Chapter 106: Slime Ranger Performance.

Normally, if a store has been sufficiently promoted, it will have the most customers when it first opens. Many people come out of curiosity, and there are opening events too.

If that store fails to satisfy people, the number of customers decreases. Since it’s impossible to please everyone in the world, it’s normal for a significant number of initial visitors to drop off. Especially for places like theme parks, where the revisit cycle is long, it’s rare to visit consecutively unless on a long vacation.

The spots left by those who came and left should be filled by latecomers, so the number of visitors should ideally remain largely unchanged.

Slime Land was not normal.

Thanks to the Terminal Slimes I installed in various locations, people can come here with the feeling of taking a walk near their home.

Moreover, since we started selling Slimes inside Slime Land, even those who used to go to the Alchemy Center to buy items now just come here instead.

As a result, the number of visitors is increasing by at least 30% every day.

People who visited the day before keep coming back, and new people continue to flow in.

And another reason why the number of people keeps increasing.

To begin with, quite a few people don’t leave Slime Land at all.

I prepared lodging facilities. Since there are guests coming from abroad, of course, I had to prepare them.

Lodging isn’t free. I charge quite a high fee for it.

If I rent out rooms too cheaply, some people might just try to move in and live here.

Instead, I prepared facilities comparable to the Smart House Slime I had envisioned in the past.

However, it’s not just people staying in the lodging facilities.

There are also people who just lie down and sleep on the streets.

Slime Land is a very comfortable place, after all.

It’s neither cold nor hot.

There’s no worry about rain or snow, and the air is pure and clean.

Security is also very good, so it can be considered an optimal place for sleeping outdoors.

I like people who make an effort, but I don’t particularly like those who don’t.

If life is too hard and painful, and they just want to stay for a while, they can rest briefly and then leave.

But if they plan to just settle down here, I have no intention of accepting that.

“Are communications going well?”

“Yes.”

Red, who is in charge of security, answered briefly.

To enter Slime Land, everyone must sign a pledge. It includes a clause about providing personal information. Naturally, all sorts of personal details must be filled out.

But if you read it carefully, that’s not all.

There’s also a clause stating that physical information can be measured and used through certain methods.

That physical information includes things like face and fingerprints.

Some might think it’s too much, but don’t forget.

Inside Slime Land is an alchemy testing ground.

It’s a place where security levels can be raised to military standards, and within it, I hold all sorts of privileges.

There’s also a clause stating that falsifying information can result in severe penalties.

If someone is a wanted criminal, they’ll be caught immediately.

Several have already been dragged away.

And those who are dragged away will be shocked by the additional charges.

Is it such a big crime to enter a theme park?

If Slime Land were an ordinary theme park, maybe.

But they entered an alchemy testing ground under a false identity.

That’s no different from being an industrial spy.

And this isn’t just any alchemy testing ground, but one operated by an S-rank Alchemist.

There’s no way it would end with a light punishment.

That’s how I’m dealing with criminals.

Next are the runaways.

The reason I call them runaways and not just runaway teens is that it’s not only teenagers sticking around in Slime Land.

Among those who appear to be in their 20s or older, there are people who don’t go home and keep wandering inside Slime Land.

Are they like those who challenge themselves to finish a new game as soon as it’s released?

I don’t know what level of stamina they have, but Slime Land isn’t a size you can conquer by staying a few days, so I wish they’d just go home and come back.

At night, a call is made to their home or an acquaintance.

If it’s confirmed that they aren’t runaways, we leave them be.

There’s no reason to kick out a customer.

What if the phone number they provided to us is fake?

Then they have a meeting with the Mascot Slime, which has a scary Hunter inside.

There’s a retired Hunter who values their hair so much that they even wear a Wig Slime on top of the Mascot Slime.

Their face is quite scary.

Even runaway teens who act all tough and fearless become automatically polite the moment the wig penguin takes off the Mascot Slime.

If even this person can’t resolve the issue?

When Hunter Song Taesan steps in, it usually gets resolved.

Sometimes, when we make a call, the conclusion is neither here nor there.

There are cases where they just ask us to take care of them here, as if saying, do whatever.

Usually, it’s because there’s some discord between parties, so in such cases, I just observe for now.

It hasn’t been many days yet.

If it turns into a long-term issue, I’ll have to go the legal route.

Next are the people who stay here because they have nowhere else to go.

I decided to determine how to respond based on their attitude.

Even if Slime Land provides food, clothing, and shelter, there are people who show a willingness to return to society.

For them, I provided a spot in a corner of Slime Land.

I’m also providing leftover food to them.

However, there are also people who seem to have resolved to live on the streets forever, showing no sign of improvement.

