TL Note: Lure Prey -> Lure Carnivore. Also, there were a loooooooooot of spams when I opened my site again, so I put up so asures to stop them. I made a tweet about approval being required, but as the plugin seems to be working well, I put a stop to that. You can just comnt as usual now.
RYOUMA’S BUSY DAY 2
The scene inside the room was nothing short of shocking.
Bugs of all sorts were crawling all over the walls and the ceiling. Now, I may not be that bad with insects, but with these many, even I can’t help but feel sick.
To make things worse, amongst the many insects crawling in the lab, one of them was that dreaded insect that was feared even in my world, the cockroach! And not a paltry number either! Of course the girls wound faint! In fact, with this many even a guy would scream! But, hmm... why did sothing like this happen I wonder.
“U-Ugh...” [Alicia]
“Alicia-san! Have you co to?” [Ryouma]
“T-The insects... Huh? The insects...” [Alicia]
Amongst the two fainted girls, Alicia-san appears to be the first to regain her consciousness.
“Are you alright?” [Ryouma]
“The guards entered the lab when you fainted, and brought you guys out.” [Paul]
“Thank you... for saving .” [Alicia]
Alicia bowed her head toward the security guards as she offered a word of gratitude.
“So... how did things co to this? If I recall correctly, you should be currently researching on the fluff sli and other plant-type slis, correct?” [Ryouma]
Her face went pale as soon as I asked her that. Looks like she rembered.
“I was feeding and observing the slis that preferred to eat vegetables as always when a sticky sli began to evolve, so I went to see what food it liked. But then just as I was in the process of studying it, insects suddenly poured in through the windows and the ventilation that were added since the last incident... I lost consciousness shortly afterwards.” [Alicia]
Upon hearing her story, I steeled myself, and entered the insect infested laboratory.
The sli was seated on the observing pedestal with countless insects swarming it.
The windows were open and even the door I entered from was open, yet the insects refused to leave... Chances are this sli is the reason behind this invasion. Still... I must say... this sli looks awfully disgusting. It looks just like the other slis, but because of its high transparency, I can see the insects that it’s swallowed wriggling inside it as it digests them.
As I looked at that sli, I used Monster Identify.
Insectivorous Sli
SKILL NA LEVEL
Sticky Liquid Lv3
Lure Insects Lv3
Digestion Lv4
Absorption Lv3
Split Lv1
The mont I saw its stats, it was clear that the sli was the reason behind this incident.
“The Lure Insects skill... Yep, this is definitely the culprit. This skill should be the sa type as the Lure Carnivores skill of the takeostrich and the Lure Ghosts skill of the grave sli. Oh, right... this sli used to be a sticky sli... I did use the sticky slis like a flypaper in the past... And this one eats just like one.”Taking a better look at the lab, I can see so insectivorous plants. I guess that’s what it must’ve eaten then.I asked Alicia-san to confirm, and apparently, those plants really are what she fed it. In any case, it would appear that there’re no problems aside from the insects.
I inford the security and the researchers outside that everything was safe now, and they all went back to their respective jobs as they heaved sighs of relief.
The people working at this lab are all making troubled faces though. In that case, it might be a good idea to concoct so insect repellant for them. Alternatively, I could also have so mosquito screens put up.
“W-Well for the anti, it seems useful for pest control. There are plenty of interesting points to study though. Such as the effects on the useful insects, and whether it can resist against magical beasts despite being an insect-type.” [Ryouma]
“I’ll prepare a report as soon as we finish investigating.” [Lab Manager]
“Thank you very much. Also please make sure to tend to the two injured girls.” [Ryouma]
“Please leave it to .” [Lab Manager]
“Then, please co this way.” [Paul]
After the matter, I left everything to Alicia-san’s lab manager, and left with Paul-san.
The place we were headed to was the area above the reception desk, to one of the several small conference rooms. As we entered the rectangular room, what first entered our eyes was a big window that could be seen outside, covered by a thick curtain. On the left was space for docunts to be posted – for announcing them – and on the right was an aquarium in which slis of various sizes swam.
“I’ll bring the docunts. Please wait here for a mont.” [Paul]
As Paul-san said that, he left the conference room. In the anti, I decided to watch the slis swimming in the aquarium as I waited.
The slis swimming inside the aquarium are a type known as the Fin Sli. It’s a kind of sli that evolved from eating fishes. Half a year after I opened a laundromat at Skoom, the hotown of the Bridge of Skoom – an adventurer party I know from way back – the employees that I sent there in their hotown to tend to the store as well as research discovered this sli.
The mbers of the Bridge of Skoom all work as adventurers to provide for their families’ unstable life that depended on their catch for the day. Despite that, however, they all still had their own responsibilities regarding fishing work. Which as a result led to them having good relations with plenty of the fishern in the town.
