By the Grace of the Gods: Volume 1

by Roy

  That was when the woman called Welanna stepped before Ryoma.

  “So you’re Ryoma, is it? Nice to meet you. I’m the dog beastkin, Welanna. I’ve known Miya for a long time now, and we’re former party members.

  “You were the one who cleaned Miya’s house, I hear. I’m surprised. How did you clean such a house?”

  “Buying the house was one thing, but when the wall collapsed... Well, you saw that sorry state, right? The smell was too much for us scent-sensitive beastkin, and Miya just wouldn’t listen to us when we told her to move... Ah, I’m a tiger beastkin, Mizelia. It’s nice to meet you.”

  “I’m Cilia, a rabbit beastkin. Pleasure to make your acquaintance.”

  “I’m Ryoma Takebayashi. It’s lovely to meet you all too.”

  “These three are the people I used to work with in the same party. When the smell of the house seeped all over myself, I knew it was too tough for them — especially for a dog beastkin like Welannya — but I couldn’t give up the house, so I dropped out of the party. I had caused a lot of trouble for them elsewhere too, nya.”

  “Miya can be a little stubborn at times.”

  “No matter what anyone said, she insisted on living there because she had bought it.”

  “Honestly, it’s impressive that she lived there for 5 whole years.”

  “Five years there? That... must have been quite the ordeal.”

  Ryoma couldn’t find the right words to say.

  That was when Jeff addressed Ryoma.

  “By the way, you had that basket the day before yesterday too, didn’t you? What’s inside it?”

  “My familiars are in this basket. I’m a tamer.”

  “Huh, so you’re a tamer? What do you have?”

  “Several varieties of slimes. I’m still a trainee. Slimes are slow to move around, so it’s faster to put them in a basket and carry them myself. It wouldn’t be good to upset the townspeople either.”

  “I see, makes sense.”

  That was when the guildmaster came in.

  “Good, looks like everyone’s here. Take a seat anywhere.”

  Everyone moved to a seat at those words.

  “Now, I’m going to explain the reason why I called you all here. But first, I need you all to take a vow of secrecy on the information you’re about to hear. Those who cannot swear secrecy may leave the room. Just so you know, you don’t have to accept the job after you hear the details I’m about to give. As long as you don’t leak the information to outsiders, you may refuse the job after listening. There’ll be no penalty either.”

  Hearing that made everyone nod without hesitation.

  “All right. Then let’s start with why you guys were selected. Firstly, you’re all trustworthy and tight-lipped. And secondly, you all have disease resistance skills. You do all have that, right?”

  “Indeed, I do. You should know best, old man — I’m formerly from the slums. Anyone living there would have level 1 or 2 disease resistance. Though I’m at 5.”

  “We’ve all contracted an epidemic in the past too, while out on a job out of town.”

  “Thankfully it was just a lighter epidemic and we all returned alive, but we obtained the skill too.”

  “I believe we were all at level 3, right?”

  “Mine rose to level 4. I don’t want to admit it, but it’s probably because I lived in that trash heap, nya.”

  After that, the rather experienced looking dwarf adventurer made a guess at the job details, which another young adventurer reacted to in a panic.

  “If the job needs disease resistance... is it an epidemic?”

  “Did one break out?!”

  “Calm your horses, Sher. While Gordon is right about the topic being an epidemic, it hasn’t spread yet.”

  “Yet, meaning it’s appeared in one or two people?”

  “No, the infected location was just discovered by coincidence. The one who discovered it is Ryoma over there, and there haven’t been any patients yet.”

  Those words attracted everyone’s attention onto Ryoma at once, but Worgan the guildmaster continued with an explanation of the situation, describing the nature of scavenger slimes and how they judged it was an epidemic.

