The Potency of Alchemy
As I opened the door to the inn, that distinct, lingering scent of herbs from the Melbourne mansion hit me in a wave.
"Oh... you're here?"
"You really should try ventilating the room a bit."
I set down the box filled with herbs and pushed the window open. A gust of cool air rushed in, a reminder that autumn was just around the corner.
"I guess I got used to the smell while working... I completely forgot."
"Where did you get that?"
"I borrowed it from the first floor. Next time, I really should just carry my own portable furnace. To think they charge money for renting something like this..."
Winnie was boiling something in a small, personal furnace that looked like it had been rented from the inn. As I stared at the mysterious, swirling color of the concoction, she satisfied my curiosity.
"I'm preparing what I can here. Once everything is processed, the volume shrinks to a fraction of its original size. Since I had some time, I figured I'd lighten the load."
That "time" she had was entirely thanks to me carrying all the luggage. At her request, I pulled a root from the box I’d been holding and handed it to her. The nameless herb vanished into the opaque liquid of the pot.
"You didn't tell me it would take three days just for this, did you?"
"No, no. I told you, it really does take three days! There’s a batch I ordered yesterday that’ll be ready by tomorrow."
Winnie stirred the pot with a rhythmic motion. Ever since our visit to the graveyard yesterday, I’d been running around busily, buying all sorts of medicinal ingredients. My nose felt like it had been pickled in the unique, pungent aroma of the herbs. Every time Winnie’s ladle disturbed the surface, another wave of scent escaped. *Ugh, just smelling it makes me feel like I can taste the bitterness. Who on earth is going to have to drink that?*
"All done~"
Winnie tasted a drop from the ladle, a satisfied smile spreading across her face. She scooped up another spoonful and held it out to me.
"Here, try it."
"...This?"
My mouth... no, my thoughts were too quick for my own good. I’d only imagined it in my head, yet here I was, the one destined to drink it. Seeing my hesitation, Winnie pressed me.
"This is really good for your health. Especially for men. Since there’s no other man around to verify the effects, I’m giving you the special privilege of trying it."
"Ugh, my body feels perfectly fine as it is."
"You have to take care of yourself while you're young so you don't suffer when you're old."
Memories of my body before the Regression surfaced. The strength that had waned with the passing years, the constant, aching soreness in my joints. *Right, I should take care of myself while I'm young.* I didn't want to waste this body I’d been lucky enough to regain.
I squeezed my eyes shut and swallowed the liquid like I was taking medicine. Well, it *was* medicine. Even though I tried not to focus on the taste, it was so bitter that it made my entire body shudder as it slid down my throat.
"Cough, cough."
After finally emptying the bowl, I felt a slight sense of injustice. "So, what exactly is this good for?"
"If it was made correctly, you'll see the effects soon enough!"
Before I knew it, I was being led by Winnie to my bed. I couldn't stop coughing, and when she pulled the blanket up to cover me, I looked every bit the invalid. It was late; maybe I should just sleep like this. Staying in Retinel, there was nowhere for me to swing my sword. I couldn't afford to slack off on my training.
I watched Winnie as she tidied up the room. Since she usually lived alone in that massive mansion, seeing her clear away the items felt quite natural. Every time she moved in her comfortable attire, I caught glimpses of her skin. We’d seen each other naked and had sex, but there was a different kind of charm in stealing glances through the gaps in her clothes.
"Lying here like this..."
"Hmm?"
"...It's hot."
I mumbled an excuse. *Marriage to Monica, a proposal from Vera, a de facto marriage with Winnie...* I decided to keep those thoughts to myself. I wasn't sure how Winnie would react if she heard that. Would she be happy? Or would she feel guilty because of Monica? It wasn't a box I wanted to open. My relationship with Winnie was perfect as it was. A state where I held a slight advantage.
"What's that? You're being boring."
Fwoosh— Winnie blew out the main lamp, and darkness settled over the room. Only the furnace, left in the corner, continued to simmer the medicine, casting a faint, flickering light. Thanks to that dim glow, the smooth skin of Winnie’s thighs, bare of any clothing, reflected the light. Unlike the first night, she closed her eyes in the bed pushed right up against mine, looking exhausted.
