Chapter 53
Chapter 53
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: Alchemy Workshop (1)
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The first weekend since enrolling at the academy.
Technically the second, but... since this world is an academy story, the first one counts.
Anyway, the weekend we could head out without a pass had arrived, and the academy was bustling with excitement from the morning.
"Alright, let's go!"
"Time to breathe some outside air for once!"
"Hey, you'd think we were escaping a prison camp or something."
From first-years to third-years.
Everyone, regardless of grade, was streaming through the academy gates with thrilled expressions.
Asuka and I sat on a bench, watching the spectacle.
"Why are they all so excited? We can do pretty much anything here at the academy."
Asuka tilted her head, genuinely puzzled, as she licked at the soft serve ice cream that had come as a post-breakfast dessert.
I stroked her head—cute as ever even this early in the morning—and replied.
"It's because inside and outside feel different."
The academy had top-notch facilities and excellent food quality, but this was still a hero training ground.
As such, it was strict about alcohol and tobacco (weird abilities aside), and you couldn't leave without a special reason.
Sure, endure the weekdays and you could go out on weekends like today... but human psychology being what it is, even if you entered voluntarily and the place was luxurious, the moment you started feeling confined, you'd crave freedom.
That's why the students pouring out of the academy this morning were in such a euphoric high.
"...I get what you're saying, but I still don't understand."
Asuka said that and chomped cutely into the top of her ice cream with her dainty mouth.
"You don't need to."
Like you, I'm perfectly content with academy life, so I understood their feelings without sharing them.
"Guess it's about time for me to head out."
I stood up from the bench.
The gates, mobbed earlier like an amusement park ticket booth, had finally thinned out enough to move.
"Ah... You mentioned you had business outside today..."
Asuka stood with me, staring dejectedly at the ground.
She looked just like a puppy, sad because its owner was heading to work after promising a walk.
"Why the long face? I'll be back before you know it."
"Huh? You'll be back soon?"
Hearing that, Asuka's face lit up instantly, as if her gloom had never existed, and she looked up at me.
I chuckled at the sight and patted her head.
"It's nothing major, so I'll be back by lunch at the latest—or dinner if it drags on."
I had nowhere to go but the Alchemy Workshop.
Just registering recipe copyrights and checking out the sorry state of alchemy here compared to the game—my outing wouldn't take long.
Unless some random encounter happened like last time.
"Hehe, really? Then let's have dinner together tonight."
"Sure, let's do that."
"Ah! You mean it?"
Asuka's eyes went wide, surprised I'd agree so readily to dinner.
But the surprise was short-lived.
"Promise!"
Beaming with genuine joy, she held out the ice cream she was eating.
I'd thought our distance had shrunk a lot after yesterday... but not this much.
I gave a wry smile and took a bite of the proffered ice cream.
But then...
"Ah, ahh..."
Asuka stared at me, her face flushing bright red.
I wondered why—
"I-I... held out the wrong thing..."
She'd meant to offer her pinky finger, not the ice cream.
"But come to think of it... this works too..."
Asuka shyly licked at the ice cream.
From the exact spot I'd bitten.
"......"
Was she getting more flirtatious or something?
Not just my imagination, right?
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Bustling murmurs filled the air.
Maybe because it was the weekend.
The Alchemy Workshop district was packed with people.
Of course, considering the rift incident not long ago, you'd think wariness would thin the crowds.
But that was just common sense from my old world—this world's people treated rifts and terrorism as everyday occurrences.
Unless it involved mass building destruction or terrain upheaval on a massive scale, they just went about their daily lives as usual.
They were that accustomed to it.
To people going missing. To lives being lost.
Truly tragic.
"Still, where's the damn store? It should be around here..."
To register a recipe at the Alchemy Workshop, I had to craft it right there on the spot.
So first, I needed ingredients—but amid the throng, I couldn't spot the shop I wanted.
I could follow signs, but... every shop on this Alchemy Workshop street had none.
'Something about it ruining the street's aesthetics, right?'
Anyway, that made the shops hard to find.
I let out a deep sigh and stepped out of the flow of traffic.
Then I stood still and started scanning people's hands.
"Can't find the store? Then find someone holding what it sells."
For reference, my target "that" was fresh fruit juice.
100% fresh fruit juice, no less. The key ingredient for the potion recipe I wanted to register.
So I focused on the hands of passersby.
And soon enough...
"Found it!"
I spotted someone holding fresh fruit juice.
Hurrying before they vanished into the crowd, I pushed through.
And as I reached out to grab them...
Whoosh.
As if sensing something, they turned toward me.
And I saw an unexpected face.
"......Arthur?"
"......Lee Yoo-jin?"
It was none other than Arthur.
In casual clothes, at that.
No wonder I hadn't recognized him.
"...Never thought we'd run into each other here."
"...Yeah."
Arthur stared at me with an incredulous look.
