35-Episode 35: Demon Avoidance and the End of a Scammer

I will now create a potion to ward off evil spirits.

The village chief, who had been letting go of his mind after the tasting, came to his senses, so I decided to start making a potion to avoid the demons.

The preparations are already done, though, so the only thing I need to do now is explain and finish up.

First, I'm going to dry these herbs. Then we grind them until they are as dry as this sample, and then we grind them into a powder.

Well, it's too much trouble to show you the process now, so I take out the finished product.

This is the finished product. Please grind it up until it's about this size.

The village apothecary nodded at the powdered medicinal herbs with a huff and a puff.

'And the most important thing is the quantity. If you're experienced, you can use an eye for an eye, but if you're going to make enough to cover the village and the field, we want to make sure that even an amateur can make it, so we've prepared this measuring cup.

I take out several cups with herb leaf patterns on them.

These cups have grooves carved inside so that you can see how much medicine you need to make. Fill these slots with the powdered herbs. The type of herb corresponds to the picture of the herb on the front of the cup.

Sometimes the picture is for people who can't read.

'So, once you've weighed your portions, put all the herbs in this container and mix them together. Once you've mixed it until it's evenly distributed, you can now add water to it and mix it. You can use this cup to measure the amount of water.

By mixing all of the herbs together while giving detailed instructions, the demon repellent potion was finally made.

''Is this the Demon Repellent Potion?''

'Yes but you'll have to wait overnight for the ingredients of the potion to stabilize.

So I took out another finished potion that I had already prepared.

And here's the finished potion that was left to sit overnight. Please compare it with the potion you just made.

With that, I step back and make sure everyone can see it clearly.

I'm sure the potion you just made is a bit muddy.

This one is much deeper in color than the other.

Hmmm, it seems that by comparing it to the finished product like this, they could understand the small differences.

"So, all you have to do is dilute this potion with water and pour it over the fence that covers the village and fields.

It's easier than you think.

It was unexpectedly easy to make, so everyone shrugged it off.

In fact, it's a potion with a level of difficulty that children who have grown up to a certain extent in their previous lives can learn how to make it and make it.

''Yes, that's all I need. This time I'll dilute it with water since I need a quantity, but the stronger the concentration of this potion, the stronger the effect will be. Also, if you open the lid of the potion bottle and carry it around with you, you can use it as an antidote to the demons during your journey.

That's good!　It's convenient for me to peddle to other villages and towns!

'Yeah, it's nice not to have to go peddling in fear of demons!

Yeah, yeah, I'm glad you're happy.

But I don't want you to let your guard down.

''However, please remember that it's not very effective against powerful demons, and it's only a medicine that emits a smell that demons don't like.

Okay, I understand.

The reminder warns the people in the village of their buoyant mood.

Oh yeah, it's not very effective against powerful demons.

''Then let's actually use it. Let's all try sprinkling it around the village.''

""Yes!"

The young people in the village sprinkle some anti-villain potions on the fields and fences where the livestock spend their time.

Then, they were immediately effective.

"Squeak!

A Fluffy Fluffy who was walking near the fence ran away in the opposite direction, letting out a terrific scream.

Come to think of it, the Fluffy Fluff is also a demon.

"It seems to be working properly.

'What?　Is that what you want?

'What?　What's the problem?

Is that all you've got, Liliella?　You look at me with a "Yeah?　

Yeah?　You found out that demons don't like it, remember?

Well, that's okay.

After that, I finished sowing anti-villain potions to surround the village.

The only thing left to do is to make sure that the demons living in the vicinity do not come close to the village.

How do we know?

What?

Because demons don't like the smell and don't like to be approached, right?　If you don't see the demon running away from you, you won't know if it doesn't like this potion and won't come near you, will you?

I guess that's what I was thinking.

''Well okay, let's bring in the demons.

What?

What's going on, Mr. Mayor?　And look at me.

If the demons don't come, then we can bring them from here.

''I'm going to go get a demon to act as a test subject for a bit!

After I told him that, I left the village and went to find the demon.

◆

There he is!　It's Kaiserhawk!

I found my new prey and threw the stone lying at my feet as hard as I could.

The crushed stone released from the body strengthened by body strengthening magic hits Kaiser Hawk in the face and falls to the ground.

''Tohu!''

Catching Kaiserhawk in mid-air, I landed and tied his legs together with a rope, just like the other demons.

'Will it be okay if I stay this long?'

I look around at the wide variety of demons I've caught as experiments in the monster avoidance potion.

''It's time to go back to the village.

I pulled the rope connected to the demons and returned to the village.

''Gagyaaaaah!''

You're not going to be able to do that.

I've brought you an experimental demon!

I returned to the village chiefs who were waiting for me at the perimeter of the village, and I showed them the demons who would become my experiment.

'''Gyu, gyu-ye........''

