Chapter 50

“Bean sprout soup with rice…?!”

…Of course not.

“It’s a local specialty—seafood soup. They say it’s good for hangovers. Go on, try it.”

Lycian set the tray down on the side table and handed me a spoon.

I hesitated for a moment, then swung my legs off the bed, sat up, and took it.

“Did you eat breakfast?”

“Yeah, of course.”

“That’s a lie.”

Lycian stared at me for a beat, then smiled like he couldn’t help himself.

“I’ll eat later. You go first, Muriel.”

“…Thanks. I’ll dig in.”

“What for? It’s only natural that I take care of this.”

You’re so like a doting spouse—

The words rose all the way up my throat… and I forced them back down.

I scooped up a spoonful of the seafood soup and brought it to my mouth. I blew on it, then took a sip. Cool, delicate sweetness spread across my tongue.

“…!”

“Is it good?”

I widened my eyes and nodded enthusiastically.

Lycian looked at me with a satisfied expression.

After I finished the soup, I even drank the honey water Lycian had mixed for me—every last drop.

Then I washed up in the attached bathroom. When I came out, Lycian sat me down on a stool, saying he’d dry my hair.

As I felt his hands press the towel gently against my hair, soaking up the moisture, I asked carefully,

“Was I really drunk last night?”

“You don’t remember?”

“Um….”

No matter how hard I tried, nothing came back. Just that the mandrake liquor was insanely bitter…?

‘And the mead the guild members were trying to make me drink… did Lycian snatch it and drink it instead?’

What happened after that?

I squeezed my brain dry, but my memory refused to cooperate.

Fidgeting with my fingers, I asked,

“Did I… make a scene or anything?”

Lycian paused his hands, then let out a soft laugh, like he’d just heard something amusing.

“No. You were cute.”

“Cu—.”

Feeling my face burn, I brought a hand to my mouth and cleared my throat.

No matter how many times it happened, I never got used to hearing things like that.

“Don’t tease me… Tell me honestly. What did I do when I was drunk?”

“…You really don’t remember?”

“I really don’t….”

Lycian set the towel down and picked up a small bottle of scented oil, sighing.

When he opened the cap, a subtle floral fragrance drifted through the air.

“You told me I was handsome.”

“…!”

“You said I was like an angel fallen from the sky. Do you remember that?”

“I—I said that?”

I’ve lost it. My hands and feet curled in on themselves like octopus tentacles. Things I would never say sober.

‘I was completely out of my mind from the alcohol, no question!’

My heart pounded, terrified I might’ve said something even worse, when Lycian’s voice continued,

“You also asked me why I was such a moral degenerate.”

“…….”

At this point, I wanted to crawl into a mouse hole and disappear.

I really shouldn’t drink anymore…

Unable to face Lycian, I bowed my head and mumbled,

“S-Sorry….”

“There’s nothing to apologize for. It’s true that I’m a moral degenerate.”

“What? What are you talking about….”

Before I realized it, I’d twisted around to look at him—then immediately darted my gaze away when our eyes met.

“I think you’re kind. I really do.”

At my quiet words, Lycian’s hand, which had been combing through my hair, stilled.

Thinking he might not believe me, I hurried to emphasize it.

“I mean… I’ve seen a lot of people’s malice. Especially in the Tierney family… There were so many moments where I thought, How can someone be this vicious? But you’re fundamentally different from people like that. You might have a bad personality sometimes, but… you know what I mean, right?”

…Was that emphasis, or just rambling?

The more I talked, the more long-winded it became. I wasn’t even sure my point had come across properly.

Lycian was silent for a moment—then suddenly burst out laughing.

It was a laugh as crisp and refreshing as an autumn night.

“Why are you laughing? I’m being serious.”

“No, sorry. I didn’t mean anything bad by it.”

He resumed combing my hair. There was a soft chuckle in his voice, like he was enjoying something only he understood.

“Thank you for saying that, Muriel.”

“You don’t need to thank me. It’s just the truth—you’re a good person!”

At that, Lycian laughed even louder than before.

---

“This is the workshop you’ll be using, Apothecary!”

