22. Call (1)
The pharmacist left his men on the ground and went down to the basement alone.
ah, correct… I wasn’t alone. Joseph’s agent, Oliver, was the guide.
Just in time, I opened the packed pilgaret box and checked the contents inside.
“Well, as you said, production seems to be going smoothly. I’m taking better care of it than I thought.”
“It’s because other people are working hard.”
“Who else? Oh, the other disciples?”
“Yes.”
The pharmacist let out a small laugh.
“It’s amazing. I’ve never met a warlock who called his subordinates other people. You are polite.”
Oliver didn’t have to answer. It’s more of a habit than a courtesy. And I was aware of it too.
The pharmacist took out a pack of cigarettes with a pilgaret and opened it.
He looked at the pilgaret, which looked just like a regular cigarette sold in the market, and carefully put it to his nose and sniffed it.
“め.あ.”
The pharmacist’s squishy nose and cold shining eyes.
Oliver observed the scene silently.
To check the quality of a pilgaret by smell without seeing it with your eyes. It was a bit interesting.
“Um, um. Again, this is pretty good stuff… It’ll work just fine in Randa. Do you know where these cigarettes are sold?”
“·····. I heard that they sell it to other pharmacies or hospitals that do business with pharmacists.”
“I know you well. That’s right, I mix it with other drugs and deliver it to the big hospitals and pharmacies in Landa. Your stuff is of good quality so it can work there too. It is mainly bought by heavy-duty, high-income white-collar, capitalists and artists. Isn’t that funny? They see you as cancer of society, and they love your products more than anyone else.”
“is that so?”
Oliver said he wasn’t interested. Because I wasn’t really interested.
Seeing Oliver’s reaction, the pharmacist only smiled bitterly.
“The reaction is dry. Do you have any questions? How do I distribute this drug?”
“·····. I want to ask you something else, can I ask you a question?”
“Something else? tell me.”
“Can you smell it and check the quality?”
“Yes. I don’t have good eyesight like you. But, in other ways, you can tell the quality. Dealing with drugs is my job, and I should be able to do that.”
Hoo…. Oliver didn’t show it, but it was interesting.
Differentiate the quality of pilgarets by smell. It was a skill I wanted to have even if I didn’t need it right now.
Maybe you can smell the emotions?
The pharmacist asked if he had noticed such a thought.
“Are you interested?”
“···. Yes.”
“Can you teach me? Some of our staff know how to do it.”
‘Then please teach me.’ The words stopped under my chin.
It was clear that he wanted to learn, but no matter how much he thought about it, it seemed that the order was to first ask for Joseph’s permission.
The pharmacist said with a smile as if he knew everything.
“If you ask Joseph for permission, I will teach you. really.”
“thank you.”
“Instead, can you answer my question?”
“Yes?”
“Isn’t it unfair if I’m the only one doing a favor? Giving and giving is the rule of the world.”
“ah····. So what am I supposed to answer?”
The pharmacist held up a pilgaret.
“Do you think this product is great? To be honest with you?”
The pharmacist’s eyes shone sharply, and the emotions that had been staggeringly staggered slightly fluctuated.
“·····. Yes, because it is the master’s work. I think it’s great. Didn’t even the pharmacist say it’s a good thing?”
“Oh, it was…. But, as a businessman, I also want to handle better products. Especially since the competition in this market is getting fierce in recent years.”
“ah····. I will tell Master.”
“No, that’s okay. I was just asking just in case… After all, do you think it’s a good thing?”
“What···. Yes.”
“Okay… Then just let me go Now that I’ve checked the production of the product, I don’t need to be here anymore. Nice to meet you.”
The pharmacist held out his hand. This was the first time someone had asked for a handshake, but Oliver looked at it for a moment before holding it.
The pharmacist said with a friendly smile characteristic of a middle-aged man.
“It was nice to meet you. See you next time. If there’s anything you need help with, let me know. If I can, I will help you.”
Oliver looked straight at him and answered.
“Yes, I will remember.”
***
After the pharmacist left, the usual time passed again.
I woke up early in the morning to eat, and the lower, middle and upper class students worked together to make a pilgaret.
The production of pilgaret could be completed without any setbacks as expected, and it was packaged with pre-made vital nutrients and delivered to the pharmacist.
With this, Joseph’s most important task was completed safely.
From then on, we stayed as usual, waiting for Joseph to return.
Temporary pupils grind meat and make sausages, and the lower, intermediate, and upper pupils studied black magic on their own.
It was very lax and inefficient in Oliver’s eyes, but he didn’t care because he didn’t have any authority.
Above all, Oliver had a job to do.
“Well·······!”
Oliver groaned as if he had found something while looking through his diary.
