"Tell Gerrits to clear his schedule for tomorrow. As well as some of his best crafters. I got a big job for them to do once morning come."
I told Sharine who was taking notes beside me.
We were in my room in the third floor lodging.
It had only been an hour since evening arrived, and less than ten hours since my pupils solved the first grimoire formula.
Erlin, the cheerful-looking middle-aged maid, was serving me tea and desserts master gifted me. While Quinda, the tall firm-looking young maid, was massaging my feet.
I was supposed to be in the magic hall at the moment, continue working on processing the crystal.
But Jonah suddenly barged into the alchemy lab, scooped me off my feet, and carried me back to the lodging.
He apparently heard from Sharine and Pavarin that I was planning to stay in the magic hall for the fifth night in a row.
I should perhaps watch out what I said in front of them from now on.
The shepherd insisted I must take a break at least once. Pointing out the importance of taking care of ourselves given the third Quintal Trial drew near.
The man would not take no for an answer.
He would bring up about the promise I asked of him to make sure I was doing what was right.
I almost regretted making him promise for such a thing.
Whisking me off like that in front of my pupils. I felt like a girl again whenever my nursemaid would drag me away when she caught me sneaking off to play.
But then again, I was quite charmed by Jonah's action.
The way he was being so forceful and firm. Yet he tried to handle me gently as well.
A trained fierce warhorse was always a better ride than a tamed placid mare, in my opinion.
"Tell Serize to start focusing her gatherers to collect the best crafting materials in the Weekday Dungeons. The highest grade ores, the best quality leather, everything. We'll need as many as we could get."
I told Sharine.
The depository manager nodded as she scribbled on her notes.
"Anything else, my lady?"
"Remind Jansen that he would be handling all the potions order until the fifteenth floor climb. The other mages and I will be occupied with an important project for the time being."
"Of course. Would that be all, my lady?"
"Yes, you may relay the instructions now. Thank you, Sharine."
The gray-haired plump woman gracefully bowed upon my words and swiftly left the room.
Erlin poured me another cup of tea and refilled my plate with ginger chocolate biscuits. Quinda kept on massaging my feet with those skilled hands of hers.
Oh how skilled Quinda's hands were...
I still thought I should return to the magic hall, but I sure enjoyed being pampered like this.
Vallerynne and Yuxia should be able to process the crystal until I return.
The smelting process was really slow.
We barely melted an eighth of the crystal even after continuously enchanting it for more than nine hours.
It would take us an entire night to obtain a good chunk that would be useful to forge an equipment.
But no matter.
What was important was that we could now process the mysterious crystal.
We would finally benefit from the subquest rewards.
I already drew up plans for the equipment we could make from the material.
Matrias was currently researching another formula on the grimoire that I suspected would be useful for the plans.
With my help, we would extract enough information that could be used in the forging.
It was in the middle of my thoughts that I sensed the fingers massaging my feet began to loosen.
I shifted my gaze and found Quinda staring into space.
"Something troubling you, Quinda?"
I asked the tall firm-looking girl.
The younger maid flinched at my inquiry.
"F-forgive me, mistress!"
Erlin made a hissing sound toward the girl and then bowed to me in her stead.
"Please excuse the young girl, my lady. She's likely tired from working with the gatherers."
Quinda was one of the servants Serize recruited to help the gatherers.
The girl was an excellent diver and able to collect rare ingredients that could only be obtained from the deep ponds in the Kendert Forest.
She said her hometown was located by a beautiful lake and she used to swim there for fun back when she was a child.
If not for her and the only few other swimmers in the gatherer parties, we would not be able to create sufficient amount of antidotes by now.
"If you're tired, then why don't you retire early for tonight, Quinda? I would be returning to the magic hall in a couple of hours. Erlin surely can attend me by herself till then."
I told the girl.
Quinda immediately shook her head.
"It's alright, mistress! I'm not tired! I'll keep attending you!"
Despite what she said, Quinda still seemed troubled.
By the look in her eyes, it was not fatigue bothering her.
"Actually, mistress,"
Quinda spoke up again.
The mysterious problem seemed to be too hard to be rid from her mind already.
She went on when I kept my eyes on her.
"there's something I'd like to say. If mistress doesn't mind."
I nodded to her.
"Speak your mind, Quinda. I promise that I will listen."
The young maid stopped massaging my feet and went on kneeling before me.
The tall firm-looking girl mulled her words for a moment before she spoke up.
"I would like to join the raid team."