A Genius Pharmacist Whom the Empress Is Obsessed With

A Strange Day Somewhere

For dinner today, there was only a light soup and bread.

After exerting himself for a long time, Idun wanted to eat something more substantial, but the restaurant owner said that only soup was available for ordering at the moment, so he had no choice but to fill his stomach with soup and bread.

He wasn’t pleased with the menu, but he must be hungry. Idun quickened his pace.

Although it was spring, it was still early spring, and Melo was located in the northwest of the continent. Because of that, a fairly chilly air settled over Melo as night fell.

It wasn’t so cold that he would catch a cold, but Idun didn’t like the cold. No, he despised it. It was because of the experience of being trapped and repeating the cycle of dying and coming back to life for several days in the northern lake long ago.

Returning to the store, Idun brought out torches and flintstones to light up the place.

Unfortunately, this small shop was all that Idun had as a comfortable place to stay in Melo.

He could find inn rooms, but the prices were higher than he had expected. With the remaining money in his possession not being abundant due to the damn donation, it was wise to save money as much as possible until he had a proper income.

“It’s fine, but times like this make me miss magic.”

All he needed was a luminous stone. As Idun placed torches around the store, he muttered. He didn’t long for the past or want to go back, but it was true that human life had become quite inconvenient since the disappearance of magic.

As the dimly lit store became somewhat brighter, Idun took out his bag that he had stored in a storage locker.

The reason why he worked hard in the field this afternoon was to prepare for planting seeds brought from Rare tomorrow.

“So, I was thinking about how to improve efficiency, and I came up with the idea of making medicine from herbs infused with my vitality.”

Because of those words, Idun couldn’t descend into the human world for a long time, a whole ten years.

It was a thoughtless and casual remark, but once he said it, Idun became determined to create the herb that he desired.

It is impossible to create something out of nothing. Idun began experimenting with various herbs that were scattered around him.

From the types of herbs to the parts of the herbs that infused vitality, the amount of vitality injected, and the time it took to infuse vitality.

Truly, after confirming countless variables and organizing the results, a considerable amount of time, ten years, had passed. Of course, in the meantime, Idun would occasionally fall asleep with Adrian by his side.

Despite devoting so much effort, Idun’s goal of creating a new herb unfortunately ended in failure.

However, there was not a complete lack of harvest.

After nourishing his vitality for ten years and cultivating various herbs, Idun was able to obtain seeds of truly excellent varieties that could not be found anywhere on the continent.

If ordinary herbs had an efficacy of 10, the herbs that Idun had cultivated had at least twice the efficacy.

In Idun’s humble backpack, there were valuable herbs and their seeds that could not be replaced by anything else, filling it to the brim.

“I hope these seeds can grow well here too.”

The thing about herbs is that even if the same seeds are sown, their taste and efficacy can vary greatly depending on where they grow.

While Mellow’s soil was fairly decent, it was inferior compared to Adrian’s rare soil.

“But I have to try something, at least.”

One cannot be satisfied with their first attempt. It was most important to somehow continue on, even if it was imperfect.

Idun diligently selected several types of seeds under the flickering lantern light that seemed like it could go out at any moment.

***

“Master, are you here?”

The next day, Idun visited the flower garden early in the morning. It was to obtain some varieties of seeds to plant in the field.

Even after planting all the seeds he brought, there seemed to be some soil left. Since he had started a business, he thought it would be better to try growing something rather than leave the land barren.

“Master?”

“Master, I came to buy some Catnip and Echinacea.”

Although Idun called the shopkeeper several times, he couldn’t hear any response from inside the flower garden.

Perhaps he stepped away for a moment. Idun looked around and headed to the next flower garden. As someone with many tasks at hand, he couldn’t afford to wait indefinitely for a master who might not return.

However, Idun couldn’t find the desired varieties of seeds at the next store either. The flower garden was open, as if the shopkeepers had made an arrangement among themselves, but Idun couldn’t sense the presence of the owners.

“Hmm…”

Was it because he came too early? Although he felt something strange, Idun brushed it off and headed towards the general store.

It seems like he has plenty of time. Since he had already come all the way to the shopping district, it seemed better to buy a few simple items.

“Can I help you?”

At Idun’s call, the shopkeeper of the general store emerged, scratching his head as if he had just woken up.

“Huh? This is the first time I’m seeing your face. What are you going to buy?”

“I want to buy the items written here.”

The shopkeeper took the note that Idun held out and read it with a blank expression.

“Hmm, why do you want to buy these?”

