128: The one standing there—friends or not, you can use 'em for fun.

"Craft-san! Let's play!"

That day, the one who slipped through the gates of the Production Guild was the hunter Jitarou.

As usual, the guild was packed with craftsmen and suppliers come to collect goods, and the staff were swamped—but here comes Jitarou, shouting like an idiot, inviting me to play. Did he grow iron hairs in his heart or something?

"Just perfect! You free? I mean, you are free, right? You are free!"

I grabbed both shoulders of the idiot standing there, and behind me, Leifan’s eyes sparkled.

"Jitarou-san! You're free, right? You're free, right?"

"Only because he's asking to play! He's definitely free! No doubt about it! Jitarou! You're free!"

"Huh? Well, I mean, I am free... but—"

"Alright! Bodyguard secured! Let’s head out to the swamp!"

"Yeah! Be careful now!"

Jitarou was unusually stunned, but it wasn’t like he was complaining about the timing.

"Jitarou! Pack your things right now! Just a few days’ worth! Bring the Super Jet right away! Meet me at the East Gate in thirty minutes!"

Super Jet was Jitarou’s beloved horse... or more accurately, his beloved pony.

Bred on stamina potions, it was just as strong as the famed Gold Dune specialty horses, yet somehow still looked exactly the same after all this time—some kind of strange pony.

"O-oh, right..."

"Be careful now! Both of you!"

"We’ll be back as fast as we can!"

I hurried and finished my quick pack, then mounted my own steed, Black Dragon.

At the East Gate, Jitarou was already feeding carrots to Super Jet.

True to his hunter’s instincts, he handled the sudden trip with ease.

"Hey, Craft. Where’re we headin’? Huh!? You ain’t thinkin’ of some sleazy shop, are ya!? Ain’t nothin’ like that in this town, from what I hear!"

"Like hell I would! If it were, Leifan wouldn’t be sendin’ me there!"

Going to a place like that after confessin’ to a girl? What kind of pervert are you?!

Besides, goin’ to a place like that’s just embarrassing!

"Exactly! You don’t gotta go there—just look at me!"

Someone cut into my conversation with Jitarou.

First thing I noticed? Full, round chest.

Then—something weird. A reptilian tail, stretching from near the tailbone.

Her face—sharp yet still soft, pretty enough that anyone’d call her beautiful.

She was Shururu. Daughter of Sharle, the village chief of Bottle Swamp.

One of the few surviving lizards from the dangerous frontier survey.

Not all lizardfolk look like Julara, her brother, with their reptilian traits still strong. Some, like Shururu, are nearly indistinguishable from humans except for their tails and eyes.

So there she is—big-breasted beauty.

And she’s clinging to me, squishing right into my arm. Honestly, it’s a panic.

“W-wait!? You’re touching me! Let go!?”

“I’m hitting it!”

“Jealous! So jealous!”

That weird softness hitting my elbow—aaaahhhhh!

I shoved Shururu off a bit roughly.

“Mmm!”

“Shururu. We don’t have time for this. We’re heading to build the village, remember?”

I snapped at her, and Jitarou nodded, clapping his hands.

“Ah. So we’re going to the marshes? That’s why you needed guards, huh?”

“Yeah. Good, you get it. Been banned from going outside town alone lately.”

Not just Kyle—Leifan’s banned too, so I’m grumbling along. I get you’re worried, but are you being a little too protective?

I’m no stranger to this, you know. Was an adventurer once.

Still, this time Schururu’s coming along, so it makes sense to have guards.

The marshes we’re heading to now? They’re building a lizardman village there. Already got basic shelters up, most of the lizardmen have moved in already.

Schururu looks almost human, so she’s the one who handles things at Goldendown when there’s business.

I mean, why not just use the communication device? But it only works one way—from my end.

If I connect it to Schururu, she won’t stop talking. It’s exhausting. Drains my magic. Takes up all my time.

Most of all…

“Craft-sama! Let’s ride together on the horse!”

"It's fine. I borrowed a horse from Kyle properly."

"Huh? But I'm not good with horses..."

"I know you've been riding like a madman from the swamp all the way here."

"Ah!"

"Then let's go together on my super jet—"

"Let's get going! Craft-sama!"

