CH 54

I decided to visit the residential area in the afternoon.

I heard that the restoration and construction work has been completed, so they are finally going to start up in earnest.

“It would be a shame to go empty-handed, so I might as well make some souvenirs to take with me.”

Mark is dancing happily with a jar of honey in his hand.

Tom seems to have woken up as well, so I leave them be and head out.

In the residential area, there is still debris on the lower-ranked class grounds in the corner.

But in the middle and upper classes, located on the main street, there are many houses lined up.

Although all of them are simple wooden structures, there are workshops for production students and stores for students who want to become merchants.

There is even a restaurant, and the terrace is crowded with students enjoying a leisurely lunch.

All the main streets are bustling with energy and activity, just like the beginning of a new era.

Looking at them, I feel invigorated.

“It’s so nice! So many small energies coming together to create many times bigger energies, this feeling! I joined a pioneering academy just to experience this!　Let’s see. ……”

Out of curiosity, I thought I’d take a peek at the store that caught my eye: …….

At the entrance, there is a sign that says, “Special training class students, not allowed.”

I look around and see that all of the stores had signs saying no to me.

They all look the same, so someone must have put them together and handed them out.

“Good grief, I can’t even do shopping in a store?”

But there is one store that didn’t have a sign on it.

The sign says “Akemi’s Potion Shop” and there is a long line of boys waiting to get in.

“I’m not a big fan of waiting in line, but I promised Akemi I’d come visit her when she opened …….”

So I have no choice but to go to the end of the line. A female student holding a sign shouted, “Oh!”

“You don’t have to wait in line, Leopin-kun. Because Akemi-sama told us to let him through as soon as he arrives. This way, please.”

The female student leads me through the line as if I am a VIP.

I am greeted with jeers from the others in line.

“Damn, you’re unemployed and you don’t have to wait in line for ……!”

“Normally, it’s a privilege only for Hero and Sage. ……”

“Why does Akemi-sama patronize that piece of trash? ……!”

After passing through the open entrance, the store is crowded with customers.

The shelves are lined with small bottles of potions, casting a mysterious glow in the sunlight.

A female student at the checkout counter is loudly ushering them in.

“Yes! Anyone who buys a potion will be allowed into the next room for five minutes! After five minutes, please go outside and get back in line~!”

Even though I haven’t bought anything, a female student leads me to the next room.

The room is buzzing with the enthusiasm of the male students, who are all peering into the windows on the walls of the room.

The back of the room looks like an alchemy workshop.

Akemi is working in the dark room with the curtains closed, using only candlelight.

It’s a mysterious, fascinating, and scary sight.

The fragrance wafting through the air was sweet, and the boys are like flies attracted to an insectivorous plant.

“So, if you shop, you get to watch Akemi work for five minutes. Why would you want to see that?”

Still, it seems that Akemi fans love it.

All it took was a slight tilt of Akemi’s head toward the window and they started saying, “Oh, she saw me! “No, she saw me!” “No, she saw me!”

I wonder if this is as far as I can go, but of course she leads me into the workshop.

The jeers from the other side of the window become much worse.

“What the hell is that bastard doing in the workshop?”

“Akemi-san’s workshop is so top-secret that it’s called ‘The Secret Garden’!”

“It’s every man’s dream! And yet, and yet, I’m jealous~~!”

A lot of gazes, packed with murderous intent, sting.

I feel so uncomfortable that I decide to just say hello and get out of here.

“Hey, Akemi. It looks like you’re doing very well.”

“Fuu, That’s right.”

“Here’s something to celebrate the opening.”

While I am making small talk, I reach into my coat pocket and pull out a piece of pottery and present it to Akemi.

“This is a mortar and pestle ……?”

==========

Granite Clay Mortar

Quantity 1

Quality Level 42 (Material Level 22 + Dexterity Bonus 6 + Occupation Bonus 14)

Baked from granite clay.

The outside of the mortar is decorated with a flower pattern.

With its various bonuses, it can crush and mix more evenly in less time than a normal mortar.

==========

“That’s right. I’ve recently taken up pottery making. I made this mortar because I thought it could be used for alchemy work.”

As soon as Akemi sees the pattern on the outside of the mortar, she froze.

“Oh, Is this, by any chance, ……?”

“Yes, it’s a ‘Black Purple’ flower.  I mixed the flower itself into the glaze, so the color looks exactly like it. Isn’t it?”

“Why do you think I like this flower ……?”

“Why not? It’s on the sign outside.”

I saw the store sign when I met Akemi working in the tent.

I remembered the black and purple flowers along with the words “Akemi’s Potion Shop”.

Akemi let out a sigh of amazement, “Oh my god …… I’m so surprised …….I can’t believe there’s a man who can recognize the Black Purple flower. ……”

This is also thanks to the “Magic Farmer” occupational skill.

Akemi’s eyes, lit by candlelight, reflect like water.

Her glossy lips move and she speaks moistly

“…… I’ve always had something on my mind.”

“What?”

“I can’t say it out loud, so come over here. Come closer to me, okay?”

When I do as I was told, Akemi moves her face closer and whispers into my ear as if she is breathing on me.

“Hmmm. ……! I’ll never let go of the first man who gives me this flower. ……!”

The next moment, Akemi is like a spider pouncing on its prey.

….Gaban…..!

She hugs me.

“What?” Before I can react, my body is enveloped in a soft touch.

….Chu, chu, chu….!

And on my cheek, I feel a soft sensation as if I am being sucked.

From the other side of the window come a loud scream that sounded like an explosion.

“Ehhhhhhhhhh!?!?!”