851 Bear, goes to the pharmacist's store - Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear

Back in town, we paid visits to the sick. Mane expertly examined each patient and prescribed medicine with the utmost care. I found her abilities impressive, especially since she heals without the aid of magic like I do. Reflecting on it, my powers do seem excessively convenient. I hope no one finds out and starts calling me a saint or something like that. A saint dressed as a bear—just the thought of it is terrifying. "Mane-sensei, aren't you going back to the capital?" A wary apothecary inquired hesitantly. His name was Kabo. We were at the store of an apothecary who had just made Est's medicine. "I intended to return. But since I was attacked by Corvo, I don't have much choice, do I?" Mane replied as she mixed herbs. It was indeed Mane who had orchestrated the attack on herself. "Then, why come to my shop?" "Because you have all the mixing tools and herbs here. It's quite convenient. Unless, having me here is a nuisance for you?" Kabo glanced nervously over at Mane. "No, that's not it at all..." Though he denied it, his expression clearly read 'trouble.' Mane didn't seem perturbed in the least. "Then, if I happen to come to this town again, I'll borrow this place." "Ugh." Kabo slumped visibly. "Hey, is anyone here?" A voice called out from the store area. "A customer, perhaps." Kabo headed toward the sales area in the next room. The door was ajar, and the conversation was audible. "Bolan-san. What brings you here today?" "Recently, hasn't anyone by the name Mane from the Magic Ministry come through here?" Mane's hand stilled. "Are you speaking of Mane from the Magic Ministry?" "Yeah. They say there's also a woman dressed as a bear with her." That would be me. "I do know of Mane-sensei from the Magic Ministry, but she hasn't come by the shop. What seems to be the issue with Mane-sensei?" Despite our presence, Kabo was lying. "It was ordered by Lord Corvo to confirm with all the apothecaries in town. If Mane shows up, report it immediately." "Understood." I heard the door open. It seemed he had left. Kabo returned to us. "Who was that?" "A man working at Lord Corvo’s shop." "He acted quite high and mighty." "Since he works for the noble, Lord Corvo, he believes himself to be important. If I defy him and word reaches Lord Corvo, my shop could be destroyed, so I can't openly complain." Ah, those kinds of people are common. They aren't significant themselves but act as if they are under someone important. "But you didn’t say anything about us." "Honestly, I dislike Lord Corvo. If Mane-sensei were to intervene, the apothecaries in town would likely support her." "Oh, how delightful. In that case, could I rely on your help?" Mane flashed a mischievous grin. Despite being in the body of a child, she wore such expressions. "Still, who would've thought a simple herbal gathering would lead to all this." "Speaking of, why did Mane-sensei do the gathering personally? As someone who works at the Magic Ministry, surely you could acquire herbs just by asking." "There are herbs that lose their efficacy if not gathered personally." "Is this medicine you're making that requires such special herbs?" "Indeed, they're essential herbs." Herbs needed for body growth. "For now, let's focus on resolving this town's issue. You won’t go back on your word, right?" "…Yes. As long as it's something I can do." "It’s simple. We’ll corner Corvo. You apothecaries just need to testify honestly about what’s been happening." "That's all?" "That's crucial. If all the apothecaries deny it, even if we punish him, the sentence would be lenient. Your testimonies hold significant weight. Physical evidence would be even better." "Physical evidence…" Kabo pondered deeply. "The instructions are usually passed verbally." For now, we have physical evidence like Est's medicine, the medicine from the homes of the men who attacked us for money, and the suspicious medicine Mane kept from Corvo’s shop. "Also, don’t supply Corvo with herbs or medicine to the extent you can manage." "Herbs and medicine?" "There’s a possibility he might demand them." Kabo tilted his head slightly at Mane's words. "Regardless, the lord of this town isn't doing his job well—you’d think he wouldn’t shield a son doing such wrong." "Hmm, how should I put it? I’m not very well-versed with nobility. I’ve never heard ill rumors about this town’s lord, but I can’t say I’ve heard of any remarkable feats either. Surely, the residents know more." Mane looked at Kabo, a resident of the town. "We commoners never meet the lord, so we wouldn’t know what kind of person he is." "Is that so?" "Nobles stay in their mansions or travel by carriage. I’ve never heard of them walking the streets with bodyguards, and if they walked alone, no one would notice." Cliff sometimes visits my shop. And if she has the time, Lady Noa comes by the shop or my house. I wonder which is the norm. Given, the latter doesn't seem typical. "But as Mane-sensei said, there are no good or bad stories about the lord." "If the townspeople don’t have significant complaints, he could be considered competent." "But doesn't the lord notice what his son is up to?" "People don’t notice these things easily. They don't live together, and no one will risk Corvo’s ire to tell the lord. Whether the lord is strict or lenient with his son is known only to those close by." You can't always tell if a friend's parent is lenient or strict. It’s the same with a lord, who’s a stranger. Asking if your town mayor or governor is lenient or strict with their children is like that. Most wouldn't know or care. Information is like that. "Still, nobles shield sons who've done wrong, right?" "Nobles protect their honor. When their family does wrong, they cover it up from outsiders. This seems like they're protecting their child. But if it becomes public, they’d cut ties." "That’s frightening." "Being a lord isn't easy. You can't govern with idealisms. You must prosper the town, ensure security, negotiate with other towns, and maintain ties with merchant and adventurers guilds. Any policy will face criticism if it loses the residents' trust." "That must be tough." "Being a lord is a bothersome job. If tax revenue drops, you'd be deemed incompetent by the royal family and other nobles. Finding spouses for your children would be hard." If asked whether you'd prefer to marry into a wealthy or poor land, most would choose the former. "I see. I thought it involved just approving documents." Kabo listened to Mane's explanation with an expression of genuine admiration. "Reviewing documents prepared by your subordinates and authorizing them, that too is a task that requires careful attention. You must ascertain if what's being requested is truly necessary, understand how much it will cost, and only then affix your seal. Affixing the seal indicates the lord's consent, and any failure implicates the lord’s responsibility. Hence, there's no simple task for a lord." That was how Cliff once made a mistake regarding the orphanage. Often, in manga or novels, characters aspire to become lords or kings, but it's not a trivial endeavor. It would be impossible for someone like me who prefers lazing around in bed. I'm relieved I wasn't reborn as nobility or royalty. "That's why, in return, nobles lead affluent lives." Well, nobles likely study from a young age. When I visit Noa’s house, she’s often deep into her studies. Whenever she travels to other towns, she learns about the architecture, specialties, and pricing there. "And with that, the medicine is complete." Despite chatting, Mane's hands worked steadily and skillfully. As expected of her. Mane took the completed medicine to the sick, delivering it personally. She refused any payment. "This is a one-time thing. I merely cleaned up after the mess caused by that man’s actions, as a fellow apothecary." She instructed them to visit Kabo’s shop if they needed more medicine in the future. After making the rounds to the sick, we returned to the adventurers' guild. Naturally, we entered through the back door. Upon entering the room, the men who had gone to Corvo's returned directly to the guild, as advised. "We did as the young lady instructed." One of the men handed back a magic device to Mane. She had given them a recording magic device, instructing them to record their interactions with Corvo. Mane reviewed the recording, confirming the conversation between Corvo and the men had been accurately captured. "With this, we have more evidence," she assured. "Are you really sure we’re safe?" one of them asked warily. "Yes, with this recording, we have evidence that Corvo gave you orders. But we'll frame it as though you helped us instead of attacking us. So, you’ll be fine." I overheard Mane mutter under her breath, "This time," and it sent a chill down my spine. Frightening.