Chapter 50…
“B-bean sprout soup with rice…?!”
…Of course not.
“It’s a local specialty—seafood soup. I heard it’s good for hangovers. Try some.”
Lysian set the tray down on the side table and handed me a spoon.
After hesitating for a moment, I swung my legs over the side of the bed and accepted it.
“Did you eat breakfast?”
“Of course.”
“You’re lying.”
Lysian stared at me, then smiled as if he couldn’t help himself.
“I’ll eat later. You eat first, Muriel.”
“…Thanks. I’ll enjoy it.”
“It’s nothing. It’s only natural that I take care of you.”
You’re like a devoted spouse…
The words rose to my throat, but I forced them back down.
I scooped up a spoonful of seafood soup and brought it to my lips. After blowing on it, I took a bite. A refreshing, delicate flavor spread across my tongue.
“…!”
“Is it good?”
I widened my eyes and nodded enthusiastically.
Lysian looked at me with a satisfied expression.
After finishing the seafood soup, I even drank the honey water he had prepared for me.
Then I washed up in the attached bathroom. Lysian sat me down on a stool, saying he would dry my hair.
As I felt his hands pressing a towel gently against my hair to soak up the moisture, I cautiously asked,
“Was I really drunk yesterday?”
“You don’t remember?”
“Um…”
No matter how hard I tried to recall, nothing came to mind. Just that the mandrake liquor had been extremely bitter…
And didn’t Lysian snatch away the honey mead the guild members were trying to feed me and drink it himself?
What happened after that?
No matter how much I squeezed my brain, I couldn’t remember.
Fidgeting with my fingers, I asked,
“Did I… cause a scene?”
Lysian paused for a moment, then let out a soft chuckle, as if he’d just heard something amusing.
“No. You were cute.”
“Cu—”
Feeling my face burn, I covered my mouth and cleared my throat.
No matter how many times I heard that kind of thing, I could never get used to it.
“Stop joking… Just tell me honestly. What did I do while I was drunk?”
“…You really don’t remember?”
“I really don’t.”
He set the towel down and picked up a small bottle of hair oil, sighing. When he opened it, a faint floral scent spread through the air.
“You said I was handsome.”
“…!”
“You said I looked like an angel who fell from the sky. Remember that?”
“I-I said that?”
Oh no. My hands and feet curled up in embarrassment. I would never say something like that while sober.
I must have completely lost my mind from the alcohol!
Anxious that I might have said something even worse, I held my breath—but Lysian continued.
“You also asked me why I was such a terrible person.”
“……”
At this point, I wanted to crawl into a hole and hide.
I’m never drinking again…
Unable to face him, I lowered my head and muttered,
“S-sorry…”
“There’s no need to apologize. It’s true that I’m a terrible person.”
“What? What are you talking about…?”
Without thinking, I turned to look at him—but the moment our eyes met, I quickly looked away.
“I think you’re kind. I really do.”
At my quiet words, his hand paused mid-motion as he brushed through my hair.
Worried he might not believe me, I emphasized it again.
“I mean… I’ve experienced a lot of malice from people. Especially in the Terny family… There were so many moments where I thought, How can someone be this cruel? But you’re fundamentally different from those people. You might have a bit of a bad personality… but you’re not like them. You know what I mean, right?”
Did I even emphasize it properly?
The more I spoke, the more rambling it became. I wasn’t even sure I was getting my point across.
Lysian was silent for a moment—then suddenly burst into laughter.
It was as refreshing as autumn night air.
“Why are you laughing? I’m being serious.”
“No, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean anything bad.”
He resumed brushing my hair. A faint snicker escaped him now and then, as if he had his own private amusement.
“Thank you for saying that, Muriel.”
“You don’t have to thank me. It’s just the truth that you’re a good person!”
At that, Lysian laughed even harder than before.
“This will be the workshop you’ll be using, Apothecary!”
Rozenic—the guild member who’d gotten into trouble with us in the lobby on the first day while eating noodles—led us inside.
“Thank you.”
