CH 63

The witch of the apothecary

***---***

After asking Marianne-san to rent carriages, I moved to Lastock's garrison to take care of the chairman.

I had a little time before noon, so I took a peek at the training, but it certainly had a devilish feeling.

According to the story I heard from the rescued classmates, the fighting in the knight type training was done from the beginning, but since there are constant serious injuries, it seemed that they were just acting and deciding the winners and losers.

That said, the training was conducted while the knights of Resenburg were watching, so it was not possible to completely act, and as a result, the situation was constantly making new injuries.

However, the battle that is unfolding in front of me does not look like acting.

Looking at each other with bloody eyes, they have a fierce clash as if they were trying to win if they saw a chance.

There is no choice but to become stronger in order to survive, and it seems that there is a feeling that if you remain weak, you will surely die.

After the battle is over, there are a number of people who are moaning and groaning, and it makes me depressed to think that the chairman alone will have to treat this.

When I moved to the examination room, I saw the chairman who continued treatment with an expressionless face like a Noh mask.

It seems that she has been acting since the time when the first five rescued people were thought to be dead, and she doesn't smile or interact with the residents of Lastock who came for treatment like before.

"I wonder why she's become closed off ..."

"It's like she's become a different person ..."

"It seems something happened to her friends ... Will she return to smiling like before?"

It seems that the reason why the chairman is expressionless has not been revealed to the residents of Lastock who come to receive medical treatment, and there are voices of unease.

While saying such, when the classmates who have completed training appear, the residents who are not in a hurry to receive treatment go out of the waiting room.

"It seems like Saint-sama's companions have come, we'll do it later."

"Well, I can't be a burden to the Saint-sama anymore ..."

Originally, it seems that the residents of Lastock were prioritized, but it seems that the residents voluntarily refrained from treatment because of the attitude of the chairman and the seriousness of the injuries of her classmates.

"Now, everyone should go inside and give priority to those who are seriously injured."

The chairman took off her blank expression and took a deep breath, and then devoted herself to the treatment.

[ Kent-sama ... The Saint-sama's treatment is improving ... ]

[ Is that the effect of treating every day until she's about to collapse? ]

[ Maybe ... The more you practice magic, the stronger it becomes ... ]

Originally, the chairman made the 'Evil Eye Crystal' shine so much that I thought my eyes would go blind, so the degree of leveling up would be quite high.

She treats fractures and severe lacerations one after another, but every time she finishes the treatment for one person, the chairman's complexion seems to get worse, which makes me feel uncomfortable.

Now that I can't apply healing magic to the chairman, I'll give the chairman a pill to help restore her magical power.

"Next ... oh ..."

"Hey, Yuika, are you okay? Aren't you overdoing it?"

"Yeah, I'm okay, because I have a prince."

"Hmm ... Really, just talking to Yuika can help."

Also, the girl waiting for treatment softens her expression, although she is a little surprised that the chairman has started a dreamy story.

"It's okay, I'm sure my prince will come to help me someday, so don't give up hope."

"Yeah, that's right, Yuika says so, so there's no doubt."

I'm not a prince, but I renewed my feeling that I must meet everyone's expectations.

The chairman, who was unsteady but finished the treatment of her classmates, collapsed herself onto the sofa.

The caretaker, Erna, silently hung a blanket and silently bowed and left the examination room.

When I asked Fred to keep an eye out and went out, the chairman spread her arms and asked for a hug.

"Stupid Kent ... I smell a girl again ..."

"I'm sorry ... Manon helped everyone get used to working ..."

"No, I won't forgive you ..."

"Yuika ..."

I do my best to cast healing magic on the chairman who clings strongly.

Her body, which seemed a little cold, seems to have become warmer, making me more conscious of Yuika's existence.

"Kent ... how many days left?"

"Soon, I'll come pick you up the night of the day after tomorrow."

"You absolutely have to ... it's a promise ... I'm at my limit."

"Yeah, do your best a little more."

"Got it ..."

We hugged each other until Erna came back and I left the medical facility.

I headed to Volzard to arrange for sleeping pills.

When I visited the small drugstore on the back street, which was parallel to the main street, Muell-san's master welcomed me.

"H, hello, Corey-san."

In front is a wall full of drawers containing various medicines, and behind the counter, Corey-san is an obaa-san who looks like a witch.

Her face with deep wrinkles has an atmosphere that seems to be convincing even if I'm told she's 300 years old, and honestly she's a little scary.

