A female adventurer with short, fiery red hair rushed forward, snatching up the shattered remnants of the potion bottle from the floorboards. She panted heavily, face flushed with anger and distress.
"Look at what you've done!"
"I just bought this potion today—I paid a full gold coin and ten silver for it! Do you know how long I had to save up for that?"
Her voice cracked with agitation, and tears shimmered in the corners of her eyes as she clutched the broken glass.
"It's broken…" Mino glanced indifferently at the puddle of spilled blue liquid spreading across the floorboards. "Go ask those people for compensation—"
"I'll compensate you."
Before Mino could finish, Helant stepped forward smoothly. He produced a small vial from his inventory and placed it gently in the woman's trembling hand.
The bright red potion inside shimmered with a seductive, almost hypnotic glow—like fresh blood suspended in crystal, or perhaps a translucent ruby lit from within. Even at a glance, its quality was unmistakably superior to anything commonly sold in a frontier city like E-Rantel.
The female adventurer's eyes widened. She instinctively closed her fingers around the vial.
"Then… we'll just leave it at that."
She gave a quick, awkward bow and hurried out of the tavern, clutching the new potion to her chest like a priceless treasure.
Momonga watched her retreating back for a moment, then let his gaze linger on the slowly evaporating blue puddle on the floor. Without a word, he turned and led the group upstairs to the room they had rented.
It was only after the door closed and Momonga finished setting up layered [[Anti-Surveillance Magic] and [Silence] barriers that Mino finally puffed out her fair little cheeks in feigned indignation.
"You actually gave away one of the potions we worked day and night to produce?"
"That kick of yours just now was truly beyond my expectations," Helant replied, reaching over to pinch her cheek gently until the puff deflated. "I thought at most you'd use magic. Not… that."
"Some trash Supreme Being never bothers to understand people deeply," Mino grumbled, shooting him a resentful sideways glance. "He doesn't even know I like close combat."
Since Herox could be upgraded into a True Demonic Dragon, why couldn't she be shifted into a melee-focused class? The unfairness of it all!
At that moment, Momonga finished the last of his defensive wards and turned to Helant.
"Helant-san, the potion that woman had just now was blue—completely different from anything in YGGDRASIL." He paused, then continued, "I used [Appraisal Magic] on the residue. Although the effect is weak compared to ours, it does have a genuine restorative property."
"You want to study it?" Helant sat down casually on the edge of the bed. Momonga's personality had always leaned toward caution; whenever something fell outside his knowledge, his first instinct was to analyze and understand it thoroughly.
Nabe, who had been silently wiping down surfaces with meticulous care, suddenly straightened. Her voice was cold and matter-of-fact.
"This subordinate believes we should simply seize the local apothecary."
"Yes! Seize them, figure out the formula, and if it's useful, set up a production line—make them work twenty-four hours a day without rest!" Mino's eyes lit up with manic excitement, small pink fists clenched.
"Don't worry," Helant said with a knowing smile. "An apothecary will come looking for us tomorrow."
Momonga tilted his head slightly. "Helant-san, why do you say that?"
Why say that? Should I just admit I've read the script?
"When that female adventurer receives a completely unknown potion of obviously superior quality," Helant explained patiently, "the first thing she'll do is take it to a professional for appraisal. And who better to appraise potions than an apothecary?"
Momonga's crimson gaze sharpened as understanding dawned.
"A professional would be an apothecary. The potion you gave her is clearly more potent, so he'll likely come looking for us—either to inquire about the manufacturing process or to secure a purchasing channel."
"Wow! That's a—"
Woosh!
"Lord Momonga, Lord Helant, good day."
A soft swirl of darkness opened in the corner of the room, and Albedo stepped gracefully through the portal. She bowed deeply in greeting, her movements elegant and precise.
Helant's eyes brightened the moment he saw her.
Today Albedo wore a sharp, tailored women's suit—black with subtle silver accents—that hugged her figure perfectly.
(Ok. Her hair is Silver in this fic! Just deal with it! Think of it as a ripple effect of MC🤫) Image
Her long silver hair was gathered into a single high ponytail, giving her an air of crisp professionalism while accentuating the graceful curve of her neck and shoulders. The outfit displayed her generous curves and feminine charm to devastating effect.
After rising from her bow, her golden eyes softened instantly into pure adoration as she glided toward Helant.
"Lord Helant, I missed you."
"Albedo, why are you here?" Mino bared her little tiger fangs, the fire in her eyes igniting at once.
Albedo pressed her voluptuous body directly against Helant's chest, glancing sideways at the petite "sprout" who barely reached her collarbone.
"Naturally, to find the one I love most."
Sparks practically flew between their gazes. Albedo had only just learned that Mino had shamelessly stolen the spot originally reserved for Lupusregina.
The news had triggered a faint but very real sense of crisis.
A Supreme Being could certainly have multiple women—but there was only one position for the main wife.
Since Mino and Helant were both Sanctuary Demons, the probability of producing offspring was extremely high.
Albedo's terrifying intellect immediately ran the simulation:
If she gets to him first and bears a child, she might rise to power through the bloodline.
Helant wrapped an arm around Albedo's impossibly slender waist—barely a handful—and savored the soft, fragrant warmth of the succubus against him.
Then he felt his other arm being claimed by a smaller, noticeably less plush body.
He glanced back. Mino, of course. No wonder it wasn't quite as soft.
The smell of gunpowder in Mino's eyes was almost visible. Her love for Helant was no less intense than Albedo's—she simply expressed it differently: teasing, mischievous, occasionally bratty.
The tension in the room thickened palpably.
Nabe leaned close to Momonga and whispered, "Lord Momonga, I believe it would be prudent for us to step outside."
"You're right."
Momonga followed her suggestion without hesitation. They slipped out and closed the door softly behind them.
Albedo tilted her head back, red lips parting slightly as she exhaled a warm, orchid-scented breath against Helant's neck.
"Hel… I want a kiss."
"Mm."
Helant never refused such requests. He sat fully on the bed and gently pulled Albedo onto his lap.
"Ahh~"
The warm, moist sensation was intoxicating. He didn't even notice Mino's expression—eyes glistening as though she were on the verge of tears.
"Lord Helant, I want one too!"
Not to be outdone, Mino forced her way between them.
Albedo's generous bosom easily accommodated the smaller girl.
Feeling Mino's comparatively uncompetitive frame pressed against her, Albedo suddenly let out a soft, amused chuckle.
With a figure like that, how could she possibly compete with a succubus?
Helant looked down at Mino—now wedged awkwardly between him and Albedo—and couldn't help but laugh.
"Mino, stop squeezing."
He gently pulled her free.
"But.. but.. I..."
Seeing the lingering hurt and tension on her face, he softened his voice.
"Although Albedo is very sexy and feminine, Mino… you have an advantage she doesn't."
Mino's large eyes sparkled instantly. An advantage over Albedo?
"What is it?"
Helant rubbed her head affectionately.
"Even though you're mischievous, black-hearted, and don't have the best figure… you're cute."
Mino's expression froze.
Tears shimmered in her eyes as the words sank in.
Lord Helant… are you looking at me like a child? Tears dripped from her eyes.
I'm over a hundred years old! I'm an adult!
That was Mino's deepest fear.
She had always dreamed of a figure like Albedo's precisely because she believed it was what Helant preferred.
If Helant viewed her as a child like Aura and Mare, then she would be completely out of the running.