This Time, It’ll Work

I first put the transmuted pill in a box. I could have eaten it right away to check its effects, but… it was an unknown territory, so I was a bit cautious.

There was that reason, and I was also a bit tired.

Perhaps because I concentrated for the first time in a while, a sense of exhaustion came over me. It might also be because it was a material I was using for the first time, which required a bit more concentration.

As I sat in the chair, it suddenly occurred to me, how were the others approaching this?

I became a bit curious about that.

The sweat on my forehead had cooled. I decided to look around to see what they were doing.

…The others had seen what I was doing, so it should be fine.

I got up from the chair and tiptoed towards Master’s back. She seemed to be concentrating on her research, as there was no particular reaction from her.

A fragrant scent rose from her water-colored hair.

Looking over her shoulder, I saw that Master seemed to be investigating what effects Cecil’s blood had. Since it wasn’t monster blood, it didn’t seem like there would be any significant results, but… well, she must have her reasons.

She also seemed somewhat happy, and the dark circles under her eyes, which had been deep, seemed to have faded a little. Had some problem she was worried about been resolved…?

I don’t know.

Next, I turned my gaze to Veronica.

Veronica, unusually, seemed interested in my blood, not Cecil’s.

As expected, with three people, it’s natural for different ideas to emerge.

There’s even a saying that ‘many hands make light work,’ so in a way, it was natural.

After looking around for a moment, I returned to my seat.

Then I rummaged through the preservation box and took out the materials I had in mind.

I was planning to make an item to… grant Cecil’s request. In fact, I had been conceptualizing it for a long time, so it proceeded without hesitation.

…Though I never dreamed it would be used for something like this.

Fundamentally, the biggest problem was that I had made such a promise in the first place.

“What are you doing this time?”

Cecil asked with a clear face.

“…To grant your request.”

“Really?!”

As Cecil jumped up and made a loud noise, I felt the gazes of the two people behind us focus on her. Sweating coldly, I gestured to Cecil to be quiet.

“Shhh… It’s a secret just between the two of us, Cecil, okay?”

When I whispered that, Cecil, with wide eyes, covered her mouth with both hands and nodded vigorously.

Confirming that the two people’s attention had faded, I drew a small transmutation circle.

Slime bodily fluid and a small amount of material to assist it.

This time, rather than the materials, what to do with it was important.

I scraped together the clumsily remaining knowledge from my past life and filled the transmutation circle.

The goal was… a condom.

Strictly speaking… it could be called a Slime Condom.

…My face flushed hot.

But what else could I do?

Since I had decided to give her the ‘first time’ for another ‘hole’ myself, there was no justification to refuse.

…Actually, I’ve already had the experience of something entering, but since this is the first time I’m willingly accepting it, wouldn’t I still be a virgin?

It’s not like I can tell Cecil, ‘That hole… I’m not a virgin anymore.’

That’s not something I can say, is it?

And if I’m being particular, Cecil was the one who inserted something first, so it’s as good as already given.

…The problem is that Cecil doesn’t remember that.

That’s why I’m making a protective barrier that is safe and… prevents Cecil’s essence from touching. If Cecil’s essence were to touch… it might be comfortable and feel good, but… I think the loss would be greater.

In that case, I would have to accept it while completely sober.

I tried to recall Cecil’s ‘thing’ in my mind.

…Will it work?

First, it seemed I needed to make the resulting product a bit larger. And add a bit more viscosity.

Making ‘that kind of thing’ in a place where others were present felt strange. But it wasn’t something I could secretly do in my room either.

In that case, it’s better to do it openly like this.

…I doubt they’d recognize it anyway.

There was another reason too.

To collect Cecil’s essence… killing two birds with one stone.

It would also be necessary for future research.

…Master doesn’t seem to have any intention of spreading it further, but… I’m a little different.

If it’s popular to that extent, its sudden disappearance would be suspicious. And the side effects would be significant.

So, wouldn’t it be better to gradually reduce it little by little?

…It’s absolutely not because I think I could easily make money from it.

Anyway.

Just like when I made the pill, I sprinkled the catalyst and transmuted it.

I hadn’t used one myself, but… a condom, which I had seen many times, was completed. Since I utilized the properties of slime to the fullest… it was perfectly stretchable, slippery, and un-pierceable… Hmm….

