TL Note: Heres your second and last chapter of the day. This chapter was made possible by all the anons that have donated. Thank you anons.

Karma -> Carm

Volume 2 Chapter 21

The next day.

I went to the store before opening time.

Good morning, everyone. [Ryouma]

Good morning, Boss! [Carm & Karla]

Good morning! [Everyone else]

Thank you for yesterday. Thanks to you guys, I was able to rest well. [Ryouma]

Thats great. [Marie]

Overworking is bad for your health, so please take care of yourself. [Karla]

Boss, youre working too hard, you know? When we heard how much youve been working, we were shocked. [Li Ling]

You actually built this store in 10 days. Thats just crazy. If you keep up that pace, youll die early, you know? [Fei]

Ill be careful. [Ryouma]

Please do so. [Karla]

Even if the Boss acts like an adult, hes still a kid after all. [Jeanne]

Even if youre an adult, its not good to push yourself. [Fina]

Looks like I caused my employees to worry. But actually, thanks to them being here, I didnt push myself that much. Still, Im grateful that they were worried over me.

Because of that, I was quite happy. And so, I gave them my thanks, then I headed to the kitchen.

Celma-san, are you here?

Is there anything you need, Boss? [Celma]

When I got to the kitchen, the only cook of this store, Celma, was there. Our cook seems to be making some kind of soup. Seeing me, Celma-san stopped stirring, and walked towards me.

Yesterday, I rested and I went out of the town for a bit. During that time, I managed to hunt some game, and so I thought Id bring those back as souvenirs. I drained its blood right after killing it, then I froze it, so its quality should be good. [Ryouma]

As I said that, I took out the meat from my Item Box.

My, my, thank you very much. This is horn rabbit, right? Please put this in the fridge for now, Ill serve it to everyone during lunch. [Celma]

Thank you. [Ryouma]

As I said that, I went to put all of the meat in the fridge.

Ara, ara, theres quite a lot, huh? [Celma]

Its because I was able to spot a herd of them. [Ryouma]

Im really glad that we have this refrigerator. Its really convenient. [Celma]

Really? I mean, it certainly is convenient, but [Ryouma]

I have to put up the barrier once every day, so its actually quite annoying. If I became better at barrier magic, then the duration of the barrier would also increase, but well, it is better now that when Id first using it, where each barrier only lasted for an hour.

It is! Its really convenient! Normally, when theres an ingredient that I wont be able to use immediately, Id be left with no option other than to just throw it away! Vegetables are one thing, but as for meat, I really have to throw them away immediately! Its easy for it to go bad during hot days, and summer, but then, theres also the fact that its to get sick from it. But with this refrigerator, even if I have plenty of ingredients, even if its meat, I can put them away, and use them for tomorrow. Like this, not only will I not waste food, we can also save money! [Celma]

Ah, now that you mention it When I was in the forest, I hunted when I needed to eat, and before the excess meat went bad, I gave them to the slimes. So I guess I forgot about that. [Ryouma]

The slimes are also quite convenient. They eat the trash and the bones for me. Theyve really helped me a lot. [Celma]

We chatted like that for a bit, then I put up the barrier for the fridge again. After which, I left the kitchen.

When I got out, Karla-san seemed to have some business with me, as she called me.

You want to increase the number of employees? [Ryouma]

The current number is enough for now, but when our branches start to increase well have a problem if we only start raising new employees then. At the very least, couldnt we start raising up a manager, or someone who will become a key player in the store? [Karla]

Thats true I dont have any objections regarding that. In the end, Ill have to leave it to Carm-san and the others to raise new employees. But the thing is, in our store the biggest problem is the slave magic user. To our store, cleaner slimes are indispensable, which means slave magic users are also needed. So the problem is, how are we going to hire a trustworthy slave magic user, who wont run off with the slimes or smuggle them? [Ryouma]

Normally youd go to the tamer guild for that, but Right now, the tamer guild is a suspect, so [Karla]

Right regarding that, there hasnt been any problem, has there? [Ryouma]

None. No one has come since then. But I dont think theyre going to give up after just one failure. [Karla]

For the meantime, lets be careful. Ill try thinking about the slave magic user. As for your side, I dont mind if you add some people you appraise highly. [Ryouma]

Thank you very much. [Karla]

After that, I left the store, and decided to go to the abandoned mine. On the way, I met Jeff-san. Today, he isnt wearing any armor, and he also doesnt have his spear with him. He walked over to where I am, while he stuffed his cheeks with skewered meat. Is it his day off?

Oomph! Mmm *gulp, isnt that Ryouma? [Jeff]

Good morning, Jeff-san. Is it your day off today? [Ryouma]

Im just tired because Ive been fighting every day. Are you working today? [Jeff]

Im going to the abandoned mine to run my rounds. [Ryouma]

By abandoned mine, you mean the place where we hunted? [Jeff]

Yes. Ive become the manager of that place. So I have to patrol it at fixed intervals, and make sure that no magical beasts are making a nest out of it. [Ryouma]

You were doing a job like that? Youre an adventurer, a laundromat, and a manager, arent you busy? [Jeff]

Well, Ive already left the laundromat to my employees, so I dont have anything to do right now. I can also rest freely as an adventurer. And its not like I actually have to act as a manager for the mine every day. So until the store expands, I wont be busy. [Ryouma]

Then I guess its fine, but Oh, right. Want some? Ill treat you. [Jeff]

As Jeff-san said that, he took out his bag of skewered meat.

