Chapter 11 - 11: Accomplishments of a Slave (2/2)

The sound of fire crackling could be heard.

Raphtalia finished washing and had gone to warm herself up by the campfire.

”Are you warm yet?”

”Yes. *Koho*...”

This looked very similar to a cold. The slave dealer did say that she was plagued with an illness.

Coincidentally... there was a cold medicine amongst the experimental remedies.

Regular Medicine Quality: Somewhat acceptable. This medicine is effective against a mild cold.

”Hey, drink this.”

I was a bit anxious, but this was better than nothing.

”... So bitter, dislike it... guh...”

Raphtalia tried to say something selfish but held her ċhėst in pain instead.

”Here.”

”Y-, Yes.”

Raphtalia trembled as she swallowed the medicine that I passed to her.

”Haa... Haa...”

”There there, good girl.”

Raphtalia once again gave me a perplexed stare when I patted her head.

Ah, these tanuki ears sure were fluffy.

She hugged her tail while blushing, refusing to let me feel it. Did she think that I would try touching her tail when I looked at it?

”Here, this is your dinner.”

I handed a grilled fish over to Raphtalia, and then returned to compounding medicine.

I've always loved to work on these kinds of delicate projects.

The sun set completely yet I kept on compounding, using the campfire for light.

Fumu... This was fun in a lot of ways.

Having already finished eating her fish, Raphtalia drowsily stared at the campfire while letting out some subtle snoring sounds.

”Go to sleep.”

Upon hearing my order, Raphtalia repeatedly shook her head.

Was she being shy? She was refusing to sleep like a spoiled child... Well, I guess she was one.

Anyways it seemed like she would fall asleep eventually.

Come to think of it, was the medicine effective? I hadn't heard her cough since then.

Afterwards, I examined the remedies which were made from my experiments, and most of them had simple effects.

Those deemed inferior were absorbed into the shield.

Requirement for Petit Medicine Shield has been unsealed.

Requirement for Petit Poison Shield has been unsealed.

Petit Medicine Shield

Equipment bonus: Raises Medicine's Effects. <Unmastered>.

Petit Poison Shield

Equipment bonus: Poison Resistance ( Small ) <Unmastered>

Both of them seemed to be related to the Leaf Shield and Mush Shield. Though I had no idea how 'Raises Medicine's Effects' works.

Does it increase the effect of the medicines that I use on myself, or the effect of the medicines which I create?

Well, whatever.

There was no mistake that today's harvest was a good one.

”No... help me...”

Raphtalia let out a strange voice.

The sleeping Raphtalia seemed to be having a nightmare.

”NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”

I felt like my ears went deaf for a moment there.

This suċkėd. Balloons were coming our way; they probably got attracted by her screaming.

I quickly went over to Raphtalia and covered her mouth.

”H――――――――――――――――!”

However, a loud noise could still be heard, I then recalled the slave dealer's concern about this dilemma.

This certainly was problematic.

”Calm down, just settle down already.”

I held the sobbing Raphtalia in my hands and cradled her.

”Noo...a-san...o-san.”

Was she calling for her parents? Raphtalia could do nothing but cry and stretch out her hand, begging for help.

”It's fine... it's alright, you're safe now.”

I patted her head and continued cradling her.

”Don't cry. Be strong.”

”Huhu...”

I continued to hug the weeping Raphtalia.

”Grah!”

A Balloon that was attracted by her cries appeared.

”Fu...”

Really, even at a time like this.

I held Raphtalia close to me and charged at the Balloon.

”Uwoooooooooooooooooooooooooo!”

Chun... Chun!*

”Is it morning?”

What a terrible night.

By the time I finished with the horde of Balloons that appeared, Raphtalia's cries had also begun to quiet down. But when I tried to separate myself from her, if even a little, she would start wailing out loud again.

Then the Balloons would appear once more.

Which is why I was unable to get a wink of sleep.

”Nn...”

”You awake?”

”Hiii!?”

Raphtalia widely opened her eyes in surprise since I was holding her up in front of me.

”Ha... I'm tired.”

There was still some time before the town's gate opened. So I planned on taking a quick nap for now.

Today, I would be selling the medicine which I had made yesterday; this should yield more profit than the raw medical herbs.

If the herbs' value were higher than the medicine's, then there would be no point in people making them.

”I'll be sleeping for little while. As for breakfast... would the leftover fish from yesterday suit your taste?”

Raphtalia timidly nodded.

”Then good night. Call me if any monsters appear.”

It was painful just to keep my eyes open, so I was quickly invited into a slumber full of dreams.

I still didn't know the reason behind Raphtalia's panic attacks. And I wasn't interested in hearing about it either.

It's most likely due to the shock of being sold by her parents, or maybe from being kidnapped.

Even if it was the latter, I had no obligation to return her. This gentleman here had paid big bucks for this slave after all.

It was fine if she held a grudge over this. I needed to do all I could in order to survive.

I have to find a way to return to my old world, that's all there is to it.