Chapter 46 The Fruit Ripens on the Mountain꞉ A Secret Experiment
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Aw, look at ’em, they’re trembling, trembling,” Tania murmured, watching the Fire Rats huddle together. “All snuggled up and rubbing against each other, kinda cute, right?”
”This might just be a trick to make enemies drop their guard, you know,” Laika countered, the two adventurers—the famed ‘Divine Bow’ Tania and ‘Fierce Dog’ Laika—observing the magical creatures squirming in the electric trap Tania had set.
Most ordinary women would probably let out a delighted, “They’re so cute!” and want to keep them as pets. But Tania, hardened by the adventuring life, showed no mercy, stunning them with an electric spell before grabbing one and quickly slitting its throat. This was a chore she’d performed so many times that she could skin the creature without even looking at her hands.
Kento, the shop owner, had he been there, would have no doubt called the sight “something the animal rights people would riot over.” Yet, these were dangerous monsters, and the two were tough, seasoned female adventurers. They were killing and butchering the Fire Rats with brutal efficiency. Once the last one was processed, Tania spoke up to Laika.
”Alright, let’s get camp set up. It’s a little early, but we should.”
”Huh, we’re done already?” Laika questioned.
”Yeah. Thanks to someone’s mistake, we ended up collecting quite a few. We should be able to head back down the mountain tomorrow.”
”Ugh! W-Well, I really, really apologize for the trouble…” Laika admitted, shamefaced.
Tania made sure to twist the knife with her subtle sarcasm. They couldn’t forget that they had only been safe this time by chance. What if they had suffered severe burns? What if another monster had attacked them? Laika was fully aware of the danger. Still, if their lives were truly threatened, they could just abandon the gathering and focus entirely on killing. After all, nothing else around here could truly threaten them.
”Hmm, should we roast it or boil it… what’s the best way to cook this?” Tania pondered aloud.
”Both! Let’s make both, Sis!” Laika excitedly demanded.
”We’ve got the time, so why not? This is shaping up to be a pretty extravagant dinner,” Tania mused.
After rolling out their sleeping bags and building a fire, the two began cooking the Fire Rat meat. It was already cleaned, and conveniently, many of the rats had arrows lodged right in their heads. They rubbed the meat with salt and odor-masking herbs, then simply skewered a rat and stuck it upright into the ground. Preparation for the whole roasted Fire Rat was complete.
Next was the Fire Rat soup. They added a generous amount of herbs to cover the smell and seasoned it simply with salt. Fresh meat, not the usual dried rations, felt like an absolute luxury for an outdoor meal. The warm soup would certainly heat their bodies in the low-temperature, high-altitude air. With their hardtack—stale portable bread—soaked in the soup, they’d have plenty of carbs, too. The slight protein excess was actually welcome for hard-working adventurers who relied on their bodies.
”Mmm! That smells amazing!” Laika cheered.
”It does,” Tania agreed. “It needs a bit more time on the fire, but it already looks delicious. We might even be able to sell the rest of the meat when we get back down.”
”Bonus money! Thank you, thank you, thank you!” Laika exclaimed, her tail starting to sway happily.
Before they knew it, dusk was settling in. The location offered a fantastic view of the Royal Capital bathed in the setting sun. Tania narrowed her eyes, gazing down at the magnificent Royal Castle, the Grand Cathedral, and the back alleys where the magic tool shop ‘Harvest’ was located. Being able to enjoy this view was one of the perks of being an adventurer, she thought.
”Seriously though, that shop’s request was weird again. What are they going to do with all these Fire Rat skins? It’s not like they’re making coats or something…” Laika wondered, chewing on her lip.
”Ah, apparently, they’re using them as a material for a new product,” Tania explained.
”Using Fire Rat skin? Then it probably isn’t that kind of product, is it?” Laika asked, slightly disappointed.
”No, it’s the latest in the ‘Comfort-D**do-mate’ series. Here, try holding this.” Tania pressed a small, cylindrical object into Laika’s hand.
”Eh!? Whoa, it’s warm!?” Laika gasped, surprised.
