Episode 29
Episode 29
It wasn't until I made about three Panaceas that I finally produced a proper one.
Though I remembered the ingredients correctly after so long, there was a problem with the manufacturing process. Still, thanks to Aron volunteering as a test subject, I managed to complete it.
I handed the completed transparent medicine to Aron.
Aron, who had already consumed the three failed attempts beforehand, was slumped over in his chair.
He was mumbling something quietly, but I mostly ignored it.
"It's finished. This should work, right?"
"If this one's fake too, should I just die then?"
"It's medicine, it's just that they all taste bad. So stop exaggerating and just drink it."
"You call this medicine?"
Aron held out the bowl that had contained the medicine he drank earlier.
A pitch-black liquid was slowly oozing out.
The flowing shape almost looked like a skull.
Well, the visual is rather violent.
It did look like one sip would send you straight to the afterlife. But since I used the proper ingredients, it's definitely healthy.
After all, medicine that's good for you is supposed to taste bitter.
I roughly snatched the bowl away and tossed it behind me.
I heard the sound of the bowl bouncing a few times from behind.
"I told you it's medicine. You're the one who asked me if I had a method. This is the fastest way we can try, so just hurry up and drink it."
"Ugh... Sorry guys, I'm going ahead..."
Aron took the bowl containing the transparent liquid and sniffed it.
Colorless, odorless.
Naturally, a properly completed Panacea shouldn't have any scent at all.
I glared at Aron as he stared intently at me for a moment.
"Aren't you going to drink it? Should I throw it away then?"
"Ah, no. I'll drink it quickly."
With a trembling hand, Aron barely managed to lift the bowl and began drinking the liquid.
Gulp. Gulp.
In the quiet room, only the sound of liquid being swallowed could be heard. After finishing the Panacea, Aron frowned and looked at the bowl.
"It's just like water? It has no taste at all."
"Then it must be done right. It's supposed to have no scent and no taste. That's how a proper Panacea is."
"Then why did you make me drink all those failed ones earlier?"
"I worked hard to make them."
Seeing Aron's look of disbelief, I hastily added an explanation.
"And the medicines you drank earlier are all good for your health too. You'll feel it once your body absorbs them. Speaking of which, does it seem effective?"
After making my excuses, I quickly changed the subject.
Aron, who had been looking at me with a slightly ambiguous expression, finally seemed to give up and let out a deep sigh.
"I'll go check and come back."
"Come back quickly~"
I waved my hand vaguely and hurriedly checked the failed medicines.
First, the color was pitch black.
When I put a spoon in the containing bowl and stirred, it sloshed around like sticky slime.
The smell was an indescribable odor, like a mix of rotten eggs and random weeds scattered in nature.
"Wouldn't you die if you ate this? Aside from the effects, the smell alone is a bit..."
The effects are definitely guaranteed.
I can't remember the exact name, but it's a herbal medicine that increases stats, the most common result when failing Panacea production.
It was some A-grade growth enhancer or something.
The description did say the taste was terrible, but I didn't know it would be this bad.
Sorry Haim!
I remembered Haim, who used to consume over ten of these a day when making Panaceas.
I wondered if he resented me a lot for it. The thought crossed my mind.
"Should I throw them all away? If I ask Aron to eat them, would he do it?"
The ingredients are precious, but I don't want to eat them.
I kind of understood the psychology behind girls giving things they don't like to their boyfriends.
"I should leave them for now. Aron might want to eat them. Or if he wants to torment someone."
It's a novel torment method - it only causes pain but is good for health, so the other person can't even get angry.
You could really call it vicious.
"Speaking of which, when is he coming back? The first two times he came back quickly, but he's not coming now."
I properly stored the completed Panacea in bottles I found around the house.
I also stored the failed medicines for easy consumption later.
They seemed useful for feeding to Aron whenever he did something I didn't like.
"Mia!"
Just as I finished cleaning up, Aron finally returned.
He approached me with quick strides, panting heavily.
"It worked! It's not perfect, but I'd call it a partial success for now."
"Really? What's lacking?"
"I can leave the forest, but my power weakens significantly when I go out. I think I'm around Swordmaster level, but I'm not sure."
"So that's what you consider weak. Interesting."
A Swordmaster would be welcomed in any country.
You could think of them as a living tactical nuke from the medieval era.
'If his power weakens beyond that, then I guess this is the best the Panacea can do.'
The Panacea only removes status effects, after all.
Since this world isn't a perfect game, there are bound to be differences from the game I played.
"Then let's solve the rest with help items. I have a few in mind that might work. If they don't, there's nothing we can do."
