117
My Villains Episode 117
30. Holiday (2)
I'm not sure if this is a misunderstanding, but it seems there are quite a few talkative people in this neighborhood.
"The lord has been nagging me so much lately to make wound healing potions that I'm about to count every remaining black hair."
"Is something lacking?"
"Oh, it would be faster to explain what's prepared rather than what's missing. He wants me to make wound healing potions without troll's blood - if I had such skill, I'd be in the royal capital, not this rural village. The lord lacks basic knowledge in this field, oh, I'm sorry, madam. Anyway, he thinks alchemy is some kind of summoning magic."
At Master Caslight's chatter, Ellen, who had been nibbling on a scone, gave a slight smile.
Ellen's smile.
As rare as it was, it was so beautiful that one couldn't look away.
"Our master often says the same thing. That there are too many ignorant fools who mistake alchemy for summoning magic."
"It's a conflict often encountered by magicians researching alchemy for nobility. Alchemy and magic are almost unrelated."
"That's right. So, have you made any progress?"
"I tried to replace troll's blood with royal jelly, Chinese silvergrass, and cow horns, but the compatibility wasn't right. I think the cow horns are the problem. I might need a unicorn's horn to make something proper..."
Ellen, who had been blowing on her chocolate, narrowed her brow.
"Instead of troll's blood, a unicorn's horn?"
"Yes, I know. It's a stupid idea. You can't make wound healing potions with a unicorn's horn. These days, my failures go like this."
Master Caslight drooped her shoulders and sighed. Ellen, who had been fidgeting with a teacup, hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"What if you try adding orange moss instead of Chinese silvergrass and cow horns?"
"Orange moss? It's not easy to activate its medicinal properties."
"I know a good way to process it. Would you like help?"
"Oh my, how kind. Will you really help? Ah, didn't you say you were researching a potion? Did you bring it?"
"Yes."
"Then let's look at that too."
The two magicians, seemingly forgetting me and the Baroness's existence, rushed to the experimental table.
"Well, they quite look like they're enjoying themselves."
"Indeed. She's not usually like this."
The Baroness quietly watched Ellen floating in the air, her wing decorations glittering.
"Every time I see her, I think she's so beautiful. I wonder if an angel beside the Lord would look like this."
When I quietly nodded, the Baroness added more words.
"How fortunate you are."
"...Excuse me?"
"I said you're fortunate. To have such a beautiful partner."
"Oh."
I awkwardly smiled and shrugged my shoulders.
"I understand the misunderstanding, but we're not that kind of relationship."
"...Not?"
"Yes. We're colleagues. Very close colleagues."
"Close colleagues..."
As the Baroness mumbled this, the two magicians began lighting a fire in the hearth.
Master Caslight chanted a spell and sprinkled some unidentifiable powder, and the fire turned blue, instantly bringing the cauldron to a boil.
Orange smoke continuously escaped through the chimney, but in the blink of an eye, the room was filled with smoke.
The Baroness covered her mouth and coughed lightly.
"Well, shall we step out for a moment?"
"...Yes, let's do that."
After leaving the laboratory, the Baroness took a deep breath of fresh air and shook her head.
"Master Caslight tends to be unaware of her surroundings when she's immersed in something."
"Aren't all magicians like that? Ellen is also quite focused."
"Perhaps so."
The August sun was scorching. I was fluttering my loose tunic when I suddenly asked the Baroness, "Aren't you hot?"
The reason I asked was because of the Baroness's attire. Even wearing a head scarf in the middle of summer looked suffocating, as she was completely wrapped in a white coat and green tunic. Moreover, with a pair of soft fabric gloves, her outfit was absolutely not suitable for summer.
"I'm fine. I'm used to this."
"Wouldn't it be better to at least take off your gloves?"
The Baroness touched her gloves for a moment. Then she slowly removed them.
Her palms and wrists were bruised a deep blue.
"...Oh. I'm sorry. I've been impolite."
"No, not at all."
An awkward silence passed.
...Ah, I shouldn't meddle in other people's personal matters.
"How did this happen?"
"...It's nothing."
Her downcast eyes were fixed on the ground. Her wan face bore a dark expression, which doubled my sympathy.
"May I take a look, if you don't mind?"
"Pardon?"
"As you know, I'm a blood manipulation practitioner. If you're okay with it, I'd like to examine it for a moment."
The Baroness hesitated briefly before extending her hand. I carefully took her hand.
Two days ago, when my level increased, I invested points in 'Hot Blood'. 'Hot Blood' was a skill that allowed me to control the blood of those nearby.
My proficiency had already reached 3 points, so I could clearly feel the blood flow through her thin skin.
Concentrating my mind, the blood spread beneath the skin came under my control. I carefully dispersed the blood and drew up the blood energy to clean the areas where blood had pooled.
"Oh my."
As the bruises seemed to wash away, the Baroness gasped.
Wow, this was my first time actually succeeding? How satisfying.
I looked down at her dark green eyes and smiled.
