Chapter 22
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: Lulu's Mana Stone
-----------------------------------------------------------------
I was startled by the doctor's rather peculiar request, but only for a moment.
Was it the influence of the Calmness trait?
Suddenly, I thought that as an alchemist, I'd probably encounter situations like this often in the future. With my mind quickly settling, I reassured myself that I wasn't the old loser Ilroon's self now—I was Ilroon the alchemist, taking on a commission.
Composing myself like a proper alchemist, I asked for more details about his condition.
I think I have a rough idea of the situation for now.
But to make the potion, I need to know your friend's current condition, right?
Could you tell me, even roughly?
I only heard it as drunken venting, so I don't know the details, but I'll summarize as best I can.
After a short wait,
the doctor followed up with a summary of the situation.
1. The wound itself was perfectly healed thanks to a healer. 2. No issues or discomfort in daily life. 3. Sexual arousal feels completely normal. 4. But it won't stand when he goes to bed with his wife.
To sum up what my friend said, that's the situation.
"Hmm, I see."
The most obvious cause, the wound, was fully healed by the healer, so we could rule that out.
Sexual arousal was normal too, so that was off the list.
Which left the main issue: it wouldn't stand when he was with his wife.
In cases like this, usually...
Isn't that like a psychological issue? Like PTSD or something?
His body had recovered normally after the incident, but if it still wouldn't stand, it had to be lingering effects from the trauma.
These cases were usually caused by psychological shock, so maybe a potion effective against that would do the trick.
Seeing how he's got depression now, yeah, I think psychological trauma is likely.
Has your friend tried antidepressants?
He tried the strongest ones, but no effect.
Climbers get stronger physically as they ascend floors, so they build resistance to most drugs, which is inconvenient for stuff like this.
High-floor climbers especially.
Ah, right. Climbers' bodies improve beyond normal humans upon awakening.
I'd vaguely felt my condition improve after each floor clear.
High-floor climbers who've cleared dozens of floors would be even more resistant.
They could probably down a shot glass of instant-death poison for humans and just get minor stomach cramps.
So, should I make an ultra-potent antidepressant that works even on climbers?
I'd love to try if possible, but it won't be easy.
He's a warrior-class job, and his traits ignore most poisons, drugs, and potions.
Not to impose as the one requesting, but can you make it?
Doctor. Who do you think I am?
I'll show you the power of the rank 1 alchemist. Just prepare a fat stack of cash.
Don't worry. If it's effective, he'll empty his pockets for it.
He's a pretty famous doting husband.
Right after accepting the commission for a climber-grade antidepressant.
I'll be investigating floor 4 with another friend, so contact me when the potion's ready.
The doctor left the chat to investigate floor 4 based on the info I'd given.
Meanwhile, I...
"Daddy-nyang! Lulu's all clean now-nyang!"
"Arin is too!"
"Good. Let's eat first then?"
While my daughters dried their fur and hair using their skills after bathing,
I pulled premium Hanwoo beef from the fridge and made yukhoe and steak for them.
Nyam nyam nyam...
Nom nom nom...
"This Hanwoo yukhoe is delicious-nyang! Even better than last time-nyang!"
"The Hanwoo steak is yummy too!"
"Glad it's tasty."
Watching my daughters devour the meat brought a smile to my face.
Worth splurging on the priciest 1++ grade.
"Guess I'll have some too."
With my eyes on the girls enjoying their meal,
and my mind pondering how to make the doctor's antidepressant, I started eating.
Nyam nyam... Nom... Nyang... Nya...?
...Gehnyang-! Gehnyang-!! Gehnyang-!!!
Lulu suddenly writhed mid-bite, dry-heaving,
then soon puked up the yukhoe she'd just eaten.
"L-Lulu!?"
"L-Lulu sis?!"
Did she choke on the meat!?
Shocked, I rushed over to pat her back, but
Lulu pushed my hand away like she was fine and kept heaving.
"D-Da gehnyang-! L-Lulu's f-fine gehnyang-!! N-No pro gehnyang-!!!"
"No, Lulu! How is this fine...!"
"I-It's f-fine gehnyang-!!!"
But even while vomiting, she insisted she was okay over and over.
I gave up patting her back and just stood there anxiously watching...
Gehnyang-!! Gehnyang-!!! ...Ptooie nyang-!!!
"Uuu nyang... Finally out-nyang..."
