Chapter 78: Arc Lab ⓪

The Next Morning

“…Mmm… huh…?”

A savory smell tickled my nose, and I slowly sat up from bed.

Someone was standing in the kitchen in front of the bed. I could faintly see long, flax-colored hair.

There was the bubbling sound of something boiling and steam rising from a pot.

I heard the sound of a knife chopping. That’s… a girl? A woman’s back.

“……Mmm…huh…?”

A woman’s back!?

I hurriedly sat up, and something rolled off me—a white rabbit. A bit big.

The insides of its long ears were pink. Wait, why is there a rabbit!?

“Oh, you’re awake.”

A light voice spoke, and the person standing in the kitchen turned around.

A lively, beautiful girl with honey-colored eyes stood there. Um… ah!?

“Mi-Mineha-san…?”

“Yes, that’s me. Good morning.”

“G-Good morning…”

I was shocked.

Because waking up to a beautiful girl cooking—that’s surprising for anyone.

And she was even wearing an apron. Huh? Cooking? Wait, cooking!?

“Na?”

“Too spicy? It’s fine. This much is okay.”

“Na?”

“Too much onion? It’s fine. This much is okay.”

“Na?”

“Too many tomatoes? It’s fine. This much is okay.”

“Na!”

“Add more meat? You’re right. The meat is definitely lacking.”

She replied to Dagaa and started chopping chunks of meat, then dropped them into the pot with a meaty thud.

What is she making?

“U-Um, what are you doing?”

“Cooking.”

“…Mineha-san. You can cook?”

“What’s that tone? I can, you know. I don’t have a lot of recipes, but I was taught by my mother and my master. It’s almost done. Just wait a bit.”

“…O-Okay.”

Is this a dream?

While I waited in a daze, the cooking was finished.

In a deep wooden bowl was a thick tomato soup with meat chunks and various beans.

Pan beans were also mixed in. The smell of onions was strong.

“…Here, try it.”

“Th-Thank you…”

I took a spoonful of the soup with beans and drank.

Delicious. The sourness of the tomato, pepper, and a bit of heat. But there’s also a sweet taste. Must be the onion.

The beans were simmered thoroughly.

“How is it? It’s been a while since I cooked, but I think it turned out well.”

“Na!”

“What do you mean, ‘gourmet taste’?”

“It’s really delicious.”

“Good. It’s a taste from my hometown.”

Mineha-san ate too. She smiled softly. She looked happy.

“You even put in pan beans.”

They had become soft and thick in the soup. That’s what made it tasty.

When I moved the meat with the spoon, it fell apart. The tenderness was just right.

“Around here, they usually serve them on the side, but where I’m from, we simmer them together.”

“You use a lot of onion, huh?”

“This thick consistency is what makes it so good.”

“I agree. Wait, is this waterless?”

Mineha-san’s eyes widened.

“Yes, I didn’t use any water in this soup. You noticed?”

“I’ve tried waterless cooking before—wanted to make assassin’s pasta.”

“Assassin…? What’s that?”

“It’s really good. Spicy though.”

“I like spicy food. You should make it next time.”

“Sure.”

Though it really makes a mess in the kitchen…

Still, I wonder—why did Mineha-san suddenly decide to cook?

She’d never tried before, never even hinted at wanting to.

She never said she couldn’t cook, but I always assumed she couldn’t.

So it was unexpected—but made me happy.

“Wof. Do you have any plans today?”

“…I’m taking this rabbit to the witch. Though I’d rather not.”

“Hm? What was that?”

Haiyaan lifted his face from the soup.

He was holding the spoon with surprising skill. Mineha-san smiled wryly.

“I see.”

“What about you, Mineha-san?”

“I… I plan to visit some blacksmiths.”

“Oh.”

“Just looking around, that’s all.”

She said it firmly, as if to leave no room for argument.

I’d heard this before.

Even if a broken OOPArt is repaired, it loses its power and becomes nothing more than a normal weapon or armour.

Unlike Legendaries, OOPArts can’t be restored.

