Isekai Nonbiri Sozai Saishu Seikatsu - Chapter 63

“Well, I need to collect it.”

After looking at the moss for a while, I decided to start collecting it. I could have used a shovel to collect the moss, but since I had a knife that Drogan had made for me, I decided to use that instead.

I took out the storage case from my magic bag and took out the knife for collection. The knife reflected in the light of the Fire Moss.

“It’s nice to have something unique.”

It’s not a store-bought one, it’s my own, made for my hands, so it fits me well. The best part is that I feel attached to the tool. Just gazing at it like this, I feel it is as cute as if it were my own child.

To the casual observer, I may look like a crazy person smiling at the knife, but I don’t care because no one is here.

After observing the knife for a while, I touch the moss growing on the wall. It was fluffy to the touch, and upon closer inspection, it looked similar to peat moss. It seemed to be firmly rooted in the wall, probably because it had thrived there for a long time. I couldn’t remove it with my hands. Even with a shovel, it might be tough. It looks like the moss might be damaged even if I could pull it off.

But now I had a custom-made collection knife. When I inserted the knife into the base of the moss, the blade easily bit into the moss and peeled it off. It’s amazing how easily I was able to slice through the hard suction part. I didn’t have to exert myself unnecessarily, and it was very easy.

I don’t know if it’s because it absorbs water and emits light, but it seems to emit light even after being collected. I put the removed moss in the collection case and began to peel off moss with the knife one after another. It is like peeling off the skin of Peking duck, and it is a little fun.

It was written in the request form that it was enough if the case for collection became full, but I want to keep it personally, so I collect it for myself. But even though I appraised the Fire Moss, I couldn’t find any information about medicine. Maybe Klaus wanted it for ornamental purposes this time. He has a hobby of looking for bargains at street stalls, he sends accessories to his sister, and he wants the Fire Moss for ornamental purposes.

It’s interesting to learn about Klaus little by little through his requests.

“Okay, I guess we’re done with the Fire Moss.”

I placed my personal collection case in my magic bag. Next is the magic crystal. I’m pretty far away from the place where I did my first detect, so I might be able to find it here.

“Magic Crystal, detect.”

When I searched, I saw a number of magic crystals displayed in red at the end of the path I had just taken. It looks like it’s just up ahead. I headed back down the path and arrived at the magic crystal buried in the wall.

Next, of course, I would use the pickaxe that Drogan had made for me. I took out the pickaxe from my magic bag. It’s a blue color, almost black, probably because of the extreme amount of magic energy put into the hard magic stone. It’s not quite black and its not quite blue, but it’s a deep shade. It’s also custom-made for me, so it’s a very comfortable length to hold.

Immediately, I tried to strike the pickaxe against the wall. The wall collapsed with surprising ease.

“Amazing! It’s so easy to dig!”

It feels like breaking up soft soil instead of chipping away at hard earthen walls. The walls of the Demio mine, which are said to be exceptionally hard, felt like ordinary soil.

With the compact swinging technique that Razo had taught me and the pickaxe made of hard magic stone, I was able to dig out the wall with ease. And in no time at all, the magic crystal was exposed.

A hollow appeared in the rock, and what was in it was being displayed. The pristine pink crystals growing in clusters were very beautiful. It was like a treasure chest of nature. Although though the color is pink, the density of the color is slightly different depending on how the light hits it. The color changes every time I look at it, so I can enjoy looking at it for a long time.

“I wish I could just take it all home with me.”

It’s such a big crystal. It would be a shame to crush it with the pickaxe and take it home in small pieces. In any case I’d like to take it home while preserving its beauty. Fortunately, I have a magic bag, so I can just chisel around it. Therefore, I decide to use the pickaxe to separate the entire area from the rock as it would be a shame to collect it any other way.

“The rock around the crystal looks pretty tough, but if I use my pickaxe …”

I struck my pickaxe into the wall with all my might, and it was easily gouged out.

“Lets goo~!”

I carefully swing the pickaxe, taking care not to crack the magic crystal. Occasionally I used a rock hammer and chisel for awhile. After some time, I managed to collect the entire magic crystal in a lump without breaking it.

“I knew that the beauty of this magic crystal would only shine when it’s in one big cluster.”

I thought to myself as I looked at the lump of magic crystal. But I have a feeling that the magic crystal Klaus wants is not this big. I also came here to mine for hard magic stones, but I didn’t need such a huge one. If I were to calmly deliver such a thing, he would be absolutely shocked.

