"'Slime's habitat', 'Slime's eating habits', 'Dangerous Slimes'...oh, found it! 'The Courtship of Slimes'."

I hugged the book and slid down the ladder. After paying the borrowing fee for the book, I left the library.

When I made my resolve earlier, I decided to take the plunge and set out on a journey.

Compounding apprentices are generally not strong nor born with large amounts of magical power, to begin with. Only the rich can buy ingredients from adventurers, niche stores, or auctions. Unfortunately, those with large amounts of magical powers or high fighting abilities aren't attracted to the compounding profession either. Compounding requires way too much time due to the trial and error process of potion-making. The time needed for ingredients to cure and the changes that need to be closely monitored is precisely what makes it an unpopular option.

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Since I have neither strength nor much magic, I wanted to pursue compounding. I don't have much ability in any other area...I'm not interested in sales, cleaning, administration or the sex trade that is a common choice for orphans without much money or skill.

Perhaps I could also have done that so I could have more money to buy compounding ingredients. But after my mentor accepted my apprenticeship, I learned that compounding was made to test one's limits of patience. Shortcuts never yield success, and a compounder must live by the virtues of compounding.

In preparation of collecting our slime secretions, I've brought along a few time-stop potions that are easy for apprentices to make. Luckily, slimes are in mating season right now in early spring. It's the perfect weather for slimes that are not good with extreme heat or dryness. Secretions of slime during their mating season is rumoured to have mysterious properties. This is the perfect chance to get my hands on exceptionally rare material for progress in my work.

"Slimes here I come!"