Clarice tries her best
Sandy’s actions from then on were so quick that Clarice was surprised.
It seems that Sandy had already analyzed all of the drugs that Clarice had given to Melvin, and more than half of the paperwork for registering the new recipe had already been filled out by Sandy; all that remained was for Clarice to write down the detailed process.
I hurriedly completed the paperwork as carefully as possible, and when Sandy and I submitted it to the department that registers new drugs, it caused a bit of a stir.
“Sandy’s new recipe? What’s it like?”
“Just how many different kinds are there?”
“Huh? The developer isn’t Lady Sandy? Who is Clarice?”
As the crowd tilted their heads in confusion, for some reason Lady Sandy proudly pointed to Clarice, who was standing diagonally behind them.
“This is Clarice!”
All eyes were on her, and the pressure made Clarice take a half step back.
“Please prioritize the registration of healing potions and other medicines that are essential on the battlefield.
In the meantime, I’ll have Clarice prepare the medicine and test its effectiveness.”
The next place I was taken to was the shared laboratory reserved for first and second class pharmacists.
There was a lot of expensive equipment and machinery that wasn’t in the compounding room, and Clarice was hesitant to even set foot inside, but now was not the time to be scared.
First of all, I’ll start with recovery potions.
With Sandy’s help, I gather the ingredients, chop or mash them, and put them in the pot in the correct order and simmer them.
At this point, do not bring it to a rolling boil.
The temperature is maintained so that air bubbles begin to rise to the surface, and the magic is dissolved slowly, bit by bit, while stirring the pot.
Normally I would make potions alone in my room, but right now I was surrounded by many senior pharmacists, including Sandy, all staring at my hands, making it very difficult to do so.
After stirring the pot for a while, all the ingredients had dissolved evenly and the magic had reached a saturated state where it couldn’t dissolve any more.
“…Once this cools down, it’s done.”
“Ohhhhhhh~”
When the pot was taken off the stove and placed on the trivet, everyone took a look at it.
“It’s amazing that a healing potion can be made from just these ingredients.”
“I’m amazed they came up with such a combination.”
“It seems like the effort required to make them isn’t that different from current recovery potions.”
“If it really works, it’s a great recipe.”
Unlike the pharmacists in the compounding room who only make prescribed medicines, the pharmacists here are probably always developing new medicines.
Although this was an emergency situation in which war could break out, everyone’s eyes were sparkling with curiosity.
“Come on, we don’t have much time so let’s get going!”
Clarice, shall we try an anesthetic next?
“Yes, Mr. Andrews.”
“Call me Sandy.
There are so many Andrews, it gets confusing.”
“…Yes, Sandy.”
That was certainly true, Clarice decided to accept it.
I don’t even call Melvin “sama” anymore, so it’s probably too late now.
“I think you need a rat’s tail for the anesthetic.”
“Yes, that’s right. And black dandelion root and…”
As Clarice began to process the ingredients, the pharmacists’ eyes were fixed on her hands again.
In this way, Clarice continued to make one potion after another using her own recipes, and without Sandy having to say anything, the surrounding pharmacists flocked together to test their efficacy, and all of the potions that were applied for registration were proven to be effective that same day.
“good job!
Now, starting tomorrow, medicine will be made using the new recipe.
You did a great job.”
“No, I was just making medicine.
This is all thanks to Sandy-sama’s advance preparations.”
Normally this would have taken several months, but it was completed in just one day because Sandy had prepared the paperwork in advance and the fact that the famous medicine that Sandy was involved in registering had attracted the interest of many pharmacists.
In other words, more than half of it is thanks to Sandy.
“I knew I would have to register someday, so I prepared the paperwork every time Melvin gave me new medicine.
Analyzing Clarice’s medication was a lot of fun.”
“…Is that so?”
“Oh, don’t get me wrong.
Melvin didn’t break his promise to you.
Well, I can’t say that I haven’t broken anything at all, but I’ve only broken the bare minimum.”
Clarice’s drugs were in Sandy’s hands, and August seemed to know everything about Clarice’s situation.
I don’t know what the bare minimum is, but thanks to that we were able to register the drug in the shortest possible time, so I think it was a good thing in the end.
“Ever since I first analyzed your medicine, I’ve asked Melvin many times to let me meet you, but he’s always refused.
Melvin must have known very well how amazing your medicine was, but he prioritized your desire not to stand out.
Only my brother August heard your name from Melvin and apparently did some research on you, but he didn’t tell me what it entailed, and I haven’t had any contact with him until now.
I wanted to meet you too, but I didn’t want to force you to do anything.
I was just going to wait patiently until Melvin could convince you to register your own potion recipes.”
Had this happened without Clarice knowing?
I don’t think anyone has ever tried to persuade her, Clarice thought to herself, shaking her head in confusion.
