“Here we go!” I announced.
We were traveling on slimeback (if I could call it that) from the foothills to the testing grounds. A huge bush slime carrying all five adventurers led the way. Just like it did in the Sea of Trees, it plowed through dense trees and foliage, carving a path up the mountain wide enough for two people to walk side by side.
Right behind the bush slime, an emperor scavenger slime carrying the four nobles plus me leveled the path while it cleared the branches the adventurers were cutting down along the way. We were climbing at a relatively slow pace, but considering how we were on their backs and the slimes were moving up the side of a mountain while carving a brand-new path, they were still much faster than doing this process by hand.
Other than Sebas and I, who’d had prior experience, it was clearly unsettling to ride on slimeback, especially for the four beastkin.
“This feels weird...”
“I never thought I’d be sliding up a mountain...”
“It’s completely different from riding a horse...”
“We’ll get used to it soon enough. It’s a smooth ride.”
“It’s too smooth. That’s why it feels off.”
When I asked them if they were okay, they explained how beastkin had heightened senses that made them particularly sensitive to new experiences. Back in Japan, coworkers and associates who had pets often said that they took a long time to acclimate to a new environment, so that made sense. Just as Jeff said, they should soon get used to it. Since the others added that they would dismount and run on their own if it became too much, we carried on up the mountain. I decided to take their word for it, and held back the urge to do something to make them more comfortable. I didn’t want them to think they were pressuring me into changing my methods.
“I’ve never ridden on a slime before, but this makes me want one of my own,” Rosenberg said, sounding genuinely interested. When I looked over my shoulder, I could see him stroking the slime beneath our feet.
We’d said hi to each other when we met up on the bottom of the mountain, and there hadn’t been time for conversation beyond that. Since we last met, my status had changed from client to student. This was a good opportunity for us to get to know each other more. “I’m glad you think so. A slime of this size can carry significant cargo, and they’re the best for sliding over uneven paths,” I said.
“Splendid. In addition to breaking curses, warlocks also look after cursed lands,” Rosenberg said. “Even with regular cleansing to keep the cursed energy of those places at bay, it isn’t uncommon for people to flee the entire area, leaving roads leading up to the cursed land unkempt.” Because leaving a cursed land untreated would only worsen the cursed energy, he had no choice but to cleanse it, no matter how tough the commute became. “Hexing often requires specialized equipment that needs to be hauled to the cursed land as well. Enlisting the help of a Space magic user can mitigate that problem, but there’s always a widespread demand for them. Most of the time, I go in by carriage and on foot. Checking up on and cleansing a cursed land only requires a few visits a year, but I once juggled the caseload of three warlocks because of two coinciding retirements... I don’t like remembering the year I spent until replacement warlocks joined. That experience helps me see how useful these slimes are.”
“I didn’t think being a warlock would be so physically demanding,” I said. Even when Rosenberg spoke briefly about the warlock industry during our last meeting, I felt that they were kind of being abused. While I was interested in hexes and wanted to learn about breaking curses and cursed energy and all that, I couldn’t say I’d aspire to become a professional warlock.
Rosenberg chuckled, apparently reading the question on my face. “It isn’t a cushy job, that’s for sure. Warlocks are constantly understaffed. If you can stay away from cursed land gigs, or perhaps limit yourself to cursed lands located near cities, it won’t be as physically draining...but that’s not realistic for most of us. On the other hand, we’re never given assignments that don’t align with our abilities. For example, sending a warlock with a talent for curse-breaking but none for cleansing cursed energy to a cursed land would only do harm and no good. Signing up for the life of managing cursed lands certainly isn’t the only path. Some warlocks do nothing but break curses.”
Of course, that path wasn’t all easy either. Curse-breaking warlocks could get cooped up in their workshop, or set up extensive communication with their clients like a doctor does with their patients. At the end of the day, aspiring warlocks had to figure out their ability and propensity to pick their career path.
“If I were to work as a warlock in the future, I’d mostly want to manage cursed lands like the testing ground we’re headed to. I have the physical endurance and the slimes to help me. Commuting won’t be a problem with my Space magic. On the other hand, if you ask me if I can provide sensitive care to those suffering from curses...” I said.
“That is a difficult task even for seasoned warlocks. You need only to focus on what you excel at. As I said, we are always short on warlocks. Because you’d be willing to take on cursed lands that are more labor-intensive, there will be people who can help you. On top of that, I’ve heard that you’ve already devised your own magic that cleanses cursed energy. With talent like that, you’ll be welcomed with open arms anywhere you go,” Rosenberg said.
“That means a lot, coming from you,” I said. “Thank you for your tutelage in advance. I am looking forward to improving my skills.”
“Before we begin specific lessons, I was told that you already know how to cast and break a curse. Is that accurate?” my tutor asked.