To my utter surprise, Yelena’s suggestion was taken much more seriously than I expected. Unbeknownst to me, Originium Slugs—or rather, Originium Snails—possessed far more utility than I had imagined.
First and foremost, the fact that they were edible was their greatest advantage. I mean, they’re covered in Originium shells; how on earth do you eat that? Wouldn't eating them just make your Oripathy worse?
When I voiced my alarm during the meeting, I received a startling answer. For reasons unknown, the shells of Originium Slugs are composed of Originium that has already lost its utility as an energy source, leaving behind nothing but hardened mineral.
The room erupted in laughter again as they explained that the idea of contracting Oripathy by eating Infected creatures was nothing more than an old conspiracy theory. I even had to endure comments about how the great Tactical Staff Officer seemed to be lacking in common sense.
I mean... aren't they called 'Infected creatures' because they're infected with Originium? Perhaps these creatures had simply evolved to suit the Originium-rich environment much faster than humans could.
That wasn't all. Being edible was just one of the many uses for Spiky’s kin. Their waste could be used to fertilize soil, and their mucus was apparently used as a raw ingredient for cosmetics. Wait, so they really are just giant snails...?
The most shocking revelation, however, was that beer could be brewed using their droppings. Apparently, it tasted exquisite and was considered a high-end luxury good.
I thought beer was made from barley and hops... My head spun from the sheer shock. I am never, ever drinking poop-beer. Never!!
Setting aside the talk of their filthy droppings, it was certainly a meaningful discussion. If we could succeed in mass-breeding Originium Slugs, it would be a massive help in solving our food crisis.
Out of all the opinions presented in the meeting hall, Yelena’s was passed unanimously. Her shoulders remained squared with pride for quite a while afterward.
"Earth, you have even less common sense than I do~."
"Quiet, you. Don't go acting all smug just because you stumbled into a lucky guess."
If you start taking over the 'intellectual character' role too, what's left for me? We traded jokes like that as we hiked up the mountain.
Our objective, of course, was to follow up on the meeting's agenda: Originium Slug farming. My goal was to use the 999k on my back to gather the slugs, capture them alive, and bring them back to camp.
"I thought it was just a piece of junk at first, but it really does keep coming in handy."
"I don't think the person who used that machine to show off such terrifying power and upend the entire Guerrilla should be saying that, sir."
The one responding was Tom, a master of stealth Arts who had accompanied us on the previous mission. This guy really loves to nitpick everything I say. The best solution was to simply ignore him.
I switched on the 999k—the radio with absolutely zero communication security. The scream of a Pompeii echoed out. It had felt creepy at first, but now it felt almost familiar. Soon, Originium Slugs began to gather near me.
Meanwhile, Spiky remained perched on my shoulder, as still as ever. Having heard it so many times, he seemed to have learned that the sound was a fake.
A fairly large number of slugs gathered. Of course, since many had died during the operation a few days ago, they didn't have the same overwhelming presence they once did.
"The problem is, now that we've gathered them..."
There was a big difference between using them as disposable troops and intentionally breeding them. First, we had to domesticate them, but Originium Slugs were fierce wild animals, making them difficult to raise.
...Wait. Then what the heck is this thing on my shoulder?
Pushing that minor question aside, I was agonizing over how to handle the group gathered around the 999k when it happened.
"Huh? Spiky? Where are you going?"
Spiky slid down my back and moved toward the pack of wild slugs.
Yelena, who had grown incredibly attached to the little guy, looked flustered, interpreting his sudden movement as him leaving us.
"Don't worry. Do you really think I'd let Spiky just wander back into the wild? You're here specifically to help capture all these slugs and take them back. Spiky is no exception."
Originium Slugs generally had low intelligence, so a Caster could temporarily restrict their movements with just a small amount of Arts. In the game, slugs appeared as enemies that attacked the player's team, and there was usually a process of brainwashing behind that.
Of course, in those cases, the slugs were under a lot of stress and usually died shortly after, which is why I brought the 999k instead.
Spiky stopped in front of a slug that was noticeably larger than the others and began tapping its shell with his own body. Then, the other slug tapped Spiky back.
"Wait, are they fighting?"
"If they were really trying to fight, wouldn't they have raised their spikes first?"
Actually, I didn't really know either. All I knew about Originium Slugs was the shallow knowledge I had from the game; how would I know something like this? It felt like I was watching a Geo-National documentary.
