I laugh out loud hysterically, and she gives me a disapproving glare.
"Fufufu…sorry, sorry! We are not scheduling stuff like that, but I guess it's been ridiculous of me to insist that we keep our relationship platonic. It hasn't felt that way since our contract, and I've already said that we could room together. I don't mind if this becomes normal, but I would like it if we could delay escalating things further." (Mizuki)
She smiles at me warmly and nods her approval.
"If you're telling me that I can do that as much as I want when we're alone, and I don't have to worry about you getting upset, then I'm not going to complain anytime soon." (Nina)
I nod my agreement. Well, I'm glad that this is settled.
I look over at the room window and notice that there's probably at least six hours of daylight left. I'm sure Nina wouldn't object to spending the rest of the day alone, but I have other ideas.
"Hey, Nina, do you remember how I wanted us to go adventuring together?" (Mizuki)
She looks back at me curiously, with her eyebrows raised.
"Yeah?" (Nina)
"Well, how would you like to go shopping to get some clothes, weapons, and gear for you? I thought that it might be fun for you to fight in your human form as an adventurer at the guild, form a party with me, and complete jobs together." (Mizuki)
Hearing this, her eyes start sparkling.
"You're going to escort me all over the human city, and we'll spend the rest of the day picking out whatever items I like!?" (Nina)
I smile – her excitement is downright contagious.
"Yes, I just need to make some more money." (Mizuki)
She looks puzzled.
"Did you not get enough from the elves?" (Nina)
"Eh…probably, but I don't want to have to budget for this. I owe you after all." (Mizuki)
I flash her a smile. She seems pleased by that declaration.
"So, how are you going to earn more money?" (Nina)
Right…about that.
"Well…just watch." (Mizuki)
I walk over to the room window and open it, then walk back to sit by Nina. She's giving me a confused look.
I focus on using my alchemy spell to create gold out of the air, and air begins to swirl around us from the displacement.
I manage to create a gold mass about the size of a cantaloupe, and I notice that I don't even feel a significant drain on my magic reserves anymore. Presumably, it's due to getting better with this spell and the magic boost from my contract with Nina.
I start forming the gold mass into new coins based on a reference coin from the elves. After a minute, I sense a strange emotion from Nina…fear. I look up at her in surprise to investigate, and I see that she's gone completely pale. She's staring at me with a deathly serious expression.
"Mizuki…" (Nina)
Oh god, is a dragon about to lecture me about counterfei…err, I mean civilian coin production?
"…that looked like divine creation." (Nina)
I can see the beginnings of sweat forming around her neck. What has got her so spooked? I know it's cool and rare, but I thought other humans had achieved alchemy before?
"Eh…I don't know what that is." (Mizuki)
"It's a technique where you create something out of nothing, and only higher beings like gods can use it." (Nina)
Ah…like with Azazel's refreshment water when we met.
"Well, I don't think this is that. First, it's just that I can cast spells without using incantations. I assumed you knew that from when we fought. Second, I'm not actually creating the gold out of nothing. Even if it doesn't look like it, the space around you in the air is filled with stuff, just like the earth you manipulate. I'm using that as building blocks to make the gold. I can't do it from actual nothing." (Mizuki)
Hearing this, she seems to calm down a little. However, she still looks shaken.
"Okay, well even if that's true, it's still incredible. More importantly, I cannot tell the difference between the two, so please never show this to anyone else." (Nina)
She is looking at me with genuine concern. I smile at her and nod my agreement, and her stress seems to lessen.
After that, I finish making my coins. When I'm done, the entire coin purse is full. That should do it!
Now I just need that item box, so that I don't have to carry it all around.
¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬
First, we travel to Zevy's general store.
I walk in the door with Nina behind me, and the hanging bell alerts everyone to our presence. In this case, it's just Zevy and a couple of other customers. Seeing me, his eyes go wide, and he comes running over.
"Mizuki, it's good to see you again! Have you brought more rare items for me to get ri…err, I mean invest in?" (Zevy)
"Fufufu…not today, Zevy. We've come to add money to your pockets a more traditional way this time." (Mizuki)
"Ah, yes, your normal patronage is also welcome!" (Zevy)
His eyes move to Nina for the first time, and they widen in surprise. I can't blame him…she's exceptionally beautiful.
"Master Mizuki, have you brought your wife with you today?" (Zevy)
Nina smiles widely, and I sense an immense amount of satisfaction from her, then…
[Mizuki…I like this human. You should give him lots of your fake gold!] (Nina)