Miniature Garden Chemister - Chapter 9

Volume 1 — Different World Life, Start
9. Kingdom of Lareel

“Haa……”

I was completely exhausted, feebly drooping my head.
Yes, this is… above the sky.

“Hinami-san! Are you alright…?”
“Mn…”

Alfred-san, Thia-chan, me and Kiruto-san, the four of us were on the dragon in that order. Since it was a small dragon Thia-chan was sitting on Alfred-san’s knees. I’m fine behind them, but Kiruto-kun was sitting near the tail. Please take care to not fall out. And… to be very honest it’s very scary…!!
I wanted to reply energetically to Thia-chan who was worried for me, but unfortunately I didn’t have enough energy. Behind me, Kiruto-kun was rubbing my back. Sorry, it helps a lot…
At first, the dragon danced in the sky, showing off acrobatic moves as if to welcome me. Of course I was happy in the beginning. However, I quickly grew queasy and felt down.

“We’ll arrive at the mansion in 1 hour… please hold on.”
“Yes…”

Now that this has happened, I’ll have to close my eyes and endure… Right, I’ll review the concept of money to distract myself. Mn, there’s no other choice…!
In this world the same currency is used in all 3 continents. From the cheapest unit, there are iron coins, copper coins, silver coins, gold coins, white-gold coins and black-gold coins. And according to the book on common knowledge I received from god… the currency is called ‘Ril’. You can easily get that it’s definitely from the name of the world.
As a matter of fact, the currency is very similar to Japan. It’s simple if you think that there are no coins for ¥1, ¥5, ¥50, ¥500 and ¥5000. Conveniently, 1 iron coin = 10 Ril. It’s really easy to remember.

Iron coin (¥10)
Copper coin (¥100)
Silver coin (¥1,000)
Gold coin (¥10,000)
White-gold coin (¥1,000,000)
Black-gold coin (¥1,000,000,000)

And commoners’ monthly income is about 5 gold coins… 50,000 Ril. So in Japan, it would be about ¥50,000. With a rough calculation, it should be about a quarter of the living expenses in Japan. No, maybe it’s even cheaper considering the first salary is about ¥200,000. Anyway, I’ll just have to think in quarter prices when shopping… it should work. But, there are no prices of restoratives (potions) in Japan though.

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“We’re almost there!”
“That’s my onii-sama…! Fast!”

While I was thinking about money, it seems like I already entered the city. When I peeked my head out from the dragon and started down, there was a scenery of a medieval European city in front my eyes.
The sun was setting already that the city was dyed orange, but it was still lively. I wonder if the results of the hunt are being sold to the lady buying ingredients… I saw adventurers with armour. There are even people with cat ears and rabbit ears…!
They’re probably the ‘therianthropes’ god mentioned. From the scene that can’t be seen in Japan, I felt very excited.

This place is the ‘Kingdom of Lareel’. This is a country located in ‘Sariton’, one of the 3 continents of this world ‘Letisreel’. Since it’s the second biggest country, there’s even a castle.

Then with Alfred-san’s dragon piloting skills…? We landed down in the courtyard of a large mansion. Rather, this is Thia-chan’s house…? From the sky, well… it looked like the 2nd or 3rd biggest from the sky. What should I do, looks like she was someone important.
I wonder if I’m allowed to stumble into here.

“Welcome back, Alfred-sama, Cynthia-sama.”
“Welcome back.”

A real butler and a real maid…!!!
This is an amazing mansion after all. I’m so nervous that my right hand and my right foot are going out together…? Alfred-san gave the coat he was wearing to the butler and headed inside. Thia-chan and I followed him. As for Kiruto-kun… it seems like he’s talking with the maid about something.

“We’re preparing right away, so please wait here. I am the butler of this mansion, Sebas. If you need anything, please feel free to call on me, Hinami-sama.”
“Ah! Thank you very much!”

By the guidance of the butler named Sebas, I was led to a beautiful drawing room. Is it that came with butlers after all…? It would have been perfect if there was a ‘tian’ at the end. The name Sebas makes you think that he’s old, but believe it or not, this butler is an ikemen…! His slightly transparent sky blue hair, reaching a little longer than his shoulders, was tied behind him and he was wearing the butler suit very smartly. Mn, I don’t think I’m an otaku, but I felt sure that one doesn’t have to be an otaku to feel excited at a butler.
I slowly rested my back against the sofa and sipped the black tea Sebas-san served me. Thia-chan and Alfred-san were getting prepared, so they aren’t here right now.

