In the end, I kept my promise to Shiro last night and ended up sleeping with both Shiro and Wendy.
The reason being, there are only three beds in this house, so Aina, Sorte, and Renge didn’t have a place to sleep.
I could’ve sent the three of them back to the inn they were originally staying at, but when we got out of the bath, we found Sorte already asleep on the sofa, so I just let them stay the night.
Still, thinking about the fact that we’ll be living with six people from now on… I’m definitely going to need to buy more beds.
Sure, my bed can fit three people, but let’s be real, considering what might happen at night, I’d really prefer not to.
Nothing happened last night, but there’s no way that’s going to last forever.
This is what isekai slow life is all about, but somehow, it’s starting to feel more like an “ero” life.
…Anyway, I still need more money, so even though it’s early, I’d better get to work.
I want to take it easy in the afternoon, so time to hustle now.
When I stepped out into the living room, leaving Shiro and Wendy still asleep, I found someone else already up and awake.
「Areh? You’re up early, masterssu」
「Same to you. You could’ve slept in, you know」
Renge, still lying on the sofa, called out to me.
She sat up and scooted over to make space for me to sit.
As I sat down next to her, her expression turned serious.
「Ano… master. I wanted to thank you properly」
「Hmm? You mean for washing you in the bath yesterday? I got something out of it too, so no complaints here. Looking forward to next time」
「That’s not what I meantssu! I mean, I wouldn’t mind another round, butssu…」
「Oh? So you do want to squeeze my face between your thighs again」
「Why are you like this, master…?」
How rude.
I admit I’m a bit of a pervert, but I wouldn’t call myself a disappointment.
…Okay, wait, maybe I am. Sorry.
「No, seriouslyssu. I meant, thank you for saving messu」
「Ah, well. Don’t worry about it」
「Even if you say that, I really am gratefulssu」
「And I’m grateful too. I got to see some great stuff, after all」
「…Forget it. Geezssu. So, why are you up so early, master?」
「Just thinking about how we’re short on beds. Figured I’d get a head start on work to fix that」
「Workssu? You’re an alchemist, rightssu? Is that kind of job really profitable?」
「Well… decently enough」
I don’t really know what the average income around here looks like.
But… maybe I’m actually doing pretty well?
I mean, I get my hands on gold coins pretty easily.
「Ah, right, I’m a drifter by the way.」
「Drifter, is itssu? hear that drifters have some special skillsssu. Do you have them too, master?」
「Yeah, I do. Wanna see?」
「Won’t it be dangerousssu?」
「Not at all.『Pocket Money』」
『Skill Level for Pocket Money has increased to 3.』
Nice.
A handful of golden coins slowly descended into my palm.
Looks like I finally hit Level 3.
Until now, it was just one gold coin each time, but this time… one, two, three, four, five!
I can get five gold coins now!
That’s 500000 nohl a day!
「What the heck is that skill?! Gold coins literally just fell into your handssu!」
「Cool, right?」
「Super jealousssu! How do I get a skill like thatssu?!」
「Well, it’s a unique skill, so you probably can’t」
「Noooo, I want itssu!」
「Well, I can give you pocket money instead. Use it for shopping or whatever」
「Wait, you’re giving me money? But I’m a criminal slave, you knowssu？」
「Hmm? Don’t criminal slaves get paid?」
「No wayssu… I honestly thought yesterday’s meal was going to be my last supper or something, so I really stuffed myself…」
Oh…
That explains why all three of them ate like they were about to be executed.
Now that I think about it, Yasis did mention that criminal slaves are usually bought to be used up or turned into prostitutes.
「Well, I’ll treat you like a slave, sure, but I’ve got no intention of treating you like a criminal slave. So don’t worry」
「But… if you don’t draw the line somehow, it won’t feel rightssu…」
「Then what, should I treat you like a prostitute? In that case, I’m not letting you wear clothes in this house. No walking upright either. You’d have to constantly wiggle your butt and give me sultry looks, that kind of thing」
「That’s not what I meantssu!」
「Yeah, even I’d start questioning myself if I went that far」
I’d just be a deranged pervert at that point.
Let’s be clear, I’m a refined pervert, thank you very much.
「Anyway, it’s fine. I can treat you however I want, that’s what being a criminal slave means, right? Whether you get food, whether you go out adventuring, that’s all up to me. As long as you don’t hurt us or cause trouble, that’s all I care about」
「So… I can still go adventuring?」
「Even as a criminal slave, the guild doesn’t revoke your membership, right? Then yeah, I’ll be asking you to gather materials and go on quests」
「Ehto… So basically nothing’s changed, huh? I’ve got a house now, regular meals, and my lifestyle’s actually better than beforessu…」
「Well, you’ll just have to work harder to make up for it. And as you already know, I’m super into erotic stuff too!」
Is it scummy of me that I treat erotic stuff as a form of payment?
I’m starting to feel like one of those sleazy store managers from those shoplifting girl scenarios, “You know what this means, right?”
Wait… when you put it like that, maybe I am the worst?
「Haaah… yeah, I got that loud and clear yesterdayssu. But hey, you’ve already seen everything, right? And it’s not like I can picture myself doing this with anyone else now, sossu… guess I’ll just accept it and brace myselfssu」
Renge gave a weird little smile, a mix of resignation and self-deprecation, but in the end, it turned into a proper, warm grin.
Alright then, let’s get right to it.
「Okay, first thing, I need you to come with me to the alchemy room」
「Ehh… right now? All of a suddenssu?」
「Yup, come on」
「See, that’s the thing! I can totally read what master is thinking just from your facessu! You’ve got this pervy, creepy look right nowssu!」
It’s really nothing serious.
I just want her to help me get through the groggy early morning shift as comfortably as possible.
