Kays Translations

Chapter 3: Investigation

　The magic potion Grandmother had been making that time was most likely a basic recovery potion. And if there was anywhere that recovery potions actually got used, it had to be the order of knights in Margrave Heine’s service. Go there and there were bound to be magic potions on hand. If I could get a look at them, I might learn something about the magic potions of this world.

　To get at the truth, I infiltrated the knight order.

　Come to think of it, only recently they’d been saying they were off to subjugate the monsters living in the demon territory out on the frontier. As I recall, that operation should already be over. Had someone been injured in the middle of it? Maybe that was why Grandmother had been making extra magic potions. It seemed highly likely.

“Hellooo.”

“Why, if it isn’t Young Master Julius. What brings you to a place like this?”

“I heard you went to subjugate monsters the other day. I came to thank you for your efforts.”

“Good heavens…! This unworthy Lionel is deeply moved!”

　The Knight Commander was getting teary-eyed. Oh dear. It would be hard to admit now that this was only a pretext. So I made the rounds of the knights and mages who had taken part in the subjugation, offering each of them words of thanks.

“That just leaves the wounded, then.”

“…Huh? Young Master Julius, do you intend to go all the way there?”

“Of course. That’s exactly where I need to go, isn’t it?”

“…With all due respect, I cannot take you there.”

　The Knight Commander refused flatly. There was surely some sight in there he didn’t want me to see. But I couldn’t back down here. I’d come all this way to learn what magic potions did and what standing they held.

“Lionel, please.”

　I gazed up at the Knight Commander with wide, pleading eyes. Fufufu… how long can you hold out against the wheedling of an innocent little child? This should be a good show.

　The Knight Commander looked away. I immediately moved back into his line of sight. You’re not getting away!

　We kept up that little skirmish for a short while. At last the Knight Commander caved. Heh — too easy.

“Very well. But what you see in there must never be spoken of.”

“O-Okay, I understand.”

　The Knight Commander’s expression was frightening. There must be quite a sight in there for him to be this reluctant. Now of all times, I was starting to get scared myself. What would I do if it turned out to be something not fit for family viewing?

　Led by the Knight Commander, I came to the innermost room of the barracks. I could hear groaning from within.

　The Knight Commander opened the door. Inside were men slumped over, men whose consciousness was hazy, and men who had passed out entirely.

　But it was not the splatter-film scene I’d been imagining.

　One of them noticed I was there. His eyes filled with fear. What’s wrong? I’m just an adorable three-year-old, aren’t I?

“H-Help me—! I can’t drink that medicine any more! Just kill me instead!”

“Not again! Do I have to drink that stuff again?! It’s hell, this place is hell—!”

　One man’s words set the rest of the room off all at once. Every one of them raised howls of terror.

　Right, I think I’ve got the picture. This was a gathering of the victims who’d drunk the recovery potion Grandmother made. And this was the result.

　From the look of things, there was nobody critically wounded or at death’s door. But they had clearly taken grievous wounds to the spirit. I wouldn’t want to drink that stuff either.

　Could it be that the recovery potion Grandmother had been making wasn’t a basic recovery potion at all, but a high-grade one? If so, I didn’t want to imagine the taste.

　High-grade recovery potions were supposed to contain any number of ingredients that turn appallingly foul if the preparation is even slightly mishandled. Judging by the way Grandmother had gone about it, I couldn’t believe it had been prepared properly.

　It did at least seem to work as a recovery potion, but it would surely leave them traumatised. No — it already had…

　In silence, I left the room together with the Knight Commander.

“Do you see now?”

“I see perfectly. Lionel, could you show me the recovery potions?”

“I’ve no objection to that, but I would advise against drinking one. If you truly must, I’d recommend a basic recovery potion. That one is at least still drinkable…”

“I’m not drinking that stuff!”

　Led by the Knight Commander, I came to the magic potion storeroom. Several medics were working away busily inside.

“Thank you for your hard work.”

“Why, Lord Julius! What’s the matter? Are you hurt? In that case, here, take this—”

　And with that he brought over something a dark, murky green. Blegh.

“No, no, I’m not hurt! I just wanted you to show me the magic potions Grandmother made. Could you?”

“Of course, but…?”

　With a question mark still floating over his head, he brought me several magic potions. I stared hard at the ones set out on the table.

　When that goddess reincarnated me into this world, she’d said she would send me over with my knowledge and techniques intact. Those techniques were ‘skills’ — and I had the ‘Appraisal’ skill.

　The appraisal results appeared. And the verdict was… the three musketeers of “lowest quality,” “revoltingly foul,” and “practically poison,” holding their swords aloft as if to say, how do you like that? There was no way on earth I wanted to use a magic potion like this.

　In silence, I handed it back to the medic.

　Honestly, managing to pack this many terrible properties into one thing at the same time was almost worthy of respect. Why isn’t this classed as a failed batch? It’s a failure by any measure. Does nobody ever call it out?

　It did appear to have a token bit of recovery effect, at least…

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