Volume 10 - Chapter 34

The Apothecary Diaries

Growth #

The wind howled, piercing beyond cold to painful.

Time passed swiftly. Since returning to Seito, days went by as if nothing special had happened, as if life continued its course unaffected.

Before one knew it, the year had turned, and Maomao turned twenty-one.

Maomao’s life in Seito remained unchanged, working in the infirmary making medicine with the quack doctor, cultivating medicinal herbs in the greenhouse, and occasionally making house calls to Jinshi’s place.

There was a slight change, though.

“Dad! Play with me!”

“Hey, little one, Dad’s got work now. Later, Gyokujinn.”

Shikyou was there.

Wearing proper clothes instead of the attire of a courier, he looked remarkably like Gyoku-ou. If he resembled her so much, the common people who had followed Tamauigisu until now might even support Shikyou. In the world, judging by appearances was often easier than understanding what lay inside.

(What kind of change of heart is this?)

Maomao, being just a pharmacist, didn’t quite understand. However, discussions must have taken place among Jinshi and the others.

“Oh, sorry. Can you hand me that stick over there? My back is a bit itchy.”

A large bench had been brought into the infirmary. According to rumors, eccentric strategist occasionally visited in Maomao’s absence, leaving things behind.

(How did he convince them?)

During Maomao’s absence, the quack-doctor must have kept him company all the while. His interpersonal skills were, in fact, possibly at their peak in Seito. Only Dad came to Maomao’s mind as someone who could persuade the eccentric strategist.

On the bench lay Chuue. Her fixed body was now free, and the bandage on her right hand had been removed. However, she could only bend her elbow about half as much as before, and her hand could only move her little finger slightly.

Chuue’s injury was severe. She couldn’t work for a while and had been coming to the infirmary for functional recovery training.

(He’s made himself at home!)

“Yeah, yeah, is this good? If your back itches, do you need some anti-itch cream?”

Yabu-doctor handed Chuue a suitable stick.

“Oh, can I have that? By the way, isn’t it about time for a snack?”

“Yeah, you’re right. Today, I steamed sweet potatoes, mixed them with honey, and baked them again. I added goat’s milk for a smooth taste. What do you think?”

Yabu-doctor had inadvertently improved his cooking skills. Chuue had become one of the reasons for it.

“Yabu-san, you’ve improved! This might revolutionize the sweet potato cooking world in Seito!”

Chuue devoured the sweet potato snack on the plate.

“Chuue-san, please save some. I’ll call everyone.”

“Sure thing.”

Chuues nibbling on snacks seemed unbelievable to Maomao, so she transferred the sweets from the plate to another. Yabu was preparing tea, and its fragrance was strong. It seemed to be tea leaves from the central region. After all the roasting and drinking of dandelion roots, it was a decent cup of tea after a while.

“You’ve stabilized quite a bit.”

There was also some surplus medicine in the infirmary. Although there were still concerns about food shortages, it seemed there was some progress.

“Oh, by the way, you can return to the central region soon.”

“Huh?”

“I forgot to mention it. Teehee, my husband told me to tell you and the others.”

Chuue tapped her forehead with her left fist. Closing one eye and sticking out her tongue, it was an oddly irritating gesture.

“Jinshi-sama is returning too?”

“Of course. Well, it would be difficult to stay here any longer, and I’ve finished most of the handover. The plan is to solidify the central region with Shikyou as the center.”

“Can he handle it?”

Honestly, it’s worrisome. Sure, he can snatch up the good parts, and the martial aspect is significant. Compared to the second and third sons, he might be more charming, but he had been a prodigal son for many years. Having a unique information network and martial power as a courier might be an advantage, but there’s still a significant gap.

“It would be troublesome if he couldn’t. Shikyou-san might have to become the martial figurehead in Seito.”

(Martial figurehead, huh)

Thinking back, Tamuou might have let Shikyou alone learn imperial education among her sons because she saw the ideal martial figure in him.

“He’s not dumb. Originally, he received education to become the head of the west, and managing the Boryakujo is in a way training in using people.”

“But there’s something lacking, or rather, he’s a bit naive.”

His personality contradicts his name, Shikyou. No matter how much he pretends to be wicked, there’s something tender about him.

“Yeah, you’re right. We plan to strengthen that aspect around him.”

“Can we trust those around him?”

In response to Maomao’s question, Chuue smiled and sipped her tea.

“Second son, Hiryu-san, seems to have no problem supporting his older brother, and there’s also Rikuson-san. Also, surprisingly, Shikyou-san is popular among his uncles.”

“His uncles? Didn’t he have a fight with the same-age uncle? "

“We get along well enough to have fights. Maybe if the second son and third son were to succeed the headship, he’s the ambitious type who would aim for a power grab without saying anything. The young uncles are like that.”

It was a troublesome relationship between men.

“Also, for a while as part of the aftermath, Roshijiro will stay.”

“Wasn’t he from the Ministry of Rites? What would it accomplish to have someone from the ceremonial department stay?”

“Roshijiro has been shuffled around various departments, so in a good sense, he’s versatile. In a bad sense, he’s a jack of all trades. He can do anything, so he’ll handle things skillfully.”

“He sounds like someone from the Rahan family.”

But, regardless, Maomao finally felt relieved.

“We can return to the central region?”

There were times when he thought he might have to bury his bones in the vast land of the west if things didn’t go well. Maomao let out a big sigh of relief.

“Li Bai-san should know. I don’t think Rahan does. There are various preparations, so please let them know.”

“Got it.”

Rahan was in the field created by demolishing the main residence’s garden. He was planting the barley he had brought back, barely escaping the locust infestation.

Maomao left the infirmary to find Rahan.

Rahan was doing a crab walk in the field, apparently treading on the barley.

“Rahan-ah…”

Just as Maomao was about to call out, she noticed children on the edge of her field of vision.

It turned out to be Tamuhayabusa and Shoubeni.

(Are they bullying again?)

Maomao had become quite protective of Shoubeni. So, she thought about dropping a fist on the impudent bully.

However, something seemed off.

While Tamuhayabusa was bragging about something, Shoubeni had a look of disbelief with half-closed eyes. Her expression seemed familiar, as if Maomao had seen it somewhere before.

“Hey, are you listening?”

Tamuhayabusa grabbed Shoubeni’s collar. However—

A sharp, satisfying sound echoed.

It turned out Shoubeni’s open hand had exploded on Tamuhayabusa’s cheek.

“W-what are you doing? Aren’t you scared of me?”

Surprised, Tamuhayabusa sat on the ground, touching the cheek that had been slapped.

“I’m not scared.”

Shoubeni looked down at Tamuhayabusa without changing her expression.

“Do you understand? My father is going to be the leader of the west!”

“So what? Even if your dad becomes the leader, what of it? He won’t kick me out just because he says so, will he?”

“After my father, I’ll be the leader. I’ll kick you out!”

“Hehe.”

Shoubeni, who had been expressionless, laughed.

“What’s so funny!”

“Because, if someone like you becomes the leader. I thought I might as well go to the central region and aim for something higher.”

Shoubeni walked away as if nothing had happened.

Tamuhayabusa, the younger one, was crying, his nose running, while floundering on the ground.

(I feel someone’s gaze.)

When Maomao discreetly looked behind, she saw Rahan watching.

“What did you teach that girl?”

Rahan looked at her with a suspicious gaze.

“No, I didn’t teach her anything.”

“Don’t give me ’nothing.’ That expression, she looks just like you! She was supposed to be a cute, timid girl!”

“It’s a misunderstanding!”

No matter how much Maomao tried to explain, Rahan didn’t believe him.