Today, I’m in the alchemy room with Mizera, making healing potions.
Since we’re heading to Roukaku, I don’t know how long we’ll be gone, but we’ll need plenty of potions prepared in advance and handed out beforehand.
Well, I’m just mass-producing them using ‘Forgery (Multi-Copy)’, while Mizera is carefully crafting each one with all her heart.
「Hey, are you really not coming?」
「Yes. I have work to do.」
After that night, Renge and I woke up to everyone shaking us awake, and we told them about our trip to Roukaku.
Wendy looked into my eyes, sighed in defeat, Aina and Sorte simply nodded, saying it was for Renge’s sake.
Shiro muttered “Earth Dragons…” and started drooling before hastily wiping her mouth, so she’s clearly fine with it.
But Mizera said, 「I’ll stay here and look after the house.」
「If you explained the reason, I’m sure they’d wait for you.」
「Maybe so, but since they were kind enough to increase the order quota, I’d like to meet their expectations.」
「Yeah, I get that, but still…」
Mizera declined the trip to Roukaku, saying she couldn’t make any extra stock for the Adventurer’s Guild.
That said, if I explained things to the Guild Master, he’d probably say it’s fine if I filled in for her.
The adventurers would be disappointed, maybe even cry, but they’d understand.
…Okay, maybe the “crying” part is a bit too literal for some of them, but still.
However, that wasn’t her only reason.
「Even if I came along, I’d only get in the way. I’d be completely useless out there. And when lives are on the line, I can’t do that.」
I get that.
That’s exactly why I started training my body too.
Though honestly, I’m still closer to “liability” than “asset” myself, so I can’t exactly argue with her logic.
「And besides, if we leave the house empty, it’ll fall apart before long. It’s our precious home, so someone should stay behind, right?」
「Yeah… that’s true.」
「The fact that you wanted to take me with you is enough. Really. And besides…」
Mizera stopped working for a moment, lifted her face, and looked straight at me.
「When you come back, I want to be the one to tell you ‘welcome home’. So please, come back safely, okay?」
「…Yeah. I got it. We’ll all come back.」
「Good. Don’t push yourself too hard, alright? I’ll be waiting.」
Got it.
I intend to live a life far away from recklessness, danger, or stupidity, so rest assured.
I’ll make sure to come back with all limbs attached.
「Still, we don’t know how long we’ll be gone. Won’t you get lonely?」
「I’ll be fine. The tanuki girls said they’ll eat meals with me. Oh, and I can use the bath too, right?」
「That’s fine, but…」
Eh… how nice…
Taking a bath with that fluffy, soft, round-eared, and adorable tanuki girl…
The same one who ran away blushing when I tried to brush her fur a while back… and now Mizera gets to bathe with her…
「Fufu. You really show everything on your face, don’t you, milord? What’s wrong? Jealous?」
「Too jealous…!!」
When did Mizera even get that close to her…?
If only I could get along a little better, I’m sure I could’ve…
「While you’re gone, I’ll casually tell her all the nice things about you.」
「Thank you so much!」
Yes! With this, I can make that fluffy girl see me in a new light!
Mizera, I love you!
Now I really ‘have’ to come back safely!
※
And so, on the morning of our departure,
「Make sure you lock up, alright? Don’t go anywhere with strangers, and when you use fire, double-check that it’s completely out before you leave the room, okay?」
「You’re treating me like a child…」
「If anything happens, go to the Adventurer’s Guild or the lord’s manor. I made sure they’ll help you right away. And I already gave you the money, right?」
「Yes, yes. I’m fine. You gave me more money than I know what to do with. Honestly… are you planning to be gone for years or something?」
I handed her about fifty ten-thousand-nohl gold coins.
If that somehow isn’t enough, I already asked Yasis to look after her, he said he’d cover things on credit if needed, so I made sure she knew that too.
「Oh, right. If you ever run out, there’s a pot with a red lid in the cupboard, it’s full of gold coins. And there’s some behind my bed too, so use it if you need to.」
「How much gold do you ‘have’ hidden around this house, milord…」
It’s not a secret stash or anything!
My real savings are in my magic space.
This is just, you know… an emergency reserve.
「And be careful walking alone outside, alright? Especially at night, it’s dangerous.」
「It’s okay! I’ll be with her! I’ll go with Mizera-chan whenever she goes out!」
The little tanuki girl puffed out her flat chest, pounded it proudly, and hugged Mizera tight.
Yeah, they’ve really become close.
「I’m counting on you.」
「Yes, sir!」
When I patted the good girl’s head, she squinted her eyes in delight, but then suddenly stiffened and shook her head furiously.
She must’ve remembered, ‘I’m on duty!’
Ah… how cute.
「Oh, by the way, milord. Your bed… is it okay if I use it sometimes?」
「Hm? Yeah, that’s fine.」
Ah, that’s true. Out of all the beds in the house, mine’s the best one.
It’s wide, comfortable, and since I won’t be here, she can use my room however she likes.
…There’s nothing in there I’d be embarrassed for her to find anyway.
「…Thank you.」
「Yeah. Well, I should get going soon… uh, did I forget to tell you any, 」
「……Myyyyyyyyyy Friiieeend!!」
「Wha……」
With a thunderous rumble and a voice far too loud for this early in the morning, a cloud of dust rose as a single shadow came charging toward us.
…Just one, huh? Guess Chess isn’t with her this time.
「Ooooh, are you going oooout, deeeesu!?」
Even after that full-speed sprint, Eliodart didn’t seem out of breath at all.
Wait, wasn’t she supposed to be as bad at physical activity as I am? Maybe she’s got more stamina than I thought.
