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Chapter 09
After collecting the materials, Amel returned to her room and parted ways with Christian, stepping inside.
But then—
“Waaah, Lady!”
“Gah—Nina!”
The maid Nina burst into tears the moment she saw her and ran straight at her.
Clutching the hem of Amel’s robe tightly, Nina cried out.
“Sniff! Lady, no matter how strong you are, you absolutely can’t just sneak out of the castle like that! This isn’t Winterpool territory! Who knows what kind of dangers are out there!”
“What danger? It’s just a normal place where people live.”
Looking slightly awkward, Amel quickly changed the subject to escape the barrage of scolding.
“Did you bring the pot?”
“Yes! Of course! Is this size okay?”
Nina sniffed and proudly showed her what she had prepared. It was an appropriately sized pot with a long handle, clearly easy to use.
Smiling, Amel accepted it.
“Yeah, perfect. Good job.”
“Hehe, it was nothing.”
Amel placed a large circular stone slab onto the table. Its smooth surface made it impossible to guess its purpose at a glance.
But Nina, having seen it a few times before, immediately recognized it.
“Oh! You’re going to make potions?”
“Yeah. I have to make a lot by tomorrow.”
Amel placed her palm on the slab. A faint warmth spread across the cold stone. She quickly lifted her hand before it overheated.
Satisfied, she set the pot on top and poured in clean water. Soon it began to boil vigorously.
“It’s boiling!”
“Yeah, it’s a temperature-controlled slab.”
It was a tool designed for potion-making outside the home, allowing her to boil water without fire or a kitchen. As long as she carried it in her witch’s pouch, it was extremely convenient.
Amel added the pearlgrass fruit she had gathered earlier into the pot, along with honeycomb fragments and other ingredients wrapped in cloth.
A sweet aroma quickly filled the air as the liquid turned golden.
“Done.”
“So amazing, Lady! It’s just like making tea.”
“It kind of is.”
She cooled the potion, poured it into glass bottles, and sealed them carefully.
After repeating the process two more times, she completed the required amount. Golden potion bottles lined the table and even the floor.
“Twenty-nine… thirty. Good. That’s enough.”
“Good work, Lady.”
Satisfied, Amel stored the bottles in her pouch. They had no weight inside it, yet still felt reassuring.
‘I can’t wait to give these to the knights and His Highness. Maybe they’ll see me differently.’
With a pleased smile, she went to sleep.
Early the next morning, the castle’s day began.
At the eastern courtyard closest to the battlefield, the expedition force gathered.
A large wooden crate sat in front of the knights, stacked with golden potions. Amel and the servants were distributing them one by one.
“I made these myself. If you get injured, apply it to wounds or drink it for internal injuries.”
The knights looked awkward as they received them, exchanging glances. Once Amel returned to her place, they suddenly shouted.
“We’re sorry about yesterday!”
“Eh?”
Startled, Amel turned toward them. One knight stepped forward.
“We sincerely apologize for what we said yesterday. We reflected deeply afterward. We don’t expect forgiveness, but we wanted to say it.”
Amel looked at him quietly.
She was used to insincere apologies—people afraid of noble houses, or forced politeness. But here, it felt different.
“…Thank you for saying that.”
She smiled softly.
“As you said, this is a mission where everyone’s life is on the line. I understand being on edge.”
She paused.
“But as long as His Highness trusts me, I will do my best. I didn’t come here to waste time. I have my duty.”
“Lady…”
The knight lowered his head, overwhelmed.
At that moment—
“Is everything settled?”
Christian approached. Amel brightened immediately.
“Yes!”
“Good. Then let’s depart.”
The concept of the “demonic realm” existed.
The origin of dark magic. The nest of monsters. A place where no living being could survive.
Fortunately, it was separated from the human world.
But an anomaly occurred.
Monsters began appearing across the continent.
After investigation, scholars discovered they didn’t appear randomly—they spread from specific locations.
These points were named “Broken Rifts,” resembling shattered mirror fragments.
Whenever one appeared, it could devastate an entire region within days if not handled quickly. Normally, knights and imperial forces cooperated to eliminate them, with at least a priest being sent for healing support.
This time, however, there was only Amel…
