Meanwhile, after Carius had left.
Rellia immediately brought up the alchemy lottery screen and pressed the crystal charge button.
'How long has it been since I last spent real money...'
Originally, she was one of those people who believed that the true flower of gaming was grinding.
However, spending real money was also an indispensable charm of gaming.
As she pressed the charge button, the alchemy tool immediately displayed a speech bubble.
[Would you like to charge crystals? ( •̀ᴗ•́ )و ̑̑]
"Oh!"
[How much would you like to charge? (*°▽°*)]
Just in case, Rellia set aside one gold coin, 100,000 shillings, as emergency funds and placed the rest on the table.
"All of this."
[Kya! Proceeding with the charge! ✧*｡٩(ˊᗜˋ*)و✧*｡]
Rellia narrowed her eyes. The alchemy tool seemed particularly excited... was it just her imagination?
After a moment, the alchemy tool's speech bubble and system window appeared in succession.
[Master! 4,000 crystals charged successfully! ୧(๑•̀⌄•́๑)૭ 400 bonus crystals have been added!]
[System: 4,400 crystals charged successfully!]
At the same time, the gold coins placed on the table vanished like mist. Rellia watched the scene without even blinking.
"...."
Somehow it felt unfair and wasteful, but what mattered was gathering materials.
Though she regretted the money, seeing her plumped-up crystals gave her peace of mind.
'Alright... I need to earn much more than the amount I invested.'
Rellia burned with determination and first expanded her inventory. Then, she unlocked the common materials.
In particular, she activated the materials for the magic potion that could cure her grandmother's dementia—Flame Ash—first.
With a cheerful sound effect, a gold dragon appeared and began flying around. It had started gathering materials.
'Good. Starting today, I'll clear recipes like crazy and gather materials.'
Perhaps because Carius had finally set aside his suspicions about her, and even comforted her past wounds, she felt more energized than before.
After expanding the inventory and unlocking materials, the crystals were nearly depleted.
'What should I make to earn back the investment...?'
Fortunately, she could create items and bring them into reality. That meant she could recoup the money spent here.
Rellia searched for items she could craft in abundance with the available materials and began making them.
After setting the crafting in motion, she examined every corner of the game screen.
Originally, the story of 'Alchemy Lottery' was about the protagonist running a lottery shop before changing their business to an alchemy potion shop.
In short, it was a business game where you sold alchemy potions and tools.
However, the business system was currently blocked.
The customers who traded in the game were villagers—animal residents, elves, humans, and various others.
Though they always gave quests like robbery attempts, the rewards from affinity were quite substantial.
But now, the affinity system with those residents was also blocked.
'The problem is the special materials...'
The ways to obtain special materials were through business achievement rewards and the affinity system.
'When will these open?'
Just then, a speech bubble appeared before her eyes without permission again.
[Master! Do you wish to reactivate the 'Business' system and 'Bond Affinity' system? If so, you must clear more than 50% of the newly added recipes! =͟͟͞͞(๑•̀д•́๑)]
"...."
Wait. What?
The newly added recipes in this other world seemed to be roughly 300. And among those, she had only cleared about 20 here and there....
Including the ones with gathered materials that hadn't been crafted yet, it would total about 30.
In that case....
"...But recipes keep getting added. Aren't new ones added every time we go to a new region?"
Then she would either never go to other regions, or never clear them forever.
She had to choose one.
[◔ ̯◔...]
"Are you joking right now? You're telling me to just gather materials forever! Then unlock all the recipes that might be added in the future right now at once!"
[Would you like to unlock all hidden recipes? Full recipe disclosure requires 10,000 crystals! (ง•̀ө•́)ง✧]
"Ten thousand crystals... that's ten million shillings... so ten million won? Hey, you scammer!"
[=͟͟͞͞(꒪ᗜ꒪ ‧̣̥̇)]
"Ten million won, whose dog's name is that? This is really...!"
[If all recipes are revealed, the 'Special Affinity' and 'Special Recipe' systems will open without needing to clear more than 50%! ୧(๑•̀⌄•́๑)૭]
"Special affinity? Special recipe? What are those... You keep adding things that make me angry...."
She needed to think carefully.
First, for the final item, the Philosopher's Stone, unlocking all recipes was important.
Moreover, for special materials that couldn't be obtained even through cash purchases, she needed the residents' bond affinity and business achievements.
It was a situation where she absolutely had to unlock all recipes.
'Plus, since I don't have to make and clear everything once, it's actually a gain.'
If she didn't want that, she would have to travel around every corner of this other world personally.
