Catalan (2)
Clink-
Fork fell helplessly.
This was followed by the elder’s confused voice. I didn’t even have time to get my fork back.
“What, what?”
The elder looked at Karios with a dubious look.
At first, I thought I was wrong. It was a statement I could never have imagined.
However, Carios spoke again with the correct pronunciation.
“We need drugs like narcotics. To be precise, I need Kalaman’s stem, Hercain vine, and Diputo’s flower bud.”
“Yes!?”
The elder could not contain his astonishment.
Kalaman’s Stem, Hercain Vine, Diputo’s Bud.
They were all psychedelic herbs that grew in Catalonia. They were illegal drugs strictly prohibited by the empire.
This must be a fact that Karios-sama is also aware of, so why are you looking for such medicinal materials?
And that too in such a dignified manner.
‘no way······’
Before long, a conclusion came to the elder’s mind. No matter how much I thought about it, there was only one reason.
That famous Karios-sama is a drug addict…? The best attack mage in the empire…?
——–!
In an instant, goose bumps all over my body. The tiredness that had spread throughout his body was completely gone.
the elder asked as calmly as possible.
“Poem, excuse me, but what do you plan to use it for?”
“I plan to use it for healing. I’m thinking of experimenting with the new potion I’m developing.”
“Aha… that’s right.”
Then it is.
There was no way that the famous Charios was a drug addict. His complexion was transparent, and he had no asthma symptoms characteristic of addicts.
I’m really, I’ve been trembling for nothing.
The elder said, wiping the sweat from his forehead.
“If it’s for that kind of use, I’ll be able to save you, Karios-sama. However, this illegal drug, especially hallucinogens, is not a matter for me to decide on my own.”
“What else do you need?”
“We need to discuss this with Zenon, the head of the Self-Defense Force.”
The Self-Defense Forces in charge of Hennes’ security.
Not only did he protect the residents from demon beasts, but he also directly managed illegal medicinal herbs grown in Catalonia.
To prevent evil herbalists from collecting carelessly, so that the empire would not be damaged, the quantity of hallucinogenic medicines was checked every day, and all except for some necessary for nature were discarded.
This rather thorough system, the Elder explained clearly to Karios.
“So, it is not a matter for me to judge alone. If you give us a little time, we will make a decision after discussing it.”
“Right.”
Fortunately, Karios also accepted it humbly. He nodded as if he understood.
“i get it. Eat before it gets cold.”
Thus, peace came again.
All that was left was a grand breakfast.
“Thank you for your understanding. Karios-sama will finish eating, too.”
The elder took the fork back with a more relaxed mind. This time I tried to eat lobster. That’s when he aimed a sharp fork at the lobster.
Geeeeing————!
Unusual magic flowed from the other side of the statue. The airflow around the area suddenly resonated. The plates on the table clattered and rattled.
An instinctive feeling of uneasiness.
“…?”
The elder gently put down the fork he had been holding. I moved my gaze along the grain of the condensed magic.
At the end of it, I could see Karios’ hand with an opaque aura condensed.
Weiyiing—————!
An aura of aura that shimmers like a fire.
A magical core that emits powerful power within it.
gulp-
The elder involuntarily swallowed dry saliva.
He knew nothing about magic, but he knew it intuitively.
That that aura is powerful enough to take one’s life.
Is it because of that? His lower lip kept trembling. The menacing breath of life stimulated the bladder.
“However, you should like the outcome of the discussion.”
Karios’ voice flowed softly. At the same time, his face hardened.
The rage of Karios, which had only been heard in words.
It was that terrifying anger that, once angry, mother nature gets angry and lightning strikes from the sky.
“The answer I want should come out.”
For some reason, it seemed that the sky outside the window had darkened. It looked like lightning would strike soon.
Before an irreversible catastrophe occurred, the elder prostrated himself.
“Oh, oh, yes. Consultation is just a series of processes, so please wait for a moment.”
“I will believe you.”
Gyiying·······
Only then did the auror disappear. The storm-like air calmed down calmly, and Karios’ face became even more hostile.
“Now eat.”
“Yes? Yes… that, I will.”
The elder barely grabbed the fork with trembling hands.
······
same time.
