Nicole and the Apothecary Family Live Freely
“I’m going to live steadily as a pharmacist, so I’ll be fine.”
“You’ve always been so indifferent since you were little.”
Dad chuckled as he patted my head.
That day, Mom also seemed worried about me, but honestly, I wasn’t concerned at all.
Isn’t it tough to leave home at just seven years old and live in an unfamiliar place where you’re laughed at for being a country bumpkin?
Though, for the king or the temple, there might actually be some meaning in educating us from a young age—but still…
I refuse to be used like a pawn for the convenience of adults.
The four who left on their journey will surely face unimaginable hardships ahead.
Even if they set off full of hope and sparkling dreams, reality isn’t that sweet.
I think Sieghart and Lirina could stand to struggle a bit!
As for Cain, well, whatever… But I hope Milia becomes a great magician!
And it would be satisfying to make her parents eat their words!
Anyway, I’m just going to live an ordinary life here.
◆◇◆
Even after Sieghart and the other three left the village, our daily routine didn’t change.
Nothing out of the ordinary happens in this remote village—just the same steady days.
Our neighbors, Uncle Arthur and Aunt Dahlia, are living quite normally despite Sieghart ’s departure.
“A boy is bound to leave home someday. We don’t have much to pass down besides this house anyway. Even if he can’t become a hero, becoming a knight should keep him fed.”
Aunt Dahlia is pragmatic, isn’t she?
She laughed, saying that just because someone has the title of “hero,” it doesn’t mean they’ll necessarily become one.
And now she lovingly takes care of Alt, their son.
Yes, yes! Alt is adorable!
“I was once an adventurer myself, so Sieghart just left home a bit earlier than most. … As for Nicole, whom I’ve come to see almost like a daughter, I’ll keep watching over her growth.”
Uncle Arthur started patting my head more often whenever he saw me.
“Even though he says that, deep down, he must feel lonely.”
Whenever Dad gave him that warm look, Uncle Arthur would charge right over!
It’d be better if they talked without me hearing…
But ignoring their playful banter, let’s focus on taking care of the vegetables!
After that, the village chief became even more unbearable.
He kept shouting, “My granddaughter is a great saint!” and became increasingly arrogant.
But the villagers had grown accustomed to it and simply laughed it off, letting his words go in one ear and out the other. After all, hearing the same story every time we meet gets old…
As a child, I rarely see him, but apparently, he occasionally comes to the shop and endlessly brags.
When that happens, Mom handles it skillfully.
If the village chief accidentally says something belittling about me while bragging about his grandchild, Mom doesn’t stay quiet!
She drowns him out with her own endless bragging about me, making me feel embarrassed listening from the mixing room.
During those times, Dad would smile, but his eyes wouldn’t reflect it.
“Maybe I should lower the quality of the potions I sell to the village chief…”
He muttered dangerous things like that.
“Nicole is working hard. Comparing ourselves to others won’t do any good.”
“Yes, I’m not bothered by it. More than that, I want to master making beginner potions soon!”
I smiled brightly as I replied.
Eventually, overwhelmed by Mom’s endless boasting, the village chief retreats.
“Trying to out-talk women, huh? Tsk tsk.”
Mom’s bright smile was unbeatable.
Honestly, the village chief doesn’t matter to me.
What matters are the potions!
After all, even one beginner potion can fetch two to three large copper coins!
For reference, one small copper coin can buy two or three fist-sized potatoes.
Currency values increase by tens: small copper → large copper → small silver → large silver → gold → platinum.
Intermediate potions are sold for one small silver coin, and advanced potions for one large silver coin.
That’s the base price! Wholesale value!
In the big cities, depending on the quality, prices can skyrocket tenfold.
If I keep improving my pharmacist skills, I could become rich in no time!
In our case, materials are free since we gather them in the backyard or forest. The more I make, the more profit we earn!!
The village chief mocks the pharmacist skill, unaware that it’s a solid and profitable profession!
Not to mention, the village tax is a poll tax, so the chief doesn’t know the villagers’ incomes.
Little does he know, the villagers are aware that some of the inflated taxes end up in his pocket.
“It’s the same everywhere,” they say, resigned to their fate. That’s the reality.
◆◇◆
From then on, I continued my training as a pharmacist under Dad.
By the time I turned ten, I could reliably make beginner potions and learned how to prepare ointments.
I can even make poultices for Grandma Kina.
Mixing slime jelly with herbs and kneading them is fun!
Taking that as a sign of progress, Dad took me to Tokaran Town to register officially as a pharmacist with the guild.
Since Tokaran Town is just beyond the next village, the road is safe enough to travel.
Monsters rarely appear around here, and there haven’t been any bandits for years.
With old Rossy the horse pulling our cart, we arrived in Tokaran Town by afternoon.
When I collapsed from the pain in my butt, Dad handed me a beginner potion.
“This kind of discomfort just takes getting used to. Wasn’t the cushion Mom prepared enough?”
“Ugh… Next time, I’ll bring two!”
I gulped down the potion beside Dad, who was laughing.
Yup, it tastes like grass!
Dad also mixed potion into Rossy’s water.
After leaving Rossy at a familiar inn, we headed straight to the pharmacist guild, where I registered as a new member and received a shiny silver guild card.
Holding the plate engraved with my name high above my head, I exclaimed, “Whoa!”—and got laughed at by the receptionist and Dad.
“Take care, Nicole-chan.”
Looking at the beautiful receptionist’s gentle smile made me feel a bit shy.
Now officially qualified, I immediately submitted the beginner potions I made. Due to their high quality, they bought them for three large copper coins each!
Submitting twenty bottles felt like a fortune for my first time!
Nicole, age 10, earned her first income!
Hooray!!
They told me to deposit the money into the pharmacist guild’s account, which can be accessed at any guild branch worldwide.
Being able to use it across borders—how amazing is that?
According to the receptionist, pharmacists are rare, and we’re welcomed wherever we go.
“Take pride in creating good products.”
“Yes!”
I answered with all my might, my voice echoing through the guild hall!
Dad ruffled my hair affectionately.
“As a guild member, you’ll have a quota to meet, so work hard! Save up, and one day, we’ll buy Nicole a Magic Bag.”
His words thrilled me!
The legendary Magic Bag!
Though expensive and dreamlike, every top-tier pharmacist needs one eventually.
“Yes! I’ll save up too!!”
At that moment, a new goal was born within me.
At the guild, we stocked up on empty potion vials, special corks, and sealing papers.
These are produced by designated alchemists.
After leaving the guild, Dad stopped by a familiar trading company to deliver various types of potions.
There, we purchased large quantities of wheat, salt, and a bag of sugar, loading them onto the cart.
This would last our family several months before we’d need to return to Tokaran Town.
With my first earnings, I bought modest souvenirs for Mom and my younger brother, Alt.
For Mom, I bought some fabric scraps; for Alt, a wooden toy.
Excited about my first shopping experience, I couldn’t calm down, and Dad watched me with narrowed, fond eyes.
After staying overnight at an inn in Tokaran Town, we set off the next day. Once home, Mom applied medicine to my sore butt.
“Nicole’s still such a child!”
She gave my butt a light smack!
“Ow!”
Traveling by cart was tough for a kid like me!
MONEY VALUES
Small copper coin = 100 yen
Large copper coin = 1,000 yen
Small silver coin = 10,000 yen
Large silver coin = 100,000 yen
Gold coin = 1,000,000 yen
Platinum coin = 10,000,000 yen
Thanks for the chapter