Strict Alchemist-nim

Wearing the clothes Veronica had prepared for me, I went to see Her Highness the Princess.

Perhaps because I had been walking around in skirts recently, I felt a little hot.

It was an outfit that completely blocked skin exposure… somehow giving off a strange feeling.

Still, the clothes weren’t strange or anything, so I suppose it could even be called a satisfactory outfit for me.

‘A little… hot, though.’

As I met Her Highness the Princess’s gaze.

Her Highness Selina, finding something so amusing, looked at me and burst into giggles.

“Your, Your Highness?”

“Ah, my apologies.”

When I spoke in a flustered voice, she finally stopped laughing and looked at me.

“You heard from Lady Kaltz that you don’t have to come to work, didn’t you?”

“Yes.”

“Then that’s settled….”

Her Highness Selina gestured towards a chair, as if telling me to come closer. 

As I carefully approached and sat opposite her, a waiting Maid poured refreshments and a drink for me.

Perhaps it had become a habit after working for a few days, as I naturally took it, brought it to my mouth, and saw Her Highness Selina watching me with a pleased expression.

Feeling somewhat embarrassed, I lowered my head and crunched on the refreshments.

“If you keep showing me such expressions, I’ll want to keep you by my side a little longer.”

“…Your Highness.”

“It’s a joke.”

Her Highness Selina, after sending out the Maid who had prepared the refreshments, apologized to me.

She said she never dreamed that I would have such an effect.

…Did she hear it from Veronica?

“It couldn’t be helped, as I had to find out if it would harm others, so I hope you don’t blame Lady Kaltz too much.”

“…I have no such intention, but… I would appreciate it if you kept it a secret from others.”

Her Highness, having moistened her throat with tea, continued speaking.

“Of course. But it’s unlikely someone would obtain that medicine and intentionally use it on you… Hmm, no, it could be dangerous….”

Her Highness’s voice trailed off, becoming as faint as an ant’s whisper, so I leaned in but couldn’t hear well.

“Your Highness?”

“Hmm, it’s nothing, anyway… You don’t have to worry about that. I’ll keep a tight lid on it. By the way… what do you plan to do from now on?”

Her Highness Selina smiled with a mysterious expression.

‘If it were important, she would have said it again.’

After washing away the lingering crisp taste of the refreshments in my mouth with tea, I replied.

“…I’m thinking of taking a short break.”

“Hm?”

Her pupils widened as if she had heard something unbelievable.

I sighed inwardly.

“Literally. I’m thinking of taking a light vacation to a place like the beach.”

…Though I’ve already made all sorts of plans.

“I see….”

Her Highness Selina still looked at me with a surprised expression.

‘…Why does everyone look at me like that when I say I’m going on vacation?’

After pondering for a moment, Her Highness asked me.

“So you’ll be taking the Train down?”

“Yes… well, other modes of transport take too long.”

“When do you plan to depart?”

“I plan to leave as soon as I’m ready.”

“Hmm.”

Her Highness Selina nodded with a meaningful expression.

Surely she’s not saying she’ll follow me, is she?

‘No way.’

As she said on the Train last time, she needs to stay in the Capital for a while, so the possibility of that is probably low.

Feeling unnecessarily uneasy, I drank the refreshments and tea, and Her Highness Selina giggled once more.

“I’d like to go with you, but… unfortunately, it seems I won’t be able to.”

“Th-that’s truly a shame….”

No sooner had I thought, ‘What a relief,’ than she spoke.

“Oh? Then I’ll try to make some time.”

“Ah… Ah, th-there’s no need for you to go that far….”

Her Highness Selina said so with a brightened expression.

As I desperately tried to return my stiffening mouth to its original position and waved my hand, Her Highness Selina chuckled.

“It’s truly a shame that I won’t be able to see you for a while. But it can’t be helped, so have a good vacation.”

“…Th-thank you.”

After that, I ate the remaining refreshments and safely returned to Veronica’s Workshop.

I felt good because Her Highness had given me financial support, telling me to have a good trip.

‘…But Her Highness.’

Does she think I’ll return to the Capital after my vacation?

…I’m planning to return to the Workshop.

Well… she didn’t say anything about coming back to work, so it should be fine, right?

Having safely returned to the Workshop, I first quickly took off my clothes and showered.

My clothes were soaked with sweat, as it was quite a bit hotter than I expected.

*

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*

*

After meeting Her Highness Selina.

My companions and I boarded the Train quite quickly.

Since all the objectives for coming to the Capital had been achieved, and with Her Highness Selina’s permission, there were no obstacles to prevent the trip.

The fact that related items could only be bought locally probably also played a part.

Anyway. After having a refreshing glass of morning milk for the first time in a while, I headed to the Train station where I had been indebted when I first came to the Capital.

I had booked the same Passenger Cabin as last time, but something strange had happened.

The Passenger Cabin I was guided to was larger than I expected.

As I blinked in confusion, the person who guided me whispered in a low voice.

“Her Highness the Princess wished you a pleasant journey.”

“…Ah.”

Now that I looked, it seemed like he wasn’t a regular attendant, but someone of a rather high rank.

“Then, if you’ll excuse me.”