Suddenly, instead of yukhoe, a red gem-like object emerged from Lulu's mouth, and the heaving stopped.
"Sorry Daddy-nyang... First time spitting out a mana stone, so it took a while-nyang..."
"First time...? Anyway, drink some water and calm down first, Lulu."
"Sis... Here's water..."
"Nyang..."
I didn't know what a mana stone was or why Lulu spat it out,
but she looked unwell, so I had Arin bring water for her to drink.
After stroking her back until she calmed,
"Daddy-nyang... Lulu's okay now-nyang..."
She seemed settled.
Lulu stood, licked me and Arin, and explained the mana stone.
"Sorry for scaring you Daddy-nyang... A mana stone is... like mana clumped up inside Lulu's body-nyang..."
"Clumped mana?"
"Lulu doesn't know exactly-nyang... Just that when it gets big enough, she spits it out periodically. That's all-nyang..."
"So no injuries or anything wrong with your body?"
"Lulu's healthy-nyang... First time, so that's why-nyang... Won't be a problem from now on-nyang..."
Haa... That really scared me.
Vomiting mid-meal made me think something major was wrong.
"Okay... Rest up, and tell Daddy when you're hungry again. I'll make more yukhoe."
"Yay-nyang... Lulu wants yukhoe-nyang..."
"Sis..."
"Nya nya nyang... Lulu's fine, Arin-nyang..."
I tucked the exhausted Lulu into bed.
Arin, who'd been teary-eyed beside her, sat down to care for her.
Meanwhile, I messaged the doctor privately about what happened and asked if it was okay.
Something like that happened... Is this okay...?
Must've been startling, happening mid-meal like that.
But I think it's fine.
Eh? Do you know something?
It's not about knowing—didn't you say it's a cat-like homunculus?
Then it's just like a cat coughing up a hairball, but a mana stone instead.
Hairball?
It's like the furballs cats or rabbits get from grooming. Also called mogu syndrome.
A disease?! What kind of serious illness is it?!
Nah, for humans it's like an upset stomach. Just not used to it since it's her first time. Should be fine.
Ah.
Registering 'Lulu's Mana Stone' as a material.
After Lulu's hairball (mana stone) fiasco,
Nyam nyam nyam...
"Nyam nyam nyam! Yukhoe's delicious-nyang!"
Lulu, back to her energetic self as if nothing happened,
devoured 10 plates of Hanwoo yukhoe to prove her health.
"Our Lulu... Looks so healthy. What a relief..."
"Lulu's a healthy kitty-nyang!"
Yeah. Super healthy.
Though... has her appetite gotten even bigger? Or am I imagining it...?
Anyway.
After the chaotic meal,
"Here, your tablet. Don't watch too long, okay?"
Yesterday, when buying meat, I'd picked up kids' tablets from a nearby phone shop and loaded them with a child-friendly streaming app,
to keep my little ones entertained.
"Nya nya nyang! Daddy's the best-nyang! Lulu's gonna watch Puss in Boots-nyang!"
"Lulu sis! After that, it's Shark Tale's turn!"
Didn't expect them to love it this much.
Guess I should get a two-player game console later.
While the girls focused on their movie,
I got to my task.
"First, register the main ingredient..."
Registering 'Antidepressant' as a material.
For an antidepressant potion, the antidepressant would be the main ingredient.
Normally prescription-only, but the doctor hooked me up via private trade right away.
"Alright... Input it like this and run the recipe search?"
Please enter what you want to synthesize.
Super Potent Antidepressant (Erectile Dysfunction Variant)
I entered keywords that seemed relevant for the client and proceeded to search for recipes.
Searching for recipes for 'Super Potent Antidepressant (Erectile Dysfunction Variant)' using main ingredient 'Antidepressant'...
102,235 related recipes found...
Optimizing recipes based on current dimension...
...Complete.
Generated 1 recipe for 'Super Potent Antidepressant (Erectile Dysfunction Variant)'.
Outputting recipe automatically.
[Super Potent Antidepressant (Erectile Dysfunction Variant)]
Whoa, damn. Fitting for a man's issue-related recipe,
over 100k related recipes...
Wait...
Thousand-Year Red Demon Mushroom as an ingredient...?
Doesn't that one melt your tongue and internals if you eat it?
And what's Lulu's mana stone's effect to make it go in there...?