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Published at 2nd of August 2023 12:17:38 PM


Chapter 92

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“Finally it’s over…” 

 

Luce muttered as she leaned against her empty bag. 

 

It was already getting dark after she had organized all her belongings together. After turning her aching shoulder a few times, she looked around the hotel room where she would be staying for half a year.

 

‘I’ve arranged my clothes, and I’ve put all my gold coins in the safe. I put all the books in alphabetical order.’

 

Luce’s gaze, glancing at the closet and bookshelf, stopped in the wide-open cabinet.

 

‘I labeled all the herbs and organized them.’

 

Of course, there will be herbs in the Capital too. Because no matter which country she goes to, good things from that country always gather in the Capital. 

 

However, “good things” are usually limited to industrial products. No matter how much the development of magic tools has reduced transportation time, things with expiration dates like food are the freshest and best in the country of origin. 

 

Xenon is the second most desirable place if it is fresh air and water.

 

Due to the high altitude and variable temperature throughout the year, various types of plants grow well. Herbs were no exception.

 

Looking at the herbs and essences carefully dried without fading, Luce lay down on a soft bed.

 

‘I’ve brought everything I’ve collected and even what Mrs. Plum gave me, so this should be no problem for practice. I brought all the tools to make medicine, so I can practice alone.’

 

How proud it is to see the full of herbs than the fancy props of the hotel room, the furniture, and the food packed on the table.

 

She thought that this is enough to become an herbalist. Luce smiled slightly.

 

‘Come to think of it, what is all this heap of welcome food? Originally, wasn’t the welcome food at the hotel a few pieces of fruit?’

 

This afternoon, Luce organized her clothes for a long time after checking in.

 

When she opened the door at the sound of a knock, the manager stood there.

 

“Excuse me, customer. Are there any places where you feel uncomfortable?”

 

“Yes, thanks for the convenience. Everyone helped to move the luggage.”

 

“I’m glad you liked the pick-up service from our bellboys.”

 

“Although it was a bit unusual that everyone was out on the street instead of helping pick up from the hotel lobby.” 

 

“Haha, this is basic for the customer. If there is anything you need help with in the future, please let me know.”

 

“Yes, thank you for saying that.”

 

Dominic, who was proud, asked, “How would you move the bag if I weren’t there?” in a place where bellboys rushed out and held their bags, and then he made a strange expression. 

 

‘Are all hotels like this?’ he asked in a whisper, so she doesn’t know how he heard it but the manager replied, ‘This is a service that is all included when using the Superior Room special package.’

 

Luce looked again at the tourist brochure she had received from Dominic and was convinced.

 

‘I thought it was a mediocre accommodation with only one star attached, but here it is marked with one big star for five stars. Could this be a luxury hotel? Well, the original accommodation fee was very expensive, so this might be included. I’ve never been to a place like this before.’

 

The manager, who was looking at Luce’s expression as he answered with a smile, said carefully.

 

“That, the customer smiled and handed it over to me… but no matter how much I think about it, I feel like I’ve committed rudeness.”

 

“What? What do you mean by rude?”

 

No matter how much she thought about it, she couldn’t think of the disrespect that this gentle manager had committed.

 

But his thought was different.

 

“When I first came, I should have given you the right price information, but I couldn’t. If the customer who heard the wrong information had passed away right away, I wouldn’t have had a chance to correct it, but I’m grateful for your patience. So I didn’t leave the welcome food to other employees, but I brought it myself to say hello like this.”

 

The manager took a step aside and could see the cart.

 

Luce, who saw the three-tier cart full of bread, cookies, drinks, and luxurious finger food piled up on the table, tried to stop the manager.

 

“I can’t even eat all of this anyway! You can give me a little. And I’m really fine, it’s not rude.”

 

I refused repeatedly, but the manager’s answer was the same as in the pick-up service.

 

Luce picked up a cookie on the table after recalling how he had lowered his head and quickly left after explaining to her that it was included in the special package.

 

It was a rose-shaped cookie. After taking a bite, it tasted like a sweet and refreshing orange peel. 

 

It was a wonderful and luxurious taste that couldn’t be better, but at the same time, it was somehow familiar.

 

Luce murmured as she turned the cookies around.

 

“It tastes exactly like the cookies I ate at Rev’s house.”

 

Recalling the manager who was so kind to the point of being burdensome, Luce shook her head.

 

‘Well, it’s a cookie,  he probably didn’t bake them himself. The taste might be similar.’

 

Luce, who chewed and swallowed the cookie, picked up another while she sighed.

 

She tried to ignore the black-haired boy floating in front of her.

 

‘Didn’t Dominic say he was looking for a place to practice?’

 

Luce, who was eating the cookies, looked out the window. 

 

She saw yellow lights, tents, and people passing by in the distance. 

 

It looked like a shopping mall.