”The ‘Warming-Ddo-Buddy’, also known as the ‘Body-Ddo-Buddy,’” Tania supplied. She had brought it along, thinking it would be useful for warmth on their high-altitude climb. In fact, it was quite handy as a heat source, if you could ignore the slightly arousing sensation it provided.
She figured other adventurers and even the military would probably want one. Especially women, who could buy it as a convenient two-in-one product for warmth and comfort. She needed to tell Kento about this when they got back to the capital, though the shop owner likely had already figured this much out.
”Wow, that’s incredible…” Laika breathed.
”‘Warming-Ddo-Buddy’, they call it. Or ‘Body-Ddo-Buddy,’” Tania clarified.
”Ah, that kind of name…. So this is what the real thing feels like…” Laika muttered, scrutinizing the item.
Her dog ears twitched and her tail swayed with interest. The firelight made her cheeks look red, contributing to a surprisingly intimate sight.
”Seriously, Sis, what the heck are you keeping tucked away in your robe?” Laika demanded, suddenly leaning in. “Since when did you become such a… saucy older sister? I don’t approve!”
”Why do I need your permission?” Tania scoffed, a deep blush rising to her ears. “It doesn’t matter since no one knows I have it tucked away, does it? This request could have turned into a long-term deployment. It’d make hiding in the bushes a lot easier with this for warmth.”
”Hmm, I guess that makes sense…?” Laika admitted, though her eyes were still wide with suspicion.
Kento, the shopkeeper, would probably have had a more colorful comment, something like: “You’re too naive, Tania! Just the fact that a saucy older sister like you has a ‘Warming-Ddo-Buddy’ tucked away would be enough for me to eat three bowls of rice!”
But Laika seemed distracted by Tania’s calm explanation and went back to inspecting the ‘Warming-Ddo-Buddy’. She then noticed the switch on the bottom, marveling at its convenience.
”Woah, this is amazing!” Laika exclaimed. “No fire, no magic, just a switch, and you get heat so easily… I already want one!”
”Yes, Kento is incredible. That man always surprises me,” Tania admitted, her voice soft.
Laika didn’t miss the unusual tenderness in Tania’s profile when she said this. Laika was pleased that her man was being complimented, and her natural curiosity—and unwillingness to suppress it—kicked in.
”Oh really? That shop owner, his name is Kento, huh…?” Laika pressed.
”Hm? Oh, y-yes. I think that was his name…?” Tania stammered, flustered.
”Hmph? You sound pretty familiar with him, though. And this is an unreleased new product, right? He just let you take it?” Laika challenged.
”W-Well, that is…” Tania trailed off.
Laika’s relentless questioning put Tania on the defensive. She knew she should probably tell Laika about her relationship with Kento, especially since she had promised Kento she would introduce them, but she found herself unable to speak. Laika, sensing her hesitation, stood up and sat beside Tania, peering into her face.
”I knew something was off,” Laika whispered conspiratorially. “First the Pororo Snail request, and now the Fire Rat request. They’re both really unusual, but the pay is ridiculously good, right?”
”W-Well, the requests are unusual because the things he makes are unusual, so that can’t be helped… The good pay is because he really respects adventurers…” Tania defended, her voice thin.
”He respects, huh…? You still sound awful friendly…” Laika teased, a sly grin forming.
”W-What are you trying to say…?” Tania asked, her voice cracking.
Laika edged closer, placing a hand on Tania’s thigh, and then pressed the ‘Warming-Ddo-Buddy’ against Tania’s modest chest. The gentle warmth from the item transferred easily through her clothing. Laika pressed it repeatedly, its warm tip nudging the sensitive area where Tania’s nipple was.
”I don’t know what happened, but is that shop owner just absolutely smitten with my big sister’s charm…?” Laika speculated.
”H-Huh?! No, w-well… Eek!?” Tania sputtered, her composure completely gone.
Laika’s slightly off-base accusation threw Tania into total disarray. Kento. That lecherous but brilliant magic tool maker. A man who wasn’t especially handsome but who was pleasant to talk to, whose confidence was clearly hard-won through struggle and effort, and whose sudden acts of kindness were so inexpressibly sweet that she couldn’t help but feel attached and want to do anything for him… was he truly smitten with her?
