Chapter Eighty-nine: Orphans’ Request 2
Karen looked at Jutta who had arrived later.
“…I have a potion on hand that might work. However, it would really be like using the child as a test subject. There’s a chance it could have the opposite effect. Also, it will give him diarrhea, so he’ll need to be taken to the bathroom.”
“If being the test subject for your potion will truly help your progress, then please, I’d like you to use it.”
Jutta’s face showed relief at Karen’s words as if a weight had been lifted from her shoulders.
“Lady Karen, is this what you wanted?”
“Yes, please.”
“Here it is. Please use it.”
Sara took out the detox tea from her bag and handed it to Jutta.
“This potion has the effect of expelling harmful substances from the body. However, I still don’t know exactly what it considers harmful and to what extent it will remove things.”
“I understand.”
“For this potion to work effectively, outsiders might make the child uncomfortable, so we’ll be in the lounge.”
If harmful substances had accumulated in the body, the laxative effect would activate. Having unfamiliar adults like Karen nearby would probably make the child feel uneasy.
“Teacher Jutta, I’ll ask how it went later, so please observe carefully and let me know.”
“Yes, I understand. Tim, you go with Karen and the maid.”
“Okay!”
After leaving the infirmary, Tim looked up at Karen and grinned.
“Karen, have you eaten dinner yet?”
“No, I haven’t.”
“Then eat at our place! I’ll treat you as thanks!”
“Oh, really? Then I’ll gladly accept.”
“And you, Ms. Sara, right? Do you want to eat too? Does the carriage driver outside need some?”
“If it’s alright, I’ll have some. The driver won’t be necessary.”
“I see? Then for two people!”
Karen and Sara gratefully headed toward the orphanage dining hall.
“Oh, it’s Karen!”
“You became an E-rank alchemist, but will you still buy herbs from us?”
“Of course!”
The children smiled and high-fived at Karen’s words. As Karen looked on with wide eyes wondering what was happening, the children said in a familiar tone:
“Recently, medicinal herbs in the dungeon have become scarce.”
“Yeah. We’re already competing with low-rank adult adventurers, and we can hardly collect any. So if you buy herbs from us, that’s more profitable.”
Sara leaned in to look at Karen’s face and said:
“Lady Karen, by ‘herbs’ do you mean non-magical materials?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Hmm, indeed, for anyone other than Lady Karen, those materials would just be weeds… there’s no competition for them.”
In the past, when Karen taught them which herbs she wanted, the children shared the information among themselves and would gather and bring them to her. She had also taught them about vegetables, fruits, and nuts, but apparently, the orphanage consumed those for themselves.
“But hey, Karen, when will you be around? You haven’t been at home or your workshop lately.”
“I’ve been fortunately busy with work.”
“You should have someone at your house. You’re making money, right?”
“Well… I have to spend on materials and save for alchemy tools… I barely have any…”
The payment for potions from Helfried. Even after bargaining, Karen had thought it was a large sum—yet it was vanishing at a startling pace. Being an alchemist was an expensive profession.
At that moment, a voice called out from behind Karen:
“Then please hire me. I don’t need payment.”
“Harald! You’re better!”
Tim, who had returned with the food, cheered.
Standing behind Karen was the boy who had been suffering in the infirmary bed until just a while ago. His name was apparently Harald. Though his face was gaunt, his back was straight. Karen’s potion had improved his condition somewhat. So it must have been something harmful he ate or was exposed to.
“Lady Karen, I heard that you used a potion for me. Thank you for helping me. I understand that you provided the potion using me as a test subject, but that alone is insufficient. Please put me to work. Let me work to repay you for the potion you used on me.”
Saying this, Harald bowed deeply. Although puzzled inwardly by the unusually polite manners for an orphan, Karen grinned and said:
“Children don’t need to worry about such things.”
“I would feel too ashamed to go on without doing something in return.”
Harald said with a strained voice, gritting his teeth:
“It’s painful and difficult to live with a life that was saved without being able to repay the debt.”
Harald clutched at his chest.
Seeing his painful, gasping appearance, Karen became flustered.
“Please, think of it as helping me and allow me to work under you, Lady Karen.”
“If anyone’s going to work at Karen’s place, I want to work there!”
Harald glared at Tim who had spoken up.
“You weren’t the one whose life was saved, I was. There’s no reason for you to work there.”
“But I want to work at Karen’s place too! If I work there, I might be able to become an alchemist, right?”
Harald’s glare toward Tim grew dangerously murderous. Seeing this, Sara looked on with cool eyes and said:
“I see. You’re using being saved as an excuse to get close to Lady Karen, hoping to learn alchemy under her.”
Pointed out by Sara, Harald awkwardly shifted his gaze. Karen, who hadn’t noticed anything, widened her eyes.
“Harald, so that’s what you were plotting. You’re sneaky.”
“I’m just trying to repay my debt!”
“Now, now, don’t fight. I’ll think about it, but can we eat first?”
As the hungry Karen urged them, Tim placed a tray in front of her. Karen picked up one of the ingredients from the soup and looked at Tim.
“There’s a mushroom of a dangerous color in here… is this edible?”
“We’ve been eating it for years, and it’s super delicious. I always collect these in the dungeon.”
“Well, if that’s the case, it must be safe.”
It was a stew containing mushrooms with red caps and white spots, looking exactly like what one would expect poisonous mushrooms to look like. Karen cautiously tasted it and her eyes widened.
“You’re right, it’s delicious… such a rich flavor.”
“Indeed, it is delicious.”
Tim smiled with satisfaction at Karen and Sara’s words, then looked at Harald.
“Do you want some too? I’ll bring you some if you want.”
“No…”
“That child has only expelled harmful substances, but his body is still damaged, so he should eat gentle foods for a while. He might recover if he drinks a minor healing potion, but—”
“If that would increase my debt, then I really wish to serve under you, Lady Karen.”
“Alright, for now just rest and have some porridge or something.”
She couldn’t decide whether to hire someone so easily, so she put him off. What concerned Karen more was the cause of Harald’s poor health. Since the detox tea had an effect, something must have been harming Harald’s body. If she didn’t identify the cause, Harald would remain anxious.
Karen tilted her head in thought while enjoying the mushroom stew that, despite its appearance, was delicious.
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