In the lord's castle at the center of Aspiration City.
At this moment, the city's lord was listening to her chief knight report on Baron Ruize's condition.
With long white hair draped over her shoulders and wearing a simple black court dress, Mira furrowed her brows slightly and pressed two fingers to her chin in deep thought.
Baron Ruize was the head of the Aspiration City Knights and had watched over her since she was a child. He was also one of her main supporters as the lord of Lychee.
"Please don't worry, Your Grace. Sir Berrin has already secured the Petilil."
"With the universal medicine made from the Petilil, all injuries and illnesses can be healed."
Using the Petilil… Mira opened her mouth, a trace of reluctance flashing in her eyes. But thinking of Uncle Ruize's condition, she pressed her lips together and remained silent.
At that moment, a knight quickly walked in from outside and whispered a few words in Kevin's ear.
Kevin nodded slightly. After the knight left, he turned to the lady and said, "Your Grace, there is someone outside claiming to be… a apothecary."
"A apothecary?"
"Why haven't you brought him in already?"
Mira's eyes lit up. She had previously issued a bounty notice—this apothecary must have come in response to it.
Soon enough, she met the man who claimed to be a apothecary.
He wore worn but clean linen clothes and backless sandals on his feet—looking more like a farmer.
Is this guy a fraud… Mira muttered inwardly, but her voice was stern as she asked, "You say you're a apothecary?"
Aven was also quietly studying the kind-hearted lord in front of him. Despite her youthful, girlish appearance and long white hair, her expression was strict and mature.
Hearing her question, he calmly replied, "Yes, I am a apothecary."
Hmm… he doesn't seem to be lying.
Looking at Aven's calm expression, Mira judged silently in her heart.
Currently, all the renowned apothecarys of Lychee had gathered at Baron Ruize's residence. If this man were a fraud, they would be able to expose him immediately.
"Then head over now…" Mira thought for a moment, then added, "Wait—I'll go with you."
Outside Aspiration City, a carriage was ready and waiting.
However, the carriage wasn't pulled by horses—but by a Pokémon covered in gray armor.
It was a Rhyhorn, known in this world as a "Magical Beast."
Inside the carriage, Mira sat in the main seat, while Aven sat in a lower one. Both remained silent.
This lady seems quite approachable… Aven was surprised that he was allowed to ride in the same carriage as her. In this ancient world, class distinctions were strict and well-defined.
The stone-paved road had very few pedestrians.
Those they did pass were dressed in short-sleeved linen tops and matching pants with backless sandals.
When they saw the Rhyhorn-drawn carriage approaching at speed, they instinctively stepped aside, their eyes filled with awe and fear.
To ordinary citizens, magical beasts were terrifyingly powerful. A single Rhyhorn like this could only be handled by fully armed and well-trained knights.
If such a beast were to go berserk within the city, it would spell disaster for commoners.
Though knights could use "Magical Beast Gear" to control and command them, beast rampages still occurred every year.
Soon, the carriage arrived at Baron Ruize's residence.
Sir Berrin, who had already received the news, came to personally welcome them. But as soon as he saw Aven stepping out of the carriage, his pupils contracted in shock.
"What are you doing here?"
He glared at Aven with hostility, speaking in a low, restrained voice.
He recognized Aven as the nephew of the orchard's owner and assumed he must have come to steal back the Petilil!
"He's also an apothecary…"
Mira, unaware of the situation between them, gave a brief explanation.
She then quickly headed into the estate, wanting to check on the baron's condition herself.
An apothecary…
Berrin frowned slightly. This orchard boy, a apothecary?
He didn't believe it for a second, but since it was the lord herself who said it, he had no grounds to object.
He turned and led the group to his father's room.
With the lord present, he figured Aven wouldn't dare cause trouble.
Once they proved Aven wasn't a real apothecary, they could just throw him out!
Inside the baron's room, several elderly apothecaries were already gathered, discussing something.
On the table, Aven saw a Petilil locked inside an iron cage.
Petilil resembled a plant-based Pokémon, with most of its body green in color. Its round head and stripes made it look like an onion bulb.
Three oval leaves sprouted from its head, and its pale face held a pair of large eyes. A green bib-like structure circled its neck, and five stubby protrusions—two arms and two legs among them—formed its lower body.
At the moment, the little creature gripped the cage bars tightly, its body covered in wounds.
Its big, round eyes scanned its surroundings with a mixture of defiance and despair.
When it spotted Aven entering, its eyes suddenly lit up—then dimmed just as quickly.
It recognized this detestable guy. On countless nights, he had snuck into the orchard to steal leaves from its head before they were even fully grown.
He's not here to save me, Petilil thought in despair. He doesn't have the power to save me anyway…
Releasing the cage bars, Petilil sat back down, defeated.
Aven let out a quiet sigh of relief. Thank goodness… I made it in time.
As a Pokémon Breeder, Aven had an extraordinary love for Pokémon and couldn't bear to see them harmed.
He resisted the strong urge to break open the cage and rescue Petilil immediately.
Instead, he turned his attention to Baron Ruize lying in bed.
To save Petilil, he needed to heal the baron first.
When Aven had entered, the other apothecaries took note of him, confused by his sudden appearance.
After the lord introduced him, an elderly apothecary named Harlan snorted dismissively.
An ordinary commoner could be an apothecary?
Every one of them had paid a hefty price to learn the art of alchemy from true masters.
To them, an apothecary's value was measured purely by the knowledge they possessed.
(End of Chapter)