"Who are you…?" asked the purple-haired lady with erotic appearance named Misalia to the unknown visitor, accompanied by distrustful expression and unfriendly tone.
Alfraed was the one who saved her from a fatal fall and cured her grevious wounds with healing magic. But, needless to say, she would not be able to recall how he looked like at all due to being badly beaten and unconscious at the time.
"Misalia, this person is Alfraed Logick"
Seeing Misalia's antagonistic reaction that was nowhere near her usual affectionate nature, Valgin came forward to inform her who the visitor really was.
"…I truly apologize for my lack of awareness, and I can't thank you enough for all you have done for my sake"
Misalia was surprised to learn the younger man before her was the one she had been waiting for today, as Alfraed was far from the image of a knight in shining armour she had since just a naive child. Though, whether the reality was better or worse remained an untold secret.
Nonetheless, realizing she had shown an immature and discourteous behaviour to her dear benefactor, she hurriedly bowed to Alfraed, asking for forgiveness and told him how grateful she truly was to him.
"No, there was nothing wrong. And, I just did what any other person would do. Now, may I have the permission to check your condition?"
'What any other person would do?' Misalia unable to imagine any other person she knew who would take care of a stranger to that extent. Furthermore, for a person like Valgin who constantly wary of others to act sociable show Alfraed had pleasant personality. It might be for business purpose, but that fact remained true.
"Yes, please do. But, may I ask to do it here? Currently, I… prefer to… be surrounded by familiar faces…"
"Certainly, anywhere is fine as long as you're comfortable"
"Your understanding is highly appreciated"
Misalia was cruelly assaulted by her client during her session with him, scarring her heart and body. Alfraed could only imagined the trauma she suffered, Valgin also mentioned that the lady would take leaves for some time until she was ready to work again. Thus, it was understandable for her to choose to be here rather than being in a room with someone she barely knew.
"The chairs are ready"
Two personnel brought a pair of chair to the room to be used by Misalia and Alfraed, and everyone else surrounded the two, watching intently, curious on what would happen next. After they properly sat, the later started to hold both the former's hands to start scanning for any oddity in her body using healing magic...….
But, Misalia felt he did not do anything.
"..…Is there something of concern?"
After awhile nothing seemed to start, and Misalia worried if Alfraed actually found something terribly wrong with her.
"Nothing of the sort. I'm simply concentrating. This much is normal"
Alfraed was a peerless user of healing magic, in this regard he was even better than his master. Yet, his given reply just now was a total lie.
In normal circumstance, activating the magic was like breathing to him. Alfraed was that good. Unfortunately, not this time. The embarrassing truth was the young healer had a hard time gathering his thought, and the reason was none other because he was distracted by how soft and pleasant Misalia's hands that he was holding were.
Unlike what happened on the night he saved her, Alfraed was aware of it now. Looking back, this was also the case with Mikaela.
'Damn it! Get a hold of yourself Alfraed Logick!!'
As he reprimanded himself, finally, the healing magic came to live… However, the activated magic burst, exceedingly stronger than needed.
"Eh?"
"…Mmnh…nnh..."
Alfraed's hands shone brightly, and every inch of the room was illuminated. The radiance was so vivid, barely anyone's eyes could stay open.
At the same time, Misalia's body was glowing, she was entirely enshrouded by layer of warm and firm light. The delightful feeling was almost unbearable; it was like she was being touched lovingly by a gentleman, and every known and unknown pleasure point was thoroughly stimulated...
"…So, I don't detect any abnormality in your body"
After who knew how many seconds, the light ceased, and Alfraed told the result of his scanning with a straight face, as if nothing peculiar happened. He definitely would not tell that his magic went out of hand in the beginning.
If the same phenomenon happened on magic with ice, lightning, fire, wind, or other offensive element, the result would be devastating.
"…That's... good news..."
Misalia gave a weak reply. Her breathing was slightly disorganized, and her body felt sensitively hot and wet. Simultaneously, she felt gratified. It was unexpectedly similar to the feeling after a satisfying intimacy.
