"Is that water?"
"It’s a weak alcohol we drink in place of water. Among Dwarves, it’s simply referred to as 'water.' This was the strongest variety they had, though it's apparently only been distilled three times."
Only three times?
I seemed to recall that alcohol content increased with every distillation. Regardless, given the pungent aroma, there was no doubt this was some seriously stiff liquor.
"Do you like to drink, Sherry?"
I hadn't realized she was a drinker. At our house, the only alcohol we had was wine for cooking. Since I didn't drink, neither Roxanne nor Sherry did either. I wondered if they’d been feeling deprived all this time.
"No, I don't particularly care for it. It really is just a substitute for water."
"You haven't had any at our place. Is that a problem?"
"No. As I said, I don't particularly enjoy it."
Anyone who drank alcohol like water and had the breath to prove it was, without question, a lover of the bottle. Still, she didn't seem even remotely intoxicated. Her gait was steady, and her speech was perfectly clear. Even when processing the application to form our party, she had handled the task without a hitch.
She must have an incredible tolerance.
"Well, if you say so."
If she said she was fine, I’d take her word for it. We stepped through the library wall and returned home.
"Welcome back, Master."
Roxanne greeted us at the door. She wasn't wearing the maid outfit—not that she had changed out of it; she just hadn't put it on today.
"We're home."
"Is that alcohol I smell?"
Roxanne picked up on it immediately. I suppose if she could scent monsters in the Labyrinth, a heavy waft of liquor was child's play.
"She said she drank it as a substitute for water."
"Yes. Just a little water. I have returned, Roxanne-san."
"Um... will you be alright with the cooking?"
"I haven't drunk nearly enough to be impaired."
It was truly impressive how sober she seemed.
"Exactly how much do you have to drink to get drunk, Sherry?"
"Let’s see... When it was decided I would be sold and my entire family drank together for the last time, I got a little tipsy. We bought a full barrel of the strongest stuff and finished it instantly, then polished off every other bottle in the house. I believe I consumed a considerable amount that night."
She’d downed a "considerable amount" and only ended up "a little tipsy"? Even accounting for the whole family being involved, her younger siblings were still small. Dwarves really were built differently when it came to booze.
Since that was the last time she’d toasted with her family, it was likely a bittersweet memory for her. Unless she specifically asked for it, I decided I shouldn't push alcohol on her.
Sherry prepared the evening meal perfectly. She really wasn't drunk at all.
"By the way, Roxanne, did you manage to get the shopping done?" I asked during dinner.
"Yes. I went before you returned, Master."
"Good to hear."
I would have felt bad if I'd made her waste her afternoon waiting for me.
"I bought some clothes for you, Master."
"For me?"
"Yes. Please try them on later."
"Thanks. You didn't have to go to such trouble."
"And for Sherry and myself, I bought a hairbrush. We can share it."
A brush, huh? That was certainly a necessity. Since I didn't use one, the thought hadn't even crossed my mind.
"Thank you very much, Roxanne-san," Sherry said.
"I’m sorry for not noticing you needed one," I added. "If there’s anything else you need, don't hesitate to ask."
"I will. Also, Master, here is the remaining change."
"U-Um... I’m sorry. I spent all of mine," Sherry admitted.
So Sherry had used hers up entirely? That sounded like her.
"It was pocket money, so you're free to spend it however you like. Roxanne, keep the change for yourself. You might need it for something down the line."
"Are you certain?"
"I don't mind."
"Thank you, Master."
There was always the chance we might get separated. Having at least one silver coin was necessary to get back to Quratar.
"Were you able to find what you needed at the library, Sherry?"
"Yes. Since I’ll be performing fusions, I reconfirmed which skills the various Skill Crystals produce. I used my pocket money to buy writing utensils and a notebook so I could keep detailed notes."
It sounded like they’d both had a productive day off.
By the next morning, the scent of alcohol had completely vanished from Sherry. I explored the inside of her mouth thoroughly during our morning routine, but there wasn't a trace of liquor left. Even as I let my tongue wander into every corner, there was nothing but her usual sweetness.
Whether I was savoring the moisture she secreted or tangling my tongue with hers, the taste was as fresh as ever. I enjoyed her proactive movements; her touch was soft, and though there was still some lingering awkwardness, she was finally moving of her own accord.
