Chapter 53

After finishing the wheat treading, Cecilia, Dolbano, and Ren Jiro returned by teleportation magic.

Next to Ren Jiro, there were large stones and red soil placed.

They must have brought back the stones and soil they had excavated.

Dolbano instructed Ren Jiro to place the stones and soil next to their house.

Meanwhile, Cecilia stood still, staring into the void.

"How was it outside?"

"Hahaha, in the Sea of Death Trees, I am merely a tiny existence."

When I called out to her, Cecilia murmured with an empty gaze.

Clair felt the same way when she first entered the tree sea. It seems my voice isn't reaching her.

"Alright, I've placed the stones. I'll be back soon."

"...I understand."

Without any will to resist, Cecilia activated the teleportation magic as Dolbano instructed. Dolbano, Cecilia, and Ren Jiro disappeared through the magic circle.

It seems they have returned to the place with the stones. They will likely bring back materials many times today.

...Well, I don't think she's doing too well, but Clair said she would get used to it after going outside a few times, so I'll believe her words.

Two days later. Thanks to Cecilia's teleportation magic, Dolbano and Zoll seemed to have obtained the materials they needed. Dolbano and Zoll, with Ren Jiro and Ren Saburo as assistants, started building the workshop.

Within two weeks, they had completed a fine furnace and a stone-built workshop.

Dolbano is mass-producing cooking utensils, tableware, and weapons using the stones and minerals he dug from the cliffs nearby.

A large amount of firewood is needed to keep the furnace burning, so I often provide it.

The way he casually comes over and asks for "firewood" makes me feel like he has adapted to my abilities the most.

Collecting and making firewood takes time and is troublesome, but using my ability, I can get a large amount instantly, which is very efficient.

There are limits to what Rent and I can make with our divine tools, so I am looking forward to the professional work.

Zoll is using the hides of animals and monsters he has saved to produce items like shoes, gloves, armor, and belts.

There are many hides from monsters that only live in this tree sea, so he is very enthusiastic.

I wanted a holster and belt for my knife, and my current shoes were quite worn out, so I am looking forward to the new ones.

This will surely improve our living standards.

As usual, while taking care of the crops in the field, the Kira Plant extended its vines and poked me.

"Hmm, what's wrong?"

I stopped my work and went to the Kira Plant. There, a green, round, sticky creature was bound up with the vines.

Even I, who am not familiar with the monsters of this world, could recognize it. It's a slime, like the ones often seen in games and anime.

Looking at the Kira Plant, I felt it was asking, "A strange monster has come in, what should we do?"

I have seen beasts and monsters trying to enter the field before, but this is the first time I've seen a slime.

I tried growing a branch and poking the slime with it.

"Wow, it's really squishy."

It felt like poking a water bun.

I poked it repeatedly, but the slime didn't show any signs of attacking.

Is it a gentle monster? I want to touch it, but I'm worried it might contain strong acid.

"Leidia, there's a slime-like monster. Can you take a look?"

Leidia, who was harvesting the Mochi Mochi fruit, came over with a puzzled look.

"...It's a slime, but it doesn't seem to be a regular one."

"What do you mean?"

"Regular slimes are usually blue. They are omnivorous monsters that absorb anything in their environment. Sometimes they gain rare traits or different colors depending on the environment, but this is the first time I've seen a green slime."

Leidia pondered while looking at the green slime.

It seems even she doesn't know this unknown slime.

As we were looking at the slime, Carmilla and Clair came over, seemingly curious.

"It's a slime with a rare color."

"It's not a Fire Slime or an Ice Slime."

However, even they couldn't identify what kind of slime it was.

Carmilla bent down and poked the slime.

"Is it safe to touch with bare hands?"

"What are you afraid of? Low-level slimes don't have dangerous powers."

Carmilla laughed and poked the slime.

Seeing this, I also reached out and touched it. It felt very squishy and pleasant.

I wanted to keep petting and poking it.

"Let's release it from the restraint since it doesn't seem dangerous."

"Well, it is a slime."

Since no one objected, I had the Kira Plant release the restraint.

As the vines disappeared, the slime started moving.

We watched as the slime entered the field and, surprisingly, absorbed a tomato seedling.

"Ah! You ate the tomato seedling!?"

"Wait a moment."

Carmilla raised her fist in anger, but stopped when she noticed the slime's behavior.

The slime, which had absorbed the tomato seedling, started trembling and then grew the seedling from its body.

"Oh?"

"Huh?"

Everyone's surprised voices overlapped at the strange behavior of the slime.

The slime seemed satisfied after growing the seedling and didn't try to eat any more seedlings.

"...I thought it absorbed the tomato seedling, but it grew it from its body."

"Perhaps it has the ability to cultivate what it absorbs. It's a peculiar slime."

At least it doesn't seem to harm the field. Although one tomato seedling was lost, if we can harvest from this slime, it might be beneficial in the end.

"Leidia, can you water this slime?"

"O-Okay."

When Leidia used magic to water the slime, it seemed to enjoy it.

Then, when I used growth promotion, the seedling grew and produced small tomatoes.

My blessing told me that they were edible, so I picked a small tomato and tasted it.

"...It's delicious."

It tasted just like the tomatoes we grow. It's quite good.

"Maybe we can think of it as a moving plant pot?"

"It would be great if anyone could easily grow it at home."

This way, even those who are not good at farming can raise and grow it at home.

It's like a casual home garden.

"Well, having such a monster is fine. Being able to grow your favorite crops at home and snack on them is nice."

Sometimes it's a hassle to go outside to harvest when you want some crops.

"What should we name this slime?"

"How about simply 'Tree Sea Slime'?"

Clair's idea was adopted, and the Tree Sea Slime became a new resident.