The Man Picked up by the Gods - Volume 2 - Chapter 24

TL Note: Little help with this one please: 俺としちゃたまにみてっから初めてって気はしねぇなぁ。

Volume 2 Chapter 24

When I got back to the lodging, I went to Elia’s room. There, Araune let me in as usual, and served me black tea.

“Welcome, so did you manage to settle your discussion with the merchant guild?” [Madam]

“Yes, moreover, I’ve also already hired three new slave magic users today.” [Ryouma]

“You’ve already hired them? Aren’t you hurrying too much?” [Rheinhart]

“That may be so, but it’s because I found some good people. The guild master also mentioned that it’s fine, and I got her permission.” [Ryouma]

“Ho… then I can guess it’s fine.” [Rheinbach]

“Also, they’re all people who were demoted and were made to research slimes, so it seems they’re quite eager to work. Like, “We’re gonna show them!” or something.” [Ryouma]

“I see, so it’s like that.” [Rheinhart]

“Those kind might actually be more reliable than someone who’d try to put in reason, then try to keep up an appearance.” [Madam]

After we finished talking about the store, Rheinhart-san began to talk about the grell frog outbreak. Looks like we’ll be going to catch the grell frog, and tame the rimel bird, the day after tomorrow.

The next day.

I show my face at the shop in the morning, and talk to them about tomorrow. There, Caulkins-san gave me some warning regarding the rimel birds. Apparently, Caulkins-san attempted to hunt it every year, so I couldn’t’ help but ask him if he wasn’t going to try this year.

“It’s already been decided that I’ll be working at this shop, so it doesn’t matter anymore.” [Caulkins]

Said Caulkins-san as he showed me a cheerful face.

After that, I went to Serge-san’s store to deliver the 70 sheets of cloth I made the day before yesterday.

“Welcome, Ryouma-sama.” [Serge]

“Good morning, Serge-san. I came here to deliver the waterproof cloths.” [Ryouma]

“Thank you very much. By the way, five people came here yesterday according to your referral. Also, there’ve also been others who would come from time to time, and buy your waders when they noticed it. Looks like it’ll sell better than expected, especially to the adventurers.” [Serge]

Come to think of it, I did walk in the town with that. Is it because of that?

“When I took a request to clean the latrine pits before, I walked around the town in those for days. I guess it must’ve caught on because I stood out.” [Ryouma]

“That’s most likely it. Everyone who came here to purchase it already knew about it, and I didn’t have to explain it to them. With this, the demand might increase faster than planned.” [Serge]

“I brought 70 sheets with me today, but I still have some headroom, so I’ll try to see if I can increase the production rate. I should be able to increase it by expanding the workplace.” [Ryouma]

“Thank you very much, but please do take care not to push yourself too much.” [Serge]

Ah, so Serge-san’s also heard about me overworking.

“Please rest assured, my store’s already able to function by itself, and the longest part of the waterproof cloth’s production is waiting for it to dry.” [Ryouma]

“Then I guess it’s fine, but…” [Serge]

As he said that, Serge-san looked at me doubtingly. Ignoring that, I brought out the waterproof cloths, and after confirming them, he paid me for the manufacturing cost. After I’d received the payment and the new untreated cloths, I went to the abandoned mine.

As soon as I got to the abandoned mine, I set the cloths, and immediately start the treatment for 70 of them.

During that, I went to a different level with the 2 earth slimes and the scavenger slimes, and I began constructing a new work place while I trained the earth slimes.

I had the earth slimes use ‘Create Block’ to dig a hole, while I had the scavenger slime’s carry them. Then I used ‘Pavement’ to reinforce the walls. After preparing the tunnel, we made the room.

After that, I took the sticky slimes that treated the cloths, and began to work on a new set.

Today, I managed to do double of last time’s 70 at 140 sheets. The sticky slimes looked like they could still do more, but I stopped it around 150. It’s not good to push them too hard.

I had the slimes work hard, so I decided not to train them today. Afterwards, I filled a vessel of stone I made with earth magic with water from my water magic, and then I gave it to the slimes. Ahh, it’s slow, but they swarmed over me.

At that time, a thought popped up in my mind. Will slimes other than the earth slimes and the dark slime also absorb magic?

As I thought that, I began to release neutral magic power. In response to that, the other slimes also began to absorb it. However, it’s different from the vigor the dark slime and the earth slimes show when absorbing.

As I changed the attribute of the magic power I released, I found out that the acid slimes, the sticky slimes, and the bloody slime, all had a preference for neutral magic. The poison slime had a preference for poison magic power, while the metal slimes and the iron slimes had a preference for earth magic power.

But what was surprising to me, is that the cleaner slimes and the scavenger slimes had a preference for two attributes. The cleaner slimes, water and light. While the scavenger slimes liked earth and dark magic power. It seems it’s possible for some slimes to like more than one attribute.

