Chapter 23 (1/2)

They enter a large room with various instruments installed.

「Now then, let me see the materials first.」

Carena tells Souta to put them on the table.

A vial of dragon tears, a chunk of basilisk claw, a small bottle of holy water, and a bundle of Iyas.h.i.+ Tree leaves.

「This should be enough.」

「You really were able to gather them all … Well done. Moreover, the material is for the recipe that’s no longer used.」

「It’s no longer used? Do you mean the one that need dragon liver is the latest recipe? 」

「Huh, you know that too? The difficulty of getting the liver is high, but the medicine can be created with holy water and basilisk claw.」

Souta shows a dubious face.

「The original request was to bring liver, but even then, isn’t it easier to create ambrosia using tears? You just need to add Iyas.h.i.+ Tree’s leaves as the material … That tree should have been abundant in the country of the elves. 」

「Not anymore. About 200 or 300 years ago, a Stone Fever epidemic broke out and the leaves were rapidly used. A dragon tear is ma.s.sive, while only small quant.i.ties of claw are needed. Holy water can be created, but the leaves are natural things. 」

「For something like that to happen… did it become extinct?」

Carena shakes her head.

「No, we prevented its extinction somehow, but it has decreased to a degree that is close to that … How should I say this …… The Elves restricted the flow to the outside, and the amount circulating has become extremely small. It is too expensive. Even the royalty cannot get it easily. 」

Souta nods, looking convinced.

「Another recipe was created because of that? It’s actually more realistic to get dragon liver instead of Iyas.h.i.+ Tree leaves.」

「That is right. In addition to being managed, it is mostly consumed domestically, as there are other uses than curing Stone Fever. So there are only a couple of leaves that leave the country, and that is only on the first month of every year, so it’s impossible. 」

「I won’t tell you how or when I got it, I can get dragon liver if I take down one … But I have the Iyas.h.i.+ Tree leaves, so I got the tears because it’s less dangerous.」

「…… I have it as well, but I don’t care if you don’t know that it’s valuable. I also won’t ask you because I don’t want to be asked in turn.」

「It will be great if you do that. So what I prepared is the material for the recipe that's no longer used. Can you make it anyway? 」

「Naturally! I have been alive for 500 years, and although I said that it is no longer used, I used to make it in the past.」

Carena pushes her chest out and says that with a proud look.

「That's rea.s.suring … Well then, I ask you to do it immediately, I can't keep doing this for too long.」

「Leave it to me. First, grind the leaves using the mortar there. I will put my hands on the other side.」

After that, they continue working while following Carena's instructions.

Working through the day, by evening when Elmia tries to check on their condition, Souta and Carena raise their voices at the same time.

「「Complete !!」」

Souta tries to appraise the finished product. He feels relieved after confirming 「Stone Fever Ambrosia」 is displayed.

「You saved me. With this, I can save that jii-san's granddaughter.」

「Fumu … … I think it would be better if I to come too. Originally, it was a request to bring a liver, right? If that is the case, if you bring the medicine, you might not be accepted because you bring something different from the request. They might also suspect whether you actually brought real medicine or not.」

「Yeah, I was worrying about how to talk about that.」

「I have met with the lord, and my name as an alchemist has been spread quite far. It will be fine.」

「Sorry for troubling you so much, can you come with me, then? 」

Carena gives an exaggerated nod.

「Also, as advice from me, it would be better to tell Elvas the truth. That guy is stubborn. The story should proceed smoothly if you don’t keep any secret, since it is about his important grandchild.」

「I understand, let me follow that advice as a proof of trust.」