If they’ve made such a resolution, why did they come into Slime Land instead of continuing to live on the streets?

For now, I’m just leaving them be.

It’s too early to draw conclusions.

If I determine that they have no intention of improving.

For them, a very fun, surprising, and neck-wrenching special course called Testing Course awaits.

While I’m observing the people coming to Slime Land like this.

A very welcome guest arrived.

A child and mother wearing a Phoenix Mascot Slime.

The child’s name was definitely… Yeonwoo, right?

They are the family who gave me a personal request with a Class A artifact as compensation for the first time.

By consuming the Mimic Doll No. 82 I received back then, my Control skill grew into a Control+ skill.

Thanks to that, I learned that consuming a Class A artifact can make a skill grow.

I’m grateful for that.

If an Awakened awakens at too young an age, they tend to be unable to control their ability properly.

If they acquired a skill friendly to people like Healing☆, it would be better.

Yeonwoo, unfortunately, was born with an aggressive unique skill that creates wings of flame.

Awakening at an excessively young age, she couldn’t control her power properly, and since she spewed flames recklessly, it was incredibly dangerous.

Receiving a request to solve this problem, I created a Phoenix Mascot Slime that absorbs flames.

It’s a costume made to have four different modes.

The first is a completely sealed state, allowing no gaps, just like what I usually wear.

The second is a state where the hood can be removed for eating.

The third is the form of a hoodie that only covers the upper body.

The last is transforming it into a bracelet form entirely.

Fortunately, Yeonwoo’s unique skill wasn’t the type to spew flames from her entire body.

Since the only issue was the wings of flame coming from her back, the hoodie form was sufficient.

However, there was a trace of Yeonwoo accidentally burning her mother.

That became a trauma for Yeonwoo.

I made it so it could be completely sealed to provide reassurance.

I had told her that it could be used longer under sunlight, which wasn’t exactly a lie.

At least then, I’ll be able to go outside for a walk or something.

Actually, getting some sunlight replenishes energy, so it can be used for longer.

Coming all the way to Slime Land must mean they’re able to go out to some extent now.

That’s a relief.

Though they’re clinging to their mom as if anxious, this is a huge improvement compared to before.

This child used to suppress their emotions as much as possible since the wings of flame are linked to their feelings.

This child used to run away from their mom, afraid of hurting her again.

Just being able to stick close to their mom shows how much they’ve improved.

Perfect timing.

I should update the phoenix costume Slime this time.

I’ve grown a lot since I made that. Back when I created it, I didn’t have a single Skill+ yet.

Did I say I’d repair it up to four times within a 20-year limit?

Now the A/S reminder has changed, so I plan to repair it infinitely for the rest of their life.

Yeonwoo and her mother entered the Slime Course.

Since the child was a fan of PengRhyme even back then, it makes sense.

They’re playing well on their own, so there’s no need to keep watching.

“I’ll be going now.”

“Alright. Put on a great performance today as well.”

***

“Let’s do our best today. Don’t forget that unexpected situations can always happen.”

“Just make sure you don’t mess up.”

“It’s fine, it’s fine.”

“Even if it’s forced, just move. Keep that in mind, and it’ll work out somehow.”

Red, Green, Yellow, and Blue, who switched from Hunter Rangers to Slime Rangers after retiring from Hunter life.

They stepped onto the stage.

President Lime is mostly great, but she has one pretty big drawback.

Her scale is too grand.

When she said we’d perform on stage, I thought it’d be a small hero show at a place like a department store.

But it wasn’t.

We’re acting out special effects scenes in a place as vast as a baseball stadium.

It’s being broadcast on a giant screen, but can this even be considered a filmed production?

Isn’t it more like a theater play?

It’s an environment that brings about such confusion.

Of course, it’s different from full-scale acting.

The main audience is kids, and their focus doesn’t last very long.

So, it has to end within 30 minutes.

Rather than deep content, it includes simple stories like good triumphing over evil.

Since they can’t come to watch every day, we end up reusing similar stories.

“Hahaha! I am the Great Dove Demon King! I will peck away at all the snacks in this Slime Land!”

A black monster resembling a pigeon appeared with a horde of minions.

“We can’t let that happen!”

Short stories showing the heroes’ awakening moments passed by.

“Is Pink not here?”

And finally, the core of the hero show.

The transformation and combat scenes.

The Slime Rangers, who transformed carefully to avoid copyright issues, started fighting the black Slime minions.

Both the Rangers and the minions are filled with retired Hunters who’ve been through the wringer.

Even adults would be left jaw-dropped by the flashy and intense action we could pull off.

But we don’t do that.

Hero shows are for kids, after all.

When fighting, we don’t throw punches.

