The next day.
After arriving at Gimuru around noonti, I decided to show my face at the store.
“Welco back, Boss.”
“It’s been a while, Carm-san.”
After greeting each other, Carm-san gave a report of the store’s recent activities.
“There have been no impedints to the store’s operation recently, but there was an incident a few days ago.” [Carm]
“An incident? What happened?” [Ryouma]
“You know that charcoal you left in the kitchen? You said it had the ability to absorb humidity from the air, so having it around could improve the air in the kitchen, right?” [Carm]
“Yes, though the effects vary according to the amount and quality of the charcoal.” [Ryouma]
“Actually, Fina-san and the others tried that charcoal thing out several tis, but all of the sudden, the charcoal disappeared. A charcoal thief had appeared and caused a commotion for so ti.” [Carm]
“A charcoal thief… Since you said ‘for so ti’, I take it you’ve already dealt with it?” [Ryouma]
“Yes. It turns out the culprits are none other than the cleaner slis.” [Carm]
“The cleaner slis?” [Ryouma]
Don’t tell !
“It ate the charcoal?” [Ryouma]
“Yep. They ate all of the charcoal we left at the sli waiting room. And according to Maria-san, those cleaner slis stopped being able to eat the filth off the laundry. They might have gotten sick.” [Carm]
“It’s probably sothing else. Anyway, can you show those slis?” [Ryouma]
“Of course.” [Carm]
Carm-san left the office. He’ll probably be back with the slis very soon.
Charcoal-eating slis… Charcoal, so carbon? Or maybe they’ll evolve into sothing else again.
“Excuse . I’ve brought Maria-san and the slis.” [Carm]
“Hi, Boss~” [Maria]
While I was thinking to myself, Carm had already returned.
Behind him was a slightly uncomfortable Maria-san. The both of them each carried several cleaner slis in their arms.
“Please. Over here.” [Ryouma]
I listened to Maria’s story while observing the slis. Apparently, when she told the slis ‘you can eat now’, the slis that ate charcoal left.
“I hear they can’t eat anything else but charcoals.” [Ryouma]
“Hmm~ They prefer charcoals, so~ They’re really halfhearted when it cos to laundry~ As a result, the other slis ate their portion.” [Maria]
“I see.” [Ryouma]
The slis can keep on working, but it’s not really necessary to make them work when they don’t want to.
“The slis aren’t sick. Most likely they’ve started to evolve. Upon evolution a sli’s diet and abilities will change. Please leave these two slis to . If sothing like this happens again in the future, please be sure to contact . Depending on the situation, they might end up damaging the laundry, so at that ti, Carm-san, you decide what to do.
Maria-san, I’ll leave the managent of the next slis to you. Should the laundry get damaged, we’ll compensate the custors and quarantine the slis.”
“I’ll do my best!” [Maria]
“I’m counting on you. Carm-san and I will help you too, so you don’t have to think that hard about it… In fact, I even want to thank you.” [Ryouma]
A new sli being born makes really happy. So happy that I don’t mind giving her a gift of money for this. I’ll make a charcoal kiln as soon as i get back. While we were talking, Maria finally beca relieved.
After passing the contract of the two slis to , the sli incident was concluded.
I sent Maria-san back to work, and this ti I gave Carm a report of my own.
“…The Renauph branch store was able to open without any problems. They’ll send us a report regularly.” [Ryouma]
“It’s good to hear that everything went well.” [Carm]
“Yes. That’s it for the reports regarding the stores. But there’s actually a private matter I need to report too.” [Ryouma]
I inford Carm that I won’t be able to co back to town for a while in order to get my grandparents inheritance.
At first, he was just soone Serge-san introduced to , but after everything we’ve been through, he’s already soone that I trust.
“As such, I’m thinking of gradually increasing the number of adventurer jobs I take.” {Ryouma]
“I see. So you’ll be going back to your original plans.” [Carm]
“Sorry for troubling you.” [Ryouma]
“It’s fine. Just leave the store to . I’ll be sure to let you know when we need you.” [Carm]
Carm-san smiled with a face brimming with resolve.
With this I can leave the store to him.
“By the way, where is your hotown? I don’t think I’ve ever heard the na of your village.” [Carm]
“Ever heard of the Great Shurus Forest? It’s inside— Why are you making that face?” [Ryouma]
The mont I ntioned the na of the region, Carm made a face he’s never shown before.
“*COUGH. Excuse . I was just taken by surprise… I’m impressed you actually managed to survive…”
That’s his reaction?
“I guess it really is a dangerous place.” [Ryouma]
“It’s a dense and giant forest with countless monsters living in it. If you go deep inside, you’re bound to et an A Rank monster. I’m told that if not for all the bases that have been constructed there by people in the past, there wouldn’t even be a way to refill one’s supplies. Just being able to get out of that place is a miracle.” [Carm]
“Ha ha ha… Well, to be honest, I want to get back through official channels, so I’ll have to raise my adventurer rank first. I’l use that ti to prepare myself sufficiently.” [Ryouma]
“In that case, please be talk to Serge-sama. I’m sure he can help you with the supplies.. Moreover, the Morgan Firm has many branch stores, so I’m sure his help will be invaluable.” [Carm]
It looked as if Carm was worrying whether to try and stop or not, but in the end, he just gave so information and encouraged .
