“I have a favor to ask, Persio. Could you give me some of your tail fur?”

As I clasped my hands together in request, Persio neighed and shook his tail vigorously three times.

Then, softly, long silver fur danced in the air.

Yes! I got some Pegasus tail fur!

“Thank you, Persio! Now, let’s hurry back home and make the potion!”

Just as I was eagerly climbing into the carriage to head home, Ermine stopped me.

“You could just make it here without going home.”

“But I don’t have an alchemy pot.”

“There should be a mini alchemy pot inside the bracelet. Take a look.”

What? Such an important thing is inside?

Geez, why didn’t you say that sooner?

“Mini alchemy pot, mini alchemy pot… Oh, it’s really here!”

When I searched inside the bracelet, a pot smaller than the one at home, about the size of a cooking pot, came out.

“You can’t use it for large items, but you can make potions for one or two people with this.”

I see. It looks portable, so it must be really convenient to have.

I wonder if this is something left behind by the witch who crossed the realms.

I’ve received so many things from her, haven’t I?

I don’t know if this feeling can reach her since she has crossed over, but still, thank you so much, realm-crossing witch!

“Then let’s get started! Should I make it in that room from earlier?”

“Yeah, go ahead.”

I was led back to the original room by Zeke.

Wait a minute. I’m going to make it soon, so don’t pull my arm like that.

Oh, and thanks to you too, Persio!

While being dragged along by Zeke, I waved at Persio.

Back in the room, I immediately put the golden egg and Persio’s tail fur into the small alchemy pot.

“Alright. A potion to prevent… no, to stop? To halt? Anyway, I’m going to make a potion to stop petrification!”

With a stirring stick, I stirred round and round, round and round.

Round and round, round and round.

At first, the egg clinked and clattered as it spun, but as I stirred, I felt a sudden lack of resistance.

After mixing it about three times, I had a sensation that it was done.

It’s not something based on logic. Somehow, I just knew it was ready.

Is this what Ermine meant by alchemical talent?

“I did it~♪”

Looking into the alchemy pot…

“With a golden egg and silver fur, how does it turn this color…?”

The finished potion was a color reminiscent of a green swamp. It didn’t smell, but somehow it seemed a bit off-putting to drink.

The potion I made was delicious, but I wonder how this one tastes.

“Maybe I should taste it a little.”

I took out a spoon from the bracelet, scooped some up, and drank.

“…Hmm.”

It’s not extremely bitter like the potion, but it has a flavor somewhat akin to moss growing on a stone lantern in a Japanese garden.

It’s grassy but in a rather refined way, I suppose.

I’ve never eaten moss, so I’m just guessing based on my imagination, but it’s something like that.

I wouldn’t want to drink it willingly, but if I had to, I could manage it.

For now, to stop petrification, I have no choice but to drink this until I can get the basilisk’s heart.

I really want to make a tastier potion, though.

“Was it not a success?”

As I finished making the potion with a gloomy face, Zeke asked with concern.

“I did succeed, but…”

“Is there something you’re worried about?”

“It’s just not tasty.”

“Taste is a trivial matter! If the potion is done, let’s take it to Herbert immediately.”

Under Zeke’s lead, I headed to the lord’s place.

Along the way, we encountered someone resembling a servant, but Zeke went through without being stopped, as if he had free passage.

“Zeke-sama!”

In front of that room stood two strong men with swords at their waists.

One of them recognized Zeke and called out to him.

“Has Cloud arrived yet?”

“He just brought the potion.”

“I see. Then the progression of petrification is slowing down. We should give him the potion to stop it now.”

“Zeke-sama, please refrain from making such bad jokes at a time like this. There is no such potion. It’s not a fairy tale; even a five-year-old wouldn’t believe that.”

“Actually, I just had it made right in front of me. This girl is Mei, an alchemist. I request an audience with the lord.”

As Zeke declared, holding me by the shoulder, the two guarding the door exchanged glances, unsure of what to do.

At that moment, a voice said, “You may enter.”

The two replied, “Yes!” and slowly opened the door.

Inside was… a very handsome older man.

But, somehow…

“Rabbit ears?”

Huh?

Don’t beastmen in this world usually not have their animal forms?

Why are only the ears rabbit ears?

And why, of all things, does the man have rabbit ears!?