“……”

Still, is she planning to fix her spear—even if it won’t be an OOPArt anymore?

“Wof.”

“Yes?”

“Be careful out there.”

“I will.”

I had mixed feelings.

The Witch’s House – Courtyard

The moment Haiyaan saw the witch gathering herbs in the courtyard, he screamed:

“OOOH! Amazing… Boobs! Butt! Tail! So erotic. Seductive. Truly a witch!”

The witch gave a pained smile and stepped back from Haiyaan, positioning herself slightly behind me.

She whispered quietly in my ear:

“Well now, well now. What on earth is this, Wof-boy?”

“…Sorry.”

“Oh my, how rude. My name is Haiyaan. Your personal alchemist, at your service.”

“Eh? Haiyaan? The one from the Three Eggs? The real one?”

“There it is again. Yes, yes. I’m the nursery rhyme Haiyaan. The real deal.”

The rabbit pouted. This is… surreal.

“Yeah, apparently this is the real deal.”

“Isn’t that a bit rude? My friend.”

“We’re not friends.”

“Harsh.”

“But seriously, what’s with that appearance? Haiyaan was a bald man from the Shaved-Head Edda sect, right?”

“Wait. Shaved head? Are you calling me bald!?”

Haiyaan’s purple eyes widened in shock.

“Yep, that’s how the story goes.”

“I’m not bald!! Wait, is this because of the ‘egg’ thing!?”

“Ah, I see. Because eggs are smooth, people assumed you were bald too.”

Makes sense.

“It doesn’t make sense! And I’m not bald!!”

Haiyaan stomped the ground in frustration. The witch whispered again:

“So, so, what exactly is going on here in the end?”

She still didn’t believe it. Can’t blame her.

I said again:

“He really is Haiyaan.”

“An alchemist for your sake. That’s who Haiyaan is.”

At Haiyaan’s declaration, the witch chuckled.

“I see, I see. An alchemist. That would mean the legendary relic [Alchemist]. Its abilities are [Disassemble], [Alchemy], [Synthesis], [Mixing], and [Transmutation], right?”

“Wait, aren’t those usually separate relics?”

“True, each exists as an individual relic. But relics classified as ‘Job-type’ include all of those abilities in one. They’re very rare, and their users even rarer.”

A Job-type relic. That’s insanely powerful.

Haiyaan spoke proudly:

“Indeed. Correct.”

“So… what should I do about the report?”

“Hm. You should probably not report this to that old man Abramelin.”

“I figured as much.”

“Wof. Who’s Abramelin?”

“He’s the head of the Explorer’s Guild.”

“I hate people in power.”

Haiyaan snorted and crossed her arms in annoyance.

“Yeah, yeah. I don’t like that either,”

“What a coincidence. Ah—hey, what are you doing?! That’s not how you hold that!”

The witch grabbed Haiyaan’s rabbit ears as he tried to approach her and lifted him up.

“The witch doesn’t like that kind of thing, you know.”

“Hmm. I was going to invite you to dinner.”

“Do you even have any money?”

“No! That’s why I was hoping the witch would treat me.”

“Hey, witch—do you like rabbit stew?”

“W-Wait, what!?”

Dangling in the air, Haiyaan managed to yell back with surprising agility.

“My, my. You two sure get along well.”

“Witch, even I’m getting angry about that one.”

“Yes, yes, I’m sorry about that. And also, I prefer rabbit in cacciatore.”

“What kind of dish is that?”

“Hmm, hmm. A hunter-style tomato stew. Sometimes made with chicken, but I especially like the version with rabbit.”

“That sounds great.”

“That’s cruel! And wait, the fact that you just casually named a specific dish makes this even scarier!”

I sighed and let go of the flailing Haiyaan.

“You’re both so barbaric! Are humans 4,500 years from now all savages? Humanity really never changes no matter how much time passes!”

“I really wish my master would stop saying weird things.”

“I refuse—uh, wait, I didn’t say anything!”

When I pulled out my knife, Haiyaan quickly bowed in apology. Seriously.

