Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 142: “Testing the Effects of the Lotion (Part 1)”
──A few days later, at the Demon Lord’s Castle──
This is the throne room of the Demon Lord’s Castle.
Sitting on the throne in full Demon Lord regalia is Rukie.
In front of her, Chancellor Kelve is gazing at a bottle of liquid.
Yesterday, Thor sent over the MAX Silky Smooth Lotion Premium.
The two of them had decided to discuss how to handle it.
“This time, it seems Thor has created a high-performance lotion.”
Demon Lord Rukie said this to Chancellor Kelve.
“Thor wants to use it to treat Princess Sophia’s close aide’s ‘sensitive skin’ condition.”
“That would mean giving the item to just one person… or two at most.”
“Indeed. So there’s no need to get formal approval, but Thor still sent us the item along with a permit application.”
“I must say, I’m also quite interested in this lotion.”
Kelve said this while gazing at the clear liquid.
“It’s rare for Thor-sama to make something like this.”
“True, I never expected Thor to make a skincare item.”
“Considering it’s from Thor-sama, we can say it’s a relatively safe item. It’s just lotion, after all.”
“Yes, it’s not likely to be anything dangerous.”
The two of them turned their eyes to the Lotion Instruction Manual that Thor had included.
MAX Silky Smooth Lotion Premium (Rarity: ★★★★★★★★★★☆)
Attributes: Water, Earth, Wind
Uses herbs refined through alchemy to produce exceptional skin-beautifying effects.
Water-attribute materials and magic give the skin a smooth, water-like quality.
Wind-attribute materials and magic reduce friction against the skin.
Earth-attribute materials and magic form a protective layer that makes the effect exceptionally long-lasting.
A lotion inspired by a Mail-Order Catalog from the Heroes’ world.
Its MAX Silky Smooth effect is produced by special confidential materials.
Because the lotion is extremely potent, dilute it with ten parts water before use.
A single application protects the skin for an extended period.
The effect persists even after bathing.
Recommended for people with sensitive skin or discomfort from rough clothing.
However, due to the use of special materials, it isn’t suited for mass production.
Physical-damage resistance: ★ (applies to skin treated with the lotion)
Shelf life: 10 years
“This is supposed to be diluted about tenfold, then soaked into a cloth and applied to the skin.”
Demon Lord Rukie nodded while stroking the back of her hand.
“I tried it myself last night, and the results were wonderful.”
“Is that so?”
“After my bath, I applied just a little on the back of my hand… and the effect is still ongoing.”
“If Your Majesty says so, then there can be no doubt about its effectiveness.”
Chancellor Kelve nodded seriously.
“The manual says that special materials form a powerful protective layer. The skin becomes as smooth as water, and anything touching it encounters almost no friction.”
“That description isn’t an exaggeration. It’s perfectly smooth. It truly feels like I have the skin of a jewel.”
“However… what exactly are these ‘special (confidential) materials’?”
“They might have been created using an alchemist’s secret technique.”
“That’s quite possible. It would be best not to investigate too deeply. This is Thor-sama we’re talking about; the ingredient may be something no one in the Demon Lord’s Domain could safely handle…”
“Y-Yes, quite true.”
Rukie and Kelve nodded at each other.
If Thor labeled something as “confidential,” there was surely a reason.
They both believed that he would explain when the time was right.
“Leaving the mystery of the materials aside, what’s certain is that this brings very beneficial effects to the body.”
Demon Lord Rukie said this with a smile.
“And because it can’t be mass-produced, it’s unlikely to cause a large-scale disruption in the Demon Lord’s Domain.”
“Just so, Your Majesty.”
“Then perhaps we should allow people with delicate skin in the Demon Lord’s Domain to try it.”
“Yes. If we dilute the original formula tenfold, it should reach a great number of people.”
“Indeed. Above all else, this silky-smooth feeling… is addictive.”
Rukie stroked the back of her hand with her fingertips.
Feeling the texture, she couldn’t help but smile.
It was silky. It was glossy. It was smooth.
It felt like stroking the finest silk.
It felt as though a transparent film covered her skin, letting her fingers glide across it effortlessly.
Rukie had only used a tiny amount of the lotion.
Just as the instructions suggested, she had diluted it tenfold, tested it on her skin, and only began using it after confirming compatibility.
Even so, her skin was silky-smooth.
The unbelievable sensation of smoothness made her smile without thinking.
“Kelve, why don’t you give it a try as well?”
“Would that be acceptable?”
“Thor probably sent it so we could test it. Wait a moment. I’ll have water, a container, and a cloth brought in so it can be diluted—”
“I could never trouble Your Majesty for such a task. I’ll try just a small amount.”
With that, Kelve opened the lid of the bottle containing the lotion.
He held it above his hand and carefully tilted it.
A few drops of the viscous lotion fell onto his palm.
Kelve rubbed his hands together, spreading the lotion over his skin.
“This much should be fine. I’ll pay Thor-sama for it later.”
“Y-Yes, but…”
“Is something the matter, Your Majesty?”
“Aren’t you going to dilute it?”
“It should be fine. Thor-sama wouldn’t make anything harmful to us.”
“You trust him, then?”
“…I find Thor-sama difficult to deal with only because the items he makes are too extraordinary. He creates tools that instantly slay magical beasts and arrows that call meteors from the sky—items that could fundamentally change the Demon Lord’s Domain. Merely remembering them gives me a headache, but…”
Kelve held his forehead as if the pain from that time had returned.