 

‘The manager said, there were a lot of people staying at the hotel to prepare for the exam, so this room was the last one left. Then there won’t be many places left to practice.’

 

Of course, not everyone is preparing for the pharmacist exam.

 

There are architects and blacksmiths in the test field.

 

But pharmacist is a profession that has been looked down upon for a long time. Therefore, there may not be many herbal medicine stores in the capital.

 

Luce suddenly stood up.

 

‘If someone hits the player, it means that at most you can go all the way up to the capital, but you can go down without doing anything.’

 

Luce, who was packing a small bag the whole time and putting on clothes, suddenly stopped. 

 

Clank—.

 

Looking down at the pendant she took out of her pocket, Luce squeezed it tightly. 

 

She remembered Dominic’s words about selling it at the flea market. If she wants to dispose of this necklace right away, she can either throw it in the trash or throw it out the window. 

 

But she didn’t want to.

 

‘Because this is my childhood, too.’

 

Luce, who held the necklace for a while, headed to the desk.

 

Luce quietly muttered as she placed the necklace in a small jewelry box.

 

“I still hate you a little bit. I am also sad.”

 

Even though I know someone over the necklace doesn’t return an answer.

 

But origin can be said without a listener.

 

“Still, I want you to be happy, Rev. I hope you were living a life of being loved like the meaning of your name… Take care.” 

 

It seemed that now she could pray for his happiness in an aloof and calm manner. 

 

Luce, who smiled slightly, walked bravely, covering her slightly empty neck with a knit. 

 

She was unaware that her pendant sparkled after she left.

 

****

 

“You mean the apothecary’s shop? Yes, we will write down all the addresses we have.”

 

The concierge at the hotel she stopped by just in case was very friendly. 

 

Comparing the map and the card the person in charge had drawn up, Luce found the first store. 

 

It was a fairly neat atmosphere, and she liked the smell of herbs rising from the pine trees. The distance to the hotel was also close.

 

However, 

 

“Hello, are you looking for apprentices by any chance?”

 

“Oh, I’m sorry. We’ve already picked apprentices, students.”

 

The second store was no different. 

 

“Hello, are you looking for a trainee…” 

 

“Our shop already has apprentices, so we don’t accept new apprentices. How about going somewhere else?”

 

The third store. 

 

“Hello…” 

 

“Are you a trainee?! Yes, yes, come here quickly. Let’s start by grinding the herbs. As you can see, our store is a bit busy, so we need a lot of hands. Just in case, there’s no pay. You guys get subsidies anyway, isn’t it obvious? What do you look for in a learning position? And the working hours are from 7:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Wouldn’t you learn a little about work by working together from opening to closing? Sometimes I work overtime, but that’s unavoidable when running a store. What are you looking at? Come in quickly….” 

 

Bang—! 

 

Luce closed the door without hesitation.

 

‘It’s the same in any era to pick and roll students who are in a desperate situation as interns. A place like that should be boycotted.’ 

 

She shook her head and went to other stores, but the situation was similar.

 

‘In the first place, since not all stores are large, the number of apprentices that can be received is limited, and since it is a job to handle medicinal herbs, it would be unreasonable for the owner to select and train several people. It would be helpful for me to improve my skills only if I received my skills from one person in the way of an apprenticeship.’

 

Concerns have become a reality.

 

If she can’t find the right place in the capital, should she go to another territory?

 

Luce, who was walking thoughtfully, raised her head at the noise.

 

‘Oh, it’s a shopping street.’

 

It seemed like a night market was opening.

 

The street was lined with stalls to the sound of loud music.

 

In the lifeless achromatic capital, it was the only space wearing color that felt very welcome. 

 

Should she look around while she’s here? 

 

“Buy the ointment. There is an ointment that heals wounds.”

 

‘Ointment? Is there a medicine shop here too?’

 

A shrieking, cracking voice was heard. It sounded like an old man’s voice.

 

Luce made her way through the crowd to the place where the voice was heard. She saw an old man dealing with a customer.

 

“Where is this ointment used? It smells very nice.”

 

“You are the first customer! Let’s see… It’s because my eyes are blurry. You can apply it to the skin where it’s peeled or torn. It’s something edible and apply it to the wounds on your lips.” 

 

“My lips are chapped a lot. How much is it?”

 

“It’s 15 silver each.”

 

“Oh, it’s a lot cheaper than I thought. Are you sure it’s made of edible stuff?”

 

“Yeah, that’s right. There is a sample here, so you can try it on. What I made of this is… “

 

Luce, who had barely arrived through the crowd, looked at the ointment and grass the old man was waving against the customer.

 

“It’s made from a grass called Plantain lilies…” 

 

That was the moment.

 

Without a moment to think, Luce caught the customer who was about to apply the ointment to her lips.

 

“No!”





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