Kays Translations

Chapter 20. The problem of Japanese medicines working too well

There are many different painkillers out there, but which one is best? I’ve taken acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and loxoprofen.

The medication I was given when I was suffering the worst from back pain was a medicine with a cute name, something like ‘Rika’, but I think that was probably for more severe or complicated back pain.

I think acetaminophen is probably the safest with the least side effects. I can buy it for 3 yen per tablet.

But giving someone real medicines—something that’s not a supplement—is it really okay? I worry about side effects. Also, there’s the question of how bodies differ between that world and this one—what might be safe there might not be elsewhere.

But if I start thinking about that, I won’t be able to eat anything because I wouldn’t know what’s toxic to Japanese people in another world. Ah, so that’s what the “adaptation skill” is for. I get it.

Anyway, I think sticking to over-the-counter topical medicines might be the safest choice here.  

The container is a problem, but if I buy it by the gram, I can just take out the contents.

“Your back looks like it’s hurting, but are you okay not resting?”

I ask Dawn-san.

“I hurt it three days ago, and it’s already gotten a lot better now. I’m just so sturdy, that’s my only good point,” Dawn-san replies, rubbing his lower back.

Hmm, it seems the acute phase has passed.

“I have some ointment that should ease the pain a little, would you like to try it? It worked pretty well for me,”

I think people are less hesitant to try ointments than something they have to put in their mouths.

“Is that okay?”

The pain must really be bothering him. Dawn-san looks at me with hopeful eyes.

I understand how you feel, wanting something to ease the pain in your lower back. Lower back pain is so painful. Your knees hurt too. Walking hurts, and that makes everything else seem so much more bothersome.

“Oh, wait a minute.”

I opened the lid of a small container I kept in my bag and squeeze out about 20 yen worth of ointment.  

Before I even asked, Dawn- was fully preparing to expose his lower back, ready for the treatment, and I almost burst out laughing. 

I spread the ointment on Dawn-san’s lower back with my palm, then give it a final pat.

“I think this will help provide some relief.”

“Oh, yeah. That feels sooooo good.”

“Milia-san, may I?”

Is it okay for a woman to expose her knees?  

Seems fine.

Milia-san lifts her skirt slightly and I apply the ointment to her knees as well.

“Thanks. How much do I owe you?”

Oh, it’s not that expensive.

“It’s a than you for Byrne-san helping me, I don’t need payment, but I do have one thing I’d like to ask,”

“What is it?”

“I want to grow some vegetables, is there any way to rent a farm plot?”

I ask.

“The farmland near the town is managed by the Agricultural Guild. Our farm is also rented out that way. Hmm, you don’t seem like you want to seriously start farming, do you?”

“Yeah, I just want to grow enough for myself to eat,”

“Most plots are sold by the unit, so I wonder how it works if you just want to grow a little. Do you know?”

Milia-san asks Dawn-san.

“Hmm, I wonder how it’s done. Come to think of it, I think Regal mentioned that they were subdividing unused farmland into small lots and renting them out, it was awhile back”

The “Regal” guy seems to be an employee of the Agriculture Guild. It would probably be quicker to ask him directly.

“Anyway, it’s the Guild,”

“Yeah, you can mention my name. Just say Dawn told you.”

I’m grateful. Even if it’s just a little bit of connection like this; it makes things much easier.

After the break, we go back to work.

Next is the shipping process: harvest the vegetables, rinse off the dirt, remove any bad leaves, and sort them by size.

Looking at them, I see what appear to be long green onions, cabbage, broccoli, carrots, and radishes. They’re all slightly different in shape, but I can accept that as them being within the realm  of just being different varieties. The cabbage is pointed, but there are cabbages like that too.

The boxes filled with vegetables are heavy, and this really takes a toll on my back.

When lifting heavy objects, the key is to keep the weight close to your body. Don’t lift with your arms alone. Bend your knees. Never bend at the waist.

“Saki, don’t push yourself. If it’s too heavy, I’ll carry it,” Burn-san says.

He easily lifts twice my weight. Having muscles really is great.

I decide to let him handle the heavy lifting and focus on harvesting and sorting. As I continue working quietly, Dawn-san, with a huge smile on his face, suddenly rushes over.

“Hey! The pain completely disappeared after that! Amazing! I’m cured!”

I really wish you’d stop pounding your lower back. It’s starting to make my back hurt. Is it actually possible for pain to just go away so quickly all at once?

“My knees don’t hurt at all now either,”Milia-san says, following behind.

It seems whatever they used worked incredibly well. The multivitamins for Luna, too—maybe everything is just working too well.

I wonder if it’s because I’ve never tried those things before. Is this okay?

But Dawn-san was so happy that this will allow him to work hard.

I want to strongly say, “No, you’re only masking the pain. So don’t push yourself!”

Because if you push through pain, once the effects wear off, it’ll be even worse. I’ve seen it happen.

Still, with the pain, I find them working harder.

Of course, we leave the heavy lifting to Byrne-san, but thanks to Dawn-san and Milia-san’s skilled work, the harvest and sorting proceeds smoothly.

When work that had been stalled starts to flow smoothly, it’s easy to get carried away and do too much.

“Oh man, you really helped us out today. Please come back anytime. How about tomorrow? Or the day after?”

Dawn-san asks, signing the work request form with a big smile.

I think the effect might wear off soon, but he still looks full of energy. I hope he doesn’t suffer tonight. Morning back pain is the worst, after all. I’m so worried.

I should worry about myself too. It feels like I’ve overworked muscles I haven’t used in a while. My aches and pains, I hope you come tomorrow—mostly likely, it’ll be the day after tomorrow.

Whether I can come tomorrow or the next day depends on how bad the soreness is. I really think it’s likely.

“I’ll come if I can, but I’m not sure yet,”  I say, trying to cover it.

Seriously, I can already sense the signs of my own back pain creeping in.

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