08. The Troublesome Item (2)

Once Jane had the idea for chewing gum in hand, she acted with remarkable speed.

When I mentioned needing sugar and spices, she immediately sought help from the Cooking Master.

And the next-door auntie brought over freshly made strawberry juice in no time.

What followed was mixing ingredients, shaping through pressure, and cooling.

Figuring out the right ratio of juice to sugar took multiple attempts, stretching the process to two full days.

Had we streamlined the steps, one day would’ve sufficed.

“It’d be tough to make and sell these ourselves.”

“True, it’s surprisingly labor-intensive. We’ll need to find someone to handle production.”

Only after finalizing the gum’s development and production plan did Jane begin her own research.

I too started working beside her.

My role technically ended with suggesting the gum idea.

Normally, Jane wouldn’t have minded if I just lazed around and snacked.

But how could I?

With more products to manage, Jane’s workload had increased.

I started this venture, yet only the Master is working harder?

I’m not that heartless of a slave.

“Sigh…”

In the end, I chose to walk into the trap I’d set myself.

The small mercy was that instead of incomprehensible financial statements, I could apply my expertise.

My task was designing a mixer for gum production.

The mixer would blend the slime core with sugar and juice to form dough.

Honestly, the thought of using my professional skills after so long filled me with motivation.

But the design process hit obstacles from the start.

“What material should we use? Has stainless steel been developed in this world? All parts will need handmade fabrication, right? Ah, CAD… we need CAD…”

Every step turned out to be a challenge.

There were no standard reference books I took for granted in my past life.

The writing tool was a quill pen – one mistake meant starting over.

Thankfully, the measurement system mages used resembled the metric system.

Had it been imperial units, I would’ve quit on the spot.

The alchemy guild’s research notes Jane provided solved the metal material issues.

But this meant I had to organize all materials listed to meet specifications.

“I must be crazy. Absolutely insane. Should’ve just played around.”

I’d only meant to help Jane casually.

Yet wherever I looked, more work appeared, each task breeding others.

Memories of my overworked past life surfaced, bringing slight tears to my eyes.

***

Three-day determination.

After three days, I wanted to quit.

But since I started this, I should see it through.

At least there’s no bastard boss making me work without compensation.

Peeling my eyes from the gradually organizing charts, I glanced sideways.

Moist lips moved chewily before rounding into shape.

“Hoo-.”

As she blew, the pink bubblegum inflated through slightly parted lips.

Jane chewing gum while glaring at papers looked somewhat delinquent.

Yet it suited her so well I found myself staring dumbly.

One difference from my past life is having a divinely beautiful woman by my side.

And she happens to be my Master?

We’ve kissed, swapped spit, and, hehehe.

“Lily.”

“Ah.”

Ever since that white smile short-circuited me last time, I occasionally malfunction like this.

Regardless of my will to focus, my brain turns stupid at random intervals.

Yet Jane, the cause, notices my odd behavior but hardly cares.

Rather, she’s started paying more attention to her attire.

Not that it’s much – just cleaner shirts and pants.

“Lily?”

“Gasp!”

I’d been staring at Jane again.

To explain, today especially, my eyes keep drifting to her.

Her face seems to glow more in the afternoon than morning.

Strange…

Something’s different.

“Huh? Mm?”

“…What’s wrong?”

“Jane, did you… put on makeup?”

“…Is it obvious?”

Not heavy makeup, but her striking features became even more pronounced.

A pure, fragrant bouquet of lilies.

“Sluurp…”

I wiped away drool I hadn’t realized I’d produced.

Jane twirled her hair around a finger while glancing slightly downward.

Her faintly pink-tinged cheeks recalled delicate spring blossoms.

I wanted to keep looking but felt shy, lowering my gaze slightly.

Only to encounter greater trials below.

“Gasp.”

Jane usually buttons her shirt all the way up.

Maintaining almost stifling neatness.

But now three top buttons were undone.

Revealing an abyssal cleavage.

A sinful excitement, like masturbating in a church, engulfed me.

This revealed Jane’s changed strategy after failing to create overtly lewd atmosphere.

If I yield to desire, Jane will instantly transform into a lustful beast.

Dragging me into endless pleasure oceans where I’ll flail about crying “Master! Master!” before wetting myself.

My lower belly tingles at the carnal hellscape flashing before me.

Should I just give in?

Hell doesn’t seem so bad.

No, delaying work never ended well.

At least finish this before playing.

“Huuu…!”

I took a deep breath.