「Ah, yeah… we’re heading to Roukaku now. Did you need something?」
「Ooooh, I’m glad we made it in tiiime, deeesu!」
She’s way too energetic for the morning…
And then, from the direction Eliodart had come running, a small girl stumbled forward, her steps unsteady.
「Haa… haa… huff… wheeze… t-teacher… you’re too fast… where do you even get all that stamina… cough, cough!」
「Chess!? Hey, are you alright!?」
「Huff… ah, Mizera… it’s been… a while, cough!」
「Forget the greeting for now, just catch your breath.」
「Here, drink some water.」
I took out a pitcher and a cup from my magic space and handed them to Chess, who looked about as bad as I do after training.
She gulped down the water in one go, so I poured her another.
「Fwaaah… thank you very much…」
「Chess must build more stamina, deeeesu! Alchemy often requires all-nighters, so you should start running from now on, deeesu!」
「Why does it feel so unfair when teacher actually says something reasonable…? You’re the strange one, teacher. Do you even know how many nights you’ve been awake now…?」
「Uuuh… three, deeesu?」
「It’s ‘five’! Five! You didn’t sleep at all while we were traveling, and even when I napped during research, you stayed up the whole time!」
「Is that sooo, deeeesu? I don’t quite remember, deeeesu!」
Now that I look closely, both of them have awful dark circles under their eyes…
Still, to come all the way from the royal capital to Einzheil, both of them half-dead from exhaustion, what in the world was so urgent?
Sorry, but I’m just about to leave for Roukaku…
「By the way, teacher. It seems you’re about to head out, but have you already accomplished your goal?」
「Oh! That’s right! My friend! I have a preseeent, deeesu!」
「A present? You’re giving me something?」
「Yes! My friend once lamented that you could not use magic… so… I have created a magic tool that allows one to use magic, deeesu!」
「Are you serious!?」
Wait, that’s way too amazing…
A magic tool that lets someone use magic? Seriously?
Even just hearing the result, I can’t begin to imagine how that’s even possible.
She’s standing there striking a pose with her arms raised to the heavens, but it’s so impressive that I don’t even care.
「Oh, so the master can finally use magic!」
「With this, my liege will become even stronger.」
「Well, my lord’s always had high MP, and his type fits a mage perfectly.」
「It’s still only a prototype, deeesu.」
「Even so, this is an achievement worthy of human history…」
「Oooohhh…」
「Fufufuu… And now… I shall present this to you, my frieeend!」
From his magic bag, Eliodart took out an old-fashioned, square lantern-like magic tool with a subdued black color.
Inside was a transparent round orb, and aside from that, it just looked like a normal lantern with a handle on top.
「The method of use is simple, deeesu. When you pour in your magic power, just include the element you have an affinity with, deeesu.」
「L-like this?」
Heart pounding, I followed her instructions and poured my magic power into it.
The element, fire! Of course, when it comes to magic, fire is the classic choice!
Then, the transparent orb in the lantern glowed red, and from it emerged a faint red membrane that expanded like a balloon.
When I stopped channeling magic power, the red membrane formed a sphere, floating gently in the air before slowly descending toward the ground.
「Oooohhh…」
「Success, deeesu! The spell is called 『Magic Orb (Magical Ball)』! It materializes magic power and shapes it into a sphere, deeesu!」
The orb wasn’t blown away even by a small breeze, drifting down slower than a soap bubble.
Whoa… my first magic that isn’t space magic…
As I reached toward the descending orb, it felt softly warm to the touch.
「Heeey, so how strong is it?」
「Hm? It has no power, deeesu.」
「Huh?」
「As I said, the Magic Orb materializes magic power into a spherical form, deeesu. It’s not a spell meant for attack or damage, deeeesu. You can touch it without any problem, deeesu.」
It reacts to touch. Oh, pudgy? No, more like squishy.
Soft and warm, like a rubber ball.
Even when I squeeze it, it doesn’t burst, just changes shape, and when I let go, it returns to a perfect sphere.
This is… actually really fun.
「B-but, you see? This is an incredible invention! Materializing magic power with elemental properties, allowing even someone without magical aptitude to do so, that’s truly an extraordinary, history-making achievement!」
「But… it can’t be used for attacks, right?」
「Th-that’s true, but still…」
「Oooohhh…」
「My frieeend? Oh… was it disappointing, deeesu?」
「Eliodart…」
Without thinking, I pulled Eliodart into a hug.
Doesn’t matter if he’s an old man, this is a hug of pure gratitude!
「Nnngh! Yes! I can use magic! Thank you, Eliodart!」
「Oh! YEEES! To see you so happy makes all my research worthwhile, deeeeeesuuuu!!」
I clapped him on the back to commend his hard work.
Even if it’s not offensive magic, it’s still magic, a form other than space magic!
And it summons something soft and squishy!
If there’s ever a moment to be happy, this is it!
「Haa… that’s wonderful, teacher… fuaa…」
「Wait, Chess!? Are you okay!?」
As Eliodart and I embraced in joy, Chess suddenly collapsed, and Mizera caught her just in time.
Was it really that shocking a sight…? Well, maybe, two grown men hugging passionately first thing in the morning… yeah, maybe a bit much.
「…zzzZZZ」
「HAHAHA. Chess still has a long way to………..zzzZZZ」
「Eliodart? Hey, don’t lean your weight, wait, are you asleep!?」
Both of them toppled over like puppets with their strings cut.
Most likely, after so many sleepless nights, the relief of finally finishing their task hit them all at once.
「…Mizera, could I ask you to look after the two of them?」
「Yes, of course.」
I still wanted to express more gratitude, but I had urgent business to attend to.
Feeling a bit guilty, I helped carry Eliodart to the bed, prepared a nutrient potion, the ‘Bloodflow Vital Elixir’, and left a letter of thanks explaining our departure.
Then we set off for Roukaku.
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