Marie, who was watching him from the side, asked.
“Why are you like that? Oliver?”
“I think I have finally found it.”
“Yes?”
“It’s the difference between us and the Lightning Wizard. It is true that both of them wanted a bad past and a better life. The wizard has one more goal.”
“what is that?”
“After the wizard was kicked out of the adopted family, he aimed to succeed, but the reason was to succeed on his own and prove it to the family. that he was better And the name is… Rachel? To confess to a woman named Rachel again.”
Saying so, Oliver pointed to a paragraph in his diary.
There was a story about a woman named Rachel, and she tried to hide it, but she had a strong affection for her… Obsession beyond love was seen.
Oliver hypothesized that a special purpose beyond simple success might be the source of the light shown by the Lightning Wizard.
I wondered if it was because of a spiritual reason, not just material abundance, or something more that gave off such a beautiful light.
Oliver’s mind spins rapidly, giving numerous advisory answers. Then, Marie asked.
“fairly····. You seem impressed?”
“Yes?”
“It’s the light that the Lightning Wizard showed… I see you are looking for it.”
Oliver answered without thinking.
“Yeah, it was really beautiful.”
Marie’s expression softened slightly.
There was a slight tinge of jealousy in her feelings, but Oliver didn’t understand why. Frankly, I wasn’t interested.
she said again
“·····. Still, it’s rare for me to be able to relax like this, but sometimes I have to go to the library and study black magic, right?”
“The library can only be used by students, but I am not a student, right? Moreover, when I am traveling, even my pupils are not allowed in.”
“I know. However, some of his seniors, including Andrew, often sneaked in. After all, the master isn’t here, isn’t it?”
What Marie said was not quite wrong. Due to the nature of the family, which did not provide proper education in the first place, it was more beneficial to accumulate knowledge somehow when the opportunity came.
But Oliver’s reaction was nothing.
“Well····. Not good. Because rules are rules. Now, the light is more interesting than anything else.”
A firm voice and eyes. Marie rolled her eyes as if guilty.
“ah····. I’m sorry. I didn’t say anything…”
“no···. What. But can I ask you a question?”
“Oh, yes. anything.”
“It’s break time, so why are you here?”
Oliver asked. I’m really curious.
During personal maintenance time, it is normal to rest or study alone, but Marie has been sticking around other than during practice recently, and now she has been by Oliver’s side almost every day.
“Hey, if you ever need anything, to help… Thanks to Oliver, I became an official disciple, and I wanted to be of some help… Are you in any way?”
Marie had a longing expression like a child looking at her mother.
Oliver could get a glimpse of how sad she felt seeing him, but unfortunately he couldn’t understand why.
After a moment of silence, Oliver answered, as Marie’s mind shook with anxiety.
“Not much. Stay with me if you want.”
Then Marie smiled happily. Like a child who was about to be abandoned, but was never abandoned.
Oliver turned his gaze to her, read the diary again, and began to formulate hypotheses.
In search of the source of the beautiful light that the Lightning Wizard showed when he died.
Oliver’s interest and desire for exploration reminded me of a moth that rushes into a fire.
Marie opened her mouth just in case.
“Hey, Oliver?”
“Yes?”
“Will my story be of any help?”
“Are you talking about Marie?”
“Yes, my story…. I’ve told you a little bit before…”
Marie said shyly.
Oliver recalled the memories of that time. It sure was pretty… However, that is also a thing of the past.
Compared to the light he saw from the wizard, his value was relatively low.
“Isn’t that something you didn’t want to say?”
“It is, but…. I don’t know if it will be of any help…”
“No, thanks.”
Oliver refused. Because I don’t want to waste my time on things I’m not interested in right now.
Marie looked hurt again, but then she heard a knock on the door.
“Oliver?”
“What?”
Oliver, who was reading the diary and making a theory, asked.
“The master has sent you a letter. To Oliver.”
“·······. Yes?”
Oliver stopped what he was doing and asked. a letter?
***
Oliver took the envelope that had just arrived and looked through it.
The envelope, with a blue line on the border, had a stamp engraved in the upper right corner with a woman wearing a crown.
The logo of ＜The Great Kingdom Post Office＞ was engraved underneath it.
Oliver, who had never received a letter before, looked at the envelope for a moment, then ripped it open and took out the contents and read it.
“········.”
“·····. What are you doing over there?”
The senior disciple who brought the letter asked.
“Wait.”
Oliver said as he read the letter again from the beginning.
After such a long time, Oliver finally spoke.
“Are you coming?”
“Yes?”
“Andrew-nim, are you saying that you don’t have enough money to pay for your treatment, so you’re telling me to bring money and come to Landa? Master.”