Afterwards…
I dropped by the Morgan Firm before going ho, and it seed to be more hectic than normal. I was considering just dropping by another ti, but then the clerk greeted and I was able to et with Serge-san.
When I talked to him about my plans, he gave a similar reaction.
“So you were from the great forest… It must have been difficult for you.” [Serge]
“I was desperate to get out at the ti, so I don’t really rember the details.” [Ryouma]
“I see. I suppose that makes sense. In any case, I’m not sure how to describe the place, but it’s a harsh place that challenges the most tenacious adventurers. Or at least, that’s what the adventurers say. It’s not a place soone like could enter. Still, why all of the sudden?” [Serge]
“A few days ago, I happened upon a monster similar to those of Shurus and was rembered so things. Also, I hear there’s no more people left inthe village.” [Ryouma]
“Considering where the village is situated, it’s possible…” [Serge]
“Another reason I’m going is to confirm it. It’s still so ti way away before I actually get to it, but I’ll be setting it as one of my goals as an adventurer.” [Ryouma]
“I see. You have my support, Ryouma-sama. If there’s anything you need, please drop by our Morgan Firm.” [Serge]
“Thank you… By the way, is there sothing going on today?’ [Ryouma]
It really seems more hectic than usual.
I wonder if I ca at a bad ti.
“No. In fact, it was good that you dropped by today, as I’ll be going to the magic tools fair in Kereban starting tomorrow. It’ll be a week long trip, so we’re preparing for the trip.” [Serge]
“Magic tools fair? That sounds interesting.” [Ryouma]
“Are you interested?” [Serge]
Hmm? The color of his eyes changed. Are these… the eyes of an otaku?
“We haven’t had a lot of opportunities to talk, but… Could it be that this is sothing you’re very fond of?” [Ryouma]
“As a matter of fact I am actually known as a collector among my contemporaries; hence, my trip to the fair is half work and half hobby.” [Serge]
“I see. It does sound fun just taking a look around.” [Ryouma]
“Indeed. After all, even magic tools of the sa kind differ from each other depending on the artisan and workshop that made them. Moreover, the items that appear in the fair aren’t your usual ones. The items that appear are either made by apprentices or are one-of-a-kind items. Finding interesting things or finding people with a promising future is also sothing worth looking forward to.” [Serge]
Serge-san’s eyes were on fire.
“I myself have tried to make a magic tool, but it really doesn’t work unless one is a proper artisan.” [Serge]
“Serge-san, you can use enchantnt magic?” [Ryouma]
“Oh, no. Not at all. My mana pool is so small, I can’t even use elental magic. But so magic tools can be made even without mana. Give a second.” [Serge]
Having already entered his otaku mode, Serge-san left the room and ca back with a wooden box.
“Take a look.” [Serge]
Serge-san took out a cog from inside the box.
At first glance, nothing seed strange about it, but…
“Ah, it turned.” [Ryouma]
When Serge-san allowed his mana to course through the gear, the gear started rotating atop the desk.
“This gear has been enchanted with the neutral magic, Spin. As you can see, allowing mana to course through it causes the gear to rotate. This is usually included in bigger tools as a power source. Of the more popular ones that use it is the ‘Magic Automobile’.
So, literally a magical version of the automobile? I’ve never see one…
“Unfortunately, it’s not very practical. Although the magic automobile can move using a person’s mana and magic stones, after adding the weight of one’s luggage on top of the weight of the people riding inside and the fra of the magic automobile itself, it ends up being a little slower than a horse. On top of that, it costs magic stones to run. As such, it’s much more practical to just use a normal horse.
That being said, a huge race is held in the capital once a year for these magic automobiles. In fact, I happen to have one myself as part of my hobbies.
He’s talking really calmly, but you can really feel the fire behind his words!
“Oh, dear. It seems we’ve gone off topic. Anyway, there are all sorts of types, but you can use a magic tool procured externally to create a new magic tool without being able to use mana at all. There are many artisans who specialize in this.” [Serge]
“I see. That’s really interesting.” [Ryouma]
“If you’d like, you can have this.” [Serge]
“Oh, I couldn’t possibly…” [Ryouma]
Serge handed the gear to Ryouma along with the box.
Naturally, Ryouma thought it would be shaless for him to just take it, but Serge-san scratched his head and said:
“I bought it from last year’s fair, but I couldn’t figure out what to do with it…” [Serge]
Apparently he bought it because he liked it and because he wanted to invest in the young apprentice that made it.
But the thing is that he didn’t actually need the gear.
It was just taking up space in his storage room, so in the end, I decided to accept his goodwill.
“Thank you. Sorry to disturb you so suddenly. I even got a present…” [Ryouma]
“I should be saying that for pushing my dead inventory to you.” [Serge]
“If I ever think of an interesting tool, I’ll be sure to make it and show it you.” [Ryouma]
“Oh! I look forward to that.” [Serge]
Like that we parted with a smile on our face.
I feel like I got closer to Serge-san today.
Now then, I guess it’s about ti I went back ho and took care of the slis.
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