The Alchemist-nim Who Feels Strange

Asha’s ominous premonition seemed to come true, as she had to change swimsuits multiple times.

However… Asha felt less embarrassed than she expected.

Was it because Selina had given her early education with a skimpy bikini?

Asha unhesitatingly changed into the swimsuits her companions handed her, revealing her body.

Thanks to her past experience of changing clothes so many times, there was no need for anyone to even help her.

Asha felt no discomfort in being able to do it herself, as if it were nothing.

At that sight, the other companions, excluding Cecil, felt a strange sensation.

When her companions stared intently at such an Asha, she finally seemed to feel embarrassed, her face flushing slightly, and she fled into the changing room.

Asha thought as she changed clothes in the changing room.

‘…Isn’t there no need to be embarrassed?’

To begin with, men’s swimsuits barely cover their lower bodies, don’t they?

So, as someone who was originally male, there’s no need for me to feel embarrassed about wearing such a skimpy piece of cloth.

Asha decided to be confident.

…It was a belated thought, but anyway.

Asha fumbled to put on the swimsuit she had decided to try on last.

It was a swimsuit with double frills around the chest.

Although it covered her fully risen breasts completely, so there was no breast exposure, it was a swimsuit that boldly revealed everything else except for her covered breasts and lower body.

Asha took a deep breath as she looked at her body, then stepped out of the changing room.

“Oh…”

“Not bad.”

“It suits you well, Asha-nim!”

“Hmm…”

Her companions each let out exclamations of admiration.

“Oh, really?”

Asha unconsciously brought her legs together and scratched her head.

Because there was no reason to feel bad about a compliment.

The swimsuit purchase, which seemed like it would cause a commotion, proceeded peacefully.

Having finished the biggest item on their agenda, the companions purchased the necessary items.

Since there were two strong people, there was no particular problem.

In addition to that.

“Veronica, aren’t you carrying too much?”

“…I can carry this much.”

Asha blinked as she watched Veronica, who held the luggage in both hands as if showing off her increased strength.

‘…Even if there was a potion, when did she get like this?’

Could I end up becoming the weakest one at this rate?

‘Does it matter?’

Asha didn’t attach much significance to it.

Because she didn’t think her profession was one that relied on strength.

The companions rented a carriage, loaded their luggage, and then moved the carriage according to Veronica’s guidance.

The accommodation they arrived at… was somehow a bit strange.

Rather than feeling like a resort accommodation… it strongly felt like someone’s mansion or villa.

Upon entering through the wide-open entrance, the carriage arrived in front of the mansion, guided by Veronica, who seemed surprisingly familiar with the interior.

A group of people was flocking towards the arriving carriage.

Unlike her bewildered companions, Veronica sighed as if accustomed to it, opened the carriage door, and stepped out.

Then, the people who recognized her looked at Veronica and spoke.

“Young lady!”

“…I told you not to make such a fuss.”

“Of course we’d be glad, as it’s your first visit in years.”

Hearing that conversation, the companions vaguely grasped the situation.

It seemed Veronica hadn’t come to an accommodation after all, but to her family’s villa.

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“Why didn’t you tell us beforehand?”

“…What does it matter? It won’t be much different from an accommodation anyway, will it?”

“Still…”

Well, for me, it’s good that I can save on costs… but there’s definitely a sense of suddenness.

“Are the other people not here?”

“Probably. It’s the time when it’s usually empty…”

“I see.”

Then… it should be fine.

Because it seems there won’t be a situation where I suddenly have to meet a friend’s family I’ve never even seen before.

By the way… looking around, it was quite a nice-looking mansion.

While the exterior wasn’t particularly interesting, upon circling around and arriving at the back of the mansion.

Beyond that, a golden sandy beach stretched out as if a line had been drawn.

And behind that… the sea, like the color of Master’s eyes and mine.

The waves, which began with an emerald hue, turned into a deep blue as they receded.

The sea, still shimmering with clusters of light, reflecting the sunlight from the sky.

After staring blankly for a moment, it quickly took on the sunset’s glow, emitting a mystical light.

When I turned my head, I saw Cecil, who had come looking for me, also staring blankly at the sea.

As I stroked her hair, which was dyed with the sunset’s light, Cecil smiled sweetly and opened her mouth.

“Asha-nim. Is that the sea?”

“…Yes.”

“It’s very beautiful! At first, it looked like Asha-nim’s eyes, but now it also looks like Asha-nim’s hair!”

…It was a color that could be seen that way if one insisted, but it seemed to Cecil that it looked like that.

“Is that so?”

“Yes! I want to go in quickly!”

As Cecil stomped her feet excitedly, her skirt fluttered, revealing her thighs.

I held her fluttering skirt down and whispered to Cecil.

“I want to too… but it’s late today, so let’s go tomorrow.”

“Understood, Asha-nim!”

“Alright, alright.”

After calming the excited Cecil and returning to the mansion, a fragrant smell wafted.

