Solving the Pixies' Problem

We Pixies are born with one of six attributes: Light, Dark, Earth, Water, Fire, or Wind.

Pixie Rune stood atop the stump and began speaking politely.

And because our small bodies make us sensitive to the flow of magic power, we investigate the magic power of each area and examine narrow places, among other things.

Apparently, it was the Pixies who found the land suitable for fields and the land suitable for grazing when the demons and demi-humans came to the northern lands.

As a reward, the Demon Lord of that era tried to grant the Pixies territory.

But because they disliked appearing before people, they apparently chose to receive an autonomous district and live there in hiding.

"We have lived in the forest we were given. In time, Soleil, a Light Pixie, and I—Rune, a Dark Pixie—were born. But Soleil..."

With that, Rune began telling us about her sister.

Rune's younger sister, Soleil, had been frail from birth.

The slightest movement caused her to develop a fever almost immediately.

She could use powerful Light magic, but she would be bedridden for three days afterward.

"Most likely, the excessively powerful Light magic is adversely affecting her body."

Pixie Rune said this.

"Light magic represents 'being' and 'the power of existence.' While it flows smoothly through the body, it becomes a powerful force, but if it stagnates even a little..."

"So the stagnant Light magic places a burden on her body?"

"That is correct. Because Pixies have such small bodies, they are more susceptible to the effects of magic power."

"Isn't there a way to solve the problem?"

"Bathing in a river can temporarily alleviate the symptoms."

Rune pointed beyond the forest.

"By bathing in running water, a Pixie can improve the circulation of her magic power. However... it is only a temporary measure for Soleil. Her magic power stagnates frequently, so she has to bathe several times a day."

"I see."

"But she is so frail that even getting to the river is difficult. She can be swept away even in places where the current is gentle. If only there were something safe that would not burden her body and would allow her to bathe several times a day... But such a thing..."

"Yes. Then please use this."

I took a 'Footbath' out of the Super-Miniature Simple Storage.

"Huh? Wh-what is this?"

"A 'Footbath' that improves magic power circulation. It is something like a bath."

"Eeeeeh!?"

"For now, please try using it."

It was a good thing I had made it as a souvenir yesterday.

If it proved unnecessary, I had planned to give it to the general or Agnis.

A 'Footbath' was meant to be used by placing one's feet inside, but a Pixie could fit her entire body in it.

It also used a Wind magic stone, which represented 'circulation.'

It should work as a safe place to bathe, or even as a bath.

"I once improved Mabel's magic power circulation with this, remember?"

"Yes, Thor-sama... I still use it once every two days."

Mabel said this shyly.

"Thanks to it, the flow of magic power inside my body has become much better. I believe it will help Soleil-san as well."

"I... was allowed to use the 'Footbath' as well..."

Agnis muttered softly.

"It felt wonderful. I think everyone would want one if there were a large 'Footbath.' In a bubbly bath, I would like to wash the back of someone dear to me..."

...A large 'Footbath'?

In other words, a bath with a 'running-water vibration function.'

...Yeah. Nice. Very nice.

Agnis was amazing.

Even I had never thought of that.

A Pixie could use a 'Footbath' as a bath, but ordinary people could only put their feet inside. Taking a bath while being surrounded by those pleasant vibrations would feel wonderful.

Some people might have such poor magic power circulation that a 'Footbath' would not be enough. People whose circulation was even worse than Soleil the Pixie's.

For such people, it would be better to have a bathtub with the same effect as a 'Footbath.'

But making an entire bath would be difficult.

In that case, I could put a magic item that generated vibrations into a bathtub and produce the same effect as a 'Footbath.'

If I installed it in the bath at the Demon Lord's Castle, everyone would be delighted.

I would design it as soon as I returned—

"Thor-sama, Thor-sama."

"Please come back to us, Thor Kanan-sama."

"—Huh?"

I realized that Mabel and Agnis were poking me in the back.

Pixie Rune was staring blankly at me as well.

Oh no. I had been explaining an item, hadn't I?

"Sorry. I was spacing out for a moment."

"N-no, please do not concern yourself."

Pixie Rune nodded.

I decided to continue explaining the 'Footbath.'

"This item warms water with a Fire magic stone and creates a current in the water with a Wind magic stone."

I placed the 'Footbath' on top of the stump.

