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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Xrecker
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“Hmm… this should be complete.”
Some of the alchemists who had been assisting me had family members who had contracted the plague.
We selected volunteers from among them and continued our research on a cure and vaccine. After a few days of continuous testing, we finally managed to create a viable cure and vaccine.
When we administered it, a few of them made a full recovery and even developed an immunity.
The only problem was that it didn’t work well on those with holy power. Well, I could research that further.
As long as a mutated strain didn’t appear, it shouldn’t be a problem.
“But shouldn’t we just tell Chieftain Su-hwi and start the treatment?”
“If the Healing Tree tribe priests leave, it will just be more work for me.”
Of course, we had the support of the kingdom and the Church, but this was the Elven Forest.
There was no need to create unnecessary conflict.
We could be framed for causing the plague, and the balance of power could be disrupted.
That was probably why Lorelia was staying in the Elven Union Assembly, instead of coming here.
“Yes, and Lady Lorelia is currently negotiating with the other tribes.”
Apparently, she was struggling to get them to allow the kingdom and the Church’s support to enter the Elven Forest.
Good heavens. To refuse help even in a situation like this.
The arrogance of the elves was truly astounding.
“Ugh…”
A few of the alchemists avoided my gaze, looking ashamed.
Of course, they would. For alchemists, who valued the exchange of knowledge with other races, the conservative nature of their own people must have been embarrassing.
“Well, isn’t it better to uphold traditions when you can?”
“Ahem. Thank you for saying that.”
One of the alchemists who had been helping me placed a petri dish in front of me.
I gave him a cursory nod and sprinkled the cure on the blood sample in the petri dish, observing the reaction.
As expected, the reaction was good.
Now, all that remained was to create a cure that would work on those with holy power…
It was time to find a volunteer with holy power.
The problem was, we had almost no test subjects left.
We needed an elf with holy power who had contracted the plague and hadn’t been treated yet, but there was no one.
Hmm… should I just grab a random priest and test it on them?
It would cause a scene if I got caught, so I would have to do it secretly…
I looked at Yeonhwa, who had been helping me with the tests.
She flinched and took a step back as I fiddled with a syringe.
“What were the side effects of the last test?”
“…They say the pain is considerable.”
“Really? Then let’s try administering this…”
“I’m on my break right now…”
“Tsk. Then another volunteer…”
“We ran out of volunteers with holy power because of the pain. We didn’t have many to begin with. You know… Lorian.”
“Who was that?”
As I tilted my head, Rotelo, who was working beside me, frowned.
“…My sister.”
“The one with the big chest and big butt? With the two moles between her cleavage.”
“Is that the only way humans can remember elves?!”
No, I was just remembering her by her distinct features. She was an exhibitionist, so it was hard not to notice.
I smiled at the angry Rotelo and changed the subject.
“I have a question. Why are there so many exhibitionist elves?”
Exhibitionism was a type of mental illness. It wasn’t uncommon for people in this world to have some kind of mental illness, but after spending a few days in the Elven Forest, I had noticed that there were an unusual number of exhibitionists among the elves.
Evangeline wasn’t like that, so I hadn’t known.
I asked Nina, the blonde elven alchemist standing next to me, who was wearing nothing but a bikini-like outfit made of what looked like string. She looked at me with a sour expression, then answered.
“Well… the Alchemist’s Guild has done some research on that.”
“Oh? Really?”
“Most elves have a strong sense of pride, right? One of the ways they express that pride is by showing off their bodies.”
“I see.”
“Elves are beautiful and have good figures. By showing off their bodies, they express their superiority over other races. It’s a theory that their stress manifests as exhibitionism…”
So, it was just another form of elven arrogance?
I found Nina’s explanation somewhat convincing.
Well, if you had a beautiful face and body like an elf, you would probably want to show it off.
Like how people who work out wear tight clothes.
“Ah, the reaction has changed.”
Nina, who had been watching the petri dish, muttered in awe. The other alchemists crowded around me. To think they would get so worked up over a single petri dish.
