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TL: ALT
Chapter 58 – Analysis Results of Medicinal Herbs
The next day, after staying at his parents’ house, Wataru and the others traveled to another world.
Their destination was the Pharmacist Guild.
The guild receptionist recognized Wataru and gave him a look that said, “Ah, it’s that guy.”
“Are you here for the chronic treatment potion again today?”
“I’d like that, too, but I’m here for something else today.”
“So, the new aphrodisiac? I believe development is underway, but we haven’t yet produced any new products. My apologies.”
“That’s not it!”
“Eh? It’s not? Then why are you here?”
“Could you please stop treating me like I only have one of those two purposes?”
Wataru stared back at her with an expression of utter disbelief. He was the one taken aback.
What does she take him for?
Customers who regularly purchased large quantities of chronic treatment potions from the Pharmacist Guild seemed rare. Few bought aphrodisiacs directly from the guild.
Unusual customers naturally drew attention, so it was hardly surprising that he was met with curious stares.
Wataru took the bag from Cloche and removed the medicinal herbs.
They were lush and vibrant.
He’d considered drying them, but then thought there might be a specific method for that process, so he’d brought them along in the best condition possible.
The receptionist’s eyes immediately turned to the herbs. “Oh, they’re growing beautifully,” she murmured.
“I came today to have you check whether the herbs I cultivated are usable.”
“Is that so? Come to think of it, I heard you divided some plants before. I just assumed you’d brought a new woman home and weren’t satisfied anymore.”
“N-no, that’s not it. Please just examine them. How long will it take?”
“Well, since you’re a valued customer, I’ll prioritize this for you. It shouldn’t take more than an hour.”
“Then I’ll leave it to you.”
Wataru suppressed his irritation and requested an inspection of the herb.
He bought the chronic treatment potion and took it home.
He could have left it at the coffee shop, his place of business, but his home had better security, so he didn’t want to leave it anywhere else carelessly.
By the time he headed back to the Pharmacist Guild, it was the perfect time of day.
“I wonder how the inspection results turned out. Grandpa made it with such care. I really hope it works out.”
“They’re growing so lush and green. I think they’ll be just fine!”
“Well, let’s see. At first glance, they seem very well-grown and appear problem-free.”
“That’s true. Their success could depend on the growing environment, such as soil quality and magic concentration. It’s a tricky matter, I suppose.”
“Are you knowledgeable about medicinal herbs, Cloche?”
“Not particularly, but the field at your grandparents’ house that I visited yesterday had a very low magic concentration.”
“Huh? Earth has magic!?”
Wataru was stunned by this unexpected information.
He’d assumed that, while the other world had magic, Earth lacked such fantasy elements.
If such things existed, with cameras flashing everywhere in the world today, magicians would surely have been revealed by now.
“Fundamentally, the magic power here is very weak. There are some areas, like Otela? Or Ginger? where the magic power is dense…”
“Master, if there were absolutely no magic power, I don’t think this gate would open either.”
“Ah…”
The Jizo statue opened the gate using some mysterious power. But where did that power come from?
Considering that, the existence of magical power certainly made sense.
Perhaps it was divine power or the power of reason—the name might vary depending on the person.
Wataru couldn’t deny the existence of such power precisely because he was experiencing this extraordinary, beyond-common-sense situation.
◯◯◯
When he returned to the Pharmacist Guild, the analysis was already complete.
The receptionist immediately called out to Wataru and shared the results as he arrived.
On a small plate on the table were herbs that had been cut, dried, or powdered.
Beside them was a parchment with the findings.
“These are fine herbs. They contain potent medicinal components, and it’s clear they were cultivated with great care and effort.”
“R-Really?”
Grandfather Toru must have worked hard.
Wataru was pleased that his efforts had yielded results.
However, the conversation didn’t end there.
“But the magic content is low, so their uses are limited.”
“What do you mean?”
“Chronic treatment potions require a significant amount of magic during the brewing process. If the herb itself has low magic content, higher-quality ingredients are needed for the rest of the brew, which increases the cost. This herb seems to have a significant problem in terms of its magic content alone.”
“So, does that mean this herb is useless?”
The lady shook her head at Wataru’s question, which he asked while suppressing his emotions.
“Don’t jump to conclusions,” she cautioned before continuing.
“Well, not exactly. Acute treatment potions require less magical power than chronic ones. So, if they can be used at all, it would only be for acute treatments.”
“I see. So the current method is difficult…”
Currently, the potions Wataru uses are almost exclusively for chronic treatment.
However, he certainly couldn’t ask shrines or temples to cultivate medicinal herbs for him.
Thinking about it, it was quite a headache.
Seeing Wataru’s dejected look, the receptionist lowered her eyebrows sympathetically and spoke up as if on impulse.