After a long, careful exchange, I eventually pulled away.
"Morning, Sherry. No headache?"
"No, Master. I feel fine."
I’d worried about a potential hangover, but she seemed completely unaffected. Her liver's processing power must be light-years ahead of a human's. In fact, I wasn't even sure if she’d actually been drunk at all the night before.
She had, however, fallen asleep instantly the moment her head hit the pillow. If Roxanne hadn't been there to keep me company... the thought was almost frightening. Without the Sex Fiend job active, I wouldn't be quite so burdened by desire, but still.
We headed into the Quratar Labyrinth early as usual. Once we returned, I had her craft a Misanga before we sat down for breakfast.
"What kind of skills can a Skill Crystal: Mermaid provide?" I asked over our meal.
"It adds the water attribute to equipment. On a weapon, it grants the Water Stream Sword skill. On armor, it grants Water Defense."
"Water attribute, eh? Does it work on any weapon?"
"Spears and canes are also compatible."
"Wait, it doesn't have to be a sword?"
Why call it Water Stream Sword if you're putting it on a spear? Or a cane, for that matter?
"Since the attribute sword skills require an incantation to trigger, the Skill Crystal: Mermaid is more commonly used for armor," Sherry explained.
Water Defense was likely a passive skill, then. That made sense. You couldn't be expected to chant a spell with perfect timing every time an enemy launched an attack. Under normal circumstances, that would be impossible.
"What happens if you fuse it along with a Skill Crystal: Kobold?"
"On a weapon, it becomes Water Erosion Sword. On armor, it grants Water Resistance. Water Erosion Sword is more powerful than Water Stream Sword, and Water Resistance is said to provide better protection against Water Attribute Magic than standard Water Defense. Um... Master, were you actually able to get a Skill Crystal: Mermaid?"
"Word came in yesterday," I said, looking to Roxanne for confirmation.
"Yes. The price was 2,500 Nahl."
"Since fusion often fails, I don't think it's worth wasting a Skill Crystal: Kobold on low-end gear. If we can just get Water Defense, that will be enough to counter the Needle Woods. I suggest trying the fusion on either Leather Mittens or leather armor. Leather armor would be more useful if it succeeds, but if it fails, the materials might be lost. I don't know how long it will take before I can process leather again. With Leather Mittens, even if the fusion fails, we can remake the base item relatively quickly as long as the materials remain."
Sherry was talking a mile a minute. She was clearly nervous about being the one to actually perform the work. Personally, I didn't think it would fail.
"Then let's go with the Leather Mittens."
"I-I'll do my best!"
The leather armor I wore wasn't something I’d chosen; it was loot from a fallen party, and it didn't have an Empty Skill Slot. The Leather Mittens I’d bought at the Armor Shop, however, did. I was glad I hadn't sold them.
Needle Woods used water magic, so Water Defense would be a massive help on the 8th floor of the Quratar Labyrinth. Eventually, I supposed we'd need different gear tailored for every floor. That was going to be an ordeal.
"By the way, if I put Water Defense on both the mittens and the armor, would the effect double?"
"The stacking of equipment effects is an old debate. It's not definitively proven, but the prevailing theory is that they do not overlap. A famous scholar once confirmed that the Attack Power Increase skill does not stack across multiple items. However, some argue that was a special case and other skills might work differently."
So, Dual Wielding with 5x Attack Power on both swords probably wouldn't result in a 25x multiplier. A shame—that would have been terrifying.
After breakfast, we headed to the Merchant Guild. We waited in the lounge to the left of the entrance while I had the clerk call for Luke, the Armor Merchant. Roxanne and I took a seat, while Sherry focused on a booklet provided in the room.
While we waited, the wall of the room turned black and a customer stepped out. It seemed Field Walk worked on these walls. I’d have to remember that for the future.
"Thank you for waiting. This way, please."
Luke arrived and guided the three of us to a private meeting room.
"I got the message," I said. "You won the auction for the Skill Crystal: Mermaid?"
"I did. There were no competing bidders this time, so I secured it for a very low price. It's considerably cheaper than the usual market rate. Is that acceptable?"
