Chapter 15: Ignore

[Subordinate: Hey.

Subordinate: Are you Alchemy Slime?]

A message my younger sibling sent me out of the blue.

My head, filled with slime, spins furiously.

How on earth did something like that come up?

Is this a good thing or a bad thing?

Deny it?

Still, there must have been some kind of catalyst for that kind of talk.

I thought there was no way my family would be contacted about my work, since I’m not a minor.

Maybe the center sent a gift because the profit I provided was so large?

I can’t decide if I should tell my family that I’m Alchemy Slime.

If I say I’ve awakened, they’ll call me home, whether out of worry or to celebrate.

For now, I’ll bet on a 50% chance.

[Me: We’re acquaintances.]

It’s not a lie.

I keep in touch with Gongdori every day, who is practically the main body of Alchemy Slime.

[Subordinate: Hey. Seriously, if you’re friends with someone who makes such good stuff, shouldn’t you use the acquaintance chance or whatever and send some home?

Subordinate: Don’t you know Dad suffers from athlete’s foot?

Subordinate: Don’t you know Mom suffers from eczema?

Subordinate: You spine breaker!]

Oh dear. This is indeed my fault.

It’s a thought that doesn’t easily reach the mind of a fire-attribute slime.

[Me: Yeah.

Me: Okay.

Me: I’ll try to get some.

Subordinate: Oh, and.

Subordinate: Your WTube channel seems noisy.

Subordinate: Are you okay?

Me: I’m fine, I’m fine.

Subordinate: Is that so.

Subordinate: Keep working hard.

Subordinate: And hurry up and get me some insoles.

Me: Yeah

Me: Getting them right away

Me: Don’t use them, they’re not yours.

Subordinate: I don’t need them.

Me: I’m serious

Me: Don’t use them.

Me: There might be people who’ve never used this.

Me: But there’s no one who only uses it once.

Me: I don’t have the capacity to get one for you too.

Subordinate: I said I won’t use it.

Subordinate: You’re being annoyingly expensive.]

Good. If I say it like this, they’ll use it properly on their own.

I’ll send new products gradually, but for now, let’s send the <Insole Slime+>.

To give away a new product that hasn’t even been released yet.

It would be suspicious if Alchemy Slime was too accommodating to my convenience.

I made it myself without needing to contact Gongdori.

Since all skill levels plummeted, the stats are lower compared to the item Gongdori made with his best effort.

In the first place, products sold are not made using skills to the extreme limit.

They’re made at an appropriate level.

Besides, if I made and sent a custom-ordered item, they might become suspicious.

Ah, I really feel the skill levels have gotten lower.

Why are the Control and Transform speeds so slow?

Anyway, it’s finished.

If I package this and send it by delivery….

I can get home quickly by subway, but I’m sending the gift by delivery.

A son who is currently on vacation and just stays home.

Is this something that can be covered by the fire attribute?

Crunch.

[Decompose Skill’s Level has Risen to 7.]

[Absorb Skill’s Level has Risen to 7.]

[Analyze Skill’s Level has Risen to 7.]

[Trait: Slime’s Level has Risen to 5.]

[Already acquired a skill at Trait: Slime Level 5.]

[Skill’s Level Rises.]

[Divide Skill’s Level has Risen to 6.]

[Control Skill’s Level has Risen to 6.]

[Transform Skill’s Level has Risen to 6.]

[Store Skill’s Level has Risen to 5.]

[Trait: Slime’s Level has Risen to 6.]

No new skills.

My grand dream of gaining a large quantity of skills through a level reset has been frustrated.

Still, my total skill levels increased by 5.

Will it increase by 10 at Level 10?

I don’t know what will happen at 15, when I gained a special skill, not a general one, and then got rid of it.

For now, I can’t expect new skills until Level 15 or 20.

Since I don’t have the [Transform], [Mimicry], [Camouflage] skills, I have no choice but to send the <Insole Slime+> by delivery.

I wonder if Mom will tell me to come home after receiving the package.

It sounds like an excuse, but this is why I don’t contact home.

Just in case they suggest meeting up.

And I should contact Counselor Park Taeyang.

To tell him not to send Chuseok gifts home.

By the way, what was the catalyst that made my younger sibling think I might be Alchemy Slime?

If I were to rank the people in the world who ignore me the most, my younger sibling would be the undisputed number 1.

Should I say it’s a feeling of not wanting to admit it, no matter how good I am?

There’s a bit of that between the two whose names are listed below the parents’ family relationship certificate.

In my younger sibling’s brain, there’s no way a link would naturally form between ‘Alchemy Slime, who created the sensationally popular <Insole Slime>’ and ‘the older one who just freeloads off parents’. Look at how they accepted it as if they knew it would be like that just because I said we were acquaintances.

This means there’s a culprit who plausibly whispered that I and Alchemy Slime are the same person.

That mention of my channel earlier is also like that.

Did something else blow up there?

-Is it good sticking a straw into a successful alchemist?

-I have a very good proposal for Alchemy Slime-nim. If you can give me their contact information, I will definitely compensate you.

-My daughter is dying. Please, I beg you, if you give me Alchemy Slime-nim’s contact information, I will definitely repay the favor.

