The Weakest Tamer Began a Journey to Pick up Trash - Volume 6 - Chapter 277

Chapter 277:

Let’s Check In

“YOU TWO may use this room.”

When we explained the basics of our situation to Guild Master Priya, he was quite startled. After Druid calmed him down, he took us to the village watch station, and we asked Captain Tableau to give us some time alone.

“Thank you, sir. Don’t worry, we’ll explain everything to you later.”

“It’s quite all right, Druid, Ivy. I know what kind of people you are, and I can tell this is a very serious matter. Take as long as you need; I’ll be nearby waiting for you once you’re ready to talk.”

Captain Tableau was acting completely differently than he had the first time we met him. He exuded a dignity befitting of a captain of the watch. It’s amazing how quickly people can grow.

Druid slumped into a chair with a heavy sigh. “This is just too much for my brain to handle now.”

“Are you all right, Mr. Druid?” Unless I was mistaken, he looked even worse than before.

“You’ve sure got grit, Ivy.”

I’ve got grit? I don’t really think so.

“I mean because you’re so calm, even at a time like this.”

“Well, that’s only because you’re here with me. And my creatures. Oh, I’d better take them out!”

“Sure. I’ll turn on the magic item.”

“Yes, thank you.”

At least we both remembered all of our safety procedures. I opened the lid to my bag.

“Pu! Pu, puuu.”

Sora.

Mrrrow.

Ciel.

“Teryuuu.”

And Flame…is asleep. Okay, I know all their names. I looked at Druid. He nodded, showing me that he remembered them, too.

“Kuryu.”

And Number Four…Number Four? I peeked in the bag, and inside was a tiny little pitch-black slime!

“Ivy? I just heard a voice. Did I imagine it?”

“Where did you come from, little one?”

I reached into the bag and gently put the slime on the palm of my hand. Then I carried it over to show Druid. It was so tiny that it completely fit in my palm. And it was pitch-black to boot.

…It’s just one problem after another, isn’t it…?

“All right, let’s start with the basics… Is this slime okay?”

I showed Sora and the others the new slime. Sora and Ciel jiggled, signaling that it was safe. Okay, now that that’s clear, one more push. Let’s focus on the summoning circle now.

“Fine, then we’ll get back to this little one later. For now, we have to deal with the harmful effects of the summoning circle.”

“I’ll say it again: You’ve got grit, Ivy.”

There was a deep respect in Druid’s gaze… Why, though? Was it something I did or said just now? All I’d done was suggest we deal with our other problems later.

“Okay, what do we need to talk about right now…?”

“Our memories, right?”

“Huh?!”

“Hm? Was I wrong?”

I didn’t think we needed to get into that at the moment. I glanced curiously at Druid, and he gave me the same expression right back. Silence fell between us for a while…then Druid chuckled softly and gave my head a little pat.

“What were you planning on doing, Ivy?”

“I was going to check in with Sora and the others to see what they know.”

Druid nodded in reply.

“What were you planning on doing, Mr. Druid?”

“I thought we should talk over a few things, to find out just how much of our memories have changed and what parts are missing.”

I think that’s plenty important in its own right… “But if we both forgot the same things, how would we find out?”

“Ah, you have a point.”

First, let’s ask Sora if we’re safe. The slime jiggled in reply to both of us, signaling we were both safe, so the next step was to ask Sora and Ciel to join in our conversation. “Um… So, Sora, Ciel, I’d like to ask if you… Oh! Good morning, Flame.”

“Te! Ryu, ryuuu.”

It’s actually perfect timing that Flame’s awake. Phew… I’m kinda nervous. It feels like the questions I’m about to ask them are incredibly important.

“I need to ask you something very serious, so please answer me, okay? Do you remember how we went deep into the forest a little while ago?”

They responded that they did remember. Druid, catching on to what I was trying to do, stared intently at the three creatures.

“Do you remember seeing Snakey?”

They answered that they did.