“I promise I won’t take advantage of you.
My brothers and I have established ourselves on our own, and the Andrews family does not want any more power than we have.”
Sandy has reached the pinnacle of pharmacology, and August is the commander of the Royal Guard.
There’s no need to use Clarice.
“I mean, I don’t think any fame gained from girls would make me happy at all.
If I did that, I would surely receive a severe scolding from my father in the territory.
That’s a bigger deal for us brothers.”
With that, Sandy shrugged her shoulders in a rather dramatic manner.
Clarice didn’t know what kind of person Marquis Andrews was, but the thought of her well-grown sons being scolded made her feel a bit strange.
Clarice’s expression relaxed a little, and Sandy also looked relieved.
“Well then, Clarice.
I’m sorry, but from today onwards you will be staying at Andrews’ mansion for a while.”
“Huh? Why?”
“Because now you have become someone who attracts attention from all over.
I’m sure there will be a lot of people trying to curry favor with you and get some easy money.
It’s too dangerous for him to live alone.
Brother August said he would take responsibility and protect you.
My mansion has good security and I can guarantee your safety.
It may be a little difficult, but could you please bear with us until the situation calms down?”
Clarice had kept her abilities hidden because she didn’t want to attract attention in this way.
It was quite an honor for a commoner like Clarice to stay in the Marquis’s mansion, but she realized that it was the only option to ensure her own safety.
“I understand. Thank you for your consideration.”
It was already dusk, the time when I would normally be home.
However, when I returned to the compounding room to collect my belongings, all of my colleagues were still there, busily making medicine.
When Clarice showed up with Sandy, no one called out to her.
Everyone already knows that Clarice has registered the new potion recipe.
The looks directed at me were undoubtedly mixed with jealousy and hatred, and although it was expected, it made me feel depressed.
There was no longer any place for Clarice in the familiar blending room.
After that, Sandy and I got into the carriage, stopped off briefly at the room where Clarice lived alone, then packed a change of clothes and other things into a handbag and headed to the Marquis Andrews mansion.
When Clarice was greeted by servants dressed in sharp livery in front of the luxurious mansion, she secretly felt horrified that she had come to the wrong place.
“This is Clarice, the pharmacist.
He is an important guest, so please treat him with respect.”
“I understand.”
After Sandy introduced himself, a middle-aged man with a white beard bowed politely, and a maid in her thirties stood behind him and guided Clarice to the guest room that had been prepared.
Although it was a guest room, it was about three times the size of Clarice’s room, and the furniture, curtains, and everything else looked so expensive that I hesitated even to touch them.
Not knowing what to do, I wandered around the room until the maid from before brought me a cart full of food, which I gratefully accepted.
The food was delicious, and there was even boiled chicken for Chico, so both Clarice and Chico were very satisfied.
Once my stomach was full, I suddenly felt sleepy.
Clarice freshened up in the bathroom, which also had a luxurious claw-foot bathtub, then climbed into a bed that seemed to be about the same size as her bedroom.
It’s incredibly fluffy, and the sheets and everything feel exquisite.
“It’s truly a Marquis mansion. Everything about it is simply amazing.”
“Kyu!”
Chico also rolls around on the blanket, enjoying the feeling.
“I wonder what Melvin is doing these days.”
Whenever I’m alone with Chico, I can’t help but think about all sorts of things.
It’s already night, so they’re probably staying at an inn or camping somewhere.
Or perhaps they are continuing to travel through the night because it is an emergency.
Melvin will soon receive medicine made from the new recipe that Clarice registered.
What will Melvin think when he sees that?
Thinking back now, on the day the 5th Division was due to return from their expedition, while I was cooking and waiting for Melvin, I thought he might not come, but at the same time, somewhere in my heart I believed that he would definitely come.
I was happy to see them, and I was also happy that they always promised to come again when we parted.
My heart ached intensely at the thought that I might never again experience Melvin’s gentle smile or Kurt’s fluffy fur.
“Squeak squeak”
Chico, sensing Clarice’s turmoil, rubbed his body against her cheek to comfort her.
It was thanks to Melvin that I met Chico.
I can’t imagine life without Chico anymore.
“No, I can’t help but get sentimental at night.
Kurt is there too, so I’m sure Melvin will be fine.”
Kurt may only be cute in front of Clarice, but he is a very large wolf.
It will be extremely useful in battle.
Also, although I don’t know the details, I’ve heard that Melvin is a skilled knight, and I’ve even given him some medicine.
I’m sure, I’m sure it’ll be okay.
It’s not like we’ll never see each other again.
“Good night, Chico.
Let’s do our best tomorrow too.”
Clarice stroked Chico, who was curled up on the pillow, and closed her eyes.
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