Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 195: Stop That, All Right?
I told the servant that I was going to check the compounding room, then took Axel and Ijidol into the restricted area. After we greeted the guard knight and passed him, their expressions grew progressively worse.
"I didn't know a place like this existed," Axel said. "We asked to come, but are you certain we're allowed inside?"
"It's fine. Don't worry. Neither of you is a spy, are you?"
"Of course not."
Axel smiled awkwardly. This clearly wasn't what he'd expected. Since a child was involved, perhaps he'd imagined something resembling our swordsmanship practice—or thought I was teaching children our own age.
"This is the compounding room. Normally, you would never be allowed inside, so this should be a valuable experience."
They'd probably never seen a magic potion being made. They might be astonished. They might even become interested. If that happened, I could gain two more fellow magic-potion enthusiasts.
The knights standing on either side of the door saluted me, then pulled it open.
An indescribable odour immediately rolled out of the room.
Of course. We were in the middle of compounding the Panacea with dreadful ingredients. Axel and Ijidol grimaced. They already looked as though they regretted coming.
"Julius-sensei, you've returned! That must mean you've received permission to stay overnight!"
"What a relief. Could you inspect this for us?"
"Now we'll definitely complete it!"
As soon as the door opened and the Royal Magic Pharmacists noticed me, they began calling out joyfully one after another.
That's right. Everyone here called me sensei.
Axel and Ijidol somehow managed to frown and open their eyes wide at the same time.
"Julius… sensei?"
"You're their teacher?!"
"Well, yes. It just sort of happened."
I knew. I should have refused, but one thing had led to another. I'd assumed it would be harmless because this was only temporary, but perhaps that had been a mistake.
"Hey, can I call you Julius-sensei too?" Axel asked.
"Me too!" Ijidol added.
"Stop that, all right?"
This was bad. The sensei business was starting to spread. If they called me that on the training grounds, Pietro and Ovidio would absolutely take notice. They might even summon me behind the palace for a little chat.
Danger!
"This is becoming strange because all of you insist on calling me sensei. From now on, that title is forbidden."
"Oh no…"
"Then what should we call you?"
Every Royal Magic Pharmacist hung his head in disappointment.
Look! Your hands had stopped moving!
I hurriedly ordered everyone to keep working and watch their pots. At the very least, the people stirring should focus on the mixtures instead of our conversation.
"Then we have no choice but to call you the Great Magic Pharmacist."
"Ooooh!"
"Don't call me that either!"
What was that chorus of approval for? This was becoming worse. And what exactly was a Great Magic Pharmacist? I'd never heard that title before. Commander Giovanni had invented it on the spot, hadn't he?
Ahh. In this situation, was sensei actually the better choice? It had to be less dangerous than Great Magic Pharmacist.
"Very well. You may continue calling me sensei. But never, ever call me Great Magic Pharmacist."
"Understood, Julius-sensei."
Everyone answered in perfect unison.
"Axel, Ijidol, you two will address me exactly as you always have."
"Oh no…"
Why did they look so disappointed? What were those two planning to do to me?
I took a deep breath and led them around the pots. I corrected places where the temperature wasn't being controlled properly and teams applying too little pressure.
"Julius, what are they making?" Axel asked.
"The Panacea. This is a secret, so don't tell anyone. We're making it under His Majesty's orders."
Axel and Ijidol's faces rapidly turned pale. They probably hadn't expected His Majesty's name to appear. And now they'd realised they'd stumbled upon a terrifying state secret.
Welcome, Axel and Ijidol.
We were now friends bound together by a shared secret.
I felt guilty, but Brother Alex had probably wanted the three of us to share secrets and strengthen our bond. I needed reliable friends who could support me in the royal capital, and Axel and Ijidol were ideally suited.
"I knew he wasn't normal," Axel muttered, "but he really isn't an ordinary person at all."
"Come to think of it, Julius never acted like a noble from the beginning," Ijidol said. "I should have realised then."
"Would you stop talking about me as though I'm some kind of freak?"
The three of us looked at one another and laughed.
Good. They seemed to have accepted me. I could finally breathe easily. I wasn't sure how I could have recovered if they'd said they wanted nothing more to do with me.
"Julius, can't you do something about this smell?"
"It will disappear once the quality of the ingredients improves. This batch is only for practice. The next ones won't smell like this, and they'll taste better too."
"So it does taste awful. But can it really become good? I don't believe you."
Axel pressed a fist to his chin and raised one eyebrow.
Come to think of it, neither of them knew what a proper magic potion was like. I should let them experience one for themselves.
"Follow me. I'll show you a real magic potion."
I heard them both swallow.
Was calling it "real" an exaggeration? Even disgusting potions produced their intended effects, so they were real too. What I meant was a proper magic potion.
They showed some reluctance, but I forcibly dragged them into the next room.