“To think I could ride a dragon… there really is no telling what might happen in life.”

When I think about it, my heart starts pounding quickly again.
Maybe I got related with someone amazing. I was pondering that. Apparently getting out of a ‘forest of the lost’ is very difficult. But Alfred-sama came a lot quicker than I expected. It might be thanks to the dragon, but even though he looks like the same age as me, he might be someone of great talent… a genius! I wonder. Since, I heard that people other than experienced adventurers rarely can step foot in a ‘forest of the lost’.

Still…
I’m glad that Thia-chan and others were the first people I met in this world.

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◇ ◇ ◇

“I’m their father, Clef Merditi. Truly… thank you for helping Thia. I don’t know how I can show my gratitude…”
“No… I didn’t do anything, it’s alright.”

When I was led to a large room, an extravagant meal was prepared.
Then there was Thia-chan’s father, Clef-san sitting at the head of the table. He kept saying thank you so I started feeling troubled. All I did was just provide restoratives (potions).

“Come to think of it, Hinami-dono is a chemister, correct?”
“Ah, yes…”
“I heard from Thia just a while ago. She was rambunctious as she told me that it was delicious.”
“F-Father…!”

Panicking, Thia-chan retorted, “I wasn’t being noisy!” I see, she was happy enough to chat noisily. Then I’m happy too…
By the way, a while ago, Alfred-san told me that I shouldn’t tell that I can grow medicinal plants… or so he advised. So I didn’t tell Clef-san and others. Only 3 people, Thia-chan, Alfred-san and Kiruto-kun, know.

“Since one can become a chemister without knowing magic so there are quite a lot of people working as chemisters. However, to that extent there are many low-quality restoratives (potions). The restoratives (potions) of the chemisters who cherish their jobs are effective and do not taste as deathly. However, I’ve yet to taste a delicious restorative (potion).”
“Is that so…?”
“Though I may not appear so, I am a knight. I drink twice the amount of restoratives (potions) compared to normal people.”

Knight…!!!
I wonder why, but a knight sounds nice. I admire knights protecting princesses.
But, I see. So delicious restoratives (potions) are rare after all. Then, in return for the meal that was more delicious and extravagant than I expected, I’ll give some as a gift! It’s called cola! I took out a scarlet restorative (garnet potion) from my rucksack and handed it over to Clef-san.

“This is a restorative (potion) I made. Please try it if you like. It’s a carbonated drink, so it’s very delicious!”
“Carbon…? Then, without further ado.”
“Yes, it should feel nice inside the mouth…”

The scarlet potion (garnet potion) I held out tastes like cola. The fizz doesn’t get reduced, so it’s very delicious. I decided to not mind why the fizz doesn’t disappear.
There are two big and small hearts on the bottle. As always, making restoratives (potions) with ‘Angel’s Voice (Sanctuary) makes the bottle lovely.

“Hm… m!?”
“Father!”

Clef-san suddenly choked so Alfred-san hurried ran over to him. Of course Thia-chan and I went too. Oh no… I wonder if the fizz was a problem.

“No, I’m fine. I was just surprised at this flavour I experienced for the first time.”
“First time…?”

Alfred-san took the remaining half bottle of the scarlet restorative (garnet potion) and slowly drank it. Then, is slightly frowning eyebrows straightened as his eyes went wide open and looked at me.

“Hinami…! What is this!?!”
“Ehhh”
“It’s a flavour I’m having for the first time… There’s a fizzy taste to it, it’s very delicious…!”
“…I’m glad that you like it.”

Looks like they liked it, that’s a relief.
Clef-san too seemed to like it, as he was nodding his head next to Alfred-san. Seeing that, Thia-chan protested, “Unfair!” but Alfred-san said, “But you drank mana,” that she couldn’t rebut.
By the way, I learned that restoratives (potions) are called with shortened names. Indeed, calling all of them by the long names are tiring.
Basically, restoratives (potions) are called ‘potions’ and refer to health restoratives (high potions). The reason being… that restoratives (potions) are expensive, so health restoratives (high potions) are the most commonly used. Other restoratives (potions) called with other shortened names.

