They had discovered a new way to prevent slipping
“Huh? It looks like there is nothing on?”
“The cloth is soaked into the material, so that the appearance is mostly the same. After processing, it becomes colorless and transparent.”
“I see. So that’s why I couldn’t tell. Hmm…it does feel a little different.”
The bottom of the slipper was smooth to the touch and a little glossy.
It was definitely not rubber… But what was it then?
“It feels smooth. Will this really stop the wear from slipping?”
“Yes. You will understand when you try them on.”
Said Mr. Halton, and so I put on the slippers that he had brought.
Another employee brought out pairs for Claire and the others as well.
“Apparently, it is a kind of oil used for wood and leather maintenance.”
“Oil… Ah, you are right. It is not very slippery.”
While listening to Mr. Halton, I checked to see how much they would slip.
The floor was wooden, which would be quite different from stone. Still, it was effective enough.
“Please try smelling it before processing.”
“Ah, yes. Hmm… Ah…so it really was taken from a tree.”
It had the familiar scent of pine trees.
Could it be pine resin? It even hardened like glass.
Besides, I had heard something about baseball pitchers using it… Also, wasn’t it used for ballet shoes? Though, I think that was a type of powder.
“Yes. It is oil from trees that hardens when dried. But it can be easily melted with fire. And when boiled with a little alcohol, it will turn transparent.”
Upon further questioning, he explained that they had oil used for leather…and someone had accidentally spilled alcohol onto it.
Since it seemed like a waste, the person had tried boiling, thinking they could salvage the drink. They did it while they were drunk… Regardless, the results were transparent.
Obviously, it smelled nothing like the original drink, and they were going to throw it away, but ended up spilling it on the floor. And it was when they tried to wipe it with a cloth, that they discovered the effect.
That sure was a lot of coincidences… But I suppose that was how a lot of discoveries were made.
Regardless, Mr. Halton was informed, and they performed different tests and realized that it could be used for the slippers.
So perhaps the rubber wasn’t needed after all?
“Of course, there is the issue of durability. As it is not stuck on like rubber.”
“So soaking the cloth does not make it stronger.”
It really did still feel like cloth, so it might rip easily.
“And so, Mr. Takumi. I am thinking of making both types. With rubber, and with oil. The rubber slippers will be more expensive and produced in smaller quantities. These oil slippers will be cheaper and mass produced.”
“I see… Well, that could make them more accessible.”
Mr. Halton said he would recommend the cheaper ones to the people who had placed an order already. As it was something new, most people would prefer to test the cheaper option.
In fact, as the slippers would not be cheaper, he felt the sales would go up.
Mr. Halton had every intention of having the slippers with ears become very popular among the people of Ractos…
as the slippers would not be cheaper -> as the slippers would be cheaper
Thanks for the treat.