A Genius Pharmacist Whom the Empress Is Obsessed With

Episode 28. Beginning.

“How is it? It may be a bit small, but isn’t this good enough?”

Inside the empty store, about 20 square meters in size, white dust scattered like water droplets when a woman wearing a worn leather vest took a step.

“Although there is dust piled up right now, it’s a really nice place once it’s cleaned.”

The woman, feeling embarrassed even in her own eyes, quickly opened a window.

“Yes, I’ll take a look slowly.”

Eden replied while checking the latch at the entrance. He was currently looking around various shops to open a pharmacy.

When planning for Yoohee, he had just thought of working under another doctor, just like he used to do under Director Estelon. Opening a store was never an easy task.

He needed to find a place to do business, get permission from the Merchant Guild in the area, establish new customers and business partners, and calculate and pay merchant dues and taxes every month.

No matter how much he thought about it, it seemed like he would spend more time holding a pen and a glass of alcohol than carrying herbs.

“It’s really a hassle.”

So, this time as well, he had just thought of working under a suitable doctor.

However, Adrien raised his eyebrow and stood up in response to his thoughts.

“Why are you trying to work under those idiots again, only to get into trouble?”

And wasn’t he presenting a quite hefty bag of gold coins by doing so? He said to use it for business.

During the past 10 years, Adrien had consistently opposed Eden leaving Yoohee alone. Whether it was due to the sentiment of releasing a child to the rising prices or whatever. Having already disregarded Adrien’s opinion once, it was impossible to ignore his opinion to open a store while presenting the bag of gold coins.

“The building must have been recently built, and it’s managed by the guild, so the rent is relatively cheap. Besides, the previous people who did business here heavily profited and left.”

While Eden was carefully looking around the store, the manager who came from the guild began to lay out good words. Since Eden had donated quite a lot of money to the Merchant Guild, he seemed to look like a fool.

“…Although the building is sturdy, it’s not a suitable place for business.”

The most important thing in business was its location. Even if the store’s location was bad, it was too bad. While Eden was looking around the store, only one delivery boy passed by the front of the store.

“It’s a bit disappointing considering the amount donated.”

However, it had its advantages that there was a separate water tank and a space spacious enough to process herbs. Since it was in a remote area, there weren’t many other stores nearby, and the outside environment was fairly clean.

“I would like to write a contract, can I write it now?”

If his purpose was money, he would never make a contract, but opening a pharmacy wasn’t for money. It was simply to help the sick, build up virtue, and overcome the weight of time. So, this store seemed sufficient.

“Oh! Of course. That’s a really good idea. Should we go to the headquarters right now?”

The woman jumped up in excitement at Eden’s words. Her eyes were determined that she would never let go of a fish caught on a hook.

*

“It’s ruined.”

Regrettably, Eden had no choice but to leave the guild office empty-handed.

The problem was that he didn’t have a pharmacist license.

While preparing documents to lease the store, the manager asked Idun for a pharmacist license.

Pharmacist license? Idun was slightly taken aback by the name of the document he had never heard of before.

“If you don’t have that license, you can’t open a pharmacy.”

“Are you saying it’s difficult to lease the store?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Idun persuaded the manager that he would definitely bring the license later.

Since most of the money he had brought had already been handed over to the guild, he wanted to lease the store as soon as possible, no matter what.

“It’s already a losing business. I can’t afford to lose more.”

They say people are different when they go into the restroom and when they come out. There was a possibility that the guild would propose more unfavorable conditions than now when he signs the contract in the future.

However, even if it meant running away, she was also a merchant who handles money. Merchants are like a sharp law when it comes to taxes and laws, and the manager coldly turned away from Idun, saying that he would never give him the store without a license. He didn’t even return the donation Idun had given.

“…Well, I was foolish.”

Adrian’s words about the feeling of despair for giving birth to a child came to Idun’s mind.

A lot could have changed in 10 years. So it was natural that the laws and regulations of the Empire had changed as well. It was Idun’s clear mistake not to check it in advance.

“Well, I can’t help it. I made a mistake, so I should fix it properly.”

Whether it was due to the effect of the huge donation or not, the guild manager told Idun how he could obtain the license.

