843 Bear, goes to the drugstore - Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear

Thanks to Lydia's guidance, we arrive at the pharmacy. "This is the place," she says. Upon seeing the sign, Mane steps inside. "Welcome! What kind of medicine do you need?" A male clerk greets us as we enter the shop. "It's been a while," says Mane. "M-Mane-sensei!" As soon as he sees Mane, the clerk is so shocked that he takes a step back and bumps into the shelf behind him. "Why is Mane-sensei here?" So, they recognize her as 'Sensei' here as well. "Oh my, is there something wrong with a teacher visiting her student? Or is there perhaps something you're feeling guilty about?" Mane responds with a strong presence despite her youthful appearance. "That's... that's not..." the clerk stammers. "Is that so?" Mane presses. "...No," he admits, avoiding eye contact. He's definitely hiding something. "Then it's fine if I've come to see you, isn't it?" "...Yes," he reluctantly agrees, clearly wishing he hadn’t. "So, why are you visiting the shop?" the clerk asks. "I have two reasons for coming to your store. First, you know someone named Corvo, don't you?" "...Yes," he admits sincerely. It seems lying to Mane is impossible. "Are you an associate of his?" The clerk's gaze wavers at her question. Apparently, there's more he's not telling us. "You are his ally, then," Mane concludes. "No, it’s not like that. I can't defy him. If I do, I won't be able to procure medicinal herbs. Besides, he'll spread malicious rumors that would ruin me as an apothecary," the clerk explains defensively. "Then choose. Will you follow me or follow him?" ".........." He remains silent, unsure of what to do. "Silence implies you are choosing to be my enemy," Mane declares coldly. In Mane’s world, there is no option to remain neutral. Not choosing makes you an adversary by default, as neutrality leads to inevitable betrayal when the odds shift. Mane's logic is sound. "N-no, I will follow you, Mane-sensei," he finally submits, head bowed. "A wise decision. But you understand what will happen if you betray me, yes?" Despite her petite frame, she is terrifyingly intimidating. The clerk nods meekly. "And those two behind you...?" he inquires, noticing Lydia and me. "The girl in the bear costume is my bodyguard. Attempt anything against me, and you might be eaten," Mane warns. "I won’t eat anyone," I protest. "Your bear companions might," Mane retorts. I wouldn't want to feed someone like this to Kumayuru or Kumakyu. Having finished introducing me, Mane turns her attention to Lydia. "Do you remember me? I once asked you to make medicine for my sister, but you refused," Lydia says, gazing intently at him. "...Oh, from that time," he recalls. "It was because of orders from Corvo. He claimed you were his client, so I couldn't make the medicine." Lydia's expression is tense, a testament to her emotions. "As I mentioned, going against Corvo means I can't acquire herbs in this town," the clerk tries to explain. "Is Corvo really that powerful?" I question. "He's the son of the town's lord," the clerk answers. "In other words, he's nobility. But he's an apothecary?" I inquire, puzzled. "It's not uncommon. The eldest inherits the family estate, while younger siblings have to find trades. Some become knights, others assist in family businesses. So it's not strange for nobility to become apothecaries. They sometimes marry into noble families as well," Mane enlightens. Only one heir can inherit a household, even royalty. Like in Noah's case, where having only daughters necessitates marrying in a suitable heir. "With the lord’s backing, I couldn't oppose him," the clerk concedes. Defying nobility is nearly impossible for commoners. This dilemma is why he was torn between siding with Mane or Corvo. "I understand. But you chose me. Isn’t that right?" Mane asks. "...Yes," the clerk confirms. "Then, for the second reason for coming here: I need you to lend me a room for compounding some medicine." "Compounding medicine?" "Do not question. Your only correct response is 'Yes.'" "Y-yes. This way, please," he obediently leads us to a back room at Mane's command. "What a messy room. Do you clean it properly?" Mane critiques. The room, likely the compounding area, is in disarray, bringing to mind someone else's room. "I've been busy," the clerk excuses himself. "No need for excuses." "…Yes," he nods, accepting her words. Should I point this out? "Mane, wasn't your room also messy?" I tease. "Yuna, that's different. I was busy," Mane argues. That's the same excuse this guy used. "Alright. Clean this room immediately. Also, prepare the herbs I list." Mane orders. The clerk begins tidying up as instructed. "I'll help, too," Lydia volunteers, prompting me to join in cleaning. Lydia and I organize the room, being careful not to mix up the herbs with weeds, even though they look the same to me. "Aah, that's a rare Mill Mill leaf," he'd say if I mistook something for trash. To me, they all look like weeds. So, I set aside what I assume might be herbs and focus on tidying books and tools. Once Mane secures enough space for compounding, she produces herbs from her item bag and instructs the clerk to bring more. Retrieving a small vial, she begins her work. "Is that the medicine Est was taking?" I ask, curious. "Yes, I need to verify something," Mane replies, directing the clerk to fetch specific ingredients. "But those are