Then, Ill take one stick Mn! [Ryouma]

When I took a bite, what I tasted wasnt herb or salt, but rather the stinging taste of seasoned meat. In this world, things like sugar and spices are expensive. Because of that, salt is generally the only ingredient used to make food taste better. But this is delicious! It feels like its lacking in some parts, but nevertheless, this is good!

Its delicious! [Ryouma]

Right? I bought it from that cart over there. They used a little bit of spice, so its a little expensive, but its delicious. Theres a plaza over there, so go take a seat and try tasting some. [Jeff]

I followed Jeff-san, and entered a side street. The place we went to, was a plaza with a bench and a well. I took a seat on the bench as I observed the area. Its kind of like a park.

Didnt you just start a new store? And now, youre already thinking of starting another one? [Jeff]

Its because the guild master of the merchant guild and my employees told me to think about it. Its not like Im planning to start one right away besides, therere some problems. [Ryouma]

What? Is there something bothering you? [Jeff]

The new shop is going to be at a different town, because of that Ill end up having to travel frequently. But in order to make my store, its important for there to be someone who can manage the slimes. [Ryouma]

Thats not something you should worry about. Just go the tamer guild. [Jeff]

Well the guild master of the tamer guild seems to be hostile to me, so he might do something strange. In fact, there were some thugs who were paid to make a mess in my store The guard I employed, managed to stop them, but we think the one who hired those thugs is the guild master of the tamer guild. [Ryouma]

You, did you do something bad? [Jeff]

Nothing in particular. I just went to register with the duke familys young lady and so from the looks of things, he dislikes me for having a close relations.h.i.+p with the dukes household, despite me being like this. [Ryouma]

Ahh so its that kind of guy. Those kinds who brandish their position and connections are such a pain. [Jeff]

Indeed. Moreover, hes the kind of guy who doesnt care about people below him. Putting it bluntly, hes not someone who can be trusted. Theres no way Id hire someone from the guild of a man like that. [Ryouma]

As I said that, I bit into my skewered meat. Jeff-san finished his own set, and as he brought out a second set, he said this.

Then in that case, I have a suggestion. [Jeff]

Really? [Ryouma]

Yeah! Im not good at stuff that involves ones head, as I cant do anything else aside from fighting. Because of that, I cant help you out when it comes to business and stuff, but when it comes to people, then thats a different story. If you dont want to hire someone from the tamer guild, then how about hiring someone from the slums? [Jeff]

Someone from the slums, huh? [Ryouma]

Thats right. The people from the slums are poor, but its not like they cant do anything. Im also someone who used to be from the slums, but Im living as an adventurer now, right? In the same way, I know many people who can use slave magic.

There are all sorts in the slums. There are people who are useless, and then, there are also those who are too skilled, was conspired against, and ended up in the slums. Isnt it fine if you hire those kind of guys?

This town is a mining town, so therere more jobs here compared to other towns. So, while its not possible to live comfortable, people arent being driven into a corner either. Because of that, there arent many who would commit a crime. And there are actually plenty who can be considered decent people. And more than anything, these people have a strong sense of camaraderie with those whove also come from the slums. Unless you do what the public office did, and try to drive down the salary, I dont think theyll betray you.

The people of the slum also want a stable life. Thats why, if you want to hire, then you can hire immediately. As for whether you can form a trusting relations.h.i.+p, well that depends on you. [Jeff]

Is this what you call, having the scales fall from your eyes? Now that he mentions it, the guild is more of something like an agency. As long as you have an intermediary, then it doesnt matter. I can look for people by myself, and put them through the merchant guild instead.

Try thinking about it. Once youve made up your mind, Ill act as your middleman. Even till now, my face is still useful around the slums, you know? [Jeff]

Thank you very much. Ill think about it. [Ryouma]

As I said that, I finished eating my skewered meat. I give my thanks to Jeff-san, and head towards the abandoned mine. On the way, I thought about the discussion we just had.

Its not bad, right? Rheinbach-sama also employed the slum people to clean the latrine pits. So at the very least, theyre not unhireable, and theres also the possibility that there might be someone trustworthy there.

While I was thinking that, I reached the abandoned mine. I immediately set off to start the production of waterproof cloths. I didnt have any problem even with 50, so I guess I can do 70 today.

I fix the cloth on the workbench, then I leave it to the sticky slimes.

