Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 332: Gradually
After drinking the basic sustained mana-restoration potion, Fabienne repeatedly checked her condition. Nothing about her appearance had changed, so she seemed unable to feel its effect yet.
“Let us make Hot Cookies together. You should notice the potion working once you begin using mana.”
“Understood. I will prepare everything at once.”
Fabienne stopped worrying and set to work. I followed her lead and began preparing the remaining ingredients.
The method was almost identical to making ordinary cookies. We combined the ingredients in a bowl and kneaded the dough, except that we had to continue infusing mana throughout the process.
“Will Cold Cookies be made in the same way?”
“More or less. Some of the ingredients are different, so we will have to gather them before we can make any.”
“Are they difficult to obtain?”
“I am not certain. One ingredient is blue-slime mucus, which has a cooling effect on the body…”
Fabienne looked distinctly uncomfortable. Apparently, she disliked slimes and other unpleasant creatures. Once processed, the ingredient was merely a viscous liquid, so it should not be too terrible.
As we continued making Hot Cookies, Fabienne finally noticed a change. She stared at the hands through which she had been channelling mana.
“Lord Julius, I do not feel as tired as I normally would.”
“That is because the potion is gradually restoring the mana you use.”
“I understand! Because my mana keeps returning, it feels as though my total capacity has increased.”
“Exactly.”
Fabienne smiled delightedly. If increasing her natural capacity was difficult, continuously replacing the mana she spent would produce almost the same practical result.
“The appearance was rather unusual, but it truly is an extraordinary potion.”
“If you like it, I will make more. Perhaps I should change the colour next time.”
“Thank you. I look forward to it!”
Her smile was as beautiful as sunrise over the horizon. I would gladly make as many potions as necessary to see it again. Perhaps the next batch could be golden, like apple juice.
While I was grinning at the thought, the bell beside the compounding-room door rang.
“Kyuu, kyuu!”
“It appears our hungry visitor has arrived.”
“Hee hee. The Hot Cookies have finished baking at the perfect time.”
How sharp was Mira's sense of smell? Did they have a nose like a dog's? Since neither Fabienne nor I could leave our work, Nero went to open the door.
Mira could open doors without help, but they appeared to understand that the compounding room was different. They never entered it without permission.
Their judgement was perhaps comparable to that of an older preschooler.
“Kyuu, kyuu!”
“Lord Mira, please calm down!”
Nero hurriedly caught Mira before they could leap towards the Hot Cookies. At moments like this, they seemed much younger. Fabienne began feeding them pieces of an ordinary freshly baked cookie.
Mira held both cheeks and made an expression of pure bliss. Adorable.
“We will need to trim Mira's fur before too long.”
“Yes, it is becoming rather long. Cutting it in the middle of winter would be cruel, though, so we should wait until the weather becomes warmer.”
“I wonder whether Mira's fur could be used as a material.”
“Kyuu!”
Sensing danger, Mira promptly buried themself in Fabienne's arms. Hey, that was usually my place beside her…
“Julius, may I speak with you?”
Someone knocked against the door, which Nero had left open. When I turned, Brother Alex was standing there.
Nero had evidently prioritised catching Mira and forgotten to close the door. He lowered his gaze in embarrassment.
There was no need to worry. We were not making anything that had to remain secret.
Perhaps I should modify the compounding-room door so that it closed automatically. A spring mechanism ought to work. I could try it when I had time.
“Did something happen, Brother Alex?”
“Yes. I wanted to ask whether we could sell some of the potions you make.”
“My potions? The shops already sell potions other than Hot Cookies, do they not?”
At present, Hot Cookies were the only potion sold exclusively through the Heine Trading Company. Their recipe had not been made public.
Other magic pharmacists already knew how to produce ordinary potions, so I saw no reason for the company to rely on me.
“Your potions are rather different from ordinary ones, Julius.”
“Well, I adjust the taste and smell so that they are easier to take.”
“Rumours about that have begun to spread. Customers keep asking whether we sell the pleasant-tasting potions made by House Heine.”
I could only smile awkwardly. Who had started those rumours? Someone from the territorial knights? The territorial mages? Or had people who ate the Hot Cookies simply made the connection?
What should I do?
You’ve been caught red-handed.