The day after the lab was set up, Haruka and Natsuki retreated to the lab immediately after breakfast.

　Toya started training by himself, while Yuki and I continued to work on generating silica sand.

　But it's too much trouble to do it all at once, so I poured all my available magic power into it, used Create Earth only once, and then we both took a nap in the morning.

　It's not that we're slacking off, because we can't do anything without recovering.

　We woke up in the early afternoon and used "Create Earth" again, and at this point, the amount of silica sand had reached the required level.

　I suppose it's partly due to familiarity, but the reason why I was able to produce the required amount in just one day is because, according to Haruka, "considering the amount of silicon and oxygen in the earth's crust, silicon dioxide is probably the easiest to produce.

　However, her magic power was again empty, so she took a nap.

　I worked hard to recover my magic power until Haruka woke me up to tell me dinner was ready.

　　　　I had a lot of work to do.

　When dinner and cleanup was over, we all took a break.
　Some items were lined up on the dining room table.

"Announcing today's results~
"More and more, puff-puff~

　Title call, Yuki. Music, me.
　There's one look that sticks out like a sore thumb at us. It's Haruka.

"...... What's that?

No, we don't have anything to present yet, so we thought we'd be the ones to liven things up. Huh?

Yeah. We're in the prep phase. If it goes well, we'll get the results tomorrow. If it doesn't, we'll lose everything we did yesterday and today.

　If the bathtub fails, there's still a chance it can be reused, but it's less damaging if you're prepared for the worst. Yeah.

I'm sure you'll be happy to hear that. Hi, Haruka is next!
Haha. ...... That's a start. I'm sure you can guess what it is.

　In the event that you have any kind of questions regarding where and how to use the internet, you can call us at the web site.

　You can find a lot of people who are interested in this type of product.

It's just an ordinary clock that I made as a test, so it's bulky.　You can put this one on the fireplace, but the real thing is this one.

　Avoiding the clock to the side, Haruka then placed a palm-sized clock in the middle of the desk.
　It's a little bigger than the pocket watch I imagine, but it's small enough to fit in my pocket.

If you're going deep into the forest, I think you need a watch.
It's convenient to know the time even when it's cloudy.

　I could tell the time by looking at the sun, so I hadn't been inconvenienced by the lack of a watch, but if we were going deep into the forest, we would need to take into account the time it would take to get home.

　Even if you can prepare lights with magic, it is still dangerous to move through the forest at night.

　If you're planning to stay overnight, it's probably different, but in that case, you'll need a watch to know when the guards change.

How is it powered?
Magic power. It's powered by a magic stone that stores the owner's magic.
Does that mean I can't use it?

　The only one of us who can't use magic, Toya, asks, but Haruka shakes her head in denial.

No. This is because it is powered by the magic that people naturally release. Even Toya has magic power, you know. And you use it to strengthen your muscles, right?　That's magic too.

Oh, I see.

　There are four types of magic tools: those that work with natural magic power, those that work with magic power that people naturally release, those that work by deliberately pouring magic power into them, and those that work by forcibly taking magic power from them.

　The first three are the same as they are, but the last one is not a "cursed magic tool", it's just made so that people who are not used to manipulating magic can use it easily.

　This is the type of grimoire that most of the general public use, since it is almost risk-free and can be used by anyone.

　However, they are more costly to make than those that are intentionally poured with magical power.

I've been making potions for a while now, but I don't have much ...... to show for it. I'm not sure if it's because I've been practicing, but my skill level has improved.

　I've been making medicines for a while now, but I don't have much to show for it.

　A simple wound potion, a restorative, a stomachic, an antidiarrheal, and an antidote for the poisonous insects in the eastern forest.

　There were other medicines he had made as practice, but he didn't seem to need them, so he didn't bring them to the lab, just put them on the shelf.

We don't need the other medicines right now, but the antidote should work, right?
No, it's an antidote for bugs, so it's not really useful for us. ......

Hmm?
See, if an adventurer can't stab a kitchen knife, do you think a mere insect can?
I don't think so. Unless it's a demon.

We can't deal with demon venom yet. We don't have the raw materials, and the demons of the Eastern Forest aren't poisonous.

　Bind Viper is not poisonous either, right?

　I'm sure you'll be able to figure out why I don't suffer from insect bites despite my frequent trips to the woods.

　In space-time magic, there is a very useful magic called "Sanctuary" that can be used to repel insects, but maybe it's useless ......?　I'm not sure what to make of it.

But the pharmacy is now level 3 ......, not level 4, right?　It's a shame that there's not much point in having that much.

Yes, .......

　I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to do this, but I'm sure I'll be able to do it.

