NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 112.1
A Pillowcase Made Of Slime Material
“Ali-san, can this material be processed?”
“Huh?”
In the warehouse of the hideout, used mainly as a storage space for materials, Yuuri asked Ali this question while holding a certain material in his hands. Yuuri stretched the strange substance, which was somewhere between gel-like and vinyl-like, as he gripped it with both hands. It was stretchy but a little odd.
“Well, if it couldn’t be processed, it’d be useless, wouldn’t it?”
“Then, is it possible to flatten this into a single sheet, like fabric?”
“…What are you planning to do this time?”
Ali raised a brow at Yuuri, who was still stretching the blue material. His half-lidded gaze was practically a signature expression at this point. After spending so much time with Yuuri, Ali had learned that his ideas often led to chaotic situations. While Yuuri had no ill intent, his constant pursuit of a more comfortable life and delicious meals sometimes resulted in the most baffling scenarios.
By the way, the blue material Yuuri was stretching was, in plain terms, a discarded slime shell—or rather, a slime corpse. When alive, slimes are bouncy and rubbery, but once their core is destroyed, their elasticity fades, and their remains become something between vinyl and gel. Their shape, once round, partially collapses after death.
“What are you making with the slime?”
“Blue slimes are cool to the touch, so I thought a pillowcase made from this would feel great for sleeping.”
“…What?”
“It’s nice to cool the back of your neck for a comfortable sleep, right?”
“…You’re unbelievable.”
Ali slumped his shoulders in exasperation. Yuuri’s ideas always veered off in bizarre directions. To Yuuri, this was ordinary; he was just trying to recreate the handy items he had used in modern Japan. But to the people of this world, his ideas were outlandish. Actually, even for someone from Japan, this was pretty out there—using a slime corpse to make a pillowcase wasn’t exactly a common thought.
Incidentally, Yuuri’s inspiration came from his companion, Rooks. As Yuuri’s familiar and self-proclaimed bodyguard, Rooks never left Yuuri’s side, even when he slept. Recently, on some hot and restless nights, Yuuri had discovered that hugging Rooks like a body pillow felt pleasantly cool. Since Rooks didn’t seem to mind, Yuuri had been enjoying peaceful, comfortable sleep.
However, not everyone had the same luxury. Most of the others spent their nights tossing and turning in the summer heat. Remembering this and noticing the cool texture of the blue slime material, Yuuri decided to create a pillowcase. If possible, he even considered making a mattress cover version for ultimate comfort. Though the blue slime’s cooling effect wasn’t extreme, water-element slimes weren’t too cold. …Now, if it were an ice slime, that might be dangerously chilly, and Yuuri knew to avoid using it.
“Is this a bad idea?”
“…Not necessarily, but you should leave this to a professional.”
“A professional…”
“There are craftsmen skilled in material processing…”
“…But who would take on a job like this?”
“Don’t ask me.”
When Yuuri pondered aloud in a dreamy tone, Ali responded with a sigh. To be fair, they weren’t sure who could help. If it were for weapons, they’d simply go to a weaponsmith. But a pillowcase? Who would take on such an odd request? Craftsmanship was a matter of pride, and an unusual request might get them banned from a workshop if they upset someone.
Stretching the blue slime repeatedly, Yuuri tilted his head in thought, while Ali silently racked his brain for a suitable craftsman. The best option would be someone who specializes in material processing. After all, the request wasn’t too complex—it was just about shaping the material into a flat, sheet-like form.
“Just bring that with you.”
“Huh?”
“We’re going to the craftsmen’s district.”
“Oh, okay!”
Though he grumbled, Ali seemed willing to show the way. Yuuri beamed with excitement as he eagerly packed the blue slime material into his magic bag, a handy student-style satchel with magical storage properties. As Yuuri followed Ali out of the warehouse, Rooks quietly appeared by his feet, as if sensing their departure. A reliable slime companion indeed.
A few days later, the material, shaped to Yuuri’s specifications, was delivered to the hideout.
“…Yuuri, what’s this for?”
“I’m going to attach strings to it!”
“Yeah, but then what?”
Yakk asked, puzzled, as Yuuri cheerfully explained. Yakk, being Yakk, could only respond with “Why, though?” Still, Yuuri worked diligently, brushing off the question for later.
The blue slime material had been carefully processed, and shaped to match the surface of a pillow perfectly. Yuuri began attaching strings to it, working to transform the material into a tie-on pillowcase. Sewing wasn’t an option due to the slime’s texture, but the craftsmen had provided a special adhesive material for such cases. Using small fabric pieces attached to strings, Yuuri secured them to the slime using the adhesive.
“Done!”
“…So, Yuuri, what’s this?”
“Huh? A pillowcase!”
“What?”
“A cooling pillowcase made from blue slime material.”
“…What!?”