To Make It Taste Good
"Make it tasty~"
"Why art thou making such a fuss?"
"...It's scary."
"A man thou wert..."
I felt wronged in all sorts of ways. If they suddenly wanted to slice me open with a knife to draw blood when I was already terrified of needles, of course I'd be scared, right? Still, I understood the importance of it, so I meekly extended my hand.
If we weren't at the workshop, they might've used a less frightening method. But this was Master's hideout. No such facilities here, so I let my blood drip into a small beaker just like Cecil's.
The stinging sensation and the feeling of something draining out from inside me... it was creepy. Like life itself was ebbing away. Cecil, who casually clenched and unclenched her palm without a care, suddenly seemed even more impressive.
While Master stored the blood-filled beaker in the preservation box, Veronica applied ointment and pressed a handkerchief firmly against the cut. Did she really need to press with both hands? But... better safe than sorry, I guess.
After holding it long enough, the pain faded. It seemed sufficiently healed, so I told her.
"Feels like it's all better now?"
But Veronica shook her head. Then she gripped my hand tightly and replied.
I could feel Veronica's warm body heat.
"...Wait a bit longer. Just in case."
"Mm... seems fine to me."
Even when I said I was okay, Veronica shook her head stubbornly and wouldn't let go. Her face flushed from the effort, but she held on, so I finally gave up.
We sat like that, hands clasped, for quite a while longer. Master approached from behind, puffing out spirit grass smoke as she spoke.
"How long intend ye to cling thus?"
...Did she really need to change her speech like that? But if she wanted to, who was I to stop her?
Thanks to Master's words, though, Veronica finally released my hand. As she reached to take the handkerchief away, I extended mine and said,
"It's my blood, so I'll suck it clean and give it back."
"Huh? Oh, no, it's fine. I wanted to do it."
"Alright...?"
If she insisted on doing it herself, no need for me to snatch it away. I opened my palm where the handkerchief had been pressed—it had healed perfectly. Soft and smooth, not a scar in sight.
Staring at this hand so different from before... it left a bitter taste. A soft hand that couldn't even lift anything heavy. Where had those hands gone, the ones scarred from all sorts of scrapes? Now it was like some sheltered young lady's hand that had never known hardship. Even Veronica's were a bit rough.
A melancholy mood settled over me. The two of them seemed to understand my feelings without a word, just patting my shoulder and holding my hand.
...I'd decided not to dwell on this, but these anxious thoughts kept creeping in anyway. Still... having them here was a little comforting.
...Accidents aside. Recalling all the mishaps I'd been through, they all seemed like lewd escapades, making my face burn. It wasn't that I hadn't suffered indignities—this was an indignity, wasn't it? If my body hadn't changed, it'd be the exploits of a playboy, but with this body... yeah, definitely indecent treatment.
...Still grateful for it, though. Mentally calling it even, we all had lunch together. We woke up sleeping Cecil and went downstairs, where Claudia had prepared a meal. No reason to stop her from cooking since she had nothing else to do while staying here.
And the food was delicious, too. The rest of her time seemed spent loosening up her stiff body from the journey. She'd come back drenched in sweat by evening, so that figured. She had her own routine, I suppose.
After finishing lunch, we returned to the workshop to begin the experiments. I'd replenished the lost blood with food, so now it was time to investigate directly.
In alchemy, blood had various uses. As potion ingredients or transmutation materials. Of course, you'd check compatibility beforehand, ensure no toxicity, go through all the processes—but broadly, those were the two main ways.
With three master alchemists here, good or bad, we'd get results. Too advanced for Cecil, so she watched. Claudia was out. With the soft click of the preservation box opening, things began quietly.
What I'd try first... should I taste it? The thought circled my mind briefly. Since Cecil's semen had a special reaction only with me... maybe her blood did too. That took priority.
But gulping down raw blood... felt off. Then again, I'd staunched her wounds without issue before, so maybe it'd be fine. Semen made my whole body tingle and my lower belly throb even with a little contact.
Ahem. Anyway. Assuming no aphrodisiac effects, I'd combine it with other materials.
Hm... goals? Ultimately reversal, but that's not happening on the first try.
...Start with beastkin transformation? But isn't that the same as semen? For others, maybe, but even ingesting Cecil's semen just heats me up. No big change. So it has meaning.
Using beastkin potion as base, I'd mix in Cecil's blood and various materials. First, filter out incompatible ones.
Basically, contact base ingredients with a bit of blood and observe reactions. Violent clashes like angel and demon blood were rare. Most blended like water in wine, but any extreme reaction could be fatal, so exclude them.
Cautious work had me sweating. I tried not to tense up, but... last hope left, hard not to.
Then Cecil wiped my sweat with a handkerchief.
"...Thanks."
"I'm glad to help Asha-nim!"
"Yeah..."
I recalled the promise to Cecil. ...Gotta prepare that too. Master's preservation box should have materials... make it later.
Meanwhile, materials mixed gradually with Cecil's blood. Unlike my tension-induced sweat, no rejections.
Fortunate amid misfortune. At least I wouldn't die tasting it.
Scoop out materials, draw transmutation circle. She said no interest in transmutation, but not that she couldn't. Some potions mixed by ratio, others required transmutation.
Master meant trial-and-error like turning stone to gold. Anyway, not important now.
Using transmutation chalk, drew a large circle. Long time since last, but smooth. Circle divided into five zones.
Center: main ingredient, Cecil's blood. Four surrounding: auxiliaries. Empty spaces outside: instructions on blending.
Soon, runes and shapes filled it densely. Like writing a recipe. Standardized but variable, like cooking. Depends on skill, but recipes yield similar results. Trial-and-error to create usable ones.
Reviewing circle, adjusted for material compatibilities—like omitting salt if too salty.
Fine tweaks done, sprinkle catalyst around circle's edge. Carefully over the base circle. Like opening gas valve before lighting.
Moment catalyst fills ring: like spark igniting gas, transmutation begins.
Blue flash blends materials as instructed. Impossible combos without grinding/liquefying form. Peripheral materials vanish, light fades. Recover catalyst like closing valve. Center: successful pill.
Effect unknown till tasted, but first transmutation complete. From bag from my workshop, sprinkled fruit-flavored powder on pill, boxed it.
"What be that?"
"Eek!?"
Master's voice from behind—she'd been watching. Startled yelp, Veronica burst laughing. Hiding flushed face, I replied.
"...Fruit-flavored powder."
"And wherefore sprinkle it...?"
Why? Well...
"To make it taste good...?"
That answer earned a strange look from Master.