I brought the remains of the rock that guide-san smashed, no, the stones now in manageable sizes, into the alchemy hut. I sorted them by size into large, medium, and small, then further separated them by color, dark and light.
Once I had six types, I picked one and chanted 『Alchemy』.
This time, I was doing hand-forming (Handing).
Though, all it really meant was molding it into a ball like clay…
After shaping an elliptical sphere, I stored it in my magic space along with the other pieces of the same type. Then I used 『Forgery (Multi-Copy)』.
There, one size complete.
Man, this is easy. So easy it’s almost unbelievable, just like that, I had a batch of gravel finished.
This has gotten to the point where I can do it several times a day. I really need to thank the Goddess for this.
Thank you, Goddess-sama! I don’t know why, but the alchemy level has been rising so fast, thank you!
Just please, I’m begging you, don’t say it was a mistake and lower my level or something.
There’s no going back now.
Once you learn the easy way, it ruins you.
Now then…
Something troubling happened.
In front of the door stood a beautiful girl holding the hem of her skirt, looking like she was about to cry.
「Uh… what’s wrong, Wendy?」
「M-my job… it was taken from me…」
「Taken? By the men?」
「T-they said… this isn’t something for a lady to do. Please, let us do it. No, we’ll do it ourselves!」
Hmm?
If they’re willing to help, isn’t that a good thing?
Besides, even though I asked her to do it, it’s pretty heavy work. It might’ve been a bit much for Wendy.
「But… it was a job entrusted to me by Master… and now I’m… useless…」
No, no, no.
That’s not true.
Just finding the hot spring was more than enough.
And you don’t have to overexert yourself to help.
Still, I had to ask what this was all about. I took Wendy with me and decided to talk to the men outside.
「So, that’s what happened… mind telling me why?」
「Uh… well, you see…」
When I asked, the men seemed reluctant to speak.
Surely it’s not because they love this kind of work or anything.
「Boss… over here for a second…」
「Hm?」
As I approached, having been beckoned over, I realized they were trying to speak in a way that Wendy wouldn’t hear.
No way… don’t tell me they’re going to say they’ve fallen for her or something!?
「Well… see for yourself. When you use this thing, it does this. Here, hold onto this.」
The man placed my hand on his shoulder and activated the tool. A noticeable vibration shot through immediately.
Huh? It didn’t feel like this when I used it…
Maybe it’s affected by DEX or some other status?
「As you can see, it vibrates like crazy. And the way you have to hold it is…」
The man held the rod with both hands out front, like he was about to swing a golf club.
Ah… I see now.
「You understand now, right…?」
「Yeah… Sorry. I wasn’t being considerate…」
It hadn’t occurred to me, being a man, but Wendy is a woman.
And not just any woman, she’s got… well, very large and attractive breasts.
So when she holds that rod out in front like that, it emphasizes her chest… and then there’s the intense vibration on top of that.
「The young one… he collapsed…」
I followed the man’s finger to where one of the younger guys was lying on his back, a white cloth laid over his face.
The cloth was already stained red with blood, and he looked like he was breathing heavily.
「Opa… oppaa… bouncy… bouncy…!!」
Is he… delirious?
No, he’s probably seared that image into his brain.
So that blood must be from a nosebleed.
Alright, I’ll beat him until he forgets.
「So yeah… as men, we know we shouldn’t be looking, but there’s this irresistible force… that’s why we had to step in.」
「I get it. If you already know how to do the work, I’ll leave it to you.」
「Got it. Please, just say something nice to the miss about it…」
Man… I wanted to see it too…
So jealous… wait, no! That’s not the point!
「Wendy」
「Y-yes! May I still help somehow?」
「Uh… yeah. Right. Could you make some drinks for everyone? You make amazing drinks. I think everyone helping would really love it.」
「Eh, yes! Understood! I’ll put my heart into it!」
「Right. Take your time. Pack every bit of appreciation you can into them. Make the best drinks you’ve ever made.」
「Yes! I’ll pour all my feelings into each and every drop!」
「Then head over to the inn’s kitchen staff. They should be by the entrance.」
「Understood! I’ll do my best!」
Wendy dashed off, and the man and I exchanged glances.
「…Let’s finish this before Wendy comes back.」
「Understood. We’ll be done in no time.」
I nodded, and so did the men.
From there, the work was over in a flash.
We moved in perfect sync, flowing from one task to the next.