After staring at my face for a while, Corey-san grinned and showed only two missing teeth.

"Welcome, lady-killer, it's two people today, huh ..."

"Uuh ... yes ... that's right."

"Hiihiihii, don't get stabbed because you're indecisive, I'll be in trouble if my customer dies ..."

Corey-san is very sensitive to odors, probably because she prepares medicines, and she seems to be able to sniff out not only the perfume but also the chairman's body odor.

"So how many do you need today?"

"Yes, please give me 200 at the size of before."

"Well ... then, you're all set up."

"Yes, I'm going to do it the evening after tomorrow."

Corey-san has already been told about the situation and I explained what the sleeping pills are for.

"This fellow is troubling ..."

"Eh, isn't there enough?"

"Hiihiihii, this me, to make such a blunder ...? After your strategy is over, you're not going to buy medicine anymore? I'm saying that it's trouble if my customers decrease."

"Oh, I see ... But I'm going ton continue to be in your care for medicine that helps restore magical power."

"Well ... anyway, if you go back to the world over there, you won't need it ... or rather you won't be able to come to buy it ..."

"Oh, right ..."

"But well, you're likely to stay here ... I'll continue asking for your business."

"I don't know yet, but I'm looking forward to working with you."

When I lowered my head again, Corey-san nodded several times.

"You're good. You don't go out of control like the people around you. The big figure is also annoying ..."

Corey-san is harsh on Gilik, but it would be annoying if someone with his physique was careless in this small shop.

When I imagined that figure and smiled a bitter smile, Corey-san also grinned at me.

"Sit there and wait, I'll prepare it now."

At first glance, Corey-san looks dried up like a mummy, but surprisingly, she prepared the sleeping pills with vigorous movements.

Dividing each of the five grains into small paper bags, I put them into the shadow storage so that they will not be dropped after paying for 40 bags.

After seeing it, Corey smiled again after widening her eyes.

"Hiihiihii, I've lived for a long time, but it's the first time I've met someone who instantly uses magic without changing. How on earth are you doing that?"

"Hmm ... I don't really understand it myself."

"Hiihiihii, truly an amusing person ... Anyway, are you going after Muell."

"Well ... that kind of thing ..."

"Hiihiihii, I guess you thought about it a little."

"Uh ... yes, just a little ..."

"I can see what you are thinking. It's not suitable for negotiations."

"Guu ... right? Well, I'll be troubled during negotiations in the future ..."

"Hiihiihii, you should wear a mask."

"Oh, yeah, I do have that hand ..."

I was laughed at by Corey-san when she said it might be a good idea to wear a mask while negotiating so the other party couldn't understand what I was thinking.

"Ahhhhhh, this is a masterpiece. Is there anyone who really cares, where in the world is there someone who ewars a mask and negotiates?"

"But I'm a person from a different world ..."

"Hiihiihii ... you're funny after all. Look, you should bring this ..."

Corey-san put a small medicine bottle on the counter.

"Oh, this is ...?"

"It's a booster, and if you drink it, you can fight for about half a day without running out of magic ... However, after it loses its effect, you'll fall asleep for about three full days."

"That ... the effect should be a little milder ..."

"Hiihiihii, if there was, I'd already be putting it out."

"Hey ..."

"Be sure to come back and entertain this old woman ... You see, aren't you busy?"

"Yes, when I'm free, I'll come back to play."

Corey-san nodded, waving me away and sent me out.

After leaving the back street pharmacy, I dove into the shadows from the back street and moved to Reinhardt and the others.

Reinhardt and the others said today that they would wipe out the monsters around the highway and improve the road.

Everyone of my genus were in a place near Resenburg on the highway, and soil was put in the place where rainwater had accumulated to level it.

Art and the others dig the soil on the side of the highway all at once and fill the holes where rainwater has accumulated.

Looking closely, I saw tools for leveling the road.

"Where did you bring those from, Reinhardt?"

[ Of course, from the warehouse in Lastock's garrison. ]

"After all ... Isn't that a bad idea?"

[ You don't have to worry because it was covered with dust in the back of the warehouse. Perhaps it was prepared for use when carving out the forest after the training of your classmates. ]

"Well, is it okay because it's used correctly in a sense ..."

Looking in the direction where they are not working, it seems that the work has already been copmleted, and the road is neatly arranged.

I had the impression that the road was rough because the caravan only passed through very rarely, but it seems that a comfortable carriage trip will be possible.