“Do you remember Snakey being trapped inside the summoning circle?”

They remembered.

“Was Snakey freed from the summoning circle?”

They said yes. Thank goodness.

“Oh no! I forgot about something really important.”

“What is it?” Druid asked.

“Do you think it’s possible the creatures were also affected by the summoning circle?”

“Yeah, it is. Summoning circles can work on all living beings. Do you guys feel weird in any way? Like, do your heads hurt?”

The creatures answered that they didn’t.

“Did that summoning circle affect everyone?”

They jiggled…meaning everyone was affected. But how were they affected? If they didn’t feel anything wrong in their bodies, what if their memories were messed up like ours were…?

“Did it do anything to your memories?”

They didn’t jiggle, meaning their memories were okay.

“Are you still under the summoning circle’s effects?”

They answered “No.” So whatever the summoning circle did to my creatures isn’t a problem anymore?

Mrrrow.

“Ciel?”

Ciel hopped onto my lap and jiggled.

“Do you think maybe that big burst of magic energy from Ciel was what saved us?” Druid asked. That reminded me of the unusually powerful magic energy I’d sensed in the hole. “Come to think of it, there’s no way Ciel would attack you with a huge surge of magic energy like that, Ivy. If Ciel possessed that much magic power, it would definitely be able to control it.”

“Pu! Pu, puuu,” Sora sang, bouncing around in agreement.

Oh, I see… So Ciel’s magic energy must have ended the summoning circle’s effects.

“Without Ciel’s magic, I don’t think we would have made it out of that hole.”

Right. That hole… Wait, wasn’t it a cave?

“Mr. Druid…did we find the summoning circle in a hole? Or in a cave?”

“Oh…yeah, it was a cave.”

Right… It was a cave. At some point, it had become a hole in our minds. Yeah, a summoning circle that big couldn’t fit in a hole; it would have to be a cave. Ugh, having my memory tampered with feels so icky.

“Anyway, let’s get Captain Tableau in here so we can talk it over with him.”

“Sure. Can we keep the creatures out of the bag?”

“Yeah…I’m sure we can. I think.”

When we opened the door to call Captain Tableau, we saw that Guild Master Priya and Vice-Captain Pith were with him. Considering the challenges that lay ahead, it would indeed be better to tell them, too.

“Mr. Druid, is it all right if Guild Master Priya and Vice-Captain Pith join us?”

“Yeah, they should probably know about this as well.”

Hearing Druid’s words, the other two followed Captain Tableau into the room.

“Sorry to keep you waiting, gentlemen. Come on in, we have a few things we need to discuss.”

Pith and Priya entered with Captain Tableau, only to turn to stone the moment they saw my creatures.

“What’s wrong, sir?”

I wish they’d hurry up and sit down already.

Captain Tableau took one look at my creatures, then stared at me. “Miss Ivy…you’ve forgotten to hide them.”

“Oh, no. I was thinking of introducing them.”

The words were barely out of my mouth before Pith scurried over to my creatures, looking incredibly excited.

“Rare slimes? Wow, I’ve never seen slimes like these before. Huh? These markings… I have a feeling I’ve seen them somewhere else… And what’s with this shifty-eyed slime?”

Hey. Rude. Flame’s eyes aren’t shifty; they’re sharp. Well, I guess when you add the sleepiness to it, Flame’s eyes are a little shiftier than most. Pity, it’s so cute otherwise.

“Easy now, Vice-Captain Pith.”

“But wow, three rare slimes all together at once. It’s just unheard of!”

Well, they are here, though. And there might even be four slimes, by the way, if you count the one in my bag.

“Never mind that. Just calm down!” Captain Tableau yanked on Pith’s arm and sat him down in a chair.

The last time I saw him, I thought Pith was the calmer one. This is getting kind of funny. Does Vice-Captain Pith have a weakness for rare things?

I let out a little giggle. Noticing this, Vice-Captain Pith cleared his throat several times and looked away.