  “...And that’s the story. The fact the scavenger slimes’ disease resistance rose from level 5 to 7 meant that level 6 wasn’t enough to completely resist it, so it’s assumed that the epidemic has taken run rampant in a section — or perhaps all — of the cesspits. The job this time is to stop the epidemic before it spreads to town. Furthermore, it’s expected that there will be great chaos if the town finds out about this. Thus, actions must be taken with the utmost secrecy.”

  “So our job is to deal with the epidemic... in other words, clean the pit toilets?”

  “No, the nine of you won’t be doing that work. Ryoma will be the only one entering the cesspits to clean them.”

  “Hold it! You’re gonna make that single kid do all the work? Isn’t that a bit too much, no matter how you think of it? Children are at greater risk of getting sick, it’s far too dangerous.”

  “It’s impossible to ask a single person to clean all the pit toilets of the town. A single cesspit is a job for ten men, you know?”

  “I considered that myself, but this is for the best. First, Ryoma already used his slimes to clean one of the pits yesterday, finishing it in a day. Next, even among the nine of you, the highest disease resistance level is Jeff, with level 5. If the epidemic can’t be resisted by a level 6 disease resistance, you’re still at high risk. But in that regard, Ryoma’s health level is 7. He has the lowest risk of contracting the disease among you all, and on top of that, his life enhancement is level 3, super recovery level 3, and stamina enhancement level 6. Even if he contracts the disease, he has the highest chance of recovery amongst everyone here.”

  Those words made the nine of them look at Ryoma in shock, before Cilia tore her gaze away to ask Worgan a question.

  “...I accept that he is the most suitable one here. But in that case, what are we meant to be doing?”

  “While Ryoma is dealing with the cleaning, you are to take shifts guarding the entrance and make sure no one enters. The door is built to remain unlocked while someone is inside. To make absolutely sure every gap was covered, I called you lot with disease resistance skills. Also, those with the neutral magic Appraisal will confirm that Ryoma doesn’t bring the epidemic out when he’s done cleaning.”

  “Do you really need nine people for a lookout?”

  “...According to Ryoma, he believes the job can be done in two to three days, working non-stop. His health skill is a combination of disease, sleep, and poison resistance, apparently. This has been confirmed too.”

  “I see. That’s why we’re to take shifts, then. Ryoma, was it? Will you really be okay?”

  “It won’t be a problem. Working two to three all-nighters in a row was my daily life. Since I’m doing this of my own will, it’ll actually be easier.”

  “Is that so...”

  “Well, if you accept the job, please keep an eye out for Ryoma and make sure he doesn’t push himself too far. I’ll give you all ten minutes. In a way, this job is more dangerous than monster extermination. It won’t be enforced, and there isn’t a penalty for refusing. Give it some thought before you decide.”

  Once Worgan said that, he and Ryoma left the room to give the participants a chance to decide. They all thought to themselves, until Jeff was the one to break the silence.

  “Hah... What’ll you all do?”

  The dwarf adventurer named Gordon was the one who answered.

  “I’m participating. This is my town too. All my friends are here, so I cannot run away.”

  Everyone stepped up after this.

  “I shall humbly accept too. Epidemics are a threat to be prevented at all cost.”

  “An epidemic in this town, huh... It sounds bad, but I’d feel worse leaving it all to that boy alone.”

  “Right? Our job is only to stand guard
, anyway. The most dangerous job is being done by him alone. I can’t run away from here.”

  Ten minutes was almost too long for them to make their decision, and they all expressed their willingness to participate when Worgan and Ryoma returned.

  Worgan went on to explain the Earth knowledge of diseases Ryoma had excused with his grandmother, and they went on to split the team into squads with haste.

  Chapter 1 Episode 19: Working with Other Adventurers

  Ryoma’s Side

  The preparations were done. I had gotten everything ready in front of the cesspit before everyone else had arrived. Or rather, my clothes stood out so much I would have attracted even more attention if I had several adventurers trailing after me. They each had their own preparations to make, and I had to check the bacteria hadn’t gotten out beforehand anyway.

  All that was left now was to wait for the first squad on the job. Oh, there they are now.