Pixie Rune cautiously climbed inside.

With no water in the 'Footbath,' Rune drew up both legs and hugged them to her chest. In that position, only her head stuck out above the 'Footbath,' just like the 'sitting with one's knees drawn up' pose from the Heroes' world.

It seemed like the perfect size for a bath.

"Wind magic represents 'circulation.'"

I said this.

"By soaking in water infused with that magic power, you can improve your magic power circulation. First, try using it with only your legs inside. If you feel better, I think you should try soaking your whole body."

"...Thank you. Alchemist-sama."

With that, Rune climbed out of the 'Footbath.'

"I will gratefully use this 'Footbath' for Soleil. I will never forget this favor..."

Rune bowed to me while touching the 'Footbath.'

But she still looked deeply troubled.

"Could there be some other problem?"

"You saw through me, Alchemist-sama..."

Pixie Rune sighed with a troubled expression.

"Soleil cannot fly while wearing clothes."

"She can't fly while wearing clothes?"

"When Pixies fly, we channel magic power through our clothes and make them one with our bodies. That allows us to sense the flow of air through our clothes and ride the wind."

As she spoke, Rune pinched the leaf clothing she was wearing.

"Therefore, Pixies need to wear clothes that conduct magic power easily in order to fly. Living leaves are an extremely conductive material. That is why Pixies wear clothes made from leaves."

"I see..."

"Of course, after being worn for several days, the leaves wither, so we have to return to the forest and have them remade."

That was why Pixies apparently found it difficult to spend time with other races.

When their leaf clothing began to wither, they had to immediately find a replacement.

They had tried various other materials, but in the end, leaves were the easiest to obtain and conducted magic power the best. They were free, too.

I had not known that was the reason. I had thought leaf clothing was simply the Pixies' traditional attire.

Flying was more difficult than I had expected...

"However, for some reason, Soleil cannot channel magic power through leaves properly. I suspect it is due to the characteristics of Light magic..."

"I understand. Then please take this."

I took out some 'Light Magic-Woven Fabric' from the Super-Miniature Simple Storage.

"This is Light-attribute fabric. Since it has the same attribute, it should conduct the magic power of a Light Pixie as well."

"...Huh?"

Pixie Rune's eyes widened.

"L-Light-attribute fabric!? Such a thing exists!?"

"Yes. However, it becomes transparent when magic power passes through it, so I need to do something about that..."

Making new Magic-Woven Fabric here would take time.

Thanks to making the 'UV-Cut Parasol,' I had become capable of making two-layer Magic-Woven Fabric, but I could not make Rune use an experimental product without testing it first.

I would have to borrow Mabel and Agnis's help.

"Mabel, can you make Pixie-sized clothes here?"

"Yes, of course. A maid always carries sewing tools as part of her training!"

Mabel thumped her chest.

As expected of Mabel. She was so reliable.

"Then could you use the 'Light Magic-Woven Fabric' to make clothes for a Light Pixie?"

"Understood. I think I can make Pixie-sized clothes right away. But if I use the 'Light Magic-Woven Fabric,' the clothes will become transparent..."

"What if you layered the fabric or left air between the layers?"

When I had previously made a tent from 'Light Magic-Woven Fabric,' the parts where the cloth overlapped had become less transparent and whitish.

It seemed that layering several sheets or leaving air between them made it more difficult for light to pass through.

"I see... So folding the cloth to make pleats or layering several sheets would work!"

"Also, I think light will have trouble passing through wrinkled sections."

After saying this, I looked toward Agnis.

Her eyes were shining, and she looked as if she desperately wanted to say something.

"What do you think, Agnis-san?"

"Adding a sash would be good! We could also add a collar and fold the skirt into lots of pleats. That would increase the thickness."

"Yes. Then would you mind doing that?"

"Understood. Agnis has made doll clothes before, too!"

"Let's make them together, Agnis-sama."

"Yes, Mabel."

Mabel and Agnis were completely fired up.

I would leave this to the two of them.

I could make Magic-Woven Fabric, but I could not turn it into clothing.

"Then I'll leave it to you."

"Understood!"

"I'll give it a try!"

With that, Mabel and Agnis returned to the carriage.

"...I had no idea there was fabric with the Light attribute..."

