In the underground alchemy lab, it was just the two of us.
I reached out from behind Mizera and gently placed my hand over hers.
「…I feel a little nervous」
「It’s fine. Relax. Here we go…」
「Wait, don’t move so suddenly…」
「If I don’t, we can’t start. Look, it’s already soaking in」
As I rubbed my hard rod inside, it gradually began to moisten.
「Ah… wh-what should I do?」
「For now, just let yourself go and get used to the sensation. Learn how it feels」
「O-okay… but, this is my first time, so… be gentle, alright?」
「I know. Don’t worry, I’m experienced」
Still, as I touched Mizera’s hand, I pressed firmly and continued rubbing.
「Hey, isn’t that a little rough?」
「This is just right. Trust me」
「Honestly… liar. You promised to be gentle」
「My bad. But listen, you can hear it now, right? That wet sound」
I pulled my hard rod out and showed her, letting her confirm the dripping moisture with her ears.
「Wow… amazing. Is this also alchemy?」
「Yeah. This is the basics of ‘Potion Brewing’」
The moment Mizera got back, she was full of enthusiasm, so I decided to start teaching her right away. First, I showed her how it was done, step by step.
「You’ll do the same next. Add water little by little, channel your magic power, and if it turns a pale blue, it’s a success」
「That’s the finished potion?」
「Yeah. The key is to grind the Healing Herb well to draw out its extract, and carefully control the amount of magic power you pour in. Alright, your turn, Mizera」
「Got it. I’ll try」
Since I was used to it, I could extract the essence in no time, but Mizera was a beginner. I wondered how she would do.
While Mizera worked, I moved on to a different task.
She would most likely fail at first. That couldn’t be helped.
With the skill, magic power would naturally infuse into the mixture as you worked, forming a potion automatically. But Mizera didn’t have the skill yet.
On top of that, her magic power control was poor, and her magic power reserves themselves were small and weak. That meant she would absolutely need some kind of accessory to support her.
So, I decided to craft a simple ring for her.
「Hmhm-hm-hmm」
「You sound awfully cheerful, humming like that…」
「Once you get the hang of alchemy, Mizera, you’ll see how fun making accessories can be」
Watching Mizera from the corner of my eye, I began crafting the accessory.
I had already asked for her finger size beforehand, so I made the ring to fit.
And done. Just the base, so it only took about ten seconds.
「Hmhm-hmm. Ah, you need to rub it more firmly against the inner wall or the extract won’t seep out. Also, adding just a little water makes it easier and brings out the color. But only a little, otherwise you’ll lose your reference point」
「You can give me instructions while working on something else? You’re really skilled」
「Well, I’m still watching carefully. You’ll probably fail at first, but you need to practice over and over」
「Alright. I’ll do my best」
Yeah, yeah. She’s an honest, diligent student.
If it were me, I’d probably be grumbling nonstop.
Okay, base setting complete.
Next comes the gemstone… hmm, maybe an green jade would be good.
Since I’m at it, I might as well practice the standard green jade cut.
「How about this?」
「Not yet. The Healing Herb is still holding too much moisture. You need to press harder and squeeze it out until it makes a wet squishing sound. Right now it’s only dripping drop by drop」
「Got it. I understand」
Alright then, green jade cut… the top should be flat, the corners beveled, and then another step down…
「How about now?」
「Hmm, alright. Now pour water up to here, crush it again, blend it well, and then channel your magic power into it」
「Okay」
This part I had to watch closely.
The amount of water was fine. Ah, but she didn’t pour in enough magic power.
This was bound to fail… yeah, as expected.
「…This one didn’t work, did it?」
「Yeah, that’s a failure」
「I thought so…」
Mizera looked down in disappointment at the dark green liquid that hadn’t changed color.
Even using Appraisal, it only showed as [Healing Herb Juice], so there was no mistaking it was a failure.
For the record, Healing Herb Juice tastes like green juice back home.
Potions are somewhat smoother, but either way they’re still a little bitter.
「Well, of course you’d fail the first time. This one lacked magic power. Try pouring in more next time」
「Alright. But it really is difficult…」
「That’s why it’s important to master the basics. Don’t worry. Failure is the stepping stone to success. We’ll use this later anyway, so keep going」
「Okay. I’ll keep trying」
I transferred Mizera’s failed attempt into a beaker.
