Chapter 424: Wonder drug

“Who was that person?”

　To Tauro, it was an honest question.

　Depending on who Cross killed, the secret hidden in this village may become clear.

“I don’t know. I asked the village chief about it, but he only said that he was someone who would harm the village.”

“…An enemy, you say… — I got the impression that you were quite knowledgeable in martial arts, but what did you do before?”

　Tauro changed the angle of the conversation.

“Me? I used to be a knight for the kingdom. But I was injured soon after and quit the knighthood. I moved around a lot before coming to this place.  I had no work and when I asked for one, I was asked to become a parent figure for Haku. We’ve lived here as a parent and son for the past thirteen years, but I was seriously injured, it seems that I am no longer needed.”

“…Are you being released from your role as Haku’s parental figure? After all, this village values Haku for some reason, doesn’t it? In other words, Haku holds the key to this village…”

“Haku is… It’s true that the village chief does seem to have a particular attachment to Haku. I get the feeling he treats him more specially than the other children…”

　Cross pondered Tauro’s point.

　Up until now, he had been so focused on raising Haku that he had not given it much thought.

　But as soon as he was seriously injured a month ago and could no longer touch a sword, he was off dismissed.

　If you ask me, he has been protecting Haku first and foremost.

　It was only natural since he had raised him as his own child, but did that mean he was Haku’s bodyguard?

“…Cross-san once your injuries heal, you won’t be forced to stop being a parent figure to Haku.”

　Tauro says meaningfully.

“? But I was injured and have been bedridden until recently. All this is ……”  

“Have you tried any potions for treatment?”

“I called a doctor to treat me the day after the injury, but the potions weren’t enough to heal me, so I left it up to the doctor’s healing magic, but even then, it didn’t heal me.”

　Cross looks pained.

　Of course, if he didn’t have this injury he wouldn’t have to leave Haku.

“By the way, how much of that potion did you use?”

“The village chief paid for it, so I guess it was a valuable intermediate potion…”

“…… then you should try this.”

　Tauro took out a potion he’d made himself from his magic storage and handed it to Cross.

“Is this… an advanced potion?! I can’t take something so precious!”

“It’s my own creation so don’t worry about it.”

　Cross could not believe his words, but he was on the verge of being forced to quit being Haku’s parental figurehead.

　Clutching at straws, he gulped down the potion that was handed to him.

“……The pain is gone……. ─ ─ No, the pain is gone, but the injured part won’t move. ……”

“Was it too late? ……. I understand. I’d like to try something.”

　Not wanting to let this father and son be separated, Tauro decided to take a gamble.

　Tauro took out all the remaining advanced potions he could find from his magic storage.

　Twenty-five in total.

　This alone is a tremendous fortune, but it wouldn’t heal Cross’ injuries.

“We will use this as a basis to create a new medicine.”

“Built  on advanced potions? Excuse me, but anything more than that is said to be the secret Expotion class, which is just a myth, right? It is said that only one bottle exists in the royal family. There is no way something like that can just be made. ……”*

　Even Cross acknowledged that Tauro was a rare individual who could create advanced potions on his own, but he still thought it was impossible.

　Tauro’s current skill as a pharmacist is such that he can occasionally make advanced potions on a whim (though that is still impressive enough), so he doesn’t think he’ll be able to create a nostrum.

　However, Tauro has magic that could use this as a basis.

　It is “creation magic.”

　The (weak) attached to the creation magic was removed by the “ability limit breakthrough”, but because I almost lost my life many times, I had sealed it away without experimenting, but for Cross’s sake, I thought I could try to use it again.

　Just to be on the safe side, Tauro gathered some more from his magic storage and also took out some high-end medicinal herbs he had purchased.

　He did not know which ingredients he would need, since the wonder drug was an unknown one.

“If I prepare just this, it will be fine, right?”

　Tauro says to himself.

　And,

“Creation Magic!”

　He chants.

　At that moment, several distinct sensations flowed through Tauro.

　He understood which materials and how many would be used, how much magic power would be required, and that if there wasn’t enough magical power, the spell wouldn’t even activate.

　These things were conveyed in an instantaneous sensation.

　And at that moment, a dazzling light emanated from Tauro’s hand.

　The light leaked out from Cross’s house for a moment, illuminating part of the village in the forest, but it was so fleeting that  no one in the quiet village noticed.

“Damn! How bright…! Tauro, are you okay?”

　Cross rubbed his eyes against the afterimage of the light and checked to see if Tauro was okay.

“…I-I’m fine. I’ve used up a lot of magical power, but it’s not life-threatening. Right ……, isn’t?”*

　Tauro was flustered because he felt something different from the sensation he had felt when using “Creation Magic (Weak)” up until now, but he knew it was a success.

　When he checked the advanced potions and medicinal herbs in his hand, he found a bottle of potion produced by the creation magic, two advanced potions that had been consumed by the creation magic and left behind, and several types of medicinal herbs.

“…As I thought, that sensation wasn’t an illusion… It seems that from now on, even if I use it recklessly, I won’t die from the depletion of my magical power. ……”

　Tauro feels relieved.

“Then try drinking this.”

　Tauro used the power of “Creation Magic” to create an elixir potion in his hand and handed it to Cross.

“Is it okay? It appears to have been made by consuming large quantities of advanced potions and expensive medicinal herbs. I’m sure there are others who would be willing to pay a lot of money to get it rather than someone like me drinking it…”

　It’s understandable that he’s  hesitant 

　Even a single bottle of  high-grade potion is too expensive, and even that is a valuable commodity that can only be obtained in large cities.

　It is a truly fantastic elixir, made by consuming more than 20 bottles of the potion.

　If someone offers it to me, there’s no way I’d be able to say, “Okay, I’ll have some,” and drink it.

“I know how much material I’ll need, so it’s fine. It is true that I don’t know how long it would take just to gather the ingredients if I was asked to make it again, but at least I know it can be made, so it’s not a problem. Besides, you still have to protect Haku, don’t you? Is this the time to hesitate?”

　Tauro asked Cross with a serious expression.

“…Yes. Then, I won’t hesitate……!”

　Cross made up his mind and drank the elixir that Tauro had given him.

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