Chapter 91: Re-evaluation

　Mr. Glidden’s mansion was well-maintained, but there was no sign of servants.

“The disease prevention law has been put into effect. The commuters were given the day off. So what is it that you want me to look at?”

“It’s a potion I made. Henry told me yesterday that you usually boil it before pouring magical power into it. I only knew my grandmother’s way of making it, so I made it without boiling it.”

“Ho?”

“I heard that the castle’s appraiser once appraised it as a special grade, but Mr. Henry recommended that I should have it properly appraised by you “

“I see. Let me borrow it.”

　I handed Mr. Glidden, who was sitting on the sofa, the five potions I had brought with me. He accepted them, but then he grunted and leaned back once.

　He looked at the bottles for a while and then held up his hand. Then he laughed, “Kukku kukku.”

“There’s a fair amount of magical power in it. The castle’s appraiser must have judged it to be special grade, but it contains far more magic power than a special grade.”

“More than a special grade. ……”

　Then Sarah-san came pushing a cart with her back bent. I had always thought that her back must hurt all of the time.

“In that case, if you don’t mind, could you give my potion to Sarah?　You seem to have a sore back.”

“No, I don’t take potions, so please drink my husband.”

　I was surprised to see that Sarah, who is usually gentle and reserved, was speaking in a stronger tone than usual. Then the teacher spoke to me in a tone of concern.

“Sarah would have seen Liyol continuously making potions, you know?　She has a strong aversion to potions. Never mind, just do it.”

“Aversion, huh? But if my grandmother saw you suffering from back pain, she would definitely say, ‘Take my potion.’ She was that kind of person. So, if you feel like it, please try my potion, think of it as if it were my grandmother’s potion.”

　When I said that and smiled, Mr. Glidden added something.

“Sarah, just think of Mai’s potions as made by a happy and healthy liyol. But I’m not going to force you to do anything.”

　After saying this, the teacher turned to me.

“There are several ways to appraise potions. Jusel Leesley has not mastered sensing magic, but he can tell when something is made by magic. He said that the magic interferes with him. He’s something of a genius.”

　Mr. Leesley certainly seemed like a genius!

“I use sensing magic. I sense the amount of magic contained in a potion by the strength of the magic that bounces back. I also used detection magic to sense liyol’s magic in the tables and tableware that Mai made for the shop. Whatever the method, the method of finding traces of magic used is called ‘Magical Analysis.’”

“Then does that mean I can also use sensing magic to appraise potions?”

“Yes, you can. Try it next time with a commercially available potion. You will feel a very weak magic power bouncing back. From this potion, you will feel a strong magical power like a storm. However, you will not be able to know the strength of your own potion.”

　According to Mr. Glidden, even if you cast sensing magic on a potion you made yourself, you will not be able to sense it. The teacher said, “You get used to the smell of your house and your own smell, and you don’t sense it anymore, right? In the same way, you cannot sense your own magic,”

“Even so, this is incredible. It’s not as simple as just having a lot of magical power and being able to infuse it with more. I wonder how you managed to infuse this much magical power into it.”

“How, you ask? I used the usual transformation magic. Like this, I spread my legs and gathered magical power around the area below my navel, then poured magical power from my fist into the water. It was like this. Hiyah!”

　Mr. Glidden was expressionless for a while. Then he burst out laughing ‘pfft’, and even Sarah looked down, trying to hold back her laughter. Is the breaking tiles action really that funny?

“I’m sorry for laughing. I was surprised at how …… bold you are in the way you make it. Every magician worries over looking elegant and graceful. They are always aware that something like this is no big deal, but it is something to be conscious of……”*

“Oh, I didn’t realize that.”

“However, even if someone else imitated your movements, I don’t think they would be able to inject this much magical power into it.”

　This is a compliment, right?

“This potion is of superior quality. I can vouch for it.”

“Master, I’ll try drinking the potion Mai made.”

“I see. It’s freshly made, so I’m sure it will help with your back pain.”

“Then, for the first time in my life, I will drink a potion.”

