Chapter 134 – Where the Elixir Is Headed

Click-!

The wooden box opened and the objects inside came into view.

Judging by its appearance, it was more like a jewel than a food to consume.

Inside were two solid-looking bluish lumps, the size of which was about the size of a thumb nail, but the shapes were crooked, like spikes.

Those little things blew cool steam out of the wooden box, emitting a misty chill like the dry ice that comes with buying a certain brand of ice cream in a previous life.

The familiar energy that I don’t even need to do emotions stimulated my tired past and made me say my name.

“…Ice crystal?”

Éclair opened her eyes wide and did not hide her surprised face.

“To find out before you even explain. Isn’t it really knowledgeable?”

Fire or ice, and lightning, etc.

Jung (晶) is a special substance formed by condensing the mana of the atmosphere and the spirit of nature to form a stone or jewel.

I don’t know exactly what conditions must exist.

It is one of the elixirs that cannot be artificially manufactured because the experiment itself takes too long and there are so many variables that it can be said to be infinite.

The Harun Empire lived up to the name of ‘Empire’ and used a typical hegemonic policy to wipe out the barbarian tribes and obtain vast mountains and rivers and vegetation.

The advantages gained there include not only expanding the land, but also monsters that are valuable materials, as well as elixirs that can only be obtained in nature.

“Ice crystals… I would have been grateful for just one, but why are you giving me two?”

“Didn’t I tell you before. Now, while keeping the Federation in check, the Empire is obsessed with capturing the strong.”

“Are you showing off that you care about Rike at all?”

It’s something I didn’t pay much attention to anymore, but the imperial family knew roughly what kind of relationship I was with Rike.

“It must also have the meaning of an apology to resolve any offense. In reality, the price and conditions for going to Limno weren’t so pleasant from the point of view of the person involved. It’s a story that was just as urgent as above.”

“That’s… Isn’t it?”

Rickena and I didn’t act so cautiously, so it was worth getting caught, but using that as an excuse was another story.

Although I didn’t care too much because I liked the conditions.

“There is no need to think deeply. Even though ice crystals are obviously valuable, the imperial family can afford to take them out as an additional reward.”

Originally, Eclair could not have known about things like letters from the imperial family that contained the conditions for the request to Limno.

After becoming lovers, our relationship deepens and we share most of what comes to mind without hesitation.

Éclairs quickly projected meanings and inner meanings of the imperial family’s actions that I could have missed or taken time to infer.

The atmosphere and circumstances inside were known best by the person there, so his trust was certain.

However, there is a problem with this ice crystal, which is a natural crystal.

“I’m glad I received a valuable item… But it’s difficult.”

“What do you mean?”

“I ate ice crystals in the past.”

“…!”

In fact, in addition to ice crystals, he also ingested fire crystals.

Except for the first two, crystals such as Thunderbolt and Pungjeong have volatility where the drop location changes every time in the game, so I haven’t actually seen them yet.

The ones that existed in a fixed position were Bingjeong and Hwajeong.

These are all items belonging to Akarite’s Hidden Peace, so it’s been quite a while since two essences settled in my body.

“Essences with the same properties have no effect if taken repeatedly. You know that, right?”

“Did you already know that…? It was a fact I learned after hearing the explanation before coming, but it surprises me every time.”

This is probably the biggest part of why ice crystals are given out as rewards in the first place.

In the latter half of the game, there are volatility of brain crystals, wind crystals, and stone crystals that drop here and there, and it is a fact that you can understand by ingesting them.

Even if the ice crystals in front of me were precious, as the empire wiped out and dominated the barbarians in the north, a fairly large number of ice crystals would have rolled into the imperial family.

It is a fact that people in the know know that it is impossible to take multiple doses because there is no way that high-ranking people who say it is good for the body have only eaten one and finished it.

“That’s enough for me. You can give me one liqueur and let Kitty eat one.”

She shook her head slightly at my words.

“Thank you very much for your heart. I have already fought a war with the barbarians in the north and received an ice crystal for my military exploits and consumed it.”

This is another unexpected situation, but considering her achievements, it makes sense.

‘What about one?’

It is a pity that the remaining ice crystals are processed through the usual method.

Even if you try to exchange it for another elixir, honestly, I don’t have high expectations because I’ve been keeping an eye on the elixir that’s circulating on the market.

Could there be a place other than the imperial family or high-ranking aristocrats that kept the elixir comparable to ice crystals without consuming them?

Even if there is, it is highly likely that it is a group that is far from credit.

‘It might be annoying even to Rike to poke around…’

If rumors do spread, swindlers who want to bargain with fake or cheap elixirs will be attracted like ants from melted candy to the scumbags who are aiming for a quick fortune, knowing that they will die at my hands.