When Schururu returned from the swamp to the town, I’d already gotten ahead of her by hearing she’d returned the horse she’d borrowed from the pioneer marquis.

(Can’t let my guard down...!)

I’m a guy, so it’s nice when someone pays attention to me... nice, but—

"Alright, first stop: Leifan Town."

"Got it!"

"Yes!"

And so we blasted down the road.

Between Goldendoon and Leifan Town, there’s a wide, well-maintained road stretching out.

Wide enough for six large transport wagons to line up side by side, of course all paved with alchemical-hardened stone. Marked with lines, split into lanes. First fully developed highway with three lanes in one direction.

At first, merchants were confused by the divided up and down lanes, but once they got to Leifan Town and were properly explained, and once the Akindoo caravan—now a major trading company—taught the rules to the others, it all clicked.

Also, a separate track was built for swift horses, so no one had to slow down or get out of the way just because a horse was running.

Which is why three of us are now tearing down the swift horse track...

"Craft-sama!" "Craft-sama!" "Craft-sama!" "Craft-sama!" "Craft-sama!" "Craft-sama!"

Shururu’s calling out is intense!

I’m touched by her kindness, but the pressure is overwhelming!

I kept moving, faking it as best I could, and finally, night fell.

"Good. Let's spend the night at that rest stop over there."

There were several rest stops along the road.

Square, boring buildings made of alchemically hardened stone. Just a well, a hearth, and cheap beds. Free to use. Also served as shelters when monsters attacked.

Bring your own food and firewood.

The adventurers hired to patrol kept it clean—nobody lived here, so it stayed tidy.

Inside the rest stop, a few merchants and travelers were chatting while roasting dried meat over the fire.

"Got any beds left?"

I asked, and the merchant turned with a calm smile.

"Yeah. Plenty left."

"Still, I wonder what kind of man the Marquis who set up all this gear was. Can't wait to get to Goldendown."

"It wasn't the Marquis. It was the Count of the Frontier."

"Really? I dunno much about that part, but it's still a relief. I figured it’d be some brutal trek out here at the edge of the world."

"Is the journey really that hard?"

Whatever you say, the road to Goldendown goes on forever. Honestly, just getting from the Marquis’s lands to Leifan Town is a place no ordinary merchant would ever go. And the stretch from Leifan Town to Goldendown? That’s on another level entirely.

"Once we hit the road, it’s been smooth sailing. The path’s been paved, so no wheel’s coming off the cart. No monsters, either—probably thanks to adventurers or other merchant guards clearing the way. And look, we even got a place to sleep."

"Is that so? Good to hear."

We chatted a bit more, then slipped into bed.

Of course, Shururu climbed in right beside me.

"Uh… Shururu?!"

"Haa… haa…! It’s fine, right?! It’s fine, right?!"

That’s the thing—when they’re like this, their long, vertical pupils are freakin’ terrifying.

"It’s not fine! Nothing about this is fine!"

"Relax! Craft-sama’s just counting the stains on the ceiling… haa haa!"

"How the hell is that fine?! If you don’t get back to your own bed, I’m leaving right now!"

"Y-yes…"

"Get back in your own bed!"

Reluctantly, Shururu crawled out of the blanket.

That’s it!

Shururu’s after making babies! She won’t stop pushing me to make babies—what am I supposed to do?!

I’d talked to her brother, Jurara, about it, but this was what he said at the time.

For a lizardman, bearing the child of a strong one is an honor. Craft here is a hero, after all. Don’t you go saying anything about taking a wife or a concubine. Just toss your seed around like it’s a game.

was.

Can I really do it?!

That kind of thing’s supposed to be something you do with your future spouse, isn’t it?!

And I’m screaming inside, when Jitarou gives me a sideways glance.

Craft, you're weirdly clean about the wrong things, huh.

"Cleanliness? That's normal, right?"

I know old adventuring buddies used to hit brothels now and then, but that was never my thing.

Maybe it’s because I was raised in a church-run orphanage, but I don’t want to do that with anyone but the one I swore to someday.

You're interested, aren't you?

Of course I am! I can't help it!

I shout it before I even think.

"Doing stuff like that isn't right!"

"You, Craft, should just burn up already!"

What the hell is that for!

Today’s the release of Comicized Version: Quib Alchemy II!!

Please enjoy it!