Even if my only strength is water magic, having modern knowledge should be sufficient, right?

Episode 12: The Mysterious Magic and Cleaning the Gambling Den

“Su… ha… cough, cough!”

Panicking, I dashed wildly, my legs trembling in haste… Ozone (O₃) is ozone in the ozone layer, but the one generated by a machine can remove odors that couldn’t be eliminated no matter how much cleaning was done. Initially, it had a pungent smell, but over time, miraculously, the pungent ozone would deodorize the room. Dissolving ozone in water for washing vegetables enhances its cleaning ability and keeps the drain clean… A friend who was troubled by the odor of an untrained dog, at the recommendation of another friend, bought it and was impressed… I remembered it well because I was also recommended and tried it.

Ah, my head is a mess… Ah, I’m thirsty…

However, ozone is not just a “wonderful thing with sterilizing and deodorizing effects”; it is toxic, so once used, one had to leave the room. I’m sure the effectiveness varies depending on the concentration of ozone, but I didn’t know what concentration of ozone was emitted or how much I inhaled. I’ve inhaled ozone at levels safe for humans before, but it was probably okay, maybe.

It’s a common joke to cause a blackout or start a fire during a school science experiment, but I never thought I would do it myself.

Surprised by the ozone magic I used suddenly while half-asleep. My legs move normally, and I get up to go to Boss’ room to get food.

“What’s wrong, Frim?”

“I’m hungry.”

“Then eat whatever you want.”

I can’t say that I almost exploded and died, but even a villain like me feels a little relieved to talk to someone.

“Okay, I’ve learned a magic spell.”

I take a piece of bread from the shelf, pour water from the pitcher, and sit down to eat. It’s not a stone, but it’s like hard-baked French bread, so chewy that my jaw hurts, but it’s also nutritious.

Boss was sleeping on the bed at the edge of the room where the guards were drinking, but since he seems bored, he looks at me, so I report. There’s no TV or entertainment here.

“Oh! You learned it so quickly! …What kind of magic is it?”

“It’s a poison magic. It smelled bad, but it seems useful.”

“Poison… What kind of magic is it?”

Boss asked with a slightly sharpened look. The guards, too, seemed to be listening to the conversation, as one of the nearby brothers’ hands stopped as they drank.

―――Boss has a past where he was almost poisoned. He’s sensitive to poison and is always on guard. The food is on the shelf within view, and he hardly ever leaves this room. If I don’t report anything, I don’t know what will happen later, and it will be an appeal to Boss, so I decided to report.

“It’s a magic that cleans the air… It’s like a poisonous spirit that takes away bad air. Please praise me!”

“…O-Okay? I don’t quite understand, but good job, Frim.”

Boss probably won’t understand anything about ozone, so I tried to act cheerful to cover up the rough analogy. It must be quite incomprehensible to Boss. He seems slightly bewildered.

“Let’s use it together next time! If you learn this, the chances of Boss being poisoned by someone will decrease a bit!!”

Did I flatter too much? Boss, with a somewhat disgusted expression, beckoned me over, and I went over and had my head rubbed.

“You’re a good subordinate… Keep it up.”

“Yes, sir!”

Under the mafia, where people’s lives are just commodities, and you have to flatter others… it’s the worst, but this is where I live.

Well, setting that aside, I made Boss remember the smell of the ozone magic to use it in an empty private room. After smelling the pungency, I explained that some kind of spirit-like entity would take away the dirt. Oxygen and hydrogen would probably have more practical uses, but since it can be used for deodorizing, I want to use this magic.

“So, does a strong smell mean poison?”

“It might be.”

Boss rubbed his stomach and looked serious.

“Cleaning… Close down the gambling den for now and do a thorough cleaning! Come on! All of you, start cleaning!!”

Boss closed his eyes for a moment, then it was decided to clean. He even kicked the rear of nearby guards to get them moving.

――― And so, a major cleaning was decided.

Although the stench might not have been a problem for Boss, it was decided to clean the entire gambling den, auction venue, brothel, and the like. Areas with black carpets of unknown original color were replaced, and wooden shelves that couldn’t get rid of the smell of vomit were quickly removed. Each room that became vacant was cleaned with high-pressure washing and ozone magic air purifiers. It had taken several days of high-pressure washing before, but now, with this, the dirt had significantly improved, I think. As for Boss, although he usually left cleaning to his subordinates, he was scrubbing with a brush at places he was concerned about. He must have trauma from the poison he received long ago… Seeing Boss like that, all the underlings were desperately cleaning.

“The cleaning isn’t done! Do it again!!”

“Ugh… Yes.”

Boss didn’t seem to mind the cleaning itself that much. But if he felt that the cleaning was even slightly insufficient while cleaning together, he would demand a re-cleaning with a fist. Hmm, that’s the worst.

“Boss, the only places left are where the slaves are.”

“Yeah, leave it to me.”

Whether he was tired, realized it wouldn’t finish in a day, or realized he didn’t have to do it himself, Boss, who had been cleaning like he was after his enemy’s life, was now calm. Perhaps because of his achievements in cleaning the floor, walls, and toilets, he was entrusted with it. I wonder if I’m pretty trusted?

Although not all cleaning was done, the major areas of the gambling den were cleaned… How could it get so dirty? The clogged drain-like places were in an unbelievable state, mixed with mold, moss, alcohol, and vomit.

The rest was just places where Boss didn’t go often. It was quite tiring, but with practice, I could use the high-pressure washing magic more and more.

“Um, since I’m small and being underestimated, can I have Logan with me?”

“Logan? Understood. Do as you please.”

――― With this, permission was granted to do as I pleased in the area where the slaves were.