As the person who guided us left, my companions asked me in surprised voices.

“…How much did you spend on the Train, exactly?”

“Even if I think of it as a good experience thanks to you… this is a bit excessive.”

“It’s incredibly big!”

I quickly explained to my companions, who seemed to be misunderstanding something.

I told them it wasn’t something I had prepared, but rather something Her Highness the Princess had arranged out of consideration.

Despite that, there was a brief commotion… but we were able to enter the Passenger Cabin without any trouble.

The Passenger Cabin we had taken last time wasn’t low-class, but this one was so luxurious and well-equipped that it made the previous one seem faded in comparison.

‘…Is this what connections are?’

Seeing my companions enjoying themselves, my shoulders somehow swelled with pride, even though I hadn’t prepared it.

I don’t know if the day will come again when I can express my gratitude to Her Highness the Princess….

But if that day comes, I should express my thanks.

Thus, thanks to Her Highness the Princess’s thoughtfulness, my companions and I were able to comfortably arrive at the Port City near our destination.

Of course, there was no unfortunate incident of the Train stopping like last time either.

As I disembarked from the Passenger Cabin, which I had grown somewhat fond of, a sticky breeze blew.

A scent I had never smelled before wafted strongly into my nostrils.

To be this strong when it should still be far away.

My body felt restless with the desire to quickly go to the beach.

Calming my excitement, I exited the Train station and saw a rather bustling street.

It wasn’t the kind of atmosphere one might imagine for a Port City, with fishing boats, old taverns, and shirtless fishermen scattered everywhere… but rather a fairly sophisticated city, if not quite on par with the Capital.

‘…Indeed.’

If it were such a place, a direct Train wouldn’t even exist.

Still, seeing the blue light shimmering in the distance made my heart flutter.

It was a little disappointing, but not bad at all.

From beside me, Cecil’s excited voice could be heard.

“Asha-nim! There’s a bird flying over there that I’ve never seen before!”

“Is that a seagull…?”

As Cecil and I idly looked around, Veronica called out to us, telling us to hurry.

“It’ll be a bit tight to get to our destination, so let’s hurry. And there aren’t just one or two things we need to buy.”

“Alright.”

Thus, the place we visited, led by Veronica, was… similar to a ‘Department Store’ near where I live.

…Though its scale was twice as large.

It was indeed a size befitting a city of trade and tourism.

The first shop we visited in such a place was.

A Clothing Store.

And not just an ordinary Clothing Store, but one that only sold Swimsuits.

The sections for women’s Swimsuits and men’s Swimsuits were completely separate, so I unknowingly tried to enter the men’s Swimsuit section, only to be grabbed by the scruff of my neck by Master and dragged to the other side.

“…Isn’t it this way now?”

“It was, wasn’t it….”

My mouth felt bitter, but I shook my head, trying to dismiss the thought.

Since I was on vacation, I decided to banish thoughts of returning or Workshop matters from my mind for a while.

As I was pulled into the shop by Master, a variety of Swimsuits in all sorts of colors came into view.

It wasn’t as shocking as I expected. No, rather… I found them to be quite ordinary.

I wondered if it was because the Swimsuit Her Highness Selina had made me wear was just too shocking.

‘…What should I wear?’

Other than that, my only Swimsuit experience was wearing a men’s Swimsuit in a swimming pool in my past life, so choosing one was a bit of a challenge.

Meanwhile, someone, I didn’t know when they had approached, tapped me on the shoulder, so I turned around.

“How is it?”

Claudia, with her healthy skin largely exposed, was looking at me, wearing a somewhat revealing Swimsuit.

“Wh-why are you asking me that?”

“Don’t say that~ How is it?”

As Claudia giggled, the mass of flesh supported by her Swimsuit jiggled. Turning my flushed face away, I replied.

“C-could you perhaps choose something a little more ordinary?”

“Hmm… I’ll keep that in mind for now.”

Then she turned her body and went somewhere else.

‘…I’d seen her naked body anyway.’

I had definitely done various things with her and seen her naked, but her Swimsuit attire was strangely stimulating in a different way.

It felt somehow more suggestive than being completely naked.

As I shook my head and sighed, this time Cecil’s voice was heard.

“Asha-nim!”

“Hmm…?”

This time, Cecil was wearing a cute Swimsuit and smiling brightly at me.

“Does this suit Cecil well?”

It was a Swimsuit with separate top and bottom.

Perhaps that’s why? It looked more like clothes than a Swimsuit.

However, because it was divided into a top and bottom, Cecil’s white, slightly soft-looking abs were clearly exposed.

It was a cute Swimsuit that suited Cecil well, but I wondered if the exposure was a bit too much.

‘…Is it okay since it’s a Swimsuit?’

After a moment of thought, I told her it suited her well, and Cecil smiled shyly, then returned to the Changing room saying she would buy it.

Looking around, Master seemed to have already made her choice, as she was holding something wrapped in her hand.

Veronica, who was behind her, was the same.

So, it seemed I was the only one who hadn’t chosen anything yet.

While I was seriously contemplating, my companions, who had all chosen their Swimsuits, approached me.

Somehow, an ominous premonition swept over me.