821 Bear, discusses with siblings - Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear

A bear-shaped light illuminates above us, casting its glow while discussions unfold within the cave. Zect and Lydia watch the bear-shaped light with expressions hard to read. Is a bear-shaped light really that unusual? "Are you really working for the Ministry of Magic?" Zect skeptically asks Mane, who looks like a child. "I'm a half-elf. I've lived longer than your parents," Mane replies, brushing aside the hair over her ears to reveal her slightly elongated, charming ears. "I see. Sorry about that." "My apologies." The two are taken aback, realizing that Mane, whom they thought of as a young girl, is actually older than their parents. "But even for a half-elf, you still seem small..." Though uttered quietly, everyone can hear it. Mane probably hears it too but seems to ignore it, finding the explanation cumbersome. "Should we call you Ms. Mane then?" "Yes, that would be helpful." As expected, addressing her with a casual suffix wasn't appropriate. Using "Ms. Mane" seems to be correct. "By the way, what about you?" Lydia asks, looking in my direction. "I'm just an ordinary human." They seem relieved by my response. "Just to confirm once more—you... Ms. Mane, are connected with the Ministry of Magic, correct?" "Yes." "I've heard the Ministry of Magic does research in magic, and that includes medicines." "Indeed, magic, magic circles, magic devices, and the research also includes medicines." The Ministry of Magic, despite the name, covers a broad range, possibly because it involves magical herbs as well. "Do you know any pharmacists?" "Yes, since we use medicinal herbs." Zect contemplates and exchanges glances with Lydia. "Brother..." "...At the Ministry of Magic in the capital, there's also his influence." "But Ms. Mane is..." "At this rate, we'll merely be taken advantage of. And there's my sister too." "I understand, but still..." They seem to be grappling with some issue. "Enough already, just say it clearly. There's something you want to tell me, right?" Mane exclaims at the two, who remain unfocused. Her voice echoes through the cave, causing bats to flutter around. "Mane, a little quieter, please." "But these kids..." I get what she's trying to say. Asking for reasons but not providing them is frustrating. "We were hoping to make a deal with you." "A deal?" "Could you buy the medicinal herbs we collect at a fair price? And introduce us to a pharmacist. We know where rare medicinal herbs grow in this forest and can gather them if needed." Zect quickly lays out their request. "Hold on, saying so much at once makes it hard to process." "Sorry." Zect apologizes again. "Let's set the herb purchase aside for a moment. You're asking for an introduction to a pharmacist?" "We're looking for someone who can mix medicines." "Medicine mixing? Well, there are those who can." Mane herself is knowledgeable about medicines. She can also create magic circles and magic devices. She holds a senior position in the Ministry of Magic. "Really! Please introduce us." Zect bows his head. But please stop raising your voice too much in the cave, it makes the bats go wild. I can't stand bats. "Calm down. First, explain your reasoning. Even if I were to introduce someone, I can't do that without understanding why. Also, each pharmacist specializes in different medicines. Whether there's a pharmacist who suits your needs depends on your situation." "Sorry. Besides Lydia, I have another younger sister." So, they’re three siblings. "And... our sister is sick." "You're looking for medicine to cure her illness? There should be pharmacists in town you can ask." "There are pharmacists in town, but they exploit us by demanding exorbitant money." Sounds like a shady pharmacist. But it's also possible that the sister's illness is severe and genuinely costs a lot. Based solely on Zect's account, it's hard to judge. "Aren't the materials for the medicine expensive?" If the materials are hard to obtain, high prices are inevitable. "The pharmacists say that, too. But we gather and bring the medicinal materials ourselves." "And the other herbs we've collected are taken for almost nothing." They speak with a sense of frustration. If the material costs are free, all that's left is for the pharmacist to mix them into medicine. How much that would cost is beyond my judgment. "What kind of illness does your sister have?" "She has red spots all over her body and a terrible face..." "Sometimes she also has fevers and coughs." They explain. "Red spots and a cough... What about the medicine?" "I don't know the details. But the pharmacist mentioned we need Beltla grass." "Indeed, Beltla grass is known to suppress coughs." As expected from Mane, recognizing medicinal effects just by hearing the herb's name. "The cough temporarily