding herb-derived mana exactly as is…
“… What would happen if we grew herbs using this slime?”
“Eh… we’d get super herbs?”
Once you’re curious, there’s no choice but to try it.
“We planted herbs in a steamed slime that had eaten herbs—and it produced stronger herbs.”
“Oh… that’s impressive.”
The next day, I had in my hands herbs with absurdly high mana content!
I see.
By passing through a slime, herbs can be enhanced further.
This is like some kind of extraction machine, it’s pretty fun.
“… Where’s the limit?”
“Huh?”
“Herbs planted in herb-fed slimes planted in herb-fed slimes planted in herb-fed slimes… wouldn’t those be even stronger…?”
“Sorry, what did you just say, Asuma-sama?”
Yeah.
I need to know whether this extraction is infinite or if there’s a wall somewhere.
I’m curious, yeah, really curious.
And once I’m curious, I’m going to do it, going to do it, going to do it.
The next day.
“The herbs planted in herb-slimes planted in herb-slimes planted in herb-slimes are indeed stronger. Not quite three times the original, but about twice! Uooooooh! Romance!”
Holding the successful experiment in my hands, I let out a triumphant roar.
Passing adventurers smiled and said, “You’re energetic, huh!”
Ahh, this village is great.
“With this, we might be able to create a potion close to a World Tree Potion…”
“Well, I don’t think it’ll become a perfect substitute… The World Tree’s mana is a little special…”
Mishisia-san looked surprised but excited, poking the mana-dense herb with sparkling eyes.
As an elf who guards the World Tree, I wondered whether she might have some aversion to creating something that resembles a substitute, but fortunately, she seemed fine.
“Does this happen only with herbs? Or could we, for example, give herb mana to tomatoes?”
“Possibly. Though if it’s not mana the plant originally possesses, it may not take root properly.
Well, since we’re at it, let’s experiment…”
Lisas-san was also excited about the results.
It’s only natural.
The slime-to-potion phenomenon has opened up a world of new possibilities…
This is a revolution!
The slime-based mana extraction method is revolutionizing magical technology! Probably!
“So that means herbs planted in herb-slimes planted in herb-slimes planted in herb-slimes planted in herb-slimes would be…”
“Asuma-sama! That’ll never end!”
I want to see where this technology leads!
Uoooooh! I’m going for it! I’m going for it!
“We made some amazing herbs.”
“… They were amazing to begin with.”
And so, we ended up with truly incredible herbs.
The mana density reached four times the original.
But it seems that’s the limit, any more and it can’t be condensed.
“Herbs that amazing are kind of… overwhelming, huh.”
“For now, should we put them in a vase? I have one!”
“Yeah, let’s do that.”
Well, what’s done is done.
For now, we placed them in a bluish-white porcelain vase.
Rustle, rustle…
“… Well, turning them into potions is the most reasonable choice.”
“Right, even though it feels like a waste, we can’t keep them displayed forever, and throwing them out would be worse…”
… Once we enjoy them for a while, we’ll turn them into potions later.
That potion will probably be incredible…
But these potions can now be produced without dungeon power, using only slimes, herbs, and a steam bath.
Which means… even after I leave, the village can continue producing them.
We might even consider distributing them.
After researching further, anyway.
After that, thinking “This concentration method could do all kinds of things,” I wrote a letter to Laperesiana-sama to report it.
I put the report together properly.
For a university student, that’s breakfast work.
Meaning: “Start at night and finish before breakfast!”
… And having accidentally stayed up all night, I slept until the afternoon that day, and at some point, the slimes had gathered all over me, squishing and squishing.
Well, after that, the slime concentration research continued…
… and one week after sending the report—
“Excuse me! I wish to purchase that potion, Is Asuma-sama here!?”
“Eh?”
The one who came roaring in with loud engine noise was a familiar knight, a member of the Royal Third Knights Order.
A slime lover who often takes care of the super-giant slime at the royal capital’s experimental farm, burying himself in slimes in the process.
“The potion, meaning… the one I reported to Laperesiana-sama?”
“Yes. The high-performance potion that instantly heals wounds even in small amounts… We wish to buy as many as possible. Here is a letter from Laperesiana-sama. Please confirm it.”
The moment he got off his bike, he handed me a letter written directly by Laperesiana-sama.
Something must have happened, surely.
If Laperesiana-sama herself didn’t come, but entrusted the letter to a knight familiar with me… this must be quite urgent.
For now, I had him come to the reception room behind the dungeon entrance.
Even if they want potions, we can’t provide them without understanding the situation.
“What are the circumstances?”
Sensing things might be serious, I called Edele-san over immediately.
I also brought Lisas-san as a knowledgeable advisor, and Mishisia-san as the “if something terrifying comes up, we’ll scream together” member.
Then the knight spoke.
“Please keep this absolutely confidential… It seems a situation has arisen where an enormous number of potions may soon be required.”
… That’s what he said.
Naturally, we all tensed up.
Especially Edele-san.
“… War?”
Edele-san, who had more reason than anyone to think so, asked quietly.
The knight gave a troubled expression, repeated “This must stay secret,” and then said—
“It seems… an internal conflict may soon break out.”
… Internal conflict?
From where?
The Second Prince?
Or the Church?
What do you think about this chapter?
