The Herb King

Chapter 39: Change in Temparament

The Maynard Household has four patriarch candidates. The strongest contender for the position was Enrique Maynard because of his accomplishments. The other three candidates were Dave Maynard, Karl Maynard, and Joseph Maynard. Among the three of them, Joseph Maynard was the closest to Enrique in terms of achievement. They were closely followed by the other two who were also competent Level 3 Blacksmiths.

Manager Chris sat on a chair with a grim look on his face. He had no clue who among the three candidates was responsible for poisoning his cousin. It was a good thing that they were able to capture the young servant since he might give them some clues when he wakes up.

Soon a servant came inside the room with a box filled with herbs. These were the herbs needed to remove the poison in Enrique’s body.

“Sir Aethelwolf, please start refining the antidote. I will offer you our shop’s best sword as a token of appreciation and you will also gain the Maynard Household’s friendship. I assure you of that!” Chris promised with a heavy look. This man was his only hope at this moment. If this Alchemist fails to make the antidote, all the efforts he put into the weapon shop as its Manager for many years would be in vain.

Leric grabbed the herbs from the box and sorted them on a table. He then took out a cauldron. This was something he got from his mother’s clinic. It was an old cauldron that looked to be unused for many years. Manager Chris almost lost his footing when he saw the shabby cauldron. Is that even something a top Alchemist would use? Did he perhaps meet a fraud?

Manager Chris became worried as he thought of this. However, when Leric lit up his golden pill fire, his fat face trembled vigorously. “Golden pill fire! Level 4 Alchemist!” He was speechless as he looked at the sheer ease with how Leric was refining the herbs.

His control and methods were beyond his grasp. The techniques of all the Alchemists he knew were nothing compared to this guy’s technique!

.....

“I was actually talking with such a figure earlier!” Manager Chris gasped with a dumbfounded look on his face.

The antidote for the poison wasn’t that difficult to make. It only took around ten minutes for Leric to refine it. When he opened the cauldron, there were five blue pills sitting inside.

Leric grabbed them and handed one to Chris. “Manager Chris, let Sir Enrique eat this pill.”

Leric pocketed the remaining four. He might have some uses for them so he didn’t give them to Chris.

Manager Chris took the pill from Leric’s hand with a thrilled look. This was a pill made by a Level 4 Alchemist! “Thank you so much, Sir Aethelwolf!”

Leric waved his hand with a carefree smile. It wasn’t hard for him to make the pill and he even profited from it. The four pills he took were enough payment for the refinement. Although the pills were only Level 2 Detoxification Pellets, Leric knew that the value of the pills was comparable to some Level 3 pills!

At the moment, Leric was only a Level 2 Esper. People only thought that he was a Level 4 Esper because of his [Flame Manipulation] skill.

At the thought of this, Leric checked his Status Screen.

Talent [Esper] Level 2

Talent [Doctor] Level 2

Talent [Botanist] Level 3

Talent [Alchemist] Level 2

Talent [Blacksmith] Level 1

Talent [Arts] Level 3

Leric’s eyes fell into the talent [Arts]. He hasn’t checked his Status Screen in detail so he was surprised when he saw this new talent.

Talent [Arts] Level 3

– Your artistic level has reached the realm of grandmasters. Your artwork will make people feel a certain emotion depending on the nature of the art.

“Don’t tell me I subconsciously learned this talent while I was in the carriage with Miss Samira and her three maids.” He muttered to himself as he recalled telling the ladies about some famous poems and quotes from his past life.

“So that works too?”

Cough! Cough!

The unconscious Enrique suddenly sat up straight and coughed violently. His face turned red as he held his chest. After coughing for over ten seconds, his face turned rosier. He then slowly raised his head and saw Manager Chris looking at him with worry. There was also a handsome man with short black hair and an unconscious servant inside the room.

Enrique stared at Manager Chris and frowned as he asked. “Cousin, w-what happened?”

Manager Chris sighed and shook his head before he started telling him about the events.

When Manager Chris completed his story, Enrique’s face turned grave. “I didn’t think that someone from the family would actually poison me! Did they really think that I, Enrique Maynard, am easy to bully?!” Enrique shouted angrily. He then turned his gaze at Leric with a gentler expression. “You must be the Alchemist invited by my cousin to create an antidote for me. Thank you so much for saving my life. May I know my benefactor’s name?”

Leric smiled at him as he answered. “Aethelwolf, a wandering Alchemist.”

“Cousin, to tell you the truth, I didn’t invite Sir Aethelwolf here. He just happened to be here in our shop when you suddenly become unconscious. Besides, he is a Level 4 Alchemist!” Manager Chris immediately said to prevent Enrique from saying something wrong.

Enrique’s eyes widened upon hearing this and his expression changed into that of respect. This man’s status was equivalent to their patriarch, Lucas Maynard! “Sir Aethelwolf, my apologies for being rude!”

“Cousin, I also promised Sir Aethelwolf that we would give him our shop’s best sword for the antidote.” Manager Chris nervously said.

“That’s great! Only in Sir Aethelwolf’s capable hands would the sword show its glory!” Enrique said with a smile. He then sent Manager Chris a stealthy thumbs up. They might have given him a sword, but they earned the friendship of this Level 4 Alchemist!

“Well then, I won’t decline your generosity.” Leric chose to accept their sincerity. Enrique Maynard was the most likely person to inherit the patriarch position in the Maynard Household. Becoming friends with him would be beneficial to him. Of course, this was only true if he ends up inheriting the position.

Manager Chris and Enrique smiled widely upon hearing this.

“Cousin, wrap up the sword nicely and give it to Sir Aethelwolf!” Enrique said to Chris.

“Of course!” Manager Chris immediately left the room and swiftly headed back to the display area of the shop.

When he left, Enrique turned his gaze to the young servant with eyes that seemed to spurt flames.

“Sir Enrique, the pill you consumed earlier should have healed your Hegel, but you still have to refrain from crafting weapons for one week.” Leric suddenly said.

Enrique nodded his head gratefully. “I’ll keep your words in mind, Sir Aethelwolf.”

Not long later, Manager Chris came back with the sword in his arms. The sword was now sheathed in a fancy scabbard. “Sir Aethelwolf, here’s your sword.” He said as he handed the sword to Leric.

Leric took the sword and wrapped it behind his back. He thought that the sword was awesome, so he decided to use it from now on.

Leric’s aura changed the moment he placed the sword on his back. Earlier, he had the bearing of a wise scholar, and now with the sword on his back, he seemed to have become the manifestation of a peerless warrior!

Both Enrique and Chris were astounded when they sensed the abrupt changes in his temperament.

“I am pleased with your gift, Manager Chris and Sir Enrique.” Leric smiled at the two.

“As long as you like it, Sir Aethelwolf.” Enrique laughed joyfully when he saw how satisfied Leric was.

“If you ever need my help, you can find me in the Reynolds Household. I will be staying there for a short while to do something important.”

Hearing this, the eyes of Enrique and Chris shone with excitement.