I’m in the Arms of the Cursed Grand Duke - Chapter 46

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 46

 

“…Did you know?”

 

“Weren’t you planning to hide it anyway?”

 

Zephyrus had been sending wary glances toward Airite from the beginning.

 

Even if it had been himself who knew but didn’t show it, it would have been

 

suspicious enough.

 

But what was this reaction?

 

Airite stared directly at Clemente. It meant, you weren’t trying to hide it, were you?

 

Zephyrus’s gaze also turned toward Clemente. It meant, why did you pretend not to know when you knew his expression was showing?

 

Clemente laughed “haha” and pressed her body against the wall, escaping from the two piercing gazes.

 

“Whether it’s suspicion, interrogation, or excuses, have a good conversation.”

 

“…You only speak naturally at times like this.”

 

“I admit it.”

 

Zephyrus let out a light sigh.

 

“I’ve been neglecting sleep lately, so my emotions seem to be showing.”

 

“Can’t you sleep? Do you need… sleeping incense?”

 

His expression seemed to omit the words “when you’re already so busy.”

 

“I don’t need it.

 

I’ve already tried it, but it wasn’t very useful anyway.

 

Zephyrus pressed his brow firmly and released it, then returned to the original topic.

 

“Anyway, since the physician already knows too, I’ll give you a chance to speak first.”

 

“Yes, well.”

 

Airite reluctantly pulled out an old book from his chest. A book that looked like it could crumble at any moment. However, compared to that, there wasn’t a single torn spot.

 

“Herb improvement journal?”

 

“Yes. There was a colleague who learned herbs and medicine with me.”

 

Crea. She loved herbs as much as Airite did.

 

Even though she could manifest magical power and become a mage, she continued researching herbs, showing how serious she was about them.

 

It wasn’t started with any particular purpose.

 

In an era when almost all herbs in the world had been discovered, they started with the childish wish that it would be good if new herbs increased, but it was interesting to both of them in itself.

 

It became even more so after Crea became a mage. They could conduct many experiments in various ways, such as saving herbs that were dying in unsuitable environments to maximize their effects or changing their growth patterns.

 

Though the end result wasn’t good.

 

“A mage? Did magic go into the medicine made this time?”

 

Airite came to his senses at Zephyrus’s question. Zephyrus had a face that said he didn’t understand.

 

“I received a report that there were no traces of magic.”

 

“You checked.”

 

“Isn’t that natural?”

 

“Yes. It’s also natural that no magic would be detected.”

 

Seeing Zephyrus’s face crumple, he continued his explanation.

 

“Your Highness must have investigated the medicine. Do you know what those who develop medicine care about most?”

 

“I don’t know.”

 

“Removing impurities.”

 

Herbs don’t only contain good components. The work of filtering out things that could cause side effects or things that aren’t good to consume together was essential.

 

“Unless you’re a magic holder, consuming magic is dangerous, isn’t it?”

 

Therefore, magic was an impurity. Even if Crea continued improving herbs alone and created herbs imbued with magic, magic wouldn’t be detected in the medicine.

 

“But that doesn’t mean this medicine was made from herbs imbued with magic either.”

 

“So what are you trying to say?”

 

When Zephyrus and Clemente made expressions saying they didn’t understand, Airite offered the book again.

 

“If you read it, you’ll roughly understand.”

 

Zephyrus glared at the book. Like someone who didn’t want to touch it, he repeatedly brought his hand close to the book and pulled it away.

 

“Is it because it’s too old? Shall I read it for you?”

 

“It’s not that.”

 

Airite said with a slight smirk. Zephyrus coldly cut off his words.

 

“What if this breaks?”

 

“It won’t break.”

 

“Then I’ll open it!”

 

Clemente opened the book without hesitation. Zephyrus’s breathing stopped for a moment, and only after seeing that the book was fine did he continue breathing naturally, pretending nothing happened.

 

Clemente suppressed her rising lips, then began reading the book.

 

“First. Buru. Existing method. Sunlight and water, fertilizer. Soil. Improvement method. Grown with water in complete darkness without a single point of light. Instead, the water is hot spring water said to be made from dragon’s breath.”

 

The original medicinal effect of buru was mild fever reduction. The medicinal effect of improved buru was not fever reduction but heating.

 

It was written that the experimental mice died from their body temperature rising.

 

“That’s the early part, so it’s still before Crea became a mage. It should appear around the 30th entry.”

 

Clemente turned the pages following Airite’s words. Even though she wasn’t turning them carefully, the book remained perfectly intact. Clemente exclaimed as if she had realized something.

 

“This is magic!”

 

“Yes. Crea cast a spell on it. She said she didn’t want her records to disappear.”

 

“I see. Then I’ll read the next part.”

 

Thirty-second entry. The next herb to improve is ginseng. It helps the body hurt less and warms cold bodies.

 

The flowers that grew after years in shaded places could be used as that herb.

