“Mina, what did you think about using it?”
When I asked Mina, who was washing things, from behind her, a large of amount of bubbles bubbled up from over her shoulders .
“Reiji-san-, this, this, the bubbles, there are so many coming out … h,help me-“
“Looks like you used too much detergent . … Just how much did you use?”
When I took a peek at her hand, all of the contents of the small bottle I handed her were gone .
Just like I thought, she used too much .
On a day off, I was curious about why it was taking Mina so unusually long to do the dishes, so I asked her about it .
“Let’s see . It always takes around an hour to make them nice and clean . Is there something wrong?”
For Mina to casually say that means that it’s not unusual, and even when I asked the housewife aunties who came to buy the deodorant, it seems that really is how long it takes .
To take an hour to wash three peoples’ worth of dishes … and with three meals, it counts in at three hours total .
It’s a terrifying amount of wasted time .
With that, I let Mina use the prototype dishwashing detergent .
Mina, covered in bubbles, raised her voice .
“Aah-! Reiji-san, this is amazing! It’s amazing-! The dish is all white~”
Aheh, right, right?
“All quick and easy~”
Mina exclaimed as she rubbed the white plate .
With this, the amount of time it takes to wash each dish will be reduced, and the time spent washing dishes should decrease .
The efficiency of housework will be better . And someone once said that how easy you can make things is important .
“Even though I hardly scrubbed, it’s this white… it’s like magic~”
By the way, Noela is in the bedroom, having a nap on my bed .
When Mina held her hand over the faucet, a suitable amount of water flowed out .
In this world, there are a number of stones that react to lifestyle magic called lifestyle-stones, and if you hold one and pour small amounts of magic into them, water will flow, you can light something on fire, or light will shine .
That magic power is something that’s like combining your physical strength and mental powers together, and these otherworld people, and even I, can use it .
“With this, washing dishes will be so much easier-“
“It looks like it was worth making if it made you say so . I’ll distribute the rest of the prototypes to people in the neighborhood . ”
“Okay . Have a safe trip-“
Putting some of the small bottles in a bag, I left the shop .
Even though I said people in the neighborhood, an eatery might be better than the general household .
Since they have more plates to wash than the general household .
I dropped in to the nearest pub-like eatery .
Inside were a number of brawny, muscular men eating as a group
“Hello- . I’m from Kirio Drug . ”
“ . Um, Pharmacist-san!”
The girl employee that caught sight of me from inside and came over seems to recognize me .
That’s right, I’m Pharmacist-san .
I’m not an alchemist or an exorcist or a revolutionary or whatever they say .
I’ve finally met someone who recognizes me properly .
“That deodorant is super useful . There are many times when the smell won’t go away even if we clean . ”
“Is that so? I’m glad it helps . Today I made a new medicine; would you test it?”
“A new medicine?”
“Yes . A medicine that makes washing dishes much easier . ”
Hoe~; the poster girl reacted as I explained this and that to her .
When I had done so, clatter, a man who was eating stood up from his chair .
“Hey you . You the guy who made those potions? We have something to discuss with you –“
Discuss? With me?
… I wonder what they want to discuss .
If a muscular guy with a scary face says that, there’s no way I won’t get a fright .
“… Doze, stop it . ”
When the red-head woman sitting next to him said so, the man called Doze shook his head .
“But Ane-san . ”
“I am telling you to cut it out . ”
When Ane-san said so, the big man named Doze obediently sat down .
I whispered and asked the poster girl,
“… Who are those people?”
“Those people are called the Red Cat Group, a mercenary group that the Lord entrusted with the security of this town . The red-haired lady is the leader . ”
A mercenary group…
A group of rough guys, huh?
Now that she says it, I see some people who were acting as guards .
“My apologies, Pharmacist . You were in the middle of work . ”
“Ah, no . I don’t mind . ”
Leader-san, with her red hair in a ponytail, has sharp eyes and is a beauty .
I lightly nodded and left the shop .
“Aah, I can’t take it –“
Stomp stomp stomp; footsteps drew near, and my shoulder was grabbed .
When I turned to look, the mercenary called Doze was there .
“Pharmacist – no, Pharmacist-san . Can you deliver five potions everyday to our headquarters at half price?”
