Chapter 52

Good morning from room 5-0304. Today is February 13th. I'm Herman. Well, since I became an alchemist, I've been trying to promote alchemical items, including the rinse-in shampoo concept that applies knowledge from my previous life. I had given up on it because the seed oil hadn't been discovered, but now that it has, I think it's fine to release the concept. After all, it's about creating alchemical items. ...I wanted to do it myself, but my skills aren't up to par yet. I'll have to rely on others. Plus, the women are really enthusiastic. Beauty products are definitely a hit, aren't they? I'll do a bit more research in that area.

...And the women who are always late by two minutes are already here. ...Serena hasn't arrived yet, but the three former nobles were already here 20 minutes early. Melanie was the only one here 15 minutes early. ...And the five of them, with their hair shining thanks to the rinse-in shampoo, are looking amazing. The other two former nobles, Elena and Manuela, also seem eager to say something. ...I can understand why. If Melanie's hair looks so smooth and silky with oak oil, it's natural to want to say something. Since I chose to be an alchemist, I can't help but wish I had more talent in alchemy and had been chosen back then.

...And just as the clock strikes two, Serena enters in a great mood. Bruce says it's time, and the Abundance Meeting begins.

"Alright, I understand what everyone wants to say, but first, let's see if the alchemy was successful. You can tell just by looking, right? Everyone succeeded, I assume? Please submit your reports. I'll check them all here."

Bruce has his own report, and Serena, Kevin, Gabriela, and Melanie also submit theirs. He compares them for about ten minutes and nods. ...He must have understood something.

"The process to get here is the same for everyone. You properly filtered the seed oil and used the water bubble mushrooms without turning them into magic stones, spreading them throughout the mixture with magic manipulation, which creates a slight foam. And everyone used it the same way. You dissolved a palm-sized amount in a bucket of water, applied it to your hair, and it foamed up, removing the dullness and dirt, making your hair shine in the sunlight."

"To add, after that, you rinsed the foam out of your hair and left it alone, and the result is this. It's different from the oak oil. Since you rinse it out, your hair feels light and not greasy, and it moves differently when you move your head. It stays silky."

Melanie runs her fingers through her hair, showing its newfound softness. It's pure hair without the weight of oak oil, not greasy but shiny and silky. There are a lot of onomatopoeias, but I hope you understand.

"Compared to before, it's great that your head feels lighter. This is definitely going to be a hit. No doubt about it."

"...I can see that. Gabriela's hair is reflecting the sun so brightly. ...Her long, slightly dull blonde hair is now so beautiful. Honestly, if I had a bit more talent in alchemy, I might have been chosen back then, and I can't help but regret it."

"Me too. I always use half a bottle of oak oil. ...But with just a handful of this, my hair is so beautiful. ...Bruce, Kevin, can you share it with us?"

"Ah, sure. Use the extra. I tried it once, and that was enough. And Kevin will be making a lot more in the future. There shouldn't be any problem."

"O-Okay. So don't look at me with those bloodshot eyes, Elena and Manuela. I used the right amount, so there's still plenty left."

"Hehe. It's that good. My hair is so shiny. It's still curly, but it's silky. ...And the best part is, unlike potions, this can be mass-produced."

"Right! Exactly! This is an alchemical item that can be mass-produced, even if it's limited to alchemists. It can be popularized without burdening those who struggle with daily potion production. Kevin, this won't be enough for just three villages. We'll need to grow it during the off-season in almost all the villages to meet the demand."

"From the perspective of beastmen, it hardly has any smell now. This will be popular among beastwomen! Definitely!"

"Actually, I want to use this to wash the entire body of beastmen. I think it can be widely used beyond just women."

"I agree with Kelly. I think this can remove the smell of men, so there will be demand from men as well. Plus, since it's so convenient, it can be sold to noble men. I think women will recommend it to noble men. Isn't that right, Manuela?"

"...Yes. As Martha said, noble women will push this alchemical item onto noble men. Just as it's now a duty for women to have shiny hair, it will become a duty for men to have shiny hair. Those with status will start using it, and those below them will have no choice but to follow."

"I also want a mirror now that my hair is so shiny. Golden hair really shines differently from other hair. ...If someone with silver hair used it, it would look even more stunning."

"Kevin, can you start producing our share as soon as possible? Honestly, I don't think I can go back to using oak oil after trying this."

