Procuring Materials

“Two gold coins…”

After exchanging the monster materials they had collected in the dungeon for money, Euphie and Mary put their heads together.

“Tōru-san really is incredible.”

“Your hunting efficiency is astonishing.”

“Well, they were just ordinary monsters, so that’s about what I’d expect. If we’d been hunting Magical Mechanical Beasts, which have partially metallic bodies, I could’ve earned three times as much in the same amount of time.”

Tōru’s hunting method involved scattering the red lightning generated by his Enchantment across the surrounding area, then using his chained war rings to wipe out all the monsters that reacted and charged toward him.

It was a strategy Tōru could employ without hesitation precisely because he was capable of handling numerous opponents simultaneously. For an ordinary B-rank adventurer, hunting that way would be tantamount to suicide.

“So, what are you planning to do with that starting capital?”

“But you’re the one who earned this money, Tōru-san.”

“Then consider it an investment. You can pay me back double someday.”

“You say that so casually.”

Euphie gave a wry smile at Tōru’s complete lack of attachment to money and took his hand.

“First, we need to conduct an experiment. Let’s visit a glass workshop and a winery.”

“A glass workshop? Are you planning to order some laboratory equipment?”

“That’s part of it.”

The way she phrased her answer suggested they had something else in mind, which piqued Tōru’s curiosity. For the time being, he decided to enjoy trying to guess what they were planning.

Euphie and Mary led Tōru by the arm to a glass workshop where potion containers were being manufactured. Rows of cylindrical glass tubes resembling test tubes were lined up inside.

“Excuse me. We’d like to place a small custom order for glass containers and discuss a few things. Would it be possible to arrange an appointment?”

Mary addressed a craftsman who appeared to be taking a break.

The craftsman’s eyes widened when he saw the twins, and he promptly called toward the back of the workshop.

“Boss! We’ve got a pair of unbelievably beautiful twins here who want to commission some work!”

“What!? Say that again!”

“Two absolutely gorgeous, ridiculously cute twins!”

“I’m coming!”

‘What the hell is with these guys?’ Tōru thought in exasperation as he looked around the workshop.

It appeared to be an almost entirely male workplace. The atmosphere reminded him of an all-boys school.

Before long, a middle-aged man emerged from the back, his stern features giving him the unmistakable appearance of a seasoned craftsman. The moment he saw the twins, however, his expression melted into a goofy grin.

“Now then, what can I do for you lovely ladies today?”

“We would like to commission some thick glass containers capable of withstanding internal pressure. We were also hoping you might sell us a small quantity of kelp ash, which is used to lower the melting point of glass.”

“Oh?”

The master craftsman murmured appreciatively. After examining the twins with a professional expression, he shifted his gaze toward Tōru.

“That gentleman there is an adventurer, I take it. Your bodyguard?”

“Yes. However, we are the clients commissioning the work.”

“My apologies. You seem to know a thing or two about glassmaking. It’s rather unusual to encounter women in this trade, you see. Especially considering the way we dress. Just look at me!”

The master craftsman jokingly tugged at his work apron, drawing attention to his sweat-soaked clothing from working with glass at high temperatures. When the twins remained completely unfazed, he smiled and gestured toward the back of the workshop.

“Let’s discuss the details—”

After finishing their negotiations and placing their order at the glass workshop, Euphie and Mary headed toward the winery carrying a palm-sized wooden box containing kelp ash.

Tōru naturally accompanied them, recalling the shape of the glass containers the twins had ordered.

They were gourd-shaped glass containers. Even the master craftsman hadn’t seemed to understand what they were intended for, but the twins had provided remarkably specific instructions, with Euphie even drawing detailed diagrams for the order.

The idea of using kelp ash to lower the melting point of glass was something Tōru had never heard of before, and he had absolutely no idea what they were up to.

As soon as they entered the winery, the twins approached an employee.

“We’d like to purchase some of the tartar deposits collected when you clean your fermentation barrels.”

“That sediment? Are you planning to make candy or something?”

The employee gave the twins a puzzled look, thought about their request for a moment, then disappeared into the back of the shop.

After a while, a man who introduced himself as the person in charge of winemaking appeared.

“So you’re the ones asking for tartar. Just so you know, that stuff is sour, not sweet.”

“We aren’t planning to make candy. How much would you charge us for it?”

“If you’re willing to take it off our hands, you can have it for free. We’d only throw it away otherwise. Apparently, some places use it as livestock feed, but Flaretalia gets its meat from dungeon monsters, so we genuinely have no use for the stuff.”

Apparently, the man considered it nothing more than waste.

Mary held out two silver coins.

“If you still have a supply of tartar, could you hold off on disposing of it for a little while? We may be able to do something interesting with it. We’d like to purchase a small quantity for now, and we’ll let you know the results in a few days. We’ll also bring you a sample of what we produce.”

“I don’t know what you’re planning, but that’s fine by me. How much do you want?”

“For now, we’d like an amount weighing approximately the same as one of those silver coins.”

“Got it. Give me a moment. Oh, and you there, young man.”

The man who had agreed to the twins’ request called out to Tōru.

Tōru had been studying the labels on the wine bottles lining the shelves with a serious expression. When he turned around, the man approached him with an amused look.

“Have you tried our wine somewhere before?”

“You caught me. I had some wine with a wonderful aroma and a crisp, refreshing finish. I really liked it. Problem is, I don’t know which one it was.”

“Where did you drink it?”

“At a tavern in Darandy.”

“Then it was probably this one. Do those two beautiful young ladies drink wine as well?”

“We do.”

“We’d be happy to join you, Tōru-san.”

“Hah! You hear that, young man? I’m jealous! You’ve already given me two silver coins just to take some tartar off my hands, so I’ll throw in a nice bottle for free. Who knows? You might become regular customers.”

The man laughed cheerfully and went to fetch the tartar.

Euphie and Mary took their places on either side of Tōru.

“Do you enjoy drinking, Tōru-san?”

“I don’t dislike it. It’s just that when I drank in Darandy, it was also the day I’d given up on ever returning to Earth. So I had a few things on my mind.”

“…I see. In that case, we have even more reason to share a drink with you.”

“No, you really don’t have to force yourselves to keep me company—oh, all right.”

With the twins linking their arms through his on either side, clearly determined not to let him escape, Tōru finally gave in.

Perhaps sharing even such pathetic sentimental feelings with someone else would make them a little easier to bear.

“More importantly, don’t you think it’s about time you told me? What kind of business are you two planning to start?”

The unusual glass containers, kelp ash, and tartar were all things Tōru knew little about.

Yet what Euphie and Mary intended to make using those unfamiliar materials was something he knew very well.

Euphie and Mary looked up at Tōru and smiled.

“We’re going to make—carbonated soft drinks.”