Isekai Nonbiri Sozai Saishu Seikatsu - Chapter 146

Having finished lunch and ending the small talk, I decided to go to Lumia’s shop. I wanted to hand over the materials she had requested and restock on items like the antidote potion.

I left The Cat’s Tail Pavilion and headed straight for the western block.

In a quiet residential area with gradually narrowing streets and less foot traffic, Lumia’s shop could be found.

As it had been a while since my last visit, I peered into the shop cautiously. There she was, Lumia, busy polishing the window panes.

Seemingly focused on her task, she hadn’t noticed me yet. I approached a little closer, and she paused, a smile spreading across her face as she acknowledged my presence.

Stepping inside, I saw Lumia about to put away her cleaning supplies.

“Hello. Is it okay to come in now?”

“Yes, it’s fine. Would you mind waiting a little while?”

“I can help you with the cleaning if you’d like,” I offered.

“No, I can’t have Shuu-san clean my shop!”

“I don’t have any particular plans today, and I don’t mind cleaning,” I assured her.

“Well, in that case, I’ll take you up on your offer,” she said with a smile.

I took the damp cloth from her hand and started wiping the window panes. Soon enough, she left the task to me.

Waiting for her to finish cleaning at a natural stopping point would have been awkward, and I had plenty of time to spare. I figured it would be better to help out and finish the task sooner.

“Use this liquid and wipe it down,” Lumia instructed, handing me a bottle of transparent liquid.

【Washran Cleaner – High Quality】

A product created by alchemically extracting the essence of Washran berries and combining it with magical water.

It effectively removes grease from window panes, leaving them sparkling clean.

Upon appraisal, it is identified as a glass cleaner.

“This is an alchemically crafted household item, isn’t it?”

“Yes, it makes the windows shine beautifully.”

Lumia replied with confidence.

“I see. I’ll give it a try.”

“I’ll take care of the outside windows!”

Lumia picks up a new rag and a bottle of cleaner and heads around to the outside of the store.

I dampened the cloth with a small amount of the cleaner.

I wanted to finish the window Lumia had been working on, but my curiosity about the effectiveness of the cleaner got the better of me. I decided to try it on a different window instead.

The untouched window panes were slightly hazy due to a thin layer of dust, sand, and grease.

I wondered just how clean they would become.

With anticipation, I slowly wiped the glass with the cloth.

The dirt on the window panes vanished instantly, leaving a stark contrast between the cleaned area and the rest of the window.

“Amazing! It’s so clean now!”

Lumia wore a warm gaze as if she found my reaction endearing.

I was acting like an excited child, but the cleaner truly was impressive.

Most window glass cleaners work by spreading out the grease and grime evenly across the surface, creating the illusion of cleanliness.

However, as the appraisal indicated, this cleaner actually removed the grease, leaving the windows genuinely spotless. This was truly remarkable.

In my previous life, removing grease from windows would have been a tedious and laborious task.

Having an item that made it so effortless was wonderful.

As I wiped the cloth across the glass, it transformed from opaque to transparent. I found myself enjoying the process, drawing circles and squares, almost like doodling on the window.

On the other side, Lumia also started smiling and drawing something.

It was probably a bear, albeit heavily stylized. With its round face and ears, it was unmistakable. She had a knack for illustration, as I had seen her draw material illustrations before.

I wrote the word ‘bear’ on the window, and Lumia nodded vigorously.

What is this peaceful exchange? It seems that not only the window glass but also the oil film on my heart is being removed.

“Hehe, how nice.”

“Uwa, Saffy, were you there this whole time?”

I turned around at the sound of her amused chuckle, only to find Saffy standing right behind me.

Lumia, unaware of her presence as well, wore an expression of surprise.

Saffy directed a somewhat bemused gaze at us as she settled herself comfortably into a chair, like a spectator enjoying a show.

“Sorry for interrupting. Please, carry on.”

“No, we’re almost done.”

