Golden Carrot

...Don't see any Goldglitters here either. They're all the normal kind.

'Bob's Gourmet Guide' says that Goldglitter Originium slugs are a common variety in the wilds. 'They live within cracks in rocks or in caves,' and 'they behave identically to other varieties of Originium slug'...

So we should be able to find some here...

...Do you really not feel anything on top of your head?

Huh? Ah!

This is an Originium slug larva! Looks like its shell has just grown in, so it's still rather soft.

And it's busy secreting mucus to harden the shell, which raises its body temperature. It's actually quite snug and cozy having it crawl on my head like this.

Want to try, Marcille?

Absolutely not!

I have a bad feeling about going any further.

It sounds like there's other animals in here.

We should head back.

We still haven't found any Goldglitters, though.

Do they really live here?

Maybe we can use something like golden powder instead for the carrots?

Let's go a little deeper. I don't want to let those lads down when they're hoping with all their heart.

And if we don't find those slugs, we might not be able to buy that truck.

True...

Shh, walk quieter!

There's a group behind us, don't think they're Goldglitters though... They don't look gold, at least.

What are they?

Acid Originium slugs!

Remember? Big Bob said their mucus is extremely corrosive! Don't get splashed by it!

Marcille!

Got it!

Don't overdo it and kill them all!

That really doesn't matter right now—

(Incants)—

Ah!

Summoning magic? No, it takes too long! Defensive magic? Don't think I have enough mana...

Crap, I still can't use my staff properly here.

Oh, right. Flash magic?

I'm going to try the flashlight again!

If the factory head was able to make it shine, then I should be able to use it to amplify my flash magic... right? But it might not be that useful against a group of monsters...

Whatever you do, do it quick! There's more of them by the second!

Fine! Here goes... Flash!

Whoa! You took them all out at once!

Whoa! I did it! I think I'm starting to understand how to use the local magic!

You're the best, Flashlight! You're the first magic item I managed to use here!

Now's not the time! Their mucus got splashed everywhere!

Be careful! Make sure it doesn't touch your skin!

Wait, the flashlight, it's...?

What's happening?

Flashlight!

Marcille! Don't zone out now! You got splashed by the mucus too!

*sobs*... My flashlight...

I think it's broken.

Why don't we see if the factory owner can fix it once we get back?

*sobs*...

Hmm?

This mucus...

It smells pretty good, quite unlike the mucus from last time. It's more like...

......

It's... sweet and sour!

Really?

You're right!

Ergh... You guys really need to stop putting bug mucus in your mouth.

Hmm.. Tangy. I like it!

And what a beautiful color too! It's all bright and gold!

Gold, you say...?

The magic shot out from the flashlight turned the mucus gold and tasty...

I think we can use this as a replacement for the Goldglitter slugs!

Hmm... The once-corrosive mucus became edible under the influence of magic... How fascinating.

But this type of mucus is normally stored inside the slug's body. We should gather it all up and make it edible first!

Don't tell me you want to use these on the ground...

No, ingredients must be clean. These are fine for a taste test, but absolutely not for cooking.

And there's not enough of them to make a dish anyway.

If we're gonna make golden carrots, we'll still have to gather the mucus inside the slugs.

And how do we do that?

The ones from earlier were scared off by Marcille's magic. Before they return, we gather it from the ones that're still stunned.

I'm pretty sure the flashlight is broken, though.

Why not try using your staff?

Alright... I'll try...

Hmm...

Did it work?

Looks like... no, the mucus hasn't changed.

Maybe give it another go?

Hrgh!

How about now?

Still no change... But why? Your magic seems to be a bit on-and-off as well, Marcille.

Yeah, it's been like this since we arrived here. The only time I was able to gather enough mana was when I managed to use the flashlight successfully.

The factory head did say that D32 steel can withstand incredible amounts of energy.

The flashlight might have some amplification effect? The flash magic by itself wouldn't be enough in either the mana-gathering or casting stages.