Self-Defense Commander Zenon is sitting in the kitchen. A kettle filled with mendelin leaves is waiting for boiling.
Take profit・・・・・・
The inlet of the kettle that slowly emits steam.
Soon, a foul smell spread throughout the kitchen. It was a scent that didn’t appeal to me.
No matter how good medicine is for the body, this is a bit harsh.
“······not. Let’s believe.”
Zenon shook his head slightly. It’s not that it’s not, it’s because it’s the medicine that Karios-sama gave you.
Even though he hadn’t been able to greet him yesterday, even though he had treated him coldly, Karios didn’t harbor any resentment. He did not scold himself or mention the atrocities to the elders, but rather showed a hostile appearance by delivering medicines. It was the face of a true great man.
On the subject of being helped by such a person, I couldn’t appreciate it, but I doubted it.
That wasn’t human morality. It was an act that went against my mother’s teaching that grace must be repaid with grace.
What’s more, doubting it didn’t make it any better.
The mother’s condition is rapidly worsening.
His fever gradually rose, his complexion grew darker, and today he had hives all over his body.
There was nothing to hide now. If there was a possibility, I had to hold on to even the rotten rope.
Whether or not this medicinal material is a rotten dong-a rope or not…
Yii profit ㅡ!!
A boiling kettle.
Zenon filled a glass with water made from mendelin leaves. Cooling down with a fan, he went into the living room.
“mother. I’ve been making medicine. Wake up for a second.”
＊＊＊
a few hours later.
The sky of Henes where the sunset gradually sets.
“one two! one two! one two! one two!”
A palanquin pulled by eight healthy young men moved forward with a loud shout.
chuck-! chuck-! chuck-! As if they were rehearsing, the footsteps matched perfectly.
A palanquin decorated with luxurious gold and colorful accessories.
The nobleman who boarded that luxurious seat was none other than me. I sighed softly.
“under······”
Then the attendant who followed looked at me with a stiff face.
“Why is that, Carios-sama? Are you experiencing any discomfort?”
A few hours ago, the elder said he would have a discussion with Zenon. He said that while he waited, he would take a tour of the town so that he wouldn’t be bored.
So I thought it was just a light drink, but in front of the accommodation, a luxurious palanquin and numerous attendants were waiting for me.
It was not a town tour, but an emperor experience.
I touched my forehead and said.
“······not. keep going.”
“All right. If there is anything that bothers you, please tell me right away. I will correct it right away.”
“······okay.”
It was uncomfortable. The attendants who followed each and every one of them inquiringly were the most annoying.
Just because I took a sigh, did I overreact like that? Even if he coughed, he was in the mood to pass out.
“one two! one two! one two! one two!”
Even in the meantime, the kiln moves forward without hesitation.
Eventually, Derek raised his hand, and the palanquin gently sank to the ground.
There was a small temple right in front of it.
Derek, who acted as a kind of guide, cleared his throat and said.
“The temple in the foreground was completed 200 years ago, and the first elder, Parupina…”
“·······”
I blankly looked at the temple. I felt some kind of skepticism.
I didn’t come to Henes to be treated like this, but I was going to get medicine quickly and go back.
Do the elders and the members of the Self-Defense Forces fight over my whereabouts, don’t the residents come to greet me from the wind in the morning, don’t they give me a tour of the neighborhood with a palanquin, don’t they say they’ll hold a grand festival in the evening?
······I don’t know where it got twisted.
If I had known it would be like this, I would have identified myself as Leonard from the beginning.
“In a word, this temple can be said to be a place containing the philosophy and spirit of Henes. Is there a place you would like to visit again?”
“none.”
“All right. Then, we will return to the dorm. ruler! Everyone wake up!!”
““Yeah~””
The 3-hour tour of the village finally came to an end. The palanquin was lifted up and went back the way it came.
“one two! one two! one two! one two!”
The accommodation we arrived only after the sun had completely set.
When he got off the palanquin, the attendant clung to him again.
“From 9 o’clock, there will be a party to celebrate Karios’ visit. I’ll come pick you up before we start.”
“i get it. Stop following me.”
“no. I will personally send you off to the door-”
“It happened. It’s not even a few steps.”