I was filled with the urge to have another round since we’d pushed the beds together, but I wasn't desperate enough to be the one to ask. I couldn't beg for it and lose my dignity. I imagined myself clinging to Winnie, and her using that to toy with me. *Hmm, given my personality, I don't think it would turn out like that.*
I’d said I was hot because I had nothing else to say, but now, heat was rising from my body, and I was genuinely sweltering. It wasn't the feverish heat of being sick; it felt like my entire body was burning with an overflow of vitality. I kicked off the blanket and even took off my shirt, but I was still hot. Eventually, I got up and headed toward the window. I grabbed a pitcher and drank some water. The sudden surge of energy had chased away all traces of sleep.
*Is the stuff I drank earlier really this effective?*
Perhaps because I’d kept myself hot enough to sweat, the medicinal effects seemed to be circulating even faster. I felt like it had only been an hour since I drank it, yet the effect was already this potent. I was inwardly marveling at Winnie’s ability when I looked at her and our eyes met.
"..."
"...That, isn't it uncomfortable?"
I thought she was asleep. Winnie’s eyes were fixed on the front of my trousers, which were bulging as if they might burst. Sometimes, when taking medicine, it feels like your cock has grown larger, and this was one of those times. Whether it was true that it was good for men or not, my cock seemed to have gathered twice as much heat as anywhere else, swelling to a size I’d never seen before.
"It'll go down if I leave it alone."
At my reply, Winnie gave a knowing, mysterious smile. "Don't do that. Don't you need to release it? You're going to have a hard time holding it back soon, aren't you?"
Beneath her lifted clothes, I could see her sky-blue underwear, seemingly glowing in the faint light.
"Is this similar to what I took last time?"
"That was raw, unprocessed material, but this time I removed the side effects and increased the dosage, so the effect should be even better..."
That was a relief. Last time, I’d ejaculated a few times and passed out, so I hadn't been able to use my increased stamina. Winnie sat up and pulled down my trousers. As my cock met the cool air, I felt a sense of liberation. Winnie also shed her clothes, becoming completely naked.
"I took a little bit too, so I'm hot..."
Saying that, Winnie grabbed my burning cock with her hand. Looking up at me with eager eyes as if asking me to do it, she began to move her hand back and forth. Her small, cool hands felt like she was rubbing ice against me. Wasn't this the same as asking for it? Above all, as time passed, the medicinal effect didn't subside; it seemed to grow stronger.
I hooked my arms behind Winnie’s knees and lifted her up. Winnie, looking for something to cling to, wrapped her arms around my neck. Because her hips naturally dropped, her damp pussy met my cock.
"I'm going in."
"...Mm."
My cock slid into Winnie, who had become accustomed to easily accepting me. Winnie’s body, searching for support, tightened around the rod that had entered her, clinging to me. Perhaps because of the tension of having no ground to stand on, the tightness I felt was different from usual.
*Smack—* Winnie, hugging my neck, kissed me. Kissing her above and below, I continued to have sex until the medicinal effect wore off.
*Slurp—* Edward didn't kiss her after using her mouth. Ever since she realized that, Winnie preferred to suck his cock like she was cleaning up after sex. That way, she could have her kisses and lick his cock at the same time.
"If it's like this, Vera won't suspect anything after you've been with me, right?"
"I think she'd suspect it regardless."
Winnie’s pussy was still leaking white fluid. It was fortunate that she had taken the medicine too; otherwise, the frequency would have been enough to leave her exhausted. After cleaning his cock, she lay down beside Edward and burrowed into his arms. She felt a slight pang of guilt toward her friend, but she decided to brush it off, thinking, *'She didn't even like him that much anyway.'* Since she assumed Edward wouldn't have chosen Monica even if she weren't there, but rather Vera, she felt more at ease.
"I'll go to the grave one more time tomorrow."
"Huh?"
"It's not like I can come here often, so I want to go one more time."
"...Can't you not go?"
I didn't want my mood to be ruined by what would happen tomorrow. But Edward’s mind seemed made up.
"I'm going alone, so don't worry about it."
"No, let's go together."
I knew I wouldn't get hurt, but I felt it would be better to be by his side.