Chapter 18: Chapter 18: Beatrice, the Wishing Lamp
Olivia thought of this and suddenly spoke: "Alice Ashford."
Louis’s expression remained unmoved, still watching Limuru with great interest as it continuously digested the magic waste.
However, Marquis York looked at the little swan with confusion, not quite understanding why Olivia would mention the daughter of Earl Ashford’s Family.
"No reaction? Did I really misunderstand?"
If Louis had truly been reincarnated like her, he shouldn’t have had no reaction at all.
Alice Ashford, she was indeed one of Louis’s arch-enemies from his previous life.
To be precise, before Louis relied on the Greedy Feast to elevate his status to legendary, he was often oppressed by that Canghong Sword King.
Ahem, to say ’oppressed’ is putting it nicely.
In the early years, he was even badly beaten.
If you count the time, it would also be about a month later.
However, seeing Louis’s lack of reaction, it seems she was indeed overthinking.
The little swan wouldn’t know that the Louis she knew would never write down his defeats in his diary.
Even if he were to be blasted to pieces by twelve-ring magic, he’d leave a mouth calling out "I didn’t lose."
And the current Louis hasn’t inherited a bit of the original’s memories.
Having PTSD would be odd.
At this moment, Louis was considering a question.
This large batch of magic waste, seemingly... might not be without resolution.
If you count the time, it was almost 19 years later that the original, when still Emperor Ense, received a research report sent by the White Tower Mage.
It was a study report on the slime species.
Generally speaking, slime growth paths tend to fall into three categories.
LV1 Slime.
—Also the most common, most numerous type of slime.
LV2-10 Odd-colored Slime.
—Most are special breeds evolved to adapt to environments, varying in hazard levels, and require adventurers to clean regularly lest they breed into a beast disaster.
LV11-20 Giant Slimes.
—Already able to cause widespread destruction to a city as a high-risk magical creature.
Beyond that, there comes the Kingdom Slime, existing only in legends, also known as the Slime King.
Logically, from the lowest level slime, to odd-colored slime, giant slime, Slime King... this series of evolution processes is clear and coherent.
Logically, it’s not uncommon for average Curse Masters to use it as a magic pet.
But why is it rarely used as a magic pet?
There are three reasons—
1. The methods to upgrade to giant slime, Kingdom Slime are unclear.
2. Giant slimes can’t be directly contracted as summoned beasts for unknown reasons.
3. The Kingdom Slime is a legendary-level catastrophe, unbeatable.
However, in Star Era 14469, within the White Tower’s separate cultivation area for odd-colored slimes, an accident occurred.
The cause was a Mage’s carelessness, which allowed individual slimes meant for isolated cultivation to collectively tear open the containment barrier and escape into Ense’s sewers.
These slimes were initially used as evolutionary condition "control groups," similar to hybrid rice contrasts, numbering in tens of thousands.
Letting them roam in the sewers might pose a danger to the city.
But when the Mages arrived to handle the accident, they found the vast swarm of slimes had vanished, leaving only a giant slime in the sewer.
Hence, the key to the birth of giant slimes was finally discovered.
It’s not about consuming some precious material to evolve.
The material needed for evolution... is the same species.
Having over 10,000 LV1 slimes devour each other would cause their cores to merge, eventually coagulating into a giant slime type of creature.
This explained why the Mages couldn’t figure out the conditions for odd-colored slimes evolving into giant slimes by any method.
Because no one’s crazy enough to let 10,000 slimes devour each other, contrast group comparison is the norm.
Even in nature, it’s rare to see over 10,000 slimes congregate and devour each other, so no one’s ever witnessed the birth of a giant slime.
The reason Curse Masters can’t contract giant slimes was also clarified.
...Contracting with a giant slime is equivalent to contracting with 10,000 normal slimes at once; it’s hard to succeed.
Even killing 10,000 chickens would make your hands tremble.
Contracting 10,000 slimes at once? That’s not something average Mages can do.
And what was the first thing the original did upon receiving this information?
That’s right, he directly ordered the White Tower to seal the news and bought up most of the rare slime individuals in the market, intending to make a fortune out of the information gap!
That’s indeed the embodiment of greed.
Of course, this was not important for Louis.
The important thing is, he has a chance to evolve Limuru into a giant slime.
As long as Limuru can maintain its characteristics to evolve into a giant slime, its digestion ability would be unmatched by ordinary slimes.
It’s just...
Revealing the slime evolution path 19 years ahead of time, would this cause some unpredictable impact?
The next moment, Louis put this idea to rest at the onset.
With a future diary, what is there to fear?
Why not act early, rather than waiting to regret at the guillotine?
Then let’s do it!
Just at this moment Beatrice, who heard the news, hurried over, and Louis went straight to her, saying:
"Beatrice, I have something I’d like to chat with you about."
Beatrice, frowning, saw Louis approaching, and her gaze unconsciously turned towards him.
Her brows slightly relaxed, and she smiled, saying, "Thanks to you two for noticing this in time, or it truly would’ve suited some villain’s desires, which would’ve troubled me greatly."
"Glad to be of help. By the way, there’s something I’d like to discuss with you."
Beatrice blinked: "Go ahead, I can improvise as your wish-granting genie; whatever you want, as long as it doesn’t violate principles, I’ll find a way to get it for you."
If this matter hadn’t been discovered early, she dared not imagine the consequences.
So, having identified the problem, her mood instead felt much lighter; she might even say she’s happy.
Louis took a deep breath.
The moment these words were spoken, [Sin of Greed] began to stir again.
He waved his hand, saying, "Let’s not talk about that, let’s discuss something serious first."
After much consideration, Louis quietly shared the matter of the giant slime with Beatrice.
Beatrice never expected she was all set to take the magic waste out to the suburbs for explosive disposal.
Yet upon arriving, she heard the solution directly from Louis.
Her eyes sparkled: "The evolution of giant slimes is indeed so unique? If this information is handled well, hmm... Louis, you’ve been a great help."
"Being able to assist you is a good thing." Louis said seriously.
With such a great wife, let’s see who dares accuse me of seducing the country?
Besides, the earlier she knows, the sooner this information can be leveraged.
Beatrice wouldn’t owe him anything.
Hm?
Louis suddenly realized Beatrice was getting closer, and with mischievous intent, she circled her fingertips around his tail, squinting her eyes and said:
"My fiancé, you’ve made sure to protect your tail, not letting others touch it, right?"
Louis coughed, this sensation was quite intriguing.
He discreetly retracted his tail: "You’re the first."
Louis fell into thought.
Always feeling a certain addiction from his wife towards his tail.
"Want anything, the wish-granting genie is waiting for you." Beatrice retrieved the tail and gently stroked it with a bit of discontent, saying, "Don’t keep the genie waiting too long; treasures, delicacies, rare items are all possible, or perhaps..."
She leaned in softly, whispering in his ear:
"Or does my young prince want something a bit naughty?"
Louis took a sharp breath.
Such a thing...
Hm?
It does seem quite tempting.
Luckily, his strong will suppressed it.
He shook his head, sweeping away the lingering emotions in his mind, and said with clear intent:
"No need, honestly, if there’s anything, it would be asking Your Highness to help cultivate my slime."
Beatrice lifted his chin with her fingertips: "Hm? Forgot something, didn’t you?"
"...Beatrice, I need your help."
His great wife chuckled softly: "Say it more; I like to hear it, after all, my young prince can not only delight my eyes but also soothe my ears."
Louis: ???
I’m neither eye drops nor soothing white noise?!