For now, I’ll just store the magic crystal cluster in my magic bag and mine some general sized crystals like those Drogan had. It seems that there’s a good-sized magic crystal a little further back. With that in mind, I continued to wield the pickaxe.

♦  ♦  ♦

Having obtained a moderately sized magic crystal, I went to the third level floor to collect the next material.

But the next material is …

“Modular Worm bodily fluids…”

I can’t help but let out a groan.

I’d only seen the silhouette of the Modular Worm in the distance with the help of my skills when I was mining for hard magic stones. But it was more than enough to convey that monstrosity. Its slimy, body had tentacles wriggling around on it.

Even though I didn’t see it directly, it remained vividly in my mind. No, I guess it was because I hadn’t seen it directly that I could imagine it. I’ve never been so depressed about going to collect materials before.

However, this was also a job, and a worthy request for collection. Not only as an adventurer, but also for my pride, I couldn’t just run away.

I made up my mind and headed for the place where I had seen the Modular Worm before. When I came to a fork in the road, I activated magic stone detect.

“Uwaa~, there it is!”

The modular worm was in the same place as before. It was wriggling around in the not-so-wide tunnel. The only thing that saved me was that there were three of them last time, but now there was only one. I don’t know if they moved or if they’re out looking for food, but this is a great opportunity.

It’s a high hurdle to deal with multiple Modular Worms. I told myself this was my chance, so I approached under the modular worm. Then, I hear the sound of an opponent approaching from the depths of the tunnel, as if it had noticed me first.

“Eh~!? Hey, I didn’t hear you approaching me!”

Even though I had the courage to approach it, I was not prepared for it to approach me. Puzzled, I calmly put magic power into the light ball and illuminated the tunnel. Then, a gray worm with tentacles growing out of its slimy, viscous skin approached, twisting its body.

“Waaahhhh! Freeze!”

Seeing the illuminated Modular Worm, I unintentionally let out a wail and activated my ice magic. When the body of the approaching Modular Worm is half frozen, I hurriedly stop the magic.

The modular worm struggled to resist, perhaps unable to move because of its frozen body. It seems that it is unable to move thanks to the ice magic. It’s a relief to know that.

“That’s gross.”

The unfrozen part of the worm’s body twists and turns, and the tentacles that grow out of it move in an undulating motion.

【Modular Worm】
A worm that preys on creatures and monsters in the soil. Specializing in living in dark spaces, it has lost its eyes and the pigment in its skin has become lighter. However, it can feel the flow of air with its tentacles and has become sensitive to sound.

When stressed, it spews fluid from its body.

The bodily fluids of the modular worm are very good for the skin and are widely used as a serum, as well as hand cream to promote skin regeneration.

When I appraised it, I found information about the Modular Worm.

I see, they specialize in living in dark spaces, so it was able to notice my approach as soon as possible. It made sense that the Modular Worm had suddenly approached me. Rather than releasing fluid when captured as Rabis had said, it was more like it had the characteristic of releasing bodily fluids when stressed.

I took a look at the Modular Worm, and before I knew it, it had become slippery and something that looked like body fluid was coming out. It seems that this kind of body fluid that is the source of serum.

As I approached, the Modular Worm threatened to show off its jaggedly pointed teeth. It’s scary to see its fine, saw-like teeth. But there’s something that looks like saliva dripping from it. Body fluid from there must be saliva, right? Saliva is also a kind of body fluid. However, if it doesn’t have any cosmetic effects, it’s meaningless.

【Saliva also has effects as a skin regenerating and beauty fluid】

Just to be sure, I appraised the saliva, and it seems to have a definite effect. I gingerly approached and placed the collection bottle on the spot where the modular worm’s saliva was dripping. Then, I quickly pull back and move around in a range outside its bite to observe. All the while, the Modular Worm struggles with a sense of crisis, but half of its body is frozen, so it can’t escape. All I can do is stress the worm out in this way. I’m sorry if I’m torturing you, but you’ll have to bear with me for a bit.

I quickly pour the gushing fluid from the modular worm into the collection bottle. The fluid itself is crystal clear and very pure. If I was told that it was a beauty serum without knowing anything about it, I would probably apply it.

“Whoa!”

While I was absentmindedly collecting the bodily fluids, the Modular Worm wiggled its tentacles violently. Unsurprisingly, the fluid from the tentacles is splattered on my arms and cheeks. I know it’s good for the skin, but it’s a complicated feeling to have it applied by a Modular Worm.

However, I had expected this to happen a little bit. There was no point in wiping it off, so I ignored it and collected it. I don’t want to keep coming back to collect Modular Worm bodily fluids, so I’ll just collect as much as I can.