rare and expensive..." "Silence. I'll pay," Mane assures him. Her words relieve the clerk, who nods in agreement. "But only the appropriate price." Even so, he seems relieved that the expenses will be recuperated. Mane continues her work, mixing herbs with a precision akin to that of a chef, astonishing the clerk, who watches her in awe. "Mane-sensei is amazing," he says, eyes shining. "But isn't she just stirring?" I ask, puzzled by his fascination. "No. Stirring evenly, channeling magic precisely — all within a time limit is challenging. The wrong stirring can ruin the mixture, making even perfect ratios ineffective. Magic is the same. Too little or too much, and it won't work. Deciding these factors while stirring requires skill. Proper timing and measurements are critical for successful medicine production," he explains. The clerk patiently explains the intricacies of compounding, emphasizing how difficult it is. "Well, it seems you've retained the basics as an apothecary," Mane comments, not pausing her work. "Of course, I have," he confirms. "Mane, is making medicine really that difficult? You can't just consume raw herbs?" I ask, amazed. "You'd still experience some effect, but blending various herbs increases it. Like cooking — more ingredients make the dish tastier, though too much isn’t good," Mane explains. With cooking, too, temperature and timing are key — too much or too little ruins the dish. "Lydia, bring what we made yesterday," Mane instructs. "Got it," Lydia nods. Lydia produces a liquid the three of us concocted yesterday. Mane takes the bottle filled with a blue liquid and measures three tablespoons into the mix, stirring it meticulously. "That should do it," she declares. A blue pill emerges from the concoction. "Is this for my sister?" Lydia asks. "Yes," Mane confirms. "Then taking this will..." "Yes, she'll be cured." It seems Mane's medicine will do the trick, sparing me from using my healing magic. That's just fine by me. "Mane, thank you so much," Lydia says, her gratitude evident. "Save your thanks for later. We still have another medicine to make," Mane remarks. "Another one?" "Lydia, you'll need to promise me something. Promise that you won't get upset when you hear the full story," Mane insists seriously. "What do you mean by that?" "I promise I'll handle it," Mane reassures, standing and grasping Lydia's hands. "I'm not entirely sure what's going on, but I will keep my promise," Lydia assures her. "Good girl," Mane says, releasing Lydia's hands and sitting back down. "Your sister was poisoned," Mane reveals. "Poisoned!?" I remember Mane examining the liquid Est had been drinking initially by mixing it with another solution. "I analyzed the components and found toxins and substances harmful to the body," Mane explains. Lydia tenses, ready to act. "Yuna, hold her," Mane advises, and I grab Lydia’s arm. "Let go," Lydia demands. "Lydia, you promised, remember?" Mane reminds her. "But..." "Listen to everything first," Mane insists. Lydia’s determination fades slightly. "It's not a lethal poison. The red spots were induced by the medication." "Medication?" "Think back, Lydia. Wasn't it just a fever at first?" Mane asks. After some thought, Lydia nods. "That's right, I think." "The illness was real, but the red spots were fabricated. They mixed something into the fever reducer," Mane continues. "But why do something like that?" Lydia questions, bewildered. "To ensure a continuous stream of payment for medication," Mane explains. "They did all that just for money." "From what I gathered from you and Zect, he's a greedy person," Mane points out. Indeed, they mentioned how he would buy the herbs they gathered at low prices. "Lydia, you were deceived," Mane asserts. Lydia's grip tightens in frustration. "As an apothecary, what he did is unforgivable. I know it must hurt, but you must refrain from doing anything." "But my sister suffered because of him," Lydia protests. "And I promise I'll take him down," Mane assures her. "...Mane," Lydia's anger subsides with her reassurance. "Just to confirm, did you know about this?" Mane questions the clerk. "No, I didn't. I had only been told they were a lucrative source," he explains. "So I was instructed to turn her and her family away if they came to the shop." I'm starting to feel irritated now. "Hey, Mane. Can I hit him?" I ask, eager to take justice into my own hands. "No, you can’t. You’d kill him if you did," Mane admonishes. "What if I just break an arm or leg?" I suggest, still frustrated. "Absolutely not. This is my responsibility," Mane asserts. Then, Mane prepares the medicine to counteract the red spots. "Thank you for letting us use your room. The medicine is ready," Mane conveys. "It was an honor to have Mane-sensei use it." "Make sure to clean the room," she instructs. Mane really doesn't have the right to criticize since her own room was a mess. "Oh, and if you tell anyone about today..." "I won't say a word," the clerk insists earnestly. "You can, but just know you'd regret it so much you'd wish you were dead," Mane warns with a smirk. "I promise I won't say anything! Just tell me if there's anything else I can do." "I'm glad to have such an understanding student," Mane replies with a sharp grin. "Thank you," the clerk bows deeply. The guild master of the commercial guild seemed to be under Mane’s thumb, too. Could it be that Mane was a terrifying teacher all along?