Before long, this beaker would be filled with failed potions, but they’d be useful once she got the hang of things, so they had to be kept.
-0-
After that, Mizera failed over and over again.
Sometimes she didn’t squeeze out enough extract, sometimes she poured the wrong amount of water, sometimes she channeled too much magic power and nearly collapsed, and sometimes too little so it didn’t work at all.
By now, the number of beakers had passed ten.
When Mizera wiped the sweat from her forehead and reached for the magic power potion I had prepared so she could continue, I stopped her once.
「Phew… what is it?」
「Before you start the next one… here, try this on. I finished it」
『Green Jade Silver Ring – Magic Power Increase Greater, Dexterity Increase Moderate, Automatic Magic Power Storage』
It had three effects.
It raised magic power and dexterity needed for alchemy, and the green jade embedded in it absorbed trace amounts of magic power from the air on its own.
The amount wasn’t much, but it should still add up to about one medium magic power potion’s worth.
「…Milord? You made something outrageous on the side again…」
「Hm? Well, it just came out that way. Would be a waste not to use it」
I took out the ring and tried to slip it onto Mizera’s middle finger, but it seemed a little tight.
「Huh…? Did I mess up the size…?」
「Then why not use this finger instead?」
「Yeah, let’s do that」
I gave up on the middle finger and slid it onto her ring finger, where it fit perfectly.
Hmm. I must have made a mistake with the size when setting the base… I’ll be more careful next time.
Well, it works the same on any finger anyway.
…And no, the fact it ended up on her left ring finger doesn’t mean anything.
「…Thank you」
Mizera turned her hand slowly before her eyes, gazing dreamily at the ring now on her finger.
「By the way, I already filled it with magic power. If you feel short, just draw from it and you should be fine. I won’t say anything else, so try it on your own」
「Understood. I’ll do my best」
The amount of magic power stored in the green jade wasn’t huge, but it was still more than Mizera’s own supply, so she no longer had to worry about running out.
As for the process, she wouldn’t cut corners anyway.
Mizera faithfully followed everything I taught her, step by step, with care.
She didn’t try to take shortcuts, her eyes fixed seriously on the mortar, focused as if she would not miss even the smallest change.
「Water… then squeeze a bit more…」
She repeated the instructions softly to herself as she carefully worked through each step.
From what I could see, it was about time… and just then, Mizera set down the pestle.
「So the amount of magic power to channel… should be about this much…?」
Magic power gathered in Mizera’s hands.
The amount… yeah. It seemed the ring was supplying her as well, so there was no problem.
The dark green liquid in the mortar glowed and then turned into a pale blue.
「…I did it…?」
「Yeah. Come on, get it into a test tube and seal it quickly before it degrades」
「Ah, yes! Um, test tube, test tube… huh? Where is it!?」
Since it was suddenly complete, Mizera scrambled to find a test tube she hadn’t used before.
I quickly handed her one, and she placed it in the stand, then slowly poured the liquid from the mortar into the tube.
Finally, after capping it…
[Healing Potion (Inferior)]
…was complete.
「…Phew」
She let out a breath and turned to me with a joyful look.
I reached out and ruffled her hair roughly.
「Congratulations. You did it」
「…I really made this? This is mine?」
「Yeah. You made it, Mizera」
「Haah… thank goodness…」
She clenched her small fists in front of her chest, pumping them again and again while whispering “I did it, I did it” in delight.
I understood that feeling well.
The first time you succeed, it really is amazing!
I remembered how happy I was when I first made a potion too.
…Though, mine broke before I could ever use it…
「Good, good. Then, let’s keep at it until you get the skill」
「Okay!」
Mizera smiled brightly, like any girl her age.
-0-
After that, her motivation never waned, and she continued making potions one after another.
The quality never rose above (Inferior), but she still looked so happy as she kept working.
I watched her with a calm smile.
「Phew… if I drink any more magic power potions, I think I’ll get addicted…」
「Yeah. There’s always tomorrow. Why don’t we call it a day for now?」
「Hmm. I guess you’re right… but it’s a shame… it was just starting to get fun」
She stared longingly at the mortar, almost reluctant to stop.
