Where the Completed Medicine Went 2
Leaving
the aroma candle making to Flora-san and the others, a few days passed
since I started on my own work.
Thinking
that Ashren-sama is also working hard right about now, I get fired up. I
put the mashed Monitares flowers into the pink solution, which I further
improved over the past few days, and slowly mix it until it hardens. For today,
let's just focus on making about ten red lumps.
Since
I only made it once in the Hadren territory, there are many things that
need to be adjusted, such as the heating time and the amount of petals. I make
it while slightly changing the time and amount, and take notes for each. It's a
simple task, but doing it alone keeps me a little busy.
Being
alone in the laboratory reminds me of the lonely days in the Jilgista
Kingdom. Back then, without talking to anyone, I just silently conducted
research like this. Since coming to the Kanista Kingdom, Flora-san
and Tick assist me, and if I have any trouble, anyone will immediately
hear me out. For me, who thought research was a lonely endeavor, it was a
series of eye-opening days, but before I knew it, it had become the norm.
Because
right now, being alone like this feels a little lonely. That being said, as I
started experimenting, I unknowingly became engrossed, and before I knew it,
the sun had started to set.
「Hey, Layla. Are you alone
today as well?」
Perhaps
because of that, I didn't even notice the door had opened, and when I looked
up, Prince Elliot was already standing in front of me. Showing a
composed smile to me, who had involuntarily taken a step back, Prince Elliot
began walking around, looking at the laboratory with curiosity.
「Where are the other researchers? You
know, there was that freckled woman and the black-haired man, right?」
「They are making aroma candles in a
different location.」
The
laboratory is full of the scent of Monitares flowers. Since aroma candles also
use strongly scented leaves, it was decided that it would be better to make
them in a different location, so the two borrowed a room in the Pharmaceutical
Department and are making them there.
「Huh? Researchers making aroma
candles? As expected of the Kanista Kingdom.」
Laughing
mockingly, he took the notebook placed on the table without permission and
flipped through it. There isn't anything in there that would be a problem if
seen, but since Prince Elliot was also once a researcher, he should know
how rude that behavior is.
Tossing
the notebook onto the desk as if he found it boring, he returned to my side and
peered into the beaker I was mixing.
「Hmm, so this is the base for the
antidote. Why didn't you use the distillation method?」
「...Because it could not be extracted
well.」
I
don't want to disclose how to make the antidote until I report it as research
results. I must be careful to get by with the minimum possible conversation.
「What is this pink solution?」
「It is something used in the Kanista
Kingdom that I improved.」
「The recipe?」
「I am sorry, but I cannot teach you
that at my own discretion.」
「Right.」
Chuckling
in his throat, Prince Elliot shook the beaker containing the pink
liquid. His hand movements, at least, look accustomed.
「I studied abroad a few years ago,
but the solution used to extract components in the Kanista Kingdom at
that time was too strong. It might be fine for leaves or roots, but for thin
things like petals, it destroys the component structure itself and makes it
useless. You probably improved that part.」
Sharp.
Just as Prince Elliot said, that is the point I improved. Furthermore,
in other countries, they use different solutions depending on the part of the
medicinal herb, but this one can handle all of them.
Developing
medicines is important, but developing the chemicals used for such
pre-treatments is also one of the important jobs. However, it doesn't mean that
this solution must be used to extract the Monitares components.
It
is strictly one of the methods, so it should be possible to extract the
components using the solution used in the Tarteria Kingdom as well. Of
course, I think there would be a difference in the quality of the resulting
medicine.
Therefore,
there is absolutely no problem with him seeing the work I am doing right now.
With the ingredients and a little time, it is something that can be done even
in the Tarteria Kingdom. However, I must ensure that only the recipe for
the antidote remains absolutely unknown.
Prince
Elliot this time brought his face close to the beaker containing the
mashed Monitares flowers. A rich, sweet scent wafted up from that thick,
milky-white substance. Because the smell was a bit too strong, I had covered it
with a glass plate, but Prince Elliot removed even that to smell it.
Eh,
is he okay?
If you smell it from such a close distance, the scent is so strong it makes you
think 'Ugh'. It is a good scent, but it sharply stings the back of your
nose.
And
yet, Prince Elliot remained unfazed and tilted the beaker further.
「...Prince Elliot, could it be
that you are experiencing side effects from the antidote?」
「No, I am the picture of health. Come
to think of it, you mentioned side effects yesterday too. What kind of symptoms
are they?」
Since
he approached with the beaker in one hand, while holding my nose, I took the
beaker back from Prince Elliot's hand and covered it with the glass
plate again. I don't want to talk much about the antidote, but I cannot avoid
explaining the side effects to a patient who took it. It is not
life-threatening, but staying silent is unforgivable.
「...There were several patients who
complained of a stuffy nose. From what I see, I believe you are experiencing it
too, Prince Elliot.」
「I see, a stuffy nose. I certainly
have had that symptom since taking the antidote, but it was mild so I didn't
pay it any mind. It's a common occurrence around this time of year anyway.」
It
seems Prince Elliot, just like the Director, has hay fever. Even
while talking, he was sniffling with a 'sun'.
「However, a side effect of this
degree shouldn't be anything to worry about. My symptoms are also getting
better day by day, so there is no problem. Come to think of it, I don't see Ashren
around; could it be that he stayed behind in the Hadren territory to
investigate such a trivial side effect?」
「Even if it is mild, it is a side
effect, so we must consider countermeasures.」
「Hmph, this is why people from the Kanista
Kingdom are... Always thinking by the book and failing to see the essence
of things. This is an antidote for Bareinurake disease, you know. There
is no need to worry about such trivial side effects.」
I
looked with cold eyes at him snorting mockingly. Even if the symptoms are mild,
if there is a side effect, it is only natural to consider countermeasures.
Developing a medicine is not the end; it is only complete when it is known to
be safe to use.
「So, about this antidote. Who knows
about it, and to what extent?」
「...I have told Marquis Naturi
and the Director.」
「His Majesty the King?」
「I intend to make a formal report
after Ashren-sama returns and I hear about the progress of the side
effects.」
Giving
a half-hearted reply of "Hmm," Prince Elliot began pacing
around the laboratory again, being noisy about every little thing, saying
things like, "Are you using such old experimental tools?" or
"This is the same reference book our country's students use."
He
probably wants to say that the Kanista Kingdom is inferior and backward,
but even if the experimental tools are old, they are well-maintained, and one
must not neglect reference books that explain the basics. Besides, there are
the latest experimental tools in the storehouse; we just haven't brought them
out here.
「Amazing. It's interesting, like
coming to a laboratory from decades ago. Ah, you can ignore me and continue
your experiments, Layla.」
Even
if you smile charmingly with a pretentious look, I mind. That being
said, it is also a fact that I have no time.
「Then I will do so.」
Confirming that the guard knight was leaving the door open, I returned to work. Flora-san and the others will return shortly, and I want to finish up to this point by today. Perhaps because I was single-mindedly looking at the beaker not wanting to meet Prince Elliot's eyes, I didn't notice at this time where his gaze was directed.
-----
Thank you for my Patrons !!
[Platinum]
-
[Gold]
B random
Nepheos
[Silver]
Corey Hicks
Creris
Frédéric Bertrand-Hudon
Jake Seagraves
Matthew Fraser
Tbaum56
Baelee
Christopher Feliciano
Ctdela
Curious Panda
nick nasca
SD Fox
Taylor King
Z
Read Advanced Chapters only on my Patreon
-----