“Is there any merchandise available?”

“Not really….”

The shopkeeper glanced at Idun, his words trailing off.

“Oh, are you the new pharmacist opening a pharmacy over there?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

It had been four or five days since he joined the Merchant Guild, so it was about time for rumors to spread.

“I see.”

After Idun’s response, the shopkeeper clicked his tongue and nodded his head a couple of times, handing back the note.

“The items are over there, so pick what you want and bring them to the checkout counter.”

“Pardon?”

“Didn’t you hear? I’m a bit busy right now, so pick whatever you want.”

“Oh, no. Just a moment.”

Ignoring Idun’s objection, the shopkeeper entered deeper into the store.

Typically, shopkeepers didn’t like customers touching the products. If they carelessly touched the various items on the shelves, they were prone to fall.

This shop was no exception. True to its name, the shelves in the store were packed with various items.

“To ask customers to find the items on their own….”

While it wasn’t necessary to treat him like an esteemed guest, shouldn’t they at least tell him where to find them? Idun sighed quietly as he looked around the shelves.

*

“So, you went to the shop today.”

Reta said, leaning her upper body against the wooden fence. True to her word, she waited for Idun to start working in the fields and immediately showed up. She was accompanied by the file folder she always carried.

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“Judging from the items, you must have been to the shop at the intersection.”

Reta rummaged through the items that Idun bought without even asking for permission.

“So, how was the shop owner?”

“What do you mean?”

“The shop owner is often complained about for being rude. I’ve told him several times, but he doesn’t listen at all. It’s really difficult for me as the administrator of the Merchant Guild.”

Reta placed her hand on her cheek, wearing a pitiful expression.

“Is that so? It was just like that.”

“Oh, really? I didn’t hear that from Eden, it’s interesting.”

‘A truly consistently annoying woman.’

If left alone, she would find her way, so Eden continued to ignore Leta’s incessant babbling and planted seeds in the field.

“So, Eden-nim, what kind of seeds are you planting right now?”

Regardless of Eden’s disregard, Leta asked with a polite and kind voice, as if she didn’t care at all.

“…It’s commonly used as a medicinal herb called sage for disinfecting wounds. In addition, white sage is effective for asthma and can be brewed and consumed as tea.”

Furthermore, it can be used to calm the mind, treat fevers, and eliminate the gamey smell of meat, making sage a versatile herb used in everyday life.

“Ah. So these are sage seeds. I’ve only seen the leaves all the time, this is my first time seeing the seeds.”

Leta stretched her neck while looking at the basket that Eden was holding. She seemed to want to confirm if there was something different in the basket.

Since it was a common seed that could be seen anywhere when looked at separately, Eden showed it without hesitation.

“You have quite an eye for detail.”

While Leta cheerfully laughed and inspected the contents of the basket, Eden fell into a momentary serious contemplation.

‘Maybe I should explore a different town even now.’

Today’s events for Eden were trivial, unimportant matters in a way.

However, it felt as if the accumulated experience of five hundred years was speaking to Eden.

This city called Mellow, it was really strange.

***

“Huuaaam.”

The eyes of the general store owner, who had come out in front of the shop and was yawning and slumping, widened like lanterns.

“Oh my, isn’t it Leta-nim?”

The man quickly straightened his head with his hands and bowed.

“Did the apothecary come back and forth today? Was there anything unusual?”

“No, no. She just quietly bought the items.”

The man shuddered at Leta’s persistent blue eyes.

“Alright then. Take care of yourself. Don’t forget about the membership fee.”

Leta, who had been staring at the general store owner for quite a long time, smiled and immediately left the shop.

“Well, it went smoothly.”

The general store owner collapsed onto the chair with a sigh of relief. Sweat had soaked his entire body.

Well, it was understandable. Leta was the notorious boss of the Mellow Merchants’ Guild.

In fact, when it came to abilities, Leta was an extremely talented woman. She was the one who had brought Melo from a humble countryside village to the city.

However, as they say, with great ability comes a great personality, and Leta’s personality was extremely difficult.

Anyone who didn’t please her would be made penniless and driven out of Melo, no matter what they tried.

But it didn’t end there. Like the saying goes, once prey is caught, it is never let go. If those who were driven out of Melo found a place elsewhere, she would seek them out and take everything away from them once again.

“It’s all because of that alchemist that Melo turned upside down.”

What on earth had that alchemist done to make the people of Melo fear alchemists?

Unable to say it plainly, the store owner shook his head in frustration.