Chapter 14 Contract

For various reasons the Butcher and I made a contract not to tell lies to each other, and resumed negotiations. Even if you said that the things the Butcher told was information, in fact most of that was based on the Butcher’s own experience.

The fact that I did not know anything about the structure of this world was exposed during our conversation, but the Butcher did not seem to take advantage of it. It seems that I had been truly treated as an equal by it — what a relief.

“First of all, in this world the role of the soul is very important.  The strength of a soul is used in establis.h.i.+ng power in reality&h.e.l.lip;&h.e.l.lip;. you already know about that right?  

“&h.e.l.lip;&h.e.l.lip; Sorry.”

The Butcher was completely at a loss in the beginning just like that.

"Good grief, why is it that even though you are good at forecasting and predicting, there are times wherein you completely lack ideas about something."

(That's because I was reincarnated from another world you know)

"Well, even if you tell me that."

The words that are coming out from my mouth are different from what I am thinking. I could not get into contract because I was unconscious.  Well, I did not lie but I said it in a way that it can easily be misunderstood.　

I'm not saying that I don't know, I'm just replying by following what the others said to me. The j.a.panese language is the most convenient language for handling vague expressions. I'm glad that I was j.a.panese.

“Well, let’s return to the conversation. Souls dwell within all life that exist in this world. In humans, elves, dwarves, and even in monsters like yourself; a slime or goblin and these bones, insects, nature and all life. And so, the size of your soul grows bigger and bigger the more that you level up.”

The growth of soul huh, I can barely understand the theory about that so even if you suddenly say it to me, I am stumped. In the first place, I don't even believe in questionable things like ghosts. Well, considering what happened to me, I can still stomach most of the things that happened, but agreeing with it is a different matter.

"The most quickest method to grow the soul are by stealing others soul. When you take someone’s​ soul with your own hand, you can absorb their souls."

"Eh? Isn't eating their meat the same as absorbing their soul?"

I thought that based on the theory just now that when you eat your opponent's meat you will get some part of their soul, and that's the way we become stronger.

"Of course you can gain power by using that method, or  you can use this skeleton's method. However, the ratio cannot be compared when you defeat an enemy, it can be called hunting for sc.r.a.ps so to speak. Naturally if a powerful soul remains in the sc.r.a.p that is consumed, then you would be able to gain tremendous strength, but that would be  an exceptional case. The major  and important parts of a soul lies within the nucleus, so  it is natural that it is absorbed by  the killed after it has been usurped."

It seems that most of the things that I have predicted before are true somehow basing it from the talks so far.

"There are other ways to strengthen the soul by yourself such as acc.u.mulative training, but I can't recommended it that much."

"Why? Gaining power without killing anyone is the best way. Isn't it?"

"It's not bad when proficiency would somewhat increase, but unless you want to gain all the skills that that race can learn and level up till you achieve enlightenment, it will not happen."

Uh huh, that's impossible. Until I can achieve enlightenment? Do you want me to become a hermit or something?

"Finally, the conditions in the case of the contract huh. It would seen that a small portion of their soul can be obtained in the case of a tournament wherein the opponent is defeated. Of course a special skill  is required for that, but you don't need to remember it for now."

(Not killing the enemies may be asking too much but it cannot be helped but I have to kill them for now, huh.)

It would be nice if I don't have to kill but when the time comes I'll think about it.. Thinking about it now will just plant hesitation anyways.

"Although we spoke about many things, all you should do now is clear the conditions and evolve again. It's fine to know about other things when the time comes. If you would like then this skeleton will teach it to you one by one."

"Is that so,  I should just do what I can do for now&h.e.l.lip;.. wai, wait a minute. With the way you are talking, it would seems like you want to come with me."

"That was my intention, do you have any problems with that?"

It is strange that it was said in a very natural way. When did I decide to have this guy accompany me??

No no, in the first place I have not yet decided.

"As long as this skeleton is around then it will be convenient for you in many ways. I can teach you about the conditions to evolve if you pay the compensation, What do you think?"

"Wh, what?"

The Butcher slips in that statement after sensing that I was about to refuse.  The contents are indeed quite attractive.

If I know the requirement to evolve then I can concentrate on raising my level,  my worry for pa.s.sing my skill time limit strongly decreases.

However, somehow it's unpleasant for this fellow to always tag along. No matter how polite it is, its appearance is that of a skeleton.

"Then from now on I would need to pay compensation for the information that I need?"

I cannot decide from my feelings alone therefore for now let's just wait and see. If the compensation is unreasonable I'll flatly refuse it, but if it's pa.s.sable then it is fine to accept it for now. It's only temporary after all, if I don't like it anymore then I'll bid farewell to it.

"Right now. Well then, would you share some of your meat right here now? I gave up waiting for your death but your meat is an attractive product, I would like to stock up on it even if it's just a little."

Giving some of my meat. I wonder how I should deal with such a difficult problem, I won't do anything.

"It is fine, it's nothing at all."

An immediate reply.

At first glance, to allow myself to be deprived of some of my body parts sounds like an outrageous thing to do, but if you look at it from my standpoint as a slime then it's nothing at all.  As long as I'm not dead then that part can be restored immediately after all, and even if I don't restore it I can just enlarge myself to compensate for it.

Actually, the injury that I suffered when the goblin hit me was healed immediately when I ate some medicinal herbs. There will be no problem if I do it the same way this time. There are a lot of medicinal herbs in this neighborhood that are growing like weeds.

To begin with, it is questionable whether a part of this body can be called meat, but if the Butcher has no problems with it then it is fine to say that it is meat.  I won't mind it at all.

"Oh, again an immediate answer. Then is it alright if we establish a contract?"

A small pain ran through my body the moment I nodded my head in agreement. Probably, the meat was taken at the moment when the contract came into existence.

"Again, I come into possession of some interesting goods. Well then, this side will keep its promise."

Saying so, the Butcher teaches me some of the conditions that I can attain around here.

"Alright, if it is like this, let's evolve right away."

"That's right"

Again, the Butcher answers normally.  Well, I understand that with this amount of compensation it had made a huge return with almost no risk.the There can be no dissatisfaction or complaints to come.

So, I begin to move without delving much into it.

Thus, I have obtained my first companion in this other world.

Translator Notes:

Thanks to Indra13 from Re: Translations for the initial translation of this. Me and the new translator Sn0wkiss will be working faster to catch up on the chapters. From now on Butcher Shop would be Butcher after this chapter.

Also since Shura is not yet available due to him being sick because of overwork, I will be taking over his translations for the time being until he is no longer busy. He may not be translating for a while.