Feeling a bustling presence, I listened closely….

It seemed the young lady… that is, Veronica, had brought a friend for the first time, and the surprised servants were overflowing with enthusiasm.

…So she hadn’t had a single tea party with friends until that age?

Well, I had my own circumstances and didn’t particularly like such things, so I had almost no experience, but I didn’t know Veronica was like that too.

Somehow, I felt like I understood why she came to the Academy because she didn’t want to get married, but still had a good relationship with her family.

And I felt a bit of kinship, too?

Whatever the reason, their efforts were not in vain, and the meal was satisfying.

It was a somewhat luxurious dinner, using not only fish caught nearby but also exotic spices and ingredients imported through trade, without holding back.

If even Claudia and Master were interested, then that says it all.

Afterward, the servants took care of various services… so it was convenient in many ways.

If we had used an ordinary accommodation, we wouldn’t have received this level of service, so I might have to thank Veronica.

After finishing my bath and putting Cecil, who still hadn’t calmed down from her excitement, to sleep, I returned to my room… but I also still had the excitement from seeing the sea.

I went out to the veranda attached to the room and settled down.

Leaning my arms on the railing, I stared blankly at the beach, where moonlight poured down.

A slightly chilly wind blew, but even that felt good.

Not having thought of going to see it sooner… that must be my fault, after all.

Considering how things turned out only after my body became like this… it’s highly likely that I would have lived the same way if there hadn’t been such an opportunity.

Bed, Workshop.

The same routine, like running on a hamster wheel.

‘It’s not that I hate money.’

It means I missed too many things because of it.

Every time I feel something like this, a sense of skepticism slowly creeps in about constantly going back.

Especially since, with Claire’s guarantee, being recognized as ‘me’ wouldn’t be that difficult.

‘…What would my family say if they knew?’

Perhaps it’s better to go back… No, I decided not to think about such things during the vacation, didn’t I?

I shook my head and chased away the thoughts that had surfaced in my mind.

Just then, I heard a knock.

‘Is it a servant?’

Now, all that was left was to pull up the covers and sleep… With the thought, ‘Surely they’re not going to sing me a lullaby?’, I opened the door.

Red hair was visible.

Veronica, wearing lingerie-like pajamas, stood there. She was also wearing a shawl, so not much was exposed… but Veronica’s silhouette was clearly visible through the slightly transparent material, which gave me a somewhat strange feeling.

She looked like she had just finished bathing, her skin appearing moist.

“What’s wrong?”

“What’s going on this late at night?”

When I replied like that, Veronica frowned, seemingly disappointed.

As I flustered at that sight, Veronica burst into laughter.

In Veronica’s hand were a wine glass and a bottle presumed to be wine.

Veronica lifted the wine bottle and spoke.

“I heard something good just came in, so I thought we could drink it together.”

“…I see.”

It happened to be… that kind of mood, so I readily accepted.

Veronica, who had been looking around the room, saw the open veranda and smiled.

“Were you looking at the sea?”

“Uh, yeah…”

“You said you’d never seen it before, right…?”

“…It’s embarrassing, but yes.”

“What’s there to be embarrassed about? That can happen.”

Veronica chuckled, saying she understood, and went out onto the veranda.

“Then let’s drink here.”

There was no reason to refuse, so I nodded.

Veronica handed me a glass and opened the wine bottle.

The sweet scent, which I was smelling for the first time, was captivating.

As I held out my glass, wine the color of Veronica’s hair mixed with mine filled the glass.

We each took a filled glass and lightly clinked them together.

“Still, I’m happy to be with you for your first time.”

“What’s so great about seeing the sea…”

I said that to Veronica, but I couldn’t take my eyes off the mystically shimmering sea.

I heard the sound of liquid being swallowed next to me, so I realized and brought my glass to my lips.

As Veronica said, it was quite a good wine.

As I silently continued to sip wine with Veronica, staring blankly at the beach, the excitement remaining in my body from the journey began to subside, and I started to feel drowsy.

Blink, blink.

As my eyes, which were closing, blinked, Veronica approached.

“You must have been very tired.”

“Well… a little?”

I certainly hadn’t drunk enough to get drunk… but perhaps because I was tired, I quickly felt the effects of the alcohol.

Veronica took the glass from me, placed it on the floor, and then supported my body.

Veronica also seemed slightly tipsy… and her hot body temperature was clearly felt.

…Or perhaps it was because of her thin clothes.

“I, I can walk by myself.”

“What are you talking about, stumbling like that? Let’s go in and sleep now. Tomorrow, we have to go to the beach you’ve been looking forward to.”

“…”

Since there was nothing particular to reply, I leaned against Veronica’s body and lay down on the bed.

A body that was drunk and tired.

My blinking eyes closed, and my clear consciousness slowly faded.

I heard something mumbling, but it didn’t register in my mind.

Feeling a warm touch on my forehead.

I sank into darkness.