Chapter 41
Chapter 41
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: Securing the Test Subject - 1
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"Hmm... This seems complete enough."
Among the families of the elf alchemists assisting with the experiments, some had been afflicted by the plague.
They had selected volunteers from them to continue research on a plague cure and vaccine. After steady testing over the past few days, they had finally produced something that could pass as a cure-cum-vaccine.
When actually used, it had fully cured a few people and granted them immunity as well.
The problem was that it didn't work well on those with holy power. Well, that could be addressed with more research.
It wouldn't be a big issue as long as the mutated second phase didn't emerge.
"But at this point, shouldn't we tell Tribe Chief Suhwi and just start the treatments?"
"If we do that and the Healing Tree Tribe priests step in, I'll end up even more exhausted."
Of course, there would be support from the kingdom and the church, but this was the elves' forest.
There was no need to stir up needless conflict.
They might even face accusations of causing the plague, which could upset the balance of power among the tribes.
That was probably why Lorellia couldn't enter and was stuck negotiating with the Elf Alliance outside.
"Yeah. And Lady Lorellia is currently negotiating with the other tribes as well."
She was working hard to allow the kingdom and church support into the elves' forest.
Good heavens. Even in this situation, they refused aid.
The elves' arrogance truly made one's chest swell.
"Urgh..."
Some of the alchemists averted their eyes from me, as if ashamed.
Well, that made sense. For more progressive alchemists who valued sharing knowledge and collaborating with other races, their own kind's conservatism was an embarrassing trait.
"Well, isn't it better to uphold traditions when the situation allows it?"
"Ahem. Thanks for saying that."
One of the alchemists helping me placed a petri dish in front of me.
I nodded roughly at him and sprinkled the cure on the blood clot inside, observing the reaction.
As expected, the reaction was good.
Now, what remained was creating a version that worked well even on those with holy power...
It was about time to recruit volunteers who possessed holy power.
The problem was that there were hardly any suitable test subjects left for testing.
We needed elves infected with the plague who hadn't received the cure yet—and among them, ones with holy power—but there were no spares.
Hmm... Should I just grab any priest and test it on them?
It might cause a fuss if caught, so maybe kidnap one secretly...
I glanced at Yeonhwa, who had helped with tests over the past time.
She was fiddling with a syringe and flinched back when I looked at her.
"What were the side effects from the last test?"
"...They said the pain was intense."
"Is that so? Then how about you try this one..."
"I'm on break right now..."
"Tch. Then another volunteer..."
"The pain scared off all the volunteers with holy power. There weren't many to begin with anyway. That... Lorian, you know."
"Who was that again?"
As I tilted my head, Rotello, who was working nearby, scowled deeply.
"...My sister."
"The one with the big breasts and hips? The one with two moles between her cleavage."
"Do humans only remember elves by stuff like that?!"
No, I just remembered her by her distinctive features. And she had exhibitionism, so it was on full display.
I flashed a grin at the fuming Rotello and changed the subject.
"I have a question. Why are there so many elves with exhibitionism?"
Exhibitionism was a kind of mental illness. While few in this world were free of mental issues, after spending a few days in the elves' forest, I noticed an unusually high number of elves with it.
Evangeline hadn't noticed because she didn't have it.
I asked Nina, the blonde elf alchemist standing beside me, dressed in what was barely more than string bikini-level clothing. She looked awkward but began to explain.
"The Alchemist Guild did some research on it."
"Oh? Really?"
"Elves mostly have strong self-esteem, right? One way they express it is by showing off their bodies."
"Hoo."
"Elves are beautiful, and they have great figures. The theory is that their stress manifests as exhibitionism to demonstrate superiority over other races..."
So it boiled down to the elves' arrogance again?
I nodded somewhat in agreement with Nina's words.
Well, if one had faces and figures as stunning as elves, they'd want to show them off too.
Like how people wear tight clothes after bulking up at the gym.
"Ah. The reaction's a bit different now?"
Just then, Nina muttered in admiration while peering into the petri dish, and the surrounding alchemists crowded around me. All to see one tiny petri dish.
Ugh, so stuffy.
As I grimaced at the pleasant scent brushing my nose and tried to push them away, the lab door burst open.
"I'm he...!"
The one who entered was a silver-haired beauty in black priestly robes. Veronica came in with a bright expression and smiled at me, but it quickly stiffened.
"Oh. You're here?"
"...Yeah. I'm here."
What was with her? I followed her gaze.
Er...
Her eyes were fixed on the exhibitionist alchemist elves and the other elves plastered right up against me, eyes sparkling.
"...Do you have to stick so close?"
"We're observing the reaction."
"What reaction? Oh, I get it. Reaction when a woman and man are close? Running some seduction experiment?"
"Ha. Are you jealous?"
"J-Jealous? Jealous of what?!"
As Veronica's face flushed red and she shrieked, another woman appeared from the direction of the door she'd entered. Another familiar face.
Claire, and Lucille. The two entered with cold expressions, brightened upon seeing me, then stiffened just like Veronica.
"...Master. Who exactly are those women...? Weren't you here in the elves' forest to cure the plague...? Why are you with them..."
"Hyunwoo..."
I could guess the misunderstanding.
They thought I was building a harem in the elves' forest or something. Nothing like that, so I wished they'd drop the pointless suspicion.
I moved the reacting petri dish to another table, and the elves who had been clinging to me until moments ago swarmed over there.
Suddenly free of their skin against mine, I looked at the three, whose faces turned redder than before.
"I don't have time for pointless misunderstandings. Veronica. How much support from the church?"
"U-Uh. Ahem. Sorry."
"No need to apologize. You're my woman, so a little jealousy is fine."
"Y-You and I... Heh. Anyway. The church sent 30 senior priests and 50 senior holy knights. More support is coming."