I barely left my attendant and walked to the inn.
I wanted to be alone now, but Zenon was standing in front of the door. Zenon looked at me with meaningful eyes. Then, as the distance narrowed, he politely bowed his head.
“Sorry for the late greeting. My name is Zenon, the commander of the Self-Defense Force of Henes.”
A completely different attitude from yesterday.
The reason was soon to be heard.
“Thanks to the medicine Karios gave me, my mother’s condition has improved a lot. I will definitely repay this favor.”
Zenon lowered his head and said. His determination touched his skin. It was a rare loyalty.
I looked down at Zenon with a small smile.
“Raise your head.”
“yes.”
Zenon slowly raised his head.
I really liked his fierce eyes.
“How are you going to pay me back?”
“I heard that Karios is looking for medicines needed to develop a healing potion. I’ll help. We will do our best to provide directions, as well as medicinal processing and collection.”
“good night. to guide you.”
I raised the corner of my mouth and put my hand on Zenon’s shoulder.
Things seemed to be getting better now.
＊＊＊
The moonlight seeps through the leaves, and the sound of grass insects echoes softly. The darkness over the forest is blurred by fireflies.
Catalan atmosphere quite different from last night.
“This way, Karios-sama.”
Following Zenon’s guidance, I descended to the beginning of the mountain. We arrived quickly, probably because we went through a shortcut.
jerk- jerk-
A fork in the road soon followed.
Zenon pointed to the right and said.
“You can go over there. If you walk all the way, you will see a tomb. I will follow soon.”
“i get it.”
I headed the right way. Afterwards, Zenon took the left path.
Due to time constraints, I decided to collect only two ‘Hercain Vine’ and ‘Diputo’s Bud’ today.
Among them, the medicinal material I will gather is the flower bud of Diputo.
According to Zenon’s explanation, it is a flower that grows by feeding on the mana of the dead, and it is said that it usually blooms on graves. The main ingredient is concentrated in the bud, but it is a very sensitive herb, so you have to pay attention to the roots.
“You’re annoying…”
I quietly walked through the mountains. I came down a slope with no clear boundaries.
It’s been about 5 minutes.
I saw a convex ground on a good level ground. It was the tomb Zenon had spoken of. I approached it and looked down at the tomb.
“·······”
It was obviously a place where a human body was buried, but it wasn’t creepy at all.
The starlight permeated the night sky and there were fireflies everywhere, creating a rather mysterious atmosphere.
Above all, a flower that bloomed in the middle of the grave.
————–
The softly glowing flowers under the moonlight were truly dreamy. The shape was beautiful, but the brilliant silver color of the petals gave off a sad look.
To the extent that it plunges the calm me into useless passion.
“·······”
I looked at the flowers for a while and came to my senses belatedly.
He shook his head weakly and rolled up his sleeves. Since we need to collect them without damaging the roots, we should first clean up the surrounding weeds.
I pulled out the overgrown weeds on the grave by hand.
······Meanwhile.
Narsha barely made it to Catalonia. Originally, it was a gilchi, but it took longer than usual because there was no father who always served as a guide.
Still, I’m glad I arrived before the deadline.
“Ah… Why did Dad choose such a remote place?”
Narsha went uphill, resentful of her father. It was even more difficult because I had brought the equipment to clean up, the food my mother liked, and the tent. It felt like my shoulder would fall off.
My mother’s grave arrived when I was out of breath.
The moment she arrived at the place where her heart ached, Narsha’s cry stopped. It wasn’t because of sadness. I wasn’t soaked in longing or sentimentality, and I wasn’t physically at my limit.
A man standing in front of a grave in the distance.
A particularly familiar profile reflected under the moonlight.
“uh······?”
Narsha frowned involuntarily. An unbelievable sight unfolded before my eyes.
Leonard, who should have been at the academy, was praying in silence in front of his mother’s grave.
Even with a sad face in the world.
“What is that bastard doing…?”
Why do you mourn so much over a subject that is not even your child?
Now I’m trying to be calm too.
The time when such questions were spreading in my head.
“Uh…?”
Narsha was shocked again. The unbelievable thing happened twice.
Suddenly, Leonard started beeing .