Chapter 52

"Azure-sama, may I have a moment, please?"

"Ryuko-san? What is it?"

In the church, where Azure was busily moving about, a green-haired maid recently hired by Craft appeared. Azure tilted her head but stopped in her tracks.

"Yes. I have some business with Ed-sama, Saika-sama, Kai-sama, and Wamika-sama."

"Huh? Business with Ed and the others?"

"Yes."

While wondering what business Craft's associates could have with the orphaned beast children, Azure didn't think they would do anything strange and led the children to meet them.

"Everyone, Ryuko-san needs some help. Please cooperate."

"Huh?"

"Yes, yes."

"Then I'll go back."

Azure left the scene to guide the residents who were evacuating one after another. The children looked up at Ryuko, the maid who stood with a stiff posture yet elegantly, with curious eyes.

"Um, Ryuko-nee?"

"Um, what do you need us to help with..."

Ryuko smiled gently and squatted down to be at eye level with the children.

"I have a request. Could you please give me the Cockatrice egg over there?"

"!!??"

At Ryuko's words, the four of them froze like ice.

"Um... that... "

"Let's take it to Master... Craft-sama together."

"But... but!"

Ed and the others were on the verge of tears.

"It's okay. Master is a kind person. More importantly, that egg is needed."

"Ah..."

"I'll go with you."

Ryuko gave the four a gentle smile and hugged them.

◆

The alchemy room was a battlefield.

No, compared to the adventurers fighting on the front lines, this was nothing!

I stirred the alchemy cauldron with all my might, pouring in a massive amount of mana to force the potion to completion. The repeated cycle of rapid mana consumption and recovery was almost burning out my brain. But I couldn't stop!

"Alright! It's done! Take it!"

"Yes!!"

The petrification removal potion, immediately divided into barrels, was carried out. Feeling a bit drained, I almost collapsed.

"Craft-sama!?"

"It's fine. I just got a bit dizzy."

There are no side effects to a legendary-quality potion. In fact, I've been drinking a lot of them without any signs of poisoning. However, the continuous use is putting a significant strain on my body.

I need a decisive move... something to turn the tide!

"Ryuko, prepare the next batch. ...Ryuko?"

I called out her name as usual, but there was no response.

"Right, she went to check the city walls. But it's taking longer than expected."

It might not have been just a simple task for a maid. She's smart, so she's probably prioritizing her safety, so I'm not too worried.

"I'm back, Master."

"Oh!"

As if on cue, Ryuko, the maid and artificial familiar, slipped into the room.

"How are the city walls?"

"There's no problem. The completed city walls can't be breached by Cockatrices."

"That's good news, one of the few we've had."

"Actually, there's another piece of good news."

"What is it?"

Upon closer inspection, Ed and the other four beast orphan children were standing timidly behind Ryuko. She must have found and brought them along.

"Come on, Ed-sama. Be brave."

"Okay."

Sensing something unusual, I stopped my work and turned to face them. Ed extended a round object wrapped in cloth, about the size of his head.

"What is it?"

"Brother... I'm sorry... I'm sorry..."

Ed, who is usually energetic and brash, was crying as he offered the round object. The unusual atmosphere made me slowly take it and unwrap the cloth.

"Is that!?"

"Can it be!?"

The adventurers helping with the potion-making immediately reacted. They must have recognized it from the current situation. I forced my racing heart to calm down.

"I... I..."

I placed my hand on Kai's head, calming him down before "identifying" the object I had received.

"So, it's a Cockatrice egg, as I thought."

"What!!"

"Is it really! What did you do!"

The adventurers, their faces pale, almost gray, gasped in shock.

"Wait, it's not what you think."

I calmed the adventurers while recalling the story I had told them in a lighthearted manner.

"There are various monsters, and while many of their methods of reproduction are unknown, some increase through eggs. It's rumored that the eggs of Basilisks, Cockatrices, and Hydras are delicious."

I did mention the dangers of collecting monster eggs afterward. But what happens when you tell a group of curious, capable, and mischievous children such a story? What would I have done if I had heard such a story as an orphan?

I clenched my teeth so hard it felt like my molars were cracking. It's impossible for them not to be interested. In fact, I was the one who encouraged them. I should have done a better job of teaching them about the dangers.

"Can you leave this matter to me? I'll handle everything."

"Craft-sama..."

"But..."

"Please."

As I bowed, the anger from the adventurers began to dissipate.

"Brother, it's my fault..."

"Leave it to me. I'll handle everything."

"...Huh?"

"What we need to do now is make more medicine! Ed and the others, wait a moment! Ryuko! The No. 6 and No. 9 alchemy potions!"

"Yes."