Scratching my chin at a situation that was annoying just thinking about it, I suddenly came up with a trick that brought the eclair closer to my bosom and whispered in my ear.

“Let’s give the remaining one to Chloe.”

Eclair’s red eyes shook greatly at the lightly thrown words in the manner of eating at least.

Her expression quickly became serious, and she came out with a subdued voice and looked into her eyes from close range as her breath exchanged.

“Roman. No matter how much… Fuu- Of course I know you’re spontaneous and don’t have much interest in extravagance.”

It’s not that she doesn’t know what she wants to say from now on.

“Huh.”

“That’s why I don’t want to talk about snobbery. If you convert ice crystals into value, you can afford to buy a spacious mansion in a good location in the capital. You probably know better than me without saying it, right?”

A fact you know of course.

In fact, no matter what Eclair says, the destination of the ice crystals has already been decided. I wanted to spend this precious time with her as enjoyable as possible without being heavy.

“I don’t like having a house that’s too large because it’s hard to clean. I don’t even want to hire a servant.”

“It’s not that kind of story——!”

Eclair, who was trying to get out of her arms for her serious talk, held her tighter and covered her mouth with her hand for a moment.

“Yes, I know.”

No matter how good she was to Chloe, she expected that Eclair would not be taken lightly.

This is also the charm of eclair.

When I let go of her hand that was blocking her, she kept silent as if asking if she had anything to say, looking at me.

Gently stroking her hair, I expressed my thoughts in a soft tone.

“Kitty. If you need a mansion, you can make a request and buy it… It’s not like I don’t have money to buy right now.”

“… I guess so.”

“Things that are really special and valuable to me are things that cannot be obtained by completing the quests of ordinary adventurers.

I don’t particularly have extravagance, so I already have enough gold coins to rot, and if it’s really not enough, I can request it.

Even if you only carry out quests to subdue monsters that are not a threat at my level, you can earn a lot of money.

“I should get some points from my future sister-in-law. Isn’t that more valuable than a mansion in the capital?”

He lowered his hand that had been touching his waist and patted Eclair’s buttock, adding flesh to it.

“And if Chloe gets stronger, even if an unexpected situation arises, she will feel a little relieved, right?”

Eclair should know that there is no way for Chloe to not receive ice crystals due to my outgoing personality.

Eclair, who had been staring at my face without saying anything, stretched out his hands and grabbed my face, and he came crashing into his lips.

“Town-!”

“Haeup… Hesssss.S.”

Her soggy tongue proved that she had mastered her kissing.

We didn’t covet our bodies with our hands and only exchanged saliva with our waists wrapped around our waists.

I couldn’t hold back my laughter as I touched Eclair’s wet lips.

“One kiss for one elixir. I’m the unconditional winner.”

Éclair corrected my joke with red eyes burning with heat.

“I didn’t mean to pay for the ice crystal with this. I just did it because I wanted to…”

“Cute.”

Embarrassed after telling her heart honestly, Gee Eclair blushed slightly.

“I know that if I tried to do something by converting the elixir into a value in the first place, I wouldn’t be so reluctant.”

“Now you seem to know me better than I do.”

Although this is my preference. I like it best when my woman acts from the heart and willingly.

Even if I don’t say anything, I voluntarily wear a maid’s uniform… Or cook my favorite dish?

Other than that, if you say ‘cost’.

Of course, I like to give my lover small gifts like dessert or wine, cook, and listen to strange events, physical contact, or affectionate words.

Of course, I was reluctant to force my woman into something expensive and take it seriously.

Riquette and Eclair are certainly aware of my jagged tendencies.

“I tried to do that from the beginning… But I will pay the price not for the elixir, but for those emotions and feelings throughout my life. As the next head of the family of Count Dritna, as Chloe’s older sister, as Roman’s lover and future spouse.”

The emotion in her words was so strong that it broke my heart.

I wanted to express this feeling of satisfaction and elation rising inside me with my whole body right away, but I managed to suppress the desire and continue the atmosphere.

“Okay. Then, let’s start by hearing that I love you a hundred times. Before coming to the guild, I promised to listen.”

Eclair, who heard her promise, covered her mouth with the back of her hand and giggled, let out her hot breath, and stretched out her arms and wrapped them around my neck.

“Anyway, it’s stupid… I’ll do it a thousand times.”

Even today at work, until the close, I spent time with Éclair in her reception room.

Before leaving the reception room together.

At Eclair’s words, she said that she was going to take two days off from work next week or the week after that while tidying up her messy uniform.

If I didn’t have time before then, she introduced me to Gleipnir and I thought it was the right time to see Innocence properly.

After that, wouldn’t we all be able to enjoy delicious food and chat at our leisure?

I’m already looking forward to it.