After a rewarding day in the kitchen, I went with Frintz to the Alchemist's lab.
The Alchemist had yet to return, perhaps because the problem with the herbs at the Guild have not been solved.
In the Serentra Continent, healers were rare.
Since the level of difficulty for awakening Holy Powers was higher than that of Aurors and Magic, the number of people with that skill was small, and since the denomination monopolizes human resources, private employment was impossible.
If there was a dungeon subjugation team belonging to a family, the church will send a healer, but this is not applicable to the Gillette family, which has long since stopped subjugating due to the lack of swordsmanship skills.
No matter how wealthy Count Gillette was, he had to go to the cathedral in person to receive treatment from a Healer.
However, when a noble is injured or sick, they cannot endure the waiting line to receive treatment.
Fortunately, it was somewhat sub-quality to a healer's healing technique, but there was something that could work as a substitute. They were healing potions made by alchemists.
Wealthy noble families used to hire alchemists along with doctors.
Leonard Lo Dellaine was such a case.
He was a fairly skilled alchemist
It was certain information, giving that around the 10th round of regression, the protagonist came back to life from almost dying after consuming one potion he had made.
"It looks like ointment for wound has run out."
Frintz looked through the shelves instead of me, who did not know what the ointment looked like.
I thought it was strange because it seemed like something that could be made by bulks, and that question was soon answered by Frintz.
"The maids often steals. What was the reason for that?….. Skin… moisturizing? I think?"
"What? Didn't you tell the butler?"
"They are all together. The butler, the head maid, the doctor…"
It's a difficult situation.
Will I have no choice but to ask for a favor after the Alchemist returns?
However, Frintz noticed that and the tail of his eyes drooped, so I was concerned.
"Are you in a lot of pain?"
"Oh, no. just..."
"Just?"
"It's being a while since you said you would treat me."
Ugh. If that's the reason why you're sad, then there's nothing I can do about it.
I looked around the lab. It seemed that all the materials and tools were present.
[ Purchased the 'Job Change Package (Non Combat)'.]
[ Select "The Great Alchemist of Softness" to awaken Alchemy Lv.1. From now on, you can use "Alchemy Material insight," "Softening Cosmetics that makes skin moist and smooth" and "Soft, fragrant natural soap with softening abilities.")
"Yep. I have to level up."
"Huh? What?"
"It's nothing, brother."
The only items unlocked at level 1 were cosmetics and soap. I guess I will be able to make an ointment or a potion only at level 2.
"But this is actually quite good.'
There seemed to be an abundance of ingredients, and cosmetics and soaps were often used.
I pretended to roll up both sleeves.
"Let's get started."
"Baby? Frintz?"
Leonard, who had managed to finish his work and returned to the lab, was surprised.
Ellet and Frinz were asleep, sharing a blanket, and the lab was a mess, unlike when he left. But the desk was different. Dozens of glass jars with jelly-like contents were neatly arranged.
Leonard looked carefully at the pretty ribbons tied up to the glasses. Letters written on the tail of the ribbon caught his eyes.
'Water soap that foams well', 'moisturizing cream', 'whitening cream', 'moisturizing lip balm'.
He was startled.
"Did you do alchemy?"
There were also small paper notes.
"Beauty creams as gift! I never even thought of this!"
Leonard was rather naive compared to his skills.
As a scholar who reads only books, he only focuses on research of standard potions. He didn't even know that research on beauty items was in the spotlight in the alchemy industry because of its commercial value.
He had no way of knowing how to win the favor of his employer, the Countess.
It was only natural that Ellet, who had been exposed to all kinds of cosmetic advertisements in her previous life and had a social life in which she needed them, knew better about that.
"I think my daughter is a genius…! Hm-mm! No, shouldn't make the mistake many dads make. Let's be calm. Trials and attempts are great, but the quality may not be as good as because it was made by a child…'
Leonard tried to test the quality by reining in the selfabsorbed child bragging that was trying to run wild. He opened the glass bottle of moisturizing cream with a pounding heart, and then he tried to apply it to the skin.
"Unbelievable!"
The effect was huge.
Even he, who was not acquainted with beauty, could clearly see that his skin had regained elasticity and had a watery luster.
'My daughter is a genius!
He made up his mind and decided to let the bragging run free to his heart's content.
Now that I look at it, the desk had not only beauty creams but also ointment.
She was already creating items with healing proprieties, so he had no doubts any more.
"My child is going to be a great alchemist. I have to start teaching her alchemy in earnest from tomorrow.'
