Chapter 36
“Sorry. Sorry. Sorry.”
“Hey!”
I bowed nonstop in apology. It was because I had completely forgotten to return the purified stone that needed to be handed back to the Divine Power Stone custodian, and I ended up returning it two days late.
Mona Gong’s displeasure was obvious, but she only twitched her lips without actually scolding me. Probably because of the bandages tightly wrapped around my arm. Seems like Mona Gong softens up for patients. Good to know.
“Be careful next time!”
“Of course, Mona Gong! I’ll definitely be careful!”
“Hurry up, put it down and get going!”
“Yes! See you next time!”
After returning the purified stone, I bowed and left the custodian’s office. Since I had rested all day yesterday, today I needed to teach the management department members how to make pesticide mixtures.
As soon as I opened the office door, I was instantly surrounded by people.
“Rin Negrim! Are you alright?”
“We were so worried about you!”
“Good heavens, look at those bandages!”
Especially Nilson, who nearly cried as he carefully placed a hand on my shoulder.
“What kind of feat did you accomplish this time to end up like this…!”
“I… accomplished something fairly big.”
“Of course. That must be why Lady Lunaris increased our department’s budget fivefold compared to last year…!”
Nilson, overcome with emotion, shed tears. For reference, last year’s management department budget… was stingy enough to make one think salt had been sprinkled on it. Well, it’s not like the budget plan itself had much in it anyway. After all, when a sacred beast or divine creature fell ill, all we ever did was gather and pray together—what kind of budget would that require?
“Last time, the Crown Prince himself said he’d supply any medicinal ingredients we needed. And now, Lady Lunaris has raised our budget…!”
Nilson’s eyes, as they looked at me, brimmed with infinite trust.
“D-department head. If you look at me like that…”
It makes me want to live up to your expectations…!
Being a product of fiercely competitive 21st-century South Korea, full of recognition-hunger, I immediately got to work.
“Alright! Watch closely! I’ll teach you the pesticide mixing formula!”
“Ooooh!”
“The ratio is 2 : 1 : 5! Make sure you remember it well!”
“I have a question! How did you figure out the formula?”
“Through countless trials, I discovered the optimal proportions.”
“As expected…!”
With swift, confident movements, I ground the ingredients.
“Since these are toxic herbs, always open the windows for ventilation and don’t touch them with bare hands! Use tools.”
“Yes, ma’am!”
With the enthusiastic students, I held a Q&A session as the pesticide-making process went smoothly.
If I’d done it alone, it would’ve taken two to three hours at most, but explaining to the members and going over the basic principles took longer. By the time we finished, it was already close to quitting time.
“Phew… now we just boil it, bottle it, and spray. I’ll show you the boiling process tomorrow.”
“Aww, that’s a shame.”
“If you’re willing to work overtime, I can—”
“No way! We have to go home. See you tomorrow, department head!”
Nora was the first to leave, and then the others packed up one by one to go home.
“Rin Negrim, aren’t you going home?”
“I’ll tidy up a bit first.”
“I’ll help you.”
“You shouldn’t be doing this kind of menial work, department head. Please go on home! This is the youngest’s job.”
“You’re no ordinary youngest! You’re the shining light of our department! The pumpkin that rolled right into our lap!”
“Goodbye!”
Bang. I shoved Nilson out into the hallway and turned back to the scattered tools and ingredients. Cleaning it up wouldn’t take too long.
Since there wasn’t a sink in the office, I had to carry everything to the water pump to wash. As I lugged the bucket, I swore I’d someday get plumbing installed in the office.
“This’ll be impossible in winter….”
Even though the sun had only just set, my hands stung with cold. After washing the tools and returning to the office, I opened the door—only to be met with a sharp scent stinging my nose.
“What the—!”
What greeted me in the empty office was shattered bottles and spilled pesticide concentrate.
“That’s strange. I pushed it well to the back of the desk—how did it fall….”
I stared at the mess in frustration, then began cleaning it up. Being juice from poisonous plants, it wasn’t easy to handle.
But that wasn’t the real problem.
“I was supposed to show them how to finish the pesticide with this tomorrow!”
All that was left was boiling and neutralizing!
My chest ached at the thought of wasting a whole day’s hard work.
I could already see the disappointment on the eager seniors’ faces.
“…Fine. I rested yesterday, so I’ll just work late tonight.”
In the end, I decided to remake the batch I’d just finished. Since I had to gather ingredients again, it would take a bit longer, but at most about four hours.
Fortunately, Mona Gong hadn’t gone home yet.
“What is it this time?”
“I need to borrow another purified stone! I have to go to the Black Greenhouse again.”
“Are you sure you’ll be fine without Pell? You’re not even fully healed.”
“Mr. Pell needs to go home too, I can’t keep him late. I can handle it alone!”
