Book 4: Chapter 1: Part 2

Heres the chapter, enjoy~Part 2

After our conversation with Grena-san, we decided to accept the request to collect medicinal herbs according to Lexia-sans idea, so we quickly went to the reception desk to finish the procedure and came outside the capital.

As expected, we accepted the request, and although Owen was reluctant to have Lexia-san participate in the request, Lexia-sans momentum overwhelmed him, and in the end, he agreed to allow her. Im really sorry, Owen-san.

Well, since Yuuya-dono is present, it wont be a problem, I guess.

Ive been trusted mysteriously, but Im causing Owen-san a lot of trouble, so Ill try to live up to that trust. It seems that medicinal herbs grow surprisingly everywhere outside this city, and its not hard to find them.

However, Ive never seen any other medicinal herbs other than [Complete Recovery Herb], so I asked the receptionist to show me a sample, butwell, I couldnt understand what the difference was between them and the grasses growing around here and there. Speaking of which, the [Complete Recovery Herb] is very similar, anyway.

Fortunately, I dont think I can fail since I can use [Identification], and since Luna seems to know what kind of herbs they are, I dont need to worry about it.

In fact, Luna, Lexia-san, and the others had said that it would be okay to make a request to defeat a super easy monster, but as expected, Owen-san had done his best to stop them from doing so.

Besides, when I looked at the bulletin board, I noticed that the request form for collecting medicinal herbs seemed to have been abandoned for a long time, and when I asked why, I found out that it was apparently left because it was more profitable to defeat monsters such as slimes and goblins, which were in the weakest category in the world, and thats why it was being left there.

I dont know how weak they are because my image of slime and goblins is completely of the monsters in that forest, but if I think of the money from completing the request plus the money from redeeming the drop items, then defeating them is probably more fruitful. Searᴄh the Nôvel(F)ire.nёt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Maybe thats why I decided to accept the request to collect medicinal herbs quietly because I was told that if this were the case, the stock of medicinal herbs would eventually run out, and there would be a problem in case of an emergency.

Well, I dont really need the money right now, and Lexia-san seemed to want to help me out as much as possible after hearing about the situation, and Luna didnt have any particular objection to the herb collection.

By the way, the number of herbs collected to accomplish the request is ten, but it seems that if you collect more than that, you will be paid an additional reward. However, if you uproot the medicinal herbs around you to get that extra reward, the adventurers guild will find out about it, and youll have to pay a fine. Well, it would be very annoying if I picked them all up and they never grew again. However, its not an amount that can be picked up so easily, and the vitality of the herbs themselves is so strong that theyll grow right back if left unchecked, so theres no need to worry

Once again, once I stepped outside the city, a pleasant breeze blew through.

Hmm the wind feels nice.

Well, yes. I wouldnt have had time to enjoy the wind like this in the past, but it feels good to feel it like this.

Yes. I, too, have been on the official business lately, or only in the castle, so its a bit refreshing to get some fresh air shopping in the city is nice, but this kind of time is nice too!

Lexia-sama. Dont get too excited, okay? I just want you to avoid moving around too much under the current circumstances

Owen-san let out a sigh and told that to Lexia-san.

I know, I know. But when things are settled down, Id like to have dinner outside on a nice day like this!

Lexia-san looked at us and smiled as she said that. Its certainly a moderate temperature, and most importantly, the air is clear, so a picnic would be nice. Well, there will be danger of monsters and such.

We entered the meadow just outside the city and looked around while remembering the medicinal herbs Emilia-san showed us.

Hmm oh, this is it, right?

Then I immediately found something that looked like the herb, and so I activated [Identification].

[Heal Grass] :: A plant that is called Medicinal Herb in this world. It is mainly treated as an ingredient in recovery medicine. It can be used by grinding the leaves as they are and is effective for grazing wounds, etc. It is highly effective to pull them out while being careful not to damage the roots when you collect them.

Fumu it seems like this is definitely the medicinal herb, but I didnt know they had an official name for it. Moreover, thanks to the [Identification], I even figured out the correct way to collect it.

As I was lightly digging up the soil with my hands, Lexia-san peeked at it from the side.

Heeh thats how to collect medicinal herbs, huh?

Ive heard somewhere that the collecting itself is not difficult, but its best not to damage the roots as much as possible. In that sense, Yuuyas collection is very careful.

Then I can just do like Yuuya-sama did and collect as many as I want!

Hey, have you forgotten what Emilia told you? You cant take too many of them, either.

Thats right. The medicinal herbs themselves seem to have a strong life force and fertility, so if you leave a few plants behind, theyll be back to normal in a few days

I know! Oh, its so boring just to collect, Luna! Lets have a match!

Huh?

Luna was taken aback by Lexia-sans sudden suggestion.

By the way, Yuuya-sama will be the referee!

Eh?

Im involved too! Ignoring me and Luna, who were surprised, Lexia-san started to run.

The winner gets the right to monopolize Yuuya-sama for a day! Well then, let the game begin!

Oh, hey, Lexia! Sigh Yuuya. Ill go to Lexias place, so come over after you get as many of the requests as you can get. Or rather, suddenly starting on those terms would be unfair!

After saying that, Luna hurriedly headed towards Lexia-san while holding her head. No, thats fine, but why is the right to monopolize me for a day treated as a prize? And how about my will?

I look away from them in a daze, but since theyve already gone, I call out to Night.

Uhm, Ill ask you two to help me out then, okay?

Woof?

Buhi.:

Heres the herb, and tell me if you find one just like it, okay?

Woof.

Fugo.

They each put their noses close to the herb, sniffed it, and then went separate. I watched as they went to look for the new ones, and then I started to look for mine, and I found one growing nearby and collected it as well.