The guild member who’d gotten into trouble on our first day in the lobby over noodles—Rozenic—led us inside.

“Thank you.”

I smiled and greeted him, then took my time looking around the workshop.

It was spacious. About 18 pyeong, maybe?

One wall was entirely taken up by dark reddish-brown wooden shelves, with several books that looked useful lined up neatly.

Noticing my gaze lingering on them, Rozenic quickly added,

“There are far more books at headquarters. This is just a branch, so we didn’t stock much to begin with. When you visit the main guild someday, I’ll be sure to show you our splendid library.”

“Sounds good. I’m looking forward to it.”

I nodded cheerfully.

After Rozenic left the workshop, I pulled materials out of my inventory and began preparing to brew potions.

Lycian insisted on staying by my side as my assistant. I asked him to cut up the hard tree trunks.

The wood was from a rare species called the Ered Tree. Its roots, trunk, leaves, and fruit were all widely used as medicinal ingredients.

As it turned out, the contaminated zones were full of herbs like this—though they were also crawling with poisonous plants.

‘This Ered Tree even looks a lot like a poison tree.’

That poison tree was called the Blue Thorn Blossom Tree. Around June or July, it bloomed with blue, spherical flowers covered in thorns.

The Ered Tree’s flowers, by contrast, were white.

Since both trees flowered around June and July, they were easy enough to tell apart during that season.

But when they weren’t in bloom, their appearances were so identical it was easy to get confused.

‘Thank goodness I have the Herb Identification skill.’

The Ered Tree was a key ingredient for top-grade recovery potions. And the other ingredient was…

‘An A-rank monster core.’

Not something you could easily get your hands on—my inventory certainly didn’t have any.

But…

‘You’re free to use any materials in the workshop.’

I opened the lid of the wooden box Lycian had brought over.

Inside were monster cores of various grades, packed to the brim.

‘The Veratis Guild—rich and capable—is the best!’

Grinning, I took out a core that looked A-rank and held it up to the light.

As expected, the more helpers you had, the better.

---

Ding!

With a bright chime, a bluish window appeared in midair.

‘Finally!’

I clenched my fist, cheering silently.

I’d spent the entire day without resting, brewing potions. Partly to mass-produce them—but the real reason was…

This.

I’d actually tried brewing a top-grade potion once before.

I’d failed, wasted all the materials… It had seemed beyond my current level.

So I came up with this idea—leveraging the effect of the Blessing.

Ten percent wasn’t a low probability.

Given how high-tier the potion was, it wouldn’t be easy to get—but still.

‘Alright. Even if it’s just one, let’s get a top-grade potion…!’

I rolled up my sleeves again.

From here on out, it was a battle of stubborn patience… and luck.

Four hours later.

The sun had set, and deep night had fallen.

I’d eaten nothing but a few chunks of bread for dinner and stayed completely focused on potion-making.

And the result…

“Ha… I did it….”

It was exhausting—no, brutal—but the effort paid off.

I’d obtained two top-grade potions!

‘I thought I’d need insane luck just to get one…!’

Overcome with emotion, I gazed at the deep crimson potion.

As potion ranks increased, so did their effects—and the efficacy of a top-grade recovery potion was nothing short of miraculous.

It could bring someone back from the brink of death, even after severe trauma.

‘It can’t cure incurable diseases, though….’

That thought brought a wave of bitterness rising in my chest.

I brushed the feeling aside and turned to Lycian, calling out brightly,

“I’m done! We’re free for the day!”

I hopped toward him, and Lycian let out a heavy sigh as he caught me in his arms.

Patting his back, I said in a gentle voice,

“It must’ve been hard, playing assistant. You did great.”

“I wasn’t tired at all. You’re the problem, Muriel….”

“Hey! I’ve got some stamina now too…!”

“Huh?”

“And muscles… look!”

I rolled my sleeves back up and showed him my arm. A look of disbelief spread across Lycian’s face.

“What muscles? There’s nothing here but bones.”

“It’s not that bad—just bones…!”

Bickering like that, we left the workshop and walked down the corridor.

Now it was time to squeeze some money out of Dante.