Leonard held Ellet, who was sleeping soundly, in his arms to carried her to the bed. His face was full of laughter as he looked at his daughter.
It was a dad's proud smile.
I had a gloomy dream.
It was when I was ten years old before I took possession. At that time, I was already separated from my family forever.
It was right after I lost my father and brother in a car accident, so I was depressed as if a dark cloud hovered only above my head, never leaving.
But before I could understand my feelings, I had to learn to look at others first.
It was the house of my father's older sister that decided to take care of me, who almost went to a childcare facility.
As soon as they decided to raise me, they got a lease on a three-room apartment and moved there.
It was a much larger and better house than the previous one-room studio where they lived.
However, my Uncle and Aunt, who often fought with each other, decided to share a room, and my cousin sister who was two years younger said that she must have her own space and refused to share her room with me.
So I had to spend most of my life in the living room.
I didn't really have any complaints.
Rather, I was just sorry and thankful.
Because, despite my poor circumstances, they did not send me to a childcare facility and accepted me as a family member.
Of course, it was an idea of the innocent days.
At that time, I didn't know that the apartment's deposit was the money that was raised from the sale of the house where I lived with my father and brother.
Because I didn't know, I tried to do well in my Aunt's house. Since my mother hasn't been there since I was little, my older brother did a lot of housework while my father went to work.
Recalling what my brother did, I started to find and do housework little by little.
When I did the dishes, laundry, and cleaning by myself even if I didn't have to, my Aunt, a former housewife, seemed happy. Without a mother figure, I was weak for compliments from a female adult, so I tried to work harder, and house chores naturally became my duty.
Then one weekend when I woke up around noon, no one was home.
I washed the dishes accumulated the previous day and cleaned the house, waiting with the intention of eating together when Aunt's family returned.
I was worried because they didn't come home until the afternoon, but I didn't think of calling them.
I didn't have a phone at home and I didn't have a cell phone.
They returned only after the sun went down.
I rushed out with joy when I heard the sound of the front door opening with laugher.
The first thing I saw was my cousin, wearing a rocking headband, with star-studded springs.
When I stuttered a greeting and asked if they had eaten, the family members said they had no intention of eating with a disheartened face, and then went into their respective rooms.
It seemed so. Because the smell of pork belly wafted from the bodies of the family members who came home long after dinnertime.
Weekends with no one around when I woke up became a daily routine.
At some point, I started eating alone without waiting. understood we were not of the same family. However, there was one question. Was it okay to eat out every week when the situation was not good?
I later found out that what went into their stomachs was my father and brother's car accident insurance and settlement money.
It was in the second year of high school that I learned that they had stolen all of my father's property, insurance money, and settlement money and spent it until the last penny.
However, it was only a few days after I first asked to be sent to one academy_that I heard a complaint.
I was even more embarrassed and sad when I compared myself to the five academies that my cousin was attending but did not want to go.
Since I didn't have a room, I went to the playground next door and cried.
When the truth they were hiding was revealed, they criticized me for being ungrateful, saying that I was only calculating money despite their grace of raising me.
In the beginning, I was desperate. However, because they were not people one could communicate with, decided to live with the mindset of holding on until became an adult.
It would have been very comfortable for me not to rebel from the standpoint of my Aunt's house.
I didn't even go through puberty. I couldn't go through it. Foolishness is something that can only be done when there is someone who accepts it.
After living in that house for another year and a half, I thought I was getting along just fine. But that was just an illusion. I must have grunted often at night as if I was frozen by sleep paralysis.
There were many times when my cousin, who just woke up, came out to the living room and threw a pillow shouting if I was mentally ill. But it wasn't something that could be actively corrected.
Even until now.
"Mom… Dad… Don't leave me alone..."
"...Baby?"
"Don't go too… Brother… I won't steal your sweets anymore… I'll give you half my chocolate milk too. Bro….brother…"
Then my hands were covered with warmth. It was my first time feeling this, so I think I was a bit puzzled even though I was moaning in my sleep.
A caring and soft voice like a lullaby was heard.
"Shhhh, baby. You must have had a nightmare. It's okay. Dad is here."
"Dad...?" "Yes, Dad."
"Are you really my dad? Weird. My dad…"
The rest of the words got stuck in my neck and didn't come out.
Fortunately, 'Dad' said.
"It's really dad. I'll stay here until my baby sleeps again."
"It's a promise…promise."
"Yes, I promise."
It felt like the warmth I had received through his hands was transferred to my chest.
I fell asleep again with a sense of relief that I felt for the first time.