So, off we went to the alchemy room. I locked the door from the inside with a click.
「Why’d you lock the doorssu?!」
「Don’t worry about it」
「I’m seriously worried now… also, this is my first time, you knowssu…?」
「Anyway, just sit down on the couch for now」
I pulled out the tools I’d be using today and laid them out on the table.
「Wait, you’re using toolsssu?!」
「Well, yeah. Can’t do this without ‘em」
「If possiblessu, can we keep it gentle and… normal…?」
「Let’s see, this one, and this one… oh, and I’ll need this too. Hmm… maybe I’ll try that one as well」
「Uuuu… no one told me anything about thisssu. I was hoping my first time would be on a bed, at leastssu…」
「Alright, let’s get started」
「…Okay. I’ll leave myself in your hands, thenssu」
Renge sat at the edge of the couch.
I leaned in… and rested my head on her thighs.
Oooh… this lap pillow is heavenly! Absolutely divine!!
「Huh…?」
「Hmm?」
「A-ano, what is this?」
「A lap pillow, obviously」
「Wait, what? That’s itssu?」
「Y-yeah」
「Haaaahhh… I feel so stupid for being so nervousssu…」
I wonder what she thought was going to happen.
All I wanted was to do my alchemy work while resting on someone’s lap.
Usually, it’s Shiro sitting in my lap, but she was still asleep today.
Lately, I’ve found it really calming to work while feeling Shiro’s weight on my legs.
Maybe just having that bit of physical contact helps me relax.
Shiro never gets in the way either, she just sits quietly, sometimes kicking her feet or leaning against me while watching what I’m doing.
「Hmmmmm? Did you think I was gonna do something naughty?」
「Well yeah, master’s eyes were doing that super ero thingy they always do when you’re about to get all handsyssu」
「…I see. In that case, I’ll live up to your expectations so take off your pan… 」
「Ahh nope! No needssu! You should focus on your alchemy, right, master?」
Tch.
I hate sharp dogs.
Just when I was about to live the dream, naked-lap-pillow heaven.
Well, yeah, I probably wouldn’t have been able to concentrate on the alchemy anyway, so it defeats the purpose.
Still, Renge is wearing short shorts, so this lap pillow’s got a premium feel to it. Can’t complain.
「So, what are you makingssu?」
「Hmm… that’s a surprise for when it’s done」
「I’ve never seen anyone do alchemy before, so I’m excitedssu!」
Although to be fair, most of the time I use my magical space and just pump out duplicates, so there’s not much to see.
Still, I need to manually craft the base accessories using Hand Shaping, so that’s what I planned for today.
I’ve gotten pretty good at it now.
I take the gold and silver ore that Aina and Sorte gathered, smelt them into ingots, stretch them into fine threads, then combine and shape them into a bracelet.
After that, I embed a ruby into the design and add delicate gold and silver detailing, and… it’s done.
『Ruby Bracelet with Gold-Silver Filigree – Poison Resistance (Mid), Magic Resistance (Mid), Moderate Power Boost』
Not bad.
These days I can make stuff with solid stats without too much effort, so I haven’t been focusing much on fancy designs.
Even so, the gear comes out pretty strong thanks to the high-quality materials and my alchemy level.
「Wow, that was fastssu」
「Yeah, I’ve had practice. Here, it’s for you」
I handed the freshly made bracelet to Renge.
「Eh, really? But you used some pretty high-end materials…」
True. If I sold it, I could easily get 800,000 Nohl for it.
「Well, everyone else already has accessories I made, and you’re the only one without one」
「Ooh! Then I’ll gladly accept it!」
With a bright smile, Renge slipped the bracelet onto her wrist.
I guess no matter who they are, girls really do light up when they get jewelry.
「You think something this fancy really suits someone like messu?」
「Yeah. It looks good on you」
「Ehehe… it’s kinda embarrassing, y’knowssu」
「As long as you like it, that’s what matters」
It boosts her stats too.
Since I’m relying on the three of them to gather materials, the least I can do is support them like this so they come back safely.
This much is a small price to pay.
Alright then, back to alchemy.
I should probably drop by Reinrich’s shop soon with some stock or she’ll start getting pissy.
Honestly, it feels like a waste not having a way to sell this stuff directly myself…
I wonder what it takes to open a shop.
Then again, if I did, it’d probably drag me even further away from my peaceful slow life.
Maybe it’s fine like this. There are plenty of places that’ll buy from me, after all.
I just need to keep cranking out more items.
「Humm humm huumm~」
「You’re in a good mood, master」
「The pillow’s excellent today」
「Fufu, then should I keep doing this from now onssu?」
「That’d be great and all, but…」
I glance toward the locked door.
「Master? Are you in there? Why is the door locked?」
「Lord, if you’re here, open the door. What are you doing with Renge?」
「Hey! You’re not laying a hand on Renge, are you!?」
「H-Hey now, even if he is our liege, this is way too early in the morning… Though, still…」
So all four of them are up now.
Sounds like they’re making quite a fuss looking for me, but whatever.
「Uh, you’re not gonna open it?」
「I’m not done with the alchemy yet. Let’s keep going until I finish two more pieces」
「Ehh… You sure? This won’t end wellssu」
「Let’s get scolded together」
「Hmm… well, okay. Honestly, I don’t wanna be interrupted right now, so I’ll take the heat with you, masterssu」
The knocking on the door didn’t stop, but the two of us just kept chatting about nothing while I continued crafting accessories.
When Shiro and Sorte finally tried to break down the door, then I raised my voice to stop them.
But when we eventually opened it, Wendy hit me with a silent glare of pure judgment, and Renge was made to sit in seiza in front of Shiro and Sorte.
Even so, I’d say today’s alchemy session was a productive one.
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