The Man Picked Up By the Gods (Reboot)

Volume 1 Chapter 6

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What should I do? I wondered.

My answer? Ill tell them.

To me the process is more important than the result. I started researching slimes because I was interested in them and because I enjoyed the process. I didnt really care about the result; and besides, Ive already told them. Its a bit too late to try and be secretive now.

“Its alright… The conditions for evolution is, diet.

Different diets, result in different variations.

Green caterpillars, lead to sticky slimes.

Poisonous herbs, lead to poison slimes.

Slimes have, preferences. If you feed them, what they prefer, theyll eventually evolve.

If you dont give them, what they prefer, they might still evolve, but slower; alternatively, they might die…” [Ryouma]

“I see, so thats how slimes evolve.” [Elia]

Seeing the young lady nod interestedly, I nodded and continued.

“More food, will make the slime evolve faster.

You can pick from, poisonous herbs, green caterpillars, and the washed bones of monsters…

Those three can give you, poison slime, sticky slime, or acid slime.” [Ryouma]

“Which type did you say I couldnt pick?” [Elialia]

“Cleaner slime, scavenger slime, heal slime. Their abilities are, the real thing, though.” [Ryouma]

The four members of the ducal family did not know of the slimes I mentioned except for the heal slimes, so they couldnt help but glance at each other.

“What kind of slimes are the cleaner and scavenger slimes?” [Elize]

“They have the clean, and deodorize, skills.” [Ryouma]

“Clean and deodorize? I dont believe Ive heard of those before.” [Elize]

“I can guess what deodorize does, but what about clean?” [Reinhart]

“…It would be faster, if you saw it, for yourselves… Please wait, a moment.” [Ryouma]

I left the guests for a moment and went to the kitchen. There I took a cloth and dipped it in rabbit blood. I took that cloth back with me along with one cleaner slime.

“Sorry to keep, you waiting… This is a cleaner, slime. Please, look.” [Ryouma]

“A blood-stained cloth? What are you going to do with that?” [Elize]

“This.” [Ryouma]

I ordered the slime mentally.

As soon as I did, it took the cloth in my hands and took it into its body.

The cloth spun around the nucleus of the slime.

Ive seen this scene countless times, but no matter how many times I see it, I cant help but be reminded of a washing machine.

10 seconds later.

The slime stretched out a part of its body and handed the cloth to me. I spread that cloth open for the others to see. When the four members of the dukes household saw it, they looked at it with inquisitive eyes. The butler and the two maids in particular where quite taken.

“The blood is gone, huh. The colors changed too. Was it digested?” [Reinhart]

“It was sucked by the slime, right? Is that it?” [Elize]

“No, madam. Thats not all.” [Maid]

“Arone?”

The one who answered their questions was one of the maids, a middle-aged woman by the name of Arone.

“Ryouma-sama, I believe that slime has the ability to eatfilth. Am I understanding this correctly?” [Arone]

“It is as you, say.” [Ryouma]

“What does that mean?” [Reinhart]

“That cloth wasnt just filthy with blood. There were other substances mixed in. Its current color is its original color.”

When you dont wash dirty things, the filth piles up, until eventually, its no longer possible to easily remove them. In some cases, the original color is lost forever.

So, in other words, theclean skill is a skill that can clean even the filthiest things! Am I correct?” [Arone]

“You are… However, its not just, non-living things.” [Ryouma]

I mentally ordered my slime, and in the next moment, it took my hand and the cloth into its body.

“Wha!?” [Elize]

“Dont worry.” [Ryouma]

Slimes would normally digest anything they put inside their bodies, so it was understandable why the members of the dukes household cried out when they saw my hand enter the slime. In fact, it wasnt just them. Every person in the room made a stiff face when they saw my hand enter the slime.

Five seconds later, I took out my hand.

