The next day.
Today, I’m going to make charcoal and look after the abandoned mine.
Until now I’ve been relying on my charcoal reserves, but I’ve almost it up already. If I don’t make some more before I really run out, the deodorant slimes won’t have anything to eat. Also, the weeds I cut the other day are in good condition now, so….
“Oh, that feels good.” [Ryouma]
It hasn’t been raining recently, so the weeds have already been dried. If not for that, I would have had to use my alchemy to dry them in a flash.
“Alrighty then. Let’s give it a shot.” [Ryouma]
I used my newly purchased pitchfork to gather the weeds scattered on the ground.
“Oh! This is pretty good.” [Ryouma]
I poured my mana into the metal fixtures attached to the handle of the pitchfork and invoked the Body Reinforcement spell imbued in it. Suddenly, it seemed as if the weight of the pitchfork had vanished from my hands, and I was able to easily gather the weeds.
As a result, gathering all of the weeds into a single pile and storing it in my Dimension Home looked like a trifle job. This is actually fun.
“Next I have to cut out weeds for use next time.” [Ryouma]
I took out my ‘Scythe’ from my Item Box. Light Novels would have you believe that this is a weapon, but this is a farming tool. It has a handle like that of a one-handed sickle, only bigger. It has a blade, and there are two poles parallel to each other.
“Am I doing this right?” [Ryouma]
There were metal fixtures similar to those of the pitchfork on the two poles, so I tried holding the scythe there. When I did, the giant sickle was positioned parallel to the ground with the edge of the blade facing forward. I’ve never used this tool before, so I’m not confident with how I’m holding it, but I think this should be about right.
“Heave-ho!”
I had my right hand on the front while my left hand pulled. Most of the grass caught were just pushed down, but the scythe had cut them a little, so I seem to be using it right. I’ll need to keep practicing.
“Fuu, fuu, fuu… Un.”
After an our of trial error and practice, I gradually became better at using the scythe. The key point was to position the blade similar to how I would position a katana. Also, the power comes from the hips rather than the arms. The arm is just there for support, and the part of the blade that should be hitting the weeds is the part near the edge of the blade.
When I stuck to those key points, I was easily able to cut the weeds.
Gradually, the boundary between the weeds that have been cut and those that haven’t were changing. The scythe is much more efficient than a sickle that can only cut what’s immediately in front of you, and it’s also really fun to use when you know how to. Looks like I managed to snag another good purchase.
“…This much should do.” [Ryouma]
I left the mowing at that, and went down to the foot of the mountain to cut some lumber to turn into charcoal.
Naturally, what I’ll be using here is none other than my magic axe. Axes are generally heavy, but that’s also the source of their strength, so you can’t just make them lighter. This magic axe of mine, however, is imbued with a spell so that its wielder can use it as if it were light without reducing its actual weight.
Depending on the person, this axe might be easier to use than attack magic.
4 or 5 trees should do. After cutting them down, I carried them back up, then I cut off the branches and divided them into appropriate parts, and then… Before I knew it, the sun had already risen to its highest point.
Should I take a break and have lunch now?
…? This sound…
“Dange—” [Ryouma]
I shifted my body slightly to then side, and in the next moment, an iron ball passed where my head was just a while ago.
“Be careful!” [Ryouma]
The iron ball that passed was my Iron Slime. It wasn’t moving from where it fell after I warned it.
“You can go.” [Ryouma]
When I said that, the slime turned into an iron ball again and rolled back up the abandoned mine.
…Lately, the iron and metal slimes have been growing quickly.
When I remembered about them turning into a ball when I caressed them, I made them practice the motion, and the metal slime was able to turn into a ball. Eventually, the iron slime was also able to do the same thing.
I thought they were just gradually growing up, but a few days later, the metal and iron slimes started rolling around wherever they pleased.
A closer investigation showed that although their body was hard and heavy, inside, their nucleus could quickly move as it pleased, so they could shift the center of their gravity to move themselves where they pleased. At first, I thought it was nothing more than a coincidence, but eventually that coincidence turned into their main method of getting around.
The slimes that used to be the slowest from my goo of slimes were now battling for 1st or 2nd place in terms of speed. What’s more is that the two of them learned the High-Speed Movement skill.
That being said, it’s only on level ground that they are able to move as they please. On hills or slopes, they could easily find themselves being taken by gravity.
But the slimes actually enjoy that, so when I leave them on their own, they can usually be found rolling down the hills. When they roll down too quickly, though, they can end up out of course and fly off just like that one slime just now. Their bodies are made of metal so it’s really dangerous.
The metal and iron slimes have also been increasing their numbers lately due to the abundance of food. All of those slimes are able to roll.
…I might have to make a special track for them in one of the tunnels…
I’ll think of something in the near future.
Tl Note: Also ePUBs and PDFs updated again. Credits to a kind reader.