With no wasted effort and refined movements, we managed to finish everything before Wendy returned.
Drenched in sweat and breathing heavily, I exchanged a glance with the men.
I gave them a thumbs-up, and they returned it.
Their smiles were truly good ones.
I’ll never forget the taste of the tea I drank afterward.
-0-
Once the men returned to their own tasks, I went into the alchemy hut with Wendy to continue the work from earlier.
Wendy stood beside me, smiling cheerfully as she watched me work.
「Is watching really that fun?」
「Yes! It’s really fun!」
No matter how I looked at her, she seemed to be in an excellent mood.
All I was doing was kneading and shaping stones, was that really so entertaining to watch?
「Master, when you’re doing alchemy, your expression is always so serious.」
「Huh, really? I hadn’t noticed…」
「Yes! You’re always so focused. It’s very cool.」
「Ah…」
It’s embarrassing to be told that so directly.
I started feeling shy and avoided looking at her, trying to focus on my work, but now that she said I looked cool while doing alchemy, I couldn’t stop being self-conscious about it.
「Ufufu」
Even without looking, I could tell Wendy was smiling.
When I turned my face away, she suddenly hugged me tightly from the side.
「I love you, Master.」
「I love you too.」
「Ufufufu」
「Oh man… What is this ultimate sweet space (Ultimate Sweets World)? Even the air smells sweet…」
Guide-san was suddenly standing over us, watching, and I hadn’t even noticed her enter the hut.
But Wendy didn’t let go. If anything, she pressed in even tighter.
「Please stop interrupting us already.」
「No no no. It’s just… It’s barely past noon and you’re already getting all lovey-dovey in here. What am I supposed to do with that?」
「Huh, it’s already past noon?」
「Yes it is… Nobody was eating, so I felt awkward eating alone, and now I’m hungry. Why don’t we go out to eat somewhere?」
「Ah… yeah, sure. In that case, how about I cook something instead?」
「Oh? You can cook?」
「Fufun. Master’s cooking is absolutely amazing!」
「Ooh. If it really is amazing, I might even let you cop a feel.」
「A feel, huh… Is that really okay?」
Still, I don’t think my cooking is ‘that’ amazing.
My Cooking skill level doesn’t seem to matter much, but I’m still stuck at Level 1.
Seriously, why won’t it go up?
「Master! I’ll help you!」
「Yeah, I’d appreciate it. Not sure what the foremen are planning, so let’s check with the innkeeper first.」
-0-
The innkeeper and her group had set up a makeshift tent near the entrance.
They were building basic facilities like a washing area and a break space there.
Maybe I could borrow some cooking tools from them. If they were preparing something, I might even be able to join in.
「Oh? Planning to cook something? Then make enough for those guys too.」
「Sure, but… aren’t you cooking?」
「Unfortunately, we’re still waiting on food supplies from Amatsukuni. The ingredients around here… well, they’re a bit much for us to handle.」
「I see… Oh, then how about I bring out some rice? Can you make rice balls with it?」
「Are you sure?」
「Yeah. Everyone needs to stay energized.」
Besides, we’ll be getting a steady supply from Yuuki-san from now on.
For people from Amatsukuni, rice is definitely the way to go.
「Then I’ll gratefully take you up on that.」
I concealed an ordinary sack like a magic bag, pulled out some rice, and handed it over.
As expected of a woman from Amatsukuni, she immediately started preparing the rice in a pot without hesitation.
「Alright then… What should I make?」
「Since most of the people here are men, maybe something with meat?」
「Yeah. Grilled, stewed… I’ll just season it like I usually do.」
「Yes! Then I’ll take care of the vegetables, 」
「Nope, you’re coming with me.」
「Eh, ah! Masteeer aaaaaaaahhh…」
O-oh…
Wendy was whisked away in an instant by the innkeeper.
Well, I guess there’s no danger.
And if Wendy learns how to cook rice over a pot, I can let her handle it at home too…
Alright then. Time to grill a mountain of meat.
If Shiro saw this, she’d probably drool with envy.
Maybe I’ll keep any leftovers for her, I thought, as I grilled and stored the cooked meat in the magic space over and over again.
-0-
The freshly cooked meat vanished into the men’s stomachs in no time.
Far from having leftovers, I had to grill more, and I didn’t get a chance to sit down and eat peacefully.
But seeing even guide-san coming back for seconds left a surprisingly good impression.
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