CH 120

Chapter 120 – Grande’s First Job

“I see, so you were in the research and development office all this time today?”

“Yes, I was with him the whole time. As usual, common sense is not something that Kosuke understands.”

“Silver to mithril, gems and magic crystals to magic sparkling stones… that would break the economy.”

“If we do this right, the Liberation Army won’t have to worry about funding at all in the future.”

In the evening, after spending a day in the research and development department, we were all gathered together for dinner. The group consisted of me, Sylphy, Isla, Melty, and the Harpies. Some Harpies were on patrol and scouting missions in various places, so it was not all of them.

“It’s beautiful.”

“It’s perfect for mood and illumination…”

“It’s practically part of the nature of the Harpies to like shiny things, isn’t it?”

“It’s a little unsettling to think that one of these could buy a whole country…”

In the middle of the large dining table where we eat, sits a thing. It was a set of three silver candlesticks. The problem is that the candlesticks are not candles but multicolored magic sparkling stones that emit light.

“If you didn’t know about it, it would look like just a lighted magical object.”

“The fact is, though, that it’s a magic sparkling stone of size and quantity that could buy the world. It’s a very expensive piece of lighting, isn’t it?”

“It’s almost free of charge to me in terms of material cost, let alone market price.”

The gems that are used as materials can be found in the appropriate rocky places, and magic crystals can be obtained regularly and in any quantity. It’s not free, though, since it must have cost a fair amount to make the magic crystal extraction equipment.

“Kosuke doesn’t understand the value of things.”

“This is something I’ve never seen before, and if I wanted to make it, I could do it myself. In that sense, I guess I’m the only one who doesn’t know the common sense of this world.”

“You may be right, but… what is the purpose of these silver candlesticks anyway?”

“Oh, right. It’s not silver; it’s a mithril candlestick.”

“…My head is starting to hurt with all this.”

Sylphy starts rubbing the wrinkles between her eyes with a spoon in her other hand. Well, well, I have my own ideas, you know.

“The only reason I prepared this stuff is so you can get used to it.”

“Get used to it? What do you mean?”

“Mithril and magic sparkling stones. I won’t be using that size of the magic sparkling stone, but I will be giving everyone accessories made of mithril and magic sparkling stone.”

Everyone gasped at my words.

I can’t help but understand how they feel. To be honest, I’d be scared too if someone told me they were going to give me accessories that could build a mansion. In fact, I’d probably withdraw. It would be too expensive to use on a daily basis, for sure.

“I’d like to have Isla’s help in making it effective for protection or as magic power storage. To be honest, I’m not strong enough to stand next to everyone in a fight and protect you. But I can make something to protect you.”

There were many ideas that came to mind when I heard about the characteristics of the magic sparkling stone that amplifies and stores magic power, and one of them was an accessory to protect everyone. Rings, pendants, bracelets, anything would do.

It can be a magic shield or simply an amplifier that increases the magic power. It could be a magic tank that stores a large amount of magic power and draws from it when the time comes. Whichever it is, it should be useful in protecting Sylphy, Isla, the Harpies, and Melty.

“It may be a very expensive piece of jewelry in this world, but the safety of everyone is more important than that. If the need arises, you can use it up. I’ll make it again and again. So I want you to wear what I make and provide you with as much as possible.”

“So you want me to get used to it, is that it?”

“Something like that. Well, for me, it’s to let you know that it can be used for this kind of fun. So, don’t hesitate to wear the accessory when I give it to you.”

“…Okay. If that’s what Kosuke wants. Is that okay, everyone?”

Everyone nodded at Sylphy’s words.

“Fufu, accessories made of magic sparkling stone and mithril? It’s a woman’s dream.”

Melty put her hand on her cheek and grinned as she looked at the magic sparkling stone candlesticks. In my original world, accessories would be made from platinum, gold, and perhaps diamonds.

“Fufu… fufufu… unlimited use of magic sparkling stones and mithril… fufufufu.”

Isla’s eye is traveling as she gazes at the candleholders made of mithril and candlesticks made from magic sparkling stone. As an excellent mage and alchemist, it must be a great blessing to be able to freely use these materials to make tools.

“I wonder if we should get necklaces or anklets?”

“Maybe an earring?”

“We don’t have arms or fingers.”

The Harpies were quickly discussing what kind of accessories they would like. Yeah, I’ll ask them what they want later.

I’m happy to report that everyone’s service that night was more intense than usual, whether in return for the gift of an accessory or as an advance payment. I thought I was going to dry out.

☆★☆

“Now, Grande.”

It was a morning a few days after I learned how to make magic sparkling stones. I called out to Grande as I served her an extra-large teriyaki burger for breakfast.

“What is it?”

Grande tilted her big head as she quickly took a bite of the first one. Yes, her face is vicious, but her gesture is cute. If you make a cute gesture with a vicious appearance, it can look strangely cute because there is a huge gap.

“You’ll be working for me from today.”

“Yeah, I can understand that. After eating this, maybe I’ll go back to the mountains and hunt some wyverns.”

“No, that’s not it.”

Grande tilted her head again at my words.

“Do I not have to work?”

“No, that’s not it. Grande, I want you to share your blood with me.”

