Chapter 6: The Hyeminwon
[Shen Tien Xinghai is looking for alchemists who have migrated from the Eastern Continent.
Guaranteed housing, status, and high-paying jobs.
Interested alchemists are invited to knock on the gates of the Lion family's Grand Duchy.]
Several months after posting the large-scale announcement, alchemists and trainees from across the country began to flock to the Grand Duchy.
"If you go here, you can get status and a job?"
"That's right. Shen Tien guarantees it, so let's go."
A status guarantee and high-paying jobs were the best treatment for alchemists living as undocumented immigrants. As a result, the line of alchemists in exotic clothing in front of the Grand Duke's castle was endless.
"Yo, you've come too."
"Long time no see. Have you already received your status?"
"Of course! The young fairy in the castle gave me papers and even allowed me to work at The Hyeminwon."
"Young fairy?"
"Yeah. There's a kind and beautiful fairy in the castle, and I heard from Shen Tien that she was behind all this."
"Ooh! I want to meet her soon."
"Let's go quickly!"
The alchemists' faces lit up, and they hurried toward the Grand Duke's castle.
Kinemia, who had no idea that she had become a young fairy among the alchemists, stared at the knight sitting stiffly in the center of the training ground.
"Sir Codin, was it?"
At Kinemia's words, James jumped to his feet.
"Black Tears! 2nd Division! 1-Star Knight! James Codin! Yes, Your Grace!"
"Sit comfortably."
"Yes, My Lord!"
James sat back down in his chair with a creak, like a private in front of a general.
'Is he going to fall out of his chair?'
Kinemia, worried about his mechanical movements, turned her head towards her vassals as James sat properly in his chair. They were sitting in prepared chairs side by side, waiting for the potion demonstration.
"I heard that Sir Codin suffered a severe shoulder injury while fighting monsters this time."
"I'm alright! I can endure it!"
"You don't have to endure it."
"Really! I'm fine!"
Kinemia ignored James's loud reply and called Shen Tien.
"Shen Tien."
"Yes, Little Lass?"
Shen Tien, who walked over haughtily while puffing out smoke, took out a medicine bottle from his wide sleeves.
"Oh? Is that the potion?"
Count Brune narrowed his eyes and observed the potion Shen Tien was holding. A red liquid was contained in a gourd-shaped glass bottle.
"It just looks like ordinary herbal water, but is it really that effective?"
Baron Romeo asked worriedly, and Count Dennis patted him on the back.
"This is our Fairy's work, isn't it? Keep your eyes wide open and watch. She'll do something amazing again."
"Ho ho ho."
Marquis Ilai chuckled as he watched his vassals bickering.
"This is the medicinal decoction that I have concocted. In the Western Continent, they call it a potion."
Shen Tien shook the bottle. Although it looked like ordinary liquid, it moved in clumps without rippling, as if the viscosity was different.
"It's very easy to use."
Shen Tien approached James. James's face was turning blue as he discovered the suspicious medicine bottle. Since he had no knowledge of potions, it was natural for him to be afraid.
Seeing James's terrified expression, Kinemia clenched her fist and pumped it.
"Sir Codin, it's okay! Just close your eyes!"
"Yes! 1-Star Knight! James Codin! I'll do it, My Lord!"
"Show me the affected area."
"Yes! 1-Star Knight! James Codin! I'll show the injured area!"
James quickly took off his top and showed the injured area. The shoulder, where the monster's claws had passed, was showing its bare, red flesh.
"Just pour it on like this."
"Yes! 1-Star Knight! -Aaaargh!"
As Shen Tien casually poured the potion, James groaned and gritted his teeth. This was because intense pain surged as the viscous potion permeated the wound, bubbling and frothing.
"Ugh!"
James groaned and clenched both fists tightly.
The vassals were whispering, worried that something might go wrong.
But that was only for a moment.
"...No way, look at that!"
James's shoulder wound was rapidly healing.
James's eyes trembled as he watched his shoulder flesh filling up.
"...This can't be!"
He couldn't believe it even though he was seeing it with his own eyes. Until now, only divine power could achieve such healing!
"What is this!"
"Huh!"
"My goodness!"
It wasn't just James who was surprised. The vassals were also united in admiration at the miraculous efficacy of the potion.
"A light wound like this can be healed quickly with just one bottle. Because it is a medicinal decoction made with my magic and skill."
Shen Tien puffed out his chest and sucked on his pipe.
The vassals all crowded around. Then, they touched James's shoulder and repeatedly expressed their amazement.
"It's completely healed..."
"It's completely gone!"
"It's healed as if divine power was poured into it."
"Amazing, ho ho ho."
"With this alchemy, the Church's power might be unnecessary!"
Baron Romeo shouted with wide eyes. Then, the vassals let out exclamations of joy.
Now the Grand Duchy would be able to escape the Church's influence and have its own independent healing art!
Shen Tien smiled contentedly, and Kinemia smiled back brightly.
'Success!'
Kinemia clenched her fist.
Success again.
'Now we can overcome the empty coffers, diseases, and even the guillotine!'
While she was making a gesture of victory, James was still stroking his shoulder as if he couldn't believe it.
To think such a thing was possible...
"Alchemist, what is the name of this amazing thing?"
At his question, Shen Tien smirked and said.
"This is a medicinal decoction made by mixing medicinal herbs evenly, infusing it with magic power for 12 hours, and boiling it until it's red. It's called 'Red Potion'."
"Red Potion...!"
James repeated the name Red Potion, Red Potion.
"Thank you very much, Alchemist."
As James bowed deeply, Shen Tien pointed to Kinemia.
"Thank the Grand Duchess over there. It was all thanks to the Grand Duchess's wise idea to use alchemy from the Western Continent."
"Yes...!"
James looked at Kinemia, who was smiling slyly, with tearful eyes, thinking that his lord was truly a wonderful person.
"Mom, are you sick somewhere?"
As a woman who was out grocery shopping pressed her temples, a young child who looked like her son clung to her.
"Just a bit of a headache... I've been having headaches lately."
She had received a prescription from the doctor, but in the end, it was just to chew on herbs that made her mouth burn.
"I was going to go to the temple, but now it's too far away; I can't even think about going..."
Suddenly, the woman became worried about the inadequate medical system in the territory. She was anxious about where to get help if her son got sick.
Then her son asked.
"Potion?"
"Potion?"
"Yeah! 'The Hyeminwon' was built where the temple used to be."
"Ah, that place where a lot of foreigners gathered and it smelled bad?"
"Yeah, yeah. It's a place that cures diseases."
"Cures diseases?"
"Yeah, Laurel's dad kept saying he had a headache, but he bought a potion from The Hyeminwon and got completely better."
"Oh my, really?"
"And the Grand Duchess is giving special discounts to the territory residents!"
Discounts too? The thrifty housewife's heart fluttered at the word discount.
"Should we go check it out?"
But even as she held her son's hand and went to The Hyeminwon, she was still doubtful.
However, she couldn't help but widen her eyes as she soon saw customers coming out carrying several bottles of potions.
"To bring in such good things and sell them cheaply only to the territory residents... I'm only now realizing how benevolent the Grand Duchess is."
"I told you. All the talk about her being a villainess is just rumors."
"You were blaming the Grand Duchess even for a little bit of rain until recently."
"There's no way I would have done that!"
The man jumped up and down, denying it, and then hurried off while praising the Grand Duchess.
