Chapter 97: Slime Pillow
In the afternoon, while listening to the adventure’s story from Ilya and Aleutia who took turns guarding the carriage, I discovered a certain creature.
「………it’s a slime.」
「That’s rightー」
Even though there is a monster, Ilya didn’t get agitated.
But that’s only natural since slime is a slow-moving monster and it has low risk.
They are more or less omnivorous and eat anything, but they don’t have the power to melt humans.
They basically took everything from animal dead bodies, fallen fruits, wood chips, and weeds inside their bodies and slowly digest it.
They are difficult to remove once they stick to a person's face……wrong, they’re easy to peel off.
At that time, one’s face will end up covered with slimy liquid, at any rate, they’re a low-risk monster and it is said that in this world, the only one who will lose against a slime is a baby.
I simply never saw them until now, but in this world, knowledge regarding threatening monsters is indispensable, and that said knowledge was drummed into me by Elna-kaasan and Nord-tousan.
Of course, I don’t know about dangerous creatures that attack people, but there’s a limit to being vulnerable.
Of all the studies in this world, I like lessons about monsters the most.
It’s like studying fantasy creatures like slimes and goblins in-game. To me, it was like listening to the instruction manual or a setting from a game.
The slime came slowly toward the carriage from the grassy field, I threw the pebble that I used in the magic from before.
The pebble made a fine arc in the air as it directly hit the slime. The slime body is wriggling as it takes the pebble into its body.
The pebble can be seen in the middle of the bluish body of the slime.
「……it's really omnivorous.」
Can it take nutrition from something like a pebble I wonder?
If you were to give it ore or something, then it might become rich in iron.
Nevertheless………
「That slime, if you were to wash it and clean the fluid then it’s going to be a good pillow.」
「Eeh? Alfried-sama thinks about some strange things, aren’t you?」
「You can encounter them sometimes. Strange people who are fond of slimes. There is also a research institute in the royal capital that specializes in studying slimes.」
Ilya and Aleutia reacted to the casual remark that I muttered to myself.
What’s that, I would love to take a quick look at them. I mean, their jiggling movements are cute aren’t they.
I’ve never touched it before, but it looks like they’re pretty elastic.
「If you were to stuffed them inside a leather bag and cooled it, then it looks like it could be made into a nice and cold, elastic pillow………」
「「…………」」
When I muttered like that, the two of them had a serious expression on their faces as if they imagined it.
「It would feel good if you were to sleep using such a nice and cold, elastic pillow in summer……」
When I told them the proper way to use the slime, I can hear a swallowing-like sound from the two of them.
Ah, but to me, I think I can just fill it with water and then cool it with Ice Magic. But, if I only did that then I would most likely be unable to feel the nice elasticity of the pillow.
I’d rather have a pillow with a proper amount of hardness that can bounce back when pressed lightly, than the one where your head just sinks into. Despite all that, I want a pillow that has a softness where I can sink into it.
「Maybe we catch it to use as a little experiment.」
「Tha, that’s right, isn’t it. I can use Water magic, so I will catch it!」
When I muttered so, Aleutia got down from the carriage while holding hemp cloth in her hand, and started running toward the slime.
「Oi! Aleutia, what’s wrong? Leave that slime alone.」
「Does Al want to do some magic again or something?」
「Oh? Really? Will he make the slime vanishes this time?」
I can hear the voice of Irvine, Mort, and Roomba, who became the rear guards.
If you suddenly get off from the carriage, I guess you will attract their attention.
「We’re just going to do a little bit of experiment. Don’t worry about it.」
After saying that Aleutia covered the slime with the cloth in her hand, just like a hunter putting a sack on a crocodile’s head.
After that, she scooped the slime into the bag in a smooth, flowing-like movement, and returned to the carriage.
「What’s wrong with her? She put the slime inside the bag, see? Is she going to be an adult bullying a slime or something?」
「That’s nostalgic. I used to do it often in the pastー」
I can imagine it, just like when children in Urashima Taro’s story poked the turtle with a stick.
