The Alchemist's Enchanted Bedroom
As I followed Ririna Tenebris deeper into the shop, my instincts told me this was no ordinary space. From the outside it had looked like an unassuming little cabin, barely a few paces across, but now that I had stepped inside and was walking down the hallway, the dimensions were clearly impossible. The building I had seen from the street could never have contained a corridor this long. This feels like the same spatial magic that was cast on the library. Just as the Academy library appeared modest from the exterior yet unfolded into something far larger within, Ririna’s shop was obviously enhanced by some arcane trick. The thought that the alchemist before me might be more talented than I had given her credit for crossed my mind as I trailed after her.
When we reached the room, Ririna stopped in front of a battered door and glanced back at me with unusual caution.
“Um… this is the bedroom. It might be a little messy.”
“I don’t care. As long as the bed is usable, there won’t be any problem observing the medicine’s effects.”
“But do we really have to test it in the bedroom?”
“Of course. We have no idea what might happen once it kicks in.”
Deciding that no room could be that filthy, I wrapped my fingers around the doorknob and pushed. The hinges let out a long, grating creeeak that echoed down the corridor. The door was in even worse shape than I had expected. I stepped inside, and a dim bedroom greeted me.
“Hmm… yeah. This definitely needs a thorough cleaning.”
“Eep.”
Ririna turned her head away in embarrassment, but I took my time studying the room, letting my gaze wander so I could memorize every detail. The space had a heavy, oppressive atmosphere, as though time itself had stalled inside it. The bed against the far wall was relatively tidy, a thin blanket neatly folded on top. Yet the area around it was cluttered with Academy-grade experimental tools and all manner of ingredients. The bed’s luxurious dark sheets and the carefully folded purple blanket created a strangely serene picture, but that serenity was shattered by the beakers, stands, and dried herbs strewn carelessly across the floor. The desk on one side was buried under yet more herbs, while the nearby bookshelf sagged beneath a mountain of books and scrolls. Surprisingly, not a single speck of dust floated in the air. She was probably using magic to keep the room ventilated.
“All right, shall we begin?”
“Y-yes.”
Though she still looked mortified at having revealed her private space, Ririna seemed to accept what needed to be done. She nodded, stepped into the room, and perched on the edge of the bed. I moved closer and held up the small red orb I had been carrying since we left the front of the shop.
“Before we start, tell me about this. A simple explanation will do.”
“It’s an aphrodisiac. What else is there to say?”
“There are quite a few different kinds, aren’t there? Some you swallow, some you spray like perfume, others you rub into the skin or burn as incense. So what exactly is this one?”
Ririna fell silent for a moment, considering the question.
“Mmm… I formulated it to be taken orally. I doubt crushing it into powder and burning it would produce any effect…”
I had asked a casual question, yet she had already sunk into deep thought, muttering to herself. Even under hypnosis, her usual personality refused to stay hidden. A soft chuckle escaped me.
“Never mind. We can figure out the details later. For now, open your mouth.”
“Huh? Ah… y-yes.”
Now that the moment had arrived, Ririna grew visibly nervous. She kept opening and closing her mouth, hesitating.
“Um… this feels wrong. Couldn’t you test it on someone else? I’m a woman, remember? I thought you were after men. Just feed one to a guy and press those huge breasts of yours against him and he’ll—”
“When did I ever say I was only interested in men?”
“Eh? What?”
“Why would I waste something this valuable on them? I made this for women like you. I created it specifically to fuck girls who look like they’d feel incredible in bed. So stop talking nonsense and open your mouth.”
Realizing I had never intended to limit its use to the opposite sex, Ririna’s face paled. She must have finally understood that this experiment would not be simple or painless.
Before she could stammer out another protest, I seized her jaw, pried her lips apart, and pushed the red orb inside. The moment she tried to spit it out I clamped my hand over her mouth. Her body twitched once, twice, then went completely still. After a few heartbeats I met her purple eyes, swallowed the sudden dryness in my throat, and asked softly.
