The Author's POV

"Nope, this doesn't work as well."

Melissa ruffled her hair and tossed a test tube into a nearby bin before shifting her focus to a test tube rack that contained five additional test tubes that were arranged in an orderly fashion.

As she carefully examined each test tube, she leaned her body forward and strained her eyes in order to see more clearly.

"...Looks like these ones are also failures."

Melissa observed the test tubes for five minutes before shaking her head in disappointment.

Her body then slumped down on the chair behind her as she rolled across the floor. Tucking her chin under her hand she mused.

'I am lacking something. Even after experimenting with the new herbs that grow on this planet, I am still unable to locate the herb with the desired properties.'

Melissa was the only person who remained in the castle while the others went to the treasuries of this planet and looted everything there was to loot.

Melissa conducted research and experiments with the plants that she had gathered over the course of her time on the planet while the others were in the process of exploring the treasuries.

She had access to a wide variety of plants and herbs, but as she investigated their properties, she discovered that the vast majority of them possessed qualities that she did not find desirable.

At least, for the project, she was currently working on.

Worse, the herbs the others brought back from the treasuries proved useless to her, as evidenced by the failed test tubes in front of her.

"...Is this trip going to be in vain?"

Melissa sighed in disappointment as she shook her head once more.

Just as she was about to stand up from her chair, the door to the lab opened and a familiar figure walked in.

"How's the research going?"

The person was none other than Ren who had just returned from his trip to the treasury.

"Same as before."

"As in?"

"As in nothing happened."

Melissa didn't even glance at Ren as she continued to sit on her seat and blankly stared at the test tubes in front of her.

It was only after she felt Ren's presence beside her that she continued speaking.

"Are you here to give me the plants and herbs that you've collected from the treasury?"

"Yes, how smart."

Ren waved his hand in the air and tossed a small ring in Melissa's direction.

Grabbing the ring, Melissa finally looked up at Ren and smirked.

"What's this? You finally decided to propose to me?"

"You wish."

"No, not really."

Ren's mouth visibly twitched, and Melissa chuckled softly before gripping the ring in her hand.

"Thanks."

up from her seat and walked toward the table that held the test tubes. Propping her body on the table with body hands

hope there's something useful

"Don't worry."

from behind as the sound of his footsteps drifted away

the planet. If you can't find it there, I doubt you'll be able to find the herb you're looking for anywhere

"Alright."

gripped the ring tightly

see if I can make do with what you've given me. If I can't find it here, then don't expect me to go to another planet

should

the room and came to a halt at the door. He gave her another look before saying, "Just do your best. If you can truly solve the mana

Clank!

and silence returned to

"Haa..."

hands. A thin smile formed on her face as she gazed at the ring in her hand and

have a lot of

***

days continued to pass, and during that time there were discernible changes

we don't have

"No, not there!"

"That's wrong!"

came from the dwarves that stood atop the castle walls and barked orders at the demons and orcs that were working tirelessly each day and night as they moved large boulders with their

and came directly from the mine that was located not so far away from the

furnace that was at least five times the height of a typical orc and processed the ores into metals that would later be used by the dwarven engineers who stationed themselves in various areas around

"What are they doing?"

behind me as I stood atop the castle walls and observed the operation below

camouflage system that will cover the entire

responded without turning

you trying to hide the

"Yes."

calmly nodded

Suriol that the demons are most likely

"You think so?"

don't think, I'm

eyes squinted as my attention shifted toward the large

lead up to the war, Suriol divulged our potentially suspicious activities to the demons. According to what Suriol has said, he has remained in communication with them ever since and has regularly updated them on all of his

Suriol and communication between him and

instantly understood what I was trying to say

head to gaze at him before nodding my

chance that they might send some demons over this

the

the plans I had for this planet would go down the

have Suriol tell them that the situation is under control, it is likely that they will still

portion of the land has been

that were to happen, then I would most likely have to

something that I wanted as I had already invested an astronomical amount of resources in

had already anticipated this

off before I could say

finally understand why you told me to trash

and as it did so, it caused his hair to

'Handsome bastard.'

I momentarily felt jealous.

...Only momentarily.

there's no chance of stopping the demons from scouting the planet, you're just going to make it seem like the demons lost and that we escaped right after defeating the demons and looting the planet whole. Plus, with the fact that the demons don't care about the ores of the planet, they will probably abandon

"That's exactly it."

across my lips as I couldn't help myself from