Kays Translations

Chapter 19: Souvenirs

Until my family returned from the royal capital, I’d been borrowing Grandmother’s workshop to make magic potions. But if I kept moving things around in there, she might eventually notice.

I always tried to return every tool I’d used to exactly the same position, but there was every possibility that little differences had accumulated.

I decided it was too risky to keep working there, so after the goblin extermination I stopped entering the workshop altogether.

Of course, it was hard to let go. If only I had another room of my own.

Wait.

I headed for the knight order’s barracks, a place I’d been visiting quite often lately.

“Lionel, I have a question. Could I build my workshop in a corner of the knight order’s barracks?”

“We discussed that possibility among ourselves, Lord Julius, but concluded that it would be impossible.”

“Why?”

“There are no certified magic pharmacists in the knight order. Without one, we can’t purchase the necessary equipment. We also have no room to spare.”

“I see. Now that you mention it, anyone without the proper qualifications is prohibited from buying the equipment.”

“Exactly.”

What a shame.

Apparently, I wouldn’t be able to have a proper workshop of my own until I graduated from school. For now, I’d have to keep relying on my Laboratory skill.

“That reminds me. I brought you a new potion.”

I handed Lionel some insect-repellent incense and anti-itch ointment. He was delighted once I explained their effects and how to use them.

“This will be a tremendous help. Everyone has been troubled by the problem. We’ll have the knights use them on their next expedition… Lord Julius, are these also a secret?”

“Yes. Or has Grandmother ever made anything similar?”

“…I don’t believe so.”

“Then they remain a secret.”

“Understood.”

Lionel looked terribly disappointed.

Maybe he was unhappy that none of my achievements were being made public. I really didn’t care about that.

Once I safely graduated and became a high-ranking magic pharmacist, I wouldn’t have to hold back anymore.

The medicines I’d given them were apparently put to use immediately, because requests soon came back: “They were excellent,” and, “We need more.”

Perhaps because I’d been draining my mana to its limits every day, I felt as though my total capacity had increased.

I could clearly maintain the Laboratory skill longer than before, which meant I was able to make a little more medicine.

Though, to be fair, “a little more” meant that where I used to make one, I could now make two or three.

While I continued producing magic potions, word finally arrived that my family was returning from the royal capital.

Before that, I’d received a letter from Father regarding the goblin extermination.

It contained only two words:

“Well done.”

…Why did that somehow make it scarier?

I waited at the entrance with my heart pounding. When the carriage arrived, my family looked no different from when they’d left for the royal capital.

“Julius, Rosalia, you both look well.”

“Welcome home.”

“Welcome home!”

After greeting Father, Rosalia—who absolutely adored Mother—flew straight into her arms.

Good grief. My duty was finally over.

The nights of Rosalia sleeping in my bed were over too. Starting tonight, I could finally sleep peacefully again.

“I brought souvenirs for the two of you, since you were good while I was away.”

“Thank you.”

“Thank you!”

Afterward, servants carried box after box into the manor.

I assumed we’d spend the next several days listening to stories about the royal capital.

There was, admittedly, a brief moment when I believed that.

Instead, I was now sitting in Father’s office, with Lionel standing beside me.

Was this about the treasured wine I’d served everyone?

“Julius, sit down there. Everyone except Lionel, leave the room.”

Oh. He was clearing the room.

Maybe I’d genuinely made Father angry.

He’d never scolded me before. What would that be like?

Part of me was almost curious.

“Julius, Lionel has already told me part of what happened, but I want to hear the details from you. He told me that you’ve been making magic potions.”

He betrayed me!

Lionel lowered his eyes apologetically.

“Don’t blame Lionel. As the Margrave of Heine, I need to know everything that happens. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to protect you if something went wrong, would I?”

“…Aren’t you angry?”

“I’m inclined to be angry. However, I’m certain that the casualties would have been far greater if you hadn’t supplied those potions. I have to acknowledge that.”

“What about serving everyone Father’s treasured wine?”

“…I granted you full authority, Julius. Naturally, I have no objection.”

He said it with the expression of a man biting into something bitter.

Apparently, losing that wine still stung quite a bit.

Well, there was no point worrying about secrets that had already been exposed.

If Father was willing to support me, it would be better to rely on him openly. He’d trusted me enough to place full authority in my hands.

I should repay that trust.

I told Father and Lionel everything that had happened up to that point.

“To be honest, I can hardly believe it. But the potions truly exist, so I have no choice but to accept it.”

“Lord Julius, I swear that I’ll never reveal your secret to anyone.”

Lionel had already told on me.

I knew he’d done it for my sake and for House Heine, and I could accept that.

Still, a little warning would have been nice. I had things I needed to prepare myself for too.

Father let out a deep sigh.

“Julius, do you think my mother would accept this?”

“Grandmother? …I think that would be difficult. When I once asked whether she would develop any new potions, she told me, ‘I don’t want to bring ruin upon my house.'”

“I see. Quite a few noble houses were purged at the time…”

I didn’t know what had happened, but apparently there had been some major incident involving magic potions when Grandmother was young.

I’d have to investigate that quietly later.

“For the time being, Julius, continue supplying the knight order with potions by your own methods. You may set whatever price you wish.”

“Then I’ll provide them free of charge. The knights are my test subjects, after all.”

“I see. That gives us a good pretext… You truly aren’t greedy. That makes you more troublesome than I expected.”

“Of course I’m not. I’m your son, after all.”

Father sighed deeply once more, while Lionel gave a wry smile.

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