"That’s fine. I'll be counting on you for future acquisitions as well."
"Much appreciated. Well then, here it is."
Luke chanted the spell for his Item Box and produced the Skill Crystal, placing it on the table. A quick use of Appraisal confirmed it was the real deal.
"Looks right."
"Oh... well... as the winning bidder, you are entitled to use the Guild Temple to verify the item. The fee is only ten Nahl. You can pay after you've confirmed it. You will be verifying it, won't you?"
Luke looked at me suspiciously when I casually picked up the crystal.
"Verify it?"
"Yes. To ensure the Skill Crystal is genuine."
Ah, right. I knew it was real because I had Appraisal, but to anyone else, it was just a pebble. You couldn't tell the type or quality just by looking at it. He was offering me a way to be sure.
Should I? I was curious about the Guild Temple. But checking every single time seemed like a hassle, and it cost money. If I was going to stop verifying at some point, I might as well skip it from the start. Since this was our first deal, he likely wouldn't risk selling me a fake right out of the gate.
"No, I'll pass this time. No one would risk palming off a fake on our very first transaction. Besides, I trust you, Luke."
I made sure to sound like I was doing him a huge favor. There was no guarantee it would actually earn me any points, but maybe it would help build rapport.
Of course, Luke might not be the man I thought he was. He might try to cheat me. If that was the case, showing a bit of "vulnerability" now might be useful. I'd rather he try to sell me a fake crystal—which I could easily spot—than pull some trick I couldn't see.
It was a bit like a sting operation. I could always check out the Guild Temple another day.
"I see," Luke replied, his expression unreadable. I couldn't tell if he was touched by my "trust" or secretly laughing at my "naivety."
"The price was 2,500 Nahl, correct?"
"Yes."
"And as I said, let me know if any other cheap crystals come up."
"Certainly. I'll require an advance of 500 Nahl as a commission fee for the next search."
"..."
I waited a moment, but nothing happened. It didn't look like the 3,000 Nahl total was going to get a "special discount" to 2,100 Nahl. I could have asked for the total, but being that blatant felt wrong. Luke had probably already paid the 2,500 to the seller out of pocket; if I only paid 2,100, he’d be losing money. My discount skill apparently didn't work in this specific situation.
I paid the requested amount.
Afterward, we left Luke and used the wall in the waiting room to warp to the Vale Labyrinth.
"I think you trust brokers a bit too much, Master," Sherry warned the moment she was sure we were alone. She really didn't have a high opinion of middlemen.
"Well, it’s the first time. I doubt he'd start with a fake. If he is corrupt, he'll eventually try to push one on us once we've done a few more deals. I’ll just pick that moment to verify it. Then we can squeeze him for a massive amount in reparations."
I was mostly joking.
"Can you really time it that perfectly?"
"When someone is trying to sell a fake, they get nervous. There will be signs."
"You can really tell?"
"Who do you think I am?"
Seriously, I'm just kidding, okay?
"A truly magnificent plan. I spoke out of turn without realizing the depth of your foresight. Please forgive me."
Sherry bowed her head. It was a joke, I swear.
"I know you were just looking out for us. It’s not a problem."
"Thank you, Master."
"As expected of Master," Roxanne added.
I'm telling you, it's a joke! I'm the one getting weirded out by the fact that you two aren't weirded out.
"I checked the auction records in the waiting room," Sherry continued. "The bid for 2,500 was indeed confirmed yesterday. The previous winning bid for a Mermaid crystal was 3,300. It seems he really did get it for a bargain. A broker like that won't show his true colors easily, but your strategy to lure him out is brilliant."
It really was just a joke. I'm starting to get worried about you two.
Once we returned from the Labyrinth, it was time for the fusion. I had Sherry sit at the dining table and handed her the equipment and the crystal.
"Alright, here are the Leather Mittens and the Skill Crystal."
"Y-Yes... Um, I'm sorry if I fail."
She was visibly trembling.
"Don't worry about it. I won't be mad even if it doesn't work. Just relax."
"Master said it's fine, so you'll be alright, Sherry," Roxanne encouraged.
If she failed, I'd give her a "punishment" in bed. If she succeeded, I'd give her a "reward." Either way, it was a win for me.
Sherry braced herself and chanted the incantation. Her hands began to glow.
