It’s been four months since I was summoned.
The Medicinal Plant Research Institute has been expanded.
Apparently, because so many members of the Third Knight Order were saved by the potions from our institute that day, the palace granted us a special reward. In particular, the person I gave the advanced HP potion to turned out to be the captain of the Third Knight Order, a third son from the prestigious frontier count’s family, a spoiled noble kid. Because of that, a special thank-you gift arrived from the frontier count as well. On top of that, the Third Knight Order agreed to buy up all the potions I’d made, which couldn’t be sold to shops due to their unusual potency. Thanks to all this, the institute’s budget has been quite generous lately.
Translator’s Note
“Frontier count” (辺境伯, henkyōhaku) is a noble title akin to a marquis or earl overseeing border territories, implying wealth and influence.
When the director asked if there was anything I wanted, I half-jokingly said a bath and a kitchen. To my surprise, they actually built a bath and a kitchen in the institute. The kitchen was more like a sizable cooking area, and next to it, they added a dining hall big enough for all the researchers to use. It even came with a cook. Essentially, we got our own dedicated institute cafeteria, and it’s been a huge hit with everyone. Until now, we’d been eating at the palace’s employee cafeteria, but that was a long walk away. The shut-in researchers, those nerds, were over the moon about it.
Truth be told, though, I had another reason for requesting a kitchen. To put it bluntly, the food in this world is terrible. It’s like most dishes are just the raw taste of the ingredients thrown together. Sometimes they’re seasoned with salt or vinegar, but it doesn’t suit my palate. I’d been eating at the palace employee cafeteria, and honestly, it was dreadful. It was so bad that I unintentionally lost weight from it. I’d never really thought about it before, but being summoned to this world made me realize just how picky I am about food as a Japanese person. So, even though I’m not particularly skilled at cooking, I figured I could probably do better myself. That’s why I asked for the kitchen.
They even assigned a cook, which was nice, but during quieter times, I got them to let me make my own food. Luckily, the cook was a kind person and didn’t mind letting me use a corner of the kitchen without making a fuss. The only thing is, while I’m cooking, they stare at me like crazy. It seems they’re someone with a real drive to improve. When they asked to taste what I made, I said, “Go ahead,” and they ended up polishing off an entire serving. After the first bite left them stunned, they ate the rest in silence. They begged me to teach them, so ever since, I’ve been sharing recipes whenever I make something new. Thanks to that, the institute’s cafeteria has grown so delicious that the palace employee cafeteria doesn’t even compare. It’s gotten so good that I don’t really need to cook myself anymore, but the cook keeps bowing and asking for new recipes, so lately, I’ve been cooking once a week and serving it to them too.
“Sei.”
Today, I was in the kitchen making sandwiches with the cook to teach them a new recipe when Jude showed up.
“What’s up?”
“The director sent a message. He wants you to deliver these documents to the Third Knight Order’s barracks.”
“My hands are full right now. Could you go instead, Jude?”
“No, he specifically said he wants you to deliver them…”
“Why’s that? Right now? I’m almost done here, would it be okay if I went after?”
“A little delay should be fine, I think.”
“Got it. So, I just need to go to the Third Knight Order’s barracks, right?”
“Yeah, he said to bring them to the captain’s office.”
“Roger that.”
I arrived at the captain’s office in the Third Knight Order’s barracks and asked the soldier standing by the door to announce me. They let me in right away. It seems the director had already informed them. Inside, there was an impressive desk, and in front of it, a sitting area with the director and another person already seated. The captain, maybe?
“Sorry to keep you waiting.”
“No, you’ve been a huge help. Thank you,” the director said.
“Well then, I’ll head back.”
“Wait a moment,” he called out.
I handed the documents to the director, and he thanked me with a smile. Thinking my job was done, I turned to leave, but he stopped me. Wondering what was up, I looked at him, and he gestured for me to sit beside him. Why? I glanced at the other person, probably the room’s owner and he motioned for me to sit too. Reluctantly, I took a seat next to the director, who then spoke to the other man.