I greeted him with a smile before slowly looking around the workshop.
It was spacious—maybe about sixty square meters.
One wall was lined with dark wooden bookshelves, filled with several useful-looking books.
Noticing my gaze, Rozenic quickly added,
“The main headquarters has far more books than this. Since this is just a branch, we didn’t bring in too many supplies. If you visit the headquarters later, I’ll personally show you our guild’s magnificent library.”
“Sounds great. I’m looking forward to it.”
I nodded cheerfully.
After Rozenic left, I took ingredients out of my inventory and began preparing to make potions.
Lysian insisted on acting as my assistant and stayed by my side. I asked him to slice up some hard wooden stems.
They belonged to a rare species called the Ered tree. Its roots, stems, leaves, and fruits were all used as medicinal ingredients.
It turned out that polluted areas were full of herbs like this—though they were equally full of poisonous plants as well.
This Ered tree looks almost identical to the poison tree.
That poison tree was called the Blue Thorn Blossom tree. Around June and July, it bloomed with blue, spiky, ball-shaped flowers.
The Ered tree, on the other hand, had white flowers.
Since both bloomed in June and July, it was easy to tell them apart during that season.
But when they weren’t flowering, they looked nearly identical and were easy to confuse.
Thank goodness I have the Herb Appraisal skill.
The Ered tree was an ingredient for a top-grade recovery potion. As for the other ingredient…
An A-rank monster core.
Not something you could obtain easily, so I didn’t have any in my inventory.
However…
“Feel free to use any materials in the workshop.”
I lifted the lid of the wooden box Lysian had brought.
Inside were monster cores of various grades.
A wealthy and capable guild like Veratis is the best!
Grinning, I held up what appeared to be an A-rank core to the light.
The more allies, the better.
Ding!
A cheerful notification sound rang out, and a bluish window appeared in the air.
Pharmaceutical Skill Level Up!
Lv. 6 → Lv. 7
You can craft potions with superior effects.
The taste of potions improves.
Finally!
I clenched my fist in triumph.
I had spent the entire day making potions without rest. Mass production was one goal—but more importantly…
〈Blessing Activated〉 10% chance to obtain a “Top-Grade Potion.”
That was the key.
I had tried making a top-grade potion earlier.
But I failed and wasted all the ingredients… It was still too difficult at my current level.
So I came up with this idea—to rely on the Blessing effect.
Ten percent wasn’t that low.
Of course, since it was a high-tier potion, it wouldn’t be easy to obtain.
Alright. Let’s get at least one top-grade potion…!
I rolled up my sleeves again.
From here on out, it was a matter of persistence… and luck.
Four hours later.
The sun had set, and night had fallen.
For dinner, I only ate a few pieces of bread and kept working on potion-making.
The result…
“Phew, I did it…”
It had been incredibly exhausting—but worth it.
I had obtained two top-grade potions!
I thought I’d be lucky to get even one…!
I gazed at the deep crimson potion, overwhelmed with emotion.
With each rank increase, a potion’s effect strengthened. And the top-grade recovery potion was practically miraculous.
It could save someone who was on the verge of death from severe external injuries.
Though it can’t cure incurable diseases…
The thought left a bitter taste in my heart.
But I quickly pushed the feeling away and turned to Lysian, calling out brightly,
“I’m done! I’m officially off duty for today!”
I ran toward him and jumped. With a sigh, Lysian caught me in his arms.
Patting his back gently, I said in a warm voice,
“You must’ve been tired playing assistant. You worked hard.”
“I’m not tired at all. You’re the problem, Muriel…”
“Hey! I’ve built up some stamina now!”
“Ha?”
“And I even have muscles… Look!”
I rolled up my sleeve again and showed him my forearm. Lysian stared at it, dumbfounded.
“What muscles are you talking about? That scrawny arm is nothing but bones.”
“I-it’s not that bad…!”
Bickering, we left the workshop and walked down the corridor.
It was time to squeeze money out of Dante.
(D-day 70)
You have grown closer to your goal.
Atropos blesses you.