When that ended, I started the training. The sticky slimes, poison slimes, acid slimes, and scavenger slimes are all fine, but it doesnt seem like the b.l.o.o.d.y slime is made for combat. Because its body is closer to liquid than the others, its attacks have absolutely no power behind it. It doesnt have any abilities for fighting either and because its movements are so slippery, its first movement is fast, so it looks like it can at least run, but is this something to be happy about? For the meantime, I guess Ill spend some time observing it. [Ryouma]

Then, theres the metal slime and the iron slime. Theyre both hard, but because Ive only just recently tamed them, theyre still not able to move their bodies well. Turning their body into a tentacle also seems to be impossible for them If they were able to, then I couldve made them harden along with it and do all sorts of things, but yeah, I guess Ill also have to spend some time with these guys.

As for the earth slimes and the dark slime, theyre all able to use magic.

The earth slimes can use Rock, Break Rock and a currently still weak Earth Needle.

As for the dark slime, it can cause its surrounding to become darker with Darkness, and it can also shoot out a ball of darkness with Dark Ball. Its something I rarely use, but its a kind of magic that sucks out ones life force. Even if you say suck though, it wont replenish your life. The magic that can accomplish that, is a mid-level magic called Drain.

These guys also move like normal slimes. So Ill have them train their magic, then Ill have them train their movements a bit, afterwards, I guess I could let them take the role of a gunner?

Its also essential to have some live combat experience when using attack magic, so yeah these guys will also take some time.

Ive already confirmed that the earth slimes can use Rock and Break Rock, so I guess Ill try teaching them Create Block.

As I tried to teach them that, they were able to do it after several tries. I was a bit surprised at their learning speed, but I think its good that they learn fast.

As for the dark slime I guess Ill have it practice the Dark ball? Im also not that well-versed at dark magic, so I guess Ill train alongside it.

After that, while letting the cloths dry, I trained with the earth slimes, and at the same time, we also made some building stones. I had the newly made building stones be carried into a tunnel for safekeeping. Ill use them when I make a house next time.

And then, just like usual, when the cloths finished drying, I retrieved it, and left. When I got back to the lodging, I visited the dukes room.

Welcome. Ryouma-san. [Elia]

You came. [Rheinbach]

Is there something? [Rheinhart]

There was something I wanted to discuss for a bit. [Ryouma]

Oh? What is it? [Rheinbach]

I talked about what Id discussed today with Jeff-san. Hearing that, they seemed to think it wasnt a bad idea.

I dont mind if you hire the slum people. That is, if you can trust them. But then, you do have an intermediary, so as long as that guy is trustworthy, then I dont think therell be any problem. [Rheinbach]

Even if its a little, like this, the slums job prospects will also increase, so Im a little happy. Only, I think its better if you stick with the guild. It may not be illegal, but because of how money youre making, it wouldnt be strange for people to try to find some dirt on you. At that time, the less holes you have, the better. [Rheinhart]

Thats certainly true. But, could I pa.s.s it through the merchant guild, instead of the tamer guild? [Ryouma]

As I said that, pondering, the madam smiled at me and said this.

Dont worry, its fine. After all, even though youre also registered as a slave magic user, youre also registered as a merchant, right? Moreover, this might be poor of me to say, but the people of the slum are most likely people who wouldnt accept jobs from the tamer guild.

Just like Ryouma-kun, they too, only have weak slave monsters. Even if they try to tame a stronger magical beast, they cant. Otherwise, theyd be able to get jobs from the tamer guild, and that would allow their lifestyle to improve.

Its also normal for them to look for jobs that arent related to slave magic, so there shouldnt be any room for criticism. [Madam]

Precisely. Still, I think its better if you talk with the guild master of the merchant guild first. That way, everything can proceed without a hitch. [Rheinbach]

Thats true. Alright!

Then, Ill go to the merchant guild tomorrow. [Ryouma]

With that, we came to a conclusion. After that, I drank some black tea for a while, while I asked them about the tamer guilds criterion, then afterwards, I left the room.

Apparently, the current tamer guild considers the power of the magic beast that the slave magic user has contracted to be a representation of that magicians skill.

So it doesnt seem like theyre actually looking at actual abilities. All theyre looking at is the division of the magical beasts strength by referencing something that somewhat resembles an ill.u.s.tration book. Moreover, regardless of how many you contract, as long as its something weak like a slime, then they wont value it. That is to say, 0 is 0 no matter how many times you multiply it.

All in all, what this means is that, as long as youre able to contract with a strong beast, then youre an expert at slave magic. If you cant do that, then youre bad at slave magic.

Of course, I also understand that there are people like the dukes household, who dont only judge a slave magic users ability on that, alone. But then, theres also the fact that it takes time to train and figure out a way to use your slave monster, whereas if youd just tamed a powerful slave monster instead, then even if you dont train much, youll be able to easily gain strength. It would appear that, that kind of thinking has become popular in recent years.

Matthew is a typical man who thinks like that. And after gaining some influence, it would appear that hes become rather wicked.

Before I went back to my room, they emphasized to me the need to be careful of Matthew. If they only had some proof of his wrongdoings, then theyd be able to do something, but without any evidence, it becomes really difficult.

Really, these guys are always saving me. Im really grateful.