Chapter 3-17 : Granny (part 2)
As Granny and I walked past the village square, we spotted Roan, who had recovered from the pain after receiving a powerful blow from Granny in the stomach.
He suggested gathering the sick people in the village square so that I could distribute the antidote quickly.
「This man is the last one.」(Roan)
「Please drink it slowly.」(Kako)
I handed a small conch shell containing the antidote to the middle-aged man who seemed to be the last sick mermaid.
「*Gulp gulp*… Ugh, it doesn’t taste good, but thank you, human girl.」(sick mermaid)
「You’re welcome.」(Kako)
His pale face gradually looked better after drinking it.
「Hey, is it just me or did they not suffer from bitterness as much as we did?」
「Now that you mention it. I remember I almost threw up, but they handled it easily. 」
「Say, human girl, is it really the same medicine?」(recovered mermaids)
Some people seemed to have noticed the difference between the medicine from the first batch and this one.
「It’s the same, but since I used the mermaid potions that Granny made, it’s less bitter now.」(Kako)
「What? Dammit. I should have waited!」
「You’re right. I would rather suffer from illness for an extra day than taste that hell-like bitterness.」(mermaids)
The mermaids who took the first batch of the medicine seemed to regret it.
Well, it’s not that I don’t understand their feelings. It tasted horrible after all.
「I don’t know how awful the first batch tastes, but this one is not that bitter thanks to Granny, huh?」
「Thank you, Granny!」
「As expected from our herbalist!」(mermaids)
The people who had just taken the medicine from this batch thanked Granny, but Granny responded by yelling at them instead.
「You fool! I did nothing! It’s all thanks to this girl! You should thank her, not me!」(Granny)
「Haha! Of course, we’re grateful to this girl too!」
「She saved us!」
「Thank you, human girl!」
「Not all humans are bad. Thank you, girl!」(mermaids)
They thanked me.
I remembered they were looking at me with eyes full of doubt and hatred before, but now they’re thanking me with smiles.
To be honest, it’s the best feeling ever, but I wasn’t sure how to react, so I just scratched my cheek with my index finger and smiled back at them.
「Kako.」(Village Chief)
As I watched the happy faces of the recovered mermaids, the village chief came to the square and approached me.
「Chief.」(Kako)
「Have you finished distributing your medicine?」(Village Chief)
「Yes. All the sick people have taken the medicine.」(Kako)
「I see.」(Village Chief)
Suddenly, he lowered his head deeply to me.
「Thank you for saving my people. You have my deepest gratitude.」(Village Chief)
「We’re very grateful, Kako.」(Granny)
Not just him, but Granny bowed as well.
「Awawa! P-please raise your heads. Elders shouldn’t bow easily to a young girl like that.」(Kako)
I’m glad that they’re grateful to me, but seeing the two elders of the village lowering their heads to me makes me feel awkward.
「Hahaha! That’s right. To thank a little girl, you just have to pat her head like this.」(Roan)
Roan, who had been standing next to me, patted my head roughly.
Gununu…! He’s still treating me like a child!
「I’m not little!」(Kako)
I slapped his hand off my head.
「In any case, it was us humans who started it. You were sick because of us. I should have apologized for that.」(Kako)
I’m glad I was able to cure them, but I can’t help but feel guilty. We made them suffer, and I can’t blame them for hating us.
However, the chief and Granny raised their heads and shook them.
「No. You and the people who polluted the sea are different. I’m well aware of that. Not all humans are bad. I regretted deeply that our warriors started attacking human ships blindly. Oi, Roan, you should apologize for that!」(Village Chief)
「A, ah, you’re right. I’m sorry for attacking your boat.」(Roan)
The chief made Roan bow to me too.
「U, un…」(Kako)
Ahh… This is so awkward…
It might sound weird, but I prefer him patting my head instead.
「I do feel bad too that our warriors attacked your boat, but thanks to it, you came here. If you hadn’t come, we might die from illness in a few weeks. I’m the herbalist here, but I couldn’t make the right medicine no matter how many times I tried. I feel ashamed that I’ve grown old with no significant improvement in my skills.」(Granny)
I could feel deep regret from Granny’s words.
