“Raaalph— Papa’s here— Pa—pa, pa—pa.”
Asti spoke to Ralph, but Ralph only stared back at him with a blank expression.
They say babies start smiling after about three months, yet there was no sign of his expression changing at all.
“Papa’s going to put a protective spell on you now.”
Just as he had done with me, Asti pressed his lips to Ralph’s forehead and both cheeks, sealing the protective magic.
With this, even if Leon came, it would be all right.
Though the palace had grown hectic and he likely barely had time to eat, Asti still came to check on me and Ralph whenever he could.
Most of the time he claimed it was for “resupply” as he hugged me close or leaned against me, but with Ralph, he seemed intent on teaching him that he was his father.
“He can’t talk yet, you know?”
“If I teach him patiently, he’ll call me someday.”
“I see. Then maybe I’ll teach him to say Pochi too. …Or should it be my true name?”
“He’s a dog, so Pochi is fine, isn’t it?”
“How rude, saying that to the lord of spirits.”
The back-and-forth between Asti and Pochi-sama, who hovered beside Ralph like a guard dog, looked just like a parent and child arguing.
If Ralph joined in, would that make it grandfather, father, and grandson?
“By the way, what’s the origin of the name Pochi-sama?”
Considering his enormous form in the forest, the name Pochi is rather cute.
At his current size, it fits well enough, though.
“Misty got drunk with a guy from the Eastern Lands she met at a tavern and complained, ‘I started keeping a dog, but I can’t think of a name.’ That Eastern bastard said, ‘Then how about Pochi?’ and she went, ‘That’s perfect, hilarious.’ And so it was decided. I am not a dog, however.”
Is it really all right to decide the name of the lord of spirits so casually?
The more I hear about Misty, the more I think she was a bold and larger-than-life person.
I would have liked to meet her at least once.
“Ugh… I should head back soon. I’m supposed to be an adventurer by trade, you know…”
“Do your best if things are running smoothly thanks to you, Asti.”
“If you cheer me on, Ms. Sheila, I feel like I can do anything. Oh, by the way, do you have any healing potion stock?
Everyone around me is basically turning into corpses, so I thought I might hand some out.”
Court work really is rough, I thought with a wry smile, and took the stock out of my storage magic.
Asti dutifully offered gold coins, but as always, I refused.
“Please give my regards to everyone.”
“Sheilaaa! I love you! I’ll work my hardest. I’ll work so hard that I’ll get the Crown Prince to approve shortening the waiting period for permission for our marriage!”
I sent Asti off with a wry smile, wondering if that was even possible.
“My, how passionate.”
The sudden voice made me jump.
I’d forgotten for a moment that we were in Delilah’s shop.
“I’m sorry you had to see that…”
“No, no. Seeing that Asti so happy really moves me.”
Delilah had been Misty’s closest friend.
When Misty was out on quests, she was the one who took care of Asti.
“Asti always said he wouldn’t marry. I’m glad he found a partner. Truly glad.”
She must be like a foster mother to him. Her expression was gentle.
I’d thought Asti was all alone in the world, but there were so many people here who wished for his happiness.
Bella and Dahlia as well. Even at the guild, mentioning his name always brought friendly reactions.
“Now then, Sheila. Break time’s about over. …You’re going to make it, aren’t you? The panacea.”
Delilah’s words made me straighten.
I want to do something about the Crown Prince’s child’s illness that Asti mentioned.
If I can, then Asti’s workload would ease—that is, admittedly, a very personal motivation.
Of course, the palace likely has court apothecaries.
There’s no guarantee they’d let a commoner with no backing like me administer my medicine, but if I make something effective enough, surely something will come of it.
It might sound carefree as always, but I intend to make this in all seriousness.
Silently, I handed over the book I’d found among Misty’s collection.
Yes—the one titled How to Make a Panacea.
“Misty truly worked across an incredible range of fields. It’s a shame she passed away so young.”
“That woman never stopped honing skills that could earn money—or lead to it. All for the sake of educating Asti, her illegitimate child.
So the recipe’s in there?”
“Not exactly a recipe, but the ingredients are listed.
Some of them will need to be gathered by adventurers through the guild.”
That’s the problem—the spirits’ dancing grounds can’t supply everything.
I don’t even know where to find things like a holy dragon’s horn or a unicorn’s tears.
Ever since I found this book, I’d wanted to try making it someday, and I’d been saving money little by little.
I wanted to pay adventurers the proper rate to gather the necessary materials.
If it can be put to use now, there’s no reason not to.
“Delilah, I want to make this panacea. I’d appreciate your cooperation.”
When I bowed, Delilah snorted.
“This is going into the mouth of someone noble. We should probably test prototypes on adventurers first. One batch won’t be enough.”
“I understand. We’ll need taste testers.”
We looked at each other and shared a daring smile.
Even if we call it taste-testing, we intend to make something completely safe.
And so, Delilah and I began the work of creating a panacea.
