Summoned and Unwanted

471 Visiting the alchemist Eros

Before Lilith was about to say something, Vincent stepped forward and asked with a curious yet blunt tone, “Did you know what would happen if someone drank an expired potion?”

Honey kept her head lowered while her body was slightly trembling from nervousness. “Potions can have a non-life-threatening side effect about three out of ten times. When I was told to throw it away, I... I...” She said in an apologetic tone before lowering to her knees to beg for forgiveness.

The students, servants, and villagers noticed the current famous couple bullying the well-known potion vendor. But after recalling the rumors surrounding Kilo Blackheart and his two cronies and how they still haven’t returned to the academy, no one stepped up to help Honey.

“Please don’t act like this.” Lilith requested after noticing there were too many eyes on them. She extended her hands to help Honey get up, but Honey thought Lilith wanted to slap her.

“I didn’t think it was going to be this bad.” Honey raised her face and continued, “Hit me until you feel satisfied to quell your anger because I found out how dangerous it was too late.”

[Honey’s apology looks genuine. I suggest we accept and move on.]

Kazumi suggested after determining there was no need for theatrics now that the danger was over and the situation had returned to normal.

Furthermore, if Kazumi had a mouth, she would be salivating with her curiosity reaching her limit threshold. Kazumi’s entire being wanted to know what the compensation was going to be.

[Lilith survived, and the situation also brought us together. Ester, Lupa, and Iris chipped in, and Lilith now knows what it means to depend on us. I say this was a bad situation turned good.]

.....

Vincent chose to forgive Honey because of Kazumi’s smooth words.

“Ahem.” Vincent cleared his throat and extended his hand. “Honey. Do you think one hour break is enough if you are kneeling instead of leading us to the alchemist Eros Rafael Bellini?”

“Please stand up, Honey. I-I forgive you.” Lilith nervously said with her hand still extended.

Honey looked at Lilith with a worried yet surprised expression. After pondering for about a minute, Honey accepted Vincent and Lilith’s hands.

Vincent offered a piece of clean cloth. “Use this to clean your knees. I didn’t think you would go that far to apologize to us.” He said without showing hate towards her.

“But if...”

“Yes, Honey. ‘If’ is a very vague word. ” Vincent interrupted. He approached Lilith and placed his hand around her waist. “It is my duty to protect my significant other. My protection overcame the ‘if.'”

“My sisters helped too. They would be sad to hear you take all the credit.” Lilith corrected Vincent.

Honey’s restless heart gradually settled when the two in front of her acted as if nothing had happened.

Honey cleaned her knees. Afterward, she looked at the people staring at them. *Wink* “This smoking sexy girl will wait for lovely customers to visit one hour later.” *Wink* ” But don’t leave me hanging. We might get taken soon, hehe.”

[Is it me, or does Honey have a personality disorder? She was apologetic at first, but after we forgave her, she resumed flirting with potential customers.]

-I feel we are being used to promote the potion shop. Does she love money?-

[...] Kazumi started to believe Honey was over exaggerating to attract attention. As if she multitasked to apologize and promote the potion shop at the same time.

“Ahem.” *Wink* “Let’s go to meet the alchemist. He is expecting your visit.” Honey walked away while overlooking what had just happened a few moments ago.

Vincent and Lilith looked at each other, but both couldn’t fathom what was happening with Honey’s ever-changing personality.

After shrugging their shoulders, they followed Honey to the villager’s residential area. Soon, they stopped in front of a small warehouse-looking building.

The building was constructed with stone, and it looked sturdy. Furthermore, there weren’t houses within a couple of meters radius as if this place could be dangerous.

On the building were no signs, but more than three entry points could be seen. Honey approached a door and used two keys to open it.

“One moment. ” Honey said before entering inside in a hurry.

[Hehe.] Kazumi left Vincent’s body and curiously followed Honey inside.

“I feel nervous all of a sudden.” Lilith expressed. Her heart was racing anxiously.

“Haha.” Vincent laughed. “One more person kneeling in front of you isn’t going to be that troubling, right?”

“Yeah...” Lilith was still feeling nervous about entering.

Vincent sensed Lilith grabbing his hand to hold it nervously. Shortly, he could perceive Lilith’s current emotions.

Vincent leaned his head and landed a peck on her forehead. “Try thinking like Kazumi. It will help a lot.”