Thinking about it that way, it didn't seem like an unreasonably expensive amount.
But one thing was certain: while the value of won and shillings was similar... the value of crystals had become higher than in her previous life.
[Would you like to charge crystals? ( •̀ᴗ•́ )و ̑̑]
"I have no money...."
For now, she needed to use up the materials she had saved to make items and sell them first.
'I should ask Grandfather for help with a sales channel....'
Rellia let out a deep sigh.
There was too much to do.
"...."
Suddenly, Rellia turned her head to look at the scenery outside the large window.
When she returned from the temple to the main estate, it had been winter. Now, somehow, it was spring.
'Right, let's cheer up and start by earning money.'
Rellia approached the window and observed the approaching spring scenery with joy.
Just having a place where she could live peacefully was something to be grateful for, and she had gained a family who cherished her.
Moreover, her wish from her previous life had somehow come true, so it couldn't be better.
'I need to work even harder from now on. Until I can meet my friends....'
The scenery outside the window flowed by swiftly.
Summer arrived, rain fell, leaves fell and snow swirled. During that time, Rellia welcomed the changing seasons busier than anyone else.
Thus, the flow of seasons repeated many times. Before she knew it, Rellia had turned thirteen.
Finally, the period when the battle against the Mad Dragons would begin in earnest had arrived.
She sent her uncle, with whom she had grown close, to the battlefield, and Rellia prayed for her friends, her uncle, and everyone else.
That everyone might return safely.
While many more seasons passed, the war with the Mad Dragons continued.
Rellia spent her time busy saving money and gathering materials like someone addicted to gaming.
Thanks to her grandfather's support, she was able to start selling alchemy materials and save money diligently.
Duke Superion initially asked Rellia, who wanted to sell alchemy potions:
"Little one, are you doing this because you need pocket money? Then ask this grandfather anytime. How much do you need?"
"...."
Ten million won, Grandfather....
Of course, the Superion family was very wealthy, so if she asked for ten million shillings as pocket money, he would readily give it.
However, Rellia didn't want to do that.
It was too much money for a child to receive as pocket money.
If asked what she would use it for, she had no answer.
'How do I explain that I'm spending it on a game... Explaining it would be even harder.'
So Rellia made an excuse with effort.
"I... want to become a cool person who does big business later. So I'm trying business in advance."
Hearing that, her grandfather said she was admirable and promised to spare no support.
It took quite a long time to establish a sales channel. This was because selling safely without getting caught by the temple was important.
The first alchemy potion Rellia released to the market was a stamina recovery potion.
The response was hot enough that she would have been tracked immediately if all eyes of the temple hadn't been focused on the battle with the Mad Dragons.
This was because the effects were definitely good.
Rellia felt dazed by the response but rejoiced looking at the first settlement she received a few months ago.
And thanks to that, she was finally able to unlock all recipes.
[Unlocking all recipes. ٩(*•̀ᴗ•́*)و]
[System: Optimization in progress--]
After waiting a moment, messages appeared in succession.
[All alchemy recipes unlocked! 'Resident Bond Affinity' and 'Business System' are reactivated! o(*ﾟ∇ﾟ)ﾉ]
['Special Affinity' and 'Special Recipe' systems ready! (੭•̀ᴗ•̀)੭]
[Now you can expand the dragon nest, Master! (｡•̀ᴗ-)✧ Shall we raise more new dragons?]
'Oh....'
Rellia stuck out her tongue looking at the numerous newly added recipes.
'When will I make all of these once? And there are so many new materials too....'
But to create the 'Philosopher's Stone,' she needed to make every recipe at least once.
First, Rellia started with what was most urgent. That was starting business within the game.
As soon as it unlocked, the cute animal residents and elves she hadn't seen in a while came with various requests.
'The dragons are going to get incredibly busy now.'
She had to sell alchemy potions in reality and sell potions to residents in the game as well.
So naturally, the dragons procuring materials would become busy.
Still, seeing that the nest was added, it seemed she could raise a few more.
Rellia went to the screen where she managed the dragons bringing in materials.
Currently, the baby dragons Rellia had were a Gold Dragon, Red Dragon, and White Dragon—three in total.
And next to them, a volcano-shaped illustration had been added in gray. A new nest.
When she pressed it, the alchemy tool's speech bubble popped up again.
[Would you like to expand the dragon nest? (•̀ ▽ •́ )φ]
'Wait. Don't tell me again...'
[Nest expansion requires 500 crystals! Would you like to charge crystals? ( •̀ᴗ•́ )و ̑̑]
"...."
Somehow she felt angry, but since she had earned money for this, it was ambiguous to get angry.