“…How does it feel?”
“Khm… there’s no way the effects would appear this qui—”
She stopped mid-sentence. Her voice had grown husky.
“But this is technically an elixir, right? Is it safe to move right after taking it? I’ve heard people say you’re supposed to stabilize your internal mana or qi when you consume an elixir. Since I’ve never taken one before, I have no idea.”
Expensive elixirs usually did not grant immediate effects, nor did they allow the user to jump straight into activity. Most contained vast amounts of mana; ingesting them improperly could damage the body. Of course, truly dangerous elixirs came with strict instructions, so careful users faced little risk. Still, noble children were fed such treasures from a young age, which explained why they so thoroughly outclassed commoner students in both physical ability and mana reserves.
“That only applies to proper elixirs… This was formulated much closer to an ordinary aphrodisiac, so there shouldn’t be any—”
“…Ririna?”
“In any case, consuming a large dose might produce a fraction of the original effect… It has no addictive properties or side effects, but its potency is essentially the same as what those prostitutes use…! Ngh…!”
Her explanation kept faltering. She would pause, shiver, then try to continue. Finally she lowered her head, body trembling. The drug was clearly taking hold. A sly smile curved my lips as I gripped her hunched shoulder.
“Haaah… Whoever made this, the effect is… really something, isn’t it…?”
“Don’t start bragging in the middle of it.”
I gave her a light shove. Her long hair fanned out across the wide bed as she toppled backward. The sight of those violet strands spreading over the sheets was strangely beautiful.
Carefully I climbed astride her stomach and looked down at the half-elf. She was already breathing out hot, feverish sighs. I smiled.
“So? How do you feel? I’m not too heavy, am I?”
“Sss… haa… No, the heat rising inside me is… manageable… If you just wanted to check the item’s condition, this should be enough, right? It clearly works. I might not look any different, but… right now my insides feel like they’re burning. In a sexual way.”
“What a disappointing thing to say. To properly observe the aphrodisiac’s effects, we need to go all the way.”
“N-no, no no, that’s too much… ngh…!”
She tried to sound composed, but panic flickered across her face. Perhaps she had never imagined that “testing the medicine” would include actual sex. Or maybe the hypnosis had convinced her it would end after she swallowed the pill. Either way, I had no intention of stopping.
When I pinned one of her flailing arms beneath my knee, Ririna twisted desperately, trying to escape. She lacked the physical strength to push me off. My smile deepened as I reached for her top.
Calling the flimsy thing “clothes” felt generous. The thin, semi-transparent material reminded me of stockings. I seized it with both hands and tore it open with a sharp riiiip. The fabric parted instantly, revealing black underwear and the lush curves it struggled to contain.
“Uuu…! No…! What are you— my body… it feels so itchy…! Get off me…!”
I ignored her protests and pushed the bra upward. Light-brown nipples sprang into view. When I flicked one with a fingertip, her entire waist arched violently off the bed.
“Huu… Please. This is enough, isn’t it? It’s my first time…”
“First time? Weren’t you an elf who’s lived for hundreds of years? And you’ve never done it once?”
“Enough with the racist elf remarks! Just get off me…!”
I didn’t know her exact age, but her reaction suggested she was far from young. The realization that this half-elf was still a virgin only sharpened my appetite.
“Ugh…! If you don’t move right now…! No matter how important a customer you are, I won’t—!”
“Quiet.”
Slap!
“Hii, hiiiit…!”
She had somehow freed one hand and was trying to snap her fingers. I cut her off with a swift smack to her breast, striking the soft flesh as if slapping a cheek. Her waist jerked again.
“Hngh… hic…! Haaang…”
A sobbing moan slipped from her lips, accompanied by the unmistakable sound of liquid. The bedsheet beneath her began to darken. It seemed she had already come once.