Published: September 10, 2025
"Mr. Satou! The apothecary grandma has arrived!"
The day after the shadow wolf attack, while everyone was cleaning up the destroyed walls and debris, the lively Ranch Owner’s daughter, Merinna, rushed in.
"Where can we meet her?" Nana reacted faster than me to the long-awaited good news.
"Whoa, no need to rush so much, I’ll guide you," Nana said, almost bumping faces with Merinna, who looked a bit flustered.
"No need for guidance. Is the patient here?" an elderly voice overlapped with Merinna’s words.
"The patient is here—"
"Oh my, isn’t this the Elf-sama?" The seasoned old woman knelt and offered a prayer pose the moment she saw Mia sleeping in bed.
"Grandma?"
"You should bow your heads too. I don’t know which clan you belong to, but I am Susukina of the human tribe who learned apothecary skills in Borueheim, and I humbly greet you."
Knowing Mia was asleep, the old woman introduced herself.
Although Mia’s ears were hidden, her distinctive blue-green hair must have given her away.
"Can you examine her then?"
"Leave it to me. It’s time to repay the kindness I received in Borueheim," the old woman said with a sharp gleam in her eyes.
"Hmm, this is magic power deficiency. Either she used magic beyond her strength, or her magic power was drained by a magic device that consumes a lot of power..."
"Yes, doctor. The princess was the latter," Nana replied.
"What! Making such a small Elf-sama do something reckless!"
Hearing this, the old woman became furious.
"I’m told the princess’s magic power was essential to activate the ‘maze.’"
"Maze? Could it be the sage’s legacy?"
"Yes, doctor."
According to the old woman, there was a rumored magic ruin called the "maze," a legacy of the Elf sage Torazayuuya.
From the flow of the conversation, it seemed Mia’s magic power was drained beyond her limits by Nana’s master to activate the maze, resulting in her current magic power deficiency.
Truly, this was child abuse.
"Is treatment possible?"
"Of course. If you give her a magic power recovery potion, preferably intermediate level or above, she will improve quickly."
That was a relief—not untreatable.
"We earnestly request you to prescribe it quickly for the princess."
"I’d love to, but..."
Nana’s expressionless plea was met with a troubled look from the old woman.
"I’ll pay whatever it costs—"
"This isn’t about money. There is no stock. Magic power recovery potions aren’t in demand in my village settlement, so I don’t have any on hand. I have some low-level potions for personal use, but they’re not strong enough to cure an Elf-sama’s deficiency."
That was troubling.
It seemed we’d have to make a trip to the territorial capital to buy some.
"What’s your level?"
Surprised by the sudden question, I told the old woman my current level.
"That’s enough. But it’s dangerous alone. Do you have companions of a similar level?"
My comrades raised their hands to answer.
"Merinna, teach them how to get to Chihiro Valley."
"Goret Valley? It’s dangerous because there are monsters there."
"With that boy’s level, it’s fine. The lizardman tribe girl looks strong, too."
Summing up, it seemed we were to go collect materials for the magic power recovery potion in Goret Valley.
"What kind of materials do we need to gather?"
"Simple. They grow at the bottom of the valley. Just fill a bag with glowing moss."
The old woman had Merinna prepare bags.
"Just moss?"
"Yes, I have the rest on hand."
Responding to Arisa’s question, the old woman nodded.
We left Lulu behind to care for Mia and the rest of us headed to Goret Valley for moss gathering.
◇
"By the way, where exactly is this valley?" Arisa looked around curiously while we crossed the pasture.
"There are many in the Mount Fuji Mountain Range," Nana replied.
From the ranch, the towering mountain range to the east was clearly visible.
"But the map shows the route on the opposite side," Liza said, pointing out that the map’s path was drawn toward the hills.
"That’s quite a walk, isn’t it?"
"Let’s trot-trot-trot~"