Chương 92: Time Limit

"Haah…" I sighed, looking towards the ceiling as if the world had ended. It's official, I've put myself on a one month time limit. Well, it's not like it's the worst thing that could happen. In fact, I knew that if I didn't do this, I'd stall for as long as I could under the excuse that I need to brew potions instead. But! It's still very nerve-racking. I'll need to explain myself to three people…All of which I care about. All of which will likely be upset with me…

"Haaaaah." I sighed again. Well, it's not as if I need to think about it immediately. I have a whole month. … I ended up listing everything I had in my stockpile on the exchange. I needed a reset anyways, plus. Looking at my points… [Points - 4, 623, 575]"Hehehe!" I'm so rich! After selling my whole stockpile, plus however many points I gained from people watching my clear video… Money is just shooting upwards! Raccoon stock is going to the moon! If I was on a stock exchange site, I'd be spamming "Buy! Buy! Buy!"

The only potions left in my closet were the bouncy bouncy potions and the dynokali potions plus their components. It does hurt a little having an empty potion supply. After all, it took weeks of effort to get 100's of potions of each. But! That just means I have to make more! I have a new cauldron just waiting to be used and I have better skills now! Just thinking of the new recipes to create… Hehe… I might really become a hikikomori just brewing potions all day…

Haah, if Luna was here, she'd at least make sure I'd live healthily. Thinking that, my mouth turned to a frown and I bit my lip slightly.

"Just need to wait a little longer…" I mumbled. Stretching, I headed to my desk. Let's see… I need recipes for: Ironskin, Strength, Gluetrap, Recovery, and Calming potions… I wonder if I can update dynokali potions while I'm at it? Maybe I can make the components less of a hassle to make. … While I was jotting down materials in my recipe book, my phone buzzed. [Luna: Should I come to bring the potions now?] I smiled. [Me: Sure!] [Luna: (Thumbs up mouse icon)] [Luna: Be there in 30 minutes!] [Me: (Excited raccoon icon)] Getting up, I cracked my knuckles and rolled my shoulders. Well! I can't have bad hospitality for an important guest! I should make something delicious. … Ding! At the sound of the doorbell, I smiled and headed to the door. Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

"Hi~" I cheerfully greeted the silver-haired girl standing in front of the door. Opening my arms, I hugged the girl. I felt Luna flinch as she returned the hug, out of sight I heard her take a deep breath.

"Eh?" I questioned, a teasing smile coming to my face, "Oh~ Do I smell good? Did you miss my scent that much?"

"A-ah! N-no!" Luna immediately replied, flustered, "I-I was just calming myself!" She hurriedly said.

"Oh? Calming yourself with my scent?"

"N-no! I-it's not like that!"

"Hehe, I don't mind~" I drew out my tone as we separated. Luna's cheeks were extremely red which made me happy.

"N-No…I-it's not like that…" Luna's eyes darted to the ground, "Right! I brought the potions!" She hurriedly said, very obviously changing the subject. I exhaled a laughing breath before looking towards the ground. Right beside the door were three boxes each labeled with their respective potion.

"Oh! You should've told me! I would've helped you bring them up," I said, "Geez, how many trips did you have to make to get them all up here."

"Eh? Only one. I just stacked them on one another. It wasn't hard."

"…Excuse me?"

"Yes?" I stared at the tiny(same height as me) silver-haired girl and looked at the boxes. Stacked on one another, they'd clearly obscure her vision and with the combined weight of all the potions…

"…You're stronger than I thought." I eventually replied, my voice a mumble.

"Heh, of course!" Luna flexed her arm, "I am a mid-tier awakener after all. Plus, when I infuse my body with mana, it's a piece of cake."

"Heh, and I'm the official rank 2, strongest and greatest(cutest) production class." I proudly replied, crouching down to lift all three boxes at once.

"Hnnngh!" I strenuously let out. The boxes wouldn't budge.

"Hnnnnnngh!" I let out again, trying to lift them. Luna stared at me in silence after taking a step back.

"Hnnng-" I stopped, stood up and calmly grabbed only the top box, "Yeah, not happening." I said, smacking my lips.

"Pfft!" Luna laughed, "It's okay, Ms. Rank 2, just leave it to me." Luna bent over and easily lifted the two remaining boxes.

"So reliable~" I said, bringing the box inside. Luna followed and we headed towards my closet.

"Oh? You sold everything?" Luna said curiously, as we set the boxes down.

"Yeah, made a pretty penny." I proudly said, "Everything except for my bouncy bouncy potions and dynokali potions went instantly."

"Ugh." Luna shivered, rubbing her arms, "Quickly, let's get out of here…I don't know why you just casually keep explosives in your closet."

"Potions." I corrected with a chuckle and followed to the living room.

"Same difference when it comes to your dynokali." Luna rolled her eyes, "Why haven't you sold the bouncy ones yet though?"

"Honestly? No real reason." I shrugged, "I can sell them at any point, but, I just haven't felt like it."

"Wow…I should've recorded that statement." Luna shook her head, "The people waiting and dying from curiosity would curse you."

"Pfft!" I laughed, "Fine! I've thought of an excuse!"

"And what's that?"

