Kays Translations

Chapter 62: Urgent News

I sent copies of the blueprints to Edward, Billy, and Platon, then finished hot-and-cold air blowers for Fabienne, Nathalie, and Melissa. After arranging their delivery, I sold the blueprint to the magic-tool craftsmen employed by House Heine.

The craftsmen were delighted. I also sold them the designs for the shower-related magic tools. Those probably wouldn’t become as immediately popular as the air blower, but they should provide steady sales.

At last, I could catch my breath. It was probably time to resume my potion research.

The difficulty was obtaining ingredients. Since specialised materials couldn’t be bought in the territorial capital, the number of potions I could make was limited. With what I had on hand, an intermediate healing potion was about the best I could manage.

If only I had access to better materials.

“Lord Julius, a letter has arrived from the master.”

“From Father? I wonder what it says.”

A servant brought the letter just as I finished lunch. I regularly exchanged letters with my family in the royal capital, but another message had arrived before I had even replied to the previous one.

A chill ran through me.

Rosalia, seated beside me, watched my face anxiously as I accepted a paper knife and opened the envelope.

“Grandfather and Grandmother have collapsed…?”

“Big brother!”

Rosalia heard my involuntary whisper. I stroked her head in an attempt to reassure her and continued reading.

According to Father, food served at a well-known restaurant in the royal capital had been poisoned. Grandfather and Grandmother had happened to be dining there and had both fallen gravely ill.

They were receiving treatment, but Father wanted Rosalia and me to come to the royal capital in case the worst happened.

Had it truly been chance? Perhaps Grandfather had been targeted—or Grandmother. She was one of the highest-ranking magic pharmacists in the kingdom. Her loss would have an enormous impact.

What did that imply?

“Big brother?”

“I’m sorry, Rosalia. We must leave for the royal capital as quickly as possible. The journey will be difficult, so prepare yourself. I need to speak with Lionel.”

I handed her the letter. After reading it, Rosalia gave a small cry and clung to me.

I soothed her as best I could, left her in the servants’ care, and hurried to the knight order’s quarters. The knights were taking a break, and I found Lionel in his office.

“Lionel, something terrible has happened. Grandmother has been poisoned.”

“What? Lady Margaret? How serious is her condition?”

“I don’t know. The letter only says that she and Grandfather collapsed. But Father wants us in the royal capital immediately, so it must be grave.”

“We’ll prepare to depart at once.”

Lionel and the knights sprang into action. Would we arrive in time? I didn’t know, but we had to try.

“Lionel, I need to use Grandmother’s compounding room.”

“Lord Julius…”

“She may have the ingredients I need. I can make a Panacea capable of neutralising any poison. If I finish it quickly enough, we may still save them.”

“I understand. But if anything goes wrong, I’ll accept full responsibility. I won’t let you enter unless you agree to that.”

Lionel met my gaze without wavering. I knew that expression. He had made his decision and wouldn’t retreat.

“All right. I promise.”

“I’ll fetch the keys immediately.”

While he was gone, I returned to my room, filled a bag with every elementary mana-recovery potion I had hidden away, and hurried to the annex where Grandmother lived.

If the ingredients were there, I could make the Panacea. I had created it many times in the game, and my success rate had been one hundred per cent. I had to trust myself.

“Lord Julius, I have the key.”

“Thank you. I hope Father lets us off with nothing worse than a severe scolding.”

“I’ll accompany you.”

We climbed to the compounding room on the third floor of the annex. Its door was securely locked, and Lionel opened it with care.

The moment the door swung inwards, the foul smell of low-quality healing potions drifted out.

“So this is Grandmother’s new workshop. The ingredients must be in that box.”

A locked metal chest stood against one wall. Lionel examined it and opened it with another key.

“I don’t know what’s stored inside, so please handle everything carefully.”

“I will. Hurry and finish the preparations for our journey. I can manage from here.”

“Yes, my lord. I’ll leave the keys with you.”

Lionel must have realised that I didn’t want anyone watching while I compounded the potion. He withdrew without argument, which was a relief because I intended to use my Laboratory skill.

Once I was alone, I opened the chest. A few materials were unfamiliar, but I recognised most of them.

“I can make an advanced healing potion and a strong antidote. A World Tree leaf… yes, there’s one. It hasn’t been preserved well, but it’ll have to do.”

I arranged the required ingredients on the table. Every one of them was precious.

Then I saw how little there was.

“This is barely enough for a single Panacea. I can save only one person…”

What could I do? Search for more ingredients now? Impossible. These materials were rare and unavailable in ordinary shops.

Even if I could make only one bottle, I still had to make it. I would decide who received it after reaching the royal capital.

I activated Laboratory.

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