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chapter 22
The herb was just a weed called Frostrate.
It looked like an ordinary roadside weed, but if refined with magic, it could yield tissue-activating components similar to those in Kopelliers.
Moreover, the activating compounds weren’t harmful enough to shorten lifespan—they actually helped repair damaged tissue and even cleaned blood vessels. A remarkable little thing.
But the reason I had spent two years researching it was simple:
“Purifying the active ingredient from this herb was incredibly tricky.”
I spent three months looking for alternative herbs, and the remaining twenty-one months figuring out a purification method.
“Looking back now, it was a complete mess.”
Lab explosions, my hair singed, and sometimes the active ingredient got contaminated with the herb’s natural poison, so using magic to purify it would accidentally create a deadly concoction.
“Still, all the experiments and combinations taught me a lot. It was worth it.”
A faint memory of those times made me smile fondly as I looked at the ingredients in the medicine bag.
“Oren.”
“Yes, Teacher!”
“By the way, it seems one crucial ingredient is missing.”
I grinned, and Oren tilted her head, frowning.
“Eh?”
Without understanding, she looked at me in question, and I snapped my fingers.
With a pop, two tiny sickles appeared and landed in Oren’s hands.
She was startled by the sudden magic, then doubly confused by the sickles she now held. I kindly answered her confusion.
“Time to go collect them.”
“…Yes?”
Watching Oren’s wildly shifting eyes made me almost laugh. I put on a businesslike smile.
“Let’s go.”
“All the ingredients are here, though…”
“Ah, yes. I already received everything else, but one ingredient isn’t handled by a pharmacy.”
“Eh?”
I quickly linked arms with Oren and chanted the incantation.
[Dūco Spes]
“Kyah!”
With Oren’s scream, we disappeared into a flash of light.
We arrived at…
“A stable?”
It was a stable full of horses. The clopping sounds and smell of manure surrounded us as we stood awkwardly.
“Teacher?”
Oren’s puzzled voice made me stammer.
“U-uh… I clearly… asked to be sent to where the herb I need grows…”
I looked around, shaking fingers nervously. Where was the herb I needed? All I saw were robust, muscular horses.
“Well, Eriel, what brings you here?”
A familiar voice made me turn around.
Behind me was Rudels, elegant silver-haired, dressed in riding attire. He approached me with a charming smile.
Like a prince from a fairy tale, his shining smile made me blink multiple times. Meanwhile, he reached out and smoothed the white strands of hair flowing over my shoulder.
“What brings you here, Teacher?”
“Ha… well, I, uh…”
I scratched the back of my head sheepishly. I had permission to use magic freely, but being caught like this was embarrassingly awkward. And that riding outfit… wow… wait, no!
“No, focus! Apologize to your employer! Don’t get distracted by how handsome he looks!”
I scolded myself mentally, yet I couldn’t help staring at Rudels’ beauty. Then I remembered Oren behind me and snapped back to reality.
I glanced at her. Oren’s face was twisted in an odd expression.
“Uh… Oren? What’s wrong? Why are you so pale?”
Seeing her cold sweat and pale face, I rushed over.
“U-uh… uh-uh!”
Whatever shocked her made her squirrel ears and tail pop out, trembling uncontrollably.
“Oh dear…”
Rudels came over quietly, clicking his tongue in sympathy. So silent was his approach that I barely noticed him.
“This must be Oren, Eriel’s assistant.”
“Yes! I heard Rudels personally chose me as your assistant! Thank you, even if a bit late!”
I bowed to express gratitude. He smiled, took my hand, and lightly kissed it.
“You’re welcome.”
At that, Oren clutched her mouth and turned even paler, trembling until—poof—she vanished.
“O-Oren?!”
Where she had stood, only smoke, her clothes, and a fainted little squirrel remained.
“Uh… this… Oren? Just… suddenly?”
Panicking, I pointed at the squirrel awkwardly.
“She fainted.”
Rudels carefully picked up Oren with both hands and, using a handkerchief, wrapped her in a bundle. Then he tied it securely to Poldie, the small bird perched nearby.
“Don’t drop her. Deliver her directly to Teacher Qureil.”
Cheep! Cheep!
The bird nodded, then flew into the sky.
“She understands human speech remarkably well,” Rudels said.
“Yes. She’s very smart. She’ll reach Teacher Qureil’s pharmacy safely.”
“And Oren will be fine?”
He laughed lightly.
“Poldie knows Oren is small and fragile, so she’ll transport her safely. And Qureil is famous for handling medicinal preparations—she’ll manage fine.”
I watched the bird disappear into the distance.
“Why did Oren faint all of a sudden? She was fine until just now.”
“Perhaps motion sickness from magic?”
He said casually, stretching.
“That can’t be…”
Previously, teleportation magic sometimes caused dizziness, but with the improved magic circles, it shouldn’t happen. I pondered if something had gone wrong with the magic circle I created. Rudels stepped closer, hands in pockets, watching me.
“By the way, Eriel, why are you here? You haven’t answered yet.”
His words felt like a verdict. I hesitated.
“W-well… actually…”
Blushing furiously, I explained that I used teleportation to find the herb needed for my ointment and ended up here by accident.
He stroked his chin, asking:
“So the ointment you want to make requires a weed called Frostrate?”
“Yes, yes.”
“That’s an interesting piece of information, Eriel.”
“Y-yes.”
He leaned close and whispered:
“But you found it correctly, Eriel.”
A breeze ruffled his hair against my cheek. I opened my eyes wide, slightly turning my face. Our faces were so close that my startled reflection showed in his blue eyes.
“Huh?”
He smiled softly, moving his face an inch away.
“That herb is indeed here.”
His languid smile made my face burn as if my whole body was on fire. The beautiful demi-human in front of me smiled as he always did, with sparkling silver hair and ocean-blue eyes reflecting my embarrassment and astonishment. Rudels studied my face for a moment, then shrugged.
“Well, shall we go?”
“Huh? Where?”
Spellbound by his presence, I answered seconds late.
“We need to find the weed called Frostrate or whatever.”
He naturally took my hand.
“I’ll guide you; you won’t know the way here, Teacher.”
He smiled at me, and I felt utterly captivated by his charm. Were there even any flaws in Rudels?
“If a man is that handsome…”
Of course, I liked it! Naturally! But our relationship was employer and employee.
“If I let myself indulge in feelings, I might lose more than just my job.”
I recited the ointment recipe mentally, offering him an innocent smile.
“Thank you very much.”