Its simple, but I like this kind of work. I can become more carefree. After searching for a while like this, Night barked lightly.

Woof!

Oh, did you find it?

When I approached Night, there was something that looked like a medicinal herb growing there. However, I felt somewhat strange with it, and when I activated [Identification], it was displayed like this.

[Magic Heal Grass] :: A plant that resembles a medicinal herb. However, this doesnt heal wounds but has the effect of restoring magic power. It is mainly treated as an ingredient in magic power recovery medicine. Even if you put the leaves in your mouth, a very small amount of magic power is recovered. The collection method is the same as for medicinal herbs.

Apparently, it was something a little different.

Too bad! I think this isnt the herb that we are looking for.

Kyuunn

Dont look so down. Its a good one, at least.

Woof.

I gently patted Night, who sounded sad for making a mistake. As I collected magic heal grass with Night, who had regained his spirits, I heard Akatsukis voice this time.

Buhi! Buhi buhi!

Hmm? Did Akatsuki find it too?

As we hurried towards Akatsuki, he looked at us and gave us a smug look. We turned our attention to the medicinal herb that he had found while smiling bitterly at his appearance.

Eh?

And I was at a loss for words.

Uh well Akatsuki? I told you I wanted you to find me some herbs, didnt I?

Buhi.

And this one?

Buhi!

Akatsuki pointed with his hoof as if to say, This is the medicinal herb.

In case something goes wrong, I activated [Identification].

[Ichikoro Grass] :: A plant that must never be eaten. If you ingest it even once, the last thing youll do is pass away to the other world instantly. Unless you have poison resistance and poison invalidation skills, but even then, no one would like to eat it. However, if mixed with the proper procedures and ingredients, it can be transformed into a Poison Neutralizer. All you have to do is collect the leaves. [T/n: Ichikoro means losing easily, being trounced, being beaten hands down and such.]

It was different. Its just as strange as it sounds. Everything around it is green, but the grass is purple. Moreover, it has red and yellow spots. The color combination is just as if to say, Dont eat it.

Akatsuki-san. Are you saying that this is the herb?

Buhi.

Yeah, you should look at it more.

Buhi!?

Akatsuki was shocked by my words. I dont think of it as a medicinal herb, though it could be used as a poison neutralizer if I got the ingredients and procedures right.

Well, since Akatsuki found it, Ill take it anyway. We also found some other medicinal herbs, but we couldnt find them altogether as they were not in a cluster.

Then, Lexia-san, who was collecting at another location, comes running towards me.

Yuuya-sama, look, look!

In Lexia-sans hand, there was something that looked like a medicinal herb, but how could it be she was very muddy. Eh, what happened?

As I was surprised to see Lexia-san in her muddy state, a tired-looking Luna also comes from behind her.

Hey, Lexia. Are you sure youre royalty? Thats not ladylike or anything at all

Ara, excuse me. Ive been doing my official duties as a member of the royal family, and my manners are perfect! And isnt this mud a so-called adventurers courtesy?

Whats your image of the adventurer in your mind?

Uhm you wont be offended, will you? Theyre so muddy

Really, Lexia-san was covered in mud and really a mess I would have believed her if she had told me that she had gone head first into a puddle.

Well? Isnt it okay? Im not using a dress, anyway!

Im really sorry, Owen-san.

By the way, both Luna and Lexia-san had the same number of results in the herb collection battle, and the right to monopolize me for a day never passed to anyone.

At the time when Yuuya and the others were receiving requests in the other worldKaori Houjou was in her room doing her prep and review as usual.

..

Kaori, who had been studying silently for a while, put down her pen for a break and stretched.

Hmm I guess the problem is with English and ancient literature

As she realized that again, in todays review, she unexpectedly saw a calendar.

Come to think of it its almost time for midterm exams

When she was thinking about such a vague thought, Kaori suddenly thought of Yuuya. And at the same time, she remembered the incident on the way home after the ball game tournament the other day.

~~Uh!

Her face suddenly flushed red, Kaori stood up from her chair and fell onto her own bed, and writhing.

What have I done

The day of the ball game tournament. She injured her teammate due to her own lack of athletic ability, and when she was depressed, Yuuya gallantly helped her out. Kaori was attracted to Yuuya, who was always there to help her, but Kaori was confused by the first time she felt that feeling.

Thats why, after the ball game, she couldnt help her feelings and lightly kissed Yuuyas cheek. Remembering that, she had to writhe and roll around in shyness when she got home. But if she got to this point, no matter how much she had never experienced it before, Kaori could understand how she felt about Yuuya too.

I, Yuuya-san

She was about to say all that, and when her face became heated again, she buried her face in the bed. Kaori writhed in shyness for a while, but she suddenly felt uneasy when she eventually cooled down.

Yuuya-san, hes so nice and maybe he already has a girlfriend and even if he didnt have one, theres no way another girl would leave him alone

Kaori suddenly begins to feel depressed, even though she seemed so happy just now.

But I dont want to give up either But what should I do

Just as she started to think about how to get as close to Yuuya as possible without losing to the other girls, the calendar came into Kaoris view again.

Ah!

Then, realizing something, Kaori stood up vigorously.

Thats right! How about studying for a test with Yuuya-san!

For some reason, Kaori begins a questioning soliloquy in a room with no one but herself. However, Kaori herself was no longer in the mood for that, and the content of her soliloquy seemed like a very good idea.

I have decided lets ask him about it next time!

Kaori thought of the time and went to her desk again.

In this way, Kaori began to study again in preparation for the time when she and Yuuya would study for the test together.