“Well, increasing the magic power for herb cultivation isn’t impossible, though.”
Chapter 59 – How to Increase Magic Concentration and Its Effects
“Is there a way to supply magic power?”
“Yes, I suppose the method would be soil improvement. You can grind magic stones obtained from monsters into powder or cultivate plants that absorb and store magic power. Then, mix the powder or plants into the soil.”
“I see. Come to think of it, Aire was selling magic stones before.”
That was when they were attacked by monsters. It had been quite some time, and since they had sold the monster materials themselves, Wataru didn’t know exactly how much of each item they had gotten. However, he remembered that such a thing existed.
“As for the plants, there’s something called Storing Grass. Here, here, this one.”
The receptionist showed him the actual plant.
This must be an advantage of a guild where abundant materials gather.
It looked like tall grass or a fern.
“The Storing Grass absorbs magic power as it grows. Chop it up and mix it into the soil, and the magic power blends in.”
“Doesn’t it evaporate or weaken after being mixed into the soil?”
“Well, you see, the plant itself retains the absorbed magic power, so it doesn’t weaken easily under normal circumstances. However, it doesn’t interfere with other plants that absorb magic, such as medicinal herbs.”
The lady explained proudly, and he understood.
Right, it perfectly matched the conditions Wataru was seeking.
“Is this something you can just get normally?”
“Well, it’s not as cheap or plentiful as medicinal herbs, but it’s sold regularly. However, places rich in magic power are coveted by everyone, so just because there’s Storing Grass doesn’t mean it’s easy to cultivate. If that were the case, people would grow medicinal herbs there from the start.”
“That’s true. Places rich in magic power…”
Even without shrines or temples, similar concepts have existed since ancient times:
Dragon lairs, energy fields, sacred sites, or power spots—the names vary, but they all point to the same thing.
Perhaps through Kyoto’s feng shui, Onmyodo, or other magical concepts, places rich in magic can be inferred even on Earth.
“Ah, but since the location isn’t entirely hopeless, could I get a little extra?”
“You’re quite the character. Well, it’s our business, so take as much as you like.”
“Thank you. If possible, please restock while you’re at it.”
“What on earth are you going to use it for?”
“I’ll use it properly, without shame.”
Though the receptionist looked exasperated, Wataru managed to buy a large quantity of Storing Grass plants.
For now, he had them give him everything they had in stock, as long as it wouldn’t cause any trouble if someone else placed an order.
Wataru thanked them and left the guild.
They headed straight for the warehouse.
Mariel and the others watched him curiously, wondering why he was in such a good mood that he might as well be humming.
Honestly, he doesn’t seem to realize that all his problems might be solved.
“Master, you seem very pleased. Do you know of any place on Earth with that much magical power?”
“No, not at all.”
“Then… Could you be planning to give them our magic?”
“I-I refuse. While a little might be manageable, giving away large amounts of magic would exhaust us terribly.”
“That wasn’t my intention. Besides, there’s a place where absorbing magic wouldn’t just be harmless—it’d be advantageous. The ancient ruins in the north, where the magical disaster is happening.”
It’s a terrifying place where not even Aire could stay long due to the overwhelmingly dense magic.
It’s unclear how much magic the Storing Grass can absorb, but in such a magical environment, it should absorb the magic immediately.
The problem is whether the magic is too dense and might harm its growth. However, if the grass is mixed thinly into the soil, the harm should be minimized. They can also have the Pharmacist’s Guild inspect it beforehand.
“Now that you mention it, Master, there really is no place with better conditions than that.”
“Right? Besides, I’ve been meaning to take care of that shrine soon.”
“So, we’ll fly to the capital first, and then head north from there. I think it’d be best if Cloche and I handle the Storing Grass work while you and Mariel clean the shrine.”
“Ugh…that place is scary, you know? It feels like some monstrous creature might be lurking there.”
Cloche curled her tail into a tight ring; she looked displeased.
Supernatural creatures mutated by abnormal magical powers inhabit the area. It’s undoubtedly dangerous.
“I think planting the Storing Grass right next to the gate is fine. The shrine itself seems to be having problems due to excessively strong magic. If the grass can reduce the concentration of magic in the area, even just a little, that’s better than nothing.”
“I guess I agree. But I am interested in the precious treasures of the ruins.”
“Aire, I’d be devastated if anything happened to you. So please don’t push yourself too hard right now.”
“U-uh… I know. I was just saying.”
“Fufufu, then shall we go fetch the cleaning supplies from the warehouse first?”
“Onee-sama looks like a maiden…!? Mmph, I’m so jealous!”
Mariel watched Aire blush and fidget with amusement while Cloche gritted her teeth in frustration.
Despite knowing they were heading into a dangerous place, the group’s attitude remained unchanged.
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