  The footsteps stopped, and the door leading outside opened. Three people from the meeting that was held looked back at me, including the client of my previous job, Miya, and the one I had met at the guild before, Jeff.

  “Thank you for your work.”

  “Yeah, though we haven’t done anything yet.”

  “It’s been two days since then, Ryoma. You seem to know me and Jeff already, but I’ll just introduce myself again, nya? I’m the cat beastkin, Miya Catt. Please call me Miya, nya.”

  Miya waved her brown furred ears and tail at me, as though emphasizing how she was a cat beastkin.

  “Ah, like I said before, I’m Jeff Grange. Just so you know, I had a rough upbringing. I don’t like to speak stiffly, and you don’t need to be polite, either. Just talk to me casually.”

  “Thank you, but I’m not particularly forcing myself to speak this way.”

  “No worries, then. Next is...”

  “That would be me.”

  Next was a man I hadn’t met before, with brown, near-black hair that had been roughly chopped short. It didn’t really bother me during the earlier meeting, but his words were straight out of an ancient drama. And the weapon he wore was a katana... judging by its length, a tachi. It was my first time seeing one since coming here. They had never shown up among the bandit loot either, so just who was this person...?

  “I am called Asagi. A wanderer from the village of dragonewts, journeying to better myself. I have settled in this town as an adventurer for the present. ‘Tis been said that even a chance meeting can lead to a deep bond, such as I hope is our fate.”

  “I’m Ryoma Takebayashi, it’s nice to meet you too. So you’re a dragonewt.”

  Dragonewts were also called the dragonfolk. Like their name implied, they were people that had the traits of dragons. I couldn’t see any of said traits at all, so I had thought he was a regular human. It seemed like Asagi noticed that.

  “Were you unaware of my dragonewt status?”

  “Sorry, it’s my first time meeting one...”

  “No need for concern. Dragonewts have not predetermined characteristics like other species, such as cat beastkin. Most possess scales over part of their body, some grow small horns, though this is rare. Everything else be identical to humans. If the scales are in an inconspicuous location, it would be difficult to spot the difference. Such as myself.”

  As Asagi spoke, he opened his collar to show scales that were of the same color as his hair. But I was more curious about his way of speaking and the weapon he had.

  “Sorry, could I ask you one thing?”

  Figuring it would be rude to suddenly ask about his speech, I asked about his hometown. Apparently, the dragonewt village was a settlement on a faraway island — established by someone who I suspected was another world transferee in the past.

  “Dragonewts have tougher bodies and greater pools of magic energy than humans. This has remained unchanged from the past, but the dragonewts of old arrogantly used their power as a shield to believe other species to be far inferior. However, the one who created our village was not only a human, but a master swordsman who could best a dragonewt. It is said that he single-handedly brought down the dragonewt tyranny towards humans with that sword arm of his. But he mercifully spared the dragonewt he defeated, which awed them into thus becoming his disciples. They relocated to an uninhabited island and settled down away from the frightened eyes of others, where we have inherited their samurai spirit to this day. This was the tale of our exile and subsequent formation of our village.”

  For the record, Asagi was the grandson of one of those dragonewt disciples, and his manner of speaking was passed down through the generations. The origin of his name also came from a samurai group that appeared in a folktale of theirs — the color of their kimono, apparently. And the person who transferred worlds highly respected that group, or something.

  ...The more I listened to it, the more I felt something odd about this otherworlder’s actions. Perhaps the stories had become distorted as they were retold throughout time, but it kind of felt like I was listening to a foreigner with a slight misunderstanding about Japanese culture.

  “...Hey, your conversation’s real interesting and all, but shouldn’t you get to work already?”

  “Oh, fair point.”

  “Looks like we got carried away.”

  Jeff’s words brought us back to the present, and we got back to work.

  “I’m going to open the door now, but first take this handkerchief and soak it before wrapping it around your face.”

  I gave the cleaner slimes an order to fill the container I prepared with their deodorant solution.

