episode_0021

This was the time when the village was most peaceful and quiet.

Fields were left fallow, and work temporarily ceased.

People would gather around bonfires to spend the winter.

They should have been spending another winter like this… but for some reason, people seemed even busier.

From morning, men rushed up the mountain with axes, and they hadn’t returned even after lunch.

It seemed something had happened.

I spent my days quietly lying in bed, reading.

Beside me, Tia was listening to my herbology lesson with sparkling eyes.

“You have to consider the interactions carefully. Adding a good effect to a good effect doesn’t necessarily make it a better effect.”

“That’s difficult~.”

“Conversely, something bad isn’t always just bad. For example, the Blue Dandelion is famous as a poisonous herb, but if you add a medicine that neutralizes its poison, the poison only eliminates bad things in the body before disappearing.”

“Wow~! That’s amazing.”

Tia was indeed a genius.

Even though the content could be difficult for a beginner, she understood ten things when taught one.

Thanks to that, I was often surprised.

If I briefly taught her a simple combination, Tia could easily deduce what kind of medicine could be made with it.

Tia says it’s because I teach her well.

I sometimes felt jealous, envying her brilliant mind.

Even though I was self-taught, it took me over two years to master all these thick herbology books.

But Tia learned half of it in just a few weeks… making all my efforts feel somewhat futile.

However, I think it’s a good opportunity.

Later, when Tia adventures through the world, she’ll encounter many things.

At that time, this knowledge will surely help her in some way.

For my teachings to be part of ‘Great Adventurer Tia’s’ journey, in a way, it’s nothing short of an honor.

“Ahem. Ahem.”

Had I spoken too much since morning?

It felt like something was caught in my throat.

I turned the page, intending to read the next passage.

“Ugh. Cough—cough!”

As soon as I coughed, something flew out of my mouth.

Tia, who was beside me, sprang up in surprise.

“Ritsu? Are you okay?!”

“……Ah. Yes. I’m fine.”

Wiping the corner of my mouth, I tasted something salty.

And on the book, a thick, sticky, bright red liquid flowed, like spilled red ink.

Tia saw it too.

“Blood?”

Right. I coughed up blood.

This was a sign that something was wrong with my body.

Until yesterday, there had been no problems.

I was in good enough condition to soon return to the apothecary and start working.

But as if mocking Tia’s efforts in making the medicine and my own expectations.

Blood kept gushing from my mouth.

“Cough—. Gasp!”

Each time I covered my mouth and coughed, a thick liquid stained my hand.

“Ritsu!!”

“……Damn it. I don’t feel well.”

“W-what do I do? What’s wrong?”

“Calm down first, Tia. I’m fine. Cough!”

I had my skin torn by a bear.

I had sustained such a severe injury that I could still feel a throbbing pain in my chest and below my waist.

The impact of its paw sent me flying, and I slammed against rocks and trees repeatedly.

The pain at that time was indescribable, but I could roughly guess.

My insides must have been completely messed up.

Even thinking about it myself, there was no guarantee that my internal organs were intact.

It would be stranger if there were no problems.

…It seems I should stay inside and get plenty of rest for a while.

I stopped coughing and let out a deep sigh, feeling all the strength drain from my waist.

I felt hazy and dizzy, as if I might fall asleep any moment.

Tia, in a frightened voice, shook my hand frantically.

“Ritsu! Ritsu! Snap out of it!”

“Tia, don’t shake me. I’m not dying. I’m just tired and trying to sleep for a bit.”

“A-are you really?”

“Yes. So… please make me some helpful medicine.”

In my hazy consciousness, I desperately tried to recall.

“The book in the apothecary… will help. It’s about organ recovery……”

“Okay! I got it!”

“I’ll just sleep for a bit. Really, just for a bit.”

“I’ll make it and bring it right away! So……”

After that, Tia seemed to say something, but I couldn’t hear it.

….

….

….

“Gasp!”

When I opened my eyes again, snow was falling heavily outside the window.

There was no one around.

It looked like daytime, so at least a day must have passed, but I didn’t know how long exactly.

Had I really only slept for a moment, or had I been lying here for two more months? There was no way to know.

“Ugh…”

I wanted to find out. But relentlessly, a terrible fatigue washed over me.

I fell asleep again, as if fainting.

When my consciousness dimly returned.

I felt Tia scooping something with a spoon and pushing it into my mouth.

I managed to swallow it somehow, but as soon as it went down my throat, I snapped my eyes open and sat up.

“Gasp—!”

“Ritsu!”

“Pant, pant…”

“Th-this medicine really seems to work……!”

No. There’s no way it would take effect immediately after just entering my body.

The reason I regained consciousness was because ‘that medicine Tia made’ was truly unbearably bitter and disgusting.

*Are you trying to kill me?* ……I wanted to say, but seeing Tia’s bright face and teary eyes, those words immediately vanished.

I let out a soft laugh and stroked her red hair.

“Thank you.”

“That’s a relief—! Come on, come on—drink it quickly!”

As she said that, she pushed the medicine bottle towards me, and this… was completely different from the recovery potion she’d made before.

It was a dark, murky color, with what looked like solid bits floating in the medicine, and it had a terribly foul smell.

I knew thinking this was disrespectful to Tia, but it was like… a medicine that reminded me of rotten maggot soup.

My tongue, which usually ate most foods well, was practically twitching with revulsion.

Ugh. Still, I had to drink it.

I held my breath and took a sip.