You're not an experiment, you're more like a convicted felon being dragged through the streets as an example.

Everyone in the village nodded their heads in agreement with Liliella's words.

''Wow, how do you manage to drag so many things around?''

It's not just the numbers, there are some huge ones. ...Is this what an A-ranked adventurer is capable of?

It's no wonder they don't pay enough.

Huh?　Why are you all so surprised that we dragged a demon into our home?

Let's get on with it, shall we?

"[A]ny bloodshed!

Hahaha, what are you talking about!

I brought you here to experiment with potions, remember?

First of all, I toss the small demons into the fence where the monster avoidance potion is hung.

"Kung Kung...........

With a slamming sound, the demons fall down.

It seems to work on small demons. Then let's try the next one with medium-sized demons.

This time I'm going to throw in demons the size of bears and horses.

"Gubiaaaaaaahhhh?

With a thud, the demon lets out a scream like a death knell and collapses.

I'm not going to be able to say the same thing to you. That one.

Finally, he throws in the Kaiserhawk and other large demons.

''Gyaa!

As is to be expected of such a large size, the demons do not faint immediately, they wriggle and writhe.

I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make the most of your time and energy.

''It seems that the smell of the potion is starting to fade from that area.

Well, if we continue to sprinkle the pills regularly, they will have an even greater effect.

How do you feel about it?　The big demons got away from me, but this should be good enough to avoid them, right?

".........................

I turned around and told them so, but the reaction of the villagers was not good.

"Oh, are you disappointed that it didn't work well?

""Reverse!"

The people in the village, who had been silent until now, screamed out in a humming voice.

I thought it was more like this, since it's called "monster avoidance", I thought it would be more like this, that they wouldn't like the smell of it and wouldn't come near it, but now it's fainting with all its might!　It's the most powerful thing in the world!　What part of this doesn't work on strong demons!　You're screaming with all your might and running away!

Everyone in the village nodded their heads in agreement with the village chief's cry.

''Yes, that's right. But if you let a weak demon eat you at close range, it's too harsh a smell to stun you. See, animals have better noses than humans, right?　It's the same with demons. It's just that with the big ones, you can't stun them with a scent, and you can only expect them to be as effective as they would normally run away.

'So, in other words, in Lex-san's opinion, you were right about it being 'less effective' when dealing with a large demon.

"Lord Liliella, you mean...

So it's more than effective enough for ordinary demons.

""Wow....."

Huh?　What's that voice that can't be taken as a sigh or an exclamation point?

"Hey, Mr. Lex.

And then Liliera-san looks at me with a serious look on her face.

What is it, Liliera-san?

I'd like to talk to you about a little demon repellent potion.

Yes?

That potion, do you think we could sell it to another village?

To another village?

''Yes, with that potion, the other villages would have less need to hire adventurers to protect themselves from the demons. I think it would help a lot of people if they sold it for less than the reward for hiring adventurers.

''But it won't work on strong demons, and it won't work on demons that are panicking and running amok, either, right?

'I don't mind. It's more than enough to be useful in a village with no one to fight!

I see, that may indeed be true.

Even if it only works on weak demons, it would be less of a burden on the village than having them exterminate the demons frequently.

At worst, it could help the people in the village to escape.

And as for Liliera-san, it's the same incident that caused her to abandon her own hometown, so I guess she can't leave it alone.

''It's good, isn't it?''

'　Thank you, Mr. Lex!

Liliera-san smiles and tells me to thank her.

''Well then, shall we have the medicine made in this village?

Wow, in our village?

The village chief is surprised and braces himself.

I taught the chiefs how to make the potion, and it would take too much time and effort for me to make it myself. It would be too much work for me to make it by myself, and it would be much better than having to teach someone else how to make it from scratch.

Wow, we'd be honored to be trusted with such a big project!

Big project?　I simply thought it would be good to have someone who could make it for me.

''The sales of the demon-avoiding potions are yours to do with as you wish in the village.

With this potion, even a child or an old man can make it, so it will be just the right amount of extra income for the village.

Yes, sir!　Then we will only take the wages of our village men!

Hmm?　That's a funny way to say it, isn't it?

Oh, and did I have to tell you something more than that?

'Yes, I don't want to show off, so please don't tell anyone who taught you how to make this potion.

Yeah, yeah, I don't want to stand out in a weird way.

I understand.　All of us will not speak out, even if we are tortured!

What's with the iron determination?　Don't get so worked up about it.

"For everyone!　You heard the man!　New job!　We got a great job!

I don't know why the people in the village are so excited about it. What's going on?

The only jobs in the village are farming and hunting. More work that increases the village's regular income is a blessing in disguise.

Is that what it is?

It's just an exaggeration for a demon avoidance potion.

That's just the way it is.

You're not going to be able to do that.

And so, after catching the swindler and saving the village, we came to the capital again.