Mona Gong didn’t stop me twice. Silently, she handed me a purified stone. I unfastened my bracelet and held it out to her, asking cautiously,
“Mona Gong… I’m really sorry, but could I return it tomorrow instead…?”
Her dagger-like glare was the answer. In the end, I compromised by promising to collect the ingredients quickly. Then I hurried toward the greenhouse.
I had to move before it got darker. Red light from the sunset flooded the corridor as I quickened my pace.
“Ah…!”
Just then, turning a corner, I collided hard with someone. Reeling back, I landed on my backside.
“I’m sorry! Are you alright?”
The woman, also knocked down, was dressed in servant’s clothing. As I picked up the laundry she had dropped, I apologized again. Thankfully, she didn’t seem hurt.
“I’m so sorry. I was in a rush….”
“My lady.”
A small voice called me. A strange feeling crept up. It was quiet, yet cold—so chilling that it sent goosebumps up my spine.
“You dropped this.”
“Ah.”
She held out the purified stone I must have dropped when I fell. As I reached for it, an unnaturally cold touch brushed my fingertips.
After handing it over, she silently rose, lifted her laundry basket, and walked away. I stared blankly, then called after her as her back receded.
“Thank you…! If you ever feel unwell, please come find Rin Negrim of the management department.”
No answer. She disappeared into the deepening red light, and I, shaken, forced myself to remember my promise to Mona Gong and pressed on.
On my way to the greenhouse, my head remained hazy, as if I were intoxicated.
“Get a grip… just need to harvest quickly and go….”
I slapped my cheeks, pocketed the purified stone, and stepped into the Black Greenhouse.
I plucked leaves of Dunes and pulled out a Kiri root, but my throat began to scratch. It burned, each swallow like being pierced with thorns.
“Am I… coming down with something….”
The haziness in my head, the pain in my throat—I should probably just go back to my room and rest.
“Cough, cough! Cough!!!”
Suddenly, a violent coughing fit seized me.
What was this? The pain in my throat was unbearable—like it was tearing apart. It wasn’t just the onset of a cold. It was more like the symptoms of being poisoned by toxic plant spores.
But I had a purified stone with me, so why…? My hand found the hard stone in my pocket.
“There’s no such thing as a time limit on these… Did its divine power run out? But if that were possible, Mona Gong would’ve said so…?”
I tried to stand, to leave the greenhouse.
The moment I thought, My head is spinning, my body was already collapsing to the ground.
“Haah… haah….”
Even breathing was a struggle, each breath a desperate gasp.
“I… need to get out….”
I forced strength into my legs, only to collapse again as my spinning vision betrayed me. Crawling on my knees, I slowly dragged myself toward the greenhouse door.
Thirty short steps took an eternity. At last, I reached the door. Leaning my weight against it, I pushed with all my strength.
Clunk.
But the door, though it rattled, would not open.
It wasn’t that I lacked the strength.
Something was blocking it. From outside.
Who would do this? Why?
Panic welled up, filling my chest.
I could die here. Right now, it was only dizziness, but as time passed, the poisoning symptoms would worsen. In the worst case, I might cough up blood and die.
And it was after sunset now. The greenhouse ceiling was tightly sealed to contain the poisonous vapors. In this closed space, without ventilation, I couldn’t survive long.
“Damn it… help! Somebody help!”
Bang, bang.
I pounded on the glass, but all that remained were faint handprints. Nothing changed.
My legs gave out, and I crumpled to the floor.
Darkness settled over the greenhouse with my despair.
I didn’t know how much time passed. Breathing itself became unbearable. My throat felt swollen shut.
I lay on the floor, covering my mouth with my sleeve, struggling for air.
Was this the end? I still had so much left to do… I hadn’t even found a house to live in with my mom yet… After all I went through to enter the palace, was I really going to die without ever taking a vacation?
“No… it’s too unfair to die like this…. Someone… please… save me….”
Every word triggered another fit of rough coughing. Desperate, I called out any name that came to mind.
“Lady Lunaris… Lord Raykis… Lady Eve… Lady Leti….”
Of course, nothing happened. Despair and fear gnawed at my consciousness.
“Mom… save me…! Helion…! Ethan…! Luce…! Anyone, please, save me…!”
Tears blurred my vision.
This is it, I thought. Just then—
A pair of black shoes appeared before my eyes. Summoning all my strength, I lifted my head. And I saw them. Even through my hazy vision, those trembling violet eyes were unmistakable.
“…Luce…?”
“…I’ll do it.”
“…What?”
“As you said. I’ll save you.”
His voice was oddly subdued.
Crash!!
With an explosive roar, a violent gust of wind surged. Glass shattered, night air rushed in, and moonlight poured unfiltered onto us.
That eccentric, insane mage had blown the entire greenhouse away.
Why did such a crazy act feel so welcome?
“Luce….”
With trembling hands, I raised my thumb in a shaky thumbs-up.
“Ni…ce….”
Then I lost consciousness.
yay He’s useful(for once)!~