Then, as if regaining his composure, he lifted his face and said:
“But this time, it’s just lotion.”
“True enough. It shouldn’t have any effect beyond making the skin smooth.”
“Exactly. Hm, hmmm. This is indeed… oh, how smooth!”
Chancellor Kelve stared at his own hand in amazement.
“Because of all the paperwork I handle, my hands are always rough… but now, there’s no roughness at all. It’s so smooth… it’s like there’s a transparent film over my skin.”
“Feels like something you could get addicted to, right?”
“This is a whole new dimension of smoothness. Look, Your Majesty!”
“Hm?”
“If I press my palms together like this… my hands start sliding on their own. It’s like I’ve applied oil… but without the stickiness. It actually feels fresh. This is wonderful.”
“…? It didn’t slide that much for me though?”
“I’m deeply moved! Let me send a usage report to Thor-sama right away!”
“Indeed. Thor will be pleased.”
“Please share your thoughts as well, Your Majesty. I’ll write them down.”
“Very well. I’ll leave it to you.”
“Please wait. I’ll get a pen and ink—”
Chancellor Kelve reached out to the desk to pick up a pen.
Slips!
Roll roll roll. Plop.
The pen slipped from his grasp and fell to the floor.
“M-My apologies. I’ll pick it up immediately.”
Kelve reached for the pen on the floor—
Slip! Roll roll roll roll.
—The pen slipped again and rolled across the floor.
“…Kelve.”
“I-It’s not on purpose! My hand slipped…”
“Your hand?”
“Y-Yes.”
“…Then Kelve, try picking up that scroll in the tube over there.”
“Y-Yes.”
Slip!
Slide!
Slip-slipslip!
“I-It’s too slippery to hold! W-What’s this…!?”
“It’s the effect of the ‘MAX Silky Smooth Lotion Premium’!!”
“N-No way. Is it because I used the undiluted form!?”
“That must be it. That’s why Thor said to dilute it tenfold with water…”
“Just a moment, please! I’ll go wash it off right away!”
Chancellor Kelve dashed toward the door.
Watching his back, Rukie remembered the instructions that Thor had sent along.
The instructions also included Thor’s translation of the item’s description from the Mail-Order Catalog.
This is what it said:
“Achieve zero-friction skin with the ultimate gentle-on-skin ‘MAX Silky Smooth Lotion Premium’!”
Zero friction. In other words, absolutely no grip.
Rukie had thought it was exaggerated.
But she had been wrong.
The people of the Heroes’ world had actually created a lotion that nearly eliminated friction.
Most likely, the lotion had another purpose beyond beautifying the skin—perhaps heroes used it to train themselves to grip swords and spears even under nearly frictionless conditions.
No, maybe only those who could overcome such conditions were called heroes.
“The Heroes’ world is truly terrifying…”
“Your Majesty!”
“What is it, Kelve? Weren’t you going to wash your hands?”
“…I can’t open the throne room door.”
“…I see.”
The throne-room door was locked during important meetings.
To open it from inside, one had to grip the rod-shaped handle and turn it.
But Kelve’s hands were now MAX smooth—
Slip!
Slide!
Slipslip!
“I-I can’t grip it… I just can’t!”
“Calm down, Kelve. You can push the doorknob even without using your hands, can’t you?”
“Y-You’re right.”
“No! Don’t use your forehead! You pressed it earlier, so the lotion must’ve gotten on it too. That’s MAX smooth now as well! Use your elbow to push it open!”
“Y-Yes!!”
Click.
The lock on the door opened.
Kelve then dashed into the hallway and ran toward the wash area.
And thus, Kelve’s figure receded—
The minotaur guards watched him go.
“Don’t worry about it. He was just testing one of Thor’s items.”
Rukie, the Demon Lord, reassured the concerned minotaurs.
The minotaur guards seemed relieved.
“I see. It was from Thor-sama.”
“That makes sense.”
They nodded as though that explanation settled everything.
It seemed that everyone in the Demon Lord’s castle had grown accustomed to accepting anything labeled “Thor’s Item” as perfectly normal, no matter how bizarre.
On the contrary, Rukie realized she had been underestimating Thor.
Just because it was lotion, she had let her guard down.
If Thor made it, she should have expected a “surprising, shocking, miraculous skincare item.” Chancellor Kelve’s predicament had resulted from her own carelessness as Demon Lord. Rukie renewed her resolve.
“Sorry for the trouble. Close the door and return to your duties.”
She addressed the minotaur guards.
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
The minotaur guards responded and closed the door.
Now alone, Rukie murmured to herself—
“Thor intended for this ‘MAX Silky Smooth Lotion Premium’ to be used by Princess Sophia’s confidante.”
That thought surfaced quietly.
If her confidante used it, then Princess Sophia would also learn of its effects.
And Sophia was a clever woman. What kind of uses would she come up with for this lotion…?
“I have a bad feeling about this…”
Thor should be visiting Princess Sophia right about now.
It might be too late, but precautions were still necessary.
“Someone bring me a pen, ink, and parchment—no, don’t touch the ones that fell on the floor. They’re a slippery hazard. Get new ones.”
And so, Demon Lord Rukie began to write a letter addressed to Thor.