“Mai, I recommend you cast a sensing spell and keep your eye eyes on Sarah.”

　I had stopped the sensing magic when I entered this room. Because of Mr. Glidden, Klin!　Klin!　I was getting metallic reflections of his magic incessantly. I released the sensing magic at the teacher’s request. Sarah drank a potion.

“Ah!”

　I could see the potion moving inside Sarah’s body. Anywhere it touched it glowed white. The light moved from her esophagus to her stomach. It was then absorbed around her small intestine, and slowly spread throughout her body.

“Oh? The pain in my lower back is fading.”

　By the time Sara-san reached that point, her whole body was glowing quite brightly. Sarah-san slowly stretched her lower back.

“I can stretch my back without any pain. I can’t believe how quickly the potion works.”

“Mai’s potions are amazing. It must be much more effective than the potions I make. Which, let me try some.”

　

　As a result, Mr. Glidden’s knee and hip pain disappeared also.

“The effect on symptoms caused by aging is only temporary, but even if it is only temporary, it will help. This potion is now on par with healing magic.”

　The teacher laughed as he said this. Then he asked me to shake his hand.  Not really understanding why he wanted to shake hands now, I held out my right hand, and the teacher shook it back firmly.

“My father regretted to his last breath that he had not been able to save Liyol from the powers that be. I, myself, suffered for having erased her. But thanks to you, Mai, I was able to escape from my life of suffering. Thank you, Mai. You are my prized pupil.”*

　I returned to the “hideaway” with a happy feeling after receiving those words from Mr. Glidden.

　I hope my potion will be effective against this epidemic.

　I have already discussed with Mr. Henry how to distribute them to the commoners.

　I left the Teacher’s  mansion and headed for the guardhouse.

When I told them, “I would like to ask for Mr. Viktor,” they said, “You mean the platoon commander.” So Mr. Viktor was the platoon leader.

　When Viktor-san appeared, saying “Sorry to have kept you waiting,” he had a completely different vibe from when I met him as Sophia’s kind grandfather. He was imposing and powerful.

“I’m sorry to bother you while you’re at work, but there’s actually something I’d like to ask you. Mr. Henry told me that the Guard is the first to know about an outbreak of an epidemic. Is that correct?”

“Yes, sir. Those who cannot see a doctor just lie at home, and the disease always spreads from patient to family member. Once the security forces are informed of an outbreak, we will use the mutual aid system to gather the patients.”

“Where do you collect them?”

　Victor pointed to a hand-drawn map on the wall. There are dozens of houses colored red on the map.

“it’s the same as when the river flooded. Of the houses that have applied, we take patients to those with space available, depending on the situation.”

“what about medications?”

“There is no medicine. When there’s a new epidemic, we have hundreds or thousands of patients at a time, and we don’t even know what drugs will work. We bring the patients in and quarantine them. That’s all.”

　That’s what I thought.

“I understand. This disease will eventually spread from the nobles to the commoners. My hope is that I will be allowed to distribute the potion to all the places that receive patients.”

“But Mai, I’m sorry to say this, but potions don’t work on epidemics.”

“No, I’ll bring you a potion that will work.”

“Will you be bringing me some of the potions from the castle through Mr. Henry’s connections?”

“Not exactly. I will give you the potions that I make.”

　Viktor-san stares at me and is silent.

“Don’t worry. My potion works. I just had my master appraise it. He said that it contains the same amount of magical power as potions made in castles. I’ll give it to you for free, so please use it.”

　Obviously, It’s hard to say, “ it’s more effective than the potions from the castle.”

“Free of charge? That’s very kind of you. We’d really appreciate it.”

“In order to deliver the potions efficiently, I would like you to wear the pendant I gave you before. That way you can always be in touch with me.”

　The pendant that I gave him when they hunted down and captured Albert and his group. With that, I can find out where the patients are being transported. I plan to distribute my potions there according to the incidence of patients.

“Okay. I’ll make sure to wear that pendant at all times.”

“My potions will definitely come in handy.”*

　Now it’s my turn. I’ll make a lot of potions that are even better than special grade.

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