Ugh, it was so stuffy.
As I was about to push them away, annoyed by the sweet fragrance tickling my nose, the lab door burst open.
“I’m he—!”
It was the silver-haired beauty in black robes. Veronica, who had entered with a bright expression, smiled at me, then her expression hardened.
“Oh, you’re here.”
“…Yes, I’m here.”
What was with her? I followed her gaze.
Eh…
She was looking at the exhibitionist elven alchemists and the other elves who were clinging to me, their eyes sparkling.
“…Do you really have to be so close?”
“We’re trying to see the reaction.”
“What kind of reaction? Ah, the reaction between a man and a woman? Are you conducting some kind of seduction experiment?”
“Hah, are you jealous?”
“J- Jealous? Of what?!”
As Veronica’s face flushed and she shouted, another woman appeared at the doorway. A familiar face.
Claire, and Lucille. They had entered with cold expressions, but their faces brightened when they saw me, then hardened, just like Veronica’s.
“…Tutor, who are they…? I thought… you came to the Elven Forest to cure the plague…? Why are you with them…?”
“Hyun-woo…”
I had a pretty good idea of what they were thinking.
They probably thought I was building a harem in the Elven Forest. That wasn’t it, so I wished they would stop with the unnecessary misunderstandings.
I moved the petri dish with the successful reaction to another table. The elves who had been clinging to me swarmed towards it.
As I was finally free from their proximity, I looked at the three of them. Their faces were even redder than before.
“I don’t have time for unnecessary misunderstandings. Veronica, how much support did you bring from the Church?”
“U- Um. Ahem. Sorry.”
“There’s no need to apologize. Between you and me, a little misunderstanding is nothing.”
“You and I… Heh. Anyway, the Church has sent 30 high-ranking priests and 50 high-ranking paladins. And more are on their way.”
Wow, they sent a lot.
Were there any elves among them?
If so, I could use them as test subjects…
“And from the kingdom?”
“…You’re not going to tell me about our relationship, Tutor?”
“Is there a need to mention what kind of relationship a tutor has with his one and only student?”
“Heh, heheh. That’s right. The alchemists from the Alchemist’s Guild have agreed to help. And…”
She had also brought a large amount of food and ingredients needed for the cure.
“That’s great. You worked hard.”
“Hehe. It was for you, Tutor. It’s my duty as your student.”
I praised Veronica and Lucille, then turned to Claire. Whatever our relationship, and even though I hadn’t asked her to, she had helped me.
She had helped me with my achievement hunting.
“Claire.”
“Y- Yes?!”
“You worked hard. Hey, thanks.”
“…Huh?”
“What’s with that reaction?”
“Th- Thank you…?”
“Yeah.”
Claire’s eyes widened. Her sun-like orange eyes darted around, unfocused. Her long legs, clad in white pants, began to tremble, and her fingers fiddled with her hair.
It was a habit of hers when she was flustered.
Why was she so surprised by a simple thank you? Anyway, I had thanked her, so that was that…
“Veronica, let me fill you in. A few days ago, in the Healing Tree tribe…”
I told her what had happened with Su-hwi. Veronica was incredulous, and Lucille sighed heavily.
“Then what should we do?”
“Well, Chieftain Lorelia will take care of it. I can’t do anything about this.”
Of course, if they went too far, I would intervene, and if they still refused to accept the treatment…
Then I would have to resort to my final method.
“Um… Hyun-woo!”
“Hmm?”
“…Um, you see…”
Claire, who had been hesitating for a while, took a step forward. She glanced at me, then closed her mouth, then glanced at me again.
I knew what she was going to say.
“Are you asking me to ask Evangeline for help?”
“Gah! H- How did you know?”
Evangeline, as a member of the Hero’s Party, had greatly enhanced the reputation of the elves.
She was treated as a hero in the Elven Forest. If I used her to establish my own position as a Sage…
Then I could treat the plague without having to worry about the Healing Tree tribe. That was Claire’s suggestion.
