Ryoma and the Local Cuisine

***Ryoma and the Local Cuisine*** is the ninteenth episode of the By the Grace of the Gods (anime).

## Summary

A curious Ryoma learns about a certain upcoming festival through Eliaria's letter and decides to

## Plot

Eliaria writes to Ryoma about moving to the academy dorms soon. She details that it was her first time living on her own. Although she's a bit scared, Eliaria claims the letters from Ryoma offer her enough emotional support to help her.

Ryoma reads Eliaria's letter at the mines while his Deodorant Slimes eats charcoal. He decides to give her a present for the occasion, but can't decide what to give her. Ultimately, Ryoma decides on handmade soaps that resemble Slimes and Limour Birds. When finished, Ryoma recalls Eliaria mentioning a festival in her letter.

Later, at the laundry shop, Ryoma asks Carme about an upcoming festival in town, but he hasn't a clue. Carme suggests asking someone who's lived in town for a long time may know, so Ryoma asks Dolce about it. In Dolce's opinion, he thinks it'd be the Founding festival and explains what happens during the event. What interested Ryoma the most was getting a stall and helping out in the town cleaning part. As the conversation goes on, Carme interrupts to inform them that Carla sent word of trouble at the second shop, claiming the Cleaner Slimes have multiplied uncontrollably. In light of the incident at the second shop, Ryoma hurries off there to help mitigate the problem.

Upon arriving at the second shop, Carla leads Ryoma to the source of the problem, where he's shown the multiple Cleaner Slimes. Caulkin informs Ryoma that there are 75 new Cleaner Slimes. Without wasting any time, Ryoma tames them all and receives a report from Caulkin on the reason for the Cleaner Slimes multiplying so quickly. Caulkin suggests that they dispose of the excess deodorant that the slimes produce to prevent the Slimes from multiplying again, and Ryoma agrees. For the rest of the night, Ryoma spent time with Caulkin, Tony, and Lobelia talking about Slimes.

The following day, Ryoma visits Pioro at his shop, but is disgusted by the smelly barrels outside it. Pioro claims it's called Shappaya, fermented fish that his younger staff brought that morning. Hence, Ryoma uses his Deodorant Slime to absorb the potent stench from the barrels. Because the effects would only last a day, Ryoma gives Pioro a complimentary odor absorption pouch. Pleased to repay the favor, Ryoma asks that Pioro inform him of the odor pouch's deodorizing duration. As an added bonus, Pioro gives Ryoma one of the barrels of Shappaya and claims that it'd act as a good repellant against monsters. Ryoma had also hoped to meet with Miyabi before he had left, but she had already left for the capital.

Returning to the first shop, Carme informs Ryoma that Serge had hoped to schedule a meeting with him there, and Ryoma allows it whenever it's best for Serge. Understanding that, Carme also informs Ryoma that the village where Fina and the others are from sent the shop a gift, and Jane would give more details on it.

In another room, Jane directly claims the gifts from their parents were a bribe, which was some wheat and semesa. Ryoma then asks that Jane inform her parents not to send any more bribes in the future as their work there is much appreciated. Furthermore, Ryoma insisted on paying for what was delivered and offered to pay the base costs and delivery fees.

Afterward, Serge visits Ryoma and shows him a prototype of the music box he commissioned Diome to create. Serge also mentions that there are plans to sell the music boxes at the upcoming Founders Festival. The song played on the music box is one of the traveling Semroid Troupe, and Serge asks permission to use the empty lot next to the shop and the spare rooms for the troupe as a greenroom.

After his meeting with Serge, Ryoma hears Chelma scream from the kitchen and learns that she opened the Shappaya barrel inside the kitchen. To remedy this situation, Ryoma prepares the food and uses Semesa to add flavor to it. The food is served to the shop employees, who enjoy it, and Carme suggests they prepare it for the Founding Festival. Not wanting to make the livelihood of his employees any more difficult, Ryoma asks for their opinions if they mind running a food stall for the festival, and they all agree to it.

## Characters

* Eliaria Jamil
* Ryoma Takebayashi
* Carla Norad
* Carme Norad
* Dolce
* Serge Morgan
* Fay
* Lilyn
* Chelma
* Jane
* Fina
* Maria
* Tony
* Lobelia
* Caulkin
* Pioro Saionji
* Miya Catt
* Miyabi Saionji
* Diome
* Maiya (Silhouette)
* Sordio (Silhouette)
* Prenance Semroid (Silhouette)