Which means, I still need...

Hey, Laios, stop playing around with that slug! Are you even listening to Marcille at all?

Times like these, we just need to do what she says. This is her field of expertise, after all.

I've got it!

Got what?

With just my staff and the mana I have now, I can never change the mucus into what we need.

We'll need a conductor like the D32 steel to amplify it! There's no point doing any more tests with my staff!

We still need that flashlight!

I think if you tried using it again while it's smoking like that, we'd just end up stunned like the slugs.

Hey! When have I ever messed things up that badly?

The only reason you guys are making progress in this discussion is because I used the flashlight to make the mucus edible!

*Sigh* One moment, I managed to get a bit of an understanding of the local magic, and the next, my flashlight...

It doesn't seem to have melted at all from the acid. That 'D32 steel' stuff must be this silvery metal, right?

Well, Marcille just said the material is what's important, so it should be able to discharge magic no matter the shape, right?

What do you mean? Well, I'd assume so...

But why are you asking that all of a sudden?

Hmm?

Hmm?

...Hmm?

Why are you looking at me like that?

Nooooo! Flashlight! My flashlight!!! Stop! Don't make it into a pot!

The sooner we make these carrots, the sooner we find Rhodes Island, and the sooner we can save Falin, okay?

Hup!

Hah!

Look, it's not that bad. Remember that time my lockpicks were used to dig mimic meat out of its shell?

But Flashlight is different!

That's what I said about my lockpicks.

Pot's finished!

No! NOOOO!!

It's just in a new form, is all. As a tool, it's still as handy as ever.

The form's really important, though!

So why don't you try doing that to the mucus now?

Rest in peace, Flashlight...

We shared such happy times together...

Don't worry. I won't let your sacrifice be in vain.

(Incants)—

Just a few things to go. Get these all out of here, and sell them to the scrapyard.

Man... I really don't want to do this...

We used to cook and eat here... Midnight snacks, barbecues, parties...

*sigh*...

Hmm? Something smells... really good.

Huh... I smell it too...

Where's it coming from? Is someone cooking outside?

I'm cooking up some golden carrots for you folks.

Some... Some what?!

You actually managed to find some Goldglitters?

Nah, but we did find something else that'll turn the carrots golden.

Might not be traditional, but the color will do.

Should live up to your expectations for your last meal together.

By the way, if you hadn't given me that flashlight, we wouldn't have been able to make this dish!

I wouldn't have been able to use my magic without it.

It's certainly not something nobody would appreciate!

R-Really?

Well?

This taste...

I didn't think it'd be sweet-and-sour!

Amazing, right?

It's delicious, though! It has this refreshing and fruity aroma!

Amazing, right?

Hmm... I bet even Big Bob never realized you could prepare acid slugs like this.

Just think about it: sodas, smoothies... There're tons of good things you can make from them!

Thanks, boss. I mean it. I never thought we'd be able to eat golden carrot on our last day here.

What're you thanking me for? It's them who did all the work.

I will say though, this doesn't taste a lick like our first meal as a crew, but...

Back then, when we were eating golden carrot together, you said you wanted to join me and make this Rim Billiton's number one factory!

Haha! Who doesn't have one or two wild dreams when they're young?

It's not too late, either. Just need to start from scratch, is all.

Right. Now that there's someone who approves of my product, maybe my dream can live on.

Yeah, why not take your truck around some other towns a bit, and find somewhere else to make it a reality!

Oh right, the truck...

Hey, you guys wanted to buy my truck, right?

What? Oh, right!

Are you alright with it?

Not that we have much money in the first place...

I'm definitely not selling it off. I still need it for my livelihood.

Oh...

But I can take you anywhere you like, as long as it's in Rim Billiton!

Really?

Really.

And for free, too!

Consider it my thanks for the golden carrots!

C'mon, eat up, then I'll take you where you need to go. As long as the engine's not kaput, we can go anywhere!