It was through the good graces of the Bridge of Skoom that I was able to put up my store in that town, and have plenty of custors through the fishern who dropped by every day. Moreover, so of the researchers I’d sent also apparently knew so of those fishern, so because of that, they would drink together from ti to ti, and the fishern would even sotis give them so of their catch that could not make the quality check. They got along really well in other words.
Because of that, the researchers were able to feed the slis saw-edged perch every day. And before they knew it, the sli evolved into the fin sli.
Unfortunately, although they had been hoping for a sli that could create fish at, the fin sli was rely a small sli with fins and gills of various sizes. It couldn’t be eaten, and it didn’t have the strength to carry things or pull boats either. Its body wouldn’t grow even after feeding it more fish, and neither could a fish sli be born.
As of now, the only use we could find for the fin sli was that of entertainnt. It doesn’t swim fast. It swims at a leisurely pace, and couple that with the different colors and sizes of its fins, there are many who thinks of it as cute or interesting, so they’re quite popular in the lab for being soothing.
Because of that there are aquariums filled with fin slis all over the laboratory. There are aquariums on the other conference rooms too. And there’s also a big one in the dining hall in the third floor. And then there’s also one in the guest room and the reception desk. And then there are also people who keep aquariums in their labs.
The fin slis generally prefer being in the water, but they’re not fishes, so they can still live on land. Lately, people have been building hills and land in their aquariums. And then they would put their aquariums by the window, letting sunlight shine on the aquarium. After which, so of the fin slis would then climb the hills they made, and sunbathe under the sun’s light. Watching the fin slis sunbathe has beco really popular amongst the researchers lately.
The fin slis just might beco a huge hit in the near future.
“Excuse . I’ve brought so tea.” [Employee]
“Thank you very much.” [Ryouma]
Tea was served, so I sat down, and drank as I waited. After a while, Paul ca in with two other n, a bundle of papers in their arms. They sat themselves by the sa four-sided table that I was sitting by.
In front of was Paul-san. To the left was a man in the pri of his life, wearing armor, Crank-san. And to the right was a slender man wearing a pair of glasses who was in his thirties, Pete-san. He is the manager of this research facility, and is usually the one who handles its funds.
I go here once a week to hear the reports of these three n. From Paul-san, the results of the sli research, from Crank-san, issues regarding the facility’s security, and from Pete-san, a general report regarding the operation of the facility. The eting is quite long, so we usually eat lunch together as we discuss things.
Paul-san wanted feeds from distant areas to be imported for use in research. Following that, Pete-san gave a report on the costs needed to make that happen.
Crank-san’s report was mostly on minor issues. Issues such as argunts from people arguing on the use of a sli or so... There was nothing that couldn’t be solved with so good diation, so save for the earlier incident, there were no pressing issues to attend.
As the eting continued, we ca to our last topic.
“Now on the last topic we have to discuss today... Are you aware of the magic beast tournamnet that will be held in the arena?” [Paul]
“I’ve heard of it.” [Ryouma]
As I said that, Paul wordlessly and deeply nodded.
“The participation conditions include B Rank magical beasts, so the cannonball rhino can participate. But I’d also like for you to consider having the slis participate too.” [Paul]
“If the opponents are B Rank magical beasts, then the only ones who could put up a fight are the big variations up.” [Ryouma]
I’ve already revealed most of my findings to the researchers of the facility, so they’re already aware that big slis are an aggregation of many slis. However, this fact is yet to be publicized.
The matters of this research facility is being kept confidential, so I make sure to avoid doing anything eye-catching in public. When a big sli is needed, I have the slis shorten the transformation ti by having them use the compress skill. At the sa ti, I also have them slip into other slis to hide the transformation. The only ones who are in the know regarding the big sli’s secrets are the people of the Jamil Household, Raypin-san and the other adventurers, and the rest of the people I trust. And of course, they’re keeping a tight lid on it as well.
We’ve been planning to announce the results of our research to the public once we find a good opportunity, but... has the ti already co? At the very least, it seems that Paul-san wants to use the magic beast tournamnet to announce our progress. In any case, I better ask what I need to ask... Although, he’s probably already prepared for this.
“How much are you planning to reveal? And have you completed your preparations?” [Ryouma]
“Only the big sli. The evolution conditions and the practical applications of sli will remain confidential. The announcent of the results of sli research should be announced slowly and carefully. The docunts have already been prepared. The people who will be explaining and demonstrating has also already been chosen.” [Paul]
Paul-san spoke fluently, without the slightest pause, but then he asked a question.
“...But is it really alright for you not to announce it yourself? All we did was verify your findings. The one who unveiled the mystery behind the ecology and contract of the big sli which had eluded countless researchers was you, Takebayashi-sama.” [Paul]
“Please announce it as the results of the research facility. I have other jobs to do.” [Ryouma]
Hearing that, Paul-san couldn’t help but sigh to himself as he shrugged his shoulders.
