After our break ended, we resumed training… Or at least that’s what I thought would happen, but apparently, we were done for the day.
“The both of you have already learned Share Senses, so you can just practice it in your spare time from now on. For now, Ryouma-kun, why don’t you listen to Elia’s music. You might think I’m just a doting father, but I do believe her skills in music are truly something to be admired.” [Reinhart]
“Music? Why all oft he sudden?” [Ryouma]
What’s going on?
“We talked about the rimel bird before, right?” [Elize]
“Yes. You mentioned it’s one of the reasons you came to town.” [Ryouma]
“That’s right. Rimel birds can fly fast and use wind magic. That’s why it’s hard to catch one without hurting it. You can’t seem them normally either. But rimel birds are still monsters, so you can still form a contract with them!” [Elia]
I see, so since it’s possible, she’d like to try taming one, huh.
So, what does that have to do with the music?
“Does music have something to do with that?” [Ryouma]
“Bingo. Music is indispensable if you want to form a contract with a rimel bird.” [Elia]
Really? I thought to myself, but then Sebasu came and explained.
“Rimel bird possess a great amount of mana and are also intelligent. Because of that a normal contract will fail with them. However, rimel birds use their their beautiful cries to discern friends and to communicate. So, if you can play a tune for them that they like, then it will become possible to form a contract with them.” [Sebasu]
As expected of another world, they have a catching method that goes beyond common sense! Who would’ve thought I’d have to play a tune to be recognized as a friend…
“You can form a contract like that? I didn’t know that.” [Ryouma]
“The odds of success are really low, so there are people who think it’s just something someone made up. Unfortunately, I’ve never heard of anyone taming a rimel bird other than with this method. As such, when it comes to rimel birds, it has the highest of chance of success.” [Sebasu]
“And that’s why Elia is going to show off her playing. Today is just practice though.” [Reinhart]
“Ryouma-san, please stay there and listen. If you don’t want to listen and fall asleep instead, that’s okay too. [1] But you can’t go home.” [Elia]
Huh? It’s okay not to listen, but I’m not allowed to go home?
Confused, I glanced at Sebasu-san and the others, and that was when I finally noticed it. They were smiling while looking at me.
………Ah, could it be!
“You finally noticed?” [Reinbach]
“Ryouma-kun, you’re always working too hard, so we figured we should help you take a break for once.” [Reinhart]
“After subjugating some monsters, you built a store, then you hired some new employees, then you took some jobs at the adventurers guild, and now, you’re making some waterproof cloths. I hear you haven’t been getting much rest lately, too.
And just yesterday, some hoodlums came to your store, so you’re probably going to get busy again. So, before that, we figured we’d use today’s training as a pretext to distance you from work.” [Reinhart]
“Ryouma-sama, this is something everyone agreed on after hearing about your workload.” [Sebasu]
“And just when did word of that get around?” [Ryouma]
I never noticed at all.
“We’ll be watching over you today, so you’re definitely not working even a little bit.” [Elia]
“This kind of resting probably won’t help your mind rest, but without any rest at all, there’s a chance your body might break. If you still intend to work without regard for yourself after this, we’ll take you back home with us even if we have to do so by force.” [Reinbach]
“Sorry for worrying everyone.” [Ryouma]
“Even if your current workload is alright with you, a normal person would surely break down if they kept that up. It’s also possible you just can’t tell that you’re working too hard, so you need to be careful.” [Reinhart]
“And so, Ryouma-san, today is a compulsory rest day. I will be starting my performance then. Please do enjoy t.” [Elia]
The ojousama sure is unusually pushy today… Or was she always pushy? …Nah, I’m sure this is just her naivete.
While I was thinking that, the ojousama received a violin from Sebasu-san and started playing.
This world has violins too, huh. Maybe an otherworlder brought it.
I listened to the music while thinking of useless stuff. The ojousama is actually quite good.
She played a calm tune, so I was able to relax.
When the music ended, she asked me for my thoughts.
“Ryouma-san, how was it?” [Elia]
“You played beautifully.” [Ryouma]
I’m not just flattering her. I played some guitar myself back in my previous world, but I don’t think I played that well. I don’t know that much about music, but I felt good while listening to her playing, so I’m sure it’s good.
Although my words didn’t overly praise the ojousama, she was still elated.
After that she started playing again.
