Transmigrated into Eroge as the Simp, but I Refuse This Fate

"Now, watch carefully."

Elysia straightened, her focus sharpening even further—if that was even possible.

"This brew—you will be the one making it from now on, whenever I am training. That means you need to understand every step, every detail, and if necessary, take notes."

She gave a curt nod. "Understood."

"Then let's begin."

Damien rolled up the sleeves of his black shirt, his movements unhurried yet precise as he reached for the first bundle of herbs. Each one had a specific role, a specific function in this concoction. There was no room for error.

He picked up the Titan's Bark first, the toughest of the six. Its fibrous structure made it resistant to breaking down naturally, so it needed to be pulverized first.

"Start with this," he instructed, holding up the thick, bark-like material. "It's the key to reinforcing the body, preventing fractures when I push past my limits."

Placing it in the high-grade mortar, he grabbed the enchanted pestle and began grinding. The mana-infused tool made the process far smoother than it would've been otherwise, breaking the bark down into fine, powdery shavings.

"Never rush this step," he continued. "If the bark isn't ground properly, it won't dissolve into the mixture, and it will lose most of its effectiveness."

Elysia nodded once, observing without a word.

Once he was satisfied with the texture, he set it aside and moved to the Frostcap Petals and Emberleaf—two polar opposites in nature.

"These two," Damien said, motioning to them, "are the core of the mixture's balancing act. The Frostcap Petals help suppress inflammation, keeping my muscles from tearing apart too fast. Emberleaf, on the other hand, keeps my internal temperature stable while burning through fat and energy at an accelerated rate."

He placed the petals in the mortar, grinding them separately into a fine dust, before carefully mixing them together in measured portions.

Next, Damien reached for the Starfire Root and Nightshade Thistle—the true catalysts of the brew.

"Now, here's where things get more delicate," he said, grabbing the mana-infused distillation flask. "These two herbs don't just get crushed—they need to be extracted carefully."

Starfire Root, deep crimson in color, had a regenerative effect. It wasn't just about healing—it stimulated muscle growth, something that would be crucial in making sure his body didn't collapse under the constant stress.

Nightshade Thistle, however, was different. It was inherently toxic in high doses, but when mixed properly, it became a controlled stressor—a herb that tricked the body into pushing past its natural pain tolerance.

Elysia's sharp eyes flickered ever so slightly at that, but she didn't question it.

Damien placed both ingredients into the temperature-controlled cauldron, adjusting the heat to precisely 72 degrees—the optimal temperature for drawing out their essence without corrupting the potency.

As the liquid began to seep from the herbs, he poured the extracts into separate glass vials, swirling them lightly to test their consistency. The deep red of the Starfire Root glowed faintly, while the dark violet hue of the Nightshade Thistle pulsed with its latent toxicity.

"Never mix these directly," Damien warned. "If combined too early, the reaction becomes unstable, and the whole brew turns into poison."

Elysia gave another nod. "Noted."

With all the elements prepared, Damien now moved to the final and most delicate stage—combining everything in the correct sequence.

He placed the powdered Titan's Bark, Frostcap Petals, and Emberleaf into the cauldron first, stirring with slow, deliberate motions. The water within took on a deep, earthy tone, the scent of the herbs filling the air.

Next came the Hollow Ivy, the last and most mysterious component. It was neither a catalyst nor a reinforcement—it was an amplifier, something that ensured the other ingredients blended seamlessly. It dissolved almost instantly into the mixture, creating a faint shimmer along the surface of the liquid.

Then, carefully—very carefully—Damien added the Starfire Root extract in small increments, watching as the mixture thickened slightly, taking on a richer hue.

And finally…

The Nightshade Thistle extract.

He held the vial above the mixture, his grip steady as he let exactly three drops fall into the cauldron. The reaction was immediate—a faint hiss, a ripple of mana-infused energy spreading through the liquid.

Elysia's gaze remained locked onto the cauldron, but Damien could feel the way she subtly tensed at the sight of the reaction.

"Relax," he said, smirking. "That's normal."

She exhaled slightly, but said nothing.

Once the blend had stabilized, Damien carefully lowered the heat, allowing the mixture to cool to precisely 38 degrees—a temperature that ensured all the properties remained intact.

Finally, he poured the finished concoction into several small vials, sealing them with enchanted stoppers to prevent degradation.

He lifted one, tilting it slightly to observe the faint golden-red shimmer beneath the surface.

A perfect brew.

Damien turned, holding up the vial. "This," he said, "is what you'll be making from now on."

Elysia took a step closer, her eyes flicking between him and the mixture.

"Understood," she murmured, taking in every detail.

Damien smirked. "Good. Then I hope your memory is flawless—because if you mess this up, I'll definitely know."

Elysia didn't so much as blink. "I will not make any mistake."

Damien chuckled, rolling the vial between his fingers.

"We'll see."

Damien stepped back, arms crossed, watching as Elysia took his place at the workstation. Her movements were deliberate, precise—completely free of hesitation. She had absorbed every instruction he had given her, committing it to memory without a single wasted effort.

He observed her closely as she ground the Titan's Bark with smooth, even pressure, ensuring it became a fine powder before setting it aside. The Frostcap Petals and Emberleaf followed, their distinct properties carefully measured and blended in exact proportions.

When she moved on to the Starfire Root and Nightshade Thistle, he leaned slightly forward, watching for any sign of doubt. There was none. Her hands remained steady as she extracted the liquids, adjusting the heat precisely as he had instructed.

And when it came time to mix them—

Three drops.

Exactly.

The reaction hissed across the surface of the brew, just as before. Elysia didn't flinch.

Damien's smirk deepened as he watched the golden-red liquid settle into the same flawless consistency as his own batch.

She had done it.

On the first try.

"Of course she did."

With clear instructions and an unwavering focus, there was never a reason for her to fail.

As she carefully poured the finished brew into vials and sealed them, Damien gave a small nod of approval.

He met her gaze, his expression serious. "From now on, you are going to create this brew."

Elysia merely nodded, but before she could speak, he raised a hand.

"But listen carefully," he said, his voice lowering slightly. "No matter what happens—no matter what you see—do not waver."

Elysia's brows knit together, the first sign of anything resembling concern.

Damien continued, his tone firm. "You may think I'm in pain. You may think something is wrong. You may even be tempted to inform Father or Mother."

His eyes darkened. "Do. Not."

A flicker of uncertainty crossed her face—so brief, it was nearly imperceptible. "I do not understand."

"You will," he murmured. "Soon enough."

For a long moment, she simply stared at him, as if trying to decipher the meaning behind his words. But eventually, she did what she always did.

She nodded. "Understood."

Damien exhaled, letting the tension in his shoulders ease slightly.

"Good. Now, there's one more thing you need to know."

He leaned back against the counter, tapping a finger against the surface.

"My diet."

Elysia's posture shifted ever so slightly. "Your diet?"

"From this point on," Damien stated, "I will consume only red meat and eggs. Nothing else."

She blinked. "...Nothing else?"

"Nothing."

Silence settled between them.

To anyone else, such a statement would sound absurd. Reckless. Unhealthy, even. But Elysia wasn't like anyone else.

She didn't argue.

She didn't question the logic.

She simply processed it.

And then—

She nodded. "Understood."

Damien's smirk returned.

"Perfect."