 

“It had to grow for at least 5 years, but since the effects were good, it was expensive. We wanted to try reducing that time.”

 

Since the physician who raised him and Crea wasn’t wealthy, the intention was to repay the cost of being raised with ginseng.

 

To quickly grow ginseng, which consumed a lot of soil nutrients, they cast magic on the ground. It was magic that added nutrients. As a bonus, they expanded the root area so it could absorb those nutrients faster.

 

“The result was peculiar.”

 

The ginseng that should have bloomed didn’t flower.

 

Instead, strange markings appeared on the roots. Though bizarre, when they boiled the roots and fed them to mice, the mice became excited.

 

The mice mated well.

 

In the end, they made good money.

 

After hearing Airite’s follow-up story, Zephyrus pondered and then said.

 

“…Is this a method that could be used in the Northern Region too?”

 

Improving herbs meant changing the growth methods of plants.

 

It meant they could change the growing environment for most herbs that grew in land rich with sunlight and soil nutrients, as well as wheat.

 

If they could improve herbs, no, plants, along with greenhouses, it would be killing two birds with one stone.

 

Of course, the results didn’t seem to turn out as desired, but if even one succeeded, couldn’t they cultivate food crops on vast lands instead of just greenhouses!

 

Zephyrus asked with such expectations.

 

“No.”

 

Airite’s answer was firm.

 

“First of all, the mages in the Northern Region probably haven’t even learned such magic.”

 

Most of Crea’s magic was related to herbs, that is, cultivation and farming. Even among those versed in life magic, it was hard to find anyone related to farming or cultivation.

 

They would rather use artifacts if anything. Those who could use magic had no interest in farming, which wasn’t profitable.

 

However, Zephyrus couldn’t let go of a glimmer of hope.

 

“We could raise one.”

 

“Above all, improved herbs can’t reproduce.”

 

“Ah.”

 

If herbs were like that, it was too optimistic to expect food crops to be different.

 

Something that couldn’t reproduce was useless.

 

He quickly gave up on things that seemed unlikely to work.

 

“I see. So, what herbs were used in this medicine?”

 

“You can look at the 56th entry.”

 

“Yes. I’ll turn to it. 56th entry, Marizona.”

 

The 56th entry seemed to have had quite a struggle, as there were many traces of erasing and rewriting.

 

“Marizona is originally an addictive herb. We wanted to try removing that addictiveness. We thought it would be good to have an herb like catnip that makes you feel good without being addictive.”

 

They all failed. Contrary to the original intention, a colorless, odorless herb with stronger addictiveness was created. The scary thing about improved Marizona wasn’t just that. While ordinary addictive drugs make people feel euphoric, this one made them think they would die without it.

 

“I see.”

 

“They even planted it so that if you don’t consume it for a certain period of time, you die.”

 

“There must be a solution since they suggested meeting, right?”

 

“Yes. However, the ingredients are quite difficult to obtain.”

 

It was natural in the Northern Region, and even obtaining it from the Imperial Court would be quite challenging.

 

“The Guild Master will somehow manage to get those. Anyway, there’s no risk of Tei dying, is there?”

 

“Before making the cure, I think he can just take the drug for now. Though we’ll have to reduce the amount.”

 

Zephyrus was roughly convinced. The method of creating marizona didn’t require any special magical devices.

 

Cut the roots of a fully grown marizona and place them in snow. Then, cover the marizona that’s freezing cold with hot soil and pour plenty of water, and the roots will grow again. If that happens, the enhancement is successful.

 

This method could be used by any mage, not necessarily Crea.

 

This was why the enhancement method for marizona must not be known to the world.

 

Because addiction is easy, but detoxification is difficult.

 

“I wondered why you asked me to heat the soil, but this was the reason!”

 

“Yes. So shall I tell you about the ingredients?”

 

“Why ask? Don’t say it, just write it down and hand it over. I’ll pass it to Harvie too.”

 

“Then I’ll understand it that way and go.”

 

“Wait! Physician, I’m curious about something too.”

 

Clemente stopped Airite who was about to leave.

 

“What is it?”

 

“The atmosphere suggests you don’t get along well with this person anymore. What’s the reason?”

 

Airite answered quickly.

 

“Because she’s obsessed with herbs.”

 

“The physician?”

 

Clemente asked quickly too. Airite hesitated for a moment before answering.

 

“Obviously Crea’s side. I just like them to some degree, I’m not obsessed.”

 

“Isn’t she exactly the type of person who could get along well with the physician?”

 

“I don’t get along well with obsessed people.”

 

Clemente tilted her head but said she understood. Actually, it wasn’t important. It was purely to satisfy her curiosity. However, she became curious about how obsessed someone would have to be for Airite, who clearly seemed obsessed with herbs himself, to think they were more obsessed.

 

After Airite nodded in greeting and left the room.

 

Zephyrus called Clemente.

 

“Uncle, there’s something you need to do to catch Nerhi.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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