Ep03: A Day in the Life of Mel <Side: Mel Grande>

I'm Mel Grande. As you can see, I'm a half-elf mage born to an elf mother and a human father.

Back in the day, my mom was an adventurer who caught the eye of my dad, who lived in a small village. They got married, and I was the result. I thought I was living a pretty ordinary life, but somehow, I ended up forming an adventurer party with my childhood friends and tagging along with them.

When I told my parents I was becoming an adventurer, Mom worried but handed over the staff she'd used on her own travels, and Dad gave me some mage robes he'd gotten from who-knows-where. Still, I've had a ton of fun days over the past year hanging out with my friends, so I doubt I'll ever get bored anytime soon~

We'd just finished the cave wolf extermination quest and decided to split up in front of the Guild for some personal downtime.

So, where should I head~? We've got another quest lined up tomorrow, so... maybe get my staff checked out. Might as well swing by the magic tool shop and see if they've got anything good while I'm at it.

There's a quiet alley not far from the Guild with a magic tool shop tucked inside. It's a small place that only folks in the know visit, so they don't have a huge selection, but what they do have is top-quality stuff. That's why I come here so often—they even inspect magic staves for a reasonable price.

--ding♪

The bell above the door chimed crisply as I pushed it open.

"Hm...? Did I get the wrong place?"

"You're in the right spot, kiddo."

The shelves were completely bare the moment I stepped in. The only thing there was the shopkeeper, lounging with a bored look on his face through his monocle. What an ironic sight.

"What the heck, old man? Did you get robbed or something? Not like this tiny shop had much to steal anyway."

The elderly shopkeeper puffed leisurely on his pipe.

"Business is done for the day, kiddo. The Lord's wife and the Guild master came by together and cleaned me out. As you can see, nothing left to sell, and restocking's a pain... But if it's just a staff inspection like last time, I can do that much."

"Why would big shots like that come here...? Unreal. This was my little ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠secret magic tool spot~"

"Hah, if you're just gonna whine, get out. I was gonna close up early anyway since there's nothing to sell."

"Don't say that. Just check my staff for me. I was blasting fire and water like crazy on those wolves today. Make sure nothing's wrong."

I handed over the staff, and the old man examined it closely here and there. If only I could do this stuff myself... Half-elf means I've got a long life ahead, so in another hundred years, I bet I could pick up all sorts of skills.

Lost in those thoughts, I paced around the dusty, empty shop.

"They really took everything. Not a speck of dust left."

"Those two had some serious spending power."

"Old man, what do you think they needed all these magic tools for? I know the Guild master's a summoner, but they grabbed stuff totally unrelated to that."

"Didn't I say? The Guild master and Lord's wife came together. Most of the magic tools were for the wife."

"Yeah, guess that tracks."

I'd heard the Lord's wife was a collector. Her hobby was rare animals, but I guess magic tools fell under that umbrella too. I was poking around for anything hidden when the old man took off his monocle and set the staff on the counter.

"Inspection's done, elf kid. Tough as nails. Inherited from your parents, right? With gear like this, you could skip checkups for days and it'd be fine."

"Really? Our leader's always nagging us to stay on top of maintenance, though~ Thanks for the check, old man~ I'll leave the coins and head out. See ya tomorrow~"

"Hmph... Scram. Time to close up."

I left a silver coin and three coppers on the counter and stepped out.

"Didn't chat much, but time's flown by already."

The sun was dipping toward the horizon. "If I head back to the inn now, at least one of 'em should be there, right?"

With that in mind, I skipped lightly back to the inn.

"Alex~ I'm back~"

Our leader, Alex, was waiting out front. His sword, splattered with wolf blood earlier, was spotless now—he must've hit the blacksmith too.

Alex stretched from where he'd been leaning against the wall and greeted me with a yawn.

"What? Clarice still not here? We were supposed to meet on time. Can't count on her~"

Was Clarice wasting time at the church again? Lately, she'd been crashing without even washing after tough quests, but today ended early, and she got that "goddess gear" or whatever, so maybe she was in a good mood. Probably holed up praying, losing track of time.

"When the heck's she coming?"

"Beats me."

Alex and I stood there staring toward the church. The sun set, the orange sky turned deep blue, night winds picked up... and still no Clarice.

"Sigh... Wanna head in and wait?"

"Hold up, Alex. There she is. Late Nun incoming."

We'd waited until the sun was gone and the sky pitch black, just about to give up and go inside, when Clarice finally came running.

"Hey~ You're late, Clarice."

"Sorry, Mel. My prayers ran a bit long since it's been so long."

"No biggie. Makes sense. We've had rough quests lately—no time for proper prayers."

Clarice bowed repeatedly in apology, clearly embarrassed, and hustled us inside.

"Anyway, let's head in. Night air's getting chilly."

We grabbed a table on the first-floor restaurant. It was dinnertime, packed with folks eating. We ordered up—cool beer for me, nothing boozy for Alex, fruit wine for Clarice... mains like this...

Food came quick. We chatted over our plates until Alex brought up tomorrow's quest. Nothing super nutritious, but: slimes next, then downtime before harder stuff. Alex started self-deprecating, I tossed in a flirty joke to lighten the mood, and things perked up.

"Got it~ Haven't seen Clarice this pumped in ages."

"Yeah."

Then suddenly, Clarice staggered up and headed to our room.

"I-I'm not feeling great, so ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I'll head up first..."

"Huh? What's up, Clarice? Did I tease too much and hurt your feelings? Or did that wine hit you?"

"N-No! Just... chest feels tight... I'll turn in early tonight. Night, Mel, Alex."