Rellia charged more crystals with a sour expression.
[Dragon nest expansion complete! If you leave food out, dragons will appear! Would you like to purchase food? ╰(*°▽°*)╯]
"Ugh! I'm so mad!"
Rellia clenched her fists. She almost threw her precious mother's necklace.
"Hoo...."
After taking a deep breath, she saw that the food to lure new dragons cost 100 crystals. Rellia pressed the purchase button while trembling.
'...Since it's come to this, I hope a rare one appears.'
Rellia suppressed her anger and checked the newly added systems.
'By the way, what is special affinity?'
[Special affinity is conducted through hidden quests! It appears when you reach maximum affinity with all residents! (୨୧ ❛ᴗ❛)✧]
'Ugh, so annoying....'
Since it wasn't immediately necessary, Rellia just closed the screen.
It wasn't that Rellia spent every day busily only playing games.
She looked after her grandmother and grandfather's health, acted spoiled with her uncle and aunt who had become closer than before, and got to know the servants of the estate.
Just as children of that age grow through various experiences, Rellia spent such time as well.
Thus, the happy times flowed very quickly, and before she knew it, Rellia's nineteenth birthday arrived.
And some time later, the good news that the war with the Mad Dragons had ended spread throughout the world. It was a slightly earlier period than in the original work.
03. The Nineteen-Year-Old Friends Again
Rellia, who had quietly closed her eyes, enjoyed the maid's touch as she combed her hair.
"Miss, it's done."
At Becky's words, when she opened her eyes, she saw herself in the mirror with her hair neatly tied up.
"Our miss, when Master Carius returns, he won't recognize you at all."
"...Is that so?"
Rellia awkwardly touched her hair.
Well, that seemed likely.
When Uncle Carius left, Rellia was thirteen years old. And now six years had passed, and she was nineteen.
Unlike then, her outer appearance was perfectly that of an adult. Though some traces of youth still remained.
"Now you must change your clothes quickly."
"...Yes."
Rellia looked at her matured self in the mirror and then changed her clothes at Becky's urging.
Becky dressed Rellia in a silver-gray dress and her eyes sparkled.
Over the past nine years, this lovely young miss she had served had changed noticeably.
When they first met, she was a girl unusually small and thin for her age... now she had become a dazzlingly beautiful young lady.
Her silver hair was as brilliant as if moonlight had been scattered and sprinkled, and her pure white, transparent skin was soft as if touching silk.
Moreover, her beautiful figure with elegant curves attracted attention enough to captivate anyone, regardless of gender.
Becky felt fulfilled in her chest like a mother who had raised the world's most wonderful daughter.
For the past nine years, Becky had taken care of everything—bathing, feeding, putting to sleep—so it was natural for her to feel parental emotions.
Perhaps that was why Becky was having the same worries that ordinary parents would have.
Becky carefully fastened the buttons on Rellia's dress and asked:
"Miss, but why did you refuse the coming-of-age ceremony that the Duke offered to hold for you? If he just opens the banquet... surely fine gentlemen will send you piles of marriage proposals."
"Hmm...."
That was exactly why she refused.
Ordinarily, nobles in this other world were legally treated as adults when they turned nineteen.
And women who turned nineteen held a coming-of-age ceremony to commemorate it. Though it was called a celebration banquet, it was essentially no different from a matchmaking event.
Opening that banquet meant 'I'm now an adult, so go ahead and propose to me.'
Duke Superion also worried about whether he should hold that banquet that all noble women went through.
So he asked Rellia, 'Little one, shall I hold a coming-of-age ceremony for you?'
However, the grandfather asking the question looked like someone who didn't have even a speck of thought about marrying Rellia off.
When Rellia refused, her grandfather openly let out a sigh of relief.
Anyway, even if he had tried to hold a banquet, the process wouldn't have been easy.
'Because Superion's vassals don't acknowledge me.'
Only Superion's immediate family knew that Rellia was Elizabeth's daughter.
The cadet branches and vassal families viewed Rellia's existence unfavorably.
Naturally so. She lived in the main estate and enjoyed every status just because she resembled Elizabeth in appearance, so there was no way they would view her kindly.
The vassals wanted to remove Rellia from that position and push their own daughters in instead.
However, the nominal reason for bringing Rellia in was because of the Duchess.
The Duchess would call Rellia 'Elizabeth' whenever she saw her and cherish her, so the vassals had no choice.
Moreover, as Rellia grew older year by year, she increasingly grew to look exactly like Elizabeth.