“Are you ok?” [Reinhart]

“The cleaner slime, only digests filth… They wont digest human, or animal meat, unless ordered to.” [Ryouma]

“Who wouldve thought there would be a slime like that?” [Reinhart]

“Please dont do that again. Its bad for the heart.” [Elize]

“My apologies… Ive already gotten used to it, and… I really didnt want to touch, this cloth if possible.” [Ryouma]

“Well, it certainly wasnt very clean awhile ago.” [Elize]

“It used to be a goblins loin cloth, after all.” [Ryouma]

Everyones face twitched when I said that, but the maids became even more interested.

Apparently, that was because a goblins loincloth was considered to be the filthiest thing in this world.

“With this slime no matter how dirty or how disgusting something is you can make it as good as new… Moreover, you normally cant, take a bath while traveling, right?” [Ryouma]

“Yes, at most I can just wipe myself. This was my first trip, actually. It feels so wrong not being able to take a bath at least once a day.” [Elialia]

“Rest assured then, with this slime… All your problems can, be solved.” [Ryouma]

After I said that, the young lady of the dukes household looked at me with lasers coming out of her eyes. Eek! I thought. This is really scary! For various reasons!

To make things worse, the madam and her 2 maids eyes also magnified.

“Because, this slime, can eat filth, bad odor, all the dirty things.” [Ryouma]

“Thats the one! I want that slime! Please help me get a cleaner slime!” [Elialia]

…Oops. Didnt I just say she couldnt pick this? Why oh why did I pitch it to her then? Not to mention this was the worst of them all! Ahh, damn it! I lose myself too easily when it comes to slimes… At the very least, I should have pitched the scavenger instead!

“This is no goo-” [Ryouma]

“How could you say that after showing me such a wonderful thing? How cruel!” [Elialia]

“Ryouma-sama, I am a maid of the Jamil Household from a family whos served for generations. I too have studied the basics of monster taming. If its no trouble, may I also know the methods of acquiring a cleaner slime?” [Arone]

“Id like to know too~” [Elize]

The women seemed to go mad after being pitched such a wonderful slime. Their zeal was so great that the men actually faltered; the guards too…

“Ryouma-kun, please dont excite the women any more than this.” [Camil]

“The method is, hard to say to women…” [Ryouma]

“You cant teach women?” [Camil]

“I dont mind teaching, its just hard, to say.” [ryouma]

“They want to know, though.” [Camil]

Camil-san decided to help me out by leading most of the men and I to a corner of the room.

“…I get you.” [Reinhart]

“Who wouldve thought it would be something like that.” [Camil]

“Thats certainly not something you can say to a woman.” [Zeff]

“I think not even other women could easily say it.” [Jill]

“Well, Im sure itll sort itself out.” [Hyuzu]

Hyuzu-san, however, did not share our sentiments. He turned around without a care for the world, and—

“Ojousama! Madam! Arone! I know the method!” [Hyuzu]

—he proclaimed it with a huge smile on his face.

What is he doing!? Does he know of a good way to say it?

“Really!?” [Elialia]

“Yeah! You just have to bathe and use the water as bait!” [Hyuzu]

He said it!! He said it super directly!!

Ah… There goes the slap.

When the women had finally calmed down, Reinhart-san explained the details.

If you put used water alongside clean water, most slimes would go to the clean one. For some reason, however, some slimes would prefer the used water.

Those are the slimes that have the inclination to become cleaner slimes.

After picking out the slimes with talent, all thats left is to feed them nothing but water and filth. Sebum and sweat would probably work best.

“I cant believe such a slime actually exists.” [Elize]

“Sorry.” [Ryouma]

“Umm, its not your fault, Ryouma-san.” [Elialia]

“I think its… not easy for… women to catch cleaner slimes.” [Ryouma]

“Ryouma-san.” [Elialia]

“?” [Ryouma]

“I think… Ill go with a cleaner slime, after all.” [Elialia]

It seems the young lady hasnt given up just yet.

