Hayarn finally recovered from the shock.
"That's a fine thing in its own right."
"What are you talking about, you rabbit."
That look of false enlightenment on his face is creepy. Classic Hayarn.
"Setting that aside, that statue. It'd sell."
"I have no intention of selling that."
"I know that. I'm saying things like that have market value."
"Then should I just make and sell copies? The lab could produce them, right?"
"That's true, but... I wouldn't call that a mainstream product."
Good point, Hayarn.
Figures do have a pretty high barrier to being considered mainstream.
Especially ones like that—their buyer base is even narrower.
That's partly why the quality and price skyrocket.
But there are still buyers.
"Speaking of mainstream products, there's that insulated lunch box, right?"
"That's true."
Hayarn sounded hesitant.
"It's not selling well?"
"It's selling. But compared to the Light Orb, it's nothing explosive."
Well, it's true the impact is weaker compared to the Light Orb.
— "If it's selling, what's the problem?"
— "That's true, but... Chairman Akindura says the same thing, but I am Hayarn. The greatest alchemist of this age. How can I settle for something that doesn't sell explosively?"
The rabbit is saying something.
— "Something that sells explosively like that — that's a tall order."
— "I know that."
— "Do you have any ideas, at least?"
— "Something like that? No!"
— "You're going in tonight's stew."
Don't say that with your arms crossed like you're all dignified.
— "If I don't have it, I don't have it."
I let out a long sigh at Hayarn's shameless defiance.
— "Something that sells explosively... let's start by analyzing the Light Orb."
— "You'll help me?"
— "I've got nothing better to do anyway."
Perfect for killing time.
Hayarn said, half-recalling.
— "The Light Orb was Wof's idea, wasn't it? Originally, it was a legendary that Miss Riv had."
— "Come to think of it, that's right."
In reality, it was some kind of mysterious sci-fi survival tool.
"That was a really good idea."
I said, with genuine feeling.
"What about it did you like?"
"That it's easy to use."
"Anything else?"
"Let me see. The purpose is clear."
In other words, easy to use and the purpose is clear.
Hmm. That's it? No, wait.
"I feel like there was also the novelty factor."
"That too, yeah."
The fact that there was nothing else was... kind of striking, actually.
"Hmph. Novel, easy to use, and the purpose is clear... huh."
"It's tough, isn't it?"
"Can't argue with that."
Hiyan puffed up a little, looking miffed.
Even as I spoke, the word "easy" kept snagging on something in my mind.
It was a memory from my past life. A phrase that had stuck in my ears — yeah, I was pretty sure it was a TV commercial.
"Charge up, hassle-free!"
What was it again?
Oh, right, that's it. I was pretty sure it was... a commercial for some kind of nutritional drink...
"I found it!"
"Found what?"
"Got it!"
"Got what?"
"A product that'll sell like crazy!"
"You're kidding!"
I declared with absolute confidence.
"Hiyarn, do you know what an energy drink is?"
"What the hell is that?"
"It's a beverage with restorative effects."
"A potion?"
"Not quite the same thing. It tastes good too. I mean, it actually tastes *good*. And it gives you energy—literally, energy and power."
"I see. So it's different from potions."
"It's different from elixirs too. Those are more like nutritional supplements, and you only drink them when you're injured. But energy drinks are different. Injuries have nothing to do with it—you drink them when you're tired or want to pick yourself up."
Hiyarn tilted his head, clearly not getting it.
"Hmm. I'm not really picturing it."
"You'll get it once I actually make one. Does the lab have any data on stuff like that?"
"There are a few liquid-based ones—want me to look into it?"
Liquid-based. Don't call it that.
"Energy drinks didn't exist back in your era either, Hiyarn?"
—Yeah. We didn't have anything like that. We had elixirs.
"Ah... that's right."
After all, the elixir Sacred Eggs had originally been something from the Lab.
"But elixir straight is undrinkable, so—how about what I used to do? Dilute it and sell it."
"We don't have enough volume. It takes ten minutes just to fill the eggs."
"Use the Lab, and we can increase the volume."
"Diluting elixirs, huh..."
There were definitely drinks back in the day made by diluting top-grade ingredients.
"Elixirs themselves are colorless, transparent, tasteless, and odorless. So adding flavor is easy."
"Oh? You were actually adding flavor to them?"
Come to think of it, elixirs really had no taste.
I'd never really paid much attention to that.
"I used to mix in Tabasco and stuff."
"Was that any good?"
"I wanted the stimulation. Otherwise I'd just fall asleep. Though if it's too spicy, you actually die."
"..."
Hiyarn stared at me, clearly wondering what kind of life I'd been living in the Lab.
"Hmm. It might be worth a try."
"I think it sounds interesting too."
Even Hiyarn was starting to show a bit of enthusiasm.
"Then we'd want someone who's good at cooking. Wouldn't you agree?"
"Good at cooking... Oh, Mineha's really good with spicy food. She loves anything with heat."
"So you're saying it should be spicy?"
Hiyarn's enthusiasm dropped. The mood swings on this rabbit were wild.
"An energy drink is supposed to be stimulating."
Spice blends, spiciness — without that, it wouldn't be an energy drink.
"Then I'll ask Mineha."
"Yeah, but you'd have to hand over the eggs..."
I did use them myself from time to time, though.
"No problem. Once a month, and she only needs to lend me six hours."
"Well, if that's all... I guess it's fine."
And so the Hiyarn Trading Company's next product was decided: an energy drink.
Secretly, I was wondering whether this was really just a potion. But I kept that thought to myself.
So I went to go see Mineha.
I knew where she'd be.
The Delvers' Guild, Hydrangea branch.
I'd heard she was doing a dungeon exploration this morning, in the first half of the day.
The dungeon was in the center — meaning the Hydrangea dungeon.
It was a simple request, so she'd said she'd be back by noon.
Which meant she should be back by now.
I headed to the Delvers' Guild with Hyaan, just like that.
If she wasn't there, I'd probably find her at Seedle.
The guild was as noisy as ever.
Hm? No, something about the guild felt off today.
The air around me was buzzing with a strange tension. Buzzing. Buzzing.
Curious, I peered toward the center of the commotion. You've got to be kidding me.
Mineha and the others were locked in a staring contest with the Five Sisters.
And of all groups —
the Five Sisters —
were the ones.
Alright.
I'm going to pretend I didn't see that.