"How do you feel? Does it not hurt now?"
Was it because of the scorching sun?
The Baroness's porcelain-like face blushed bright red.
"...So by applying heat and then cold repeatedly, the medicinal properties can be activated."
Ellen, sitting on my arm, chirped like a skylark.
"So? Did you succeed?"
"We'll need to observe for a few more days, but I think we can be hopeful. Just by the smell and color, you can somewhat predict the results."
It seems making potions with Master Caslight was quite enjoyable. Throughout our return to the tavern, Ellen's voice seemed brighter.
...Come to think of it, I hadn't seen this side of her in a long time.
Before, she would occasionally laugh brightly or crack jokes, but since leaving South Harbor, I hadn't seen this side of her at all.
"Seems like you liked Master Caslight?"
"I told you. She does seem to be a bad person."
"Let's visit often. While we're in Longville."
"But my points aren't..."
"It's okay. Let's take it easy until the lord moves."
During the past week of hunting, Ellen and I each leveled up once.
Moreover, by killing numerous goblins, orcs, and Anupads, we accumulated a total of 348 points. We're already in 3rd place without much difference from the two teams below, so we can take it easy and still receive a reward.
"But there might be no results. With a new recipe, the effect might be insufficient, or the side effects could be too large..."
"It doesn't matter. I'm glad you're enjoying yourself."
"Huh?"
"I can't remember the last time you looked this happy. That's enough, so let's visit often."
Ellen stared at my face silently before speaking.
"Sometimes."
"Hm?"
"Sometimes, I wonder if this is okay."
"What do you mean by 'this'? What's going on?"
Ellen, who had been slightly pursing her lips, shook her head and said,
"No, it's nothing."
She smiled while saying this. It was a lonely smile I had never seen before.
The next day, while heading out for hunting, I stopped by the bulletin board. And I discovered a completely unexpected situation.
1. Atilia -
567 points
2. Randall-
523 points
3. Norman-
474 points
4. Sorgil -
383 points
5. Edwin -
378 points
My name, which had been in 3rd place until yesterday, had dropped from the board in just one day.
I approached Beldin, a young scribe I had become quite close with, and asked,
"What's going on? Atilia was in the 200-point range just a few days ago?"
"Those Nude tribes say they've been to the depths of the mountains," he replied.
"The depths of the mountains?"
"Yes. They returned after almost a week and brought back nearly 300 points."
Damn, I can't help but laugh cynically.
"300 points in a week? Could they have bought relics from another region?"
"They didn't look like they'd been around for long. And the Greenskins and Anupads have only been appearing around here recently..." Beldin said, shrugging his shoulders.
"And it seems strange when Lord Phoenix says something. Lord Phoenix's group earned 348 points in just a week. And you're not even a large group."
"Hey, we... Never mind. Who's this Edwin? I've never seen this name before."
"Oh, he's been active all along, just not listed on the board. This time he had quite good results and rose to 5th place."
Utequais, who had been silently frowning, spoke up,
"This is humiliating. It's unacceptable for the warrior of a mother to be pushed back in hunting."
Well, it's not quite that serious, but I'm also a bit irritated. I had just told Ellen yesterday to take it easy, but it seems that won't be possible now.
"Phoenix. We need to go deeper. We'll catch more monsters!"
I turned around silently.
Amias's group.
They had changed quite a bit in just a week. Their eyes were slightly more alive, and they had significantly improved their equipment thanks to earning a lot of money.
Most importantly, their skills had improved a lot. Honestly, these were the guys I had taken in to use as meat shields when facing the Anupads' queen, but their growth rate was surprisingly good.
Well, with this level of force, going deeper into the mountains might be okay.
At that moment, Beldin hesitated before speaking,
"By the way, the number of small monsters roaming around has decreased recently."
"What?"
"It seems most of the small fries have been dealt with. These days, only large groups are moving around, so I was worried it might be dangerous..."
Utequais stood silently and suddenly asked Beldin,
"How many points for a troll?"
"Huh? A troll?"
"Yes."
"Oh, no trolls have been caught yet..."
Beldin dug through some documents and pointed to one section,
"Wow, 150 points."
"150 points, good."
Utequais looked at me with blazing eyes.
"What."
"We need to catch a troll."
"...Sigh."
A troll.
If it's a troll from this region, it's probably the third pick nemesis of Chapter 3, 'Brunt Troll Sperg'.
If I were catching it with a mouse and keyboard as a level 20 blood knight, trolls would be a piece of cake. But from what I've experienced so far, reality is different.
I suddenly asked Ellen,
"Ellen, what do you think?"
"...Well, I've never seen a troll directly, so I'm not sure." She continued with a cautious expression.
"If I support with fire-based spells, our chances of winning will increase a lot. Trolls are weak to fire."
"Hmm."
After careful consideration, I nodded.
"Okay. But absolutely don't overdo it. If it seems impossible... We can just leave this place."
Ellen and Utequais nodded. However, neither of them seemed like they would give up easily.