I met his gaze with the same expression.
'Arthur, of all people, in the Alchemy Workshop district...'
And holding the exact juice I was after.
Talk about an unexpected place for an unexpected encounter.
"Let's get out of the way first."
"...Yeah, good idea. Standing here blocks everyone."
At his agreement, I reached out.
And took his hand.
"......!"
Arthur flinched, looking startled.
But I ignored it and pulled him along.
In a crowd this dense, you'd lose each other without holding hands.
I gripped his firmly and searched for a quieter spot.
But everywhere overflowed with people.
Couldn't find empty space, but managed somewhere less packed.
"This'll do."
I let go of his hand as I spoke.
Then turned to him.
And saw it.
"Haa... haa..."
Arthur, face flushed, breathing heavily.
"...H-Hand hurts."
He pulled his hand—still gripped tightly by me—to his chest, complaining of pain.
But did he know?
That his blissful expression betrayed his words.
"Ah, crap..."
I groaned, rubbing my forehead.
Forgot.
Arthur had masochistic tendencies.
I sighed deeply and glanced around.
Whispers.
Sure enough, people were giving us strange looks.
Especially toward Arthur—like they saw a pervert—with a mix of fear... and interest...? Interest?
'Who's getting interested?'
Those gazes turned to me too.
They were clearly misunderstanding...
Me and Arthur (cross-dressing) as... that kind of thing.
'...Ah, damn it.'
I stopped thinking.
"Hey, hey!"
"...Huh, what?"
I shook him urgently, and the ecstasy on his face gradually faded.
Once his excitement subsided, he looked at me sheepishly.
"Uh... sorry."
Since he was apologizing, he must know.
That his tastes weren't exactly ordinary.
But that wasn't my issue.
Sure, people vary, and unique kinks happen.
The problem was... the "cross-dressing."
'How many times is this now?'
Getting mistaken for "are they dating?"
'Ugh, wanna ask outright. Why the cross-dressing?'
Tongue itching to speak.
But I couldn't.
There had to be a reason.
So I'd hold out until she told me herself.
"Sigh."
I let out a deep breath.
Arthur fidgeted anxiously.
"...If you're that sorry, tell me where you got that juice."
That's why I grabbed you in the first place.
"O-Of course."
Catching that I was letting it slide, he nodded eagerly.
Then reached out his hand, offering to guide me personally.
"T-To avoid getting separated..."
"......"
...Fair point.
But was that really the only reason?
I eyed him skeptically.
His cheeks tinted pink as he averted his gaze.
"Haa."
I sighed shortly and took his offered hand.
Intent was obvious, but to navigate the crowd without splitting, we needed to hold on.
That's what I told myself as I grabbed it.
"Um, Lee Yoo-jin."
"Yeah."
"Grip a little harder..."
"......"
"...Sorry."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Thank you! Come again!"
As the juice shop owner saw me out, I stowed the box in my arms into my inventory.
[44] [100% Fresh Fruit Juice (Strawberry, Banana, Grape...) Box] [1] I'd deactivated Infinite Item Cheat for now.
Because when registering recipe copyrights at the Alchemy Workshop, inspectors examined the items you made.
If I crafted with the cheat active, the item got slapped with a "duplicate" descriptor.
Duplicates could be transferred once, but if the recipient transferred it further, poof—gone.
So no infinite items for recipe registration.
But more importantly, how long did he plan to tag along?
I glanced at Arthur walking beside me.
"Hey, Arthur."
"Hm?"
He turned at my call.
Strawberry tanghulu dangled from his mouth—my thank-you gift for escorting him to the shop.
"Mmph, mmph mmph."
Couldn't make out the words.
Crunch, crunch.
He chomped through it rapidly.
Gulp.
"...Something to say?"
"You tell me."
I looked down and pointed at our hands.
He tilted his head blankly and lifted his—dragging mine up too.
"Damn it, drop the hand!"
Too late.
Whispers.
"Mommy, why are those two brothers holding hands?"
"Oh, sweetie. Well, you see..."
"Ugh... what are those guys?"
Grinding my teeth at the murmurs, I glared at Arthur.
"Hey, Arthur. You doing this on purpose?"
"What are you talking about? Just to avoid getting separated in the crowd."
As he tried lifting again like it was no big deal, I yanked our hands down.
Then squeezed our interlocked fingers hard.
"Ack...!"
Now!
The moment his grip slackened, I let go.
"L-Lee Yoo-jin...!"
And just like that, he got swept away into the crowd, vanishing afar.
I breathed a sigh of relief.
"Should've done that sooner."
If he weren't cross-dressing, maybe.
But knowing full well, he still wanted to hold hands?
With a guy like me?
"Ugh, shit."
I muttered a curse and headed for the Alchemy Workshop.
Arrived soon enough.
The entire building was it.
"Welcome to the Alchemy Workshop."
Alchemy Workshop.