Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 130: Transformation Potion
With permission to make a transformation potion, I began immediately. I returned to my room and reviewed the ingredients.
“Moonlight-butterfly scales, distilled water, killer-bee honey, hair and mature Chigo berries. I already have the distilled water and Chigo berries. I’m glad we found those berries in winter.”
Moonlight butterflies appeared only on nights of the full moon. The creatures themselves weren’t exceptionally rare, but their timing was absolute. The next full moon was only three days away, so we couldn’t miss it.
Then there was killer-bee honey. I could request it from the Adventurers’ Guild. Killer bees built nests inside hollows, so tossing in a Numbness Ball should make collecting the honey relatively safe.
Going myself would be faster, though.
I touched my hair to confirm that I still had plenty. No problem there.
“We should begin with the killer-bee honey. I need to prepare the Numbness Balls.”
Taking advantage of Father’s permission, I shut myself inside the compounding room and worked until nearly midnight.
Mother discovered me and was furious. A servant making the nightly rounds had reported the light under the door.
It was my fault for remaining there until such an hour. I had become carried away.
The following morning, I rubbed my tired eyes, completed my usual watering and went to the knight barracks. I needed companions for an expedition.
The moment I arrived, the remaining knights surrounded me with eyes like Hachiko, the legendary loyal dog waiting for his master. Many knights were deployed to the races, so fewer than usual remained at the barracks.
“Good morning, Lord Julius.”
“Good morning. I’ve come to ask a favour.”
“Anything!”
Their eyes shone far too brightly for that hour of the morning. Did being asked to help me really make them so happy? My smile became slightly strained.
“I need killer-bee honey. Would some of you accompany me to collect it?”
“That is…”
“You mustn’t go, Lord Julius.”
“Lionel.”
Lionel had arrived and immediately stopped the idea. So I wasn’t permitted to accompany them after all.
“Please remember your present circumstances,” he said.
“Ah.”
Of course. We were preparing to use Lionel disguised as me as a decoy. If I wandered into an isolated forest beforehand, I would be acting as the real bait. Until the spies were caught, I couldn’t travel anywhere deserted.
“You’re right. Then please collect the honey without me. Use these Numbness Balls.”
“I’ll go.”
“So will I.”
Several young knights volunteered. Since they were still at the barracks, today must have been their scheduled rest day. I felt guilty about taking it from them and glanced at Lionel.
He understood immediately.
“Today will be treated as a special-duty day. You’ll receive replacement leave.”
“Thank you, Commander!”
Lionel truly was dependable.
I asked for a map of Mount Claire. Fortunately, a long-established killer-bee hive existed there. I had already warned Mira to stay well away from it, and the mountain workers knew about it because I had personally informed them.
“The hive is here. It has existed for years, so it should contain plenty of honey. The Numbness Balls should immobilise the bees, but remain cautious. Take healing potions and antidotes as well.”
“That’s generous of you.”
“With the Numbness Balls, we should be safe.”
Lionel approved the plan. I could entrust the collection to them with confidence.
I also explained how to gather and seal the honey so it would remain as fresh as possible. Nothing had been overlooked.
“Now we need only the moonlight-butterfly scales.”
“Moonlight butterflies?” Lionel said, rubbing his chin. “I’ve seen them in the meadows beside the Tradel River.”
As expected of the knight commander, he knew the territory’s geography, monsters, plants and animals exceptionally well.
“That’s excellent information. They appear on full-moon nights. Could you arrange for their scales to be collected? I assume I’m not permitted to go.”
“Certainly not. I’ll make the arrangements. However, I’ve never heard of using their scales.”
That was understandable. Grandmother had apparently never used them, and I had never seen them sold through the Magic Pharmacists’ Guild. They might be an ingredient unknown to this world’s pharmacists.
Collecting the scales was simple. If a captured moonlight butterfly was allowed to flutter over a sheet of paper, fine scales shining like moonlight would fall onto it. The collectors merely had to transfer them into the preservation bottles I had prepared and release the butterfly.
Lionel and the knights seemed to understand.
“Would we need a large party?” he asked.
“Moonlight butterflies are harmless, so a small group is enough. The work may take time, though. We should make butterfly nets to improve efficiency.”
“Butterfly nets?”
Lionel looked puzzled.
Come to think of it, I had never seen an insect net in this world. I hadn’t even heard of children catching insects. How had the knights intended to capture the butterflies—by cutting them down with swords?
I didn’t want the local moonlight-butterfly population destroyed. I explained how to make the nets and firmly instructed everyone to release each butterfly after collecting its scales.
That should prevent the moonlight butterflies from resenting me.