“Now, now, Wof boy, let’s leave it at that. Still, it makes me happy that you’re speaking up for Kon.”

The witch gave a somewhat bashful smile.

Though, it’s only natural as her apprentice.

“So, witch. I have something I’d like to ask. Do you know when the town’s dungeon will be opened?”

“It’ll definitely be opened sometime this week.”

“Do you know the exact day?”

“Hmm, hmm. Sorry, I’m not sure about that. Even Kon doesn’t know.”

“I see.”

“Why do you ask, Woffboy? Is it related somehow?”

“The 12th floor. There’s a site called the Arc Ruins where my lab is located.”

“Oh, a lab, is it? Now that sounds intriguing.”

“An alchemy lab.”

Alchemy… what I know comes from memories of my past life.

Things like the Philosopher’s Stone or creating gold. Out of curiosity, I asked:

“What kind of things can alchemy do?”

“All kinds. You can combine OOPArts to create new ones, or modify existing ones. Legendary and Legacy class items, too. Even more than that.”

“What about creating gold?”

“It’s possible. Though it’s quite materialistic.”

“What about relics?”

“If you have a Plate, it’s possible.”

“Relic Plates… you can make those?!”

“However, not every relic is possible. Only a few universal ones. Job-specific relics are a no-go.”

“What about pseudo-divine artifacts?”

“Impossible.”

He answered immediately. Still, the fact that relics could even be made was astonishing.

At that moment, something struck me.

“Um… can you also repair OOPArts?”

“Of course, it’s possible.”

“Even as OOPArts?”

“Yes. Wof, is there an OOPArt you want to fix?”

Haiyaan asked, then continued:

“Though that gauntlet of yours doesn’t look broken to me.”

“You can tell?”

I was surprised. Haiyaan spoke like it was no big deal.

“Of course. It’s a fine OOPArt. With relic augmentation, right? An automatic type. And a holy-class one at that.”

“…You can tell that much?”

I was stunned. Even the witch seemed impressed.

“My, my. That’s some impressive insight.”

“Naturally. I am Haiyaan, after all. So, what OOPArt do you want repaired?”

“That would be… Haiyaan, you’re partly responsible too.”

“What? Me?”

Haiyaan’s rabbit ears twitched and his nose wiggled.

The witch tilted her head slightly.

“Hmm, hmm. What do you mean, Wof boy?”

“Mineha-san’s spear was split in two by the monster you sent as a prank.”

“W-What!? A prank… Ah, that!”

“Yes, that!”

I glared at Haiyaan with a flat stare.

Haiyaan drooped his shoulders in guilt.

“Hmm. Hmmm… I see. So it was… damaged.”

The witch murmured with a touch of nostalgia.

Emmy-san, Axe-san’s mother and Mineha’s master, was an acquaintance of the witch.

That means she might also know Mineha’s mother—Emmy’s best friend—and thus have some knowledge about Mineha’s spear.

“It’s partially my fault, too. That’s why I want to fix it. As soon as possible.”

“That’s not possible.”

“Why not?”

“True alchemy requires a cauldron.”

“A cauldron?”

“Simply put, an alchemical kettle. It’s in my lab. Even I can’t do proper work without proper equipment.”

“Your lab… huh?”

“Yes. If we go to my lab, I promise—it can be fixed.”

Haiyaan’s violet eyes looked up at me straight and firm.

I found myself bowing to him without thinking.

“…Please.”

“Leave it to me. I promise, my friend—Wof—I will fix it.”

I could feel a strong sense of resolve from Haiyaan. What is this feeling?

He’s not really my type, but maybe he is someone I can trust.

Still—not a friend.

While I was having those thoughts, the witch giggled.

With a playful and alluring smile, she placed a hand on her lips.

“Well, well, shall we head to the living room now?”

“Oh? Witch, may I enter your house?”

“Of course, of course. A friend of Wof boy is a friend of Kon’s.”

“I told you, we’re not friends—”

“That’s why, that’s why, I want the legendary alchemist Haiyaan to try my special herbal tea.”

“Oooh, by all means, by all means!”

Ah.

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