Chapter 163.3 - Second Day Meeting (3/3)

After supper.

In the same reception room of the residence as last night, the duke and his wife and the two presidents of the two big companies were all gathered together again.

“Sorry to keep you waiting.” [Ryouma]

“We were properly informed beforehand. It’s fine. Good job feeding your slimes.” [Reinhart]

“You have so many different slimes and so many of them, it must have been difficult feeding them all.” [Elize]

“Come to think of it, how many different slimes do you have now anyway?” [Pioro]

“Presently, there are 19 variants. And there are four from those that I’m expecting to evolve.” [Ryouma]

“They seem to number in the tens of thousands too. Taking care of them must be difficult.” [Serge]

“I feed them per variant, so it’s not that difficult. Reinhart-san. Thank you for providing even the feed of the slimes. It was a huge help.” [Ryouma]

“A lot of people have been telling me how grateful they are to have the garbage dealt with. Feel free to ask for more whenever while you’re here.” [Reinhart]

As I answered their questions, I sat myself beside the madam.

“Now then, Ryouma-kun. Let’s continue our conversation the other day. Or at least that’s what I’d love to do, but… Today there are two things we have to discuss first. A message had just been brough in.” [Reinhart]

I wonder if there’s a problem.

There was an unusually heavy atmosphere about Reinhart-san as the madam distributed a bundle of documents to all of us.

Flipping through the pages, I noted that a portrait, a crime, and an amount was written on them.

“A wanted poster…” [Ryouma]

“The other half of those documents is information pertaining to damages incurred from bandits. These were reported by chance while I was working today. The three of you travel a lot, so I thought you should know.” [Reinhart]

“Thank you.” [Pioro]

Safety on the roads is the lifeline of peddlers. Serge-san and Pioro-san were both grateful as they zealously looked through the documents.

But I was more concerned about the wanted posters.

“The bounty varies quite a bit from person to person, huh.” [Ryouma]

Even if they committed the same crime, there’s a difference in bounty ranging anywhere from 10 small gold coins to several hundred coins. The biggest bounty fetches a luxurious sum of 2 platinum coins. When I asked why that was, Reinhart-san gently told me why.

“The bounty is decided based on the damages caused by the person and how much danger he possesses, but the nobles and merchants who’ve suffered damages are free to add to the bounty. The bandits with platinum coin bounties on them are from a gang of thieves that specializes in stealing from jewelers. They’re rather famous.” [Reinhart]

They mostly go after jewels, so the damages caused by their actions are really big.

Moreover, they incur not only the anger of the jewelers but also the nobles who wish to buy them.

Because of that their bounty is inflated.

“They don’t commit crimes frequently, but they plan their crimes out and proceed carefully. Moreover, they have several good dimension mages with them, so they’re quick to flee and it’s hard to pick up on their trail. Of course, their victims have guards with them too. So the fact that they’ve continued to succeed until now shows that they’re plenty strong themselves. I’ve never heard of an individual being attacked, but… You should be careful too, Ryouma-kun.” [Reinhart]

“I understand. Thank you for warning me.” [Ryouma]

He’s probably referring to the diamond I was wearing with my suit yesterday.

He didn’t say anything, but as expected, he has a trained eye.

“Next is… Oh, right. About the scavenger slime fertilizer you gave me yesterday. A report was given regarding it.” [Reinhart]

“Oh, really?　That’s rather quick.” [Elize]

As the madam says, was their gardener able to make a judgment on its safety and other factors that quickly?

“Yes… Ryouma-kun. Do you know about the ‘Forest of the Earth Mother God’?” [Reinhart]

Earth Mother God? I would imagine that’s probably Willieris-sama, but I’ve never heard of a forest.

“I see. Artura… It’s a country in the east, but that’s where our head gardener comes from. The Earth Mother God of the Forest has become the object of worship of many people and is a holy land. According to that gardener, the fertilizer you gave is similar to the soil of that place.” [Reinhart]

“Huh?” [Ryouma]

The soil of a holy land is similar to the fertilizer of a scavenger slime?　I never thought I’d hear something like that.

“Rich in mana and highly compatible with the wood magic. If you use too much of it, there’s a danger of monsterifying crops. The effects are basically the same. But the effects of that holy land is much greater than the scavenger slime’s fertilizer.” [Reinhart]

At the country known as Artura, they would take a little soil from the Forest of the Earth Mother God and mix that soil with a lot of normal soil to weaken its effects. That soil is then used as a special fertilizer. It’s also a kind of ritual to share the blessings of the divine forest.

“If we do the same as that ritual, will it be possible to use the scavenger slime’s fertilizer normally?” [Ryouma]

“That’s what the head gardener says. He wants to use the fertilizer you gave and see how things go for a while, but the fertilizer is more than useable. I am a little concerned about it being ‘close to an object of worship’, though.” [Reinhart]

Indeed.

“‘The soil of the holy land’ and ‘the fertilizer produced by slime guts’. Personally, those are two completely different things, but depending on the person hearing it…” [Ryouma]

“‘Unforgivable!’　Some fanatics might say… When it comes to religion, there are extremists like that from time to time…” [Reinhart]

“I think it can pass as a different product, but if you’re going to sell it, then it might be wise to take some considerations.” [Pioro]

A worrying factor appeared from somewhere unexpected, but I think it’s good that I’m learning about this now rather than later.

