SWNOVELXO Chapter 71.2
Smooth Hair Thanks To Shampoo?
When Yuuri returned with a cup in hand, Leopold’s sudden question left him blinking repeatedly, looking confused. He seemed to be saying he had no idea what Leopold was talking about. Yuuri had little awareness of being “cheat” or “out of the ordinary”. He knew that having [God’s Eye] or an Explorer job was considered cheating, but he didn’t pay much attention to it or think about it often. It was something he completely forgot about in his daily life, as it wasn’t relevant to his usual routine.
Preparing tea for Ali, Yuuri reached for the cookies on the table. The cookies, which were placed on a shelf in a corner of the bakery, were apparently made by the shop’s daughter. He had a simple yet delicious taste. While cookies with dried fruits were also tasty, these plain butter cookies had a strangely irresistible flavor.
“I’m just doing what I thought would be nice to have.”
“That way of thinking is what’s out of the ordinary.”
“I can’t really argue with that…”
“That’s fine. Just let me know when you’re ready to market it. I’d like to try it myself.”
“Understood.”
Leopold, with his long brown hair neatly braided, had hair that always seemed to shine beautifully, thanks to his meticulous grooming. There wasn’t a split end in sight. Yuuri wondered why someone with such perfect hair would even be interested in this shampoo. But knowing the passion women have for beauty, especially from the women at the base, he kept his thoughts to himself. The passion for beauty among some people can sometimes surpass that of women.
Although Yuuri wasn’t particularly interested in beauty, he did notice things like, “Is the ends getting damaged?” or “Is it feeling a bit coarse?” He sensed that his hair was losing necessary moisture and minerals. To address this, he created shampoo, conditioner, and treatment. It wasn’t until afterward that he realized it had become a significant deal.
The women at the base, especially the overly enthusiastic Lelei, had been so moved by the results that he questioned him and demanded he make enough for everyone. The materials weren’t expensive, and since it was just a matter of tossing them into the alchemy pot, it wasn’t a big issue. What was surprising was that all the shampoo at the base had somehow become Yuuri’s creation.
As for the previous shampoo, Yuuri had given it to the innkeeper next door, saying, “I’m sorry, but…”. Although the inn was only for lodging, he did offer a bath service, so having extra supplies was never a problem. The innkeeper had gratefully accepted it, so it didn’t go to waste.
“Still, it’s amazing how much a single shampoo can change things.”
“Oh, I also use conditioner and treatment.”
“Yes, Yuuri-chan, give me the details.”
“Understood, Leone-san.”
Leopold’s cheerful smile prompted Yuuri to nod obediently. Though there was a slight intimidation in his demeanor, Yuuri didn’t mind. To him, Leopold was just a fun, kind, and enjoyable person. Ali, who had a shaved head and was unaffected by hair issues, simply drank his tea, unaffected. Despite his lack of hair, Ali still washed his scalp with Yuuri’s shampoo because, even though he couldn’t feel a difference, he liked to keep his scalp clean.
“Conditioner and treatment are used after the shampoo.”
“…Is it like a honey pack?”
“Kind of. The treatment moisturizes to protect the hair. The conditioner neutralizes the shampoo’s components to prevent damage to the hair.”
“…Why did you make something like that?”
“…It was common in my hometown.”
Seeing the serious expression on Leopold’s face, Yuuri subtly averted his gaze and muttered to himself, feeling like he might have messed up again. After all, his home bath had shampoo, conditioner, and treatment lined up. So, it seemed only natural for him to make all three. Yuuri occasionally used them himself.
It wasn’t bad, so he reassured himself, though he was greeted with a gentle slap on the head from Ali, who was expressing his frustration with “I told you not to do extra things every time!” Knowing this, Yuuri simply murmured a sincere apology.
“Ali, you don’t need to be upset.”
“Why not, Leopold?”
“Please call me Leone. …Wanting to keep your hair beautiful is a common wish for women. I think Yuuri-chan did a good thing. As long as it gets commercialized.”
“I will. Actually, I have a feeling Harrows might come soon.”
“You’re a man, aren’t you?”
“Stop being so noisy, Ali.”
At the same time, Yuuri murmured about Ali’s incredible sense of smell, Ali was commenting on the fact that Leopold categorized him as a woman. As the familiar argument between the two began, Yuuri listened with a passive attitude. Knowing that he was a former party member and old friend, he thought of it as just another form of communication.
A few days later, under Harrows’ leadership, the shampoo, conditioner, and treatment were launched and became a savior for people struggling with damaged hair.