As for the healer slimes, they also had a preference for the three attributes, neutral, water, and light. But it would appear that they liked healing magic the most. I wonder why these are the only ones who prefer magic over magic power. “Well, I guess it’s fine since it’ll also be practice for my healing magic,” is what I was thinking. But then, all of the sudden, the heal slimes became ready for a split! So magic power can also serve as nourishment? I’ll have to verify this later.

For the meantime, I had them split, and then I contracted them.

Like this, the 2 heal slimes became 4.

After that, in order to prepare for the rimel bird tomorrow, I took out the guitar I made during the time I lived in the forest. I tightened its strings, and then I practiced a bit.

It’s been a while, but I can still play to some extent. It would be great if I could tame it with this, but… well, whatever will be will be, right? If it doesn’t go well, then I could just go look for a different bird-type.

After that, I killed time until the cloths finished drying. Then I took the finished cloths, went back to the town, and delivered them as usual to Serge’s shop. With this, I’ve apparently finished populating the inventory for the waterproof cloth for the time being. Serge-san said that it will also take time to create the products, so for the meantime there won’t be a need for me to deliver new ones.

As expected though, I think he’s being anxious and is trying not to push me too much. Even though it’s the slimes who do all the work…

I’ll just store up the remaining cloths after finishing them then.

After I stepped out of Serge-san’s store, I looked up at the sky and thought.

“… I finished the job at a tricky time again, huh?” [Ryouma]

Even if I went back home now, there’s nothing to do. And there’s also no time left to go back to the mine and train… At times like this, I guess it’s best to go to the church.

This time when I got to the church, the one at the gate was the woman from when I had my status board made.

“Ara, aren’t you the one from…” [Woman]

“Thank you for before.” [Ryouma]

“Welcome, what business do you have here today?” [Woman]

“Today, I came here to pray.” [Ryouma]

“I see, then in that case, please follow me.” [Woman]

I was again brought to the chapel with plenty of chairs. And just like before, I grabbed a chair, put my hands together, and prayed....................................Hmm?

Huh? I thought I’d be sent to the god’s world again as usual, but nothing happened. Then again, I guess it’s stranger if I were to go there all the time.

As I thought that, in the next instant, my surrounding became white.

“!? This is...? So I guess I did end up coming here today as well. But still, there was a rather weird pause, huh?” [Ryouma]

“My bad, my bad, I normally don’t use my power, so it looks like it took some time.” [God]

To my mutterings, a voice came from behind me.

When I turned my head, I saw a thick haired man with a small stature standing there with a wine barrel on his right shoulder as he drank from a bottle with his left. It’s the God of Wine!

“The God of Wine, Tekun-sama?” [Ryouma]

After he separated his lips form his wine bottle, he answered.

“Yeah, I’m Tekun. You don’t need to be formal with me. After all, I am a god, I can see your heart, so there’s no point in keeping up that courtesy. Besides, it’s a pain, so you can also just call me Tekun. Anyway, take a seat.” [Tekun]

Now that he mentions it, there’s certainly no point when the person you’re talking to is a god who can read your mind.

I continue just like Tekun told me to, and I sat in that place.

“Then I’ll proceed as usual… Nice to meet you, I’m Ryouma Takebayashi. Thank you for divine protection.” [Ryouma]

“You don’t have to mind the divine protection, I just give it from time to time when I find someone interesting. It just so happens that it’s you.” [Tekun]

As Tekun said that, he drank some liquor from his bottle.

“Are you the only one here today?” [Ryouma]

“Yeah, everyone else is passing the time by doing whatever they want. The God of War, the God of Magic, and the God of Land all can’t be seen aside from this completely white place, but they all have their own comfortable spaces. There they created, what you would called in human terms, a house, and are living in it.” [Tekun]

“I see, I didn’t know that. Or rather, is this your house?” [Ryouma]

“Nah, I don’t have a house. I am the God of Wine and Craftsmen, and amongst wines and craftsmen there are several kinds of places, so I just wander there.” [Tekun]

“You wander there?” [Ryouma]

“This may be the divine realm, but it is still connected to the world you live in…… I can’t explain it well though, so you should have someone else explain it to you. But that aside, drink.” [Tekun]

Tekun took a cup full of liquor from the air and gave it to me. Rather than calling it a cup though, I guess calling it a goblet is more appropriate. The goblet is silver in color, and it has several silver and small precious stones decorating it here and there.

“Cheers!!”

“Cheers!”

After toasting vigorously, I drank. There, my mouth was filled with the sweetness of an extremely delicious liquor.

“This is delicious.” [Ryouma]

“This is fruit wine made from the mixture of the fruit and honey of the flowers raised in a land that’s received the god of land’s divine protection. Naturally, it’s delicious.” [Tekun]

“Ho… Could I get some to take back with me? And would it be possible to also get a land with that kind of divine protection?” [Ryouma]

“What, did you think you wouldn’t be able to get this wine because it was dedicated to god? As for divine protections, I can’t give divine protections to anything except people, but the God of Land can give divine protections to lands. Also, the Gayn you know used to give divine protection to everything in this world, you know? After all, that guy’s the God of Creation.” [Tekun]

“Well, nowadays though, after the living things of this world had grown and changed, the places were Gayn could give divine protection have become less and less. The same is true for me, but there are also times when I take away the divine protection. For example, when a passionate blacksmith does his best and I come to like him and give him my divine protection. But then he suddenly becomes lazy. At a time like that, I’ll want to take his divine protection away.” [Tekun]

As Tekun said that, he took another sip from his bottle.

