BXBX NOVEL Chapter 117 (Self Edited) – Working Hard to Gather Ingredients
Chapter 117 (Self Edited) – Working Hard to Gather Ingredients
Soma and Felicia were usually in the forest in the early of morning. It was simply because there was nothing to do at night. In that case, they would have to go to bed early at night, and they would inevitably woke up early in the morning. That was all, but… apparently that was the thing in the past.
“Aah, good morning, Soma-san.” (Felicia)
He got up, and as he head to the room which was used to be a living room, he came across Felicia.
The fact that Felicia woke up earlier than Soma was known from the time he was suffering from the muscle pain. It wasn’t uncommon for them to meet up and greet here.
But there were distinct difference between that time and the present time. Felicia was still being slightly sleepy was still the same, but… no matter how he looked at it, she seemed didn’t go to bed.
“I would say good morning, but… isn’t it different for you, Felicia? Were you up all night again?” (Soma)
“It couldn’t be helped. There are many things I want to try and I should try.” (Felicia)
It went without saying that Felicia became like this because Soma deciphered the Book of Witches. He wasn’t sure what to say, but anyhow, he had revealed the contents. There were a huge amount of information lying dormant, and Felicia was working hard to make it.
It was good thing that Felicia didn’t get depressed.
“Well, I’m sure you know this, but don’t overdo it too much, alright?” (Soma)
Soma at least didn’t intend to stop her. It was because she could understand that feeling well.
If there was something that she was looking for and had the knowledge to get there, it would be foolish not to practice it.
“I got it. I was about to go to sleep.” (Felicia)
“Hmm… your day and night routines have completely reversed.” (Soma)
“Well, this is the best in many ways.” (Felicia)
In fact, that was the truth. What Felicia focused at present was the preparation of medicines. She seemed to be able to maximize the effectiveness for most of the medicines by doing it from night to morning. For that reason, the time to finish preparing the medicines was…
“I’m sorry, but I’m counting on you today. I have written necessary things here.” (Felicia)
“Hmm, I understand. I should get if there are something like these, right?” (Soma)
“Yes, please.” (Felicia)
After saying so, she handed something like a parchment to Soma. Then, she bowed and immediately returned to her room. She felt somewhat drowsy, and the sleepiness came at once when the preparation of things were completed.
When Soma looked at that appearance, Soma dropped his gaze to what had been handed, and then, he nodded with ‘Hmm’. What was written there were the name of the ingredients that seemed necessary for the preparation.
“Well, I don’t know if I can find it, but I guess I should try my best as well.” (Soma)
However, before that, Soma should have a breakfast. So, he left the room.
—
Soma was able to read everything that was written in the Book of Witches, but that didn’t mean that he could understand everything. There were terms that weren’t explained. It might be on purpose or something similar. What matter most was about the preparation of the medicines. The method of preparation, the names, the effect of the medicines, the precautions were written, but specific characteristics of the necessary ingredients were often not written.
Some were written, and Felicia also knew some of them. Soma also knew some of them. However, they didn’t know most of the ingredients.
Apparently, Felicia got to know because the previous Witch taught her. Originally, this was something to be passed down by word of mouth. Perhaps, this was true in the case the Book of Witches had been read by someone other than the Witches. That was why Felicia was going through a lot of trouble, but… well, it couldn’t be helped.
Anyhow, what Felicia was doing now was more about identifying the ingredients used rather than the preparation methods. Of course, that was extremely difficult.
She wouldn’t know whether she was right or wrong if she didn’t actually mix it. It was dangerous, but… also very rewarding. That tired face was often seen, but at the same time, the face was much more alive than before.
Under such circumstances, Soma went out and gathered the ingredients. Strictly speaking, he was collecting the ingredients based on the names and characteristics of the medicines that could be made by mixing the ingredients. Then, they would guess what ingredients used and look for something similar. Perhaps, he found something that seemed to be useful and gathered them, but somehow, it was also a very random feeling, but Soma personally enjoyed this as well.
