I wake up in the morning, brush my teeth, wash my face, and get ready with skincare products. It’s the same routine I had back in Japan. The only thing that’s changed is that I’ve started making my own skincare products. Fortunately, this is the Medicinal Plant Research Institute. I’ve got all the tools, facilities, and even materials I could ever want to make them myself. Plus, it seems my pharmacy skill affects the process, so the skincare products I make turn out high-performance. There’s no such thing as late-night overtime in this world, and thanks to living a regular lifestyle, the dark circles that had camped under my eyes for years are gone, my skin and hair are now smooth and shiny. Back in Japan, I worked all day and late into the night, so I had no connection to beauty or fashion, I was a proper “loser girl.” But with how much I’ve changed, looking in the mirror has actually become kind of fun lately. I grin to myself while staring into the small hand mirror that came with the luggage I was summoned with. That said, I still don’t wear makeup. I managed to make basic skincare stuff, but I never learned how to make cosmetics like makeup, so I haven’t bothered. I wasn’t big on slathering it on anyway, so it’s not a big deal.
After admiring myself to my heart’s content, I get changed. Since it’s my day off, I’ve been taking it slow, and it’s already gotten pretty late in the morning. So, what should I do today?
“Status.”
Status
Takanotsume Sei Lv.55 / Saintess
HP: 4,867/4,867
MP: 6,067/6,067
Combat Skills:
- Holy Attribute Magic: Lv.∞
Production Skills:
- Pharmacy: Lv.30
- Cooking: Lv.8
First, a status check. Both pharmacy and cooking have gone up, huh. Cooking could probably keep climbing if I keep at it, but lately, even making advanced HP potions hasn’t been raising my pharmacy skill much. What’s above an advanced HP potion? What should I make next? The institute has books on herbs and medicine, but I’ve never seen anything about potions more effective than advanced HP ones. Maybe the palace library has something? Spending my day off thinking about work again. I know it’s typical workaholic behavior, but I don’t really have anything else I want to do. I could go shopping in town, but since I’ve never left the palace grounds, it feels daunting to just head out casually. It’d be different if I had someone to go with… Oh well. Today, I’ll hole up in the palace library and read.
“Huh? Sei, you heading out?”
As I came down from my third-floor room to the first floor, Jude called out to me. He’s working today, not off like me. It seems he was just coming into the lab from the storage room with herbs, carrying a box overflowing with them in both arms.
“Yeah, I’m going to the palace library.”
“Oh, right, it’s your day off today, isn’t it?”
“Yep.”
“Have a good time.”
“See you later.”
With Jude seeing me off, I leave the institute and start walking toward the palace. It’s a thirty-minute walk, but it’s good exercise, right? I’m usually cooped up in the institute, so I’m pretty out of shape. I need to walk like this every now and then. It’s a hassle, though…
After a while, I reach the palace and head inside. I’ve been to the library a few times for work, so I don’t get lost. Looking at the vases and paintings decorating the palace corridors along the way, I reach the library in no time. Opening the entrance door, I step inside. To protect the books, there are few windows, so it’s dimly lit. Using the faint light as a guide, I browse the shelves, searching for the books I want. After picking up a few, I sit at a nearby table and open them. The text isn’t in Japanese, of course, but thanks to the summoning, I can understand it. It’s processed as Japanese in my head, which feels really strange.
I don’t know how much time passes as I go back and forth between the table and shelves. Eventually, the entrance door creaks open. Since anyone working at the palace can use the library, it’s not rare for someone to show up. Thinking it’s the usual clerks, I glance over, only to see a stunningly beautiful girl in an extravagant dress walk in. Her blonde hair is neatly curled and styled in a half-updo, her slightly upturned blue-green eyes striking. No matter how you look at her, she’s a noble lady, and a high-ranking one at that. It’s not odd for a noble girl to be at the palace, but coming to the library is unusual. I stare at her, soaking in the eye candy, and she notices me. Out of Japanese habit, I give a quick bow, and she returns a lovely smile. Figuring it’d be rude to keep staring, I take that as my cue to shift my gaze back to my book. A moment later, a book is placed on the table across from me. Looking up, it’s the noble girl from before, now reading without looking my way. There are other seats, so I wonder why she picked here, but I don’t dwell on it and keep reading.