"Clarice, you sure you're okay? If you're sick, we can push tomorrow's quest..."

"I'm fine, Alex. Probably just a cold—sleep it off and I'll be good. Sorry, heading up now..."

Did my teasing bum her out? She didn't seem mad... "Hey, Alex. Think Clarice is pissed?"

"Didn't look like it... Maybe drunk?"

"On that? Clarice holds her liquor way better. No way."

Her glass was bone-dry. Eh, apologize later and she'll cool off~ I shrugged it off, clinked glasses with Alex, and stuffed myself silly.

"See ya tomorrow, Alex. Night~"

"Yeah, tomorrow."

We headed upstairs, exchanged light goodbyes, and split to our rooms. Alex had a solo small one; I shared the big one with Clarice.

--creak...!

Inside: two beds,衣 racks, standard setup. One bed had a white lump under the covers...

Huh? Clarice? "Clarice! I'm back~ What... already asleep?"

She was buried under the blanket, wriggling like crazy—wild sleeping habits tonight.

"Sniff sniff... Something sour in here. Not mine... booze maybe?"

But the room reeked of something weird. It filled the air—not bad, kinda soothing the more you smelled it... but it always kept me awake.

"Sorry, Clarice. I'll air it out while I wash. You look bundled up, so you won't get cold."

I cracked the window and hit the bathroom. Folded my outer and underclothes neatly in the basket, turned on the water, and soaked myself.

"Wish my body would grow a bit...!"

The mirror showed my scrawny frame. Others called it cute, but I had gripes.

"Morning workouts every day, clean my plate... why won't my height or boobs budge?"

Elves stop growing after a point and stay that way forever, they say.

"Three years like this... no way I'm stuck forever, right? Gotta believe!"

Someday I'll be a knockout. Elves are born beauties; half-blood me's gotta get there too.

"Whew... head's fuzzy. Better dry off and crash."

Grabbed my staff to dry quicker—weak flame spell beats toweling.

"Oh, forgot the earrings."

The goddess accessory from today's quest. Purple gem gleamed seductively. Felt odd at first, but Clarice the Haeweol nun vouched for it...

"Goddess'll hook me up later~ Like a killer figure or mega power♪"

Muttering that, I channeled flame from the staff... when

"Ah? A-Ahh... Ahn♡ Aaahhhn♡♥"

Pleasure slammed me. Staff dropped, legs spasmed... Wh-what♡♥ is thiiiis♡♥

"Haa... haa...♡♥"

A sweet voice echoed in my head. No clue why, but my body screamed to obey.

"Y-yes, yesss♡♥"

Naked, dripping water, I stumbled to the bed. Perky little ass, flat-chest cliffs... night breeze tickled through the open window. But no thought of closing it or dressing. Time was too precious. Hurry... follow the voice... lie down and sleep. Dream...

No, even that thought wasted time...

I sank into the soft bed and plunged into deep sleep. Voices swirled in my ears... This, this♡ is whose voice...? No way, no waaay... the Goddess...?!

I'd never believed in gods. If anything, it'd be Betula, world tree guardian and elf deity, over Hecate. But...! The goddess reached out to me first. Promising to make my dreams real♡♥

"As you say... off to dreamland♡♥ My, my wish..."

Her voice my lullaby, eyes closed. Body floated... never wanna wake...

Nothing visible ahead, but that sweet, sultry whisper came.

So kind, so lewd. This is the goddess? Aaah♡♥ Brain tingling!

'I wanna grow more.'

'Big boobs, big ass, tall—'

'And get stronger... strongest mage in the world...'

Dream chat with the goddess. She accepted my desires, promised ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠my wishes. How could I have doubted this great goddess... Regret every day I lived without her.

Wanna hear her voice more♡♥

'Wait? Nooo! Goddess, I wanna talk more—'

With that, drowsiness hit. Even in a dream... but dreaming a dream wasn't half bad♡♥

"Mm, mmm..."

Birds chirped, sunlight tickled my eyes. Felt like an amazing dream, but... zilch recall.

"Too much booze last night? Nah, head's super clear..."

Why's my body so heavy today, room so cold?

--jiggle♡♡

"Huh?"

My chest jiggled. Flat as a board before...

"No way...?"

Gained weight? Touched my belly—no flab, just firm muscle.

"Can't be... still half-asleep?"

Otherwise, my twig body wouldn't...

I bolted to the bathroom mirror.

"Wh-what the fuuuuuck...!?"

Staring back: bombshell curves, perfect hourglass. Dream body come true.

"R-real...? This is real...!?"

I whooped uncontrollably. Elf growth stalls? Lies! Proof right here!

Body buzzing. Heart pounding like mad!

"What's going on, Mel? Screaming this early..."

Woke Clarice with my voice. Sorry, Clarice... can't contain myself!!!

"Sorry, Clarice! But look at my body... Huh? Clarice, were you always this tall?"

"Hehe, silly Mel. I'm the same as always♡♥ But you've grown a ton. All thanks to the Goddess. I always pray for our party's success. Last night, I even asked her to bless you!"

"Goddess...? The Goddess♡♥ Yeah... maybe♡♥"

I fiddled with the earring, murmuring Goddess. Maybe this ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠granted my wish!! Oh yeah, Clarice looks taller, bustier too... Whoa, we're eye-level now? But mine are bigger? Nah, doesn't matter♡♥ Savor this moment!

"Anyway, Mel, get ready♡♥ Alex is waiting. Put some clothes on."

"Y-yeah♡♥ Just a sec... ehehe, gotta admire this bod♡♥"