“Eh? Potions?”
“Exactly . ”
Doze-san’s large body folded in half as he bowed his head deeply .
Five bottles at half price, huh…?
Recently, the exorbitant price of the potions has fallen, and I’ve been selling them at the reasonable price of 1200rin .
The general store I sell them wholesale to is doing the same .
If I make them half price, then I’ll be in the red on my side .
Hmm, what should I do, I wonder .
Leader-san came over this way and struck Doze-san on the back of the head .
“You bastard, don’t say anythin’ unnecessary- . ”
“But Ane-san! … Ane-san, don’t you have a body that can’t live without that potion anymore?!”
Eh… Without the potion, what …?
Something like, if she’s received a curse that gradually saps away her strength, then she can manage as long as she drinks potions?
Leader-san made a troubled face .
“Th,that’s not, true…”
“It is! I know about it . No, it’s not just me . Everyone knows . ”
… Were you hiding that disease, Leader-san?
You shouldn’t worry everyone like that …
“You’ve been secretly drinking the potion reserves at night, right? Normally it’s two, but when it’s really bad you’ll drink the entire five bottles – I count every morning-!”
Tsk; Leader-san clicked her tongue and turned her face away .
“… this ain’t conversation for the dinner table . Save this for when we return …”
“No! I want to deal with it now . … Ane-san, let’s stop already with this . ”
He got strangely serious, and even Poster Girl-chan and I worriedly watched over them .
“Ane-san doesn’t drink or gamble, but there is one thing you’re addicted to, right? And, that revolutionary potion is devilishly delicious . I’m also aware of it .
But that’s medicine-!
If you drink it secretly every night, we won’t have enough money . It ain’t that cheap . Please stop going and drinking our revolutionary potion reserves! Those are things we left for injuries!”
Huh-? It’s a little different from what I thought .
Leader-san is making an uncomfortable face, and is winding her ponytail around her finger .
She’s moving her lips awkwardly .
“I, like, wasn’t drinking them…”
Her voice is tiny .
She looks like a kid who was caught doing something bad .
“Don’t try to hide it anymore . We all know, after all . And right now, aren’t I in the middle of negotiating with the Pharmacist to buy them cheaper? Ane-san’s personal potions . ”
“The Group’s things are the Leader’s, my things . My things are my things . Don’t make any complaints . ”
There it is-! It’s gian-ism! This world has it too!
But the way she’s speaking is a lot like a kid .
“You know about our financial difficulties? Whose fault do you think it is?”
“It’s obvious, right? The rewards have been crap . ”
“ “ “ “It’s your fault!!” “ “ “
All of the Group’s members made a rebuttal and Leader-san flinched with an, “Uu . ”
It seems it’s been a long time since they’ve last eaten out like this .
And we’re in the countryside, so the pay for being security isn’t going to be that high .
Even so they’ve been getting by somehow, but it’s now come to this, where Leader-san began binge-drinking the not-cheap potions and putting them in a tough position, it seems .
I, who couldn’t stand to just watch this, opened my mouth,
“Understood . Every day, I’ll make another five bottles separately and deliver them . And I won’t receive payment for them . ”
“Pharmacist…”
“Eh . Is this person a god…?”
“Pharmacist was a god…?”
“A god has descended…”
“It’s not like I need any separate ones . But if you’re going to do it, then I’ll take it, I guess . ”
“Don’t ‘I guess’ me, Leader! What are you going to do if the Medicine God gets disgusted with you?”
“Hmph . If it happens, it happens . ”
Leader-san showed off a cynical smile .
“Our apologies, Medicine God, Leader just can’t be honest . She might look like this, but she’s actually thrilled . ”
“… … h,honest, you say, but it’s not like I’m thrilled or anything . ”
Her voice is so tiny .
That said, I’ve got another weird name attached to me… what do you mean, Medicine God?
“Ah . But I do have one thing to ask of you . ”
Everyone in this mercenary group is the town’s security force .
So that means, everyone trusts and thinks well of them in this town just for that .
“When I make new medicine, I’ll hand some over, so I’d like you to try it out and advertise your impressions to the townspeople . ”
“What the, and just when I was wondering what kind of thing you were going to ask of us, are you really okay with just that?”
