The next day. The day’s lessons are over, and it’s already pitch dark outside. Given that this is the institute, there are still a few people around, but normally, work would’ve ended by now. I’m no exception. After lessons, I came back here to do some research. That said, I’ve hit a wall again.
As usual, there’s no progress on the [Saint]’s technique. I even asked the Director, but just like everyone else, he doesn’t know more than the general rumors. There’s zero info on the activation conditions. If I could just figure that out, I could try all sorts of things… It’s not like chanting “[Saint]’s Technique” would make it work, right…?
I mulled it over in the institute for a while, but it was getting nowhere, so I stepped outside for a break. Staying cooped up in a room might be why my thoughts keep circling. Maybe breathing some fresh air will spark a good idea.
Stepping out with a lantern, a faint breeze brushes by. Days can still be a bit warm, but the night wind feels much cooler now. I sit on a bench right by the institute and glance up at the sky, spotting the moon and stars. Unlike novels I read back then, this other world doesn’t have two moons or strangely colored ones. The only difference from Japan is that, with fewer lights around, you can see way more stars.
During that initial chaos, I wanted to set up a stable life here. With the prince acting like that, I didn’t know when I’d be told to leave the palace. Plus, I didn’t even want to stay here myself. In the end, circumstances led me to a job at the Medicinal Plant Research Institute, and I’ve ended up sticking around.
Oh, right. Around the time things settled down a bit, I looked up at the night sky from my room. That was a few months ago. Lately, I don’t think about Japan as much. At first, I’d feel sad knowing I’d never see my parents, siblings, or friends again. Even now, it stings a little to think about it. But maybe because I’m quick to move on, or maybe because I’ve been caught up in this world’s fascinating oddities—the pain feels like it’s fading. Am I kind of heartless for feeling this way after just a few months?
If I’d been mistreated nonstop since being summoned, it might’ve been different. But that’s not how it went. The prince aside, most people here have been kind. Jude, the Director, the researchers, and later the Commander and the Third Knight Order too. Surrounded by nice people, this institute has somehow become my place.
Maybe that’s why. I’ve started facing the whole [Saint] thing I used to avoid so hard. I’d been pretending not to see it all this time. But when you see someone you know struggling, it’s hard not to care. Especially when it’s not just hearsay, you witness it yourself. That’s why I chose potion enhancement as my research focus. It feels good knowing what I can do might help someone.
I suddenly recall the Third Knight Order’s Commander thanking me in his office. Maybe it came to mind because I was thinking about my early days here? I don’t do it for thanks, but it does feel nice to hear it. As I think that, a warmth spreads in my chest.
…
…
…
Huh?
I gently press my hand over the center of my chest, above my heart. “Warmth in my chest” is just a figure of speech, it’s not supposed to actually get warm. But it really does feel warm. What’s going on? As I puzzle over it, the warmth keeps welling up, like it’s about to overflow from inside me. What is this!?
Flustered by the sudden sensation, whatever’s welling up actually spills out and becomes visible. Like when I use area magic, a mist spreads out from me. Judging by the white particle-like base, it’s probably my magic, but the golden glitter is denser than usual. More like a golden mist than a white one. What is this? The mist keeps expanding, and with normal magic, it’d be ready to activate by now. But the unusual color makes me think it’s something different.
My eyes catch the herb field in front of me. The mist has already spread over it. One thought hits me. Maybe, right now…
I’m not exactly a Christian or anything, but I instinctively clasp my hands in a prayer-like gesture. I don’t know why I did it. Just felt right. And I pray. “Please let it work.”
The golden mist glows brighter, lighting up the night. For a moment, it flares intensely, then bursts, and golden particles rain down from the sky like glitter. I let out a soft “oh” at the fantastical sight. Lowering my gaze from the sky, I see the herbs where the mist had been are now surrounded by golden particles. Though, the glow fades quickly.
“What happened!?”
The Director who’s rarely still here this late, rushes out of the institute in a panic, probably noticing the anomaly. With that much light, of course he’d notice.
“Uh…”
I flash an awkward smile and laugh nervously, and his brow furrows. How do I explain this? I’m just as confused by this mysterious phenomenon, so I struggle to find words. As I hesitate, his gaze shifts from me to the herbs at my feet. Frowning curiously, he crouches down and examines them closely. He plucks one herb, studies it, then picks another from an area the mist didn’t touch. Comparing the two in his hands, he looks up at me.
“What did you do?”
“Well, I have no idea what just happened…”
It’s too dark to see any difference between the two herbs he’s holding. But judging by his reaction, there’s something. I’m clueless, though. For now, I explain what just occurred step-by-step, and he sighs in exasperation.
“Well, whatever. Let’s head inside.”
Looking utterly exhausted, the Director turns toward the institute. Sorry for always acting on impulse. Apologizing silently in my head, I follow him back inside.
“Did something change?”
“It doesn’t look much different on the outside, but…”
The Director seems unsure, hesitating as he explains. The herbs laid out on the lab table look like the same type at first glance. But on closer inspection, there’s apparently a difference. In their “contents.” Contents? Does he mean the magic plants supposedly have? I don’t get it, but I’ll ask him later. Right now, I’m focused on the seemingly altered herbs in front of me.
“So…”
“You, try making potions with these.”
At the Director’s suggestion, I make potions using both herbs. Working cautiously, I notice a difference when I infuse magic. It’s just a feeling, but it’s pretty distinct. Once the potions are done, the difference becomes obvious even at a glance.
“They’re beautiful…”
“Yeah.”
Holding the bottled potions up to the lamplight makes it clear. Golden particles float gently inside, reflecting the light and sparkling. None of my previous potions ever had particles like this.
“What about their potency…?”
“Can’t say without testing, but they look better than the usual ones.”
The Director answers with a wry, exasperated smile. Don’t give me that look. I can’t help it, they just turned out this way.
Later tests confirmed my suspicions, the new potions outperformed anything I’d made before. Their effect was exactly 50% stronger than my already 50%-boosted ones. Even here, the curse strikes…
Further investigation revealed that using these mysteriously enhanced herbs, even others could make potions 1.5 times stronger than usual. It later turned out the enhancement was a one-generation thing, seeds from these herbs only grew regular ones, not enhanced versions. Seems I have to personally enhance the herbs myself. It’s great that anyone can now make high-potency potions, but it’s a bit of a bummer that I’m still needed for the materials.
Then there’s the question of whether I can trigger that mysterious magic again. I’ve tried a few times, but I haven’t replicated it yet. It activated out of nowhere last time, so I’m still fuzzy on the conditions. I’ve been experimenting while recalling how it felt when it happened. That’s something to investigate gradually too. Well, the Division Commander was thrilled to help with the research when he heard, so I bet we’ll figure out how to recreate it soon enough.