Whoa. They sent a lot.
Any elves among them?
If so, perfect test subjects...
"And the kingdom?"
"...You're not going to say what you and Master are?"
"Why mention it to my one and only disciple?"
"Hee hee. Right? The alchemists from the Alchemist Guild agreed to help. And..."
The kingdom had purchased large quantities of food and materials needed for cure production.
"Good. Well done."
"Hehe. It's for Master, so of course as your disciple."
After praising Veronica and Lucille, I looked at Claire. Whatever our relationship, and even though I hadn't asked her to, the result benefited me.
It helped my achievement log.
"Claire."
"Y-Yes?!"
"Good work. Hey. Thanks."
"...Huh?"
"Why the reaction?"
"T-Thanks...?"
"Yeah."
Claire's eyes trembled. Her orange eyes, like the sun, darted around lost. Her long legs, clad in white pants, began to shake, and her fingers fidgeted with her hair.
It was her habit when flustered.
Surprised over a simple thank you? Anyway, thanks given, done...
"Veronica. Let me brief you first. The Healing Tree Tribe..."
I explained what had happened with Suhwi a few days ago. Veronica looked dumbfounded at how they were blocking plague treatments, while Lucille let out a deep sigh.
"So what do we do?"
"Well, Tribe Chief Lorellia will handle it. I can't do much about this part."
Of course, if it got too much, I'd just start treating anyway. If they still refused...
Then I'd have no choice but to use my last resort.
"Um, Hyunwoo!"
"Yeah?"
"...You know..."
Claire, who had been hesitating, stepped forward. She glanced at me, pursed her lips, glanced again, pursed again.
I knew what she wanted to say.
"You're saying ask Evangeline for help?"
"Eek! H-How did you know?"
Evangeline, as a hero party member, had greatly elevated the elves' honor.
From the elves' forest perspective, she was a hero worthy of reverence. If she helped solidify my position as Sage?
Then we could treat the plague without worrying about the Healing Tree Tribe.
"Wait. Doesn't that mean the Sage has to bow to her?"
Veronica didn't like it. She spoke coldly, and Lucille nodded in agreement.
Certainly, given my history with the hero party, asking Evangeline wouldn't look good.
Claire knew that too, hence her hesitation.
As I listened to them, I turned my head.
Something rustled, descending below the window.
"What?"
"No, nothing. Hmm... Asking Evangeline, huh."
-Bang!!
Then the door flew open with urgent force.
Huh? More arrivals? Everyone in the lab looked toward the door in surprise.
Standing there was the most unexpected person.
Suhwi.
The Tribe Chief of the Healing Tree Tribe, and the saintess's mother.
"Ah. Has it already come time for the Great Holy Spell?"
She planned to suppress the plague with the Great Holy Spell. Like uniting with holy power.
A meaningless endeavor...
I could say that for sure.
The plague could never be solved with holy power alone.
But no need to stop them if they insisted.
They'd see for themselves if it worked.
"Come on. Let's go. Watching the Great Holy Spell is a good experience. Perfect timing too..."
Huh?
The atmosphere felt off.
Suhwi's eyes were trembling.
"What? Something happen?"
"...Sage. N-No, Sage-nim."
Suhwi approached me, trembling.
-Thud.
She knelt before me.
Honestly, even I was shocked by the sight.
That arrogant elf.
The chief of a massive tribe, kneeling before a human.
"P-Please... Please..."
Trembling violently, she bowed her head fully to me.
The complete opposite of her previous high-handed attitude—just desperate pleading for salvation.
"Save... my daughter... please..."
What now?
Er... Wait.
The reason this woman was acting like this...
Whoa. No way the saintess caught the plague?
Fascinating. Even with a holy barrier blocking death energy...
Maybe phase two of the plague event was starting from her, something stronger.
What a stroke of luck.
The perfect test subject and chance to advance plague treatment had walked right in.
I grabbed the desperately pleading Suhwi's shoulder.
"Let's go first. I need to see what's happening to know if I can help."
"...You'll... help...? Even me, who ignored you and refused your treatment...?"
"I came to the elves' forest to cure the plague from the start. I already knew elves were arrogant and prideful."
Of course, I had no intention of letting it slide easily.
And right now, we needed clinical trial subjects who could endure significant pain.
If I used this woman and the saintess well, I might even turn the Healing Tree Tribe priests into test subjects, crush the elves' momentum,
and easily punish those marked for retribution in my mental log.
With the Healing Tree Tribe in a bind, they'd forgive aggressive experiments and tests on recipes we'd only theorized until now.
This was exciting.
I might even hit Alchemy Master achievement here!
Elves had great physiques too... Heh heh heh.
Well, if they didn't cooperate, tough luck.
With the Great Holy Spell proven useless, I now held the reins of plague treatment.
They'd cooperate if they didn't want to die.
Suppressing a grin that threatened to burst out, I told her.
"Come on. Hurry. Time doesn't always wait. Even now, the plague is attacking your daughter and the Healing Tree Tribe."
"I-Is it... really okay...?"
"I don't lie about things like this."
Yes.
I'd make the cure and treat them.
Of course, I'd gain some benefits in the process.
I helped Suhwi to her feet and surveyed the stunned lab occupants.
Claire, Veronica, Lucille.
And the elf lab staff.
They all stared at me in disbelief.
"What? Gonna gawk?"
"Ah."
As they snapped to and bustled about, I headed outside and ran into two familiar faces.
Leventia.
And Evangeline.
I met their gazes for a moment, then said to Suhwi, who followed.
"Let's go."
Even as Suhwi and I moved, I felt their stares boring into the back of my head.
Author's Note
Hello! It's Malmulmalmul! Hope you had a fun Saturday! Have a great night and see you tomorrow. Bye~