Of course, Lumia and I didn’t want to playfully clean the windows in front of the shop owner, so we carefully but quickly polished the windows.

♦ ♦ ♦

“Saffy-san, when did you return here?”

Even after we came back from Lindbulm, Saffy hadn’t returned to Grantel for a while.

Apparently, she had been assisting with the investigation of the underwater ruin found in Lindblum.

“About four days ago. There are still many mysteries surrounding the artifacts in the ruins, but I can’t stay there forever.”

As a master-class alchemist, Saffy was in high demand, with countless requests coming her way. It seemed she couldn’t devote all her time to investigating the ruins.

The life of a talented person is indeed busy.

“And when did you arrive here, Shuu?”

“I returned to town today after delivering the requested items to Lord Carlisle yesterday.”

“Lumia told me you went to the Ladeo Volcano to collect Volkanos eggs.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Damn, if it weren’t for the Lindblum matter, I would’ve loved to join you. That place has all sorts of liquor.”

“You should say that you’re interested in the materials as an alchemist, not the alcohol.”

Saffy’s lines, which are not typical of an alchemist, almost make me laugh.

“Speaking of materials, Shuu-san! Did you get the ones I asked for?”

Rumia asked, looking a bit anxious.

Her blue eyes sparkled with anticipation.

“Yes, I obtained everything on the list.”

“Everything!? Really!? Thank you so much!”

Lumia lowered her head while letting out a voice of surprise, as if she hadn’t expected to get them all.

“And I assume that list included some alcohol, Lumia?” Saffy asked, a mischievous glint in her eye.

“No, I only asked Shuu for materials, so there’s no alcohol.”

“W-What!?” Saffy’s face fell, and she dramatically slumped in her chair.

So, she had been that eager for the alcohol available in Eld.

“Actually, I brought some liquor as souvenirs.”

“Shuu-kun is the best.”

When I took out the alcohol from my magic bag and put it on the table, Saffy, who was on the brink of despair, looked relieved.

She seems to be more pleased than when I collected the requested materials and brought them to her. It’s kind of complicated.
Is it okay for a master class alchemist to be happy about something like this?

“This one here is the ale from Eld, and this is a new distilled liquor they’re working on.”

I give a vague response even though I was the one who originally suggested the creation, but I kept that information to myself, unsure of how Saffy would react if she knew.

“A new drink!? We’re closing the shop for the day! Lumia, flip the sign!”

“That’s not good!?”
Saffy ignores Lumia’s warning and retreats to the back room.

She soon reappeared, scurrying back and forth to bring glasses and what looked like snacks.

Despite it being the middle of the day, it seemed Saffy was determined to enjoy a drink. A less-than-stellar role model was sitting right in front of me.

On the other hand, Lumia, realizing that further protests would be futile, sighed in resignation.

“Sorry, I seem to have caused some trouble.”

“No, Shuu-san isn’t at fault. It’s master who is causing trouble.”

Since Lumia didn’t flip the sign, she seemed intent on at least maintaining the pretense of keeping the shop open.

She’s basically taking care of all the customers already, so I guess she’s fine running a store. Is that how she thinks?

“For now, let me hand over the materials you requested.”

“Please!”

Lumia was taken aback, but when I brought up the subject of the material, her expression immediately brightened.

I laid out the requested items on the table with care, making sure to keep the heat stones wrapped in heat-resistant cloth or cases.

“Magic iron, heat stone, Firebird feathers, flame black sand … Amazing! You have everything on the list! And they’re all high-quality! As expected of you, Shuu-san!”

“I also have some materials that weren’t on the list. Would you like to see them? I have things like Red Pyroxene, Everburning Stone, and slime oil,” I offered.

“Please, show me!”

Lumia’s face lit up even more at my suggestion, her enthusiasm palpable.

Today had been a great day for discussing materials, first with Tobias and now with Lumia.

While it was enjoyable to go out and gather ingredients enthusiastically, it was also nice to have days like this where I could simply converse and share knowledge.