Alessandro (2)

"Hm... a reasonable reason, huh..."

After glancing around to make sure no one was listening, Alessandro leaned in and whispered into Gregory's ear.

"......!"

Upon hearing those words, Gregory's expression hardened for a moment.

"Hmm... I can understand, considering there was such a reason. Let's go to the marketplace."

Accepting Alessandro's suggestion, Gregory decided to head to the marketplace.

If not for that choice, he would have spent the next two weeks 'enjoying' Alessandro's interesting(?) training.

Now that they had accumulated enough combat experience, Gregory thought that if he infused mana from behind and nudged the focal point while someone was meditating, it would help them raise their level.

Thanks to everyone's diligent efforts, except for Ernest and Gregory, the group had reached the 3-star and had significantly increased their stats.

Leaving his regrets behind, Gregory followed Alessandro's lead and headed to the marketplace.

The marketplace in Arcadia, the central city of Arme, was bustling and well-developed, and since it was nearby, it didn't take long to get there.

Gregory looked around with Alessandro. The energetic brokers and elegantly displayed merchandise everywhere caught their eyes.

"Selling! For sale! Final clearance prices! Come taste some fruit!"

It felt distinctly different from the Blandi Kingdom. In the Blandi Kingdom, as the economy collapsed, people from the slums crowded the alleys, but in Arme, there was no such thing—the streets were neatly maintained.

Many people contributed to economic activity. However, Gregory and Alessandro paid no attention to them.

"Where should we go?"

In truth, Alessandro's family was originally famous for their knowledge of herbs.

Nowadays, they were renowned as a swordsmanship clan, but in the early days, before achieving prominence with swordplay, they made their fortune through herbology.

That secret had supposedly been passed down to this day.

The knowledge Alessandro inherited was also related to herbology.

Perhaps because of this, when Gregory said Walter seemed to be sick, Alessandro was able to determine the symptoms to some extent.

He already told Gregory that Walter seemed to have been poisoned.

Walter, known for his fame as the knight order commander of Dawn, was from the same family as Gregory.

Since discussing family business so openly might be problematic, Alessandro conveyed this by whispering.

He suggested they come to the marketplace to buy herbs that could improve Walter's condition.

Naturally, knowing the circumstances, Gregory wasn't interested in gear or food.

"There it is."

Gregory pointed somewhere with his index finger.

Even at a glance, lush and healthy-looking herbs were spread out on a table.

After exchanging glances, Alessandro and Gregory nodded simultaneously.

The two of them immediately approached the merchant selling herbs.

Who would have thought Alessandro, usually so slow-witted, had this kind of talent?

As the saying goes, people look their best when they're doing what they're most skilled at.

For some reason, he looked even more impressive identifying herbs by carefully examining each root and stem than he did practicing swordplay.

"Mister, could I have this, and this, and also this?"

Before the herb merchant could even begin his explanation, he stared wide-eyed at Alessandro, who was skillfully distinguishing the herbs.

"Ah, sure. Don't you need to hear what these are? Some of these herbs could be fatal if taken carelessly..."

"It's okay."

The merchant, concerned, tried to stop Alessandro and Gregory out of a sense of responsibility.

He worried that if he sold the herbs recklessly, someone might end up harmed.

"W-wait a moment. I need to check. Just because it's an herb, doesn't mean it only has good effects."

"It's alright."

"T-then. That one... do you know what that herb is?"

Alessandro was asked this question by the merchant.

The merchant thought that if Alessandro could identify an herb just by its appearance, he could be trusted, so he tried to test him with a simple question.

It was also a good chance to resolve Gregory's curiosity. A prompt answer would reassure him.

"That's Ugly Herb (不娥草), isn't it?"

"So you know... Very well. Take them."

Gregory watched with amazement as Alessandro, his eyes shining with confidence, answered the question.

Ugly Herb was a poisonous herb named for its ugly flower. Alessandro said that if it was used properly, Walter's illness would gradually improve.

"Is this enough? Will Walter be cured now?"

Alessandro shook his head firmly.

"No. It's still not enough. That herb is rare, so it might not be available here."

Gregory had no knowledge of herbs. In his previous life, he had sometimes received help from pharmacists for severe battlefield injuries, but that was it.

So, to Gregory, the herbs all just looked like random weeds. He decided to trust Alessandro and tagged along, uncharacteristically enthusiastic.

After visiting about seven more places, their day finally came to an end. Even though they searched with eager determination, they couldn't get lucky again and find what they needed.

Night fell. In the end, it was time for all the merchants to close up, and they had no choice but to check into a nearby inn to get some sleep and try again the next day.

"Go in. If anything comes up, knock on my door."

"Alright. Let's definitely find the herb tomorrow. For the knight order commander!"

***

The next day arrived. The fatigue from wandering around all day made the night pass quickly.

But as with the previous day, their search was fruitless. Even after combing through this massive marketplace, they found nothing.

Eventually Gregory sighed.

"Hoo... Does it have to be that herb? Is it impossible to cure the illness without it?"

Alessandro nodded. According to him, even the slightest error could make the medicine more harmful than helpful.

What he said next was even more shocking.

"I don't think it's here."

Gregory reached out his hand. But judging by the stall, it was clearly the same herb shop they'd visited yesterday.

He confidently withdrew his outstretched hand and turned to Alessandro.

"Then what are we supposed to do?"

With a desperate look, Alessandro bit his lip and replied.

"I think we'll have to gather it ourselves...."

Normally, Gregory would have scolded Alessandro for such nonsense, but seeing how earnest he was, Gregory simply nodded.

This time, he resolved to give it his all.

"All right, let's go. But can we find it within two weeks?"

"Hmm... It'll be difficult, probably. It is a rare herb, after all... and if it's not even here..."

"Then, let's head back for now."

Gregory, slightly worried, suggested returning to the Radiant Light Order first.

He had come all this way to meet his father Hemingway and had promised to return within two weeks. If he was gone too long, he'd get a severe scolding.

***

Gregory planned to return to the Radiant Light Order and have Magnus deliver the herbs they bought to the Dawn knight order.

"I'd like you to send these to the Dawn knight order."

But because it was a matter of life and death, Alessandro stopped him.

"W-wait. You can't just send them like that. If someone takes the wrong herb or mishandles them, there could be a disaster."

Gregory had never seen Alessandro react so sensitively before, and since he had decided to trust him, he didn't object and considered a different approach.

Gregory thought of sending the herbs along with a note, but Alessandro blocked that as well. He suggested sending them all at once only when they had everything they needed.

After all, it was unlikely anyone would touch the herbs, but just in case, there was the possibility the note might be lost, or someone might handle the herbs without seeing it—best to avoid any possible accidents.

"Well... Fine, I get it. So where do we go now?"

Magnus, who was listening, inquired,

"Where do you plan to go this time?"

"Hm... Seems like it. Tell father the return date is uncertain, but that I'll be back soon."

Magnus looked flustered at Gregory's unexpected remark.

"If you don't give an exact time, the head of the house will be troubled."

Gregory didn't think it was a big problem. If, when he returned, Hemingway wasn't there, he could just spar with Alessandro while waiting. And if he was late, there was a way to make Hemingway wait patiently.

In a monotone, Gregory recited,

"It's fine. Just tell him that I've found the legendary sword. Then father won't ask anything and will wait."

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=It seems Walter really is poisoned.【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】

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