I listened to Elia play the violin while I petted the amiable Ruog and my slimes. I passed the time in leisure like this.
While listening to Elia’s music, the time for the slimes to feed came, so I started giving the 3 slimes my mana.
“Oh!” [Ryouma]
Then, suddenly, one of them showed signs of change.
“It’s here!” [Ryouma]
“What is it!?” [Elia]
“Ryouma-kun, what is it all of the sudden?” [Reinhart]
“What came?” [Reinbach]
When I exclaimed like that, the ojousama stopped playing, and the others approached me.
“My slime is evolving!” [Ryouma]
[1] People falling asleep when someone *cough* sings for them? PUFFFFF! (○｀з´○)
All eyes gathered on the slimes I was petting. Just like when the iron slime evolved, the slimes started shaking, then suddenly stopped, and then they started releasing and absorbing mana.
At the same time, their color started to change.
Everyone’s eyes were glued to the slimes’ evolution.
The slimes’ color changed to a tawny hue.
When their evolution ended, I used monster identify on them.
Earth Slime
Skills:
Earth Magic Lv2
Earth Resist Lv8
Absorb Earth Magic Lv1
Jump Lv1
Digest Lv3
Absorb Lv3
split Lv1
Earth magic! The experiment is a success!!
“Ryouma-san, what did it evolve into?” [Elia]
“It’s an earth slime. A slime that can use earth magic!” [Ryouma]
“Wow! That’s another rare slime!” [Reinbach]
“Ryouma-kun, earth slimes are fairly rare. Just how did you manage to evolve them?” [Reinhart]
I explained to them the method I used, but when the ojousama and madam tried it out…
“It’s not working…?” [Elia]
“This is surprisingly difficult…” [Elize]
Normally, after you convert your neutral mana to another element, you invoke a spell or just revert it back to neutral element.
Apparently, maintaining the converted mana requires a high level of mana control. Although I only had to take my time a little when releasing non-neutral mana, my magic control is currently level 4, a result of me constantly playing around with magic. In the end, the two had no choice but to accept that it currently wasn’t possible for them.
Frustrated, the ojousama stopped playing the violin and started training her magic, but she still couldn’t succeed. In the end, she told me that she would strive to acquire the magic control skill next time. She did so while looking competitively toward the slimes that evolved.
Anyway, with this, I got two earth slimes and one dark slime.
Dark Slime
Skills:
Dark Magic Lv2
Dark Resist Lv8
Absorb Dark Magic Lv1
Jump Lv1
Digest Lv3
Absorb Lv3
Split Lv1
Although I was a bit surprised with the slimes, I’m almost out of mana, so I decided to just leisurely enjoy the atmosphere.
” ……… Ah, a horn rabbit [1].” [Ryouma]
When Elia started playing her violin again, I sat back with my slimes and just quietly enjoyed myself, but when I let my crew bird fly, I noticed a herd of rabbits.
Meat… Should I get some as thanks to the people in the store.
When I told the others that I would go out for a bit to hunt, Reinhart-san, the ojousama, and the others offered to help, so I was able to get a lot of spoils.
I got my bow and arrow and hunted several animals while driving them toward Reinhart-san’s group and the sticky slimes. After that, all that was left was to retrieve the spoils.
…As expected, hunting with a group makes the whole thing so much easier. The workload is completely different compared to when I’m hunting alone.
As I thought that to myself, I went back to where ojousama and the others were, then I brought my crew bird back into its bird cage and cancelled the contract.
The madam said, “You can take it with you, if you want.” But I politely declined her.
Having the crew bird’s eyes isn’t that big of a deal for me, and even if it does become necessary, I can just catch one on my own.
“Well then… Shall we go back?” [Reinbach]
…Before I knew it, a lot of time has already passed.
It was best to get back before it got dark, so we rode the carriage back. We weren’t going fast, though, so there weren’t much swaying inside and the ride back was really pleasant.
But then again maybe I’m just feeling the aftereffects of the atmosphere this afternoon? Alternatively, it’s also possible that I’m a lot more exhausted than I thought.
Like that I dozed off. And when we got back to the inn, I just returned to my room and slept.
[1] – I remember someone saying horned rabbit sounds better, and I agree, but the raws are literally horn rabbit. As in it’s written in katakana. I don’t mind taking liberties to make things sound better, but this one is basically in English already, so I’ll just leave it as is. Thanks for the suggestion, though.