When I finish all the books I’d grabbed, the bell rings to mark three o’clock. I’ve been in the library for quite a while, it seems. Thinking it’s about time to head back, I stand up, and the noble girl speaks up with an “Um…”
“Yes?”
“About that book you’re holding…”
It seems one of the books I was about to put away was something she wanted to read. Since I’d finished it, I hand it to her. When she sees the other books in my hands, she looks surprised.
“You’re reading some difficult books. Are you from the institute, perhaps?”
“Yes.”
“Impressive. This one’s written in an old language, so even I struggled to read it.”
Thanks to some ability, I can read anything regardless of the language, so I hadn’t noticed at all, but it seems one of the books was in an archaic tongue. Since I don’t feel the difficulty she mentioned, I just smile vaguely to brush it off.
“Are you interested in herbs too, my lady?”
“I suppose so.”
My awkwardly formal question gets a vague smile in return. Hmm, was my polite speech off, or was it the question itself? I can’t tell, but I figure it’s best not to bother her more, so I wrap things up.
“If you’re interested, please visit the Medicinal Plant Research Institute sometime. We have real herbs in the garden too. I’m Sei, a researcher there.”
“Thank you. I apologize for not introducing myself earlier. I’m Elizabeth Ashley.”
“Well then, I’ll head back to the institute now.”
“Take care.”
After returning the books to the shelves, I step out of the library and feel a wave of heat hit me. Summer’s getting close, huh. The library must have some kind of temperature control, because it was cooler than the corridor. Fanning my chest with my hand, I walk back toward the institute. Then, I hear the sound of galloping horses behind me. Turning around, I see a group of horses heading my way. The riders look like knights, and the person at the front seems familiar.
“Sei!”
“Oh, hello.”
It’s the captain of the Third Knight Order. That must mean the group behind him is the Third Knight Order too, right? They’re in knight uniforms, so probably.
“Heading back to the institute?”
“Yes.”
“If you’d like, I can give you a ride.”
“Oh, that’s really kind, but… I’ve never ridden a horse before…”
There’s still a good distance to the institute. I appreciate the offer, but I have no idea how to get on a horse. Looking up at him, unsure, he says, “Hold on,” and extends a hand. Hesitantly grabbing it, I’m lifted onto the horse in an instant and seated in front of him. Being up on a horse is high, and it’s a little scary.
“Alright, let’s go.”
With that, the captain takes the reins, and the horse starts moving slowly. I cling to the saddle nervously, and I hear a quiet chuckle as an arm wraps around my waist from behind.
“Don’t worry, I’ve got you.”
“S-sorry…”
What’s with this closeness? Feeling someone’s body heat against my back might be a first for me. For a “loser girl” whose never-had-a-boyfriend streak equals her age, this level of contact is overwhelming. Even though it’s unavoidable, it feels like I’m being hugged from behind, and my ears burn with embarrassment.
“It’s your day off today, right?”
“Y-yes, it is.”
“And you still went to the palace?”
“Yeah, there was something about herbs I was curious about, so I did some research in the library.”
While my heart races, the captain strikes up a conversation. Every time he speaks, his voice reverberates through my back. Screaming internally, I manage to reply, and gradually calm down a bit. When I mention researching in the library, he’s predictably exasperated that I’d work even on my day off, but I insist it’s a hobby. Chatting like that, we reach the fork between the knight order’s barracks and the institute. The captain tells the knights behind him he’ll take me to the institute, splitting off from them there. I say he could’ve dropped me off at the fork, but he insists it’s not far and takes me all the way to the institute’s entrance. And so, that’s how my day off went.
I’m debating whether to add a short story from another character’s perspective…