The Republic of Landshelt, to which Volzard is a member, whas originally part of Resenburg, but after the erosion of the Devil's Forest made it difficult to come and go, the lords of seven states gathered to declare independence.

Therefore, the relationship is delicate because the Resenburg side still has the idea that Landshelt is a part of their country.

Since there is a buffer zone called the Devil's Forest, it is not necessary to fight, but it seems that it is unpredictable what will happen if the Resenburg side advances the development of the Devil's Forest and the distance is shortened.

However, the development of the Devil's Forest is not as easy as it sounds, so it seems that it is beyond the scope of the story as 'tentative ...', and few people think of it as a real problem.

"Goshujin-sama, a huge lizard is coming."

As I was watching the road maintenance, Tart, who was on scouting duty talked to me.

"Big lizard? Is it a lizardman?"

"Yeah, a bigger lizard."

[ Kent-sama, it may be a Salamander. ]

"That's the guy the Flamehounds boasted they had subdued?"

[ Yes, it's a pretty dangerous monster, how should we handle it? ]

"Of course, I have to subdue it, but ... everyone should stop working and dive into the shadows!"

In the first place, I have never seen an actual Salamander, so I will not fight so suddenly before checking the situation.

Looking in the directly Tart pointed, there is a shadow apporoaching through the woods.

I mean, it looks like the reddish-brown hills are moving ...

"Umm ... is it always so big?"

[ No, I think it's too big, usually about half that size ... ]

"Is this also the effect of the activation of the Devil's Forest?"

[ I don't know, but it's likely. ]

The Salamander that moves through the woods is about the size of a normal truck with just its torso and head, and when added to the length of its tail, it is likely to be longer than a large truck.

The color is reddish brown and the back is covered with scales that seem to be hard, and the parts without scales are also rugged.

The scales and skin of the Salamander have special properties, and they are said to be resistant to fire when magical power is passed through.

Therefore, it seems that fire attribute magic does not work at all for a live Salamander.

The scales and skin after death are inferior to those of when it's alive, but they are fire resistant when magical power is passed through, and they are used for armor and fire extinguishing equipment.

"Does it spit fire?"

From the mouth of the Salamander walking slowly, from time to time a flicker of flame seems to appear.

[ It doesn't spit flames, it shoots fire bullets that are several times more powerful than the no-good Hero, but when it comes to one of that size ... it's scary to think about it. ]

"Wow ... it's already a monster level ..."

Even if it is a normal size, it is a high-risk monster, so when it appears near the city, it is more common to threaten it and drive it away rather than subdue it.

This is because if you try to subdue it poorly and it rampages, there is a high possibility that the surroudings will be damaged by the stray shots of the fire bullets.

The Flamehounds said they subdued it, perhaps defeating something that had come very close to the city, had entered the city, or was lurking away from the city.

"How do you do it if you are just scaring it off?"

[ Salamander is vulnerable to water-based attack magic ... It hates it, so it's common to line up water attribute mages and repel it with attack magic. ]

"I see ... but there is no water attribute mage here."

[ Well, Kent-sama has light type attack magic, or else we have no choice but to attack from the inside and subdue it. ]

"I see ..."

Considering the rescue operation, it should definitely be subdued, but subduing the salamander, which looks like a living dinosaur, is a little discouraging.

[ By the way, if you kill one salamander, it will be twenty to thirty times more expensive than the Gigawolf. ]

"Eh ... is it so expensive?"

[ Of course, it's dangerous enough to destroy a small town easily, and you need at least ten skilled adventurers to subdue it. ]

"That means that the three Flamehounds are pretty amazing?"

[ Well? I don't know the size of the subjugated individual, and the user of the water attribute, which is said to have been in an unfortunate accident that was mentioned, may have been amazing. ]

While talking to Reinhardt, the giant Salamander came very close to the road.

Because of the activities of Reinhardt and the others, goblins and the like do not approach, and perhaps it is not blessed with prey, it is constantly sniffing its nose and smelling the surrouding scent.

[ Kent-sama, if you make it worse, it may head to Lastock. ]

"If this guy goes to Lastock, could the knights of Resenburg be able to repel or subdue it?"

[ That's impossible, a Salamander of this size is at a legendary level and the natural disaster level, it would be impossible if the whole country had to embark on subjugation. ]

"It can't be helped, I'll subdue it ..."