"Do you know?"
"Beats me. I'm just an uneducated grunt who hasn't been in the army long. There's no way I'd know about stuff like that," Tom replied.
Even Tom, a local of Terra, didn't know. Well, I figured Spiky had a plan, but then something strange happened.
Spiky and the other slug leaned against each other. Their foot parts—the only fleshy bits exposed outside the shell—touched. To our eyes, it just looked like two shells huddled together.
A moment later, the two shells began to vibrate. The force caused the shells to clatter against the ground.
"Oh... oh no! They really are fighting inside! Shouldn't we pull them apart right now?! Earth, what do we do?"
Yelena paced restlessly, terrified that her precious Spiky might be in danger.
And I... I felt a slight sense of betrayal. From Spiky, of all creatures. Good grief. To think he’d betray his owner—who had been single since his time on Earth—and start a relationship before me.
Since I was too stunned to speak, Tom spoke up instead.
"Uh... I don't think you need to worry?"
"Uncle Tom, how can you be so calm? What if something happens to Spiky?!"
"That's not fighting. They're mating."
Yelena tilted her head at his words.
"What's mating?"
She was ten years old, an age full of curiosity. An unfamiliar word and the inexplicable behavior of her pet created a moment of pure, innocent questioning.
"Well, mating is..."
"Stop. I'll explain it."
I knew better than anyone that my reputation had hit rock bottom because of the rumors Tom spread last time. I couldn't leave the explanation to a guy like him.
"Mating is a behavior animals go through to lay eggs."
"What's with that weirdly clinical and unromantic explanation?" Tom interjected.
"Then how would you explain it?"
Was I supposed to tell a kid that they rub against each other to make babies? I shot a sharp glare at Tom.
"Huh? They can lay eggs just by rubbing against each other like that?"
"Th-That's right. That's just how animals are."
"No! That's not it at all, Lady Yelena!"
Before I could tell him to shut his mouth, he began firing off an explanation like a machine gun.
"The premise of the explanation is wrong! Mating is when animals love each other. it's not just an action to lay eggs. The order is reversed! Because they love each other, eggs are produced as a result!"
"Shut up!"
Unable to take it anymore, I threw a drone part at him. Hit by the heavy piece of metal, Tom fell over pathetically.
"Ugh... resorting to violence... this is an abuse of power by the Staff Officer..."
"Don't say another word."
I ignored Tom as he rambled on about me being a tyrant who didn't allow freedom of speech. He deserved it.
"Earth."
But I couldn't ignore Yelena.
"Then, is Spiky in love with that other slug?"
And... while I wasn't ignoring her, the answer was difficult to give.
"...I suppose so."
"Do you lay eggs just by loving each other?"
"...No, not exactly."
"Then what are they doing?"
I could just say it plainly. I could tell her that they were having sex right there.
But the words wouldn't come out. Something tickling my chest blocked my mouth.
"There's... an action that only people who love each other do. That's just what I've heard. And that it's like a special ritual that only adults can do..."
The emotion was brilliant, fresh, and sweet. As if drunk on the feeling, I found myself babbling, unable to use the eloquence I was usually so proud of.
"Hmph, what's that? You're saying only adults have the right to love?"
"...No. Anyone can love. But that act is a separate realm. It's an act that can only be performed by someone who can take responsibility for the person they love and handle the future."
That was the only answer I could give this young child. It was because that special emotion brought a sense of bashfulness along with it. Right on cue, the two slugs separated as if they had finished their business.
The slug that had been stuck to Spiky—perhaps smitten by him—slowly followed behind him. It seemed the one Spiky had seduced was the leader of the mountain pack, as the rest of the slugs followed suit.
"Well... looks like things worked out. We won't need to use your Arts or my radio. Let's get ready to head down quickly. Tom, you get up too."
If the job gets done, it's a win. I hoisted the 999k and hurried back toward the camp. I could faintly hear Yelena telling me to wait and watch my step, but more than anything, my only thought was to escape this awkward place as fast as possible.
----
"This situation is turning out to be quite interesting."
"Uncle Tom, did something good happen? You have a huge smile on your face."
"It's nothing. Now, let's follow the Staff Officer back."
Standing among the slugs that had been successfully domesticated thanks to Spiky's wit, Tom—the man nicknamed the 'Parrot of the Guerrilla'—simply gave a wide smirk.
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