Chapter 9: Herbology (2)

I took a deep breath, feeling my blood pressure rise. My adaptation here had been smooth, but if there was a small obstacle, it was that guy.

He had been picking fights over everything. Ever since he heard that I possessed a mystery, he had been like this.

Hmm, actually, at first, it wasn't this bad. At most, he would give me a nasty look, as if to say, "What are you?"

But over time, it escalated to the point where he would verbally provoke me.

I had a rough idea why. My growth rate as a candidate for a noble title probably didn't seem that outstanding to him.

'Denif also said that my growth is a bit slow.'

Of course, that was only in comparison to the children the duke raised directly.

I felt that my physical strength wasn't improving much, no matter how much I trained, probably due to my poor condition.

Moreover, my acquired OCD and poor condition made me even more annoying to him.

Denif, being straightforward, didn't hold back. He often told me to relax and stop frowning, and criticized my obsession with cleanliness.

But that didn't mean I understood his psychology.

Denif, Orhen, and Rekon just shrugged it off.

'Well...'

One thing I realized after living on Earth for 24 years is that you don't always need a reason to dislike someone.

I don't need to come up with my own reasons to understand his psychology.

He's just weird.

I was curious about how much talent Mohen had for the duke to keep him around. He seemed to do well with Marhan and the duke, but...

Everyone probably knows.

'And guys like him will eventually get a big scolding.'

I'm not exactly experienced in social matters, but I've met someone like Mohen in the military.

Regardless of my irritation, I didn't respond.

It wasn't because of me that anyone got lost, and I wasn't really late, but my mood was terrible.

I was still a newbie here.

There was no need to create trouble with someone who had been here for a few years. Arguing wouldn't benefit me.

He'll be gone soon, so ignoring him is the best option for now.

"Hmm, but Kalin is usually punctual, right?"

Rekon defended me, perhaps to ease the tense atmosphere or because of his straightforward nature.

Mohen snorted.

"You're only here to see the mystery, so you should at least be on time."

What is he talking about? He said I made him late earlier.

Feeling frustrated, I sighed inwardly. Rekon shrugged and gave me a look, telling me to let it go.

Fine, whatever. It's too much trouble to deal with him. I'm 24, and I can't get angry at a 17-year-old...

'...Bullshit.'

Will I, an adult, just let it go?

Why? At 24, I'm not really an adult. And I'm in a 13-year-old's body now.

Also, 17 isn't that young. You can tell from the way they act.

I was ignoring him because he was about to graduate, but my irritation was reaching a breaking point.

People tend to become sharper when they're tired and stressed. It seems today is the day it will burst.

Or maybe it's the influence of the devil's blood or this body.

'Brat... we'll see.'

I can't do anything right now due to my circumstances, but a gentleman's revenge is never too late, even if it takes ten years.

Since he's one of the duke's proteges, we'll meet again.

By then, I'll have grown, and with the information I have, I'll have the duke's trust.

Feeding that brat a dose of his own medicine will be a piece of cake.

At least, Denif secretly patted my back, which gave me a bit of strength.

Then, Marhan entered the room, breaking the tense atmosphere.

"You're all here on time."

What? Marhan teaches herbology too? I was quite surprised, as he usually taught weapons.

He seemed to be more versatile than I imagined.

Makes sense, given that he's an instructor under the duke.

Marhan scanned the room and frowned, sensing the tension.

"Is there a problem?"

"No."

Marhan nodded, not particularly concerned with personal matters.

But there's a high chance he's evaluating us behind the scenes.

"Let's start. Rekon, Mohen."

"Yes."

"Make the Scent of Heaven."

"Yes."

The two moved to one side, confirming their knowledge from experience.

Marhan turned his attention to us.

"Come here. You'll make the Dream of Salsa."

Dream of Salsa?

Scent of Heaven sounds like an herb, but Dream of Salsa doesn't.

Maybe it's because it reminds me of a salamander.

I was wondering, and Denif whispered to me.

"It's a poison."

Hmm... I see.

I was disappointed, thinking it would be about herbs, but I guess I was wrong.

Right. As a spy, dealing with poisons instead of herbs is normal.

The Scent of Heaven might also be a poison.

'It's called the Scent of Heaven because you go to heaven after smelling it.'

It's not a joke; given the situation, it's more likely.

The pile in the corner might be a stack of poisonous plants, not herbs.

My innocent expectations for herbology were shattered.

I sighed and walked over to Marhan.

* * *

"Many people distinguish between herbs and poisons, but that's a misconception. Herbs can be poisonous, and poisons can be medicinal."