It was true that during their “experiments” when they were intimate, he would become incredibly excited and practically attack her. He would persistently tease her chest—far more than was necessary for an “experiment”—and clearly made her wet in ways that were obviously not required for research.
During penetration, he would thrust his hips slowly and deliberately, as if savoring every single fold of her flesh, and his seed was always injected deep inside, ensuring it would soak in. His face at the moment of release was a picture of excitement and pleasure. Yet, he would also show concern, moving tenderly, looking as if he regretted letting his excitement consume him.
All of it flashed through her mind like a slideshow. S-So that’s why the jobs paid so well!? No, the pay was good even before the Fire Rat job; was he targeting her even then!? No, he wasn’t the kind of man to flirt with women like that.
Besides, Kento had Lily-sama. She knew and supported him far better than Tania did. Could he really be smitten with her over Lily-sama? That couldn’t be right. But… what if he really was?
Tania felt a sudden, deep ache in her core. She felt an overwhelming urge to race back to the capital and wrap her arms around his head. Her face, down to the tips of her pointed ears, turned crimson. Naturally, Laika, who was right next to her, saw everything.
”Eek! Eek! What is that reaction!? I’ve never seen you like this, Sis! You’re like a lovesick maiden!” Laika squealed. “N-Not that it’s cute! W-Wait, what’s really going on!?”
”B-Be quiet! It’s not, it’s not like that!” Tania protested, her voice shrill. “He’s just generous; he never skimps on money for any request! Sure, when he touches me, he can be so passionate it makes me misunderstand, but…!”
”Touches you!? What do you mean, touches you!? I won’t allow that!” Laika shouted, her eyes blazing.
”Why do I need your permission for anything!?” Tania shot back.
Tania and Laika argued frantically, their thighs rubbing together, the ‘Warming-Ddo-Buddy’ tracing circles over Tania’s chest. Laika was so heated now that the item’s warming function was completely unnecessary.
”C-Calm down! Ah, look, Laika! The Fire Rat is going to burn!” Tania cried, grasping for a distraction.
”I’m not going to be fooled by that… Wait, it’s actually burning!? Hurry, hurry!” Laika shrieked, jumping up.
* * *
”Nom, nom. Whew, that was a close one,” Laika declared, chewing happily.
”Y-Yes. Yes, it was,” Tania agreed, greatly relieved.
The two ate the rescued-from-burning-alive Fire Rat. Tania watched Laika happily gnaw the meat off the bone with her front teeth, pleased that the crisis was averted. She served Laika some of the perfectly stewed soup and took a bite of the roasted rat herself. The meat was bony and not very plentiful, but the fine, springy texture made it reasonably satisfying. The herbs had masked the smell, and the taste was somewhat similar to chicken.
After their climb and the unexpected combat, their appetites were huge, and Tania quickly devoured her rat. She saw Laika was already starting on her third. A good appetite befitting a Dog Beastkin, though to put it crudely, it looked a bit like a dog tearing into its prey.
Once she settled down, Tania sipped the soup. The herbs were effective, and the Fire Rat’s rich flavor and fat had blended perfectly. The meat was softer in the soup than when roasted, easily crumbling apart.
”Sis, Sis! This meat is delicious when you put it on bread!” Laika offered, mouth full.
”Ah, that sounds good. It does look tasty,” Tania agreed.
Laika peeled the meat from her fourth Fire Rat and piled it onto her bread, stuffing the whole thing into her mouth. If they could just hide the fact that it was rat meat, it could probably sell well in the food stalls of the Royal Capital. No, maybe showing the roasting process would make it a novelty and sell even better? Adventurers and low-wage laborers wouldn’t be scared off by something like this. She thought about selling it to them… and realized she was thinking like a merchant. That had to be Kento’s influence.
A slight blush dusted her cheeks, and she pulled her own bread out of her bag. She didn’t want any more meat, so she just soaked it in the soup, which was also excellent, having absorbed the Fire Rat fat. She decided she should save some of the soup to share with Kento and Lily-sama when they returned.
It was at that moment that Laika broke the silence.
”So, now that we’re calm, what’s the deal? You and that shop owner, you’re definitely not just an owner and a customer, right?”
