"I want that one, Motegi-chan."
"And I want... this one… Motegi-sama. It's very... lovely..."
"How much for these?"
"Coral and pearl accessories are 2 silver coins each, so that's 4 silver coins in total."
"Here you go."
"Thank you."
Today is our seventh and last day in Oserin, and I can't believe how fast a week passed.
After exploring Salacia's sea garden and having sex on the third night, we spent our fourth to sixth days with the same patterns — brunches at seaside restaurants, wandering different beaches, and returning to the resort for dinner, shared baths, and, of course, sex again.
To close off the vacation, we decided on a huge shopping trip, and our first stop is a vendor selling coral and pearl trinkets that we saw on our first day here, buying some for Yomogi and Kimberly. From there, we drift through rows of seafood stalls as I feel like I'm about to buy the whole market.
"They're 2 large silver coins in total."
"Here you go, ma'am."
"Thank you. Those are the blessings of the sea to you."
I take desiccated coconut, coconut milk, coconut cream, various fresh fish, crabs, lobsters, squids, octopus, clams, and more importantly… katsuobushi, wakame, nori, kombu, and nigari. And I can already taste the broth and imagine tofu from here.
Eventually, we reach the lumber area as a slightly muscular male merfolk waves us over.
"Pick anything you like, my friend!"
Actually, I only planned to buy coconut timber, but when I see mangrove there, I think I should spend a lot again for buying it too.
"Hmm... I'll take one of each, please."
"Alright! Coconut timber is 1 gold coin, and mangrove timber is 2 silver coins, so it's 1 gold and 2 silver coins in total."
"Here you go..."
"Thank you!"
Yeah, the more varieties for my store's woodworks section, the better.
And by the time we finish, we've already spent one gold, two large silver, and six silver coins, which is about 126,000 yen, and it's totally worth it.
Soon after, I turn to Salacia.
"Are you ready?"
"Yes, darling~."
I nod, then glance back at the others.
"Yomogi, Chantal, Kimberly, Pinna, we'll be back soon."
"We'll wait at home, Motegi-chan, Salacia."
"Don't keep us waiting, you two!"
"Stay safe... Motegi-sama… Salacia..."
"We will conduct inventory on all purchases."
With that, the four girls step into the first teleportation portal that leads back to our home in Remantia, as Salacia and I step into the second.
SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE OCEAN
As both of us step out from the portal, we're suspended above the ocean. Salacia drops straight down with a splash, and then I just realize that the gravity catches up to me.
"Wha... whoa!!!"
My feet hit nothing, and I'm about to plunge feet-first into the sea... until Salacia's krakenlings hold me aloft and keep me from the water.
"Gah! Hah… hah... th-thank you, you really saved me there..."
From below, Salacia's head breaks the surface, and she is dumbfounded.
"Darling, why didn't you float like before?"
"I forgot..."
Seriously, how stupid am I?
The only times I ever stayed dry here were either because I used the Float spell… or because we were on a boat. I should've known I'd drop straight into the water after teleporting. If it weren't for her krakenlings, I'd be soaking wet right now.
Salacia giggles again.
"Fufu~... Wait right here, okay~?"
"Yeah… take your time..."
With that, she dives beneath the surface and disappears.
The reason why we return here is because Salacia wants to gather those magical sea anemones, sea lilies, sea fans, sea whips, and sea pens from her sea garden. Because apparently, she knows how to turn them into potions.
Speaking about potions, Salacia also told me that she can also do healing spells, which makes me think that she can join us in our next labyrinth run later. And speaking about healing, I also just remembered that we don't have a dedicated healer so far. So with her magic and potion crafting, Salacia can easily fill that role as both healer and alchemist, and I believe that she'll be an important asset for our party.
Of course, like the others, she was completely shocked when she found out I had all eight elements and could teleport. But after that one time I randomly brought her outside the resort and zipped right back inside, she doesn't even flinch anymore.
Moments later, her head surfaces again as she's lifting both arms full of plants.
"Haaa… I got them all, darling~."
"That's everything?"
"Yes. I think this should be enough."
"Alright, time to head back."
As I cast the spell and open a portal for us, I glance down at the little krakenlings still holding me up.
"Thanks again, guys. Take care of the garden for us."
And with the krakenlings wiggling their tentacles, Salacia and I enter the portal and return home to where the others are waiting.
MOTEGI'S HOUSE, REMANTIA
As soon as we step through the portal, Salacia's eyes go wide with wonder.
"Darling… this place… is huge!"
She immediately starts bouncing on her toes, spinning around with joy.
"And the shelves! There are so many! It's amazing!"
Yeah, she already knew I ran a store back in Remantia. And seeing her light up like this just from the storefront alone already makes me happy.
I call up towards the stairs to inform the others.
"Yomogi! Chantal! Kimberly! Pinna! We're back!"
