Volume 3 - CH 5

Chapter 3-5 : The Results Of Collecting Honey Ⅲ

By the time I completed the potion, Kate-san came out of the toilet, and Iris-san returned from the backyard for lunch.

Iris-san didn’t complain when she saw Kate-san probably because she didn’t have the energy to do that. She was only looking at Kate-san with spiteful eyes while resting her chin on the table.

The same goes for Kate-san. She was resting her head while looking away from Iris-san.

「You guys seem to have become thinner in this short amount of time.」(Sarasa)

「Uhh, it’s more like they have become haggard than thinner…」(Lorea)

They looked so weak, probably because their bodies lacked water.

「Here. I have completed the potion.」(Sarasa)

I took out the potion with my left hand and put it on the table as I said that.

「Thank you, Store Owner-dono…」(Iris)

「But.」(Sarasa)

I then pulled the potion away from Iris-san when she tried to reach it.

「Eh…?」(Iris)

When Iris-san looked at me confusedly, I put a different potion on the table while holding it with my right hand.

「Listen. The potion on the right can relieve your pain and completely cure your stomach in no time. However, this one is very expensive, so your debt will increase if you choose this one.」(Sarasa)

「I, I see…」(Iris)

「And the one on the left is not as good as the other one but it’s way cheaper. So, which one do you want?」(Sarasa)

「Hmmm…..」(Iris)

I will make a lot of profit if Iris-san chooses the expensive one, but I hope she will choose the cheap one because Lorea-chan and I have worked hard to make it. Besides, I don’t want Iris-san to have more debt.

「The… The cheaper one please!」(Iris)

She finally decided after thinking hard for a while. Perhaps she wasn’t sure to prioritize her stomach or her wallet.

「Here you go.」(Sarasa)

I handed Iris-san the potion in my left hand.

「Kate-san, how about you?」(Sarasa)

「…Well, I can’t choose the expensive one after Iris chose the cheap one…」(Kate)

「Alright then.」(Sarasa)

I took out another bottle of the cheaper potion and handed it to Kate-san, and then she reluctantly took it. I could tell somehow that Kate-san actually wanted the expensive one.

「Lorea-chan, can you bring water for them?」(Sarasa)

「O-Okay!」(Lorea)

Lorea-chan knew how I made this potion, so she understood how important water was. She stood up and quickly brought two large cups of water.

「Alright. Iris-san, you can drink the potion now.」(Sarasa)

「O, Okay… ーーUgghh!! What the hell is this!? Store Owner-dono, is this really a potion!?」(Iris)

As soon as Iris-san opened the bottle of the potion, the bad smell that drifted from it stung Iris-san’s nose.

「Potions are like medicines. They taste bad sometimes. Don’t think. Just drink it all at once. 」(Sarasa)

「But… Healing potions don’t taste bad at all, right?」(Iris)

「Well, there are many kinds of potions, so it’s only natural that some will taste bad. Kate-san, you should drink it too.」(Sarasa)

「U, Ughh…. This potion is effective, right? I won’t regret it after I drink it, right? Right!?」(Kate)

「Of course, of course. I made it myself, so I can guarantee it. Drink it now before your stomach urges you to go to the toilet again. I wonder who will be in the backyard next.」(Sarasa)

「Of course, it will be Kate!」(Iris)

「Huh!? No! We will decide with rock-paper-scissors!」(Kate)

「No, the toilet will be mine next! Alright, enough with this! I’m drinking it now!」(Iris)

Iris-san stood up and stared at the potion in her hand with determined eyes. She then pinched her nose and drank the potion.

「S-She’s really drinking that thing…」(Lorea)

Lorea-chan’s face was saying, “I can’t believe it!” when she saw Iris-san drink the potion.

Well, I can understand. After all, we both know that it’s made from larvae.

「Hngghh!! Bweehhh!! *cough cough* Urrghh!!」(Iris)

After drinking the entire potion, Iris-san slammed the empty bottle on the table while trying her best not to puke. She then immediately grabbed the cup of water in front of her and drank it quickly. However, it wasn’t enough. She also grabbed Kate-san’s water and drank it.

「I did it! It tastes like hell but I managed to drink it!」(Iris)

「「Whoaa…」」

When Iris-san raised the empty cup with an expression as if she had accomplished something in life, Lorea-chan and I spontaneously applauded.

Well, she was merely drinking a potion though…

「Kate-san, you’re next.」(Sarasa)

「O, Okay… But before that, I need threeーNo. Four cups of water. Lorea-chan, can you bring them for me?」(Kate)

After seeing Iris-san drink the potion, Kate-san asked Lorea-chan to bring more water, and then she opened the bottle of potion in her hand and stared at it nervously.

「You won’t die just from drinking it, so don’t worry. It just tastes a little bad. That’s it.」(Sarasa)

「She’s right. Actually it wasn’t that bad.」(Iris)

「You’re lying! You almost puked and said it tasted like hell, didn’t you!?」(Kate)

「A-Anyway, you’ll be fine. Perhaps, it’s only my imagination, but I’m actually feeling better now.」(Iris)

「Really…?」(Kate)

Nope. It was just Iris-san’s imagination. After all you have to wait for at least thirty minutes before you can feel the effect of the potion.