"I need to resupply my stockpile of other potions. If I start selling the bouncy potions, then, I'll need to focus on those which will suspend my other potions production."

"Surprisingly, that doesn't sound completely fake."

"Of course! I only tell the truth!"

"I'd donate all my points right now if that's not a lie."

"Hehe, well, you can keep your points for now because I'm so benevolent and kind."

"An easy cop-out to hide the fact that you're lying."

"Don't know what you're talking about." I scratched the back of my head, darting my eyes around the room suspiciously.

"Pfft," Luna shook her head with a smile, "Oh?" Her gaze landed somewhere behind me.

"Hm?" I tilted my head, following her gaze.

"You've finally bought a cauldron?" Luna asked, approaching it.

"I did!" I rushed over and patted the cauldrons lip, "Look at this beauty! I was able to afford it by the sheer amount of people purchasing my clear video for the fifth floor!"

"Wow…" Luna nodded and inspected it.

"Yeah! Can you believe it? Over three million people purchased the video overnight! That's absolutely bonkers. My other clear videos got nowhere close to this number of sales."

"It makes sense," Luna said, "Any awakener who heard that a production class cleared the fifth floor and ranked second on the leaderboard would be curious."

"Hehe, I'm just so amazing and impressive." I smugly nodded.

"Right." Luna rolled her eyes, "It's kind of funny too, there's so much people begging you to include the preparation period in that replay."

"Mm?" I tilted my head.

"Honestly, I'm very curious too…" Luna admitted, "Although we've gone over it, I've never actually seen what you did in the prep phase." I quickly and quietly pulled up the system. And lo' and behold, there was an option to include the preparation phase in the clear video. Since when did this thing exist? And why haven't I seen other people include their prep phase? I thought about it for a moment before refocusing my attention on Luna who was still curiously inspecting the cauldron.

"Then, do you want to see it?" I asked.

"Huh? Ah, no, it's fine." Luna quickly shook her head, "If you don't want to show others, then I'd rather you keep it hidden."

"But, Mouse," I stepped closer to her, "You just said you were curious. So, I'm asking you if you'd like to see it." Luna looked a little flustered, her eyes darting all over the place as I encroached on her personal space,"Um…Um…W-well…I would…" She quietly mumbled.

"Well, that's all I needed to know, silly~" I tapped her nose with my finger and smiled, "And," I chuckled, stepping back, "Are you forgetting? I can just share my screen, I don't need to let everyone see it."

"A-ah…" Luna let out, her mouth slightly open. She had completely forgotten one of the most basic functions of the system.

"Pfft! You always scold me for not knowing basic things!" I let out.

"W-well…" She said, unable to come up with an excuse. I just took a few photos and smiled,"Hehe, it's fine~" I chuckled, "Let's sit down, I'll show you." Luna quietly nodded and we sat next to each other on the couch. I intentionally sat closer than necessary, but Luna didn't say anything.

"Okay! Feast your eyes on the greatest clear ever to exist!" I pulled up my personal replay of the 5th floor. This one showed from the moment I entered the tower to the moment I left and didn't have the anonymous mode on. I shared my screen with Luna and glanced at her. She was intently watching the replay, it was as if she didn't want to miss a single moment. When we finally reached the scene where I found the jango shroom, Luna leaned forward.

"You really found it only 30 seconds before the floor started?" She mumbled, "No wonder you were still making the potion-Ah! You just held it directly!? Is that okay?!" She commented, not expecting a reply.

"Your lip's bleeding…" Luna frowned as the the clear video returned to what she knew. Though, she didn't turn away and watched it til the end. When the hobgoblin swung his weapon at me, I felt a hand grabbing mine tensely. By the way! At the time I had absolutely no clue I nearly got hit! As soon as that liquid left the bottle, I was diving out of the way. It's a little scary thinking back on it, but, alls well that ends well.

As I jumped on the goblin's stomach and started stabbing it, Luna finally let out the breath she was holding. She went to place her hand over her heart only to notice that she was holding my hand. She paused, looking at our joined hands. Her cheeks started to heat up and turn red at a noticeable rate.

"A-Ah! S-sorry." She quickly apologized and tried to separate our hands. When they wouldn't, she turned to me with a completely flustered expression.

"Pfft!" I let out, finally letting her retreat.

"I-I didn't mean too…" She mumbled, her eyes darting away and looking everywhere except for at me. Hehe! I internally giggled. I think I understand Mama a little better now…

"Right," I said, drawing Luna's attention, "I think I might just include the prep phase as well."

"E-eh?" Luna immediately snapped back to attention, "Huh? Why? If it's because of me, then don't…"

"Nah," I shook my head, "I just think it'd be funner if I showed the prep phase for this floor; I look pretty cool searching for the materials and some other alchemists were curious about free alchemy. No reason not to show them." I shrugged.

"Mm…I see…Well, if it's something you want to do…" Luna replied.

"Hehe, I like it when you worry about me though~" I said, leaning towards her and bumping my arm against hers.

"…" Luna looked away and I giggled.

"Right!" I stood up, drawing her gaze, "Please stay for lunch! I've made something delicious!"

"Delicious?" Luna perked up.

"Hehe, multiple things~" I said, "Come, come, take your seat at the table." Luna nodded, sniffing the air as she took a seat.