While I won’t say that acknowledgent doesn’t bring happiness, my goal in my research is neither glory nor fa. That’s why I’d rather let other people handle the public. And besides, all sorts of trouble would co if I were to announce it as my own.
“I understand. We will take responsibility for the publication and announcent of the research.” [Paul]
“Thank you. I’d like to ask though, why now?” [Ryouma]
“First, because the magic beast tournant is a good place to announce that it is now possible to contract with the big slis. And second, because if our research lab can accomplish not just to unveil the ecology and contract thod of the big sli, but even win with it, then the achievents that our research facility will gain will be huge!” [Paul]
Paul continued.
“Showing the big sli in the tournant will attract a lot of attention from slave demon magic users and other related people. If they ask for the particulars, then we can just have them inquire the facility. What’s more is that we’ll be able to pile up achievents. If we can pile up achievents, then we should sohow be able to gain so sort of benefit from it. But unfortunately, we are only researchers, fighting is outside of our expertise, so...” [Paul]
“Unless the sli fights in an annoying way, the sli won’t have much of a chance to a win.” [Crank]
According to the information from the previous tournant, while the magical beasts will be treated when injured, it’s not sothing that can guarantee the safety of the magical beasts. It’s the sa for the tournants ant for people, but the chance for injury or death isn’t zero. If an inexperienced sli were to fight, then it might just suffer grave injuries.
“If the championship could be won, then the value of soone such as ourselves who is affiliated will also increase. And Takebayashi-sama, if you win, you will also gain the prize money. Over half the costs of this facility is currently being covered by you, so it’s most likely a small sum to you, but... Pete.” [Paul]
At Paul-san’s call, Pete-san continued.
“The prize money is 50,000 suits. That’s more than enough for a person to get by without working for a year.” [Pete]
While it’s certainly a lot of money, with the laundromat stores currently totaling to about 10, the current inco of the stores altogether reaches to about 200,000 suits daily.
And while I’m not able to use that entire sum due to the construction expenses – as I am no longer building the branches myself, and mostly left with people... Moreover, with the money being spent to improve the working environnt of the employees, and a chunk of it being deposited in the bank in case of ergency, the spendable inco I have is actually only about 20% of that 200,000. But even then that’s still 40,000 suits daily, so the prize money just doesn’t look attractive to .
I’ve spent a lot of my inco in investing on the training facilities, training areas, research facilities, and employees, but I still have 50 big gold coins, which totals to about 5,000,000 suits saved up. That’s why I have no problem at all in regards to money... If there’s anything I’m worried about, it’s preventing information leaks.
As I was about to ask Crank-san, he replied before I could say anything.
“We currently have 30 guards and cri prevention magic tools installed. If we were to ask for support from the training facility, we can increase that to 50. We could also talk to Gimuru’s guards before the tournant.” [Crank]
If they’re people from the training facility, then it should be safe. We also have good relations with the Gimuru’s guards because of the training facility, so they’ll definitely listen if we were to ask them to be vigilant when patrolling.
“Things might get noisy after the information regarding the big sli is revealed to the public. And with the slis currently able to create food and help out in manufacturing and other industrial processes, it might be a necessity to acquire a good social standing for the facility, and increase our influence.” [Paul]
We can just release the information normally. but right now this research facility is unknown. It doesn’t have an amazing title such as “national” attached to it, and neither does it have any sort of achievent. To put things briefly, it doesn’t have any sort of brand, so it’s easy to look down on.
It’s sponsored by the Jamil Household, so while they may not be able to openly speak out against us, if we were to continue like this without any sort of achievents whatsoever, people might talk behind our back and say that we’re only using our influence with the Jamil Household.
And if we’re continued to be looked down on, nasty people might co once we start talking about the practical uses of slis. That’s why it’s a good idea to pile up so achievents with the big sli at the magic beast tournant. After all, there are definitely people who make their decisions after seeing one’s title and achievents.
With that in mind, if the big sli were to make a flashy appearance in the arena, then the appeal in being able to contract with the big sli should also increase. But that’s not all.
If for argunt’s sake, we decided not to make an appearance at the magic beast tournant, then if we wanted to reveal information regarding the big sli, we would have to bring a thesis to a research facility or academic conference sowhere. But if we just went up and showed the big sli at the magic beast tournant, then the inquiry will co pouring in from their side, and we won’t have to go anywhere.
With that, the ti it takes will be greatly reduced, and the position we have in the discussion will be better. I am, after all, also a researcher, and I’d rather not sell the information on the slis cheaply. Having a position where I am able to refuse divulging information I don’t want to release is best.
As I ascertained that it would be best for us to gain so achievents, I ca to the conclusion that it would be best to participate in the magic beast tournant.
“...I understand. Let’s participate in the magic beast tournant.” [Ryouma]
Like this my participation in the magic beast tournant was decided.
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