Three years after Takebayashi Ryoma hid himself away in the Forest of Gana
to devote himself to training his martial arts and magic...
He still had no intention of leaving the forest.
"All right, all right... It's food time!"
The crude cave that had been his dwelling had been widened with his
improved earth magic, a barrier placed at the entrance to secure the safety of
his home. He also had furniture made of hardened dirt he had got from digging
out the cavern.
More than enough food could be acquired from the blessings of the forest,
which he could determine the safety of eating with the knowledge received
from the gods and the neutral magic Appraisal. Within such a comfortable
environment, Ryoma didn't have any strong desire to leave the forest, instead
spending his time enjoying the hobbies he couldn't have in his previous life.
One particularly devoted hobby was the research of 'slimes.' In the beginning,
he had captured a slime by simply trying the 'taming magic' he had been
bestowed with, which somehow led to the decision of keeping it as a pet. Half a
year later, he woke up one morning to see the slime was a different color.
Fearing it had fallen sick, he hurriedly used the taming magic Monster Appraisal
to find that it had evolved into a species of slime called the sticky slime.
From that day onwards, Ryoma became interested in slime evolution and
spent much of his time observing them. And the first thing he learned was that
wild slimes were at the bottom of the ecosystem. Because slimes did not
possess the power to hunt prey, Ryoma was yet to witness a wild slime eating a
proper meal. However, he would feed them the leftovers of his own meals, as
well as carcasses of the green caterpillars he often came across on his hunts. In
other words, Ryoma's slimes ingested much more nutrition than their wild
counterparts on a daily basis.
Furthermore, the green caterpillars in the meals were capable of spitting out
a sticky string. Ryoma formed a hypothesis that one of these differences was
what caused the slime's evolution, so he captured new slimes and continuously
fed them green caterpillars and food. Two months later, the slimes that had
only consumed green caterpillars had all evolved into sticky slimes.
In addition, the slimes with green caterpillars removed from their diet as a
controlled variable had evolved into a different species of slime. It was from this
point that Ryoma's interest grew significantly, leading to huge numbers of
slimes being captured and fed assorted leftovers and gathered materials,
resulting in the six species of slime Ryoma presently kept.
Slime x13
The weakest monsters of the world, existing everywhere. Omnivorous, with
an average diameter of 20cm. These mysterious creatures will die when the
core within their jelly-like body is damaged, causing everything other than the
core to disappear.
Skills: Consume 2, Absorb 3, Split 1
Sticky Slime x153
A creature of the same size as the regular slime, capable of forming a highly
sticky solution in its body. It can either spit the sticky fluid directly, or hide and
use it in traps to capture prey.
Skills: Strong Sticky Solution 4, Hardening Sticky Solution 1, Sticky String Shot
1, Jump 1, Consume 3, Absorb 3, Split 3
In the beginning, its only skills were strong sticky solution and the three
basics: consume, absorb, and split, but it eventually learned hardening sticky
solution and jump as well, which was how Ryoma learned that monsters could
also acquire skills through training. Sticky string shot was discovered when
Ryoma was investigating the qualities of the strong sticky solution and
hardening sticky solution alongside evolution, mixing the two solutions to
create a string shape. When he tested whether the same phenomenon could
occur within the slime's body, all the training led to the acquisition of those
skills.
Acid Slime x100
A slime with exceptionally high digestive ability, capable of consuming lessdigestible material such as animal bones. After being discovered in the process
of researching evolution, its numbers increased through splitting.
Skills: Acid Production 3, Acid Resistance 3, Jump 1, Consume 4, Absorb 3,
Split 2
Poison Slime x188
Slimes that have been continuously fed poisonous plants. A fair number of
slimes had been unable to resist the poison and died, but those that survived
evolved. After that, their numbers increased through splitting.
Skills: Poison Production 3, Poison Resistance 3, Paralyzing Poison Production
3, Jump 1, Consume 3, Absorb 3, Split 3
Cleaner Slime x11
Slimes drank water often, but there were some which were oddly insistent on
drinking Ryoma's bathwater after he was done washing. Seeing no issue with
that, Ryoma allowed them to do as they wished, which resulted in this
evolution.
Skills: Cleanse 4, Deodorize 6, Deodorant Solution 4, Disease Resistance 5,
Poison Resistance 5, Jump 1, Consume 3, Absorb 3, Split 1
Scavenger Slime x457
When Ryoma was unhappy with the smell coming from the toilet and waste
disposal area he had created in the cave, he recalled how slimes liked to swarm
around rotting corpses and threw twenty newly captured slimes into the room.
As a result, the slimes acquired the skill to digest the things they ate and expel
the nutrients as fertilizer, along with the tendency to split more often than the
other slimes.
Skills: Disease Resistance 5, Poison Resistance 5, Foul Feeder 5, Cleanse 6,
Deodorize 6, Deodorant Solution 4, Stench Release 4, Nutrient Reduction 3,
Jump 1, Consume 6, Absorb 3, Split 6
There weren't many species, as he had switched his focus from evolving them
to rearing them partway through, but their numbers were over 900.
Ryoma's personality meant he wasn't bothered by simple and repetitive tasks
to begin with, so with no one to stop him in this situation he had lost sight of
where to stop. However, that lifestyle was what healed Ryoma's tired heart and
gave him vitality. This allowed him to live his life steadily despite the occasional
encounter with bandits or large beasts, which Ryoma could deal with using his
own powers and army of slimes.
And so, Ryoma would go on living in this way...
Or so he had thought, when fate came knocking one day.
It was during his daily hunt when, instead of prey, he spotted five armored
people in the forest.
It's rare to see people around these parts. Their equipment looks too uniform
for them to be bandits... This might be my first time seeing people who aren't
bandits in this world. Well, I am a recluse living in the depths of the forest... Oh,
is there someone injured?
