Chapter 632: Sometimes Restraint Is Necessary

It was still too early to escort Lady Fabienne back to the Ambert estate. However, we didn’t have enough time to turn the cacao fruit into chocolate. That would have to wait until tomorrow.

What a shame. Until tomorrow, then.

“I want to see how the preservation solution made by the others turned out, so let’s visit the compounding room.”

“Very well. I’m a little concerned too.”

Lady Fabienne smiled awkwardly, knowing how dangerous the solution’s performance could be. I understood exactly how she felt. Depending on the results, we might have to explain everything and forbid its production. The Royal Magic Pharmacists would surely understand.

As soon as we entered the compounding room, I asked to see the preservation solutions everyone had made.

“What?”

“Is something wrong?”

“Every batch is less powerful than mine.”

Appraisal showed that all their preservation solutions were one grade weaker overall. Most notably, the duration was only three months.

That was actually a relief, but could the difference truly be this large? Their solutions remained tasteless and odourless, so no one would find them unpleasant.

What was happening? Were they making the solution differently from me?

“They’re of high quality,” Lady Fabienne said. “I still think that’s impressive.”

“We have time. Would you like to try making preservation solution too?”

“May I? I would love to!”

Lady Fabienne’s face lit up. I stood beside her and guided her through the process. Since this was her first attempt, she was uncertain at several stages, but she completed the potion successfully.

The result possessed exactly the same properties as those made by the Royal Magic Pharmacists.

“You did an excellent job.”

“I still have a long way to go before I catch up with you.”

“If you make it repeatedly, you’ll catch up in no time.”

I praised Lady Fabienne and stroked her head. I had made the potion countless times in the game, so the gulf between our experience was as wide as heaven and earth. That couldn’t be helped.

For now, it appeared that only preservation solution made by me displayed that legendary performance.

That was reassuring. We wouldn’t need to silence anyone. However, I still had to retrieve the solution left in the salon.

Afterwards, I escorted Lady Fabienne home and collected the preservation solution. I also asked Rosalia to make a sprinkler. She accepted with overwhelming enthusiasm. She truly loved making magic tools.

Naturally, I didn’t forget to order a display case for delivery to the Ambert estate.

Once I had time alone, I considered why only the magic potions I created acquired absurdly powerful effects.

Ultimately, the most likely explanation was my possession of so many spirit blessings. Their number had increased considerably.

If so, I would have to exercise restraint when making magic potions or handle my own batches separately. They could still serve as trump cards, which might not be a bad thing.

All right. I would secretly use my Subspace skill to store some potions. Preparing for an emergency could hardly be wrong. Afterwards, I would make new potions while deliberately holding back.

It felt a little underhanded, but what choice did I have? It was far better than causing another problem.

That raised another question: what should I do about the skin lotion I promised Mother and the others? If I made it seriously, its effect might go far beyond anti-ageing. If it granted eternal youth, matters would cease to be amusing.

What a predicament. I would have to perform experiment after experiment until I produced a magic potion with safe, sensible effects.

Tomorrow, at last, I would make chocolate. Since the process was complicated, I would prepare a workflow now. If I showed it to the head chef and explained the essential points, we would surely succeed.

Filled with anticipation, I went to sleep.

The following morning, I collected Lady Fabienne as usual. When we returned to the estate, however, it seemed unusually noisy. Nothing had appeared out of the ordinary when I left earlier.

“Has something happened?” Lady Fabienne asked.

“You noticed it too? I wonder what’s going on.”

“Kyuu.”

Mira also sounded worried. As soon as we landed in the garden, Nero hurried over. Something had unquestionably happened.

“Nero, what is it?”

“Lord Julius, Lady Fabienne, please come to the main entrance immediately. The Green Spirit has arrived.”

“What?”

Lady Fabienne and I stared at each other. Had the Green Spirit not passed away? Could this be a second Green Spirit?

I didn’t understand, but we could hardly keep the spirit waiting. We hurried to the entrance.

There stood a bipedal turtle wearing a brightly coloured mask. The figure certainly resembled a spirit. The mask’s many colours evoked the flowers in the field we had visited yesterday.

More decisively, the spirit wore a flower crown upon their head, a floral necklace around their neck, bracelets upon their arms, and anklets around their legs.

They were unquestionably the offerings we had left before the monument yesterday.

“Forgive us for keeping you waiting,” I said.

“Please accept my apologies,” Lady Fabienne added.

We had walked as quickly as possible without actually running, leaving Lady Fabienne short of breath. As I helped her recover, I looked at the others. Everyone except Rosalia was smiling, but they were formal, diplomatic smiles.

Rosalia peered from behind Father as though observing a bizarre creature. Perhaps she was too young for this.

“Please think nothing of it,” the Green Spirit said. “I’m the one who arrived without an appointment. Forgive my discourtesy.”

“No apology is necessary,” Mother replied. “These are Julius and Fabienne.”

“I’m Julius.”

“And I’m Fabienne.”

For the moment, we introduced ourselves. Compared with the other spirits we had met, the Green Spirit seemed exceptionally refined.

Although saying so aloud might earn me a scolding.