I now had a rough understanding of the currency values.

In that case! Time to make my shop debut as soon as possible!

"Alright! Let’s go shopping in town!"

I declared energetically.

『Ohh! Shopping, is it? That’s part of human culture. We magic beasts only know how to subdue others with raw power.』

Logan spoke with deep emotion.

Yeah, shopping really is a symbol of human culture, isn’t it?

It’s pretty unique. A privilege of intelligent lifeforms!

By the way, I am definitely a high-performance intelligent lifeform! Yep.

『Boss! This is exciting! What are you going to buy?』

Chick Captain asked with sparkling eyes.

『Let’s see~ There are lots of things I want, but we should start with delicious food!』

I really want to eat something tasty first and foremost!

Especially since I’ve fully developed my sense of taste and smell after that time in Caso’s village.

...By the way, I turn taste and smell OFF when hunting and absorbing monsters.

When absorbing things directly with my slime cells, my five senses don’t really activate.

And it’s better that they don’t. It would be problematic if they did.

I placed my left hand on my "waist" and pointed my right hand (probably) toward the town.

"Shopping tour, depaaaaaart!"

『『Ooooh~!』』

Both the Wolf Fang Tribe and the chicks were getting hyped up.

But then I realized something. I had a sudden realization.

"...Wait a second. I don’t have any money."

『『ZUKO!』』

Logan and the others, along with Chick Captain and his crew, all collapsed beautifully in perfect sync.

That was some serious Dragon Ball-level pratfall. (Note: I didn’t set that up.)

Yeah, obviously I don’t have money.

I woke up as a slime, after all.

Whoever that god or goddess was, they didn’t give me any cheats, skills, or even pocket money.

Hmph! I’m sulking now!

...Well, sulking won’t get me anywhere.

Time to think of ways to earn money.

Poyayaya~n

"Today as well, I’m counting on your hard work! Safe and speedy delivery, please!"

『『『Wafu!』』』

I tied large backpacks onto the energetic backs of Logan and the others.

"Did everyone remember your delivery destinations?"

『『『Wafu!』』』

They replied energetically.

"Then go!"

『『『Wafu!』』』

The Wolf Fang members with big backpacks scattered all at once.

Wolf Fang Express. Delivering important packages to your precious someone — quickly and reliably.

...Yeah, this feels like it could make money somehow.

『So our job is to receive packages and deliver them?』

Logan tilted his head and asked.

"Yeah. You guys are fast on your feet, and you seem popular."

『But we don’t know the recipients’ locations.』

"Oh right~ I wonder if there’s something like an address here."

『Also, if we dash through town, the guards will probably chase us.』

Yeah, that makes sense. Wolves with luggage strapped to them running through town would cause a huge commotion. This idea is rejected.

What other ideas do I have...?

Poyayaya~n

"Deliver today’s packages with the sender’s precious feelings!"

『『『Piyo piyo!』』』

"Have you memorized your assigned areas for today?"

『『『Piyopi!』』』

"Do you have the important letters?"

『『『Piyo!』』』

After replying, the chicks held the letters in their beaks.

"Then go! And watch out for other birds~"

Flap flap flap!

The chicks all took off at once.

Chick Postal Service. Delivering precious letters to that special someone———

...Yeah, this also feels like it could make money somehow.

『So our job is to receive letters and deliver them?』

Chick Captain asked while kneeling neatly. Yeah, he’s as stiff as ever.

"Yeah. Since you chicks can fly, maybe you won’t get chased even in town?"

『However, we still don’t clearly know the recipients’ locations.』

"I see~ But maybe delivering between guilds or from set location to set location would work? Either way, personal deliveries are rejected."

Hmm, I can’t think of any decent money-making ideas.

I keep imagining various poyayaya~n scenarios, but nothing good is coming to mind. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

"Maybe the quickest way is to sell monster materials to the guild...?"

"!!!"

『『『!!!』』』

Everyone whipped around at incredible speed.

There stood the useless knight, Irina.

Crap! Even someone like me — the Great Demon King of Light Novels from Kita-Senju — fell for it!

The ultimate template! Becoming an adventurer to earn money!

I’d completely forgotten because I’m a slime now.

"Logan! Chick Captain!"

『『Yes sir!』』

"We’re going monster hunting for money! We’ll bring a huge haul to the guild!"

『『Roger!』』

Logan’s Wolf Fang Tribe and Chick Captain’s Chick Legion scattered into the depths of the forest.

"Yabe-sama, everyone seems really motivated...?"

Irina asked with a worried look.

It’s my first time shopping, after all.

Looks like everyone’s pumped up.

And then the hunted monsters started coming in one after another.

The Wolf Fang Tribe was impressive, but the chicks were also hunting like crazy. These guys are amazing.

A mountain of monsters piled up before my eyes.

Aside from the usual rabbits and boars, there were bears, giant snakes, and... what the heck is this?

It looks like a lion, but its tail is a snake. You guys really found all this? Just how far did you go?

『Hahaha, Boss! We’ve got a massive amount!』

Logan reported happily.

"Good, good! Let’s head to the guild right away and cash these in!"

I praised Logan and Chick Captain while excitedly preparing to set off.

"Yabe-sama, how exactly...?"

"!!!"

『『『!!!』』』

Everyone whipped around at incredible speed again.

And of course, there stood the useless knight, Irina.

"How...? Irina, you do it?"

I tried pushing the task onto her.

Now that she mentioned it, there’s no way I can bring these hunted (well, made them hunt) monsters to the Adventurer’s Guild myself. In that case, the only option is to have Irina, who is actually a guild member, do it.

I obviously can’t send Logan or Chick Captain either.

"M-M-M-Me!?"

"Yes, you. I mean, you."

"N-N-No no no, that’s impossible. No matter how you look at it, no one will believe I defeated all these!"

Irina boldly declared her own uselessness. She’s proudly announcing her klutz status without hesitation. Impressive consistency.

『Indeed, with Irina’s skill level, she would likely be instantly killed by these monsters... If she brings them in claiming she hunted them, it will definitely look suspicious.』

Logan sounded worried. He was pretty blunt, but it came from a place of concern. Still, even if it was the chicks who brought them, no one would believe it. At least in their case, it would be the truth.

"I’ve got a great idea! We’ll say Irina is just acting as her master’s agent, and she was asked to cash in the monsters her master hunted!"

"Master?"

"Exactly. So you can just say ’It’s my master’s request, so I don’t know the details’ and escape any further questions. Once you hand over the monsters, it’s done anyway."

The proxy strategy sounds perfect!

Very simple and clean.

"I see... So I just need to say I was asked by my master to exchange these monsters for money?"

Irina double-checked with me.

"Exactly. It’s easy, right? Let’s head out right away!"

"...But how are we supposed to carry all of them? There’s such a huge pile..."

We all stood frozen in front of the mountain of monsters.