Instead of the Insignificant Birds
Cache, Walter, Res, the half-elves, and even the Jo family—all the Beauty Tower staff were diligently handling their assigned tasks. But the witch Rebecca was being saddled with a wide variety of jobs.
After Rebecca finished caring for the Jo family members whose blood draws were done and sorting and managing the blood samples, the two of us huddled together in the second-floor pharmacy.
"So, after purifying para-nitrophenol and adding sodium borohydride, it reduces to aminophenol."
"That's right. Then, adding anhydrous acetic acid reacts with the amino group to form acetaminophen."
I was in the middle of making acetaminophen—the non-aspirin painkiller better known on Earth as Tylenol. To be precise, it wasn't me making it; I was just supervising Rebecca.
As she'd boasted upon introducing herself as a genius witch, Rebecca wasn't just exceptional in memorization and analysis—her comprehension was outstanding too.
Good. A little more training, and she'll be able to produce not just potions, but everyday medicines too.
Emergency supplies divide into three categories: oral medications you swallow, topical ointments or plasters you apply to wounds, and hygiene materials to aid in wound care. The reason I was sharing this knowledge from Earth with Rebecca in the second-floor pharmacy was to pass on pharmaceutical expertise.
Mr. Oh was a huge help.
Mr. Oh, the pharmacist who'd been assigned to the second-floor pharmacy, treated his old study materials from pharmacy school like treasures. He'd said that after marriage, he'd pass them down to his children as heirlooms, and he'd kept his high school notes through to his licensing exam enshrined in one corner of the pharmacy like sacred relics.
Sorry, Mr. Oh... but the whole hospital got isekai'd.
It was unfortunate for Mr. Oh the pharmacist, but fortunate for me. Since joining the Beauty Tower staff, Rebecca had memorized the books Res had magically translated into the isekai language. The text was rendered in the local script, but terms nonexistent here like para-nitrophenol had their meanings omitted, translated only phonetically. So occasionally, I had to add explanations.
Our Res is more useful than I thought, beyond just invisibility spells.
Unlike mages or priests, Res could cast all sorts of miscellaneous spells, and her translation ability was truly impressive.
The reason I was systematizing Earth's pharmaceutical knowledge for this world was to secure local ingredients and start production before the pharmacy's stockpiles ran out.
She's absorbing everything I teach like a sponge. No—in pharmacology, she's probably already surpassing me. She had a solid foundation to begin with.
That was the problem. In a pinch, I'd been cramming Earth pharmacology into Rebecca and assigning her pharmacist duties, but among the Beauty Tower crew, she was the only one fit for nursing tasks too.
"Director, what's wrong? You've had that constipated puppy look for a while."
"Rebecca, do you know any other witches?"
"Witches?"
Rebecca tilted her still-pale head at my sudden question.
"Witches or warlocks, even. As you know, what you're studying lately is for pharmacy work, but we need someone for nursing too. Having you handle both would be too much."
"True enough. Hmm... witches or warlocks..."
I regretted asking. Even Rebecca had hidden away, wandering from place to place because of the heresy inquisitors. She'd ended up in this borderland. Naturally, she wouldn't be in touch with other witches or warlocks.
"Ah! There are two nearby. And they're highly skilled witches."
"Oh! Really? Could you arrange a meeting with them?"
"Not right away. It'd take some preparation."
Preparation? What kind?
Rebecca smirked as if reading my mind and continued.
"For safety, witches and warlocks don't tell each other where they live. They change locations and appearances frequently."
"Ah... so meeting immediately is tough."
I couldn't hide my disappointment. But Rebecca just smiled slyly.
"It just takes a little time—it's not impossible. Even if they change homes or looks, there's a way to summon them."
"Summon them?"
"Hehe, yes. But we'll need a few things. Some help from the half-elves, too."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"That digestive aid, was it? Got any? My stomach's all bloated from whatever I ate yesterday."
"Oh dear, that must be uncomfortable. Sorry, but medicines like digestives and ointments are sold inside on the second floor."
Cache gave the adventurer approaching her stall a concerned look—one so convincing a stranger might mistake it for genuine sympathy.
"Aw, what a hassle. Plasters too?"
"Coin plasters, large plasters, rub-on plasters—all sold on the second floor. One of our staff will guide you."