It was like an associative game. Once he collected the ingredients, he would pass them to Felicia. It was also good to spend the time, so it was a good thing in many ways.
By the way, the various things mentioned by Felicia depend on what he brought. That was because Soma would find something that he thought that it was an ingredient while Felicia was sleeping.
“Well, it’s not something that can be found conveniently.” (Soma)
While muttering so, he picked something like a flower at his feet. It was an unfamiliar thing, but that was why. It was possible that the flower might correspond to an ingredient by itself.
He didn’t pick it up unfoundedly. After all, this was the Witch Forest. Since it was isolated from the outside world, it was impossible for flower seeds to fly from somewhere else. According to Felicia, there were at least five generations of Witches who lived here before. In that case, most of the things exists here were likely to be used as some kind of ingredients. Well, it was worth to try them out.
Of course, if he knew that it didn’t end well, he would say nothing, but…
“I’ll gather things that I know or something well known. After all, that would be easy…” (Soma)
What he found was at that time was…
Even if he doubt his eyes, there was no mistake. That was…
—
“So I found something like this.” (Soma)
“Eh, this is… Mandragora, isn’t it?” (Felicia)
Yes, What Soma found was the famous Mandragora. As a matter of course, the Book of Witches also contained the medicines that used it, and its efficacy seemed to be high. Without a doubt, Soma was proud of his greatest achievement so far.
“…I’ve never seen one before, but I don’t think it could be the same thing. To find this easily… Hmm? No, wait a minute. It’s good that you found it, but how did you get it?” (Felicia)
“How did I get it, is it? Isn’t it by a common method?” (Soma)
“Of course, I know the nature of the Mandragora. It is said that if you hear the voice when pulling it out, you will die. I don’t think so, but did you somehow endure it?” (Felicia)
“No, that would be impossible indeed.” (Soma)
Actually, Soma didn’t know what it was, but he might die if he didn’t take any measures. If both hands were free, he didn’t feel like he could do anything, but in that case, it would be better to cover the ears. Of course, there was no reason to take measures against something that was suddenly found.
“So, how did you do it?” (Felicia)
“Hmm? Well, it’s not difficult you know. If the problem is about taking them out, it means that I don’t have to take them out from the beginning.” (Soma)
To be exact, he blew the ground. He was afraid that he overdo it if he used the sword he carried, so he used a wooden stick that fell around the area.
“…Wait a minute.” (Felicia)
“I can wait as much as you like, but was there a worrying element in the story just now?” (Soma)
“Yes, the way you say it is weird. I don’t think you can blow the ground by using a wooden stick…” (Felicia)
“It is relatively easy to blow, you know?” (Soma)
“It doesn’t blow away easily.” (Felicia)
“Is that so?” (Soma)
Rather, he blew it too much and failed three times.
“So normally… wait a minute, what do you mean by three times?” (Felicia)
“The meaning is as it is, no? Aah, that remind me, I didn’t apologize for the matter. In fact, I found four in total, but the remaining three were failures, and I blew off the ground. I’m sorry for wasting such a valuable ingredient.” (Soma)
“No… that is… well… haa…” (Felicia)
Even if he apologize for the failure, it couldn’t be helped for Felicia to let out a sigh. Anyhow, it was true that the Mandragora was a really valuable ingredient. It was natural to be shocked if he had wasted three of them.
“That is not the case, but… anyway, there is still a lot. I had somehow expected from your behavior, but… to do that much… At the end of the day, I should be glad knowing that, right? Or perhaps, it is better not to know.” (Felicia)
“…Hmm? What do you mean by ‘at the end of the day’?” (Soma)
She didn’t feel unsettled. In fact, it was a very natural tone. She was like saying something obvious.
“Yes? What am I saying? Soma-san will leave this place tomorrow, right? So, at the end of the day, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it.”(Felicia)
After all, it was reasonable that Felicia spoke such words.