If the main reason behind that is his lack of mana, then perhaps a ‘mana recovery medicine that persistently recovers mana’ will be able to help.

Such a medicine exists within the knowledge I received.

“You can recover from mana exhaustion just by resting, so medicines are only really used during wartime or to allow the casting of a much needed healing spell. A mana recovery medicine that takes effect immediately is highly sought for in times of emergency, but in this world, there is an abnormal body constitution referred to as ‘Mana Leakage’. When one is afflicted with Mana Leakage, then his mana will slowly decrease even without doing anything. It was in hopes of treating this body constitution that research in a persistent mana recovery medicine was started, a mana recovery medicine that continuously supplemented mana.” Ryouma

If one just wishes to mitigate the effects of mana exhaustion, then the instant-type will be more than enough. The catch is that one will have to take the medicine every time the symptoms appear. But with a persistent-type, one can take the medicine prior and prevent the symptoms from appearing.

“I just know about the medicine and I’ve never actually made it. It’s possible to change the duration of effect and amount of mana recovered by adjusting the ratios of the ingredients used. So I was thinking it might be possible to modify this medicine such that it could compensate for the mana consumption and allow you to use your spell for a longer time.” Ryouma

“Is that really possible?” Ox Lord

“This is just a guess, but I believe it will be a great help to you in your training. During our match, I felt as if your left hand was mostly moving based on your experience before losing the use of your left hand. It felt as if you barely had any training with it.” Ryouma

When I said that, Ox-san nodded before saying anything.

“Exactly. I can maintain the spell for a few minutes at most before falling asleep. And as a debt slave, I couldn’t afford purchasing unneeded medicine in large amounts, so I couldn’t really train. Just being able to train properly is something I would be grateful for, but won’t that strain your finances, Master? I’m sure concocting medicine must cost a lot of money.” Ox Lord

“Ahh, you don’t have to worry about that.” Ryouma

For the ingredients, I can just use the running mash that I’ve been cultivating all this time for the purpose of preserving fungus.

The market price for them is really high, so even selling them through the guild master has its limits.

Because of that I’ve been starting to stock up on them and frankly I don’t really know what to do with them.

“The concoction process and the experiments will be a great boon to my studies… And I don’t exactly have any issues with my finances. Otherwise I would never have chosen you, Ox-san.” Ryouma

“That’s true. I suppose there was no need for me to worry.” Ox Lord

“Although I’m not so well off that I can afford not to save money, this much expense won’t pose a problem. More importantly, I would be much more at ease if you could use your full potential with that medicine. But if you’re still bothered about it, then why don’t you teach me your chantless casting?” Ryouma

“I just learned that by coincidence, but if you wish to learn it, then it would be my pleasure to teach it to you.” Ox Lord

Ox Lord bowed deeply to me. He seemed very uncomfortable, what with his large stature and the confined space we were in.

“Thank you!” Ryouma

I first learned about chantless casting from the street performers I was acquainted with, the sword dancers, Maiya-san and Soldio-san. Under their tutelage I was able to learn how to use it, but despite practicing on my own for some time now, I can’t seem to make any progress. Getting some advice should help me a lot.

Also, this doesn’t have anything to do with work, but plans to expand Gimuru have already started, and the centerpiece of the new city is supposedly a fighting arena. I remember gathering treant lumber for that.

If the medicine works well for him and he wants to return to the arena, then I don’t mind letting him participate. Although having a strong guard working at the store is reassuring, I want people to work at my store because they want to.

From what I’ve heard from Mr. Moulton during our chats, there are nobles that purchase slaves to create gladiators. As such, if Ox-san feels like going back to the arena, then I don’t mind having him work there instead.

…I told Ox-san that that was also part of the reason I chose him.

“I never thought I would receive such good treatment after becoming a slave.” Ox Lord

I couldn’t tell whether he was laughing or crying, but one thing I knew for sure was that he was grateful.

I’ll accept those feelings. But the one he should really be grateful to isn’t me but Orest-san.

“That man?” Ox Lord

“I feel like I can more or less guess what sort of relationship you have with him given your reaction, but the one who recommended you to me is Mr. Moulton. He probably knew about my medicine and my personality.” Ryouma

Mana Leakage and Mana Recovery Medicine are rare, but he is at least the second generation of a large slave company. If we are to assume that he loves people as much as I love slimes, then he is probably taking advantage of his position to be involved with many people everyday. It wouldn’t be strange if among those people one of them were suffering from Mana Leakage or knew something about medicine.

And even if that’s not the case, at the very least, he knew about Ox-san’s technique. If he was thinking of a way to help him use that technique more effectively, then it wouldn’t be strange if he thought of the idea of using a persistent-type mana recovery medicine.

“His excuse for acting dumb was that he couldn’t get rid of a ‘troublesome slave’… But when you think about how he sold you to me this time around, then perhaps he was merely deciding who to sell you to…” Ryouma

Just as Ox-san said a while ago, concocting medicine and giving it to someone costs money. There’s the cost of the ingredients, and then there’s the problem of procuring them in the first place, as normal stores might not have some of the ingredients. In the first place, Ox-san is strong enough to be able to work as a guard even with just one arm. It’s unlikely that anyone who purchases him would spend so much money and effort to help him recover. If the person who purchased him thought that he was ‘good enough’, then his skills would have rotted away.

That would be such a waste.

If Ox-san were a slime, there’s no way I would permit that to happen. Moreover, I would certainly want to have a few words with a person who thought that way.

And if I could choose who to give him to, then I certainly wouldn’t pick that person.

“You really love slimes, don’t you, Master?” Ox Lord

As Ox-san muttered that it was his first time being compared to a slime, everyone other than me smiled wryly… But anyway, given Mr. Moulton’s standing, perhaps that’s the reason why he wanted to choose who to sell Ox-san to.

On that point, I have some knowledge on medicine. A fact I’ve never really bothered to hide. And I also treat my employees well at my Gimuru branch. Another well-known fact.

In fact it is so well known that there are merchants who think I’m ‘too soft to employees’ or ‘too wasteful’. Orest-san did say that he investigated me, so it should be safe to assume that he should know that much.

“I can’t say anything for certain, but it always felt like he’s been dropping hints left and right when talking to me. Like when he talked about the slave gladiators.” Ryouma

Just how much of his actions were planned?

The more I think about it, the more I think he’s not a bad person. Still, there’s no denying that the way he does things is roundabout and annoying.

“…No wonder everyone is like that around him.” Ryouma

The way Reinhart-san and the others were looking at me at the time was like they were looking at a new fellow victim.

Author’s note: Enjoy your Christmas！