Chapter 204
Five days had passed since Melt began making the medicine.
At this point, any work that could be entrusted to her assistant—Selene—had already run out, and Melt was now spending every day holed up in her room, fully absorbed in high-level alchemical mixing.
As for me, I made sure not to disturb her—moving as quietly as possible and speaking to her only when meals were ready.
During that time, I also went to the library to gather information about the Riseark Continent, in case we ended up traveling there. While wandering through the upper levels where the academy and library were located, I overheard a rumor: they were planning to build a new music hall.
Perhaps they wanted more facilities to host foreign nobles. And undoubtedly, the noble who once hired Hash—Count Hakartney—would be involved in this push for cultural development.
…If Hash knew, he’d be thrilled and would want to perform there right away.
That day too, I went out to buy some food from the street stalls—something Melt would like—and as I walked home, thinking about what vegetable side dish to make to go with it—
“Shizumaaa! I’m finally done—! Look, look!”
Melt came rushing down the stairs, overflowing with excitement.
In each hand she held a gemstone the size of a clenched fist, radiating an overwhelming presence.
“Melt, those are the finished products? Are you sure it’s okay to carry them around so carelessly?”
“It’s fine! Like this, they’re just gemstones that contain incredible power!”
“Incredible power… you’re scaring me…”
In her left hand was a black gem that shimmered faintly blue-black when it caught the light.
In her right was a white gem that glittered as if amplifying the light it received.
Even without knowing their effects, I could feel the monstrous power sealed within—
“Abyss of the Water’s Depths”
A gem that recreates the left eye of a god, filled with a darkness as deep as all the hatred in the world pressed together.
A forbidden item containing a powerful curse capable of amplifying and manipulating the darkness in the hearts of people.
“Light of the Azure Firmament”
A gem that recreates the right eye of a god, which shines with the hope of all humankind and governs glorious radiance.
A treasure of order that awakens justice, blooming one’s potential and destroying evil.
W-W-WHAT IS SHE MAKING!?
Aren’t these… aren’t these world-dominating artifacts!?
No, I’m sure the descriptions are exaggerated… but still, we absolutely cannot let anyone get their hands on them.
“Melt, listen… please, store them safely and don’t ever show them to anyone. These things are insane, both of them.”
“Okay! They’re super important materials after all! Now all that’s left is the Hamunchu Soul! I thought that one would be the hardest, but actually… I might know exactly one place where we can get it! Let’s go together tomorrow!”
To Melt, even these absurd divine gemstones were nothing more than ingredients for the medicine—to give everyone wills of their own.
…Honestly, maybe it is best to turn these terrifying materials into medicine as fast as possible…
And the final ingredient isn’t something she can make—she has to obtain it from somewhere?
“Are we going to gather it somewhere? Or does it come from a monster?”
“Nope! We’re going to ask the person who has it!”
“W-What? Someone already has it? But something that rare… they won’t just hand it over, right?”
“Hmmm, I think it’ll be fine! As long as we bring the special container, they should share it right away!”
I see… that person must have a lot of it.
Still, just in case, I prepared some money to help with negotiations.
“By the way, I bought dinner, so I’ll make a salad to go with it.”
“Oh! Onion! I love lightly cooked onion salad! Sweet and crunchy!”
“Alright, I’ll make that again today. I’ll grate dried bacon and dried cheese on top.”
“And walnuts! Don’t forget crushed walnuts!”
Recently Melt had started liking vegetables more and more, which was a relief.
For a while she ate Marmetano bread every day… she was close to becoming a round fox.
After dinner, we relaxed, chatted about the Riseark continent, talked about places we wanted to visit, and spent a peaceful night imagining our future.
The next morning, Melt came downstairs holding something strange.
It was about the size of a bowling ball—looking like a glass orb. The inside was hollow, but the glass was thick, thicker than any bottle.
More importantly, there was no opening at all—just a perfect sphere.
“Good morning, Melt. What’s that?”
“Morning, Shizuma! This is the container for storing the Hamunchu Soul. Some ingredients aren’t material—they’re will, spirit, or other non-physical things. This sphere is made from materials that collect those kinds of things.”
“I see… so the Hamunchu Soul isn’t a physical substance.”
“Nope! That’s why we’re going to get some from someone. I’m sure they’ll share it!”
From the way she talked, it didn’t sound particularly rare… but I’m sure she said before that it was extremely unusual.
What’s going on?
After breakfast, we set off toward Lindblum with Melt leading the way.
“Melt? That direction leads to an adventurer hotspot. If we’re getting materials, shouldn’t we go to the guild?”
“Nope, this is the right way! We’re going to the pie shop—Janggari-an! I’m going to ask the shop owner!”
“What!? The shop owner there has rare materials!?”
“I think so! According to rumors, he’s from Hamsterdam, so we should be able to get it!”
…Wait, wait—
Is Hamunchu Soul basically “Hamster Chu-Chu Soul” or something!?
She’s using two divine gems that could reshape the world… and the last ingredient is something related to hamsters!?
This feels very wrong…
“I see it! It’s not open yet, so let’s go to the back entrance!”