"Melanie, that's a bit too much to ask. We're going back to the estate after this. How much time do you think we have until the off-season? It's still before the planting season, so it will be about two months. That's the earliest we can negotiate. ...One bottle should last about a month with daily use, so I'll make sure to have two months' worth for all the women here in two months. Please be patient."

"...I guess I have no choice. I'll alternate between this and oak oil. That should work."

"I want to use this for the tea party. ...I'll enjoy seeing the other girls' reactions."

"Elena, you're planning something interesting. I want to join in. Let's go to the rival seminar's tea party."

"Melanie, you're a devil. But it does sound fun. When is the next tea party?"

"Don't forget what I said. The seed oil won't be available for at least two months. It's fine to show off, but don't reveal the source. Bruce, when do you plan to submit this report to the Academy? You're going to delay it, right?"

"Yeah, I plan to submit the report in five years. By then, the seed oil will probably have been stolen, but they won't expect it to be used in alchemical items. It will probably just be the seed oil that gets exposed. I never thought I'd be making beauty alchemical items."

"Hehe. Let's think about more beauty products. Herman, if you have any good ideas, let me know. You can't do alchemy yet, but you seem to have the talent to come up with ideas. This concept was yours, after all."

"I want to use alchemy soon. I'm running out of embroidery thread, so I want to try alchemy soon."

"Oh, if that's the case, let's do it right here. We have plenty of teachers. If you have thread and a magic mushroom, you can do it. Herman, you seem to be prepared, right?"

"I am, but is it okay?"

"Teaching juniors is part of the seminar's job. Come on, set up the alchemy array."

Lucky to get a head start. I immediately set up a simple embroidery alchemy array on the desk. I placed 20 meters of thread and a magic mushroom on it. All I need now is a magic wand, and I'm ready.

"Hmm, a hexagram with 13 intersections. That's a pretty good alchemy array."

"Ah, it's similar to mine, but mine has 12 intersections, so it's a bit weaker in output."

"I think Gabriela also uses a hexagram. I use a pentagram. With seven stars, I shouldn't complain."

"Alright, it seems you're ready. First, you need to convert the magic mushroom into a magic stone. You do this by manipulating the magic to solidify it. Serena, that's a bit too casual, isn't it? Herman, first, extract the magic from the magic mushroom and manipulate it. Once you flow your magic into the mushroom, extract the magic from the material and concentrate it in one place to solidify it into a magic stone. It's okay to fail, so give it your best shot."

There seem to be various approaches, like sensory and theoretical. ...But anyway, I touch the magic mushroom with the tip of my wand and flow my magic into it. ...This is the magic of the mushroom. I need to extract it. Oh, something misty is coming out. ...And the mushroom has completely disappeared without a trace. ...I haven't failed yet, right? I need to concentrate this mist and solidify it. Push it... No, that's not it. ...It's supposed to be a circular motion, right? Let me try. Oh, it feels good. Keep it going, narrow the width, and finally, push it all at once. It seems to have turned into a magic stone.

"Wow, that's pretty good for a first try. Next, you need to flow magic into the magic stone to liquefy it. It was in a gaseous state earlier, right? Now it's a liquid. Imagine water. Then, soak the thread with the magic as if you're wetting it with water, and you'll have your embroidery thread. Go ahead and try it."

"Right, you make the magic stone smooth and then press it into the thread and finish with a quick motion."

"Hey, Serena, did you teach classes before?"

"...I think I did. But isn't this only understandable by super-sensory people?"

"Well, if you can't do it, you'll probably study the classes more. There are people who will find this teaching method suitable."

"Serena's teaching method is easy to understand, right?"

"...See? Martha is also a sensory person."

Ignore the sidelines and flow magic into the magic stone to liquefy it. Oh, if I leave it alone, it might turn into a gas. Liquid, liquid... I think I'm a mix of theoretical and sensory. Serena seems to be a super-sensory person. Then, I slowly soak the thread. Finally, I apply pressure all at once. Is it done?

"Hmm, that's pretty good for a first try. The key is to remember this feeling. ...Teaching methods vary, so if you can't do it, don't blame yourself. Just attend more lectures. There will likely be someone whose teaching method suits you."

"I understand. ...I think I'm a hybrid of theoretical and sensory."

"Got it. Well, since it worked, you're fine. Anyway, we need to prepare this seed oil soon, so I'll leave the Academy tomorrow. Bruce will take over during this time. ...I haven't done much as a deputy seminar leader, though."

"Sure, I'll take over. That's it for today's meeting. Is there anything else?"

"Then, from me. Kevin, you can take the seeds of the crops I made. Just grow them in the village and let me