A second later, the four of them appear one by one, and Yomogi beams as she reaches the bottom.
"Do you like the house, Salacia?"
"Yes! I love it already!"
I grin at Salacia, which Chantal adds.
"Well, this is just the first floor. This is where I run my store."
"And wait till you see what's upstairs. You're going to be blown away."
Hearing that, Salacia claps her hands together and practically bounces.
"Show me, show me! I want to see everything!"
"Alright, let's go."
We guide her upstairs, and the moment we step onto the second floor, she stops in her tracks.
"Waah…! It's even bigger than I thought…"
Just then, a round disk glides across the granite floor and bumps into her ankle.
"Eep! W-What is this?!"
"It's okay, it's just the vacuum cleaner."
"Vacuum…?"
"Yeah, it's for sucking up dust."
And Pinna speaks to support my layman's explanation.
"This unit is one of Master's finest domestic innovations. Constructing it was… deeply satisfying."
"You made that, Pinna?"
"Affirmative. Using Master's sketches, I reverse-engineered the concept and ensured maximum efficiency with minimal noise."
"That's a little weird…"
And I ask Salacia again.
"Wanna take a full tour now?"
"Yes, please!"
With that, we guide her toward the kitchen and dining area, and her eyes instantly land on the massive dining table.
"This table is huge! Like something for a royal banquet!"
She starts walking toward the counter but pauses and points at the large unit sitting beside it.
"Darling, what's that thing?"
"That's a refrigerator, or you can just call it a fridge."
"Can I open it?"
"Go ahead."
She opens the door and immediately gasps.
"It's cold! And look at all the food inside! It's so much..."
Kimberly approaches her.
"This… keeps food... fresh… and prevents... spoiling…"
"That's incredible…"
Then, Salacia points again, this time at a smaller box on the countertop.
"And that one?"
"That's a microwave. It's for reheating food. Pinna built that one too."
And Pinna nods.
"As before, I used Master's sketches. I constructed it with a reinforced heating chamber and regulated rune activation. It performs at optimal heat efficiency for small food units."
"You're amazing, Pinna."
As we lead her into the bedroom, her jaw drops again.
"Darling! This bed is gigantic! It's like five times bigger than the one at the resort!"
"Haha... yeah, sort of."
We move to the wardrobe room and I gesture her toward the sleek cabinets and racks lined with fabric.
"This room's just for undergarments and dresses."
Salacia giggles as she steps inside, brushing her fingers across lacy lingerie and elegant outfits.
"So many naughty pieces~… I can't wait to get changed in here~..."
Next up, we bring Salacia to the bathroom area. And as soon as we walk in, her eyes lock onto the ceramic sink, and she points to it.
"Darling, what's that for?"
"That's for washing your face and brushing your teeth."
Her eyes light up instantly.
"Ah! That's the thing you taught me, right?"
"Correct."
Yeah, she already knew about toothbrushing because back in Oserin, I had brought some twigs and my homemade toothpaste during our stay, and every morning, when the girls and I went through our usual hygiene routine at the resort, Salacia joined in too and followed our habit.
And speaking of toothpaste… I also did bring back some fresh seaweed and sea salt from there, so maybe I can try crafting new toothpaste and shampoo variants blended with them.
Then, she points at a box-shaped machine near the woven bamboo basket.
"And this?"
"That's a washing machine. It's for cleaning clothes."
I glance at Pinna, and Salacia catches my hint and turns to her.
"Pinna, did you build this one too?"
"Affirmative. Using Master's draft, I constructed a water-circulating drum with automated cycles and an energy-efficient drying module."
"You're really amazing…"
And then, I guide her further in, opening the door to the full bathroom. The moment she sees the tub, her breath catches.
"Darling… it's so big!"
But then she notices the washing area with low stools and the narrower bathing basin.
"Why's that one different?"
"That's where we wash our bodies first. The big tub is just for soaking after we're clean."
She furrows her brows slightly, trying to visualize it.
"I'll show you later. It's pretty simple once you get used to it."
"Okay…"
"And now, let me show you the coolest part of the house."
With that, I lead her through the hallway and open the door to the outdoor terrace garden. The moment we step outside, her mouth falls open as she sees sleek sunloungers line the center of the terrace, and a lush garden spreads out with neat rows of blooms and fruiting plants on the other side.
"Darling… is this… a beach on the roof? And next to a garden?"
Chantal flops onto one of the loungers with a lazy grin.
"Don't you wanna sunbathe here, Salacia?"
"Absolutely!"
Then, I guide her toward the garden area. Arriving there, I gesture toward the vibrant rows of lilies, roses, hydrangeas, peonies... and the neat clusters of mint, basil, thyme, oregano, rosemary, chives, parsley, tarragon, and bay laurel.
"These are beautiful, darling…"
"Yomogi planted all of these."
And Salacia turns to her.