My oxygen-flooded brain cleared slightly.

Seizing this clarity, I averted my eyes.

“W-work, we should work.”

“Tch.”

As I focused on the charts, a tongue click sounded beside me.

I ignored it and concentrated.

My lower belly kept tingling.

Crossing my short legs didn’t ease the frustrating sensation.

Need to finish quick and rub one out.

***

Despite both of us researching, Fairy’s Playground remains operational.

When open, one person handles customers upstairs.

Theft?

At an archmage’s shop?

Shouldn’t we worry about thieves instead?

Jane, who said she’d briefly visit the first floor, is taking long.

Considering her blunt service even to nobles, it’s amazing we have steady customers.

Monopoly privileges indeed.

Nobles remind me of my first customer.

The veiled noblewoman who called dildos “nervous disorder treatment tools.”

If embarrassed, why not send a maid?

Ah, telling someone else your required dildo size would be worse?

While musing, I reviewed the organized charts.

Cataloging all materials from Jane’s alchemy notes is postponed.

Instead, I roughly finished listing just what’s needed for the mixer.

“Good.”

“Done?”

Jane whispered right behind me then.

“Eek!”

Not loudly.

But her whisper right against my ear made me jump like a salmon swimming upstream.

My ears are sensitive, damn it.

Covering my ticklish ears, I turned.

Ready to protest, but words failed me.

“Gasp!!”

“Like it?”

The subtle makeup enhancing her features earlier was gone.

Now Jane’s beauty blossomed fully under bold cosmetics.

The complete opposite of her usual aloof scholar image – sensual and sexy.

Her divinely blessed face carried the heavy makeup effortlessly.

“Lily?”

She’d clearly gone all out – her outfit matched the provocation.

I never taught her to tie her shirtfront like that.

-Gulp

Pale, smooth abdomen with a cute belly button.

I swallowed repeatedly without realizing.

At my dumbstruck reaction, Jane smiled faintly.

Then carefully cupped my cheeks.

“Shall we take a short break?”

An actual break, right?

I lacked courage to ask, staying silent.

Jane didn’t seem to expect an answer anyway, just beaming sweetly.

That beautiful face is terrifyingly effective at tormenting people.

My stomach flutters strangely.

I’m not stupid enough to refuse when Jane goes this far.

Not that I mind.

Her lips, darkened with rouge, rounded.

A pale pink bubble inflated instantly.

“Hoo-.”

“Huh?”

I saw it.

The moment translucent film enveloped crimson flesh.

“Ah!”

Sudden enlightenment.

Clarity struck my desire-melted mind instantly.

Even after conceiving gum, I’d felt something more was possible.

Jane’s praise and gratitude hadn’t erased this lingering dissatisfaction.

But now I remembered.

The solution to that dissatisfaction.

“Jane, do you know about condoms?”

“Huh? Y-yes?”

Condoms.

Thin rubber sheaths worn on penises during sex.

My abrupt question flustered Jane.

But now obsessed with condoms, I pressed on.

“Condoms… they exist, though barely used.”

“Why?”

Far safer than contraceptives, blocking some STDs too – why?

I could guess, but wanted to see actual products first.

Jane sighed and flicked her fingers.

A wooden box flew over via her magic.

“These are condoms.”

“These?”

As suspected – material limitations.

The condoms before me were stitched from leather, animal intestines, and fabric.

Poor texture, minimal sensation.

Jane agreed with my assessment.

“You’re right. That’s why we don’t sell them now. But why condoms?”

“I think we could make better ones from slime cores.”

“What?”

Her black eyes widened at the unexpected proposal.

Incidentally, “gum” derives from rubber.

Condoms are rubber-made.

Early rubber, like slime cores, was temperature-sensitive, I recall hearing somewhere.

They mixed something to improve heat resistance – we can research that later.

Jane nodded at my idea blending past-life knowledge.

“Mixing things into slime cores? Honestly, no different from previous attempts.”

“But we haven’t tried every possible mixture.”

“True.”

“Success means utilizing all those troublesome items piled up there. Plus introducing safer contraception.”

“Hmm…”

“Jane, think – widespread condoms would reduce dependency on addictive contraceptives.”

I still see Marie from “Flower Garden” looking terrified.

Proof of contraceptive addiction’s severe suffering, even if not fatal.

After brief deliberation, Jane exhaled deeply.

“Haah… alright. Let’s try.”

I grabbed Jane’s cheeks and planted a firm kiss.

Mmm, strawberry flavor.