Off to the Capital by Train
I got up with a perfectly straight face and started the day as if nothing had happened. As if... yesterday had been just another ordinary day. In my hand was a beaker filled with semen. I'd caught what had spilled between my thighs... in these little guys. Of course, right? What Veronica and I did yesterday was purely a harvesting procedure. So collecting the byproducts in a beaker wasn't weird at all.
...Yeah, sure.
I could feel Veronica stealing glances at me. If I turned my head, our eyes would meet, so she'd whip it away. Then, when they accidentally locked, she'd fumble and knock over a potion bottle. I sensed her eyebrow twitching, but she didn't say a word.
Amid the awkwardness between Veronica and me, only Cecil was smiling away as she mixed potions. I shook my head vigorously and dove back into my research. Mixing Cecil's and Veronica's semen or... stuff like that... Thank goodness I didn't need to taste-test it? ...Nah. It's just straight-up unfortunate.
As expected, the research yielded no results. If I'd thought about it a little more... yesterday's fiasco might never have happened. My mentor, with all her experience, must have tried this already. What makes me think I'd fare any better?
"Hoo..."
I let out a deep sigh, and a potion bottle clinked against the table. Then Cecil toddled over and asked,
"Asha-nim? Did something bad happen?"
"Nah... just the research isn't going well."
I brushed away the lingering clouds of yesterday and stroked Cecil's head. She rubbed her noggin against my palm with a hehe, looking utterly adorable. Her warm body heat soothed my heart. But that didn't change the experimental results, so the core problem lingered...
While petting Cecil's fluffy hair, I tallied up the remaining schedule. No new commissions, so all the current ones would wrap up soon.
"...Veronica."
"Y-Yeah! What?!"
A loud crash echoed. It was almost pitiful. I waited for her to calm down before continuing.
"I'm not taking any commissions for a bit."
"...What?"
"Huh?!"
Why are they so shocked? Did I say something weird? I just meant a short break.
Veronica, who'd been peeking everywhere but at me, was now sticking out her pink tongue. Careful, or you'll drool.
"Thinking of heading to the capital for a bit."
"Oh."
"The capital?"
While explaining to Cecil what the capital was, Veronica sidled closer and asked,
"Why the capital...? You thinking of going back to your family? Makes sense... From another angle, it might open some doors—"
"Nah... not that."
"Oh... okay."
...Truth be told, there was no real reason not to go back. Just using the Astalote name proved things were on good terms. The hesitation was just leftover resentment from childhood. With this body, they'd probably not even recognize me anyway.
I gave a faint smile to Veronica, who looked anxious like she'd said something wrong.
"Just a vacation... drop off some stuff for my mentor who's been away, maybe visit her. If there's time, poke around the Alchemy Guild too."
"I see..."
Cecil got all excited about the capital trip, but Veronica's face darkened for some reason. Did she hate going?
"If you don't wanna go, you can stay here."
"W-What are you saying! Why would I stay in a house without the owner?!"
"Fair point?"
Then what's the issue? Veronica was a mystery sometimes. Anyway, with that settled, we whipped up potions for the commissions together. With two helpers, we finished ahead of schedule. While waiting for pickup, we prepped for the capital trip.
The biggest headache? Clothes to wear.
No big deal for casual strolls around the workshop, but parading in a gown through Haven would draw stares.
...Not that I had nothing to wear. My mentor had foreseen this and filled a whole room with outfits.
...But piled like a mountain, what's the point when only a handful fit me?
Unlike me, Veronica and Cecil were thrilled, holding clothes up to me and squealing. I'm not even gonna wear them.
When I told them to put it away, Cecil pouted and fidgeted with her fingers. Veronica shot me a scolding glare.
I clamped my mouth shut to show guilt-tripping wouldn't work, but...
"..."
The relentless pressure won. Fine, I'd pack them. Cecil could carry the luggage anyway... wear or not later, no biggie?
Seeing their faces light up just made me smile bitterly.
Anyway. It'd been ages since I'd traveled elsewhere. And the day arrived swiftly—right after the potion pickup.
Perfect weather for travel. Standing in the sunlight at the front door, Cecil marched out briskly. She wore a slightly fancy dress my mentor had bought—cute with a big ribbon at the chest. A backpack stuffed with luggage hung from her back: spare clothes, materials, even the measured breast enlargement potion.
...No clinical trials yet.
She approached with a jaunty shoulder shrug, looking unfazed.
"You sure it's not too heavy?"
"Yes! It's light for Cecil!"
"..."
Always specs off the charts. Convenient for me, but might draw eyes.
Veronica followed. Her long hair, usually loose, was tied up high in a ponytail, swaying like a red horse's tail. She wore a cool off-shoulder shirt and skirt. Lifting her arms would flash her pits, yet she rocked it...
She grabbed her own bag, eyed me up, and quipped,
"...Not hot?"
"Not really."
"If you say so..."
I was bundled as usual, cape instead of gown today. Perfect for the slightly chilly weather.
Ignoring her head-shake, a familiar silhouette appeared. Fluffy black ears twitching atop her head. Claudia.
Her tight clothes made her breasts look huge today. Firm abs visible through the fabric too.
...And those shorts—why so short? My imagination?
Her tail wagged wildly in greeting. A dagger hung at her waist.
Our eyes met; she grinned and waved.
"Sha'a, you look sweltering."
"...I'm fine."
"Yeah? Tell me if it gets too hot."
"..."
Right. Claudia was joining the capital trip. Said it was risky for "ordinary women" alone—volunteered as escort.
...Free of charge, naturally. Her motives were obvious, but I had my own unease, so I accepted. Not because it's free—I trusted her skills!
No dangerous travel anyway.
Everyone assembled, I activated the security array. Spent a fortune on it, but first long trip out, so first test.
...Should be fine, right?
Shoving down the worry, I turned to the group.
"Let's go."
"Yeah."
"Yes!"
"...Mm."
A chorus of replies, and we boarded the carriage first. Plenty of travel options, but wagon to Haven? Brutal. My old body could've handled it, but this one tires quick. Plus, it takes forever.
So how? Simple.
"Whoa...! It's huge, Sha'a-nim!"
"First time for you, Cecil... Come to think, been ages for me too."
"...You've been holed up here all this time?"
"Problem?"
"...No."
Claudia smirked behind us.
"Splurging for once? Thought we'd wagon it to the capital."
"I spend when I need to."
Her breasts jiggled as she crossed her arms beside me.
"Covering mine too was unexpected."
"...Think of it as commission pay."
"Doesn't balance the books?"
"Turn back now if you want."
"Kidding."
Brushing off her teasing, I led starry-eyed Cecil and weary Veronica onto the train.
Yeah. The train. Eco-friendly wonder of magic and alchemy.
...Expensive as hell, though.