"Really, Yomogi?"
"Yes, Salacia. I'm glad you like them."
"They're gorgeous…"
After that, Salacia turns to the other side of the garden.
"There are flowers and fruits over there too."
"Ah, Motegi-chan planted those."
And I give Yomogi a look, and she nods as she understands what I mean. Yomogi walks over to a bush, plucks two ripe fruits — a small red one with dots and a smooth round one — and hands them to Salacia.
"Try them, Salacia."
Salacia takes the smaller one and bites into it, and she immediately beams with sparkling eyes.
"Mmm! What is this? It's so sweet and tangy!"
And I'm the one who explains.
"That's a strawberry, Salacia."
"I've never had anything like this before. It's delicious!"
Then, she tries the round one next and gives a happy little gasp.
"This one too! It's so juicy!"
"That's a tomato."
Kimberly approaches her and playfully says something with an unusual sly smile.
"Still… some debate… whether it's... a fruit… or a vegetable…"
"Eh? What does that mean?"
Kimberly just gives me a wink, and I wink right back at her. Those were the exact words I told Kimberly back then, and apparently, she used them to tease Salacia back like sort of a joke.
After that, Salacia points further across the terrace.
"And those?"
"Ah, the tall ones are corn. And the ones with the heavy hanging pods are cacao."
Which then I point to a few cobs hanging from the fence, and she turns her head to look.
"Right now, I'm drying the corn. See?"
"Yes… I can't wait for it."
Then, I ask her again, who is still beaming and basking in the afterglow of exploring the terrace garden.
"Should we go back inside?"
"Of course, darling~!"
"Everyone?"
"Yes!"
"Alright, let's go in, everyone!"
After that, the six of us head in. Once Yomogi, Chantal, Kimberly, and Pinna split away from me and Salacia at the corridor where my spare rooms are located, I turn to Salacia.
"You can pick one, Salacia."
"Eh? Why? I'm going to sleep in your bed anyway~."
"Yeah, but didn't you say you wanted to start making potions?"
"Ah... yes, I did."
"I figured I could turn one of these into a lab for you."
And she gasps immediately.
"Really? Thank you, darling~!"
She spins once on her heel and points to the second door on the left.
"That one!"
"Okay, let's go inside."
I step forward and open it, entering the blank and clean room. Once we're inside, I glance back at her.
"So? What do you need?"
"Hmm… shelves, definitely. Lots of glass jars, beakers, and potion bottles, a ladle and funnel, a pestle and mortar, a sturdy table and a high stool, and a medium cauldron with a brewing stand and a stove. Oh! And if you can… maybe a small faucet for water?"
"Got it."
I open my dimensional inventory and start pulling out everything: duplicated shelves from my old store and some of my potion bottles that I used for my shampoo and sanitizer packaging, and I set them aside.
Then, I retrieve the coconut timber I bought earlier, a resin, Clay Golem's clay, glass sand, iron ore, and some charcoal. After that, I activate [Blacksmithing], [Pottery], and [Carpentry]... instantly turning the timber and resin into a finely polished worktable and stool, shaping the clay and glass into a clean set of pestle and mortar, and transforming the iron ore and charcoal into a sleek cauldron and stove set, along with a metal faucet.
And obviously, Salacia's jaw drops again.
"Ehh?! That's it?! Just like that? How is that even possible?!"
"This is how I make everything I sell in my store. So… keep it a secret, okay?"
As she's still stunned, I retrieve a couple of magic stones from my inventory, one red and one blue. I fit the Fire stone onto the stove and slide the Water stone onto the faucet, and I step back to look around the room.
"Umm... I can buy the glass jars and beakers for you later, though. So, how's that for now?"
Salacia slowly takes in every part of her new lab, as the shelves, the equipment, the cauldron, the magic-powered faucet, and the wide table are now waiting for her hands to work. Despite still lacking glass jars and beakers, her eyes already shimmer with emotion.
"I can't believe I have my own lab already, darling~. Thank you, you're always so generous to me~."
"You're welcome."
Honestly… I'm glad I made these spare rooms. At first, I wasn't really sure why I was saving them for, but now, one's been transformed into something useful. And there are still two more waiting and ready to be reshaped into whatever the next tenants might need.
Salacia walks over and takes a seat on the new stool, slowly running her fingers across the table's surface.
"Even the table is so smooth, darling~…"
Later, she stands back up to scan the rest of the room and explores every corner again.
And that's when I spot it.
On the stool, where she had just been sitting, there's a damp imprint with the exact round shape of her butt. And I immediately remember about her kraken physiology, about how her body needs to retain moisture to survive comfortably on land. I knew her skin always felt cool and slick to the touch, but I didn't expect that her backside was moist enough to leave a visible print on the wood.
And at that moment, a ridiculous, perverted, yet probably the most brilliant idea hits me.