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chapter 26
#6
The countless human experiments conducted by witches to subjugate beastmen.
The witches had learned physical and chemical methods to kill beastmen from the information gathered through these experiments.
In reality, among the bloodlines, the witches were killing beastmen using new magic and pathogens.
If beastmen had been able to use medicine—or if an alternative to Copelliers had been found—countless lives wouldn’t have vanished like morning dew.
‘What an utterly shameful past.’
What was even more appalling was that the witches showed no remorse for this. They claimed it was something they had to do for a better future.
‘Apologies ended with divine arbitration, and the rest was just empty words.’
Only a very small number of witches probably felt genuine remorse for the beastmen. I simply had a broader perspective because I had been ostracized among them.
Feeling crushed by a sense of guilt, I grew solemn. Mr. Cureil looked at me, cleared his throat, and handed me some ointment.
“Give this to Miss Merina. She’s been quite sensitive lately. And also, here’s some oral medicine.”
He handed me a note and some oral medicine he had prepared based on my prescription.
“But for athlete’s foot, isn’t ointment—”
“This isn’t that kind. If you show her this, she’ll know what to do.”
Mr. Cureil gave a faintly sardonic smile and tapped his pipe leisurely with his fingers.
Medicine to the Pharmacist, Treatment to the Therapist (5)
I moved toward Merina’s location, asking around the difficult-to-approach beastmen staff.
True to her title as a Sword Master, she had been steadily training lightly at the practice grounds.
But for someone with athlete’s foot, training was the worst.
‘You can’t let sweaty feet aggravate athlete’s foot…!’
Athlete’s foot was a chronic condition that didn’t go away easily. If it spread to the toenails, it could get to the point where nails had to be filed or even removed.
I silently repeated “please” to myself as I headed toward Merina.
My only hope: that she would be wearing breathable shoes.
No, anything except the shoes she had been wearing since getting athlete’s foot, or leather shoes, would be fine.
‘Both of those are terrible choices!’
Feeling my feet pounding the ground after a long time, I exhaled. Outside, I heard the sound of air slicing past. I quickly approached her and checked her shoes.
‘No!’
Unfortunately, she had put on those tight-looking leather shoes and begun training. I squeezed my eyes shut, then peeked with one eye.
Still, the leather shoes on Merina’s feet had not transformed into ordinary shoes.
Half frustrated, half despairing, I trudged toward her. She reacted sensitively to my approach, turning her face away.
“Oh my. Was that the cute therapist sister?”
She smiled like Rudels, stuck her sword into the ground, and shook the dust off her hands as she approached me.
“Feeling any better?”
“Yes. Thanks to your concern.”
I smiled at her. During the previous health check, she had worn a light dress, but now in a white shirt and black leather pants, she had a healthier, more adventurous look.
She grinned at me.
“So, what brings you here?”
“Ah! I, I came to give you this!”
I quickly showed her the ointment I had made.
Like a wolf beastman, she sniffed it and tilted her head curiously.
“Hmm… it doesn’t even smell like medicine for beastmen?”
“That’s because I didn’t put Copelliers in it.”
Copelliers, usually included in beastmen medicine, had a distinct scent that humans couldn’t detect. But for beastmen, it smelled like a very strong perfume.
She crossed her arms and smiled mischievously at my explanation.
“Huh? Isn’t medicine better made by a pharmacist?”
Startled by her comment, I quickly added an explanation, worried she wouldn’t accept my ointment.
“B-but I replaced the Copelliers with other ingredients, so it’s still effective as medicine! No side effects! And Mr. Cureil already checked it, so you can use it safely!”
She uncrossed one arm, tapped her cheek, and took the ointment I offered.
“Hmm. If Pharmacist Cureil says so…”
She slipped the ointment into her right pants pocket and looked down at me. I rushed to give her the necessary advice as a therapist.
“And, athlete’s foot cannot be completely treated if the feet stay damp! So you absolutely cannot wear leather shoes! And after washing your feet, they must be completely dried before applying the ointment! Most importantly, ventilation! Absolutely!”
Merina stared blankly at me as I raised my index finger to emphasize.
Then she burst out laughing, her hearty voice fitting for a strong woman. She bowed slightly to me.
“I will, therapist sister?”
Something about her words felt strangely familiar. I had experienced this before… somewhere.
I scratched the back of my head out of habit. Standing before me, her tall figure cast a shadow over me.
“By the way, I didn’t know my sister was so knowledgeable in medicine too.”
Her words made me blush and stammer.
“Th-that’s not…!”
She giggled at my reaction.
“Oh my. So cute, getting all embarrassed like that.”
Like a little rabbit. I thought I heard a frightening sound behind me, but I ignored it, convincing myself I must have misheard.
Her black eyes, still burning with curiosity, stared at me. Her gaze felt more blatant than Rudels’, making me feel uneasy.
‘I… didn’t do anything…’
She smiled at my trembling.
“Sister, do you…?”
Trailing her words, I swallowed nervously.
“Do you like cake?”
I blinked at the sudden question about my preference.
‘What? Is this a joke?’
But her sparkling eyes showed genuine sincerity. Cake was an expensive treat, so I couldn’t have it often, but I nodded slowly.
“Yes… not often, though…”
“Oh, then perfect!”
Blushing like a young girl, she clapped her hands and grabbed both of mine.
“Do you want to go out with me for cake today?”
She looked into my eyes, blinking her long eyelashes. I could only think, ‘She’s cool,’ before stammering to respond.
“B-but! I shouldn’t go out carelessly…”
“Oh? Why not?”
“W-well… of course, I can’t go out without permission…”
“Ah, it’s fine. It’s fine. I give you permission.”
She smirked, a teasing smile curling one side of her lips. Merina’s human appearance still carried the intimidating aura of a wolf beastman.
Still, I hesitated, unsure if the Ifin family would forgive me for going out even if she permitted it.
“Then, you can tell the eldest brother who can act as a proxy and go.”
Seeing my hesitation, she sighed, brought her thumb and forefinger together, and whistled. A white dove flew straight to her.
“What is it, Miss?”
The dove, speaking, was also a beastman. She looked away arrogantly, not meeting its eyes, and commanded.
“Go tell my brother that the two of us will go out for some fresh air.”
“Yes, Miss.”
It bowed and flapped its wings toward the sky. Watching the dove disappear in the sunlight, she linked arms with me and smiled contentedly.
“Shall we go?”
“Eh?”
Before I could receive a reply, she was already pulling me along. My eyes nearly popped out.
She laughed softly and tightened our linked arms.
“It’s fine, it’s fine. I’m a direct family member, and your brother’s sister, so I’ll take responsibility if he complains, pretty sister.”
She winked with one eye and smiled playfully. I was dragged along before I could react.
Merina’s strength in leading me was no joke. Otherwise, my feet wouldn’t be off the ground like this.
‘I don’t know. I really don’t…’
I bit my lip and sighed, imagining the scolding I’d get later. Ifin family members often acted on their own whims. Well, Rudels, Penelope, Louis, and Merina too…
‘Hmm. Seems like all of them.’
I quietly nodded, not questioning their genetics.
‘I guess I’m the subordinate.’
The best way is to move according to the demands of the superior. Today, recalling the hardships of service work, I started a cake expedition with Merina Ifin.
Unaware of what might happen next.
“Haah. The brat really won’t speak.”
In the underground prison, the stench of blood filled the room as rough curses flew. The beastman responsible for the torture was agitated, his black ears and long tail twitching.