“This is Sei.”
“I see. So it’s you. I’m Albert Hawk, captain of the Third Knight Order.”
“Nice to meet you. I’m Sei.”
I don’t mention my family name. In this world, only nobles have surnames, and since I’m not one, I leave it out. The director taught me that when I first joined the institute. Apparently, my family name isn’t familiar in this country, and using it might spark unwanted curiosity and trouble, so I’ve avoided it ever since.
So, the other person was indeed the captain. Sitting diagonally across from him, I took a proper look. He was a cool, handsome guy with slightly wavy blonde hair and blue-gray eyes that gave off a chilly vibe. He’s probably around the director’s age, I’d guess? As a knight, his build was sturdier than the director’s. Not that the director’s small, he’s plenty big. But this guy’s muscles had a different kind of bulk. Out of everyone I’ve met since coming to this world, he might just be my favorite type.
“Do you remember the Third Knight Order’s expedition the other day?” the director asked.
“Expedition?”
“You know, the salamander one.”
“Oh, that.”
When he mentioned an expedition, I drew a blank, but once he said “salamander,” it clicked.
“That time, you gave an advanced HP potion to someone, right?”
“Yeah.”
“That was him.”
Back then, the only person I gave an advanced HP potion to was the most critically injured one. The burns were so bad I couldn’t bear to look directly at them, so I don’t remember their face, but I do recall a knight nearby calling him “captain.” So, this guy was the one on the brink of death back then. After I gave him the potion, his charred skin peeled away, and now it’s healed so perfectly you’d never know he’d been burned. Potions in this other world are seriously impressive to heal this cleanly. If the burns are this well healed, the other injuries might be completely gone too. I’d love to see the potion’s effects up close, but asking him to strip and show me is obviously out of the question.
“Thank you. I owe my life to you,” Albert said.
“Oh… no problem…”
Oops. I’d been staring at his face, curious about the healing progress, and it seems I made him blush faintly. Seeing a handsome guy get flustered had more impact than I expected, and my heart skipped a beat. Trying to play it off with a neutral response, I heard a stifled laugh beside me. Turning, I saw the director holding a hand over his mouth, barely containing his amusement.
“Director?”
“No, it’s nothing. Oh right, you’ve been wanting materials for advanced HP potions, haven’t you?”
“Yeah. But don’t those only grow in the forest?”
The herbs for advanced HP potions, which we’d been quietly growing in the herb garden, had dwindled a lot lately due to my overharvesting. I want to keep making potions to level up my pharmacy skill, but unfortunately, those herbs are hard to cultivate, and the director banned me from using more. They apparently grow wild in forests outside the palace, so going there to gather them would work, but with monsters roaming around, it’s tough for researchers to go alone.
“Right. Around here, they grow in the southern forest. How about you go pick some?”
“Director, I’d rather not get attacked by monsters.”
“Don’t worry, the Third Knight Order guys will protect you, it seems.”
“Huh?”
“It’s their way of saying thanks for the potions from before.”
So, as gratitude for the potions, they’d escort me to gather herbs? Still…
“If it’s about gratitude, I’ve already received plenty…”
The palace gave us a special reward, and the frontier count sent a thank-you too. Getting even more on top of that feels like too much.
“The captain here wants to thank you personally,” the director said with a grin.
“Hey!” Albert interjected, flustered.
Too late to stop him, though. But is it really okay to mobilize the knight order for a personal thank-you? I glanced at Albert, and catching my meaning, he cleared his throat awkwardly before explaining.
“We were already planning a subjugation mission to the southern forest. So I suggested we could do it along the way.”
“Oh, I see.”
If it was already on their schedule, then I guess it’s fine? I do want those herbs for advanced HP potions, after all.
“If it’s not too much trouble, I’d appreciate it,” I said, bowing my head.
Albert nodded as if to say it was no issue. After that, we moved on to practical details like when the expedition would happen, and before I knew it, evening had rolled around.