Ah. It was so terribly unpleasant that I wondered if I wouldn’t die from suffocating on this nasty smell before my body weakened and gave out.

But I squeezed my eyes shut and drank it all the way down.

“Phew—.”

Indeed, its effect was outstanding.

Because my insides, which I wasn’t sure were dead or alive, began to churn wildly.

“Retch!”

“Ritsu?”

“Retch—!”

What I had just consumed was trying to come back up.

Only after drinking the water Tia hastily gave me could I finally calm down.

After enduring that commotion, I felt as dry as a withered fish.

“Tia, was this the best you could do?”

“I’m sorry……”

“Next time, at least add some syrup.”

“Okay. I-I’ll do that……”

However, for some reason, I felt full.

Perhaps because of the violent churning, I suddenly felt incredibly hungry, and I also needed to go to the bathroom.

This was good news. It really seemed to have had an effect.

Such active eating and excretion were proof that my body was returning to normal.

Lying in bed, I gave a thumbs-up.

“Hmm. I can’t help but admit it. The effect is superb.”

“Hehe—. That’s a relief.”

“But was there a medicine with this kind of taste and smell? I don’t recall seeing it in the book.”

“…Oh? Really?”

“Yes. If you make it with such murky liquid, people will feel repulsed. So, when making medicine, you should use as few ingredients as possible, and it should be clear and have a pleasant scent.”

“I see.”

It was a basic principle, but.

Tia seemed to have missed this simple principle because she was learning at such a fast pace.

“What ingredients did you use?”

“I just put what I saw in the book……. Asgera Stamen and White-tailed Flower and….”

“Wait. Asgera Stamen and White-tailed Flower?”

I couldn’t help but tilt my head.

The ingredients Tia described couldn’t create such a unique color and scent.

It was highly likely that some foreign substance got mixed in during the preparation, or she mistakenly added other ingredients.

Since the effect was certainly there, it wasn’t that the wrong medicinal herbs were used.

Perhaps the dregs weren’t properly filtered?

“When we go back to the apothecary, try cleaning the distillation apparatus thoroughly. Sometimes rotten residue can get mixed in and produce a nasty smell.”

“Okay.”

“Make some more recovery medicine. Please, Tia.”

Tia smiled brightly.

“Okay—!”

* * *

**The next day.**

Tia arrived at the promised time, carrying the black medicine.

“I brought the medicine, Ritsu…”

Tia’s voice seemed unusually subdued today.

Even so, as I turned my head to thank her, I suddenly felt that she seemed a little different.

A tired, listless expression.

When she was near, there was always a fresh apple scent, but now there was an intense rose scent, as if she had sprayed perfume.

And for some reason today, her hair was untied and left loose.

“……”

*Swish—.*

As strands of hair fell below her cheek, Tia used one hand to brush them behind her ear.

Should I say something was different? Or that she suddenly felt more mature?

It was certainly not the Tia I knew, not like her at all.

…But it was definitely Tia.

Because a leather cord was hanging around her neck.

Following the cord downwards, I could see my… ‘ruby necklace’ resting carefully between her cleavage.

“You kept it properly, then.”

“Huh? Ah… yes.”

Tia touched her neck.

“Because it’s Ritsu’s gift. I’ve been wearing it ever since.”

“Beautiful.”

“-?!”

Startled, Tia’s face flushed red.

I, too, was flustered by my sudden outburst.

“Th-the necklace is beautiful, I meant.”

“Ah, yes! That’s right! Ritsu chose it well!”

“Um… Tia.”

“Hm?”

Heat rushed to my face.

My ears were probably turning as red as apples right now.

“I haven’t forgotten yet. Our promise from back then……”

“…Hehe—.”

Tia gently took my hand.

A warm heat, like the faint light of the sun, radiated from her.

“I haven’t forgotten either. Actually, ever since that time, every night before bed, I held the necklace and prayed to the Dragon God-nim. I begged him to save Ritsu. To help our pledge come true.”

“……”

“And it seems the Dragon God-nim granted my wish. Ritsu woke up, like a miracle.”

“Tia……”

Ruby-like eyes. Skin dazzlingly white.

A faint heartbeat felt in the empty winter air.

Thank you. For being by my side.

Thanks to you, I consider myself the most blessed person in the world.

I held Tia’s hand tightly. It was soft and warm.

With these noble hands, she must have made my medicine. She was so lovely.

We quietly held hands like that, when.

“Hm?”

What was that?

Suddenly, I felt a warmth in my lower abdomen.

More precisely… ‘there.’ I glanced at my lower abdomen.

Oh, dear. Tia’s other hand was resting there.

This girl. Of all places to put her hand…

Whether she knew I was flustered or not.

With an innocent expression, she rubbed my crotch.

Ugh. This is awkward.

The constant stimulation made me uneasy, feeling like it would get bigger and bigger.

But if I pushed her hand away immediately, Tia might be surprised.

Anyway, I didn’t want a situation where we both became uncomfortable. So, what I came up with was…….

“Ahem.”

I deliberately turned my body sharply towards Tia.

As expected, that ‘mischievous hand’ fell away.

Haha. Well, how about that? This way, she won’t put her hand in the wrong place again.

And she wouldn’t know if my pants felt a bit tighter.

I felt a sense of triumph and relief inwardly.

*Slide—.*

Huh?

Another warm touch landed there.

This time…….

*Rub—rub—.*

She’s just blatantly touching it now?!