It was noon, and nearly twenty hours had passed since the three herbs were planted.
It had been almost a full day.
Furina came to the herb garden in the basement.
Looking at the small field that was already taking shape, he walked up slowly, put on his analysis glasses, and crouched down to examine it.
[Blood Bead Grass: 189 years old]
[Fusion Flower: 193 years old]
[Life Leaf: 204 years old]
“…After about a day, it can grow to about two hundred years old…
Not bad~ Refining medicinal herbs only has a minimum requirement for age; it doesn’t strictly state that it must be fifty years old or one hundred years old…
Let’s give it a try first~”
Furina picked some of each of the three herbs, slowly walked into the Alchemy Room, lit a fire according to the instructions in the book, and poured in an appropriate amount of water.
The Blood Bead Grass needed to be crushed, the Fusion Flower needed its juice squeezed out, and the Life Leaf only needed to be washed clean before being added in.
Watching the pot of originally clear water instantly turn into a blood-red liquid emitting a faint, greenish glow, he took a stirring rod and stirred it two hundred times clockwise and then two hundred times counter-clockwise.
Then, he covered the pot to simmer it, somewhat clumsily turned the heat down to the minimum, brushed the dust off his hands, ran to the sink nearby to wash his hands, and began to wait.
During this time, Cissia returned to the shop after buying some things outside.
Coming upstairs, he saw this golden-haired snake girl holding a large mat, with bedding in her hands.
“I can’t hold on much longer, Store Manager Furina~ Help me, please—”
“Hmph, you want my help?
Sure~ Give me a sincere compliment, and perhaps I might consider helping you…”
Seeing Store Manager Furina leaning against the doorframe with one hand on her hip, Cissia’s face stiffened, but fortunately, she reacted quickly.
“Great Ms.
Furina~ I beg you to help me…
Kind, beautiful, generous, elegant, and noble Lord Furina~”
It was clear that Cissia had used all the vocabulary she knew, but fortunately, it worked well, and our White-haired Cat Girl felt wonderful inside.
So, he came up to her, helped carry the bedding and sheets, and headed upstairs.
Holding the large mat, Cissia followed behind.
When the two reached the upstairs, Furina observed the layout and asked her to place the mattress next to the big bed.
As the mat, which was nearly the size of a double bed, was laid out, the sheets were spread, and the pillows and quilt were placed on top.
Along with that, a small folding table was placed by the bedside.
Cissia had used the money she saved to buy herself two manga volumes and a bag of snacks.
“You certainly know how to enjoy yourself~”
With arms crossed, Furina watched this golden-haired snake girl sprawled on the soft mattress, holding a manga in her hands while eating snacks, her tail swaying back and forth happily.
“Heehee~ Does Lord Shopkeeper need me to do anything?”
Quickly closing the manga, Cissia sat up and gave a sheepish smile.
“No need, you stay here.
I’m going to be busy in the basement.
I’ll call you if I need anything.”
“Alright, Store Manager Furina—”
Watching the White-haired Cat Girl leave the bedroom, Cissia smiled, then lay back on the bed and started flipping through the manga.
“Oh right!”
Unexpectedly, Furina suddenly rushed back, his tone very serious.
“What is it?”
“The two pieces of cake in the fridge are for me to eat after dinner.
If you dare to steal them while I’m busy, hmph hmph~ you know the consequences.”
“Of course, I definitely wouldn’t do such a thing.
Don’t worry, Furina~”
“You’d better not.”
After saying that, Furina hurried back to the Alchemy Room in the basement without delay.
Looking at the medicine pot simmering steadily on the fire, Furina glanced at the small alarm clock placed to the side.
“Hmm~ Three more hours…
Keep waiting then…”
Leaning on a small lounge chair, Furina stared at the slowly Burning flame beneath the medicine pot and slowly closed his eyes.
I don’t know how much time had passed, but when the alarm went off, the White-haired Cat Girl instantly stood up, shook her head, stopped the alarm, and extinguished the fire under the medicine pot.
Furina took a deep breath and opened the lid.
A faint green glow mixed with steam drifted out.
A faint smell of blood blended with an indescribable traditional Chinese medicine scent.
Furina twitched his nose.
Instantly, he turned his head away in disgust.
“It’s a bit unpleasant, this potion…”
The blood-red potion was clear.
Furina held his nose, picked up a spoon, and scooped out a bowl.
Looking at the potion in the bowl, the White-haired Cat Girl pondered for a long time.
“The medicine is made…
I need to find someone to test it…”
Carrying this bowl of potion, Furina went upstairs to the bedroom door.
Looking at the golden-haired snake girl lying on the mattress eating potato chips, he walked over slowly.
He was also holding a small knife in his hand.
“Ah…
Furina, what, what are you doing?
Why are you holding a knife~”
The golden-haired snake girl noticed Furina.
She quickly stood up and retreated backwards, trembling all over.
“Hmm~ This bowl contains the recovery potion I just made.
I don’t know how effective it is yet.
Cissia, you’ll help me, right~”
“No, no, I won’t do it…
What if it doesn’t work?
Wouldn’t I just get cut for nothing?”
Placing the potion on the small table to the side, Furina put one hand on his hip.
“Come here~ Be good…
I’ll just make a tiny cut, just a little blood.
After it’s done, you can have the cake in the fridge.
How about that?”
“Cake!
This…
Well, okay then~ Furina, are you sure it’s just a tiny cut?”
“That’s right~ Don’t you trust me…”
Glancing at the small knife emitting a cold light in his hand, Cissia swallowed hard and stepped up to Furina.
Reaching out to touch her head, Furina pulled her to sit down by the bed.
“I’m going to start now~”
“Wait a moment, let me prepare myself mentally, let me prepare…”
Nodding, Furina waited quietly.
After a long time, the little golden snake slowly said.
“Come, come on then~”
The small knife slowly approached her fair arm.
Furina waited for the right moment and made a slash.
“Ssssh!”
Instantly, a six or seven-centimeter cut appeared, followed by beads of blood oozing from the cut.
“Ah~~!!
Didn’t you say a tiny cut…”
“It is.
Oh, don’t cry, I’m treating it for you right now~”
As he spoke, Furina, fearing that the golden-haired snake girl might run away, grabbed her wrist, stood up, and brought over the life recovery potion from the table.
“This can be applied externally or taken internally~ Which one do you choose?”
Hearing this, Cissia lowered her head and leaned in to sniff it.
“Sniff, sniff…
Hmm~ Ugh~~!
It smells so bad, I don’t want to drink this thing~”
Looking at the awkward expression on her face, Furina extended his finger, dipped it into the red liquid, and applied it to Cissia’s wound.
Before long, a faint green glow condensed over the wound.
The red liquid evaporated.
Cissia felt the warmth and a slight itchiness coming from the wound.
In a short while, the wound healed completely, and the pain dissipated along with it.
She widened her eyes in surprise and carefully examined her unharmed arm.
“It, it really works!
How amazing~ Shopkeeper, how did you do this…”
Placing the life recovery potion aside, Furina put his hands on his hips, looking very proud.
“Amazing, right?
Just look at what our General Store does.
Alright, I’m going to go pour the potion into vials.
Tomorrow, you go to the warehouse and put the bottled potions on the shelves.
Go ahead and eat the little cake I promised you~”