“And that concludes my discussions.” [Reinhart]

“In that case, can I start next?” [Elize]

This time it was the madam who spoke.

Contrast to Reinhart-san who passed out wanted posters earlier, she’s in a good mood.

It’s probably because of those things I gave her this afternoon.

“Elize, it’s been on my mind for a while now, but you seem to have been in a rather good mood since supper.” [Reinhart]

“That’s right!　Actually, Ryouma-kun made a ‘bath bomb’ and a ‘sugar scrub’ for me just awhile ago!　Because of that all that pent up fatigue from before were washed away in one fell swoop~” [Elize]

The madam started giving her impressions after using those two products I gave her.

“Ah, is this related to the beautifying effect you were talking about yesterday? …A medicine that can change bath water to a hot spring. What an interesting thing indeed.” [Reinhart]

“Ryouma, is that medicine that beautifies the skin that effective?” [Pioro]

“It would vary from person to person.” [Ryouma]

“I want more of those things you gave me!　It’s easy to throw a bath bomb into the bath and I was able to warm my body up more compared to just bath water. And just a little rubbing from that sugar scrub was able to change the moisture of my skin!” [Elize]

Seeing the madam talking like this brings me back.

Once you’ve gotten used to them already, they’re nothing much to speak of, but it’s really eyeopening when using them for the first time.

I was the same back in my past life when I first used a sugar scrub.

To be honest, I had no interest whatsoever in beauty, but there was also no reason to waste something I’d received.

But just one use and I was like　’Huh? This might actually be really good.’

When I spoke about it at work, everyone laughed since they couldn’t imagine a big guy like me using beauty products.

“Madam, what I made this noon was just the simplest type. If I were to fuss over the type of oil used and the perfumed oil, I should be able to make something even better.” [Ryouma]

Bath bombs can also be tuned by changing the amount of bath bomb and citric acid to make the bath water slightly alkaline or acidic.

Using water that’s slightly alkaline makes it easier to remove filth from the pores in the skin, and the acidity has an effect of neutralizing aging odor. The perfect ally of a man in his forties!

Moreover, water made slightly acidic by citric acid has the effect of allowing one to recover from exhaustion, as well as give anti-inflammatory effects. It also has a sterilizing and deodorizing effect different from that of weak alkaline water. Human skin is slightly acidic, so it’s gentler on the skin compared to slightly alkaline water.

Which one to use depends on what’s constitution and condition of the skin. Of course, one could choose simply depending on how one feels.

And if you compare these methods with medicinal baths that use medicinal herbs or seasonal vegetations, there’s a myriad of ways to improve a bath.

“How wonderful!” [elize]

“It’s effective against aging odor?　Maybe I should give it a try myself…” [Pioro]

“Pioro, are you worried?” [Reinhart]

“Fool!　I’m not at that age yet!　It’s just that my wife might have made a passing remark or two before, so…” [Pioro]

“Ha ha ha… Well, if Elize is praising it to this extent, then it must be amazing.” [Reinhart]

“Right. Ryouma-sama, if it’s no trouble to you, won’t you allow us to also try those bath bombs and sugar scrubs of yours?” [Reinhart]

“It’s no trouble at all. I still have some ingredients left from this afternoon. I’ll make some and send them to your room later.” [Ryouma]

That concluded the conversation with the madam regarding the beauty products.

Next, it was my turn to talk about the things I couldn’t talk about yesterday, but…

But everyone suddenly sat straight up.

“What is it all of the sudden?” [Ryouma]

“Well, you kept dropping one bomb after another yesterday like those running mash of yours.” [Pioro]

“Frankly, it’s a bit scary wondering what bomb you’ll be dropping next.” [Serge]

“I thought it would be a good idea to brace myself ahead of time.” [Elize]

“Alright. My heart is ready. Now, Ryouma! Come and try your worst!” [Reinhart]

…But if they do this, the one who gets pressured is me!

Am I the only one who can feel this atmosphere that makes it feel like I better not talk about anything boring?

“In that case, let’s talk about another slime use that I wasn’t able to talk about last time.” [Ryouma]

While everyone was strangely tense, I talked about the serum of the bloody slime.

First, I gave a simple explanation of what blood serums and antibodies are. I spoke of me teaching a group of new adventurers.

I also explained why my bloody slime ended up ingesting poison.

And then from there, I talked about the slime’s recovery and the increase in level it observed on its poison skill. Finally, I tied that in with the blood serum and antibodies.

When I started talking about extracting the antibodies and experimenting on animals…

“…” [Reinhart, Elize, Serge, Pioro]

All four of my audience was wearing a serious face.

“…And so we sit here justified in bracing ourselves.” [Reinhart]

Reinhart-san said. The other three nodded.

