Chapter 97

Sorry!

In the afternoon, while listening to the adventure stories from Ilya and Alyusha who had taken over, I discovered a certain creature.

"It's a slime."

"Yes, that's right."

Ilya, who didn't flinch at all despite the presence of a monster.

Of course, slimes are very slow-moving monsters with a low level of danger.

They are omnivores and eat almost anything, but they don't have the power to dissolve humans.

They basically take in dead animals, fallen fruits, wood chips, and weeds, and slowly digest them.

If a slime attaches to a human's face, it can be easily peeled off without much difficulty.

When it is peeled off, a slimy liquid will stick to the face, but since the danger level is so low, it is said that only infants in this world can lose to slimes.

I had never seen one before, but in this world, knowledge about monsters that pose a threat is necessary, so it was drilled into me by Mother Elna and Father Nord.

It would be incredibly defenseless not to know about dangerous creatures that attack humans.

Among the studies in this world, I particularly enjoyed the lessons about monsters.

It was like studying fantasy creatures like slimes and goblins from a game. To me, it felt like listening to game explanations and settings.

I threw a pebble I had used for magic at the slime that was slowly moving from the grass to the carriage.

The pebble, describing a parabolic trajectory, hit the slime perfectly. The slime moved its body, gradually incorporating the pebble.

The pebble could be seen in the middle of the slime's blue body.

"Really, they are omnivores."

Can they really get nutrients from pebbles?

If you give them minerals, they might become rich in iron.

Still...

"That slime, if you wash it and remove the slipperiness, it would make a good pillow."

"Eh? Master Alfrid, you have strange ideas."

"There are people who really like slimes. There's even a research institute in the capital that specializes in slimes."

Ilya and Alyusha reacted to my casual comment.

What's that, I want to take a peek. They're so cute, trembling and all.

I haven't touched one, but it seems to have a bit of elasticity.

"If you put it in a leather bag and chill it, it might make a nice, cool, elastic pillow..."

"..."

When I said that, the two of them seemed to imagine it and their expressions became serious.

"It would feel so good to sleep on a cool, elastic pillow in the summer..."

When I said that, I could hear a sound like a throat being cleared from the two of them.

But in my case, I think it would be enough to fill it with water and chill it with ice magic. However, I wouldn't be able to enjoy the pleasant elasticity with just that.

I want it to be soft enough to be enveloped, yet firm enough to push back lightly.

"Maybe I'll catch one for an experiment."

"Yes, I can do that. I can use water magic to catch it!"

When I said that, Alyusha took a piece of linen from the carriage and ran down to the slime.

"Hey! What's Alyusha doing? Just leave the slime alone."

"Is Al going to use magic again?"

"Oh? Really? Is he going to make the slime disappear this time?"

The voices of Arvin, Molt, and Rumba, who were guarding from the back, could be heard.

If you suddenly get out of the carriage, you'll naturally draw attention.

"It's just a little experiment. Don't worry about it."

Saying that, Alyusha, like a hunter covering an alligator with a cloth, covered the slime with a bag.

Then, with a fluid motion, she scooped the slime into the bag and returned to us.

"What's he doing? He put a slime in a bag? Is he going to bully a slime at his age?"

"Reminds me of the old days. We used to do that a lot."

I could imagine him poking the slime with a stick like Urashima Taro's turtle.

Then, the guys in the back seemed to shift to reminiscing about the old days, talking nostalgically.

It looks like they're having fun.

"I brought the slime!"

Alyusha, who had returned to the carriage, held up the bag with shining eyes.

"Wow! This elasticity!"

When I poked it with my index finger, it sank in, enveloping me in its softness, and then pushed back slightly.

This is amazing! A slime pillow might actually work!

"Feeling it through the bag, it might actually be quite good."

Ilya, with her white cheeks slightly tinged pink, poked it.

However, the linen seemed to lack water resistance, and the fabric absorbed the liquid, turning brown. A slimy substance oozed out from the gaps in the fibers.

Wow, it's slimy.

A more water-resistant leather would be better. I've seen villagers use leather to hold water as a substitute for a canteen. There might be such leather in the Triella Guild's cargo.

"Let me ask if there's any water-resistant leather. In the meantime, wash it with water magic."

Saying that, I got out of the carriage and headed to Triella.

"Triella! Do you have any water-resistant leather?"

When I knocked on the door of the carriage in front, Triella opened the curtain and the window and stuck her head out.

"Water-resistant leather? What's going on?"

Behind the surprised Triella was a woman with a cool impression, probably her secretary.

I'm envious. If you had someone like that, they could probably take care of you without you having to work.