Leader-san made a face like she’d been let down .
“Yes . People won’t buy unfamiliar medicine they’re wary about . There are even many times where they can’t bring themselves to believe me even though I tell them the effect . And so, I want you to convey your impressions to all the townspeople . ”
Everyone in the mercenary group can stop the Leader from drinking five of their potions, and I don’t have to advertise my new medicine .
When I think about the time and labor it takes to advertise, giving five potions for free is on the cheap side .
Un . No one loses out .
Everyone other than the Leader got on one knee and lowered their heads .
“As the Medicine God wishes-“
“ “ “ “As he wishes –“ “ “ “
Please stop looking like some weird new cult just happened .
“Uuuh… then this is sudden, but-“
In order for me to give them firsthand experience with the effects of the new dishwashing detergent, we moved to the kitchen .
The plates that had their meal on them were now packed into a bucket with oil floating on them .
“Now then, Leader-san, take a drop of this liquid on the dishwashing cloth, and then try washing it . ”
“O . Ou…”
Next to her, I had Poster Girl-chan wash a plate the usual way .
When Leader-san gripped the washcloth, bubbles began to appear .
“-!?!? Wh,whwhwhwhat is this-!?”
“It’s okay, that’s just how it is, so please wash the dish . ”
“Ou, ou…”
With her eyes showing her panic, Leader-san washed the plate .
The Group members also gulped and watched over her .
“For Leader to wash dishes… it feels kind of immoral, I’m a little excited…”
There’s a pervert mixed in with them, but in general, they’re all watching over her worriedly .
“Um-, Leader . The plate is already clean, isn’t it?”
Han; Leader-san laughed through her nose .
“H . Don’t make me laugh . As if a dish could be cleaned in such a short time – it iiiiiis!? It’s cleeeeean!?”
Leader-san was so surprised it looked like her eyes were going to leap out of her head .
What a great reaction - .
“Eeeeeee- . Even though mine isn’t clean at all … amazing…”
Poster Girl-chan next to her was surprised .
When Leader-san used water to rinse it, the plate sparkled .
Ooo~!
The Group members said .
“Leader used magic without using magic …?”
“Nope . Leader shouldn’t have done anything…”
“In that case – it’s the Medicine God?! Is it the divine work of the Medicine God-!?”
Whoosh; all the gazes landed on me .
“Haha… It’s that kind of medicine . It’s not some divine work . If you use this detergent, washing the dishes will become very easy, right?”
Nod nod; Poster Girl-chan nodded deeply .
“Like this, my hands won’t get water logged either-!”
“… With this … even I could maybe do it…” Leader-san said in a tiny voice .
It kind of feels like a delinquent girl’s first try at housework, so it’s a little heart warming .
“Leader just had her eyes opened to housework…?”
“Nope . Isn’t it just that that weird medicine made her ‘able to’ wash dishes…!?”
“How terrifying … the Medicine God’s new medicine…”
“Then – it’s the Medicine God’s divine work-!?”
“And so, please spread the word about this medicine’s effect among the townspeople, okay?”
“As the Medicine God wishes –“
“ “ “ “As he wishes-“ “ “ “
“Like I said, please stop that . ”
That day, I went around to many other shops, handing the new product over and explaining it .
I had had a good serving of everyone being surprised and thanking me .
The next day, when I left the shop in order to deliver the potions as promised, Leader-san was there in front of the store .
“Good morning . I was just going to head over . ”
“O,ou… I was just, happened to be passing by…”
She’s out quite early in the morning .
Was she looking forward to it that much?
When I handed the five bottles over, Leader-san nodded in approval .
“Leader-san, you like it don’t you, the potion . We also have a girl who likes it here; she pesters me to let her drink them . But it’s medicine, so don’t drink too much, okay?”
“O… …ou … . I … my name is Anabel…”
“Ah . You can call me Reiji . ”
“I,I see . From now on, I’ll come like this every morning … See you . ”
Saying just that, Leader Anabel left like she was running away .
“? Even though we said it would be a delivery, she went out of her way to come here; what a nice person . ”
I had the impression that she was someone who didn’t care about details, but it seems that’s not the case .
While admiring her, I opened up Kirio Drug for today as well .