Chapter 59

The next day.

Leaving the mansion early in the morning, I was preparing for the preliminary work of mixing the poison—preparing the gloves and protective masks necessary for picking the poisonous herbs, and inspecting the poisonous herbs grown in Flaria's herb garden—when the door to the mixing room was knocked on. I had asked the mansion's maid to inform Luka and the others, so it was probably the three of them who had arrived. When I opened the door,

"Good morning, Laura. You're going to make poison, right? If so, I'd like to ask for your guidance."

Senior Rina stood there with her hands on her hips, smiling mischievously.

By mischievous, I mean the kind of smile you'd give to a close junior. Of course, I understood that, but I couldn't help but take a step back due to my aversion to teaching others.

"Don't look so scared. Since this is officially a training session, I think guiding apprentices is part of the job."

Senior Rina's words were reasonable. As a royal apprentice alchemist and a royal alchemist assistant, I am in a position to teach. Especially since we rarely mix poisons, this would be a good experience. I had already prepared four protective masks, so I was ready for this. However, being asked to teach so directly—embarrassingly, my aversion took over.

Suddenly, Chelsea peeked out from behind Senior Rina.

"Please guide us, Assistant Laura!"

"Even Chelsea..."

I couldn't complain when she smiled so cutely.

—Right, I need to steel myself. There will be more opportunities to teach in the future. I can't keep having this aversion.

First, I looked over Senior Rina, Chelsea, and Luka, who was standing a few steps back. None of them were overly exposed, but their legs were bare. Given the current climate, which is relatively comfortable—similar to autumn in my previous life—it was natural for them to dress casually. However, considering we would be picking poisonous herbs and mixing poison, their attire was somewhat concerning.

I clapped my hands to muster my courage and said,

"Let's go see the poisonous herbs first. Don't forget to wear these gloves, and dress in long sleeves and long pants to cover your skin... Let's meet at the herb garden in 10 minutes. Oh, and sturdy shoes are preferable!"

I gave these instructions with a strained smile. Senior Rina and Chelsea nodded enthusiastically with bright smiles and left the mixing room. It was heartwarming to see them accept me as a royal alchemist assistant, but they seemed to be enjoying it a bit too much.

Luka, who was left behind, looked at me and smiled warmly, saying, "Do your best."

***

After re-preparing, we gathered at Flaria's herb garden, which is a building like a greenhouse next to the Flaria branch. At the entrance, I started explaining with the herb garden map I had borrowed from the branch chief, albeit a bit awkwardly.

"Um, I borrowed the herb garden map from the branch chief... It seems the poisonous herbs are planted in a separate area over there."

When I glanced at the three in front of me, they nodded seriously. Their focused gazes made me straighten my back.

"Everyone, are you wearing gloves? Are your feet okay?"

I checked, and all three had their gloves on properly, and there were no exposed parts of their skin.

"Good. Let's move to the area where the poisonous herbs are planted. I'll lead the way."

I led the way to the area where the poisonous herbs were planted. When I found the target herb, I squatted down. Senior Rina and Chelsea squatted on either side of me, peering at my hands. Luka stood behind me, also focusing on my hands.

"Um, this is... Magiri grass. See, there are clearly toxic patterns on the underside of the leaves. Be careful not to touch your skin, and pick them into this bag."

I finished explaining and picked the leaf I had been touching. The two beside me quickly picked the same herb. Luka seemed to be watching with interest.

After giving a few more instructions, we picked several types of poisonous herbs. With three of us picking, it went quite fast.

"This should be enough. Let's head back to the mixing room."

As soon as we returned to the mixing room, I opened the window halfway. My master had taught me that mixing poison in a sealed room can be dangerous, so proper ventilation is essential.

After opening the door to create a draft, I handed the protective masks I had prepared in the morning to the three of them.

"When mixing, the smell can be harmful, so don't seal the room. And don't forget this protective mask! It contains herbs that neutralize the poison."

I pointed to the beak part and put on the mask. The three followed suit. From the outside, we looked like a suspicious group.