…Perhaps it was a Semen Receptacle.

After carefully wrapping it, I put it in Cecil’s pocket.

Whispering to her to come find me when the time was right.

…Even I don’t know when that time will be.

Cecil, her face flushed with what seemed to be joy, nodded her head. Quietly this time.

…Right, because it’s a secret.

The deadline is… let’s make it before I return to my original body.

Once I’m back, it would be… well, you know.

No, not ‘a bit,’ but absolutely not.

I stroked the hair of the bouncing Cecil, and when I looked behind me, Master was looking at Cecil’s blood with a serious expression.

When our eyes met, Master gestured for me to come over.

Why was she doing that?

“What’s wrong?”

“Hmm…”

Master, who had paused for a moment, uttered a shocking statement.

“The child’s… I mean, Cecil’s blood.”

“Is there something strange about it?”

Master replied, stroking her chin.

“Well… it could be considered a problem. I don’t know how it’s harmonized, but… its value as a transmutation material seems very high.”

“Huh?”

“If normal transmutation can combine things that aren’t quite ‘1’ to create another ‘1’, then this has properties that can fill in the gaps, even if it’s insufficient to become a ‘1’ on its own.”

That was like….

“It seems you’ve understood what I mean.”

When I looked at Master with trembling eyes, she stroked my head, telling me not to worry.

“Well, it’s not as bad as you’re thinking, so don’t worry. Even so, if there’s even a speck of progress, those who stop at nothing will go crazy for it, so… it would be best to keep silent.”

“Yes…”

I thought that perhaps with Claudia, I might need to make an escort contract instead of a supply contract.

…If things escalate… it might be worth considering, but at this stage, there’s no need for that.

“Is that all you’ve found out?”

“What else would there be…? I’ve only just begun.”

“Ah…”

“There are still many things I haven’t experimented with.”

Well then, why don’t you tell me after you’ve finished everything?

Indeed, if I think about it calmly, considering how many types of materials exist in this world… experimenting with everything in a short amount of time is impossible.

It must be because my thoughts ran ahead of me, fearing Cecil might be in danger.

As I let out a deep sigh, my eyes met Veronica’s.

I walked over with heavy steps and asked Veronica.

“Did you hear what Master and I were talking about?”

“Huh? Uh… yeah.”

“Right…”

Veronica said with an awkward laugh.

“Don’t worry, I’ll keep my mouth shut too.”

“…Okay. Thanks.”

Over Veronica’s shoulder, as she said that, I saw a transmutation circle. Let’s see what she’s trying to─

“Hey! Wh-what are you looking at?!”

“Huh? Oh, no, I was just c-curious about what you were making.”

“I-I’ll show you the results when they’re ready, so go back to your seat!”

Veronica pushed me away, getting angry. She wasn’t pushing hard, but it felt more like a shy child struggling to protect their secret base?

But that’s my blood anyway….

Well, every alchemist has their own tendencies.

While there are people like Master and me who don’t care who sees, there are also people like Veronica who don’t want to be seen, aren’t there?

…But isn’t it human nature to want to do something even more when told not to?

If I kept glancing, feeling unnecessarily more curious, Veronica’s red face followed. It seemed best to stop paying attention before she got truly angry.

“…Shall I continue too?”

I took out the box where I had put the pill I transmuted a little while ago.

By the way, to think Cecil’s blood would have such an effect.

Now that I think about it, when I tried matching it with other materials, there were no rejection reactions.

I thought it was because it was human blood with no particular efficacy, but it seems that wasn’t the case.

Somehow, my heart felt complicated.

…I, too, created Cecil because I needed an unpaid worker and a conversational partner, but.

When I actually thought of Cecil being treated that way… I didn’t like it.

Was it because Cecil was special?

Or was it just because of these memories of a past life?

Somehow… I felt a little confused.

Deep down in my heart, was I perhaps treating Cecil as a special item and cherishing her?

Such a thought.

I shook my head and dismissed the thoughts in my mind.

I cherish Cecil because she is Cecil.

It’s because I’m resting my body, that I’m having strange thoughts.

I opened the box and picked up the pill.

I put it directly into my mouth and chewed it. A refreshing fruit scent made the pill easy to eat.

Not long after swallowing, my body reacted.

My lower body felt hot.

To check, I shuffled towards the bathroom.