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chapter 20
“…Oren.”
“Yes, Teacher.”
“Teacher Cureil knows that I’m a witch, right?”
“Of course. Everyone inside the mansion already knows.”
I washed my face quickly and felt despair.
“Do you think I can come out of this unscathed?”
“….”
Oren didn’t answer. Instead, she looked at me with a pitying gaze.
‘It’s useless. All of this is useless.’
Looking at Oren’s expression made me want to cry. But letting my emotions interfere while treating patients would disqualify me.
‘Still… I really hate this. I really do.’
I moved forward with heavy steps while crying inside. First, I had to get the medicinal ingredients and make the medicine.
Following Oren, I arrived at a place marked as an apothecary.
“Haa.”
I let out a sigh and bit my lips tightly. Fear, not tension, surged through me. I even broke out in cold sweat, my legs trembling. Only despair seemed to exist in this heavy air.
‘If I go in there, I’m really going to get scolded.’
I gritted my teeth and knocked.
“Who’s there?”
A harsh voice came from inside.
“I’m Iriel Lotis, newly assigned here. I’ve come to get some herbs from you.”
My voice trembled as I spoke. After a moment, I heard the sound of a chair being dragged inside.
“Come in.”
Hearing that, I frowned and looked at Oren. She gave me a sympathetic look as well, then opened the door for me herself.
Through the squeaking door, I silently prayed to every god I knew: Please don’t let me get scolded.
After repeating that prayer in my head, I stepped inside. As expected of an apothecary, a faint fresh scent of herbs filled the room. Wooden medicine drawers were lined up neatly, each labeled, making them easy to navigate.
At the far end, a wrinkled old woman with glasses looked at me. Scars from burns marked her face, and her white hair was tied back as she leaned comfortably in her chair.
“So, you’re the witch who came this time.”
Only two words from her smirking mouth echoed in my mind.
‘Oh no. I’m doomed.’
I stared at her in shock, my mouth reflexively curling into a small smile. Inside, my mind was in chaos, but instinct told me I had to survive.
“Ah, h-hello—”
“Enough. What do you want?”
She looked me over with a disapproving glare. I had never seen a non-human show such indifferent displeasure, and my mental state was about to collapse.
“I… came for some medicinal ingredients.”
“Medicinal ingredients?”
She raised an eyebrow at me. Her sharp, piercing eyes made me even more terrified, and my jaw trembled. Oren, noticing my distress, stepped in to mediate.
“Haha. Hello, Teacher Cureil!”
“Oh, Oren. I hear you’ve already become this witch’s assistant?”
“Haha. Rumors travel fast.”
“Where there’s secrecy in the mansion… Anyway, you.”
Cureil pointed her staff at me, startling me into an exclamation.
“Y-yes?”
“You said you came for herbs, right?”
“Yes, yes.”
“Hmmm… I can’t give them to you until you’re officially appointed.”
She raised one corner of her mouth as she spoke.
‘This is territorial behavior. She just doesn’t want to give me herbs.’
I stammered, unable to respond. She seemed to enjoy my reaction and continued.
“Even if you were recommended by Lord Gongja, that might just be luck. But why should I give precious herbs to you?”
Wow. I had never met someone so blunt before. I was almost mentally paralyzed by her scolding, but Oren gently tapped my side.
“Grandma! A note from Lord Haol!”
Whispering, she handed me the note from Lord Haol. I snapped out of my daze and delivered it.
“What’s this?”
“It… it’s a note from Lord Haol.”
“Haah. That old man.”
She sighed and frowned as she read the note, grinding her teeth. What could be in it that made her teeth clench like metal…
“That old man. Wakes up in broad daylight and only says useless things. If he’s nocturnal, he should follow the natural order and work at night.”
Hmm. Some things are better left unknown.
After reading the note, her expression softened, and she looked at me.
“What herbs do you need?”
“Oh, it’s written on this prescription. This will do, Teacher Cureil.”
I handed her the note I had written earlier. She glanced at it with an amused smile and then laughed heartily.
“Puhahaha!”
Her booming laughter filled the room. Oren shivered and quickly hid behind me.
‘What? What’s so funny?!’
Wiping the tears from her eyes with her finger, she asked me,
“You’re going to make medicine with these?”
“Yes? Y-yes.”
“Just these?”
Every word carried an intense, meaningful tone. What? Did I do something wrong?
She wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes and spoke to me.
“You mean you’re going to make athlete’s foot ointment with just these?”
She waved my prescription as she asked.
“Yes. Is there something wrong?”
I asked earnestly, puzzled.
“Do you really not know?”
Her laughter erupted again at my naive response.
“Haha. This is amusing. Nothing this delightful has happened in 129 years.”
‘Wait… 129 years old?!’
I gulped and compared her face to her age. Aside from humans, other species lived long lives, and it seemed magical beings like witches and beast-people were no different.
‘Still, witches usually try to hide signs of aging with magic.’
Looking at Cureil, I thought, She’s remarkably youthful!
She studied my note for a moment and then smiled playfully.
“Alright. I’ll give you the herbs.”
“Ah! Thank you…”
“But! The medicine you make must be checked by me before giving it to Lady Merina.”
She set a condition, which was reasonable. I nodded eagerly.
“Yes. Understood!”
“Heh heh heh. Then, let’s get to work.”
She stood and whistled sharply.
“Everyone! Time to work! Come down and bring the ingredients!”
With her booming command, the room erupted into a commotion. I was startled, thinking an earthquake had hit. Oren shivered, tail tucked, standing behind me. Soon, countless birds began flying from the ceiling. Among them, a large parrot approached Cureil and muttered like a human.
“Master Cureil, even if you shout, we can hear you just fine.”
A deep, manly voice came from the tiny green parrot. Cureil laughed and replied.
“Even if your ears are sharp, how can I help mine are old?”
“Huh… not the strong voice I expected, Teacher.”
“Now. Here’s the prescription. Bring the ingredients listed, Martin.”
Showing him the note, he peeped at it and told the other birds. Immediately, the birds opened the drawers, skillfully retrieving and packing the herbs.
“Peep, peep, peep.”
Even the smallest parrot chirped energetically, carrying the packaging.
“Well, even the youngest is helping now? Martin, are you making the child work too?”
“Oh, don’t say that. The child wanted to work, so I just brought him to assist a bit.”
“Haha. He’ll become a fine apothecary master one day.”
“Peep, peep, peep!”
The bird on Cureil’s finger chirped happily.
“Um, Oren. Who are they…?”
“Oh! They’re Cureil’s assistants.”
Oren whispered.
“I heard Martin has been assisting her for nearly 13 years.”
Thirteen years? That’s enough to run an apothecary!
Oren continued, noticing my shocked expression.
“He should have left, but he wants to learn more, so he’s stayed all this time.”
“Wow. That’s incredible.”
I looked at him with respect. I had never seen a non-human so humble.
In the human world, assistants would usually open their own apothecaries after just a few years. Here, humility was unparalleled. I admired them as I watched.
Soon, all the herbs were packed, and Martin tied them with string, bringing them over to me.
“You must be the newcomer, right? Nice to meet you. I’m Martin, a commoner with no surname.”
He sat at a nearby table, extending his left wing in greeting.
“Ah, nice to meet you. I’m Iriel Lotis, a magical healer.”