「That’s not true, Granny. Thanks to you, I was able to mass-produce the antidote. These people wouldn’t have been cured without you.」(Kako)
「You’re such a sweet girl. Thank you. Your words make me feel better.」(Granny)
Saying that, Granny extended her arm and gently stroked my cheek.
Her kindness reminded me of my grandma.
「Kako, we’d like to express our gratitude to you. Is there anything you’d like?」(Village Chief)
「Something I’d like?」(Kako)
「Yes. If there’s anything you want from us, you can tell me.」(Village Chief)
「Umm…」(Kako)
Judging from the chief’s expression, he seemed to insist on giving me something. It would be hard to decline, it seems.
I wonder if there’s anything good they can give to me that won’t burden them too much.
Hmm… Some fresh fish, maybe?
I’ve eaten some fish dishes in the inn, and they taste great. I think I want to eat more fish dishes from this sea.
「In that case, can I get fish? I want to eat delicious fish!」(Kako)
「Fish? You know what, we are planning to have a feast to celebrate our recovery tonight. You can eat delicious fish as much as you want.」(Village Chief)
「Really!?」(Kako)
「Yeah, you should look forward to it. Anything else? You can ask for something better than just fish, you know?」(Village Chief)
He told me to ask for something better, but it only got me confused.
Let me think of something better than fish they can give.
Perhaps pearls like the one Tina showed me?
I’m not that interested in jewels, but they can be sold at a high price.
Or maybe something else?
Hmm…
「Ah!」(Kako)
I came up with something nice that fit me.
「Do you have something in mind?」(Village Chief)
「Yes, but… I’m not sure if it’s okay to ask for this thing…」(Kako)
It’s not something anyone can get after all.
「Don’t worry. Just tell me.」(Village Chief)
「Umm… Can you get your hands on rare sea monster materials?」(Kako)
「Monster materials?」(Village Chief)
「Yes, the rare ones. I’m a merchant, and I sell valuable items. I’m thinking of making new equipment from them.」(Kako)
Humans would find it hard to obtain such items, but I believe mermaids could defeat sea monsters and collect their materials easily.
I could make new, stronger equipment and sell it for profit.
「Hmm… There are many sea monsters around here, but unfortunately, I don’t think there are rare ones in this area. However, I heard there are some strong, rare monsters in the next ocean. It’s quite far, but I can send some mermaid warriors there to hunt them for you if you want.」(Village Chief)
「N, no, no! You don’t have to! You don’t need to fight dangerous sea monsters for me. Any sea monster materials are already valuable enough to me.」(Kako)
It’s too bad there aren’t any rare sea monsters around here, but I can’t just let them send a risky expedition far away for my sake.
「Are you sure?」(Village Chief)
「Un. I don’t want anyone to risk their lives for me.」(Kako)
「Haha! I forgot you were a kind girl.」(Village Chief)
「Kako, if you’re okay with sky monster materials, I can get some for you.」(Roan)
「Sky monster materials!?」(Kako)
Listening to our conversation, Roan stated his surprising idea.
Materials from the monsters living in the sky are rarer than the ones from sea monsters. After all, they are harder to hunt.
「But, how can you get them?」(Kako)
「You know Nimbus Fall, right? Sometimes, the creatures living in the clouds will get swept away by it and fall to this island. That’s the moment when we usually hunt them.」(Roan)
Now that he mentions it, I did seeー no, not just see. I played with one of them.
That’s right. The cloud dolphin that the children found in the lake. It got swept by the Nimbus Fall and fell from the sky.
Thanks to that mysterious phenomenon, it was possible to hunt sky monsters in this area.
「I see. Alright, I want some sky monster materials, then!」(Kako)
「It’s decided then. Roan, I’ll leave it to you.」(Village Chief)
「Roger that, Chief! Kako, I’ll let you know when I get them.」(Roan)
「Un. Thank you.」(Kako)
And thus, the negotiation for my reward for saving the village was finished.
I was expecting sea monster materials, but I’m getting something far better. I can’t wait to go back to town and start experimenting with them!
But before that, I need Nyat to pick me up. I hope he will come soon.
He… will come for me, right…?
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