Chapter 12: In Search of the Giant Slime
Re-written date: 5 / 15 / 2025
. . . . . . . . . . .
It was around noon, and the shabby, smelly stable was filled with the scent of straw and sweat.
As Edward captured the final shot, the initial scenes of the protagonists entering the adventurer's town were finally complete.
"Though the lighting wasn't exactly ideal, you two did a great job. That's a wrap for today."
With that announcement from Edward, Zat and Aya—who had grown quite used to flipping their acting switches on and off—happily trotted out of the stable.
Honestly, they'd half-believed Edward would actually make them sleep in that filthy place.
Compared to that, even the resting area back at the knight's hall sounded luxurious.
What really got their hopes up, though, was the prospect of dinner.
After all, they still hadn't forgotten the heavenly meals Winry had served back at Durin Family castle.
And now they were in a grand city they'd never visited before—Nosrick. Surely something delicious awaited.
Their expectations were met with a rather smug grin from Edward, who had clearly planned something.
He gestured to Winry, waiting patiently outside, and she handed over two boxed meals to the actors.
Edward added, "These are standard bento boxes for our actors. Any future cast members will get the same. Don't worry—it's all handmade by Winry in a borrowed kitchen nearby. Honestly, it tastes just as good as anything from those so-called top chefs."
Originally, the boxed meals had been Winry's idea—mostly a budget-saving measure—but now that they were actually being used, Edward found himself quite fond of the system.
After all, he couldn't take the cast out to eat every single day. It'd make more sense to celebrate with a party after the film was finished.
And so, he'd ordered Winry to create these neatly packed meals for the main cast to enjoy after each shoot.
Of course, they were "main cast only" specials—if every background actor got one, Winry might actually drop dead from exhaustion.
Not expecting such thoughtful treatment, Zat and Aya each took a bento box with surprise lighting up their eyes.
When they opened the boxes, they found a perfectly arranged assortment of food, still warm thanks to the sealed containers.
"Whoa~ this is really good!"
"Right? It's just regular food, but somehow being packed like this makes it taste amazing."
Their amazed reactions made Edward smile as he too sat down on the ground, opening his own box. While munching away, he casually brought up, "You've read the script, right? You should know some new cast members will be joining us soon."
"Yeah... but, um, Director Durin..." Zat hesitated a little before continuing. "Where exactly do you plan to find these actors? Weren't they supposed to be a crazy archmage who only casts explosion magic—and only once a day—and a masochistic knight with terrible sword skills but insane durability...? Honestly, that setup sounds kind of insane…"
Edward just chuckled. "I already have someone in mind for the explosion mage. She'll be joining us soon, and we can start filming her scenes right away. As for the knight... I plan to post a request at the Adventurers' Guild. The requirements aren't strict—just a woman who matches the look, is obedient, and doesn't mind some rough work. Acting skill is optional. After all, it's not like many people have ever done anything like film acting before."
"Well, you're the director, so I guess that makes sense. So what are we filming next while we wait for the new actors?"
Zat's question made Aya, still licking sauce off her bento box, perk up in curiosity. Even though they'd already read the script, just like the earlier removal of the Adventurer Guild scene, what actually made it into the film ultimately depended on Edward's decisions.
In response to the question, Edward simply replied in a calm tone, "After this? Honestly, we're still missing a few props and actors, so my plan is to start filming again once everyone's assembled."
"That's fair, I guess," Zat said, nodding. "But Director… what about the giant frog from the script? I don't think I've ever seen anything like that in this world's list of monsters."
Zat's question struck at the heart of a logistical issue, and Edward nodded thoughtfully in return. It was true. This world was home to many fantastical creatures—some of which he'd never even heard of before reincarnating here—but unfortunately, there was no such thing as a giant frog like the ones from KonoSuba.
After a brief moment of reflection, Edward spoke up, "There may not be giant frogs, but there are slimes. Back when I was studying at the Imperial Mage Tower, I remember seeing some illustrations of massive slimes in the monster compendium. I just don't know where we'd get one."
"Slimes, huh? I've never actually seen one," Zat admitted. "In the southern territory, wild monsters are pretty rare. I grew up without ever encountering one."
Edward frowned at the revelation.
This was a problem that needed solving if they were going to keep the script intact.
He tapped his chin for a moment before saying, "If I remember right, most towns have a dedicated monster dealer. Slimes are low-level and easy to care for, so they're actually quite popular."
"Oh! I've seen one of those shops before!" Winry chimed in excitedly. "They were even selling baby Silver Moon Wolves—so cute!"
Winry's comment confirmed Edward's assumption.
This world did have "pet shops," though they sold more than just cute animals—they specialized in harmless magical beasts.
"Well then, desperate times call for desperate measures. Let's head over to a monster shop and see what they've got. Who knows? We might actually find a rare, giant slime. And even if not, at least we can ask around."
With Edward's declaration, the group eagerly made their way into the heart of the town.
Looking back on it, they'd been so focused on filming ever since they arrived, they hadn't had a single moment to truly explore.
Finally, they had the time to take in Nosrick City.
. . .
As one of the largest towns in the southern territory, Nosrick boasted a well-connected transportation network, a dizzying variety of shops, and bustling streets packed with energy. Winry and the others couldn't stop gasping in amazement at every turn.
Meanwhile, Edward—who had seen both the capital city of this world and the technological marvels of his previous life—walked calmly through the crowd. After asking a few locals for directions, he eventually found himself standing at the corner of a street before a certain shop.
According to the townspeople, the owner of this particular monster store was something of a seasoned traveler, having ventured to many lands and encountered countless species. If a creature existed in the world, this shopkeeper could probably tell you at least a little about it.
With a hint of hope in his heart, Edward pushed open the door.
The sight that greeted them was… unexpected.
It was like stepping into a zoo. Dozens of magical beasts roamed freely around the shop, completely unrestrained.
There were no fences, no cages—just an open space teeming with fantastical life.
The moment was so surreal that for a second, everyone wondered if they'd accidentally wandered into another dimension.
Just then, the shopkeeper stepped forward with a welcoming smile. "Welcome to the Monster Emporium. How can I help you today?"
He appeared to be in his late twenties or early thirties. Though his gray hair made him seem older at first glance, his face was still youthful and lively.
Before Edward could even respond, something stirred behind the shopkeeper.
A pair of fuzzy ears twitched into view.
Then, before any of them could react with surprise, a girl with beast-like ears and a long, fluffy tail darted out from behind him.