Chapter 54

As we were each doing our tasks, it was noon, so we decided to have lunch.

Then, Leonora suggested that since we would get wet in the afternoon anyway, we should eat outside. We set up a table and chairs and started eating the bento made by Erika, the four of us and one dog.

"Are you really okay without changing clothes?"

The three girls were still damp, having only lightly wiped themselves with towels.

"It will just add to the laundry, so it's fine."

"Just think of it as being at the beach."

"I can't really think of it that way, but I guess I'm used to it now."

I thought they should at least change into swimsuits, but even though there wasn't much foot traffic, they probably didn't want to do that in the middle of town...

"I was watching you work, and it looked good."

"I think I've got the hang of the enchantment, but it keeps breaking."

"Really, really. The magic stones are too fragile."

"If you lower the magic power, it doesn't hold, and it's hard to control."

This is one of the decisive differences between mages and alchemists.

Alchemists are not good at controlling magic power.

This is because extracting components from materials or synthesizing materials does not require such precise control of magic power.

"The key is to maintain a steady flow of the same amount of magic power. Even a small amount is fine as long as you can control it. Even if you can only make low-quality waterstones at first, or even F-rank or lower quality ones, just try to make one."

As expected of me, I was able to swallow the words, "Why can't you even do this?"

"Got it. I'll give it a try."

"Let's get back to work before our clothes start to dry."

"It's a good season. It would be tough if it were too hot or too cold."

Since the three girls said this, we decided to resume work immediately after finishing lunch.

In the afternoon, we continued to make Tuesday stones as we did in the morning, and the three of them made waterstones while getting wet.

However, for the past few minutes, water had not been spraying from the magic stones in their hands.

On the contrary, the color of the magic stones was gradually turning a deeper blue.

"......Ah! It feels so gross!"

"Oh!"

"I can't take it anymore..."

When Adelheid let out a loud voice, the magic stone cracked, and water spurted out.

At the same time, Erika's and Leonora's magic stones also cracked, and water spurted out, soaking the three of them again.

"Too bad. You were so close."

From my perspective, it looked like they were controlling the magic power well.

"Yes, but the clothes were starting to dry a bit, which made it uncomfortable and hard to concentrate."

"True..."

"The surface was starting to dry, but the inside was still wet. Plus, it was lukewarm."

That must have been unpleasant.

"---Excuse me."

Just as I was thinking about whether they should change, a voice suddenly came from behind, and I turned around.

There, standing at the end of the narrow path from the branch, was a young woman with brown hair in a military uniform.

"Is something wrong?"

"Are you from the Alchemists' Association Riet Branch?"

"Oh, it's Yuriana."

Erika came over to us.

"Huh? Is it Erika... Why are you wet?"

It seems she knows Erika.

"We received a request for waterstones from the government, but since I've never made them before, I was getting some advice. That's why I'm wet."

"Is that so? I don't know much about alchemy, but it sounds tough."

Indeed, it would be confusing for someone who doesn't know.

"This is part of the learning process. Ah, Sieg, this is Yuriana from the military."

Erika introduced her, so I stood up.

"I'm Siegfried Alexander from the Riet Branch."

"Yes, I've heard from Lutz. I'm Yuriana Vogel. Nice to meet you."

Yuriana introduced herself and extended her hand, which I shook.

"Nice to meet you. What brings you here?"

"Yes. I've brought the magic herbs, which are the materials for the healing ointment you requested. I saw that you were in the back, so..."

Ah, she brought them.

"Thank you. Where are they?"

"I've parked the car out front."

"Then let's go get them... Ah, you guys, go take a bath and change. Then we'll resume."

You wouldn't want to feel uncomfortable and fail again.

"If we fail, we'll get wet again."

"I think you'll be fine if you get to that point. Plus, it's good to maintain that tension."

"Got it. I'll go take a bath. Please take care of the magic herbs."

"Sure."

The three girls went to their respective rooms, so I went to the front with Yuriana.

"Where's Lutz?"

"Lutz is on a different job."

He's busy too.

"This is it."

When we got to the front, a car was parked in front of the entrance, and the cargo area contained wooden boxes of magic herbs.

It doesn't seem like much time has passed since they were harvested, and as expected, they haven't been dried.

"Is this all?"

"No, they are starting to appear on the market, but the supply is still low. So, I'll bring them as soon as they are available. Of course, there may be delays, and we won't be too strict about the deadlines."

Without the materials, we can't do anything.

No matter how mysterious alchemy is, we can't create something from nothing.

"Understood. Please bring them as soon as they are available."

"Yes. Regarding the magic herbs, we can't process them ourselves..."

Military personnel can't dry magic herbs.

That can only be done by specialized apothecaries or alchemists.

"I understand. We'll take care of that."

With that, I stored the wooden boxes from the cargo area using spatial magic.

"Thank you. I'll leave it to you. I'll be going now..."

Yuriana got into her car and left, so I returned to the back of the branch and started drying the magic herbs.

After working for a while, the three girls came back.

"Dry clothes feel so good."

"Really."

"Bathing is great. Ah, I'm taking this back."

Leonora took the triangular hat from my head and put it on.

"I've received the magic herbs."

"Thank you."

"Is Yuriana someone you've seen at the station before? She's a colleague of Lutz, right?"

"She's in charge of security at the port."

Oh...

"You know a lot. Are you friends?"

"No, she's Lutz's girlfriend."

His girlfriend...

"Hmm... Well, Lutz is cheerful, so he seems popular."

"I'm here for you, Sieg."

That's true.

Not Leonora, but Helen.

"Sure, sure... Shall we make waterstones?"

"I'll give it a try."

"We can't get this treasure hat wet, you know."

"I think I can do it based on how it felt earlier."

I think they can do it.

Those who can do it will do it quickly, and those who can't will never be able to, when it comes to enchantment.

"Try your best. I'll be drying the magic herbs."

As we continued working, the three girls started making waterstones with their magic stones right in front of me.

"Don't make me feel tense too..."

"Come on, come on. You're the master, aren't you?"

Helen, who was hiding under the chair, said something good.

"Well, that's true... Believing is important."

Still, I cast a defensive spell just in case.

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