“Hmm? I’m just Ermine, nothing more, nothing less.”

“You’re not a beastman?”

“I told you, I’m just Ermine.”

“… This is disorienting.”

Hmm, it seems like communication between Zeke and Ermine is going to be difficult.

“For now, Zeke, why don’t you come over for some tea?”

“Oh, uh, sure.”

As I chatted with Ermine while heading home, Zeke and the others followed behind, looking around curiously.

“Still, it’s surprising to see humans come all the way out here.”

“Is it that rare?”

“Koko said she’s never seen a human around here before.”

“Now that you mention it, it’s probably because the mist cleared that people can come now.”

“Hmm, I wonder why the mist cleared.”

“Who knows? Maybe something happened.”

“What could it be?”

We both tilted our heads in confusion as we opened the door to the house.

The inside was small, but the dining table, which doubled as an alchemy workstation, was large enough for everyone to sit down for tea.

There were four chairs too, but…

Oh.

We’d need a fifth chair if we count Ermine.

Hmm, maybe I should make one with alchemy.

Since Ermine once made one for me, the chair recipe had been added to my repertoire.

Incidentally, I also have recipes for hot springs and kitchens, but I don’t have the materials, like lava or adamantite, so I can’t make them. Not that I need them, since one of each is more than enough anyway.

“Just wait a moment, please.”

First, I’ll boil some water, and while that’s happening, I’ll make a chair.

I filled the kettle with water and turned it on.

Alright, next is the chair.

I pulled out my alchemy book and flipped through the pages.

Let’s see, I need two pieces of wood.

I retrieved two pieces of wood, each about a meter long, from my bracelet and placed them into the alchemy cauldron.

Swirl, swirl, swirl.

Every time I mix materials in the cauldron, I’m always amazed how large objects gradually shrink as I stir them. It’s strange, isn’t it?

I wonder if they melt inside, kind of like chocolate.

Swirl, swirl, swirl.

It’s similar to making homemade chocolates, where you melt the ingredients using a double boiler and then pour them into molds to cool. The principle might be the same.

“Okay, it’s done! Complete!”

The newly crafted chair popped out and was placed beside the table.

Whistleee!

Perfect timing—the kettle’s whistle blew.

I’ll make Mei’s special rose tea.

This tea isn’t made with alchemy; it’s just petals from a seven-colored rose steeped directly in water. It has a subtle sweetness even without sugar, which is why I like it.

Plus, the tea color changes randomly, and the flavor varies slightly too, so you never get tired of it, even if you drink it every day.

When I feel like having tea without sweetness, I use petals that have been dried in the sun. For meals, I often brew rose tea from dried petals.

The teapot and teacups all match, and there are exactly five cups. The cups are decorated with small floral patterns, with gold detailing around the rim and handle, and near those areas, they are painted navy blue—very elegant cups.

Ermine also brought out a matching teapot, a sugar bowl, and a milk jug, but after that, he wasn’t able to bring anything else out for a while.

Sorry for pushing you too hard, but I wanted to complete the set.

I poured the tea from the pot, and the tea came out in a beautiful red color.

Oh, this is the one with the strongest rose fragrance.

“Here you go.”

I offered the tea, but for some reason, Zeke and the others were frozen in place.

What’s going on?

Ah, I wonder…

“It’s not poisoned, you know. Look.”

In situations like this, the person who made the tea should taste it first as a sort of poison test.

Gulp.

Delicious as always~♪

“Please, enjoy.”

Encouraged by my words, Zeke took the first sip of tea.

“… Is this really tea!? I’ve traveled to many countries, but this is the first time I’ve had such fragrant tea.”

“Is it good?”

“What kind of tea is this?”

“It’s made from the seven-colored roses in the garden.”

“Ah, that one!”

Yes, that one.

“Today’s tea turned out red, but sometimes it comes out in different colors.”

“So, the tea changes color randomly between seven shades?”

“That’s right. The flavor changes a little too. Isn’t that fascinating?”

As I explained, Cloud studied the tea carefully, smelling and examining its color with a serious, researcher-like gaze.

I wonder if it has any special properties.