Chapter 117

‘All right. Next step….’

While the water was still hot, add nine pieces of ice.

But not just any ice.

It had to be ice ‘harvested from the pristine nature of the snowy mountains’!

How on earth was I supposed to get that? Was I really expected to go climb a snow-capped mountain now?—I’d been thoroughly flustered, until…

‘That? You’ll probably find some in the imperial kitchen.’

‘…?’

…Lycian said it so casually that I ran off to check, half in disbelief.

‘Y-you really have it? This is actually ice brought from the northern snowy mountains?’

‘Oh, of course! The ice merchant delivers the finest quality every week!’

As expected of the Grastea Empire’s imperial household.

Not ice frozen with magic—but ice harvested straight from the natural snowfields!

‘So in modern terms… it’s like drinking expensive deep-bedrock mineral water instead of filtered tap water?’

I carefully took out nine pieces of ice from my inventory.

Each piece cost 270 rubels. I was curious what ice that expensive would taste like, but I hadn’t brought it to snack on. I had to endure.

‘Hurry and add it before the water cools.’

The recipe specified that the ice had to go in before the temperature dropped below 90 degrees.

I lifted each of the nine cubes from their clean wooden box with tongs and dropped them one by one into the cauldron.

Perhaps because the water was so hot, the ice melted away almost instantly.

Nothing else happened. The water remained a vivid blue.

‘Now I have to let it cool.’

I shot Lycian a sidelong glance.

Sure enough, he had already finished grinding all the magnolia blossoms.

Pulverized into fine pieces, the petals glowed a vivid red—like fresh blood. They were to be added once the water cooled completely.

“If there’s anything else you need, just say the word. I’m always ready for you, Master 🖤”

“…….”

Was it just my imagination, or did that sound… weirdly suggestive?

After glaring at Lycian, who was grinning in a way that could only be described as sly, I called out to Ninabel, who was still tucked away in the corner.

“Nini! I’ve got something for you to do. Come here!”

“…! Y-you’re giving useless Nini a task…! Waaaah~! Master, you’re an angel~!!”

Unlike Lycian, who had arrogance in excess, Ninabel’s self-esteem was catastrophically low.

Next time I saw Soleil, I’d have to ask if there was some kind of spirit confidence-boosting camp. I could send her off for a few days.

‘Spending time with other spirits would probably help her emotionally, too.’

To think I’d end up raising a spirit like this….

Anyway, Ninabel’s job was very simple.

“Wash the cutting board and knife thoroughly.”

“Th-that’s something I’m good at! Leave it to me, Master!”

The dewdrop rice cake, whose dishwashing and laundry skills were top-tier, regained just a sliver of confidence.

A little while later, the water in the cauldron had cooled to an appropriate temperature.

According to the recipe, if left alone from here, the temperature would drop below freezing.

And then it would harden solid, becoming completely unusable.

Apparently, once it turned into that ice, not even lava could melt it—or so it claimed….

‘Which is why I have to add this before that happens.’

The red blossoms of the Moonlight Magnolia Tree… ground to pulp.

I scraped every last bit of the crimson mash and juice into the cauldron.

And then—

“…!”

The brilliant blue liquid turned red in an instant!

‘What? What kind of principle makes that happen?’

I stared wide-eyed into the crimson water, but there was no way I could understand it just by looking.

The liquid in the cauldron began to boil furiously. I hadn’t even lit the brazier.

“Wow. That’s amazing.”

“Incredible. I’ve never seen anything like this.”

“Yeah. This definitely isn’t normal.”

“What’s next?”

“Time to add this.”

The ninth Golden Apple of Glasir!

The recipe said to cut it into nine pieces, peel and all.

‘Already done earlier, heh.’

As I poured the nine slices of gleaming golden fruit into the cauldron, the blood-dark liquid gradually began to lighten.

“Oh….”

If it had looked like wine just moments ago, now it resembled transparent red ink.

“Looks like syrup.”

Would it taste sweet?

Either way, it was practically complete now.

While the liquid continued to boil on its own, I took a wooden ladle and stirred it clockwise ninety-nine times.

“Doesn’t your arm hurt?”

“Nope. My arm muscles are amazing. Not hurting at all. Totally fine.”

I was sweating buckets as I lied through my teeth in the calmest voice possible. Lycian openly snorted.

‘That’s the third time he’s laughed at me. Unforgivable…!’

Just you wait. I’ll get my revenge.

After ninety-nine clockwise stirs, I had to go ninety-nine times counterclockwise.

This would gradually lower the temperature of the liquid.