Before I knew it, I heard a faint voice near the ground.

Pixie Rune was sitting on the stump and trembling.

"Under the current Demon Lord, Lukie Evergarden-sama, the Demon Lord's Territory has progressed this far..."

"No, I only made fabric like that very recently."

"Recently?"

"I've only been in the Demon Lord's Territory for a little over ten days."

"...I-I see."

Pixie Rune opened her eyes wide and looked at me.

Then she slowly spread her wings, lifted herself into the air, and—

"I want to leave the forest and see the world, too."

"The world?"

"Yes. I want to see the world you are changing, Alchemist-sama, and become involved in the world as it changes. Would you lend me your strength?"

"All right. Then I'll give you Light, Dark, Earth, Water, Fire, and Wind Magic-Woven Fabric—"

I began to say, then stopped.

Come to think of it, Chancellor Kelv-san had warned me. Giving items to individuals was fine, but I needed permission before distributing magic items to a large number of people.

"Could you give me a little time? I need Chancellor Kelv-san's permission before I can give you a large amount of Magic-Woven Fabric."

I said this.

I could not break my promise to Lukie and Kelv-san.

"When I return to the mansion, I'll send an application to the Demon Lord's Castle. Please wait until the reply arrives. If I receive permission, I'll give the Pixies Magic-Woven Fabric of the other attributes as well."

"U-understood!"

Rune said this and floated gently into the air.

She came right in front of me... and kissed me on the forehead.

"On behalf of all the Pixies, I offer you our thanks. To the one changing the way Pixies live, we offer our utmost respect and loyalty. Whenever you need the Pixies' strength, please tell us. As your wings, we will fly anywhere on the continent."

"You can do that once the Light Pixie's problem is solved."

"Yes, Alchemist-sama."

Pixie Rune nodded repeatedly with a serious expression.

She was so close that it felt as though she were headbutting my forehead. It did not hurt, though.

Somehow, it struck me as funny, and I could not help smiling.

Pixies really were such a serious and dutiful race.

A little while later, Mabel and Agnis emerged from the carriage.

The 'Not-So-Transparent Light Magic-Woven Fabric Clothes' they had made were perfect.

Even when I held them on my palm and looked through them, I could only vaguely make out the shape of my hand.

I thought she could wear them without feeling embarrassed... Probably.

"Since the attribute is the same... I think Soleil will be able to channel her magic power through them."

Rune smiled as she held the 'Not-So-Transparent Clothes.'

"That child seemed to have a hard time wearing clothes made from leaves. Perhaps ordinary clothes are not good for those whose Light magic power tends to stagnate. However, in this day and age, even Pixies cannot fly around naked..."

"Pixies in the Mythic Age did not wear clothes, did they?"

"No. We only began wearing clothes after the otherworldly Heroes appeared. Those people fired off powerful magic with booming explosions, so we were frightened of the sparks and fragments of stone flying through the air. That was why Pixies began wearing clothes, too."

So that was how it had happened...

The Heroes really had been beings on an entirely different scale.

Apparently, they could handle powerful Light magic without suffering any ill effects. They must have managed their health with extraordinary items from another world.

While discussing this, we carried the 'Footbath' and the 'Not-So-Transparent Clothes' to the entrance of the forest.

I also gave them some spare 'Light Magic-Woven Fabric.'

Using the 'Not-So-Transparent Clothes' as a model, the Pixies should be able to make clothes themselves.

Of course, I also gave them the nuts, milk, and magic stones I had brought as souvenirs.

They were gifts for the race that would soon become our neighbors, as well as a get-well gift for Soleil, the Light Pixie.

"Thank you very much, Alchemist-sama. And all of you."

At the entrance to the forest, Pixie Rune bowed her head.

"We will never forget this favor. Once Soleil is feeling better, we will come to greet you together."

"Yes. We'll be waiting."

"If you ever wish to give the Pixies an order, please leave a letter on the stump."

Pixie Rune flew through the air and came in front of me before saying this.

"We Pixies will obey your orders, Alchemist-sama. If there is anything you wish us to do, please do not hesitate to tell us! Pixies are a dutiful race who take joy in repaying favors..."

After saying goodbye to Rune, who waved her hand vigorously as she flew through the air—

Mabel, Agnis, and I boarded the carriage and headed to our next destination.