We swing toys that are clearly made of Slime, so it doesn’t look like it’d hurt much even if hit.

And when the weapon makes contact with the opponent, we add unnecessary effects.

Still, the sight of the monsters being hit by the Rangers’ weapons and flying off extravagantly definitely had presence.

“Don’t stand in my way!”

After all the small fry were defeated, the black Dove Monster swung a spear-like weapon at the Rangers.

The Rangers easily dodged the attack and countered the Dove Monster.

Though it’s certainly flashy, the black Dove Slime is being overwhelmingly pushed back.

“Take this! This is our power!”

A flashy combined attack struck the Dove Monster.

At this point, the Dove Monster transforms into a Giant Monster.

And with the cheers of the people, they must use that power to fight the Giant Monster in a second round.

“Don’t torment PengRhyme!”

A child wearing a Slime Mascot Suit resembling a phoenix rushed onto the stage.

‘An unexpected accident?’

The Slime Rangers were momentarily flustered.

But then they realized this couldn’t be happening.

There’s no way Mother, or even President Lime, would allow a child to barge onto the stage.

“Step aside from there. That guy isn’t PengRhyme.”

Red spoke as gently as possible.

“It is PengRhyme!”

But it didn’t get through to the child who had intruded.

The child clung tightly as if determined to protect the Dove Monster no matter what.

At the same time, the costume the child was wearing started to turn red.

As an unusual atmosphere emerged, the Slime Rangers grew tense.

“Arghhhh!”

Suddenly, the Dove Monster writhed in pain, and the black part peeled off as if fleeing.

Beneath it, PengRhyme revealed itself.

‘Could it be President Lime?!’

While the Rangers were flustered, PengRhyme tightly hugged the child in the phoenix costume.

“Thank you. Because you had the courage to protect me, I was able to come to my senses.”

“How dare you!”

The black part that had peeled off began transforming into a Giant Monster.

“How dare you tear me off! I’ll turn you all into pigeons!”

“We can’t let that happen.”

PengRhyme asked the child.

“Won’t you fight with us?”

To the hesitating child, PengRhyme quietly whispered.

“Do you trust me?”

The child nodded vigorously.

PengRhyme whispered something into the child’s ear.

The child gathered courage and spoke those words.

“Monster who came down to steal Slime Land’s snacks! Your evil deeds end here!”

The voice wasn’t very loud, but amplified by the Slime, it rang clearly to everyone.

“Combine!”

PengRhyme’s body began to merge with the child.

The small child grew to the size of an adult, and their clothes turned pink.

And finally, beautiful flaming wings sprouted from their back, glowing brightly.

“Slime Ranger Pink! Here I am!”

Guided by PengRhyme, Pink spread her wings wide and soared into the sky.

With a single flap of her wings, Pink accelerated instantly and pierced straight through the black monster.

***

Perhaps it was because of the long outing followed by her appearance in the hero show.

Yeonwoo fell asleep while tightly clutching my Slime mask.

While holding her, I gathered the Rangers and Hunters famous for their special abilities.

I gently covered Yeonwoo’s ears so she wouldn’t hear our conversation.

“Did you see that?”

I had guided Yeonwoo onto the stage.

Of course, if Yeonwoo hadn’t mustered the courage, that scene just now wouldn’t have happened.

Thanks to her courage, I was able to show everyone the scene I wanted them to see.

“Yes. It must have been very tough for her. Considering it hasn’t been on the news until now, it’s quite remarkable.”

As expected of seasoned Hunters, their keen eye was impressive.

They immediately noticed that the wings of flame Yeonwoo displayed in the hero show weren’t just a result of my amplification.

“You’ve been through a lot.”

The Hunters also offered words of comfort to Yeonwoo’s mother, who was with us.

“Yeonwoo has suffered more than I have.”

Yeonwoo’s mother gently stroked her head.

“You understand why I gathered you all here, right?”

“To help the child properly control her ability, correct?”

“Yes. We can’t rely on the phoenix costume Slime forever. And if this child can properly wield her ability, she has the potential to become a world-class Hunter. Oh, of course, don’t force her into Hunter work.”

“Naturally. No matter how much ability one has, being a Hunter isn’t something you can do if it doesn’t suit you.”

Suppressing it will only build stress and make growth difficult.

Only by fully spreading her wings can her mind and body be at ease, and her ability develop.

“From now on, we’ll come to Slime Land often to play and learn how to control her ability.”

As I conveyed the already agreed-upon plan, Yeonwoo’s mother bowed her head.

“Please take good care of her.”

“Mother, please raise your head. As a senior, this is something I naturally must do.”

With this, the first young Awakened has come to Slime Land.

I plan to keep increasing this number in the future.