Health restorative (high potion) …Potion
Scarlet restorative (garnet potion) …Garnet
Magic restorative (mana potion) …Mana
Deep sea restorative (marine potion) …Marine

Or so they are called.

“Right, Hinami! Instead of selling at an equipment store, can you sell the potions here?”
“Ohh, that is a great idea. I’d like to request that.”
“Eh? Yes, I’m fine with that.”

Moved by the cola flavour, Clef-san and Alfred-san’s tension rose greatly…! Maybe it’s normal for Thia-chan, as she was drinking her tea without getting fazed.
Since I don’t know the price, I’ll leave that to them. Nothing bad should happen… yeah.

“Ohh! Thank you. How many do you have?”
“Er—m… 20 potions and 30 of each for garnets and manas.”
“Ohh, may I buy all of them?”
“Please, go ahead.”

The restorative (potion) bottles are a little smaller than palm-size so I filled in as much as I can in my rucksack. Ah, but the magic restorative (mana potion) Thia-chan had was slightly bigger. I wonder if the amount is proportionate to the size of the bottle.

“It’s small so it’s easy to carry. Is the quality good, Hinami-dono?”
“The quality… I don’t think it should be bad.”
“It’s the highest grade! It’s better than the mana I always carry around.”
“Thia! Really?”
“Yes. When I was out of magic points from using magic, Hinami-san’s mana fully restored it.”

When I was being anxious from Clef-san’s question about the quality, Thia-chan gave me timely help. Well, it shouldn’t be bad? Was what I was thinking, but hearing that it’s the highest grade makes me embarrassed…! Surprised at Thia-chan’s words, Clef-san held a mana in his hand was staring at it.

“By the way, father? If I drink the mana I usually have… only half of my magic points is restored.”
“My…! That is amazing…”

Magic points… does that mean the MP shown on the status screen? Should be right. Then does that mean my mana restores twice as much as normal one? Then that does feel quite amazing…!

“Well. You’re still young, yet you have great talent… Hinami-dono, are you around the same age with Thia?”
“Erm… I’m 15.”
““Eh!””

Clef-san asked my age very naturally while praising me. When I honestly told them that I’m 15, everyone raised their voices in surprise. I wonder why… I wonder if I looked littler because I’m Japanese? The atmosphere got strange, so the three of them all apologised. By the way, Thia-chan is 11. And Alfred-san is a year older than me. When I got surprised this time, he got mad and exclaimed, “I’ll grow up soon!”

“My, sorry about that.”
“…No.”
“Anyway, why don’t we decide on the prices of the restoratives (potions)? Highest price at market rates… 700 Ril each for the potions, 1,100 Ril each for the garnets and 1,800 Ril each for the manas. Does that sound good?”
“Mm… yes, that’s alright. Actually, are those prices high?”
“No? Considering the effectiveness of Hinami-dono’s restoratives (potions) it’s so cheap that I feel sorry. Is that really alright with you?”
“Yes, I don’t have any problems…”

I was actually worried because the prices were higher than I expected.

Health restoratives (high potions) 20 x 700 = 14,000 Ril
Scarlet restoratives (garnet potions) 30 x 1,100 = 33,000 Ril
Magic restoratives (mana potions) 30 x 1,800 = 54,000 Ril

Total 101,000 Ril

Wait, isn’t this equal to the living expense of 2 months, 10 gold coins…?!
Rather, like in games, MP recovery is expensive… amazing, the price is more than double.
Right away, the butler Sebas-san appeared with a tray holding 10 gold coins and 1 silver coin. I received those and moved them to the pocket inside my rucksack.

Afterwards, when I thanked them for the purchase, I was asked to spend the night here, so I felt happy at the kindness.
We had a nice time chatting over tea. Also, Clef-san did not ask about my personal history or anything like that. Maybe Alfred-san had been considerate for me.

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The room I was led to was so dazzling, decorated with beautiful furniture, and it was a calm-feeling room. It was like a noble’s room… Ah, they are nobles.
I learned it during our chats, but House Melditi is a count’s house. They really were amazing people…!

It felt like I was still dreaming, so today’s entry in the exchange diary ended up being 3 times longer than usual.