Kays Translations

Chapter 97: While I’m at It, Let’s Make Some Potions

While the modified distillation apparatus produced distilled water, the Adventurers’ Guild sent word that my requested ingredients had arrived.

That was faster than expected. Perhaps I could bypass the Magic Pharmacists’ Guild entirely, although commissioned collection cost more. Quality remained the deciding factor.

A servant brought the cordyceps and poison-toad mucus. The batch ranged from mediocre to high quality. I wasn’t entirely satisfied, but it was still much better than the below-average ingredients displayed at the Magic Pharmacists’ Guild.

For truly exceptional materials, I would probably have to collect them myself. Once Father returned from the royal capital, I should ask for more combat training. Unless he recognised my ability to defend myself, he would never permit independent expeditions.

I couldn’t continue sneaking out forever.

The distillation apparatus had now produced enough top-quality water. The Chigo berries were also high quality, so the finished Plant Nutrient should be excellent.

I crushed the berries lightly with a mortar and pestle, allowing more of their active components to be extracted.

Then I added them to a large pot of distilled water and brought it to a gentle simmer. While they heated, I dried medicinal herbs and ground them into a fine powder.

The herbs were used only in a small quantity to balance the mixture. That was fortunate; medicinal herbs appeared in so many potion recipes that no supply ever seemed sufficient. They grew almost as aggressively as weeds—perhaps because they were weeds.

When the liquid turned purple, I removed it from the heat and gradually stirred in the herb powder. This stage determined the final effect. Too much or too little would ruin the solution.

I suppressed the involuntary little sounds that escaped while I concentrated. Strange cries from a locked compounding room would terrify the servants.

The liquid suddenly changed from purple to pale yellow-green. I stopped adding powder.

It was finished.

Plant Nutrient: Top quality. Accelerates plant growth. Effect: Medium.

Excellent.

The only danger was that it accelerated every plant, including weeds. It would have to be poured directly around each sapling rather than scattered broadly. The forestry workers would need precise instructions.

“While I’m here, I should make Lionel’s antidiarrhoeal medicine—and some athlete’s-foot ointment.”

Cordyceps would produce the antidiarrhoeal pills. Poison-toad mucus would form the basis of the ointment. Neither was needed in huge quantities, so I could finish quickly.

I dried the cordyceps thoroughly and ground it. Salt, sugar, black pepper, and poison-dispelling-herb seeds were added and crushed together.

After mixing in a little distilled water, I kneaded the paste, rolled it into pill-sized portions, and used Drying to finish them.

Antidiarrhoeal pills: High quality. Relieve stomach pain and diarrhoea. Odourless and tasteless.

That should solve the knights’ stomach troubles.

Next came their feet.

The insides of their heavy boots must remain damp for hours. Perhaps I should eventually develop boots with a drying function.

I gently heated poison-toad mucus in distilled water to reduce its toxicity, then added honey, saffron, mint, and medicinal herbs. After simmering, I filtered the liquid and returned it to the heat in a small saucepan. Beeswax thickened it into an ointment.

Athlete’s-foot ointment: High quality. Cures athlete’s foot. Effect: Large. Refreshing fragrance.

The quality and scent were both satisfactory. Hopefully, the knights would actually use it.

By the time I finished, the sun was setting. I had become completely absorbed.

I cleaned the equipment and left the compounding room carrying the pills and ointment. The barrel of Plant Nutrient was too heavy, so the knights could collect it later.

A servant told me dinner wouldn’t be ready for another hour. That gave me time to deliver the medicines.

“Lionel, are you here?”

“Lord Julius? Has something happened?”

He was working through administrative papers in his office. Commanding the knight order required both sword and pen—and I was personally adding to his paperwork.

I should bring him a gift one day.

“I have finished the medicine you requested. These are antidiarrhoeal pills. Swallow them with water. They have no taste or smell.”

“You remembered. My men will be extremely grateful.”

His expression softened. If he had wanted them this badly, he should have reminded me sooner.

“And this is athlete’s-foot ointment. I suspected some of the knights might need it.”

“Athlete’s-foot ointment?”

Lionel went completely still.

Had I crossed another invisible line?

“Apply it to the affected skin. It should cure the infection.”

“Lady Margaret could make medicine like this as well?”

“Yes… apparently.”

“Why did she never make it before?” His voice trembled. “My men will be overjoyed.”

Lionel bowed deeply.

Was he about to cry? He personally didn’t seem afflicted, but many of his knights clearly were.

I also needed to establish strict hygiene rules for the shower room: no shared foot towels or bath mats, and every surface had to be kept dry and clean.

Yes. We would eliminate the problem properly.

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