「Yes, so drink it.」(Iris)

「A, Alright, alright…」(Kate)

Kate-san stared at the potion in her hand nervously and swallowed her saliva.

「B-By the way, Store Owner-san, after we drink this, how long will it take until we fully recover?」(Kate)

「Hmm… Normally, it will take a week or so, but because you both have trained bodies, I think it will only take a few days.」(Sarasa)

「A few days, huh…? So we still need someone to take care of us, right? Iris, I have a good idea. How about I drink the expensive one and get recovered quickly so that I can take care of you?」(Kate)

「Huh? What are you talking about? We’re not going to buy that expensive potion!」(Iris)

「Butー」(Kate)

「Don’t worry, Kate-san. I can take care of both of you. It will be just a few days anyway, so it won’t be a problem.」(Sarasa)

「I’m used to taking care of my great-grandma, so I can help too.」(Lorea)

Apparently, Kate-san is trying to escape, but Lorea-chan and I blocked her escape route.

「But Iris prefers to be taken care of by me. Right, Iris? Right?」(Kate)

When Kate-san desperately asked Iris-san for consent, Iris-san smiled at her.

Seeing Iris-san smiling, Kate-san let out a sigh of relief, but then Iris-san stood up and grabbed Kate-san’s hand.

「I drank the cheap one and you want to drink the expensive one? No, that’s not gonna happen. Just give up and drink it already! Do you want to waste Store Owner-dono’s kindness?」(Iris)

Saying that, Iris-san took the potion from Kate-san’s hand and brought it closer to her mouth, forcing her to drink it.

Kate-san was trying to resist but because Iris-san’s hands were stronger since she is a swordswoman, Iris-san clearly was at an advantage.

「Ho, Hold on! I’m not ready!」(Kate)

「Your time is running out! Now open your mouth!」(Iris)

Iris-san forced Kate-san to open her mouth with her hand while pushing the potion to Kate-san’s mouth with the other hand.

「Hnngghhー!!! *gulp gulp* Ghweeeekh!! *cough cough* Nngg! Nnnggg!!」(Kate)

It looked like Kate-san was choking on the potion, probably because Iris-san forcefully made her drink.

「Ngghh!! Nggghh!!!」(Kate)

「What? You want water, huh? You greedy woman.」(Iris)

While smiling a bit cruelly, Iris-san let go of Kate-san’s hand.

Kate-san then quickly drank all four cups of water on the table at once.

「Pwaaahhー! …Hey, Iris, are you still angry with me?」(Kate)

「Hm? What are you talking about? I was just helping you, who was acting like a kid, drink the potion.」(Iris)

「Helping, you say!?」(Kate)

「Hahaha! …Ha….」(Iris)

Iris-san, who was laughing as if she was satisfied with her revenge, suddenly turned pale. She then held her stomach and looked at me.

「Lo, Looks like my time has come. I shall take my leave now.」(Iris)

After saying that with a serious face, Iris-san rushed to the back room.

「Iris, wait! ーーUghh!」(Kate)

When Kate-san tried to get up, she suddenly held her stomach and sat back on her chair.

Soon after, the sound of a door slamming shut was heard.

Looks like Iris-san is now taking control of the toilet.

「Kate-san, I think the potion will take effect in thirty minutes, so please be patient.」(Sarasa)

「I see… Thank you, Store Owner-san… But, this potion tasted so terrible. What did you make it from?」(Kate)

「Well it tastes bad because it’s made from….. N-Never mind. It’s better if you don’t know.」(Sarasa)

「Hm?」(Kate)

Kate-san tilted her head. She then turned her curious gaze on Lorea-chan, but then immediately Lorea-chan looked away awkwardly.

「A, Alright… If you say so… Whatever it is, I feel like I will vomit the entire potion I drank if I know it…」(Kate)

「Don’t worry. It takes time but it will surely cure you.」(Sarasa)

「Yeah, I trust your alchemy skills. You managed to save Iris’ life after all.」(Kate)

「But was it thanks to you as well who brought her to my store even though you were also injured.」(Sarasa)

If Kate-san didn’t take Iris-san quickly to my store that time, Iris-san would have lost a lot of blood and perhaps I wouldn’t have been able to save her life.

「Well, you’re probably right.」(Kate)

「Anyway, I’m going to the inn to give Andre-san and his friends the potions. Lorea-chan, can you make something that is easy to digest for these two?」(Sarasa)

「No problem.」(Lorea)

「I’m sorry we’re always bothering you…」(Kate)

「Please don’t mind it.」(Lorea)

「We’re here to help each other. You and Iris-san also took care of me when I was bedridden for three days after fighting Hellfire Grizzlies, right?」(Sarasa)

「Lorea, Store Owner-san, thank you…」(Kate)

I smiled at Kate-san who looked somewhat apologetic, and then I went to my workshop to grab some potions for Andre-san and his friends and left for the inn.

By the way, I also brought the expensive potions just in case they don’t want to drink the cheap ones.