After that, maybe the guys in the back’s conversation change to reminiscing about their past, and they start talking nostalgically.
Looks pretty fun.
「I brought the slime!」
Aleutia returned to the carriage with her eyes shining brightly and raised the bag.
「Ooh! This elasticity!」
When I poke it with my index finger, my finger sinks into the bag and as if it was wrapped in softness. Then, there’s a bit of a firm resilience.
This is amazing! Slime pillow, it could work!
「……after I touched it through the bag, it might turn out to be pretty good.」
Ilya’s cheeks became slightly red as she poked them.
But, maybe hemp cloth is not resistant to liquid, the cloth slowly absorbs the water and turns light brown. Something glistening came out from the gap in the fiber.
Uwa, it’s slimy.
It would be great to have leather or something that is more water-resistant. I’ve seen the villagers putting water inside leather to replace a water bottle. There might be one such leather among the Toriela firm’s luggage.
「Is there any water-resistant leather…, I’m going to find one, so wash it with Water magic for me.」
I said that and got off from the carriage, heading toward Tori’s direction.
「Tori―! Do you have water-resistant leather?」
When I knocked on the front carriage’s door, Tori opened the curtain on the window and showed his face.
「Water-resistant leather!? Just what the heck are you trying to do?」
Behind the shocked Tori is a woman who gives off a cool impression. I wonder if she’s something like Tori’s secretary?
Enviable. If I have someone who seems to be capable like that, then she will take care of everything even without me working.
「I want to put a slime inside it for a bit.」
「A slime!?」
He might be surprised at my way of thinking, Tori’s eyes opened wide.
「No, I mean, wouldn’t it feel good if I could turn a slime into a pillow.」
「Let’s talk about it in detail!」
Saying that Tori opened the door and invited me to get inside the carriage, so I tried to explain to him about the possibility of a slime pillow.
「Your way of thinking is completely unexpected as usual, hey. Who would have thought of trying to turn a monster such as a slime into a pillow………」
Having said that, it might require considerable courage to use a monster as a pillow to sleep.
「I wonder if it has a good elasticity if you to turn it into a pillowー」
「I’m worried if it’s going to come out while I sleep using that, let’s try to experiment with it, 'kay! If I remember correctly, there should be water-resistant monster leather among the stuff for sale.」
Tori goes out in high spirit.
Please don’t say something scary. It’s too horror if the slime comes out while we're sleeping and then does something like swallowing us.
Let’s make it properly so that it won’t do something like coming out when we made the real thing.
「Would you like some tea?」
「Please.」
While drinking the tea made by the secretary-san, I waited for Tori for some time.
「I brought it, here! Let’s try it immediately!」
Tori knocked on the door and shouted, so after thanking the secretary-san I returned to my carriage.
「Ah, I’ve done washing the slimeー」
Maybe she touched the slime and the mucus stuck to her hands, Aleutia is currently washing her hands thoroughly.
The slime was given food and the food is brought to the middle of its body and it’s slowly digesting it, so your skin doesn’t melt, especially when you touch it.
「This is Blue Alligator leather, this is Aqua Hound leather, and this is Ludros leather. These leathers are water-resistant, y'see.」
Tori lined them up.
「…so there are Blue Alligator, huh」
It was a whole, crocodile leather. I would like to refrain from sleeping while putting my head on that.
Even though I said it myself that I wanted to sleep using slime as a pillow.
「Monsters living in the water do have good resistance to water but, the appearance and texture leaves much to be desired, yeah」
In that case, then it’s the other two, huh?
Aqua Hound leather. A hide from a wolf-type monster, it was soft, spongy leather with a light blue color.
Ludros leather. I’ve heard that it looks like a fur seal-like animal hide. It’s yellow and thick, but it has elasticity.
「Yoshi, for now, let’s try to insert the slime.」
I tried touching the slime while feeling a little nervous.
Ohー, there is almost no mucus left. When I poke my finger into it, it enters the slime and feels elastic.
Somehow, I feel that the slime’s reaction has become dull after being washed using water.
Does it weaken after the mucus has been washed with water, I wonder.
