Chapter 20 Create, Create, Create
A bustling scene where people come and go, a sight far from everyday life appeared in my eyes. Voices of anxiety whispered here and there too.
In that place, I ran through absentmindedly.
"Laura!"
Lina-senpai came out into the hallway, waiting for me. Despite being out of breath, I rallied myself and ran towards my senior.
"Senpai! Um...!"
"Are you okay?"
"Y-yes... um, the healing potion...!"
Out of breath, I could barely put my thoughts into words.
I realized I needed to not only study alchemy but also exercise properly. I grew up in the countryside surrounded by mountains, so I should reflect on that later— for now, I took a few deep breaths.
Lina-senpai patted my back sympathetically as I caught my breath, then spoke rapidly.
"Sure, leave it to us. We have enough supplies, so Laura will go to the shelter with Chelsea."
I'll help too!
I wanted to suggest that strongly, but...
"Ampère, help me out. Gawley (Chelsea), assist Lina."
Before I could say anything, a man's voice instructed us.
I turned around quickly. Arnold, with a more serious expression than usual, was staring at us with a look of urgency, probably due to worry.
"A-Arnold, what are you saying? Both of the girls should go to a safe place..."
"We need all the help we can get! What if we run out of healing potions?"
Arnold raised his voice. I agreed with his words in my mind, finally calming my rough breathing – of course, I was also grateful for Lina-senpai's feelings.
In the castle, there should usually be a sufficient amount of healing potions stored. However, this time, there is an unprecedented large group of monsters near the capital, fighting in a place close to the royal city. If by any chance, the Knight Order is breached - the city could be overrun by monsters. To prevent such a thing from happening, it's better to have as many healing potions as possible.
Lina-senpai briefly showed a dissatisfied expression at Arnold's words, but as she organized her thoughts in her head, she seemed to agree, nodding once and then turning on her heel to leave. Calling out Chelsea's name, she entered the synthesis room.
I followed Arnold's back, passing through the door of another synthesis room. I started gathering various herbs placed around the room and began preparing for synthesis.
"Anyway, make them! If it seems like we're short on materials, pick them indiscriminately!"
"Yes, understood!"
Arnold gave the signal to start, and we began working on synthesis at the same time.
If it's a weak healing potion, we can produce as much as we want in a short time. But right now, we don't need that kind of potion. We need a powerful healing potion that can instantly heal severely injured soldiers. We have to make as much of that as possible.
Creating a powerful healing potion takes a lot of effort. We need to brew a variety of basic healing herbs and herbs that enhance the effects of other herbs in large quantities, and mix them carefully without rushing. Sometimes we need to add effects like paralysis recovery as well.
From then on, it was a battle against myself.
In an instant, I checked the effectiveness of the herbs I grabbed and quickly thought of the synthesis method to make healing potions. I ground several herbs, mixed them with clean water, heated them over a fire, occasionally stirring and observing the process. Each step varied in strength and time depending on the herbs used. Focusing on one or two herbs was no issue, but brewing an unprecedented amount simultaneously left my head in chaos.
Nevertheless, I didn't stop. I had studied for this moment until today.
Create. Create. Create. Sort. Harvest. Create again. Create. Create. Create――
I continued to make healing potions mindlessly, wondering how much time had passed. I was now entering the third box filled with healing potions.
Arnold and I were working desperately on synthesis without even talking, but we were still on the third box. Although it was going smoothly for the two of us, healing potions were still not something that could be mass-produced in a short amount of time.
――If this were a game, I could just choose the herbs and press the synthesis button to produce as much as I want in an instant!
I couldn't help but shout in my mind. However, even if I shouted like that, the herbs in front of me wouldn't instantly turn into healing potions. It was up to Arnold and me to make that change.
I wiped the sweat that had formed on my forehead. And just as I was about to start the next synthesis — suddenly.
"Do you have any healing potions!?"
The door was roughly thrown open, and a person rushed into the room like an avalanche.
I looked up to see who it was. Standing there was a member of the Knight Order with bandages wrapped around their forehead and right arm.
――Did they just come back from the front lines?
I look at Arnold. He seems to be in the middle of synthesizing something, then he shoots a quick glance at me as if asking me to take over. I nod and slide two boxes of healing potions on the floor towards the entrance.
"Please take these!"
A member of the Knight Order nods and lifts one of the boxes for now. I can see his face contorting in pain as he does so. ――Blood seeps through the bandages wrapped around his right arm.
"Oh, you should take one too...!"
"I'm fine! I'll take it!"
He smiles painfully and rushes down the hallway with the boxes.
By the time he arrived here again, he were already running low on healing potions. Have they used up all the stored ones?
I can't help but worry, but there's no time to dwell on that now. I need to synthesize as many healing potions as possible!
I quickly get up and try to resume the work.
――Bang!
The door was forcefully opened with a loud noise once again. When I turned around to see who it was this time, I was startled.
It was Olivelle-san. He was in a defensive position, leaning on his subordinate for support.
"Arnold-san!"
Olivelle-san shouted. I thought he had come to get healing potion, but I could sense a determination beyond just that. Looking at his desperate expression, I somehow understood why Olivelle-san had come to see Arnold.
――Arnold possesses powerful magic.
Lina-senpai's voice echoed in my ears.
The rumors she caught wind of must have been true.
"T-The commander injured his right eye...! And yet, he's currently battling a giant beast-like monster...!"
An injury to his right eye.
The moment I heard those words, a unpleasant sound escaped my throat.
――Will Vake lose his right eye in this battle?
I tightly grabbed the hem of my white coat. I had a feeling about it, but that didn't mean I wasn't shocked.
If I had given advice beforehand, could I have changed this future? No, it would have been dismissed as just a young girl's nonsense, and I wouldn't have been listened to. Even I wasn't completely convinced that Vake would definitely get hurt. And then—
Olivelle-san, who I stared at in astonishment, continued speaking.
"The monster's skin is tough, the sword won't go through at all! That's why we need a skilled magician!"
Upon hearing those words, Arnold seemed to understand why Oliver had come to visit him.
Arnold gathered the healing potions on the table, stuffed them into his white coat pocket, approached a Knight Order member who seemed to be Olivelle-san's aide, grabbed his shoulder and pulled him away from Olivelle-san, and then ran off dragging him.
The sound of heavy footsteps faded away.
Will Arnold also be on the battlefield as a magician? But then I quickly realizes it's not the time for that.
I need to treat Olivelle-san!
I rush to Olivelle-san with multiple healing potions in hand. Olivelle-san is injured all over, especially his side looks quite severe.
"O-Olivelle-san, are you okay!? Here, please drink this for now."
"Thank you."
Olivelle-san drinks the healing potion. His face contorts for a moment, and his body tenses up. I'm surprised, thinking there might be something wrong with the potion, but then his body relaxes.
I realize this reaction is because it's the first time I've seen someone injured drink a healing potion.
I look at the wound on his side. It's healed.
"Haha... Laura-chan, you really are an excellent alchemist."
"Oh, um... Well, I still have it, if you don't mind..."
"No, it's okay now. Please use it for the other soldiers."
Olivelle-san smiled at me once before standing up. He then started walking with a firm step.
Where could he be heading? Could it be that he's planning to return to the front lines again?
I gazed anxiously at his back for a while, but I reconsidered that this time was precious. Now that Arnold is gone, I have to work even harder. I have to create, create, and keep creating.
I turn towards the synthesis table. Slapping my cheeks, I gather my determination once again.
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