“Then which of the guards…” [Ryouma]

“That wont be necessary. I may only be an apprentice, but Im going to be a monster tamer from here on. I cant possibly rely on others for this.” [Elialia]

“…You dont need… to do everything, by yourself…” [Ryouma]

“Even then, I believe I should take the first step on my own.” [Elialia]

“…Your call…” [Ryouma]

“I-I… Ill do it! Can I have some water please?” [Elialia]

Everyone teared up at the young ladys speech. Her face was beet red, but she endured it.

She doesnt really have to go so far.

Whats with the atmosphere, though? Its almost as if a protagonist has just made a life-changing decision.

Anyway, it felt bad just bringing out some water, so I decided to suggest she use the bath. As a former Japanese, there are times when I really want to go for a dip, so I built a bath when I was building my house. Who wouldve thought itd be used for something like this, though?

“Theres, a bath here. Please use it.” [Ryouma]

“You have one? Thank you so much!” [Elialia]

I filled the bath with water magic and heated it with fire magic. When the water was at the right temperature, I called the young lady over. The entire preparation took just a few minutes. Magics seriously convenient.

After the young lady came with the two maids, I went back to where the others were.

“Ouch! Man, they really glared at me.” [Hyuzu]

“You deserved it.” [Camil]

“Its because you didnt have any ofthat.” [Ryouma]

Bythat I was obviously referring to delicacy. I was often told I didnt have any back on in my previous life, but even I wasnt as bad as him… Or at least, I think I wasnt.

I mean… When I grew up I had to watch my mouth, or risk getting accused of sexual harassment. It would have been social suicide if I wasnt careful.

“Ah, Ryouma-kun. Welcome back.” [Elize]

“Umm… Madam, I…” [Ryouma]

“Its fine, dont mind it. Shes made her decision and its not like you lied, right?” [Elize]

“Of course.” [Ryouma]

“Then thats that. Besides, Im happy to see shes serious about becoming a monster tamer. That being said, she couldve just gotten the cleaner slime by asking one from you, though.” [Elize]

…What did she say?

“What?” [Ryouma]

“I said she could have just gotten one from you. That didnt cross your mind?” [Elize]

Ha, ha ha ha… Why didnt I realize something so simple. If Id realized that earlier, we wouldnt have had to go through all this mess.

Maybe being here in the forest all this time has finally taken its toll on me. Its been three years since I started living here, after all.

“Good grief…” [Ryouma]

“Oh, well it was interesting in any case. I thoughtthats youth for you, or something. Anyway, Im glad to see my daughters resolve.” [Elize]

“Is that so…” [Ryouma]

I feel so tired for some reason…

After the young lady left the bath, she took the water and searched the river for slimes. Meanwhile, I consulted the maids on the fitting of my new clothes.

The young ladys luck seemed to be good, as she came back early, about the same time when I was done talking to the maids.

The young lady brought the slime with her and contracted it in front of everyone.

By then it was already dark, so I suggested for everyone to stay the night. I let them use the bath and cooked supper for them.

The butler and the 2 maids offered to help, but I rejected their offer.

Im happy for the offer, but the kitchen is too small. We wouldnt be able to fit with 3 more adults. Not to mention, everything was built for a kid to use, so if theyre unlucky, they might just end up breaking their hips.

Incidentally, our menu for supper was fried beast meat with grated jija, my otherworld version of pork fried with ginger. Reinhart-san seemed to enjoy himself, and the others praised me too.

It was a weird taste for a Japanese like myself, though. Of course, Ive gotten used to it by now.

Its a pity but it cant be helped since theres not a lot of rock salt to get from the cliff, and I even have to use alchemy to purify it because its a mishmash of various minerals. If it werent for alchemy, I probably wouldnt have stayed here for 3 years.

The ingredients here in the forest are enough to live off of, but theyre not enough to satiate my Japanese stomach.

Well, at least theyre happy.