"This way."
Walter, who used to exude gruffness toward customers, now seemed accustomed to ushering them inside the Beauty Tower.
The stifling heat that had felt like a stab until recently had melted away like snow, and it was now the last week of August, a Tuesday. The sudden chill played a part, but the Beauty Tower no longer needed to hawk patients from the stall—crowds were pouring in steadily. Most products were now sold split between the first and second floors.
And right now, the undisputed star of the Beauty Tower stall was none other than Res.
"Huh? This hatchling still not sold? You sure it's not for sale? My daughter would love it."
"Not for sale! No way!"
"Heh, what a temperament."
Trapped in her cage, Res flapped her short wings irritably, growling at the adventurer who wanted to buy her.
"Sorry. As you see, she's not fully trained yet."
"Hatchlings are fun to train, heh."
"Eek!"
When the adventurer thrust his fierce face close to the cage, Res trembled in fright, letting out a squeak.
"Looks like the hatchling won't be available today. But the messenger birds next to her are ready for purchase. They're chicks needing training, but priced affordably."
"Eh... not really interested. Too pathetic-looking. I'll come back."
"See you next time."
As the seventh person that day who coveted her passed by, Res glared fiercely at me from her cage.
—Maiiineer! How long do I have to do this? It's been ten days already!
"Sorry. Hang in there a bit longer."
Res was displayed at the Beauty Tower stall alongside the other messenger birds. She knew she was just bait, but it clearly bruised her pride.
—Aaaargh! How much longer!
"You're not for sale, so quiet down. Here's a snack."
—Hehe, thanks.
Just as I barely soothed her grumpiness with food, a couple who looked like lovers approached the stall.
"Ooh, a frog-billed puffback here of all places. Such graceful form."
"Check this out too—a sea auk. Rare around here."
"Wow, splendid."
"Looks sturdy!"
Over the past ten days, watching people admire the rare messenger birds the elves had painstakingly procured, the typical reaction was interest in practical, impressive ones like carrier pigeons or falcons.
Could they be...?
But this young couple's reaction stood out from ordinary customers. They were eyeing the frog-billed puffback—also called the Monday morning bird no one wants—and the puffin, dubbed the sea auk.
Just looking at a frog-billed puffback or puffin could drain your energy and induce lethargy. And Rebecca had said that across the West Continent—no, the entire continent—only the witches she knew liked those breeds.
—Maiiineer! Those two seem suspicious? They're not interested in me!
I nodded silently at Res's telepathy. Time for verification.
"Hello. I see you're eyeing the frog-billed puffback and puffin. They're not selling well, so they've been a headache to offload. If you're interested, just 3 silver for one—how about it?"
"3... 3 silver?"
"Both for 3 silver?"
The couple's eyes sparkled at the price for such pathetic-looking birds.
"...Well, naturally 3 silver each, but honestly, they wouldn't even cover feed costs... Fine. Buy now, and both for 3 silver."
"Great, we'll take them!"
"Me too! I'll buy!"
Seeing their eager gleam, I was convinced they were Rebecca's contacts. No doubt left. So, calmly and steadily, as instructed.
"Then, we'll handle payment inside."
"Huh? But... we can just take them here?"
"R-right. Here's 3 silver—hand 'em over."
This wasn't about selling some motivation-sapping birds. I swiftly snatched the 3 silver from the man's hand and pocketed it.
"3 silver doesn't even cover the cage. We'll swap it for a wooden one inside. Gotta eat too, haha."
"...Dear?"
"Hm... then we'll just come back later—"
"Walter! Customers buying messenger birds—grab a cage and follow. I'm guiding them inside."
Walter, who'd approached unnoticed, blocked their retreat with the aura of an Incheon used-car dealer. Come freely, but leave only after.
They entered the Beauty Tower, walking calmly at first, but I didn't miss the tension and anxiety in their micro-expressions.
"Uh, how much farther?"
"Give us the 3 silver back! We're leaving!"
"Haha, we're here. Look, someone selling goods over there."
Upon reaching the second-floor pharmacy, the young couple's feigned casualness faltered, eyes widening. Rebecca briefly looked surprised too.
"Hazel, Stella—long time no see."
"Rebecca?!"
Instead of two insignificant birds, witches had appeared.