　There is also the possibility of selling the medicine she made, but the disadvantage caused by that would be greater than the profit.

　If I had to guess a situation where it would be useful, it would be in a plague or a large scale disaster, where magic power cannot keep up, but although it may sound heartless, there is no need for it.

　You can probably help someone you know with magic, and forcing yourself to help many others will only do little good and a lot of harm.



　If we were heroes in a story, we would help others with free love, but we put our people first, and others second.

　We're willing to help others to the extent we can, but only if we can ensure our own safety.

　I can't allow Haruka and the others to get hurt for the sake of others. Call me heartless, but that's my stance.

　Well, the best thing is not to get caught in a situation where such a choice is necessary.

"Since you're here, Natsuki, why don't you try learning [alchemy]?　It's mainly potions.
I'm interested, but can you ...... do it?

You can handle magic power, so you should be able to handle it.　I'm interested, but I'm not sure if I can do it.

That's true, too. ....... Let's give it our best shot.

　I'm not sure what to make of it.

　In the event that you've got a lot of money, you'll be able to use it for a lot of things. In particular, Natsuki has a high level of [pharmacy], so she might be able to make some good potions with it.

　I'm sure you'll be able to find something that works for you.

I don't know. What about the bath water heater?

It's a simple design, but I haven't made it yet. It's much simpler than the clock, so it should be ready tomorrow.

"Well, I guess I'll be able to take a bath tomorrow for the first time in a long time!

　Yuki smiled and emphasized that it had been a long time, but wasn't she forgetting something?

"Yeah, if we don't screw it up.

　Yuki averts her gaze a little and swims her eyes at me as I confront her with reality.

If we don't fail. Yeah, it's okay, it's okay, it's okay.
"What?　I'm not sure what to do.　I'm sure you'll be fine.
It's size is size. Also, I'm going to make it a little more beautiful. Here's a sample.

　With that, I rolled a die made of silica sand onto the desk.
　Haruka picked it up and nodded her head.

"Is this ...... glass?　It's a little cloudy.
"It's silica sand that's been hardened with earth magic. It's a bit like glass, but it's better than an earth-colored tub, right?
Is it safe?　If it's glass, it might break or something. ......

　I nodded hesitantly to Natsuki, who seemed a little worried.

I think it will be okay because it will be quite thick. If possible, I'd like to use heat-resistant glass, but ...... that's impossible, right?

　I don't know the principle of heat-resistant glass.

　I think some kind of substance is mixed in, but I only know about crystal glass and uranium glass. I wonder why they can make beautiful glass even though they are mixing poisonous substances like lead and uranium.

　However, it may not be a simple metallic element, and I don't know the proportions, so I couldn't make it even if I were asked to.

The heat-resistant glass is mixed with a substance that inhibits thermal expansion, but since it's bath temperature, I don't think that's a problem.　If anything, it's more likely to chip if you hit it with something. ......

I'm sure you'll be happy with the results. If you make it yourself, you can just fix it when it breaks.

...... That's true. If I were buying one, I would be against it.

　If I were to have a glass bathtub made, the price would be ridiculously high.

　In Japan, there are acrylic bathtubs called "organic glass", but I don't think they sell glass bathtubs.

As for the bathtub, I'll have to try it. --Did Toya spend the day training?
No, Tommy came to visit me around noon. Tommy came to visit me around noon. I was free too, so I went to kill some goblins.

　When I asked him about it, he told me that he hadn't been able to go fishing last time, but now that he'd been given some fish to share, his fishing fever had returned.

　In order to be able to follow him next time, he started training to be able to kill at least a goblin. Today, as a part of this training, he came to ask me if I had time to follow him.

So, how did it go?

"Tommy's strong. Tommy's got a lot of power. He was swinging a battle hammer and smashing goblin heads.　Well, the first time he did it, he was so powerful that his head popped off and he was covered in flying debris, making him miserable.

　Toya laughs at the silly gag.

　In the beginning, he wouldn't have had time to laugh, but he's become quite tolerant.

　Incidentally, Tommy seemed to have stood there stunned and thrown up after the first time.

Well, he recovered relatively quickly, so I guess he can handle it, right?

"I see. Toya, I'm not saying no, but be careful, okay?　Don't go too deep into the woods.

I know. I've also gained the [Spotting] skill, so I'm better at finding goblins.

　I'm sure you'll be able to find some of them.

　If there was any merit to it, we could all train Tommy, but he's a blacksmith by trade. I'm sorry to say this, but it's a waste of time when you're not even in the same party.

　Tommy's not going to be a full-fledged adventurer, so I'm sure he'll be fine with someone who has some free time, like today.