Now not only the Duchess with dementia, but even Duke Superion and Elizabeth's siblings, Xenon and Artias, acknowledged it.
Additionally, the older vassals would also be startled whenever they encountered Rellia.
Rellia also consciously and happily accepted the fact that she was increasingly resembling her mother as she looked at her mother's portrait and the mirror.
Even to her own eyes, she and her mother resembled each other greatly. So sometimes Rellia would endlessly gaze at the mirror.
"Becky... does Becky want me to get married?"
"Of course! I want you to meet someone who cherishes you more than anyone and live happily loved."
Becky said with her hands clasped together as if dreaming. Rellia let out a deep sigh.
"I'm sorry to crush your dreams, but... I have no intention of marrying for the time being."
"Oh my... why, Miss? Are the gentlemen in the territory not to your liking? Then you can go to the capital!"
"Hmm...."
She would go to the capital, but not for marriage.
The most important moment in Rellia's life plan was starting right now.
The past nine years had been nothing more than a period of preparing everything for the future that was now approaching.
That was because there were so, so many things to do.
First, she had to complete the Alzheimer's treatment for her grandmother.
'There's one ingredient left.'
She had succeeded in gathering all the special materials, but one was missing.
It was an ingredient called 'Crystal of Memories.'
That ingredient alone couldn't be found no matter what she did.
Fortunately, her grandmother's condition hadn't worsened. It was repeating cycles of improvement and deterioration.
'Crystal of Memories.'
There was one place she somehow suspected where to find that ingredient.
'Mom's cabin... that place is suspicious.'
She felt she could find the ingredient if she went there.
When she first went to the cabin, the recipe for that treatment potion didn't exist. So she guessed the ingredients hadn't appeared.
Moreover, there was more to do.
She had to prevent the future deaths of her grandfather and Uncle Xenon, and also prepare for Aunt Artias falling into debt.
'But Aunt doesn't seem interested in gambling at all....'
Perhaps the future had changed because of Rellia. Anyway, there was more to do.
'I need to take the original male lead, Route's holy artifact.'
That was one of the most important tasks.
The war with the Mad Dragons had ended, so soon he would return to the capital.
For that, Rellia had to go to the capital without delay.
'I need to find the ingredient for Grandmother's treatment too....'
She absolutely had to go for both purposes.
With this many plans, Rellia's life was starting now.
She had to move diligently day by day.
And tonight, she planned to tell her grandfather that she wanted to go to the capital.
'He wouldn't refuse to let me go, would he?'
Her grandfather was always overprotective of her.
"It's done, Miss."
"Thank you, Becky."
At Becky's words, Rellia looked at her reflection in the mirror.
The silver-gray dress had no cumbersome decorations and didn't tightly constrict her entire waist line, making it comfortable to move in.
"Miss, I have nothing more to wish for now. I only hope you meet a truly good gentleman and are loved. However, please keep one thing in mind."
"...What is it?"
"The Crique family is absolutely, absolutely not allowed."
At Becky's firm words, the corner of Rellia's mouth lifted slightly.
The Crique family was one of Superion's vassal families.
Unlike other vassals, they had been friendly to Rellia from the beginning.
However, the reason Becky opposed them so strongly was because of their son.
The Crique couple had one son who had come to play at the estate when Rellia was about thirteen.
At that time, that boy looked at Rellia and spat out the words "A fake acting above her station!" and insulted her.
Moreover, while saying those words, he threw sand in Rellia's face.
Becky had witnessed that scene, so it seemed he had earned her thorough hatred.
When the Duke, who had been informed by Becky, became very angry, the Crique couple apologized in bewilderment.
Rellia had smiled and said it was fine, worried that her grandfather's relationship with the vassals would deteriorate because of her.
'After that incident, the Crique couple sent their son away to the capital entirely.'
Nobles and vassals of outer territories often sent their children to the capital for education.
After all, spending adolescence in the capital allowed them to make many good connections.
Anyway, that Crique couple's son had recently returned to the territory and....
Somehow he encountered Rellia by chance in the territory's downtown and proposed marriage on the spot.
He said he had fallen in love at first sight.
However, as soon as he saw Becky's face, his complexion turned pale.
Becky jumped up in fury and dragged Rellia to the carriage with a knight.
Recalling that day, Rellia patted Becky's shoulder.
"Don't worry, Becky."
Anyway, that man wasn't Rellia's type either.
If she had to specify her taste... Rellia preferred men with large frames and tall stature over the lean Crique heir.
Becky, still anxious at Rellia's words, studied her face.
"Let's go quickly. Grandfather must be waiting."
"Yes, Miss."