"Oh! Well done. You're a natural, Sherry. Thank you."
"I... I did it!"
Success. The item in Sherry's hands was now a pair of Waterproof Leather Mittens.
The Skill Slot Theory was holding up. That made two successes in a row. I was now almost certain that Skill Crystals could be fused into Empty Skill Slots with a high success rate. Sherry had looked exhausted after her first fusion, but she seemed fine now. Her level had gone up, and her maximum MP must have increased along with it. She still had energy to spare.
After dinner, I had her work on Misangas.
"Is it a hard rule that you can only make Misangas once in the morning and once at night?" I asked as I took the finished product from her.
This was the seventh Misanga in a row without an Empty Skill Slot. Given the rarity of such items in shops, I knew it wasn't a simple task. It didn't mean Sherry was bad at it. Still, I was hoping for a result soon. We couldn't wait forever, and I wanted the slot ready before we got the Caterpillar Skill Crystal.
Since the fusions had been successful, the hypothesis was solid. I just needed that Empty Skill Slot. The easiest way to get it was to increase our output.
"A veteran Master Smith can make as many Misangas as they want," Sherry explained. "It's not forbidden. However, for the first six months to a year of training, you're supposed to stick to one in the morning and one at night. If you try to push past your limit, you can get very ill."
"Can't you tell if you're able to make another one before you start?"
"They say you can feel it once you have enough experience."
If MP was the only bottleneck, she should be able to sense her remaining reserves. Sherry was now a Level 14 Master Smith. Her MP capacity was far beyond a novice. Besides, she’d already performed a fusion today, so she was already past the "one per day" rule.
"Can you feel it, Sherry?"
"Well... I feel like I might be able to. But I was told that for at least the first half-year, one twice a day is the absolute limit. I feel like I could do it, but we haven't even hunted that many Green Caterpillars... but then again, I really do feel like I could..."
Sherry was caught in a loop. She knew the "rules" of her training, so she didn't trust her own instincts. It was her classic habit of overthinking.
"If you feel like you can, you'll be fine. Go ahead and try one more."
I put the finished Misanga into my Item Box and handed her more thread.
"Um... alright. I'll try."
Sherry hesitated for a moment, then nodded. She held the thread in both hands, closed her eyes, and chanted the spell. Her hands glowed. When the light faded, a new Misanga sat in her palms.
Misanga (Accessory) Skill: Empty
"Oh! You did it!"
It worked. The Misanga had an Empty Skill Slot.
"I did it! Thank you, Master!"
My "You did it" and her "I did it" meant two different things, but the result was perfect. Finally, we had the base item. Now we were in business.
"That's fantastic."
"Um... Master? I feel like I could still make a few more."
"Oh? That's impressive."
"It is strange, though. I was told I needed at least six months of training before I could do this."
Uh oh.
"Well, maybe we shouldn't push it too hard all at once. Let's stop at two for today. You did a fusion earlier, too."
"That’s true, there was the fusion. I heard beginners almost never do those. I wonder if that’s considered separate from the usual training?"
Sherry tilted her head, spiraling further into confusion.
"Well, it worked out, so there's no use worrying about it."
"I suppose. But did the person who taught me the limit was one per session lie to me?"
"I doubt it. It probably just means you're exceptionally talented, Sherry."
To whoever taught Sherry: sorry. Most people don't hit Level 14 in their first few weeks as a Master Smith.
"No... being talented doesn't explain..."
"It’s fine. You're talented, and we have this Misanga now." I pointed to the one already on her ankle.
"Eh? What do you mean?"
"I suppose I can tell you this much. The truth is, I have a way of knowing whether a piece of equipment is ready for a Skill Crystal fusion."
"Wait... really?"
"I'm almost certain of it now."
She’d figure it out eventually if we kept this up, so revealing a bit of my Appraisal power seemed safe enough.
"But how?"
"I'm not entirely sure why I can see it. But when you made those Waterproof Leather Mittens today, I became convinced."
"I see..."
"They say a Master Smith who can produce a Substitution Misanga on their first try is destined for success, right? I'm looking forward to seeing you put a skill on this one."
I gave a firm, confident nod to Sherry, who still looked utterly bewildered.