“Muriel, aren’t you tired? Just let me do it.”

“Not tired at all. It’s easy.”

Lycian laughed again. The fourth time.

‘And you can’t even eat bell peppers…!’

Swallowing my rising irritation, I finished the ninety-nine stirs. The temperature had dropped significantly.

I left a thermometer submerged in the liquid and kept checking until it reached 30 degrees.

And finally, the moment the needle hit 30—

‘Now!’

I dropped in ‘The Savior’s Last Drop of Blood.’

The instant it touched—

Fwaaaah!

“…?!”

A burst of red light exploded from inside the cauldron!

“The lid! Cover it with the lid!”

At my urgent command, Lycian swiftly grabbed the lid and clamped it over the cauldron.

The light no longer leaked out.

“Phew….”

I let out a long sigh of relief and wiped the sweat beading on my forehead with the back of my hand.

Lycian quietly offered me a handkerchief.

“…….”

Unlike my disheveled state, he looked perfectly composed, not a hint of mess about him.

‘Why am I the only one?’

Feeling a wave of relative deprivation, I took the handkerchief and wiped my face.

Just then, a little droplet floated up beside me and asked carefully,

“Master, would you like some water?”

“Yeah. Thanks.”

Sweet thing. She really was quick to notice things like that.

After drinking the cool water Ninabel made for me and regaining some energy, I focused again.

‘Time to open it.’

The recipe said to keep it covered for about a minute….

As I gripped the lid’s handle, tension crept up on me.

Thump. Thump.

My heart pounded faster.

‘It’s not ruined, right…? It can’t be…. Please don’t be….’

Swallowing my lingering anxiety, I lifted the lid—

“…!”

A wave of sweet aroma rushed out through the steam.

The liquid was still red, clear enough to see the bottom of the cauldron.

And this scent…

‘…Chocolate?’

Yes. Strikingly similar to chocolate. But with a faint hint of fruit blended in.

A subtle, refreshing fragrance softened chocolate’s usual heaviness.

‘It reminds me of chocolate fondue.’

I’d only ever tried it once in my previous life.

I swallowed the saliva pooling in my mouth. Maybe it was because I’d used up so much energy… I was getting hungry.

‘When this is over, I’m making something to eat.’

Just the other day, plump purple eggplants had been hanging thick and heavy in my garden.

Imagining all my favorite eggplant dishes, I moved on to the final step at last.

‘Dragon’s Tear…!’

Once I added this, it would be complete.

‘Wow, but it feels like such a waste.’

The golden gem, glittering brilliantly, felt far too precious.

But I had to make the Elixir….

With a pang in my chest, I dropped the Dragon’s Tear in.

The reaction was instantaneous—like lightning striking.

Fwaaaah!

A blindingly bright light burst from the cauldron.

Shielding my face with one hand, I staggered back. Only when the light gradually faded could I approach to check the result.

Tiptoeing closer, I peered timidly into the cauldron.

“Wow…. What is this….”

A deep crimson liquid shimmered inside, filled with fine golden particles.

Like red ink infused with gold dust.

It was so breathtakingly beautiful that staring at it made me feel almost hypnotized….

“Muriel, at this rate you’re going to fall into the cauldron.”

“Ah—oh.”

Lycian’s warning snapped me back to my senses. Who knew an Elixir could be dangerously pretty?

‘Anyway, I just need to bottle it now, right?’

The recipe stated that one person had to consume 100 mL to experience definite effects.

‘Which is why I prepared these—100 mL crystal bottles!’

I lined up the three crystal bottles I’d prepared in advance on the worktable.

After fitting funnel-shaped spouts into their openings…

I ladled the dazzling, glittering Elixir into the bottles.

Carefully. Slowly.

‘Not a single drop can be wasted…!’

My goal: three bottles!

It seemed the quest only required one bottle to complete….

‘But I might as well make two extra. It’s an Elixir, after all.’

Stockpiling it would undoubtedly come in handy.

However, the finished Elixir yielded far less than I expected.

“Aw….”

I managed to fill two bottles completely, but the last one… only halfway.

‘What a shame.’

I’d just use that one for sampling(?).

Still, getting two full bottles of Elixir was a massive win!

As soon as I sealed the crystal bottles tightly with cork stoppers, a notification chimed as if it had been waiting.

Ding!

Oh yeah, quest complete!

And immediately after, another message appeared….

“…?”

Who…?

I froze in place, unable even to breathe.

“W-what…?”

I didn’t even have time to react.

My vision twisted violently, and it felt as if the ground beneath my feet gave way.