I don't want to cause trouble by having Lastock attacked at this timing, and there is a risk of damage to my classmates, so I decided to subdue it.

I connected the shadow space inside the head of the Salamander and cut through the medulla oblongata with a large knife.

The Salamander, who had its head raised high sniffing, stopped moving and collapsed with a rumble.

[ What are you going to do with it? ]

"Hmm ... I wonder if I should ask Donovan-san ..."

[ Buhahaha, as expected, Donovan-dono may be overwhelmed, but it's a reasonable choice. Let's store it in the shadow space for now. ]

It may be good to be able to subdue dangerous monsters without danger, but somehow I feel guity about having taken the life of a huge creature.

I can't imagine the coexistence of Salamanders and humans, but I couldn't help but wonder if there was a good way to avoid mutual interference.

I had Reinhardt and Art continue to improve the road, and I decided to go back to Volzard to deal with the Salamander.

The guild is a bit quiet, as it's still a while until the evening and it's a little later when people who have finished their work report or ask for the purchase of collected materials.

When I asked at the counter to meet with Donovan-san, I was taken to the back office space.

Donovan-san invited me while sitting at his desk and enjoying tea in his spare time.

"Well, sit down and have some tea ..."

"Yes, thank you."

Perhaps it is unusual for Donovan-san to serve tea, because the guild staff around him cast an interesting look.

Donovan-san brewed tea with a delicate hand that did not suit his physique and appearance.

"Hmm, you're thinking about rude things again ..."

"That's ridiculous ... Oh, thank you."

The tea seems to be different from the other day, but the mellow aroma and taste were wonderful.

"Well ... what happened?"

"Yes, I want you to buy something ..."

"Well, Gigawolf again ... how many this time?"

"No, it's a Salamander ..."

"Buha, gohogoho, Sa, Salamander!"

Donovan-san, who seemed to be unmoved no matter what, spouted tea to his heart's content.

The staff members also have their eyes widen and stand up straight.

"Where, where did you see it!"

"Well ... it's a place near Resenburg on the highway ..."

"Is it an adult? How big is it! Which place is it heading for!"

"I think it's an adult, but ... I'd like to ask you to buy it because I've subdued it ..."

Well, somehow everyone is frozen.

After a brief freeze, Donovan-san sighed.

"Hmm ... I heard that it was a Salamander, and I forgot that I shouldn't treat you like a normal person."

"No, I'm a little reluctant to be treated as abnormal ..."

"What's wrong with the guy who says he's subdued a Salamander, is he not abnormal?"

"No ... well, maybe that's the case ... so can you buy it?"

"Of course, scales, skin, fangs, nails, bones, there is a lot of demand, but I'm sure I can buy it."

"Then, is it the same as with the Gigawolfs?"

"Um, don't worry, take it to the back training ground when you finish drinking your tea."

Donovan-san urged me to sit down with his hand, so the staff members also sat down with a deep breath.

"After all, Salmander is a dangerous monster, isn't it?"

"Obviously, what are you saying. Even the walls of Volzard I don't know how long they can withstand if they continue to eat fire bullets, and once they're in the city, how much damage will they do ... Rock ogre can be defeated by a skilled adventurer. Even Gigawolf can be subdued by a few people. However, if you fight against a Salamander while protecting the city, the garrison and adventurers must all come together."

"I see ... that's the level."

"Conversely, even if you have the Volzard garrison and adventurers, they won't be able to compete with your genus who have defeated the Salamander ..."

Donovan-san carried the cup to his mouth with a bitter smile.

"Um ... I did the subjugation alone ..."

"Gaha, Guho ... Ugu, Gaha, Gaha, Hii ... You did it alone!"

I'm sorry, I thought it was a little funny for Donovan-san to be upset, so I should have kept silent.

"Well, it looks like a surprise attack ..."

"Guu ... the tea is ruined now, hey, forget what you just heard."

Donovan-san glared at me after he warned the guild staff.

"Kent! You defeated it using your genus ... Do you understand?"

"Yes!"

"If it is known that you defeated it alone, idiots who want to test their skills will come for you."

"Wow ... that's a bit of a problem ..."

"Brawling notice, duel notice, if you want to increase my work any more, I'll appeal to Klaus-san and rank you up ... I'll let you sit at this desk."

"Hiii ... Pa, pardon me from just that, please ..."

"If so, be quiet!"

"Yes ... I'm sorry ..."

I messed up, I got carried away in doing my adventurer work, I will engrave this in my heart.