-If you have time to film trash videos like this, make more <Insole Slime>!

-I have a very good proposal for Alchemy Slime-nim. Please contact me here.

-You f*cker! My soles got messed up after using what you made! I uploaded a video, so watch it and compensate me!

It did blow up.

The comment section has become a total mess.

The Alchemy Shop is operated by the state. It’s easy to track personal information and their ability to mobilize the police is exceptional.

Naturally, it’s an environment where one can’t help but hesitate to leave harsh comments.

Moreover, I am the owner of Gongdori, who handles alchemy waste.

“If I read the comments at the Alchemy Shop and say, ‘Sob sob. The comments are so scary, I can’t do business here. I’m taking Gongdori and moving to a mountain with no internet,’ everyone from top to bottom will be in big trouble.”

But it’s different on WTube.

It’s a place full of people who think that even if their comments get reported, deleted, or they get banned, they can just create a new account.

There are also those who are trying to grab attention with this opportunity to grow their own channels.

It seems to be split into two groups.

Those who think I am Alchemy Slime itself.

Those who think I am very close to Alchemy Slime.

I don’t even have a brain to ache, yet I have a headache.

Alchemy Slime and SLimelove.

The two identities I painstakingly separated have become intertwined as one.

I don’t know exactly how things ended up like this.

But with public opinion solidified like this, even if I find out the cause, it won’t lead to the end of this situation.

The usual way to separate Alchemy Slime and SLimelove is through an alibi operation.

Since humans can’t transcend space, I just need to be in two places at the same time.

For instance, while I do a live broadcast, Alchemy Slime could be shown producing items on a live stream.

It’s entirely possible.

After all, ‘I’ have another ‘me’ in Gongdori.

I can just put a Mascot Suit on Gongdori and make it work.

If I pour materials into the Mascot Suit, shake it a bit, and film it spitting out insoles, wouldn’t the views explode?

It’s a safe solution, but I’m not sure if it’s wise.

Showing that I’m swayed by comments isn’t a good look.

And do I even need to explain myself?

The reason I separated WTube and the Alchemy Shop is to prevent them from joining hands and sinking to rock bottom together.

As long as Gongdori is firmly established at the Seoul Central Alchemy Center, I won’t completely fail.

Isn’t it fine to just leave it alone?

Oh, I got an email.

Counselor Park Taeyang, having noticed the commotion on the SLimelove channel, wants to have a talk.

I called, and he picked up almost immediately.

Since I called his personal number, I was connected directly to Counselor Park Taeyang without the hassle of going through multiple people.

After exchanging brief greetings.

-I’ll get straight to the point.

-Are you running a channel under the name SLimelove?

-We need a clear answer so we can respond accordingly.

“Yes.”

Since I called with the intention of revealing it, I answered without hesitation.

“….”

A brief silence followed.

-There are quite a few people who uploaded videos saying their skin got ruined after using <Insole Slime>.

“I know.”

-Your channel is rapidly growing by drawing in traffic through Alchemy Slime’s channel.

“I know.”

-If this continues, there could be problems.

“What kind of problems?”

-At this rate, we might have to give up on <Pack Slime>.

“Why?”

-According to statistics, when parents use such products on their children, the most important factor is ingredients, followed by safety.

-Since the ingredients of alchemy products are inherently undisclosed, the only thing to rely on is safety.

-If negative rumors spread about skin issues after use, people can’t help but feel uneasy.

-No one wants to use a product they can’t trust on their child.

“Then let’s just give up.”

-…What?

“I said, let’s give up.”

-It could also negatively affect <Insole Slime>.

“Even if <Insole Slime> doesn’t sell, isn’t Gongdori doing enough just by handling alchemy waste?”

Gongdori hasn’t even started full-scale activities yet.

There’s also the risk of getting addicted.

If toxic materials are used as ingredients, the toxicity might remain in <Insole Slime> as well.

For now, we’re testing mainly with food waste scheduled for disposal, producing only 1,000 pairs of <Insole Slime+> per day.

And in the remaining time, we’re disposing of alchemy waste while monitoring its condition.

So far, the results show no abnormal signs.

Once the machinery installation is complete, we’ll start full-scale production.

‘How can we stop in this situation! We have to think about the sunk costs!’

Saying that doesn’t hold much weight since the initial investment wasn’t that large.

The place where Gongdori is currently staying is the rental apartment I almost got dragged into.

The machinery is also set to be installed in a factory owned by the Seoul Central Alchemy Center, so I didn’t buy any land.

Construction is currently underway, and it’s not useless either.

It can be used to produce <Insole Slime+>, and even if production of <Insole Slime+> stops, it can be repurposed as a facility for Gongdori to handle alchemy waste.

Since there are almost no sunk costs, I can just say, ‘I’m not selling!’

-Isn’t there an easier way?

“You mean shutting down the SLimelove channel?”

-…Yes.

Seeing how much he dislikes unnecessary controversy, a public official is indeed a public official.

My WTube is currently steeped in all sorts of desires.

Leaving it as is would be like pouring water into a bottomless jar.