“Wait, then the Sage would have to bow his head to her, wouldn’t he?”
Veronica didn’t seem to like the idea. As she spoke coldly, Lucille nodded in agreement.
It was true. Knowing my history with the Hero’s Party, it wouldn’t look good for me to ask Evangeline for a favor.
Claire knew that too, which was why she had hesitated.
I listened to their conversation, then turned my head.
I saw something rustle and disappear below the window.
“What?”
“No, nothing. Hmm… asking Evangeline for a favor.”
–Burst!
Just then, the door burst open.
Huh? Was someone else coming? As everyone in the lab turned to the door, we were all surprised.
It was the last person we expected to see.
Su-hwi.
Chieftain of the Healing Tree tribe and the Saintess’s mother.
“Ah, is it time for the Great Divine Art already?”
I remembered her plan to quell the plague with the Great Divine Art, as if holy power could unite everyone.
A pointless endeavor…
I could say with certainty.
The plague could never be cured with holy power alone.
But there was no need to stop them.
They had to see for themselves whether it would work or not.
“Alright, let’s go. Watching the Great Divine Art will be a good experience. And the timing is perfect…”
Huh?
Something was off.
Su-hwi’s eyes were trembling.
“What? What’s wrong?”
“…Sage. N- No, Mr. Sage.”
Su-hwi, trembling, approached me.
–Thud.
She knelt before me.
This, I had to admit, was surprising.
That arrogant elf.
The chieftain of a powerful tribe, kneeling before a human.
“P- Please… please…”
She bowed her head, her body trembling.
A stark contrast to her arrogant demeanor from before, her face was filled with a desperate plea for salvation.
“My daughter… please… save… her…”
What was going on?
Uh… wait a minute.
The reason she was acting like this was…
Wow, had the Saintess contracted the plague?
This was interesting. She had been able to protect herself with a holy barrier, but she still got infected…
Perhaps the second phase of the plague event was about to begin with her.
What a coincidence.
A test subject, and an opportunity to advance the plague cure, had just fallen into my lap.
I placed a hand on Su-hwi’s shoulder, who was pleading desperately.
“Let’s go and see. I need to know what’s going on before I can help.”
“…You’ll… you’ll help me…? Me… who ignored you… and refused your treatment…?”
“I came to the Elven Forest to cure the plague. I already knew the elves were arrogant and proud.”
Of course, that didn’t mean I was just going to let it slide.
And right now, I needed a clinical trial subject, one who could endure considerable pain.
If I used this woman and the Saintess, I might even be able to use the Healing Tree tribe priests as test subjects, and I could also humble the elves.
And I could also easily deal with the people on my punishment list.
Since the Healing Tree tribe was in a desperate situation, they would probably tolerate some aggressive experiments and tests of the new cures I had been developing.
This was great.
I might even be able to get the Pharmacy Master achievement here!
And elves had a good physical constitution… hehehe.
Well, if they didn’t cooperate, then they didn’t cooperate.
With the Great Divine Art rendered meaningless, I now held the key to curing the plague.
If they didn’t want to die, they would cooperate.
I suppressed a grin and said to her,
“Alright, let’s go. Time is not always on our side. Even now, the plague is attacking your daughter and the Healing Tree tribe.”
“Is… is that… really… alright?”
“I don’t lie about these things.”
Yes.
I would give them the cure, and I would treat them.
Of course, I would benefit from the process.
I helped Su-hwi to her feet, then looked at the others in the lab, who were staring at me blankly.
Claire, Veronica, and Lucille.
And the elves in the lab.
They were all staring at me in disbelief.
“What are you waiting for? Are you just going to stand there?”
“Ah.”
As they snapped out of their daze and started moving, I headed outside. And there, I came face to face with two familiar faces.
Leventia.
And Evangeline.
I met their gazes for a moment, then said to Su-hwi, who had followed me,
“Let’s go.”
As I walked away with Su-hwi, I could feel their gazes burning into the back of my head.
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