Published: August 2, 2025
Today, five chapters are posted simultaneously.
This is the fourth chapter.
Thirty minutes after departure, the carriage moves in a line along a mountain path flanked by trees on both sides. Because of the abundant shade, it is dim even during the day, a bit chilly, but the breeze is refreshing.
Enjoying the atmosphere, Roche-san spoke up.
“Hey, Ryoma. Don’t you want to have a familiar other than slimes?”
His gaze was fixed above my head, where my heal slime helped keep watch.
“If not slimes, I do have a limule bird.”
“Oh? I thought you were collecting only slimes.”
“Well, most of them are slimes, that’s true.”
“Don’t you intend to use more types of familiars?”
“Ah, well... I don’t insist on only slimes, but slimes come in many varieties and are interesting. I haven’t really had any trouble with them, so I haven’t felt the urge to try other types.”
“I see... I thought if people aren’t reliable, beefing up your power with familiars could be an option.”
A substitute for a party? And what does he mean “if people aren’t reliable”…
“Roche, I know you’re worried about Ryoma-kun, but there’s no need to rush it so much.”
“Hmm, yeah. But once I start thinking about it, it bothers me…”
“Geez. You can’t say that when you’re just as meddlesome, Guild Master. Ryoma-kun, sorry for being such a nuisance, huh?”
“No, it’s because you care about me that you say these things.”
I answered gratefully, and Lucy-san smiled, saying I was a good kid.
“There are many people who are meddlesome, but you absolutely don’t have to accept their opinions. I think dangerous or reckless things shouldn’t be done, but sacrificing what you want to do isn’t right either.”
“Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it. But if I may say more, having only slimes as familiars might be a waste. It’s fine to collect slimes, but since you can use beast taming magic, you could look at other types too.
If you had magical beasts like red horses or battle horses, you could ride them to get around. Having a familiar you can use as a mount would be convenient.”
“That’s true.”
Right now, my means of travel are either on foot or spatial magic. There’s no problem with that, but if I had a familiar to help with moving, I could conserve mana and stamina.
Slimes or limule birds probably can’t carry me, and even if they could, it would probably be faster to go on my own. To do that, I’d need to catch new magical beasts...
“If you’re unsure, why not consult the Tamer Guild? I believe there’s a window there that handles those kinds of consultations. Didn’t they even recommend it to you?”
“Well, actually... I did register, but at first, I mostly had slimes and had no jobs, then after I reported a member who harassed me to the security guard following the shop opening, I rarely show my face. It’s not like anything’s wrong, but if I don’t have business, I just feel sort of reluctant to go.”
“In that case, it might be good to go once on this occasion. Judging by how you are, you probably haven’t taken the familiar aptitude test, have you?”
“I haven’t. There’s such a thing?”
That was completely new to me.
“I heard that the Tamer Guild has various kinds of magical beasts. You can try contracting with them, and based on the results compared with past records, they can narrow down your strengths and weaknesses.”
“Wasn’t the first time free?”
“Yes, if I remember correctly. So it might be good to go and give it a try.”
Indeed. I don’t feel inconvenienced now, but it might be good to try it once before I forget.
“As an adventurer, what kinds of magical beasts would be helpful to have?”
“I think legs are the most important. I also admire those who can ride wyverns and fly.”
“As for me, probably fairykinds? They can use magic, and when contracted, apparently they enhance your own magic effects. Although, it’s quite difficult to find and tame them.”
The experienced two’s conversation was truly interesting.