Just Eat It! Harpy Farm Fiasco
Just eat it!!! Even if I'm a highly capable alchemist, I can't create something from nothing. What I'm doing right now is basically just combinations for making money, but it's a bit different from the usual. When I transmuted Cecil... it was the same, wasn't it? What was mine vanished and ended up on Cecil... a so-called equivalent exchange. ...Though calling it that might be a stretch since Cecil's was way too big.
Anyway, I wasn't trying to spin some long-winded tale. I just wanted to say we'd come to see the harpies. With Cecil and Claudia, to the harpy... farm? It's not exactly a farm, but I couldn't think of another word for it. Whatever we call it, as long as it doesn't leave my mouth, it doesn't matter. Not like a chicken coop or poultry farm... more like a place where harpies live together.
Apparently, they supply eggs to that restaurant where Claudia and I ate. I finally understood today why they said you can't eat them if the timing doesn't line up. It was pretty close to the restaurant, actually.
"So that's why you asked if they could lay on demand?"
"Yeah. Harpies aren't like chickens. They're closer to humans, in a way. I heard they have more delicate sides than you'd think."
...And for extra money, you can watch them lay? That didn't seem very delicate to me.
"Sha'a-nim! There are tons of people with wing-arms!"
I stroked Cecil's head as she looked around with wide, curious eyes and told her they were harpies. Just then, a few harpies flapped their wings and flew toward us. I couldn't help picking up the colorful feathers fluttering everywhere.
Claudia scratched her cheek awkwardly and said to me, "Sha'a, those are actual merchandise. You can't just take them."
"...No. I-I just picked them up because they fell."
"Good thing. I don't want Sha'a turning into a criminal."
"... "
I thought, what crime is picking up a few feathers? But then I remembered the price of mattresses made from harpy feathers and nodded. Looking around, I saw a woman with a tired face gathering feathers. I handed them over to her, and when I got back to Claudia, she patted my head with a grin.
A sigh escaped at that cheeky gesture. I swatted her hand away.
"No need to be embarrassed."
"That's not it."
Cecil was already chatting happily with the harpies that had flown over. She noticed my gaze, waved her hand wildly, and the harpies flapped their wings in sync. My lips softened at the heartwarming sight, and I waved back before asking Claudia, "So, does that mean we can't see them laying? It feels like that would help."
"Should've watched last time we ate, huh?"
"...Yeah, no."
That was still... beyond my sensibilities. Watching something human-like give birth right in front of me? My appetite would vanish. And people pay extra for that...?
Claudia chuckled, told me to wait a sec, and headed toward a house in the distance. While I waited, the harpies playing flap-flap with Cecil approached me.
"Hi!"
"Uh... hi. Hello."
Three harpies surrounded me... the scent of sun-dried blankets mixed with their unique aroma wafted over. They were getting closer, and it wasn't my imagination—they started nuzzling against me, sniffing loudly.
Their breaths tickled, and so did their feathers.
"Ahaha, why so tense? Scared we'll eat you?"
"Pink-haired human's a scaredy-cat, huh?"
"But you... smell really sweet."
I grabbed Cecil's hand as she followed them and replied, "...No, it's just... anyone would tense up if you suddenly flew in sniffing."
"The human next to you didn't."
"...Personal differences."
The harpies burst into giggles at my words and pressed closer again, sniffing.
"But... human scent's so nice. Are you... here for a job? We'd welcome you."
I shook my head and told them to back off a bit. It was embarrassing being sniffed, but... their looks were a little stimulating too. They seemed to hate stuffy clothes, wearing loose outfits, so even a slight press gifted me their soft, squishy warmth.
"Aw, too bad."
The harpies lost interest when I kept my distance and flew up to the trees. Cecil watched them longingly. Was she... needing friends? Had I been too cold?
"Wanted to play more?"
When I asked Cecil, she shook her head with a regretful voice.
"I heard from beastkin that harpy eggs are delicious. I thought it would be nice to eat with Sha'a-nim, so I hoped to get some... but couldn't."
"...I see."
Not what I thought. Still, her sentiment warmed me, so I decided to ask after wrapping this up if we could get some.
Anyway, this definitely smelled like money. The client Claudia connected me with was probably the restaurant or here. I hadn't set a price for the potion yet... but they'd need it regularly, want stable supply via potion, not something that depreciates value.
...I'd gotten a decent advance, true. Ahem. But that's separate from ongoing potion costs, right? And that money goes to ingredients anyway.
As I tapped mental calculator keys, Claudia returned.
"What're you thinking about?"
"...Uh, the potion we'll make?"
She eyed me suspiciously, like she doubted it. I looked away, and she snickered, handing me a notebook.
"Can't see laying right now... but I got some materials that might help, full of useful stuff."
Skimming the notebook Claudia gave me, it indeed had plenty I needed.
"This is enough."
"Yeah? As expected from the talented one?"
"...Won't lower the price even if you flatter me."
"Who'd you take after, then?"
...Sometimes I wonder if Claudia already knows who I am. Memories of my blunders in front of her flashed, heating my face. I quickened my pace to hide the blush, but Cecil and Claudia caught up easily.
Before heading back to the workshop, I asked Claudia to procure materials I couldn't get myself, then Cecil and I went shopping. Holding hands, we wandered the village, finding the cheapest spots for ingredients I could buy. We grabbed food for the next while too. On impulse, I bought Cecil some neat clothes for the workshop.
Master got her some, but more is better. Cecil's fine usually, but she makes big messes often, so skirts or dresses over tight pants...
I picked a few for her and some for myself—pants and matching shirts this time, no giving in to capital. Thanks to selling virility potions high. Though buying milk had me tearing up...
Couldn't be helped.
Things were quiet for a bit. My breasts returned to pre-potion size, potion-making went smoothly. Nothing much except an upcoming date with Claudia and no outings otherwise. Breasts back to normal—retest? But Master was still MIA, nagging at me. A bit anxious, but I waited patiently.
Then Claudia showed up looking troubled. The prototype had a minor issue; could I come to the harpies? ...No problematic ingredients or effects, though?
Tilting my head, I asked, and she grinned awkwardly.
"Nothing major... but Sha'a, it's kinda necessary. Just cooperate a little."
We three arrived at the harpies' place to high-pitched voices assaulting our ears.
"Do you know what this is before feeding it to us?! Can't eat stuff from some unknown maker!"
"No, really... it's from a super skilled person!"
"Don't care! Not eating! Harpy rights discrimination!"
Flapping chaos everywhere. I glanced at Claudia awkwardly; she smiled troubledly.
"Saves explaining."
"... "
A dizzy feeling hit. I recalled the mattress shop mentioning "naturally shed harpy feathers only." ...Seemed true.
With a sigh, I entered the noisy, flap-filled building. Can't I just make money easily for once?