Hidden in the thickets behind the trees, he observed from a distance, and saw
one person was leaning on his companion's shoulder, wrapped in bloody
bandages instead of armor.
"U-Urgh..."
"Hang in there, Hughes!"
"Camil, how's your magic energy?"
"Sorry, it's still..."
He doesn't look too good... They don't seem to be bandits, so I can't turn a
blind eye... I can at least let them rest at my place. If they turn out to be bandits,
I have my emergency measures in place anyway.
Ryoma stepped out of the thicket he was hiding in to call out to them.
However...
What should I say to them? 'Good day?' No, this isn't the time to be so
carefree. 'Oi! You lot!' That would just make them wary, and it'd be rude to
boot. Really, what should I say to them?!
Although Ryoma had stepped forth with the intention to help, it had been
three years since he had last spoken to anyone else. He found himself faltering,
unable to decide on what to say, during which time the group on high alert had
spotted him.
"Hey! Who goes there?!"
"Wait."
The person leading the group immediately pointed a sword at Ryoma, but
was stopped by a man behind him who slowly walked forward.
"Sorry for pointing a sword at you. We were a little on guard. What might you
be doing here? This isn't a place for children. Are you lost?"
Ryoma was questioned, though he was still having trouble finding his words.
"I was... hunting."
"Hunting? By yourself?"
Rather than words, Ryoma nodded in confirmation.
"This is a dangerous place, but... Oh well. Did you need something from us?"
Ryoma pointed at the injured person.
"He's... injured."
When Ryoma reached into the leather bag at his waist with his empty hand,
the man with the sword stepped forward and pointed it once more, as though
to protect the other man. Ryoma realized the knife he had equipped next to his
leather bag was probably the reason for that reaction and jumped back, swiftly
taking out his homemade medicine and offering it with both hands to show he
had no ill intentions.
"...Is that medicine?"
The man with the sword asked after seeing that, at which Ryoma nodded
before forming his words with difficulty.
"Injury... bad... Use medicine."
"You're letting us use that medicine?"
"Hurry."
The men exchanged glances, but the slender man named Camil accepted the
medicine bottle warily and checked its contents before feeding it to the injured
person. When the injured man regained some of the color in his face, the
attitude of the men towards Ryoma softened a little.
"You have my gratitude for giving us your medicine. Hughes should last a bit
longer with this."
"Can rest... at home. Should rest." This is pathetic, even for me...
With his clumsy words, Ryoma slowly but successfully managed to invite the
group home. He led them into the forest and through the trees, proceeding at a
slow pace for the injured person. On the way, their whispered discussions
reached his ears.
"What is a child doing in a place like this?"
"He still looks pretty young..."
Well, I am eleven years old right now. Being this deep in the forest is
suspicious. That being said, it doesn't feel nice being doubted like this. I'd like
them to feel less wary... Should I try making small talk? No, I don't have
anything other than the backstory prepared to explain why I'm here... I might
end up digging my own grave if I made small talk.
"Is there really a place we can rest up ahead?"
"I don't know. But the potion earlier definitely had an effect, so he doesn't
seem hostile."
"Some hunters create safe zones within the forest where they can hide. He
may have some kind of campsite."
Exactly! As long as you don't attack me, I have no intention of fighting either.
That's right, I should check whether my traps have caught anything. That way I
can prepare a meal while their injured member is resting. If I do that much for
them, anyone reasonable would be a bit more friendly.
Ryoma came to a stop and called over the sticky slime he had on standby next
to the traps, using the effect of the taming contract. But to those beside him, it
looked like Ryoma had just came to a sudden stop.
"What's wrong?"
"Trap... caught prey... Be here soon." Ryoma said, casually observing the one
who had spoken to him.
Is he the most important person here? Everyone was following his orders
earlier, including the man with the sword. Maybe the rest are his escorts or
something.
Ryoma thought to himself, when the grass rustled and parted to reveal the
sticky slime with a horned rabbit's carcass in tow. However, the man beside him
swiftly drew his sword, unaware that it was Ryoma's familiar.
Oh no!
Ryoma leaped forward and picked up the slime and trapped kill.
"...Is that slime your familiar?"
The action had alerted the man that the slime was a familiar, to which Ryoma
nodded his head furiously. The man gave Ryoma and the slime another look
before sheathing his sword again.
"My apologies. I didn't realize it was a familiar."
As long as we've cleared up the misunderstanding, it's fine. I haven't been
using enough words to express myself, either.
A slime was still a monster, so it was only natural to think of ones in the forest
as wild. Ryoma put the slime and kill away in his bag and started to walk again.
This time, with a conversation based on the incident just now.
"But that slime sure brings back memories. My first contract was with a slime
as well."
"...A tamer?"
"A former tamer. I haven't formed a contract since the familiar I bonded with
retired from old age. I used to have a red horse and blizzard ape in the past,
though."
"...Amazing...?" I don't really know those monsters...
"I come from a family which has been taming for many generations, so we're
taught various tricks and techniques from a young age. I don't particularly excel
in any area of magic, but I do have a certain level of pride in my sword arm."
Generations of a family. And with personal escorts. This person is either a
noble or someone rich and influential. Or maybe someone with such
connections... Wait, calm down. I was informed in advance that this kingdom is
more tolerant regarding the social gap between nobility and commoners. The
gods picked this kingdom on purpose, because it was easy to live in. Based on
his actions until now, there's still plenty of room to be friends. If I think of it as a
business party with no higher or lower statuses... But I can't let down my guard
either way.
Ryoma was in a slight panic, as he gathered his thoughts in his head and
walked around retrieving the kills from his traps.
Ten minutes later, they arrived at the cliff where Ryoma's home was.