“Go and find a lord and tell them that you came to get a pharmacist license. If you have the skills, it can be issued in just a day.”

“Is it really possible to get it in just a day?”

“Yes, if you have the skills, sir.”

It was a hard-to-believe statement, but there was no other way.

***

“Is it really this easy?”

Usually, it would take several days just for a commoner to meet a lord, but Idun managed to obtain the license in just one day.

The Marquis Melou Idun visited was more like an ordinary farmer than a noble.

“It’s been a while since something interesting happened.”

After putting down the sickle he was carrying, Marquis Melou began to walk around the grasslands with Idun, pointing out every visible herb.

“What is this?”

“It’s called wild chives. You can eat the tender leaves as they are after washing them. It makes it easier to urinate and has a cooling effect.”

“What about that flower?”

“It’s called the meadow grass or yarrow. When crushed and applied to wounds, it has excellent healing effects. You can also drink it as a tea.”

“What’s that next to it?”

“It’s wormwood. It’s good for digestion and also effective in pest control.”

Lord Mellow asked Iden about various things for about three hours, and Iden answered the lord’s questions without hesitation.

“Ho, you’re the first one to answer without any hesitation like this. You passed!”

Lord Mellow smiled with satisfaction and instructed someone to bring the permit. The process of obtaining the permit was so simple that Iden was actually worried.

“… Lord, is the test really over with this?”

“In this area, I know a lot about herbs. What else would I need?”

“Are there no tests like examining patients?”

“If you hesitated even a bit or gave a wrong answer, you would have taken such a test. Why? Are you unsatisfied because the test was too easy? Or do you lack confidence in your own abilities?”

“… That’s not it.”

“Alright. In any case, those without skills will naturally fade away. Especially in Mellow.”

The lord picked up the wooden badge handed to him by his servant. The badge had herbal patterns and the words “Pharmacist” engraved on it.

“You, your name was Iden, right?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“A common name.”

The lord nodded and wrote Iden’s name on the wooden permit before handing it to him.

“Please become a good pharmacist. I don’t know if you’re aware, but Mellow lacks a proper pharmacist.”

“I will do my best to live up to expectations.”

Iden looked down at his name written on the wooden badge.

Perhaps it was because he had spent too long without a proper status, but the newly acquired formal status felt unfamiliar to him.

***

The next day, Iden went to the guild administrator and presented his pharmacist permit.

“It seems you have the skills.”

The administrator smiled and took out a contract from the drawer.

“I’ve already completed the paperwork, so you just need to sign here.”

Iden carefully checked the document provided by the administrator. He couldn’t afford to make the same foolish mistake as yesterday.

The administrator patiently waited for Iden, and after checking the contract a few more times, Iden finished signing it.

“With this, congratulations on becoming an official member of the Mellow Merchant Guild.”

The administrator handed Iden a contract and a few books and spoke.

“It seems like you’ve been living in a remote place for a long time. I thought you might need these. I’ve marked the important parts, so make sure to memorize them.”

ieder put the documents and books into his bag. There was no need for the merchant to provide such a favor without any compensation. Whatever he was thinking, it was time for him to accept her help.

“It seems that there is at least one who is not just playing around with the law.”

The female administrator informed him of a few more precautions. He was reminded several times that if he missed the guild meeting three times, he would be expelled.

After all the procedures were done, Ieder was about to leave the door when the administrator added something.

“Oh, if you’ve had a hard time doing business, feel free to come to the guild anytime. We can at least introduce you to some first-time customers.”

“Can the guild really do that?”

The woman with brown hair showed a business-like smile, raising her thumb and index finger to form a circle.

“I’ll tell the other administrators the same thing. Come here anytime, Ieder. Oh, my name is Lates.”

Adrian’s words seemed to suggest that he had some money.

***

Three days later, a young messenger set out from the castle of the kingdom towards the capital.

According to the law decreed by Lady Redimine, every month, all the administrators of the kingdom had to review the list of members and pharmacies in their region.

As required, the messenger’s bag contained the list of members and pharmacies in the region of Melrose. Ieder’s name was also on it.