I poked at it to make sure *pechipechi* and then I raised the slime and stuffed it into the Aqua Hound’s leather.
The lump of slime entered the leather *derori*. It’s quite thick and heavy.
And then Tori immediately tied the leather up with a cord, making an improvised, round pillow
I think it would be better for the finished product to be sewed carefully, but right now we’re still in the experimental stage.
It can’t be helped since no more slimes can’t be found in the vicinity. We’ll encounter them sooner or later.
The improvised slime pillow is placed on the ground, then I immediately lay my head on it.
「Ooh!」
Everyone looked a little anxious, but they examined my expression with some expectation on their faces, then I let out a surprised voice.
The rubbery texture of the Aqua Hound’s leather feels nice, and coupled with the elasticity of the slime inside, it feels as if it sticks to your skin. With the right amount of firmness from the slime, it impressively took in my body weight, as if the pillow is wrapping my head and it feels really good. I wonder if the secret to the elasticity is the slime’s ability to push back and return to its original shape…
「Ho, how is it?」
「………it feels good.」
I answered Tori’s question with a relaxed voice. What to do, won’t be able to sleep with the mansion’s pillow anymore. If I don't have this child, my body………can’t live without it. Whether it be on the tree, grassy field, I can sleep anywhere with this.
「How is it Tori, wanna try?」
I somehow managed to get up from the elastic slime pillow, and recommended it to Tori.
「In that case, let me try it.」
Tori replied with no hesitation.
Ilya and Aleutia’s anxiety faded, while the look of expectation on their faces grew.
They stared at Tori as he laid down and used the pillow while holding their hands anxiously.
「…………aah, this feeling……… man, it’s the bestー」
Tori let out a faint voice with a look of ecstasy on his face.
「Ne, the next one is me!」
Maybe she couldn’t bear it any longer after watching that, Aleutia urged Tori to move away.
After that, Aleutia arranged her hair, and slowly lay down.
「Hyaaa!」
She screamed cutely.
「Wh, what’s wrong! Aleutia!」
「No, it’s just………it feels better than I expected………」
Aleutia answered Ilya’s worried voice, while she blushed a little, probably because she’s embarrassed.
It’s understandable to be surprised if you experience such a sensation.
「Aleutia! Please switch with me!」
「No way. I’m the one who catches and washed this slime. So I have the right to enjoy it a bit longer.」
While Aleutia and Ilya were arguing for taking turns, Tori and I were talking seriously.
「……Tori, this could work.」
「Looks like it, huh. But slime is a monster, so it should still be inspected thoroughly. First of all, we need to choose a sturdy leather to make it into a fine case. The texture is a matter of course, but it is also necessary to make it so that the slime can not come out of it, right…」
Certainly, even though anyone can defeat a slime, it is still a monster. It is necessary to handle it carefully.
「It’s an experiment while collecting a lot of them, huh. I also wanted to try using Ludros leather」
「Let’s catch more slime, then! Aleutia-san, Ilya-san, can I ask for your help, girls!」
「Understood!」
When Tori turned around to ask for their help, Aleutia and Ilya rushed outside.
It seems like those two liked it very much.
「Oi, the both of you going outside now, what’s wrong?」
When the three guys in the back saw the two of them rushed out in a hurry, they called out quizzically.
「Did you see any monster around?」
「There are only slimes around here, y’know?」
「「Aaaah! Slime!」」
After hearing Irvine’s answer, I can see the figures of Aleutia and Ilya as they started running from the window.
「What's up with you guys. Your expressions change just because you see a slime」
「Never mind that, bring that slime over here!」
「Haa? Don’t wanna. We’ll take care of this Surarin for you. After that you’ll come and snatched it from us, are you a neighborhood bully or something? After bullying a slime, are you going to extort us?」
「Aleutia became a delinquent!」
I can hear such lively voices from outside.
But maybe they explained the reason after that as Roomba was left behind, while the Silver Wind adventurers went slimes-hunting.
The Silver Wind adventurers spread out toward the plains and forest looking very happy.
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