Misalia believed what just occured was unintentional. But, if this young man able to make experienced woman like herself felt this way by just holding hands, then, he was unexpectedly terrifying, in more ways than one. In her opinion, only a handful of 'models' able to endure such otherworldly handling.
Even if Misalia kept quiet, looking at the state she was in, other 'models' could more or less sense what just happened to her, and they began to take interest on the man who could do such feat.
"Now, as you can see, even healing magic unable to completely erase faint white lines caused by wounds"
MIsalia traced the countless marks all over her body with the palms of her hands, it felt rough, and she deeply saddened by it. Would any client still want to spend their precious time with her after this? Might be. But, not many wanted to embrace goods that had visualization defect, it was only natural.
"So, I'll give these to you..."
Alfraed handed over two small-and-clear jars to her. Seeing goods like these for the first time, everyone was intrigued, Misalia opened one of the jars and found butter-like cream which had a bonny scent.
"...It has nice fragrance. What is this?"
Alfraed explained those were rejuvenation creams to be applied on face and body that would help restore one's skin appearance. Applying it continuously would help in keeping the skin luxuriously soft and hydrated, looked smoother and brighter, and be more firm. It performed like an anti-aging.
For all the women present, what he just said sounded like an impossible dream, a fantasy within fantasy.
"However, I have two things to ask of you"
"...Let me hear them"
Misalia was prepared to do anything to be freed from the lines.
"First, the effect won't be immediate. Actually, I can make them stronger, but it might damage the skin instead. You have to consistently apply these on your skin two times a day, after taking a bath and before sleep until the lines disappear, can you do that?"
"If that what it takes, I will do it without fail"
Upon hearing her answer, Alfraed also added he would provide the creams until the marks truly invisible. So, she did not need to worry about supply.
"Second, if the marks really disappear, be my customer. I have other beauty products that I'm sure will seize your interest"
Misalia was sure this man was going to ask something more mature from her. All the men she knew would devilishly take advantage of this situation to satiate their filthy desire.
"....Excuse me, is that all...?"
To be sure, she asked if there was more that he wanted from her.
"Yes"
"I see. I'm glad to hear that"
Alfraed answered her with a simple affirmation, without implying for other motive, Misalia was convinced this young man was simply a kind individual and charmingly chuckled.
"...Excuse me, can the creams also be used for our skins?" asked one of the 'models' who watched from the beginning.
Alfraed told them these were suitable for any type of skin. Of course, to feel the effect one had to dutifully applied them on a daily basis. But, he ensured it could maintain their skin youthfulness.
"Can we buy them at your store by any chance...?"
"No need to buy them now. I bring many samples. If what I said proven, please be my customers as well!"
Other 'models' were ecstatic hearing his announcement, and Alfraed instructed Hybald to distribute all the creams he brought immediately.
The name of Herbs & Lotions was divided into 'Herbs' and 'Lotions'. The 'Herbs' part represented all products that put focus to safeguard one's life. On the other hand, 'Lotions' represented products to maintain one's beauty. Until now, Alfraed had only been selling products from the 'Herbs' since the customer was well-defined and how to market them was straight forward. He was unsure when and how to start selling products from 'Lotions', until the event two nights before unexpectedly gave him the idea to start promoting them.
Alfraed also planned to distribute several products for his employees to use. After all, promotion started internally. If his employees wanted to buy them again, he could give them a very special price.
"Alfraed, can a guy like me use it also?" asked Valgin, unexpectedly, the products also tickled his intetest.
"It's a unisex product. Anyone can use it. You know, I also use them (though lacking in discipline). Having said that, seems the samples ran out already. No matter, come to my store, I'll give them for you and your wife for free"
"Alfraed, it seems we're going to be good friends after all ihihihihi" said Valgin while letting out an unreserved eerie laughter, a kind of laughter that would sent shiver down one's spine if heard alone in the dark.
In this bright afternoon, Alfraed was able to secure a good deal and promote his other products. Today was very effective, it was a good decision to postpone his materials gathering routine and came here instead.
"Mr. Valgin! There's trouble downstair!"
However, as if disagreeing with what Alfraed just thought, an employee of Valgin came rushing to the room and gave unwanted news...