If there were only a hole on the Alchemy Shop side, I could somehow plug it.

But if I keep active on WTube, it’s like having a huge hole on the other side.

The overflowing malice can’t be stopped.

“Personally, I think leaving it alone won’t cause any major issues.”

-Alchemy products are directly tied to health, so the market is very conservative.

“For something like that, there seem to be plenty of people who recklessly jump in when they hear it’s good for health, vitality, or beauty. No matter what rumors circulate, those who will buy will buy.”

-….

He probably wants to proceed cleanly without any commotion.

Although pricing hasn’t been perfectly set yet, the minimum price per unit is 10,000 won, regardless of the product.

12,000 pairs a day. In terms of units, that’s 24,000.

Just from the commission I pay, my daily income is 100 million won. In a month, that’s close to 3 billion won in business.

It would be a shame to throw it away.

Not just the money, but the Alchemy Center has ambitious plans.

Currently, the perception of domestic alchemy products isn’t good.

In the past, due to systemic issues, alchemists left for overseas, and only the chaff remained.

Naturally, the alchemy products they made were of poor quality, and the repercussions linger to this day.

A craze born in such an alchemy wasteland.

They’re trying to change the perception of domestic alchemy products with this opportunity.

They’re even considering exports, wanting to show the world how far our country’s alchemy has advanced.

How do I know this?

Because we had a meeting with Gongdori at the center, so of course I know.

With such plans in place, they’d want to proceed cleanly without controversy.

It’s like when an actor in a movie causes a scandal, and all scenes with that actor are cut out entirely.

But what can we do about this? SLimelove is the lead actor.

If we don’t want the movie to flop, the only option is to make the problematic actor apologize and lay low.

Sadly, though, I’m also a key investor in this movie. And one who isn’t afraid of losses.

So, in other words, trying to strong-arm me won’t work.

If you keep pressuring me, shall I just say, “Goodbye, everyone~!” and hole up in the mountains with Gongdori?

“Counselor Park Taeyang.”

-Yes. Please speak.

“Things like smartphones or cars. Aren’t there products you use even while criticizing the company? Or even if not that, comics or novels you read while badmouthing the author. Movies or games you watch or play while criticizing the production company. Dramas or variety shows you watch while criticizing the broadcaster or the cast. Isn’t there something you use even while criticizing the producer?”

-There are.

“Why do you use them?”

-That’s because….

“Because the product is good. Right?”

-Yes. That’s right.

“If the product is good, people focus on the product and don’t care what stupid things the producer does.”

-But….

“I have confidence in my products. Don’t you trust my stuff, Counselor?”

-…I trust it.

“To begin with, I haven’t done anything wrong, so why should I apologize and lay low? I have no intention of bowing down.”

In the end, as if surrendering, Counselor Park Taeyang let out a sigh.

-Understood. I was thinking wrongly.

“Yeah. Don’t waste your energy and just ignore it. Once the products flood the market, all the noise will die down.”

-I’ll only respond if they cross the line.

“Yeah.”

-Production will focus on <Insole Slime D> and <Insole Slime+>.

“<Pack Slime> will also sell quite a lot, don’t you think?”

-As I mentioned earlier, amidst widespread negative rumors, there will be hardly any parents willing to use <Pack Slime> on their children.

-Even though you have the reputation of <Insole Slime>, <Pack Slime> is a new product, and the safety of <Insole Slime> is currently under suspicion.

“Well, <Pack Slime C> might be like that. It’s made for kids, after all. But <Pack Slime> will be different, won’t it?”

-Of course, compared to using it on children, the resistance will be lower, but since it’s used on sensitive areas, people will still be strict about it.

Somehow, it feels like the conversation is slightly off track.

“Counselor, who do you think <Pack Slime> is targeting as a product?”

-Isn’t it for adults with skin conditions?

“I wondered why you were only seeing it so negatively. So you were only looking at it from a medicinal perspective.”

-Isn’t that the case?

It isn’t.

The market I’m targeting isn’t that narrow.

The wider the market, the more daring people you’ll find.

“The name <Pack Slime> comes from facial packs. When you apply it to your face, it takes care of your skin.”

-It’s a cosmetic product?

“Yeah.”

-Women are sensitive about their skin. I think the likelihood of them using a product rumored to have severe side effects on their face is quite low.

“Then advertise it. There will definitely be people who buy it out of curiosity. Once someone starts using it, I believe word of mouth will spread quickly.”

-I’ll look into it.

Considering the current attention on the four types of Slime, it won’t be long before they advertise.

But it feels like they might entrust the advertisement to a famous celebrity.

“There’s a beauty W-tuber who’s been gaining popularity lately and challenges the open-run every day as a huge fan. How about offering them a sponsorship?”

-I’ll look into it.

“Famous actors probably won’t want to do the advertisement.”

-Is there some kind of side effect?

“A side effect, you could say. <Pack Slime> is-.”

Having received a ton of good stuff, Gongdori, whose [Analyze] skill has now reached level 20, speaks up.

About a function that wasn’t intentionally added.

“-If you apply it over a made-up face, it wipes off the makeup completely.”

Forcibly revealing a bare face-wouldn’t actors hate that?