“Kazumi? How does she think?” Lilith asked with a puzzled expression.

“Think about a goal, and it will offer a purpose to your current actions. ” Vincent suggested. He noticed Lilith didn’t understand when her puzzled frown remained.

“Kazumi is always curious. That is her goal all the time. So think of something to alleviate your anxiety.” Vincent explained more clearly.

Lilith smiled. “Like something I want to. Do?” She asked in an excited tone before switching to a more seductive tone.

*Cough* “Yes, my dear. Let your imagination run wild if it can help you fight against your fears.” Vincent surrendered to Lilith’s pace.

Kazumi returned with a disappointed frown and said, [Mess... sigh. It’s a mess inside. I thought I entered the workshop of a hoarder hoarding alchemy stuff.]

Half an hour later...

The door opened, and Honey invited them to enter. A well-lit large room greeted their sight. Although there weren’t any windows, the room didn’t have any humidity or smell of mold.

The large room had a temperature slightly cooler than outside. Additionally, the air had the smell of a fresh woodsy fragrance. It felt as if they were out in a forest.

Vincent guessed it might be the work of the runes engraved into some of the rocks forming the walls. Each of these enchanted rocks could help regulate the climate, similar to the picture frames in the library.

On one side were many crates with cups, vials, and other liquid-holding glassware, while on the other were closed barrels. Even if Vincent didn’t use Inspection skill, he guessed they were filled with ingredients.

‘Kazumi was right about a hoarding problem. It appears the alchemist likes to overstock, and Honey had a lot to rearrange in the last half an hour because of him.’ Vincent thought.

Honey opened another door and said, “Eros dear, I have brought the Lionheart couple. Sadly the harem didn’t come, hehe.”

Honey winked at Vincent and Lilith. “Please enter. I prepared two seats and some refreshments.” She kindly offered.

Vincent entered another large well-lit room. There were many tables, and there was a variety of chemistry glassware on them. A few of them had a candle under them to heat the mixture of liquid and unrecognizable finely cut ingredients.

Vincent was curious to discover if he could see a list of all the ingredients being used.

Vincent considered giving Iris the list with the hopes of making a potion. Iris could make herbal drinks as if the ingredients could talk to her, so Vincent wanted to give it a shot.

However, to his shock, the inspection window didn’t show him the list of ingredients. Instead, it showed him Minor Strength Potion eighty percent in-process and nothing else.

Vincent moved his gaze swiftly, hoping to see an inspection window with a list of ingredients. But to his dismay, every pitcher or chemistry glassware held liquids of various colors.

All of them were potions in various progress stages. Some potions even had names Vincent had never seen before. But because they were still incomplete, the inspection system didn’t provide additional information.

[Vincent. You better stop looking around and look down.]

Vincent’s gaze moved down. A balding man was kneeling on the ground. He acted quite similar to how Honey previously acted to show how sorry she was.

“P-please forgive me, my lords! ” Eros nervously exclaimed.

*Sigh* Vincent sighed and repeated a similar forgiving process with Lilith.

A few minutes later...

“Thank you for forgiving me. I will make sure to dispose of any potentially dangerous potions myself since.” Eros looked at Honey, “A certain someone wants to make money.”

“Ohh, please stop nagging. ” Honey complained while crossing her arms. “How will you make potions if you don’t make money? Money doesn’t grow on trees. It grows from our client’s hands, and I reap the harvest for you to grow more money.”

“I don’t know why I even like you.” Eros bluntly said out of the blue.

“Then why did you ask me to marry you?” Honey questioned.

Vincent and Lilith took a step back. The situation took a strange turn. From an apology to a lover’s spat.

“Humph!” Honey angrily rushed for the door and opened it. “I will sleep in my cozy little shop tonight.”

“Fine. Go. But I will wait for you with a hot chocolate this evening and biscuits.” Eros offered out of the blue. Previously, he appeared annoyed with Honey’s profit-hungry personality, but now he wanted to reconcile.

Honey looked back. She smiled and gently closed the door. What appeared to be a lover’s spat ended with a romantic end.

Vincent, Kazumi, and Lilith remained staring for a while, and ‘What happened?’ was in their thoughts.

After Vincent took a good look at Eros Rafael Bellini, he could understand why Honey could be attracted to him.