”Gasp! A-Are you really bringing that up again?” Tania choked, spitting out a mouthful of soup.
”Of course I am! I’m worried about you, Sis! That shop owner looks totally shady… Though I appreciate him for making my ‘George’ for me!” Laika insisted.
”Y-Your ‘George’…? He’s actually fairly decent if you talk to him… But, yes, you’re right. I was planning to talk about it sometime on this request…” Tania admitted, bracing herself.
Questioned by Laika, who had finished her sixth Fire Rat and was starting on the soup, Tania decided to come clean. She didn’t face Laika, too embarrassed, and instead watched the campfire as she spoke in halting, quiet words: about agreeing to help with the new product “experiments”; about how they ended up sleeping together; how she often assists with the “experiments” now; and how she’s been helping him with other things since the product was discontinued. The shame made her cheeks burn; she couldn’t bring herself to look at Laika.
”S-Sis, you’ve become his ‘woman of convenience’…!” Laika gasped, shocked.
”Eh? N-No, I’m not Kento’s woman in that way…” Tania stammered.
”I don’t care if he’s the creator of ‘George,’ I can’t forgive this! I’m going to go confront him…!” Laika cried, leaping up again.
”L-Laika!! Who is ‘George’ anyway!?” Tania demanded, panicked.
Laika, now fueled by her manufactured indignation, began to furiously attack a seventh roasted Fire Rat, venting her anger. In the end, Tania couldn’t bring herself to extend an invitation for Laika to join the next “experiment.”
—
Summary:
Tania and Laika, the adventurers, hunt and cook Fire Rats on the mountain. The meal is cozy but interrupted when Laika discovers Tania’s secret: a ‘Warming-Ddo-Buddy’ adult item from Kento’s shop, ‘Harvest.’ Laika realizes the odd job and Tania’s flustered reaction mean Tania has a very close, secret relationship with Kento. After some intense questioning and a near-fire, Tania tearfully admits to the ‘experiments’. Laika is furious that her sister-figure is being used and decides to confront Kento, but not before eating a huge amount of meat.
—
Character Insight:
Tania is deeply conflicted; she tries to maintain her image of a disciplined adventurer, but her strong, genuine feelings for Kento are making her sloppy and revealing her secrets. She’s simultaneously embarrassed by her ‘convenience’ status and utterly enthralled by Kento’s passionate attention. Laika’s loyalty to Tania is fierce; she instantly shifts from playful curiosity to protective anger, despite her own appreciation for Kento’s products (like her mysterious ‘George’).
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Behind the Scene:
The chapter’s emotional core is the confrontation between Tania and Laika, driven by the discovery of the ‘Warming-Ddo-Buddy’. The item itself is a symbol of the unexpected warmth and intimacy Kento brings into Tania’s harsh life. Kento’s high-paying, unusual requests were clearly a way for him to provide extra support and excuses to see her, which Laika’s sharp instincts immediately picked up on.
Notes:
• Tania – An Elf adventurer who, despite her race’s reputation for low sex drive, is secretly quite passionate. She initially seemed ‘wasted’ (emotionally dry) to her friend Raika, but was easily introduced to the pleasure-items sold at ‘Harvest.’ She is easily embarrassed and attempts to maintain a dignified facade, despite her recent, frequent purchases. She wears practical but light armor over a simple cloth tunic and short pants, highlighting her grace and agility. Her primary relationship is one of friendly senior-junior with Raika.
• Kento – The owner of the magic tool shop ‘Harvest,’ which discretely sells adult goods. He’s a former overworked, ordinary salaryman from modern Japan who was suddenly transported (isekai’d) to this fantasy world. He has dark hair and an unremarkable appearance, typically wearing a plain, slightly suspicious-looking shop owner’s clothes looks like Kazuma Satou from certain series. He has a minimal amount of magic power, enough to craft his specialty items.
• Lily – the sl*ve and primary experiment subject for the magic shop, ‘Harvest.’ She has striking pink hair, Blue eyes, medium breasts, which the Protagonist associates with being ‘wanton’. She has a working knowledge of magic, which she kept hidden from the slave trader.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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