"Yeah, actually this much alone is a success. Originally, leaving was impossible."
I looked at Aron's satisfied expression with contentment, then handed him the remaining Panacea.
"Take all of this. Seoryeong Unni and Eri need this too."
"Surprisingly, you're just giving it away?"
At those words, I looked at him.
Our eyes met, and an awkward silence fell between us for a moment.
"What kind of question is that all of a sudden? I obviously made it to give to them."
"No, it's just that you seemed to have a lot of complaints about them, so I thought you wouldn't just give it away."
"Complaints? What complaints?"
I actually became quite close with Seoryeong Unni by the end.
Eri was just sensitive because she happened to be experiencing her first period - she doesn't dislike me.
Besides, she treated me well even when I was being sensitive.
She gave me warm blankets with magic, made medicine for me, and when I grumbled or said I was in pain, she would hold me and listen.
"Actually, I have the most complaints about you."
"Me? What did I do?"
"You're the worst bastard for not being satisfied with all the beautiful women around you and going around looking for other women. You know that? Do you know that?"
"No, but..."
"Uh uh? Are you making excuses now? Are you excusing yourself?"
Aron grew increasingly flustered watching Mia become more and more assertive.
Even though he was clearly much stronger, it felt like he'd met a formidable opponent for the first time since his childhood friend.
'And they're completely different, too.'
If one was like a sticky swamp, the other was like a giant wild boar.
Aron found himself worried about what would happen when the two eventually met.
"No. More importantly, are we going to meet the Dragonkin right away?"
"...Let's rest a bit before going."
The afternoon sun was beginning to set.
This time when the sunset begins was always when training ended. That time after training when I'd smell my sweat-soaked self.
When that time came, my body would slowly start reacting.
I'd feel restless and excited for no reason, and my gaze would unintentionally drift toward Aron.
'It's just because I'm still not fully accustomed to being a beastkin yet.'
Making excuses to myself, I slowly approached Aron.
Looking up at Aron who was much taller, I spread my arms.
"What we usually do... aren't you going to do it?"
As if aware how embarrassing her words were, she blushed and quickly added.
"Of course! It's not like I want to do it! It's just that if I don't do even this... I don't know when I'll get to touch you again..."
Her voice grew progressively quieter until the last words just lingered in her mouth.
Seeing this, Aron felt inwardly satisfied.
'Her beastkin instincts that she suppressed with human reason are becoming increasingly apparent.'
If this continued, eventually Mia would come to want him voluntarily.
Imagining a panting Mia approaching him someday, Aron spread his arms.
"I know. And I was going to suggest it first anyway."
"I know. You perverted bastard..."
The moment Aron spread his arms, she threw herself into his embrace.
As soon as she was in his arms, she took a deep breath.
The warm, familiar scent entered through her nose, seeming to fill her entire body.
*
Since Aron said there were things to prepare before meeting the Dragonkin, Mia had no choice but to take a few more days of rest.
During that time, they ate Dragon Meat together every day, trained, and organized information.
When she threw a punch as usual, she could now hear the sound of air being torn.
Marveling at the tangible change, Mia looked at her hand and muttered.
"Now I just need to use Aura with this, right?"
"That's right. Then you'll be much stronger than before, right? You might not be able to defeat a Swordmaster... but you should be able to hold your own."
"Really? Speaking of which, when will the preparations be finished? You said it would take about a week."
"Let's depart this evening."
Watching Mia wipe her sweat, Aron muttered.
"You've really grown."
At his gaze directed at her figure revealed through her sweat-soaked clothes, Mia's face instantly turned red.
She hastily crossed her arms over her chest to cover herself.
Normally she would just call him a perverted bastard and be done with it, but she felt embarrassed due to her suddenly increased size.
"Wh-what are you looking at! And who says something like that so openly?"
She quickly turned her body away and unnecessarily lowered her gaze.
'She really has grown.'
Until now, her contours weren't visible when clothed, but now they're starting to show through wet clothes.
It's proof that she's getting closer to having a feminine body.
Because of this, Mia's feelings became somewhat strange.
'Should I be happy? I'm glad I'm getting stronger, but...'
Getting stronger versus gradually becoming more feminine.
The former was clearly an advantage, but the latter couldn't be clearly defined as either an advantage or disadvantage.
The problem was that the more her body developed, the better it felt to be held by Aron.
"Let's hurry and prepare to depart. We need to wash up and pack our bags."
As Mia hastily turned her back and walked away, Aron asked.
"No hug today?"
"I'm sticky from sweat, so I'm going to wash up quickly. We'll do it later."
Though she considered it a problem, Mia couldn't refuse something that ultimately felt good.