“By the way, would you happen to know where Gayn and the others have been going to lately?” [Tekun]

“Where they’re going?” [Ryouma]

“Yeah, I haven’t seen them a lot lately, and there are plenty of times when they just suddenly disappear. It’s not like there’s a lot to do, so it’s fine, but I’m concerned.” [Tekun]

“Even if you tell me that… I can’t come here unless they call me, and even when we…” [Ryouma]

There, I suddenly thought of the last time I came here and chatted with Kufo.

“It’s possible that they might have come to my previous world.” [Ryouma]

“Yours? What was it? Earth?” [Tekun]

“Yes, yes, that’s right. Kufo said it when I came here last. Apparently Gayn and the others are going sightseeing in Earth.” [Ryouma]

“Haa!? Sightseeing in another world!? What on earth are those guys doing!?” [Tekun]

Tekun couldn’t help but yell as he was surprised.

“Is it strange?” [Ryouma]

“It is. Normally, gods won’t meddle with worlds other than the world they’re affiliated with. People with your case are a very special exception. So there’s no way we can go there for something as mundane as sightseeing.” [Tekun]

“But that’s what Kufo said the last time we met, so I don’t think I’m mistaken. Apparently, Gayn took a liking to the Japanese idols, and Rurutia’s going around eating sweets. As for Kufo he’s going around the secluded regions of the planet.” [Ryouma]

When Tekun heard that, he began to think.

“What’s going on? You’re telling the truth, right? I don’t know much about idols, but…” [Tekun]

“Yeah, I’m not lying.” [Ryouma]

“While it’s not like it’s impossible to go there, but… normally the god on the other side will get mad. To begin with, nothing like this has happened until you got here, you know? … Unless!!?” [Tekun]

All of the sudden, Tekun made an angry expression as he stood up.

“What’s wrong!?” [Ryouma]

“Those bastards… they wouldn’t have actually made a deal with the god on the other side to sightsee just because they had too much free time, would they? The ones that have nothing to do aren’t only them, and yet… they’re the only ones having fun!?” [Tekun]

As Tekun trembled all over, he quickly took the wine on the ground and carried it, and then screamed.

“This isn’t the time for this! I’m definitely gonna find those guys!” [Tekun]

As he said that he began to run, so in a panic I called out to him.

“W-Wait! What about me!?” [Ryouma]

“Ah–sorry… just past the time like that, eventually you’ll go back. It’s fine even if you take some with you. As long as you pour magic power into that goblet it will produce wine, so don’t worry about running out. Sorry, but I’m in a hurry right now, see ya!” [Tekun]

“W– eh? Fast!?” [Ryouma]

Tekun ran so fast he couldn’t be seen. Or rather, the pace doesn’t really match with the short distance. Ahh, I already can’t see him… I really was left behind, huh?

“Then, what should I do with this? Being left alone here… I guess I’ll drink some for the meantime.” [Ryouma]

I take a sip.

“Yep, it’s definitely delicious. Still, I kind of want some snack to go with this too.” [Ryouma]

Unfortunately, there’s only a liquor and a goblet in this place. He told me that if I put magic power into this thing, liquor will come out, but even then what’s the point if snacks don’t come out too? Hmm? But if I can use magic power, then I guess I can also use magic.

As I thought that, I tried opening my ‘Item Box’.

“ ‘Item Box’ “

A black orifice opened in the air. Looks like I can use ‘Item Box’.

“I was able to use it… So I guess it doesn’t have anything to do with the place? Well, whatever. Let me see if I can get something I can use as snack… there’s nothing else aside from food ingredients and fruits, huh? Recently, I’ve started to put everything in the refrigerator in the store… sigh.” [Ryouma]

I take out my things from the ‘Item Box’ but I couldn’t find any food.

While I was doing that, the time to go home came as light started to illuminate.

Not good! If I don’t clean up now!!

I drink the liquor in gulp, and put everything away in a hurry. In any case, I need to put everything back as fast as I can!

After I finish putting everything back, the light became stronger as soon as I closed my ‘Item Box’. Next thing I knew, I was back in my world.

“A–Ah… Is it a safe?” [Ryouma]

I quickly check my ‘Item Box’, and as I checked my things one by one, I was relieved…

For the meantime, I guess I’ll go out. Afterwards, I gave some donation, then I left the church.

… Come to think of it, I drank that last cup in one gulp, huh? Uwaah, I did something really wasteful… It would have been better if I just drank it slowly without looking for snack…

That liquor was really delicious. Because of that, I felt a bit regretful.

And so, as I went back home while feeling a little down.