ITHMF 05

Chapter 05

“If there were a way for her to get better, would you do anything?”

“Of course.”

Kairan answered without a moment’s hesitation. Outwardly, his expression was still calm, but his eyes seemed quite earnest.

Seeing that made my head feel complicated. Hmm, is there any way I can help? But I don’t really have anything to my name except my body… The only useful thing I have is magic.

“…Magic?”

Right! Why didn’t I think of magic?

Magic is an inherent ability of mermaids, very similar to what was called ‘magic’ in my past life. Not only could they handle things like water and fire, but they could also create magical tools and potions with special abilities.

If I used a healing potion, wouldn’t it help at least a little with Riose’s condition?

The problem was that I hadn’t studied magic at all, so I didn’t know how to make potions.

“If I’d known this would happen, I should have studied a bit…”

The ones stocked in the castle were impossible because inventory was checked regularly, and the ones sold commercially only healed minor bruises, so their effect wouldn’t be significant.

I mentally berated my past self and let out a small sigh.

Still, if I looked up the materials, I could probably figure out how to make one. Let’s at least try!

Clenching my fists and nodding with a resolute expression, Kairan tilted his head in puzzlement.

“What are you mumbling about?”

“Huh? Oh, nothing! More importantly, don’t be too sad. I’m sure she’ll get better soon.”

“I hope so.”

Kairan smiled softly at my consolation. Then, with a face that seemed a little lighter than before, he said.

“Speaking of it like you said, I think I do feel a little better.”

“Really? I didn’t actually do anything substantial… but I’m glad if it helped even a little.”

“You said you were a good listener, and you did that well. That’s enough.”

Fortunately, the gloomy atmosphere had lifted considerably. Even amidst that, the way he cared for me was so kind.

We talked a little more, then promised to see each other again and parted ways.

The entire way back, I thought about how to make a healing potion. I figured I should ask Maya about it as soon as the sun came up.

Hoping I could help Kairan even a little, I lay down in bed and tried to get some much-needed sleep.

“Maya.”

“Yes, Princess?”

“Do you know how to make potions?”

“Potions, you say?”

The next morning.

When I asked Maya, who was tidying my bed, about potions, she stopped what she was doing and widened her eyes. She looked surprised, as if she’d heard something unexpected.

It was a natural reaction since I’d always been averse to learning magic, wondering what the point was. Feeling sheepish, I nodded a beat late.

Maya then approached me, her eyes filled with anticipation.

“It seems you’ve finally taken an interest in magic!”

“Well, not really… I just thought it might be good to learn a little.”

“Of course! Anything you learn will be a great help later on.”

Seeing her bright smile made me feel a pang of guilt. I quickly changed the subject.

“So, do you know how to make potions?”

“Hmm, I do know… but I can’t teach you.”

“Why?”

Maya hesitated, looking troubled, and avoided my gaze.

Why is she acting like that? Can’t she use magic? I don’t think I’ve heard anything about that…

I wondered if I’d accidentally touched on a painful subject I didn’t know about. Glancing at me as I worried, Maya gave an awkward smile.

“It’s nothing serious, Princess. So please don’t look so worried.”

“Really? You seemed reluctant to talk, so I thought there might be something you couldn’t say.”

“Not at all! It’s just a little…”

“A little?”

“I’m embarrassed!”

Maya almost shouted at a near-rapid-fire pace, covering her face with both hands.

What? What’s embarrassing?

I blinked in confusion, looking at Maya’s flushed face. After hiding behind her hands for a while, as if they were a shield, she eventually calmed down and peeked through her fingers.

“I… really have terrible magical skills. Many teachers tried to teach me, but none of them succeeded.”

“Ah, so that’s why you were embarrassed? So what? I’m not good at magic either.”

“That’s because you haven’t properly learned it yet, Princess. It’s a completely different case from me. If I’d known, I should have tried harder even if it was hopeless. To miss this glorious opportunity to teach you!”

Now that she was over her embarrassment, Maya was tearing at her hair, genuinely regretful. She was ruthlessly cursing her past self for giving up without even trying properly.

She’s going to pull all her hair out at this rate…

I grabbed Maya’s arm to calm her down. Only then did she seem to remember I was there, and she sheepishly lowered her hands and cleared her throat.

“I’m sorry. I made a spectacle of myself.”

“It’s fine. If you can’t teach me, can I at least look at some related books?”

“Ah, yes. They should be in the library!”

“Really? Then could you bring me some?”

“Yes, just a moment please!”

Maya nodded emphatically and quickly left the room.

In the meantime, I picked up a seaweed cookie that had been brought out as a snack. Made with things like miyeok or gim, it had a pleasantly salty taste.

