Lizardman Essence
"An item, you say? What sort of item might the Minister of the Magic Department require?"
Emir—no, Emily now—lowered her head.
"Nothing extraordinary. As a magic merchant, you should be able to procure it easily enough."
She gazed at me steadily.
"A golem's core, a cat's breath, the flames of a forge...."
"And the last one would be the mistletoe from the World Tree in the elves' forest, I presume."
"You know your stuff."
"None of these are easy to obtain."
Emily smacked her lips.
"Can you get them?"
"It'll be tough, but not impossible. But why these, of all things?"
"I have a use for them."
An item that even the Minister, hailed as the Master of Torture and the empire's greatest mage, needs to craft. I wonder what it could be.
"Don't pry too deeply."
"My apologies."
"How long will it take?"
"Once prepared, I'll deliver them to your estate at once."
"The sooner, the better."
"Tomorrow, then?"
"Of course."
"Is this perhaps related to that gift you received from His Majesty not long ago?"
She's referring to Seria.
Emily's eyes sharpened as she spoke. The woman who had relentlessly tormented the novel's heroine, now elevated to empress. There was no reason for Emily—the former sub-male lead—to hold any fondness for her. Not even now, after her gender transformation had made her fully female.
"Do I need to spell it out?"
"No, sir."
"Just bring the items as ordered."
"Understood. Ah, Minister."
"More to say?"
"No, just... lately, there's been a lot of talk about you at court."
"What of it?"
"Don't you think it's about time you started looking for a marriage partner?"
Morris was 22 now. In this world, that was prime marriageable age.
"I heard someone was playing matchmaker recently. Was that you?"
"I was a man once, and now I'm a woman. So I understand the emotions of both."
Even as a man, Emily had been a social butterfly, infamous within the court circles.
"Ridiculous."
"In any case, plenty of noble ladies are pining for you. If you want a list right now, I could fill five whole books."
"Not interested."
Emily flashed a seductive smile, her blue hair swaying alluringly. Who would guess this woman had been a man just months ago? Even posing with her ample bosom thrust forward for emphasis.
"If you're trying to tempt me, you're far from sufficient."
"Tch."
Emily clicked her tongue. I wasn't the type to be swayed by a woman who'd once been a man.
"Am I really that unappealing?"
"It's not about that."
"So it is because I was a man."
"You know, so get out. Before I throw you out."
"Before you do, one last thing: you might want to find a partner soon for real. Rumors are circulating that you're into men these days."
I snapped my fingers.
"Kyaaah!"
Emily's body floated up and flew out the door.
Her personality's completely changed.
Since becoming a woman, something subtle had shifted in her demeanor. How devastating must losing her love have been to alter her very sex? Only she could know.
Fool.
I turned to Mary Jane, who had been watching with keen interest from the side.
"Can you handle my duties today?"
"Me? I have no real abilities, you know."
"It's simple. Sit here, stamp the incoming documents, and that's it."
"Just stamping? Any way I like?"
"Of course, I'll do the final checks."
I had no intention of letting the mischievous Mary Jane cause chaos unchecked. Her sparkling eyes dimmed to a pout.
"What a shame."
Her red hair quivered.
"Then, may I ask one thing?"
"What?"
"Those piled-up documents there—should I handle them too?"
Are you in such an unstable state that you need to craft that item?
A voice echoed in my mind via telepathy.
"Not your concern."
I cut off the question calmly and rose from my seat.
"Don't worry! I'll handle the minister's duties perfectly!"
"Don't make extra work for me."
"No worries. I'm the Magic Tower's mascot, after all!"
I sighed at her wink and left the office. I stepped through a portal to the empire's southern reaches.
"Urk."
I pressed my forehead against the dizziness from the mana storm of the portal.
"Still haven't adapted."
But for crossing hundreds of kilometers in an instant, it was a small price.
"Hoo."
Exhaling a deep indigo breath, I surveyed my surroundings.
Drake Forest. A poisonous woodland so thick with drake toxin that ordinary folk would suffocate just breathing.
I covered my mouth with a handkerchief and waved my hand.
Whoosh.
A wind scattered the green mist.
"Kyrk?"
A lizardman trudging through the swamp met my gaze.
"Long time no see."
"Kyrk?"
It stuck out its tongue, tilting its head. Had it been too long since my last visit? It just stared blankly.
"I'm here to hunt you lot."
Fwoosh!
Sparks flew from my fingertips. Sensing hostility, the lizardman bristled its scales and went on guard, crude spear in hand.
I hurled a swirling fireball at it.
Fireball.
The simplest, most aggressive spell.
Before it could react, the flames engulfed its body.
Boom!
"Kiiik!"
With a short scream, it collapsed. Bushes rustled all around.
Good, come quick.
I'd used a flashy spell on purpose. Hunting lizardmen one by one was inefficient; better to draw them to me.
More lizardmen, like the first, charged with spears at the ready.
"Faster than expected."
Poison-tipped arrows flew. Spears thrust toward me from all sides.
Ting!
They all lost power before reaching me. Thanks to the magic shield I'd cast before the portal.
No monsters here could breach it.
I began casting an attack spell. After fire magic, lightning was devastating against lizardmen.
Crackle!
The perfect spell for dozens: Chain Lightning.
"Let's end this quickly."
Crackle-crackle!
Electricity arced from my hand, chaining through the lizardmen atop the swamp.
"Kerrk!"
"Kyrk!"
After convulsing wildly, they dropped one by one.
"Hmm. Not here."
I inspected the lizardmen. No sign of the one I sought.
I pushed deeper into the forest, past the corpses.
Wonder when it'll show.
The target: a lizardman with white markings on its chest. Its essence condensed mana like no other—prime material for item crafting.
The most crucial ingredient. Hence the high difficulty, forcing me to come personally to Drake Forest.
Few can pierce the forest's poison mist.
I kept the toxin at bay with wind.
How long had I walked? There it stood, alone.
Found it.
A white-marked lizardman.
"Hey."
I called out to the wary creature. Our eyes met; its pupils trembled violently.
"I hope you don't run."
Crackle.
Lightning hovered before its nose.
"Kiik!"
Frozen stiff, it trembled in place.
"Hand over your essence, and I'll leave peacefully."
It nodded vigorously, understanding.
The lizardman secreted viscous green essence from its markings. I collected it in my prepared vial.
Halfway full, its face paled.
"This'll do."
No need to drain it dry. Why kill something handing over such premium material willingly?
"I'll come back if I need more."
I pocketed the vial. It paled even further, comprehending.
With the lizardman essence secured, I returned to the estate.
Lucky I don't have to hear Jane's chatter.
I'm exhausted enough as is.
Entering the mansion, Sebastian greeted me.
"Master, a delivery from the magic merchant has arrived."
"Already?"
"I've had it placed in your laboratory."
"Well done. How's Seria faring?"
"We're training her from one to ten."
"Is she obedient?"
"A bit rebellious, but thanks to you, it's manageable."
"See to her until tomorrow."
"No need to worry. We'll get the basics down."
In the lab, I meticulously checked Emily's delivery: golem core, cat's breath, forge flames, World Tree mistletoe.
"All accounted for."
Plus the lizardman essence I'd gathered.
With materials confirmed, I sealed the laboratory door.