After confirming that the masks were properly worn, I arranged the picked herbs on the table. This was the main event.

"Mixing is, frankly, no different from mixing healing potions. The only difference is the potency of the herbs. Just be careful when handling the poisonous herbs. And never touch your skin during the process! Don't even wipe your sweat with your sleeve! If the poison gets on your sleeve, it could be disastrous."

After explaining, I checked the three's reactions. They all looked more tense than before.

I recalled the power of the poison I used when the monsters attacked Eme's village. It had melted the monsters' skin. If it touched human skin, the consequences would be unimaginable.

I reached for the mixing tools to show them an example.

"Okay, I'll mix it once, and you watch from behind."

Feeling the multiple gazes, I started mixing with more tension than usual. The process was simple: crush the herbs, boil them in water, and strain them. The sample was ready in no time.

I transferred the sample to a container and handed it to Senior Rina, who was closest.

"Here, it's like this."

"Your technique is as efficient as always."

"Yeah, watching Laura work is a pleasure."

Their sincere praise made me feel more embarrassed than happy.

To be honest, I'm not used to being praised. My master recognized my talent but expressed it as "not much to teach." Arnold was the same.

Combined with my personality, being praised makes me feel uneasy and fidgety. Fortunately, the protective mask is hiding my blushing cheeks.

"Here, please try it!"

I handed the mixing station to the two of them, half to hide my embarrassment. They immediately started mixing.

I watched them from the side. The two who had praised my efficiency also completed the poison quickly and skillfully.

Having passed the royal alchemist exam, their skills were indeed impressive.

"Is it like this?"

"It's more nerve-wracking than usual."

"But you both did great!"

I clapped and praised them. Senior Rina blushed slightly, and Chelsea beamed with pride. Unlike healing potions, we couldn't test the potency by drinking it, but from what I could see, the poison they mixed was perfect.

As they examined the poison they had mixed for the first time, I took out the containers I had prepared from under the table. They were long and tube-like, glass cases I had bought from a tool shop—charged to expenses.

"Fill these containers and carry them tomorrow. If you encounter a monster, throw them. I've tested it, and it can buy you some time. Right, Luka?"

When I turned to Luka, he looked surprised at being addressed but quickly smiled wryly.

"It's best not to use them, but yes. The monsters in Eme's village seemed to suffer, so it must be effective."

The image of the monsters in Eme's village, drenched in poison, must have come to Luka's mind. I smiled wryly in response.

—After that, the three of us started mixing in earnest. We couldn't forget to mix healing potions. The space was a bit cramped with three of us, but we managed to complete both healing potions and poison at a steady pace.

When we took a break, I left Senior Rina and Chelsea and approached Luka, who had been watching us from a distance. He seemed to be watching us intently, but I wondered if he was bored.

I offered him a few vials of poison, which he reflexively accepted.

"Luka, here. It's good to carry a few. You can attack from a distance by throwing them."

"Thank you."

"Also, healing potions."

"Thanks."

Sitting Luka and standing me naturally made him look up at me. His blue eyes seemed to have something to say, so I tilted my head.

"Is something wrong?"

"You seem more reliable today, Laura."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Seeing you guide Chelsea and Rina so well, I'm proud of you."

I was taken aback by Luka's smile. He looked more mature than ever—his growth as a childhood friend was evident both physically and mentally. I realized Luka was almost 15 and had grown taller each time I saw him. This might be the period when he's growing the most.

—Right, what should I get him for his birthday? I've been so busy that I haven't prepared anything. To be honest, his birthday is just around the corner—during the expedition training.

"Hehe, maybe. I'm glad to be a source of pride for Luka. I'll keep trying my best."

Being a source of pride for Luka is simply heartwarming. When I said this sincerely, Luka's eyes lit up with joy.

"Me too, I'll try my best."

"I'm counting on you."

"You can count on me."

I felt a new sense of reliability from my childhood friend, who nodded strongly. The symbol on his left eye seemed to sparkle.