“Ryouma-sama, this thing you refer to as ‘antibody’. The relation with the ‘Poison Resist’ and ‘Disease Resist’ skill. And the antidote made from the bloody slime. I’m not a specialist or anything in the field of medicine, but even a layman such as myself can see just how inestimable the value of these findings is.” [Serge]

“Indeed. I know enough to tell that if those methods of yours work for that snake’s poison, then perhaps it can also work for other poisons. But at the same time, it makes me wonder whether you’re really telling the truth… Not that there’s any point in doubting now.” [Pioro]

“It doesn’t benefit Ryouma-kun to lie to us. Although at this point, it might be better if it turned out to be just a lie…” [Elize]

“Frankly, I also think it’s too much.” [Reinhart]

Discovering the antibody from the bloody slime, extracting the blood serum and investigating its effects.

Although it’s fun doing experiments alone, it’s not very effective.

A single child’s efforts aren’t enough for it to be released to society.

But…

“Actually there’s more to it.” [Ryouma]

“…There’s still more?” [Reinhart]”

“The reason I was able to find out about the antibody and the blood serum is because the poison resist skill leveled up.” [Ryouma]

“…!　I see!　It wasn’t learned. It was a level up. In other words, there are other antibodies other than those for the poison of the bush snake.” [Reinhart]

“It’s exactly as Reinhart-san says. In the first place, the bloody slime isn’t a slime that I evolved on my own. It’s a slime I purchased from an adventurer who found it somewhere, so it already possessed the poison resist and disease resist skills resist right from the start.” [Ryouma]

And then after finding out about the antibodies, I wondered if there are other antibodies using the Identify spell.

“I found several antibodies. One of them was for ‘Cursed Wound’.” [Ryouma]

“…” [Reinhart, Elize, Serge, Pioro]

The four adults all sighed simultaneously and looked up at the sky. They looked very tired.

It can’t be helped.

When afflicted by the cursed wound, one is expected to suddenly fall sick and die.

It doesn’t matter how big or small the wound is, where the wound was incurred, or what one’s social standing is.

Like a curse, one will just suddenly wake up sick.

A few days will pass after incurring the wound without anything happening, but before long, the limbs and the face will start to numb. From there, the status of the afflicted will worsen and the body will lose its freedom and start moving about without regard for the damage caused to it. Yes, just like a man possessed by some kind of demon. The whole body will tremble violently, and there are cases where one’s body would even bend like a bow, then harden like a stone. Without any way to resist the urge the bend, the spine will eventually break. This is not something that the afflicted can do anything about. To make things worse, despite not being able to control one’s body, one is fully conscious through the whole ordeal; hence, one can thoroughly savor the pain and thus die while squirming about. The death rate is extremely high…

In other words, it is what is known in my past life as ‘Tetanus’.

A disease that causes death even in modern day Japan, where blood serums are a thing. Unfortunately, for this country, there is no cure. As such, when people are afflicted with tetanus, they are labeled ‘cursed’ with no way to be saved. It’s a disease feared by all regardless of status.

Basically, what I’m saying right now is that there’s a chance that a cure might be concocted for that terrifying disease.

They value of such a cure is immeasurable.

“Are you certain that it’s the antibody for cursed wound?　I’m not doubting you, but…” [Reinhart]

“I used Identify on it, so there’s no doubting it. In the first place, cursed wound is a disease that one could be afflicted with anywhere. Naturally, the disease demon (bacteria) responsible for it can also be found anywhere.” [Ryouma]

It is popularly known that clostridium tetani resides in soil.

The bloody slime probably absorbed it after touching soil.

“But Ryouma-kun, in order to create antibodies, one has take the poison into his body first. Won’t surviving be impossible then?　The cursed wound has a high fatality rate too, and yet the bloody slime is still alive.” [Elize]

“One possible reason I could think of is that the disease demons (bacteria) taken in were few in number and that the make up of the bloody slime’s body is different from humans, making it difficult for it to multiply, thereby creating less poison and greatly reducing the effects on the slime.

Secondly, the characteristic symptom of curse wounds is mainly muscle spasms, but the bloody slime doesn’t have nerves or muscles… It’s possible that because of this the effects on it were much weaker.

Regardless, there’s a large difference between humans and bloody slimes, so I’m wondering if it can be used. Unfortunately, I don’t have proof.” [Ryouma]

“…Right. When you put it that way, you’re perfectly right.” [Elize]

“Just the production of a new medicine can be seen to have great value, but if it’s a medicine for cursed wound, then all the more so. At the same time, it’s a dangerous thing.” [Reinhart]

“Putting it lightly, it’s a great discovery, but if some bad guys were to get word of this, they’ll probably try to get you. No, they’ll definitely try to get you. If the Medical Guild or any research institute where to get wind of this, they’d never leave you alone.” [Pioro]

“Indeed. And research institutes don’t have a trustworthy reputation either.” [Ryouma]

We were all left speechless with how difficult it was to handle the the blood serum.

For a while, only the sound of sipping tea and eating sweets resounded in the room.

“Ryouma-kun” [Reinhart]

In the end, Reinhart-san was the first to break the silence.

“Yes.” [Ryouma]

He wore a face more serious than I’ve ever seen as he naturally fixed his posture.

What he said within that tense atmosphere was this.

“What do you think about becoming our family’s ‘Engineer’?” [Reinhart]