“I’ve never been behind these shopping streets.”
“Me neither! Kinda mysterious, isn’t it?”
“It is. I’m a little nervous. Melt, how are you going to ask? Just ‘please share the ingredient’?”
“No, no. I’m going to ask him to tell me a story.”
A story?
How does that help with gathering ingredients?
Ignoring my confusion, Melt knocked on the employee entrance door behind the shop.
“Excuse meee!”
“Hello, who is it?”
“I’m Melt, an adventurer! I’m not suspicious!”
“Haha, alright. I’ll open it now.”
Her adorable self-introduction seemed to instantly lower his guard.
The door opened, revealing a kind-faced man, past middle age and stepping into his elder years.
“Well well, what a cute visitor. What can an adventurer want with me? If it’s about reservations, I’m booked until the day after tomorrow.”
“No, that’s not it. We came because we want to hear your story. Is it true you’re from Hamsterdam? Please tell us that first.”
“Oh, people ask me that sometimes. Yes… I lived in Hamsterdam until… hmm, about seventeen years ago.”
“A—so it really is true! Then, then, could you tell me about the spirit you met there—the ‘Hamster’? I want to hear stories about hamsters from someone who actually lived there!”
“Oh? Very well. Shall I tell you?”
“Yes, please! I want to hear lots of hamster stories.”
…? Could it be that listening to these stories is connected to gathering the material?
And also, something I’d been curious about for a long time—the truth about hamsters in this world… I can finally find out.
“The first time I met a hamster was the day my cooking skills were recognized by neighboring countries and I was granted permission to enter the nation. I’d landed in Hamsterdam, a place said to be ‘a country built from cultures and beings that drift in from other worlds,’ hoping to learn unknown dishes, cooking methods, and flavors.”
A country built from cultures and beings that drift in from other worlds?
That is… an extremely fascinating nation. My interest was instantly piqued.
“In that country, beings such as ‘beloved little lives that lost their bodies in another world,’ ‘soulful beings who fulfilled their roles,’ and ‘souls deeply tied to the powerful’ also wander in. It’s said that animals once kept in some other world appear there as spirits and live happily. The moment I set foot on that continent, something felt strange, and before I knew it, a small unfamiliar creature had slipped into the chest pocket of my clothes.”
!? It appeared in his pocket without him noticing!?
“It was tiny, fluffy, and looked up at me with adorable round eyes. In that moment, I was captivated by the charm of hamsters. I didn’t know such a cute creature could exist… Later I learned that these were ‘lives that had died in another world.’ In Hamsterdam, they lived freely as spirits, loved by everyone. And eventually, when they were satisfied, they would be reborn into their original world as new lives. In other words, Hamsterdam is a ‘country where little lives live freely until they reincarnate.’ It’s a very gentle country. That’s why entry requires strict screening and proven merit.”
…So basically, it’s like the ‘stay in heaven until you reincarnate’ concept… but specifically for hamsters!?
Given hamster lifespans… that place must be absolutely overflowing with hamster spirits…
“What else? Please tell me more—lots more hamster memories. How they lived, what happened there—anything you can remember.”
Melt continued drawing out story after story, occasionally checking the inside of her bag.
Judging by the shape, the container was inside it.
And inside that container, which I glimpsed for a moment, something shimmering with white light had begun to fill it.
“…So that’s how it works.”
I understood now.
Hamunchu Soul must be created by taking someone’s memories of hamsters they encountered in Hamsterdam and sealing those memories inside the container!?
I don’t know the mechanism behind it, or why mere stories wouldn’t be enough, but… that must be it.
After Melt had asked many more questions, it seemed she had accomplished her goal—
“Thank you so much for telling us so many stories! I’m sure you have preparations to do for the shop, so we’ll stop here. Sorry for interrupting you.”
“Oh—right. Well, thank you for listening. It made me feel nostalgic… I’d like to visit again someday, but I have the shop to run. Melt-chan, you might be able to go someday. I’m glad we got to talk today.”
“Yes, I want to visit someday. Goodbye, shopkeeper! Thank you always for your delicious pies! I’ll come again!”
Leaving the shop, Melt took out the container from her bag and shook it, revealing the white shimmering substance now filling it.
“Look, look! I gathered so much Hamunchu Soul! The shopkeeper must have really cherished the hamsters… and been cherished by them too!”
“I see… so that’s why you needed his memories.”
“Yes. I’d heard rumors for a while that the shopkeeper came from Hamsterdam.”
“So that’s why you thought you could gather it. Then… with this, all the materials are ready?”
“Yes… Now comes the most difficult alchemical mixing of all. I’ll be shutting myself in my room again starting today. From now on, please just leave my meals on the table—sorry.”
“Alright. This is the crucial moment. I’ll do exactly as you say.”
To support her resolve, I should prepare meals that are easy to eat and still good even after sitting out for a while.
I don’t know whether this experiment will succeed or fail, but Melt has worked so hard up to this point.
I pray her effort will be rewarded.
Not because her personality will transfer or anything…
But simply because I want the effort of someone I consider family to be fulfilled.