“Snacks never betray me, as expected.”

I usually filled my meals with pearls, but I always made sure to have snacks made fresh. The ones made from pearls tasted the same but had no texture. For the crispy, fluffy texture, the chef made the desserts fresh.

Just as I was finishing my fifth cookie, Maya returned, carrying a pile of books.

“I’ve brought the books you asked for!”

“…Why are there so many?”

“I swept up everything from beginner to advanced, just in case!”

The table, which had only held cookies and a teacup, was now filled with books. The sheer volume was daunting, and I felt my vision blur.

Ah… Do I have to read all of this? Can I even find what I need today?

Feeling overwhelmed, I let out a long breath.

First… let me finish this cookie.

I popped the remaining half-cookie into my mouth and scanned the books with my eyes.

“Understanding Potions, How to Make Potions Well, This Potion and That Potion, My Name is Arthur, the Genius of Potions!…”

After reading the titles one by one, I turned back to Maya, who was standing in front of me.

“I want to start from the basics, step by step. Which one should I read first?”

Maya, as if waiting for that question, promptly held up a book.

Making Potions? It’s Not Hard~!

With its colorful and cute cover, it looked like a children’s book to anyone.

Children’s book…

So I have to start here!

For some reason, the rabbit drawn on the cover seemed to be mocking me.

“Princess, you know almost nothing about the basics of magic! This book explains not just potions but the overall fundamentals of magic really well! It has pictures too, so it’ll be very easy to understand.”

“I see…”

“After you finish this one, you can move on to this!”

I looked at the book titled Potions! Just Know This and nodded.

Right, let’s start with the basics! Everything needs a solid foundation. Carrying the colorful books, I stood up.

“Please clear away the snacks.”

“Yes. Are you going to study now?”

“Yeah. You don’t need to come back until I call for you.”

“Yes, understood.”

Maya left the room with the snacks and teacups.

I sat down at the desk, perfectly sized for me, and opened the book. The rabbit from the cover also appeared inside.

With simple, concise explanations and illustrations, it was definitely easier to understand. Concepts that were somewhat unfamiliar were also absorbed easily.

“Hmm, this is a good start, isn’t it?”

At this pace, I should be able to make something like a healing potion quickly.

As my confidence grew, I even started humming. Tapping my feet back and forth, I diligently read through the book. I marked things that were hard to memorize with notes and energetically declared.

“Alright! I’m going to crush it!”

But as always, it was me who got crushed.

Contrary to my resolve, after a week of experiencing every possible failure, my motivation was crushed like minced garlic, and I lay with my head on the desk, arms stretched out. Sighs poured out without a break.

“Why! Why doesn’t it work…”

My 61st healing potion ended in failure. Some ominous black smoke was wafting from the potion, and I had no idea what had gone wrong.

How is this a healing potion? It’s poison, straight-up poison!

The color was also a murky green, so I didn’t even dare to taste it.

“Ugh! What is this smoke?!”

Hearing Maya’s startled voice, I slowly raised my upper body like a zombie.

Maya, who had approached me, looked at the unidentified potion in the flask and just gaped, looking troubled. She kept glancing at me nervously, as if she’d noticed my spirits had hit rock bottom.

Ugh, this is so humiliating… Am I just talentless at magic?

As I let out a sigh from the depths of my soul, Maya gave an awkward smile and placed a drink on the table.

“At least have a drink, Princess! I’ll open the windows!”

Maya quickly moved away from me and opened all the windows. I could feel fresh seawater flowing into the room as the waves rolled.

As the thick black smoke cleared, I felt a little relieved. Ah, at least this drink is delicious in the midst of all this. Sipping on a strawberry-flavored drink, my gloomy mood lifted slightly.

“What should I do with this potion?”

“…Bury it in the ground.”

“Last time when you buried one, the seaweed wilted… Ah!”

Startled, as if she’d spoken unconsciously, Maya clamped her hand over her mouth.

The seaweed wilted… I see… So it really was poison!

I was glad I hadn’t drunk it and started gulping down my drink faster.

Seeing me listlessly sucking on my drink with little reaction, Maya looked fidgety. She seemed to think I was hurt.

I, on the other hand, wasn’t really thinking anything. To be precise, my head hurt too much to think deeply.

The only thing on my mind was ‘Delicious. Drink. Strawberry.’

“Then just throw it away somewhere. It’s not like we can use it anyway.”

“Yes… I’ll do that.”

“I’m fine, so stop looking at me like that.”

“…Yes!”

Startled, as if stung, Maya quickly nodded.

I asked Maya for another drink and also sent the poison-like potion away with her. A moment later, when Maya returned with the strawberry drink that made my mouth feel sweet, the potion had completely disappeared.