  “What is that?”

  “This is the deodorant solution of the cleaner slimes. It reduces bad smells dramatically. Poisons and other toxins won’t enter your body this way.”

  “I see.”

  The three of them watched me soak my own handkerchief and wrap it around my face before copying me.

  “I’m going to open it now.”

  Then, I opened the door...

  “I’ll be back la-”

  “Urgh! Geh...”

  I was halfway through my farewells before heading off to work when Asagi suddenly started retching.

  “Are you okay?”

  “Forgive me. I was prepared for a stench when the door opened, but couldn’t smell anything so I let my guard down. Dragonewts have noses as sensitive as beastkin. The moment the handkerchief slipped, I ended up like this.”

  Oh, so that was why. I was the same at first.

  “Well, that’s just how it is. I’m a human and the same thing happened to me yesterday. It smelled so bad, it reached my eyes. I wouldn’t have been able to bear it if it weren’t for my slimes. I’ll leave the deodorant solution here, so please use it freely. Now, I’ll be off for real this time.”

  When I entered the cesspit with the slimes, I found it to be in the same terrible state as yesterday. I appraised it to see if I could identify the bacteria before I began cleaning, and this came up:

  Idake virus: A pathogenic bacteria that occurs on rare occasions where filth has accumulated in large volumes and remained in a humid environment for long periods of time. Chance of outbreak increases the longer it is left untouched. Originally a harmless inhabitant of the human body, it turns pathogenic with mutation. Outbreak can be prevented with appropriate disposal of filth, such as burial or incineration.

  Latency period: Onset begins within 10 hours of infection.

  Symptoms: Develops in the order of dizziness, fever, chills, numbness in limbs, full-body paralysis, mental deterioration, cardiac arrest. Life-threatening.

  After-effects: Paralysis in limbs may remain.

  Transmission: Oral infection.

  Remarks: Weak to heat and aridity. Remedy available.

  There really was a terrible bacteria present! I cleaned it all before I noticed last time, so I didn’t get to appraise it. I should have done it yesterday! Then I could have offered more concrete information. And wait, there was a remedy?! The mo
ment I found out the disease name, the corresponding medicine and recipe just surfaced in my head like I was recalling something I knew. It seemed like it was in the knowledge I received. I should inform those above about this.

  “Everyone, can you hear me?”

  “What’s wrong, nya?”

  I cleaned myself and the surrounding area before the door and opened it a little, which Miya noticed immediately.

  “I used Appraisal before I began cleaning. As a result, I discovered the toxicant is a source of an epidemic called the Idake virus. Furthermore, the Idake virus has a remedy. I returned to pass on this information.”

  “Is that for real, nya?!”

  “Yes, there’s no mistaking it. The remedy will require several expensive ingredients, and it may be too late for us to prepare it now, but could you send a message to the guildmaster anyway?”

  “I’ll go. If I tell the old man the disease name and remedy, he’d probably prepare enough for us, even if it’s expensive. I don’t know how long it’ll take to prepare, so make it quick.”

  “Wait a minute. Tell him how to make the remedy at the same, that way all you need is the ingredients and an apothecary.”

  “You even know how to make the remedy?!”

  “It was one of the things I learned from my grandmother.”

  “That is most reassuring to hear. If you could impart that knowledge, I shall write it down.”

  Asagi promptly took out writing materials he had prepared in advance, and I informed him of the medicine’s formulation. He didn’t seem to understand all the technical terms, but he wrote everything down smoothly when I told him how to spell the words. I hadn’t written anything with a brush for a long time. I’ve only been using quills or pens made from wood since coming here. But I never used brushes in past life either, apart from writing New Year’s greetings.

  “Done. Will this do?”

  I read over the contents once to make sure there were no problems, then Jeff immediately went running off with the note. Then I headed into the toilet pit.

  I didn’t need any more information from the filth. It was time to dispose of it. I’m counting on you, slimes!