It was quite embarrassing to be seen off by all the residents of the village when we were leaving, though.

The first thing we did when we came back to the capital was to hand over those three guys to the guards.

They were caught red-handed for fraud, and since they were vicious criminals who had been committing fraudulent acts for years, they would not escape falling into criminal slavery.

And it seems that the wages earned from their work will be paid to the victim's home as compensation.

Therefore, Riela's village will receive the reparations from the three men in the future.

Although the amount is small, according to modern law, the reparations will continue to be paid until the victims pay double the amount of damage.

Besides, since there may be other victims, I wonder when they will repay the full amount of the compensation.

By the way, even if they pay the full amount, they won't be released.

The guard who conducted the procedure told me that they would be released on the day they paid back the full amount of the indemnity, and they would work only for the period of time according to the charge.

'Now I can proudly report to my dead fathers.

Liliera-san muttered that with a look of weakness and a bit of tears on her face.

''Liliera-san has already done enough to report back to me with pride long ago.

Is that so?

Yes,

...I see. Huh.

I'm glad that he smiled.

I don't want you to have a sad look on your face because you have avenged the people of the village.

But even so, the bounty for a scoundrel is a small price to pay.

And Liliera smiled when she saw the reward she received for capturing the trio.

The amount is 10 gold coins.

It's a small amount of money compared to what we've gotten so far.

We made so many people unhappy, but this is a pittance.

After all, apparently, the criminals wouldn't get paid well unless they were dealing with someone like a big bandit whose name and face had been sold and who had done a great deal of mischief.

And this time the three of them were treated as small because their numbers were small and the amount of money they scammed wasn't large, so they were treated as small.

''I'm not convinced that Liliera-san and the others were treated badly, yet they're treated as small children.

'Yes. But I think of it this way, too. Don't you think it's more humiliating for them to be treated with the degree of disdain they despise as the lowest kind of scumbag petty villain than to be able to boast that they're the big bad guys?　And the only thing I can think of is compensation, an amount that would surprise even the big bad guys.

Grinning, Liliera smiles.

''That's what they're good for. And we won't be worried about them any more!　From now on, all you have to do is look forward and live!

Liliera stands next to me and takes my hand with the lightness of a step.

''You told me that. I'm not going to be able to say that I've done well enough to be able to proudly report back to you. So I won't wince anymore.

She seemed to be a bit skinny, but I still couldn't see the sadness in Liliera's eyes.

''Thank you. And keep up the good work.

Thank you.

'Well, the next big problem is going to be Lex. I can't keep cowering over my problems forever.

'What?　What does that mean?

You're not going to be able to do that.

Is it an account?

It was about a week after I caught the trio.

The person at the counter asked me if I could give them the number of my guild account to send money to me.

'Yes, the village chief of Hongzio village asked me to pay the sales of the consigned goods. The first installment was deposited directly by the guild, but since Lex-san is an adventurer and we don't know when he will be going to another town, I advised him to transfer the money to his guild account next time.

The village chief of Hong Zio?　Who's that?

It's the village where we caught the cheaters.

Liliella softly gives me an earful.

'What?　Oh, I see.

But why is the Mayor paying me for the sales of the goods?

I have no idea.

Come with me.

And Liliella brings me to the wall of the guild.

''That's it, the sales of the demon repellent potion.

'What?　But those are made in the village, so wouldn't that be a good sale for the people in the village?

'You heard the chiefs.　They'll only get their own paycheck. That means all other sales will be Mr. Lex's share.

What?　What?

How is it possible that this is happening?　All I did was teach her how to avoid evil spirits!

That's because Mr. Lex has outsourced the production and distribution of potions to that village.

What?　What's that?

That's what the people in that village have decided. They'll give you a job, and Mr. Lexx will give you one.

I wasn't even thinking about that!

I simply thought it would be good if the potions I taught you would generate income for the village!

And according to what I heard earlier, it looks like you'll be getting regular income from now on. That's great, it's a lot of money!

I'm not making a killing! I don't know what to say.

'Right?　Like I said, Mr. Lex would have been in a lot of trouble, wouldn't he?

This is what you were talking about the other day...

I've heard from a store I'm familiar with that the orders for potions to avoid demons are quite amazing, and even in the capital they are sold out one after another, so there is a waiting list. I've heard that there are people from all over the world who want the potion, so I wonder how much money they'll make.

Wow, it's only a monster avoidance potion, why are people so desperate to buy it?

Well, since you're talking about that, let's get on with it and hand over the account!

Wait, wait, don't pull that away.

'I get paid to help people and that's a good thing!　Look, look.

This is how my guild account was able to receive regular sales of the Demon Avoidance Potion in my guild account.

'Kukewoo!'

On a side note, I made a potion to avoid monsters, so the mofo didn't come close to me for a while.