“Hmm…? I don’t like pain, you know?”

“I’ll try to make it as painless as possible, and the wound will heal quickly. Just share the blood with me.”

Grande didn’t respond to my plea but munched on an oversized teriyaki burger, making a thoughtful gesture.

“It depends on your purpose. You probably want to use my blood to make a potion or something, but I don’t want to have my blood taken over and over again. It’s more than painful; it’s unpleasant.”

“I understand. It is not very pleasant to have your blood taken and used as a potion. If I were in Grande’s position, I wouldn’t be too happy about it either.”

It’s better than mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, and blood-sucking leeches because you get consent, but it’s some kind of biological instinct not to like an object that consumes your body and blood.

“You know that woman who was carried in here with me? Her name was Melty.”

“That demon species?”

Grande looked blatantly uncomfortable as if she remembered her encounter with Melty. Grande is not very good at dealing with Melty, is she?

“Yes, that’s her. She cut off her own horn to save me from being trapped in the human country. To blend in with the humans.”

“Oh, that’s very brave of her. Cutting off her own horn to save a mating male. That’s impressive guts.”

“Yeah. But I want to do something about her horns.”

“I see. So it’s my blood.”

“Ah, yes. Can you do that for me?”

Grande nodded at me.

“That’s fine. But I don’t want to be asked too many times, okay?”

“Of course.”

“Umu. Let’s do it after I finish eating this.”

“Oh, I’ll bring out a large barrel of honey wine after I’ve finished taking your blood.”

I don’t want her to drink the honey wine before the blood is drawn because then the alcohol would mix with her blood. No, it might not be a problem for dragons, and it’s not necessarily something that will affect her immediately, but it’s just for the mood.

“A large barrel?”

“Bigger than the usual ones. Enough for four people.”

“That’ll be great!”

Grande’s tail begins to thump, thump on the ground as if she is really looking forward to it. It shakes and sways. In fact, if you place something you want to crush under her tail, you will be able to make progress in your work. Maybe I’ll try to get it to work on paving stones for the road next time.

Soon, Grande had finished her meal, and I decided to take her blood.

“I wondered how I would do it. If it’s a human, you can just cut off the tip of a finger.”

“I don’t want to cut between my fingers or between my nails. It hurts.”

“I wouldn’t do that. This isn’t torturing.”

There’s no such thing as a syringe the size of a dragon. Or rather, the dragon’s scales and skin make it impossible for an ordinary syringe to penetrate.

“I’ll use this to scratch your arm.”

“Mithril? It might be able to penetrate my scales and skin.”

Grande nodded as she looked at the sword I took out. This is a mithril shortsword that I made for myself a while back. I’ve never had the opportunity to use it at all, but the first time I used it was to take blood from a dragon… Well, the situation in which I would have to fight to wield such a thing would have been almost impossible, so it was appropriate that it ended up being stored in my inventory.

“I won’t stab you deeply, but I’ll cut you thinly.”

“Umu. Since my scales are tough and my skin is thick, if you’re going to do it, do it as hard as you can. It’s more painful and scary to be slashed repeatedly.”

“All right.”

But I can’t handle a sword properly, can I? Well, if I hold the weapon in my right hand and click the left button, my body will naturally move. I’ll let the command action guide me.

When I had gotten used to the feeling, I called out to Grande.

“Okay, let’s go.”

“Umu. Come.”

With the left click in mind, I let my body move naturally and slashed at Grande’s front leg, or rather arm. It was a tremendous response, but because it was protected by hard scales and thick skin, the cut was not as big as it could have been.

However, even though it was not a big cut, a cut is a cut. The blood started to flow out.

“…Ouch.”

“I’m sorry. Once I get the blood out, I’ll heal you right away, so just bear with it.”

“…Yeah.”

I feel so guilty when I hear Grande’s voice, which sounds like she’s about to cry. Since it would be a pity to prolong the pain too long, I quickly collected the flowing blood into a glass container and put the lid on it. Finally, after filling up three 500ml containers, I finished the blood collection and poured High Life Potion on Grande’s wounds.

Grande’s wounds closed up quickly, and soon the scars were no longer visible. I also picked up the scales that had been cut off along with the wound.

“It doesn’t hurt anymore.”

“Yes, the potion healed it. Thank you, Grande.”

“Yeah.”

I stroked Grande’s face as I pulled her close to me to check her scar. After licking the scar with her long tongue, Grande began to move her right arm fearfully.

“I think it’s okay.”

“I’m glad to hear it. Thank you, Grande. I’m going to give you some dessert tonight to make up for the pain I caused you, so look forward to it.”

“Dessert?”

“Yeah, I’ll make you something sweet and delicious.”

“I’m looking forward to it.”

Grande’s tail began to thump against the ground. She seemed to be in a better mood.

“So, here’s the big barrel of honey wine I promised you. Drink it and relax for the rest of the day.”

“Okay.”

After placing the large barrel of honey wine on the dining table, I said goodbye to Grande and walked to the research and development department.

I need to get a regeneration potion made for Melty. Maybe I can get more recipes for my mixing table. The blood that Grande gave me in pain is a precious commodity. I’ll make sure not to waste it.