"I want to put a slime in it."

"Slime?!"

Triella's eyes widened in surprise at my idea.

"No, I was thinking it might be comfortable to use a slime as a pillow."

"Tell me more about that!"

Saying that, Triella opened the door and invited me inside, so I explained the potential of a slime pillow.

"As always, your ideas are out of the ordinary. I never thought anyone would consider using a monster like a slime as a pillow..."

When she said that, I realized that using a monster as a pillow might require some courage.

"It might be a good pillow, with its elasticity."

"I'm worried it might come out while you're sleeping, but I'll try the experiment! I'm sure there's some water-resistant monster leather among the items we have."

Triella, full of enthusiasm, went to get it.

Please don't say scary things. It would be too horror if the slime came out while I was sleeping and possessed me.

When making it for real, I'll make sure it can't come out.

"Would you like some tea?"

"I'll take it."

While drinking the tea made by the secretary, I waited for Triella for a while.

"I've brought it! Let's try it right away!"

When Triella knocked on the door and called out, I thanked the secretary and returned to my carriage.

"Ah, I've finished washing the slime."

Alyusha, who had been washing her hands thoroughly, probably because the slime had made her hands slippery.

Slimes take in objects into their bodies and slowly digest them, so touching a slime doesn't dissolve your skin.

"This is Blue Alligator leather, this is Aqua Hound leather, and this is Ludros leather. These are water-resistant."

Triella arranged them like that.

"Maybe not the Blue Alligator."

It's literally alligator leather. I'd rather not put my head on it, even though I'm the one who wants to put a slime on my head.

"It's water-resistant, but the appearance and texture are a bit off."

So, it's one of the other two.

Aqua Hound leather. It's the skin of a wolf-like monster, a light blue, soft, and squishy leather.

Ludros leather. It's said to be the skin of an otter-like animal, yellow, thick, and elastic.

"Let's try putting the slime in it."

I touched the slime a little nervously.

Oh, the slipperiness is almost gone. When I poked it, my finger sank in, and it had elasticity.

It seems to have become less reactive after being washed with water. Does it become weaker when its slipperiness is taken away by water?

I poked it a few times to check and then lifted it to put it in the Aqua Hound leather.

The slime, with a heavy, squishy weight, entered the leather. It had a considerable weight.

Then, Triella quickly tied it with a string, making an impromptu round pillow.

For the final product, it would be better to sew it carefully, but this is just an experiment.

Since there are no slimes around, there's no choice. We'll encounter more eventually.

I put the impromptu slime pillow on the floor and immediately laid my head on it.

"Wow!"

Everyone looked a bit anxious but also expectant as I let out a surprised exclamation.

The rubbery texture of the Aqua Hound leather felt good, and the elasticity of the slime inside made it feel like it was hugging my skin. The slime, with its moderate firmness, perfectly absorbed my weight, enveloping me in a comfortable way. The secret to its elasticity might be the force that pushes back as it tries to return to its original shape.

"How is it?"

"Feels good."

I answered Triella's question in a relaxed voice. What should I do? I won't be able to sleep with the pillows at the mansion. I won't become dependent on this... I can sleep anywhere, like on a tree or in the grass.

"How about you, Triella?"

I got up from the elastic slime pillow and offered it to Triella.

"Sure, I'll give it a try."

Triella answered without hesitation.

Ilya and Alyusha, who had been looking anxious, now looked more expectant.

They held hands and watched Triella, who was lying down, with nervous anticipation.

"Ah, this feeling... it's amazing."

Triella, with a blissful expression, let out a lazy voice.

"Next is me!"

Unable to hold back any longer, Alyusha pushed Triella aside.

After fixing her hair, she slowly lay down.

"Ah!"

She let out a cute scream.

"What's wrong, Alyusha!"

"No, it's just... it feels better than I thought..."

Alyusha, blushing slightly, answered Ilya, who was worried.

Given that feeling, it's no wonder she was surprised.

"Alyusha! Let me have a turn!"

"No way. I caught this slime and washed it. I have the right to enjoy it for a while."

While Alyusha and Ilya argued, Triella and I had a serious discussion.

"Triella, this could work."

"It looks promising. But since slimes are monsters, we need to thoroughly test it. We need to choose a sturdy leather and make a good container. We need to ensure that the slime can't come out, of course, and the texture must be good."

Indeed, even though slimes can be defeated by anyone, they are still monsters and need to be handled with caution.

"We need to conduct various experiments. I want to try Ludros leather too."

"We'll catch more slimes! Can we count on you, Alyusha and Ilya?"

"Sure!"

When Triella turned to ask, Alyusha and Ilya ran