Kays Translations

Chapter 55: Energy Drink

The hot-and-cold air blower appeared to function properly during its first trial. Just as I began thinking about the finishing work, a problem emerged.

“Ow!”

“Big brother?”

“Rosalia, don’t touch the casing!”

I had completely forgotten about heat conduction. The heating circle warmed not only the air but also the metal body around it. The upper part remained safe, but the iron near the heat source had become dangerously hot.

That had happened even though the temperature wasn’t at its maximum setting. I needed insulation. The most accessible insulating material in this world was wood.

Unfortunately, fitting wooden panels neatly around a cylinder would be difficult.

“I’ll have to redesign the casing as a square box.”

“Was it a failure?”

“Yes. I’m afraid you’ll have to wait a little longer before using it to dry your hair.”

Rosalia’s shoulders sagged. She had been looking forward to it, and I felt guilty. I immediately asked a servant to obtain mahogany boards.

At least Rosalia’s first magic tool was complete. Her lamp was simple but perfectly functional. She had made the casing, the light-producing circle, and the switching circle herself.

She cradled it as though it were a priceless treasure. I was proud as well. A tiny magic-tool maker had taken her first step. Everyone would be astonished when they returned from the royal capital.

Rosalia placed the lamp in the centre of the dinner table. As she admired it, she announced that she wanted to help make the next hot-and-cold air blower, so I gladly accepted. The work would be good practice.

After our bath, she showed me how a servant normally dried her hair. As she had explained, the wind spell’s output surged and weakened unpredictably.

Each stronger gust tangled her hair and rattled objects around the room. The spell also produced only cool air. In winter, the process must have been miserable.

“Big brother…”

When the servant finally left, I touched Rosalia’s hair and found it dry on the surface but still damp underneath.

I couldn’t ignore her aggrieved expression.

“Turn around, Rosalia.”

She obeyed at once. I created a steady, comfortably warm breeze and used it to dry her hair properly.

She immediately noticed the difference and squealed with delight.

“You’re so good at this!”

“I use the same method on my own hair.”

“That isn’t fair.”

“When the blower is finished, you’ll be able to use this kind of air whenever you wish.”

Even after her hair was completely dry, Rosalia kept asking me to continue because she enjoyed the warm breeze. I remained with her until she was satisfied.

Naturally, she later fell asleep in my bed, curled against me. I was beginning to wonder whether she would ever learn to spend time away from her brother.

The next morning, I turned my attention to improving the elementary stamina-recovery potion. I wanted to finish the blower, but the wooden boards hadn’t yet arrived.

That probably meant drying Rosalia’s hair again that evening—unless she decided not to wash it.

Since the magic tool had to wait, I could improve the potion in the morning and deliver the results during my afternoon inspection. This was certainly not an excuse to conduct experiments on the knights.

Rosalia didn’t accompany me. After witnessing the previous brewing process and its pungent fumes, she seemed to have developed a dislike of potion making.

I shut myself inside the preparation room and began.

“First, I need to extract the harsh-tasting component. I’ll try transferring it into another liquid… Tabernol solution should work. It’s tasteless, odourless, and known to be safe.”

The potion’s restorative effect might weaken, but that was desirable. The previous version was too powerful and made the knights unnaturally excited. I wanted something mild enough to drink when ordinary fatigue began to set in.

I poured the elementary stamina-recovery potion into a separatory funnel, added a small amount of Tabernol solution, secured the stopper, and shook the mixture thoroughly.

After allowing it to settle, the liquid separated into two layers. The lower layer was the potion. The lightly reddened upper layer appeared to contain the extracted compounds.

The process had removed the harsh, astringent taste, though it had also reduced the potion’s strength. That was exactly what I intended. Its red colour had become paler as well.

I sampled the lower layer. It had almost no smell or taste, but it wasn’t refreshing either.

“The effect should remain, though I’m not tired enough to judge it. Still, an energy drink ought to be thirst-quenching.”

I took a carbonating stone from the ingredient shelf and dropped it into the liquid. It immediately began bubbling and hissing. The stone’s primary purpose was to carbonate water, though it had other uses as well.

Next, I added enough sugar to sweeten the drink. Sugar would also provide the body and mind with readily available energy.

I used Appraisal.

Elementary stamina-recovery potion: high quality. Restores stamina—minor effect. Carbonated. Sweet. Invigorating.

“It’s finished. The colour isn’t what I expected, but… what exactly does ‘invigorating’ mean here?”

The pale red liquid continued to fizz. I drank a mouthful.

“Ah! That’s much better. It would be perfect if it were cold.”

I poured the drink into potion bottles and sealed them tightly so the carbonation couldn’t escape. Then I carried the batch to the training grounds.

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