I nodded, recognizing the similarity to Earth's common knowledge.

After all, even the best medicine can become toxic if taken in excess.

"But poisons are called poisons because a minor mistake can be fatal. Always handle them with care."

Marhan emphasized this point.

In fact, this place wasn't the apothecary I imagined. Just being inside the mansion was different.

The room was filled with magical tools.

The ceiling had several ventilation devices, and there was a magical field on the desks.

It resembled the safety equipment in labs and research facilities I saw on TV on Earth.

Still, I listened carefully to Marhan.

Upon reflection, herbology would also cover poisons, so there was no need to be disappointed.

Even if I don't develop a specific trait, I might find a use for it later.

"Today, we'll make the Dream of Salsa, a drug that induces a permanent sleep. It's difficult to obtain the ingredients and store, but it's highly rated for its easy manufacturing process and lack of trace after use."

Marhan added.

"It can be used as a sedative in small doses, but considering the ingredients, it's not cost-effective. Do you understand so far?"

"Yes."

Marhan nodded at the children's responses and turned to the ingredients on the desk.

"There are six ingredients: Tienhemo branches, Saram mushrooms, Moonless herbs, the horn of a Flame Eagle, the intestines of an Ironclad Whale, and the root of a Dandelion."

Marhan then explained the individual properties and effects of each ingredient.

"Saram mushrooms, when consumed alone, cause severe abdominal pain and diarrhea after eight hours. They look similar to the edible Gamon mushrooms, so be careful in the wild."

Marhan picked up a mushroom that looked identical.

"This is Gamon. The only difference is the smell. Gamon smells bitter, while Saram smells sweet."

They looked identical, making it hard to distinguish. I reminded myself that the bitter one is edible.

Still, causing severe abdominal pain and diarrhea when used alone?

It was a perfect prank mushroom.

Mohen immediately came to mind. It would be perfect for him.

'He wouldn't eat anything I give him.'

Even if he did, it would be a problem. It would be like confessing to the crime.

The food is brought to the table, so slipping it in secretly would be awkward.

"First, we'll start by grinding the Saram mushrooms. Even with the safety equipment, be careful not to inhale the powder, as it has the same effect."

We each took a mushroom and stood by our desks. Marhan continued with a serious expression.

"Grinding is easy, but treat it as if there's no safety equipment and handle it carefully."

"Yes."

Marhan demonstrated, and we followed.

I was surprised that the mushrooms turned into powder without any juice.

"Marhan, wait a moment."

Lena opened the door and called Marhan.

After grinding a few mushrooms, Marhan told us to wait and stepped outside.

While finishing grinding the last mushroom and putting the powder in a container, a brilliant idea came to me.

What if I used the wind to blow the powder into Mohen's nose?

It seemed like a perfect way to get back at him. Of course, I was worried about the aftermath.

If I got caught, it would be a big problem.

It would also affect my evaluation here, and Mohen would become even more hostile. But does it matter since he's already hostile?

Schemes are too risky.

'But...'

I couldn't stand it. The desire was overwhelming. It wasn't just because I was irritated earlier.

I wanted to do it so badly.

Is this a quirk?

There was no other explanation for this sudden urge. My hands were itching.

I quickly thought it through. The influence of the trait was significant, as I had experienced with my OCD.

I would probably do it. I didn't feel any resistance.

I wasn't sure how it would turn out, but upon reflection, it didn't seem too bad.

I was looking at it from an adult's perspective.

I have a mystery. I'm a new orphan here.

Even if I got caught, it would probably end with a reprimand.

'Thinking positively makes everything seem better, but...'

Of course, not getting caught is best.

To minimize the risk, I needed to convince Orhen and Denif first.

The other kids would see what I was doing, regardless of the magical movements.

How long would it take for Marhan to return?

I whispered to Denif and Orhen while keeping an eye on the door.

"Hey, guys."

"Hmm?"

Denif responded in a low voice, following my gesture.

"You said you can feel the movement of mana when I use my mystery. Can you feel it here?"

"Hmm, it's not magic, and you wouldn't notice unless you're focused. There's so much mana flowing around."

Orhen agreed.

"Recently, the mana waves aren't as strong as they were at first."

It seemed they had become more adept at handling the wind.

The ventilation system on the ceiling also made the air flow quite dynamic, so it was possible.

I tried moving the wind behind Denif.

"Can you feel it now?"

"Huh? What?"

"Try again."

Denif frowned and concentrated before nodding.

"Probably not noticeable unless you're really paying attention. But why suddenly? You're being unusually proactive."

I smiled.

"I want to get back at Mohen. Want to help?"