I overturned the alchemy cauldron, spilling the potion I was preparing onto the ground.

"First, we need to create intermediate materials using the Cockatrice egg! With this, we can..."

"Preparations are complete."

Ryuko had already filled the cauldron with the necessary potions. I threw the egg into the cauldron and carefully, yet quickly, used alchemy. The cauldron bubbled as the egg dissolved and fused with mana, transforming into a special intermediate material through alchemy.

"Alright...! Next!"

I left enough of the completed alchemy potion and poured the rest into barrels. I added water and other herbs to the cauldron and performed the synthesis again. I immediately identified the completed potion.

"It's done... a specialized petrification prevention and removal potion for Cockatrices!"

"What!?"

I grabbed the surprised adventurer's shoulder.

"Listen carefully. This potion can be used as a preventive measure when drunk and as a petrification removal agent when sprinkled. The dosage is about this much. We can make enough for everyone. Please distribute it starting from the central units!"

"Ah... Okay! I'll take care of it!"

The adventurer, his expression brightening, shouldered the barrels of the specialized Cockatrice potion and ran out of the house.

"Alright! Next! We need two more batches for everyone!"

"Yes."

With Ryuko's help, we quickly made more of the specialized Cockatrice potion. As new adventurers came in, I gave them the same explanation and had them carry the potions out immediately.

This should prevent the Cockatrices from flooding into the town. However, the threat of the stampede hasn't been eliminated.

"Damn. If only we could contact Raidock and the others."

At my muttering, Ed and the others looked up.

"What is it?"

"Um, we might know where Raidock and the others are."

Saika's words made me almost jump.

"What!? Where? Tell me!"

"Well, I saw them setting up a temporary base near the river downstream, close to the forest..."

"Right. A temporary base for monster hunting!"

Adventurers often set up base camps and operate from there. I immediately opened a map and had the children confirm the location.

"This location is..."

It was outside the invasion route of the Cockatrices, but it was too dangerous to move there.

"...We're going to the Adventurer's Guild."

"Yes."

"Ed and the others, come with me."

"Okay..."

"Yes..."

"It's fine! Leave it to me!"

The most important thing now is to protect the town. There's no need to think about anything else.

"Let's go!"

We rushed into the Adventurer's Guild.

"Craft-sama!? What's wrong!?"

"I'll explain now! Gather the leaders!"

"They're all in the conference room!"

"Got it!"

Without knocking, I burst into the conference room, where Kail and the Guild Master, along with the town's elders, were gathered. The room was a battlefield, with a large map at the center.

"Craft-niisan!?"

"Kail! What's the current situation!?"

"Yes! We've just finished distributing the specialized potion and are regrouping the front lines!"

"Good!"

"However, due to the previous strain, the remaining healing potions are in a very bad state."

"We don't have the materials to make more healing potions."

Many of the herbs needed for healing potions and petrification removal potions overlap, and I had already used them all to create intermediate materials. Still, the fact that we had a large stock of healing potions suggests the battle has been more intense than expected. The Guild Master nodded.

"Understood. We'll make do with what we have."

"Thanks."

"Now, about our strategy..."

"I have one idea to turn the tide."

"Huh!?"

"I need your wisdom. Raidock and the others should be around this area on the map. I need a way to contact them."

"Raidock and the others?"

"Yes. Ed and the others happened to spot their base camp."

"I see. If it's a base camp, they should be back by evening."

"Considering the distance from here to the base camp, it's highly likely we can meet up. I need a way to contact them without drawing the Cockatrices' attention."

If we can contact them, Raidock and the others' position would be ideal. They could attack the Cockatrice group from the side.

"However, this location is..."

"Is there no boat?"

"There are hardly any. There are rafts, but they're not suitable for movement."

"Right."

Rafts are essentially platforms on water and simple transport vessels, but due to their size, they move as slowly as turtles. The river route is out of the question.

"No... wait a moment. This location!"

"What is it, Kail! Tell me anything! If you have an idea, speak up!"

"We can go! From this location, we can get very close! Safely!"

"What!?"

I almost jumped at Kail's words.

"Underground tunnels! Sewers!"

"Right! There's a sewage treatment plant nearby!"

"Yes! Reifan is designing an escape route from the fort!"

That's right!

That's it!

The complexly designed sewers include a secret escape route from the fort to get Kail and others to safety!

"That's it! Get Reifan here!"

"Understood."

"Huh?"

I meant to ask an adventurer, but for some reason, Ryuko went to fetch him. Well, it should be fine...

"Then... take me with you!"

Ed, trembling, stepped forward.

Ryuko's precious smile \ (^ o ^) /

(2018/11/11, Last, corrected Kai to Ed)