I Became a Magical Cheat Loli Witch

One of my hobbies was potion making and it was something I do in my free time in the research tower.

I harvested the medicinal herbs I had been growing on this land and processed them before using them in making all sorts of potions.

Then, I had these potions distributed to the other settlements where they were used as medicine.

Recently, the Lamias also joined in to help me out due to their knowledge of medicinal herbs, and now, we were seeing a boom in the production of potions.

With surplus quantity on hand, we decided to add them into our trade with the Gard Beastkin Nation where skilled potion makers were few and far in between Right now, a problem has occurred in one corner of the research tower and was brought up to me.

So I heard from Baretta, who spoke in an uncharacteristically cold voice.

Behind her, the three lamias she brought were neatly prostrating on the ground side-by-side.

< < > > "......

Can you tell me the exact details first?

" I felt a headache coming up as I received their desperate apology as they kept kneeling on the ground.

I pressed my finger on my temple to endure it and asked for the reason.

Stealing was a problem indeed, but I was puzzled as to why she brought this matter to me.

"Err, there are rules established on what to do in such cases, right?

" 'You can also treat them as fraudsters,' Baretta further added.

"Please forgive us!

It's all my fault, so please don't exile my brethren!

" No, I wasn't thinking of doing anything of that sort, I mentally thought.

Usually, it was Teto who played the role of easing the tension but since she had gone out to take part in the mock battles, the atmosphere in the room became heavy.

I should first see what their reasons were.

It was hard to make a judgment otherwise.

"Why did you guys steal medicine?

I'm sure it should have been available on all settlements, no?

" "Umm......

When making potions, we would sometimes cut our fingers with knives accidentally, or get burned by liquid......

" Their reason was surprisingly feminine.

Apparently, they used the medicine for treating their wounds or burn marks in the beginning.

But at that time, they noticed that the ointment in the medicine was not only effective in treating old burn scars, but it also improved their skin condition.

"We thought that if we use it to treat the burn marks and make our skins smoother and glossier, we might be able to attract men!

I'm really sorry!

" " "Sorry!

" " "A, Ahh, well, it is quite a struggle for female demonkins, huh......?

" Still, I was really shocked though.

Like, I never expected an ointment meant to treat burn marks would be used as a beauty cream.

For the female-only demon races, the only way they could rear a child was to get together with the males of another race.

The female-only demon races of the plant variety like Dryads or Alarunes didn't hold any interest in the opposite gender, but it couldn't be said to be the same with the other female races like the Queen bees and the Arachne.

They had a history of kidnapping travelers for mating, and Lamias, too, were known to create incense to elevate the mood and obtain seeds.

Returning to the present topic, the three lamia girls tried to sneak out some ointment they treated as a beauty product but was meant for injuries like burns.

"And I wondered what happened, I assume you already received your scolding from Baretta?

" " " "Y, Yes......

" " " It wouldn't be unusual for a person who was injured during work to get delayed treatment due to the medicine being insufficient after being stolen.

"Let's see.

I'll have you help out in my work for a while and serve as test subjects for some medicines as punishment.

" " " "Understood......

We humbly accept.

" " " "Alright, you can go back for today.

" After I sent the Lamia girls back, Baretta spoke.

"Maybe.

But, it surprised me that there is a demand for these ointments as a beauty cream.

Though it's hardly as effective as the real one.

I'll need to improve it a bit further so I might as well develop skin care products.

" Right now, there are three skill holders extremely interested in beauty products.

If I merely punished them and let things continue as they were, I was sure that the stealing of these ointments would continue to happen in the same way.

In that case, producing true beauty cream with their cooperation would help in preventing theft instead.

"Let's see, the ointment was made from medicinal herbs effective against burn marks as the core material, now I gotta research for some new materials I can add to it.

"