And then, just as she finished her last potion of the day…
「Ah…」
Mizera let out a sound.
At first, I thought it was just disappointment that the session had ended, but….
「Eh, wait? No way… huh?」
「What is it?」
「I… I think I just got the skill」
「What?」
What did you say?
「The alchemy skill. It says I’ve acquired it…」
「Seriously!? Whoa, that’s amazing!」
「Eh, really? This is real, right!? This isn’t a dream!?」
「It’s not a dream! You did it, Mizera!」
「Ah… uh… wait, hold on」
I hugged the still-dazed Mizera, ruffling her hair as much as I could.
「Geez, you’re way too happy… why are you more excited than me?」
「Because this is something worth celebrating! Of course I’m happy!」
Honestly, I had braced myself for it to take much longer.
There were many things I couldn’t teach her without the skill.
Not that I was pessimistic, but I never expected it to come this quickly.
「Rub rub rub… my capable disciple」
「Oh, really… It’s only because my teacher is good」
「That’s nice of you to say. Alright then, let’s celebrate today. What do you want to eat? I’ll make anything you want!」
No need to hold back!
This is a celebration!
「Ah… then, I’d like that dish you made for me when I was bedridden」
「You mean the porridge? Something like that is fine?」
「It’s not ‘something like that’. For me, it was the very first warm, delicious meal I ever had…」
「…I see. Got it! Leave it to me! I’ll make so much you’ll be full to bursting!」
Rice, miso, eggs… I had all the ingredients.
Alright! With a firm nod, I rushed out of the alchemy room.
「Kyaaa…Master…?」
Right as I opened the door, I nearly bumped into Wendy.
She almost fell, but I quickly caught her.
「Ah, sorry Wendy. Are you alright?」
「Yes… ah, where are you going? Dinner is ready, you know」
「I just need to add one more dish! Of course I’ll eat dinner too!」
If dinner’s already prepared, I’d better hurry.
We’re going to celebrate this special day together!
※
After milord dashed out of the room, only Wendy-sama and I remained in the alchemy lab.
「I wonder what that was all about…?」
「Um, Wendy-sama…」
Speaking with her still made me nervous.
After all, this was someone who lived in a world far above ours….an existence overwhelming and unapproachable… or at least, that’s what I believed…
「Do you know anything about it, Mizera?」
「Yes, um… I was able to acquire the alchemy skill」
「My! Congratulations, Mizera」
Wendy-sama’s face lit up with a radiant, loving smile as she embraced me.
Really, just like milord, she seemed even happier about it than I was.
「Thank you very much. And… when he asked me what I wanted to eat, I requested that delicious soup…」
「I see… so he went to prepare it」
「Yes… I’m sorry」
「There’s nothing for you to apologize for. Fufu, Mizera, you look very happy」
「D-do I?」
「Yes. It’s a lovely smile」
I touched my cheeks here and there, but I couldn’t really tell for myself.
A smile… the thing I never really understood before coming here was now something that came naturally to me.
「What do you think of Master?」
「…He’s a strange person. Overflowing with charm, yet a little absentminded… but warm, and truly wonderful」
「Yes. He ‘is’ my Master, after all. Mizera, could it be… you might become my rival?」
「No! …I-I don’t have such intentions…」
Rival…? Wendy-sama’s rival?
That means… me and milord…?
「You haven’t pledged an eternal vow with him yet, right?」
「N-no, I-I never even thought about that…」
「Fufu. Perhaps it’s only a matter of time…? If you’d like, shall we sneak into Master’s bed together?」
「B-bed…」
B-bed!?
Wait, Wendy-sama…?
My head filled with wild fantasies, and I could feel my face heating up so clearly I thought it might burn.
「Mizera! It’s ready! I rushed it, but I tasted it and it’s good, so let’s eat!」
「M-Milord!?」
「Hm? What’s wrong? Your face is completely red…」
My face!? It still hasn’t gone back to normal…
P-please don’t lean in and stare!
Ahhh… I’m fine. I’m fine, really…
「Fufu. Whether it’s alchemy or this matter, let’s take our time learning, alright?」
「Hm? What are you two talking about?」
「Wendy-sama!」
The porridge we ate afterwards… even though I had been looking forward to it so much, even though it should have been so delicious, I could barely taste it at all…
Geez!
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