stops, but the red spots don't go away. Although the pharmacist says continuous use will heal them." "It hasn't shown much effect." "Hmm, without seeing it, I can't be sure, but it might be separate illnesses. There’s also the possibility of a complication." "You say the price is high, but how much is the medicine?" People have different perceptions of money. What might not be a significant amount for someone wealthy could be a fortune for ordinary citizens or children from an orphanage. Zect hesitantly discloses the price. "The Beltla grass isn't cheap, but it's over ten times the normal price." ...Ten times. It's about as much as Tirumina's monthly salary. Which means Tirumina's entire monthly wage would be spent on medicine. That would leave nothing for living expenses. People need food, clothing, and shelter to survive. "The pharmacist claims the price includes the mixing fee." "You need knowledge to make medicine." It's the same as cooking. Ingredients, water, oil, heat, and seasoning—using the right amounts is crucial to make it taste good. The same goes for making medicine. Unlike a game, you can't just click once to mix herbs into a potion. You need proper knowledge about which part of the herb to use and in what amount to create it. There's also the potential for the medicine to turn into poison if done improperly. It doesn't work like in games, where you just combine ingredient A with B to complete it. "It's normal for pharmacists to add a fee for their skills on top of the material costs. The more complex the concoction, the pricier it gets." "So, how difficult is it to mix medicine using Beltla grass?" "It depends on the pharmacist, but generally, it's considered a mid-level medicine." "Is that difficult or easy?" Please explain in a way a layperson like me can understand. "As I said, each pharmacist has their strengths and weaknesses, so there's no straightforward answer. That’s just the general consensus among pharmacists." "Then why not simply ask another pharmacist?" With that, the situation regarding the price becomes clear. There shouldn't be just one pharmacist in town. By comparing prices, one would be able to tell. If they match, it's likely fair. If they differ, the probability of encountering a dishonest pharmacist is high. "That's the problem. In town, that pharmacist holds significant influence, and no one can defy them," Zect explains. "That's the lowest of the low for a pharmacist," Mane comments. "Moreover, they're exploiting the situation by buying other herbs cheaply while making the medicine." "Seriously, that's terrible," she exclaims. Seeing Mane say such things with her appearance is a bit unsettling. If Fina or Noa ever used such language, I’d be quite shocked. "But if the town's pharmacists are no good, why not procure from the capital's pharmacists?" Mane proposes. After all, if she’s asking Mane, she might as well buy from the capital’s pharmacists. "We can't take our sick sister to the capital. Therefore, we can't request the medicine." Indeed, without knowing her symptoms, it's impossible to prescribe medicine. "That's why we'd like a pharmacist to visit the town once," Zect elaborates. "Alright then. Once my objectives are fulfilled, I'll stop by the town on my way back to check on your sister. And this Lady Mane will craft the medicine for you," Mane declares. "............" Zect and Lydia are left speechless by Mane's offer, mouths agape. Seeing their confusion, I jump in to clarify: "Mane is a high-ranking official at the Ministry of Magic. She's proficient in magic circles, magic tools, and medicinal herbs," I explain. "Really?" They look at Mane with disbelief. In this case, who holds more credibility—I, saying I can make the medicine, or Mane, making such a claim? A medicine made by someone who looks like a child. A medicine crafted by a girl dressed like a bear. Neither seems very trustworthy. "I'll make you an incredibly effective medicine. If you provide the Beltla grass, I’ll even lower the price for you," Mane assures them. "Can you really make it?" Zect inquires uncertainly. "Whether you choose to believe or not is up to you. If you don't trust me, I can introduce you to another pharmacist," she offers. "No, please—we implore you. Please make the medicine," Zect pleads. "Also, give me the name of that pharmacist. I'll handle them personally," Mane adds. Despite her petite stature, her words are incredibly reassuring. Even Ellelaura speaks of her with respect. She might be more formidable than I initially thought. "And about buying herbs at a fair price—you mentioned that earlier, right? I'll arrange for the commercial guild in the capital to take care of it. Once you're in the capital, visit the commercial guild," Mane instructs. "We appreciate it." "Thank you," Zect and Lydia express their gratitude multiple times.