I Don't Want To Work! - Chapter 44
CHAPTER 44
He helped a person who had fallen on the road, and then they gave him leaves and fruits from the World Tree…?
Is this some kind of talk about inheriting the imperial succession while walking down the road?
“Hey, was that person a High Elf, by any chance?”
“No. They were beautiful, but they were human.”
Fordell continued his words slowly as if searching through his memory.
“They were taking their child back to their hometown, but they ran out of money and were in trouble on the way.”
Oh, they must have had a hard time.
When you’re pregnant, your body gets heavier, so every little thing becomes difficult.
“I remember when I came out of hiding and wandered around back then, I have memories of escorting them to the Syroph Harbor.”
“Syroph Harbor?”
I was surprised and raised my voice.
That’s where the continent ships docked for passage to other continents.
It must have been quite a distance.
“Yes, it was a bit difficult, but I couldn’t ignore someone in need of help.”
“That’s true.”
I nodded.
I’ve been feeling it since earlier, but this person is kind.
“After escorting them to the Syroph Harbor, they gave me this box.”
Hmm. Fordell cleared his throat and continued.
“I thought it might have been obtained by some distant ancestor.”
Ah, that could be it then.
I nodded.
Even though they were High Elves, not a single one didn’t come out.
Some broke the rules and sneaked out, and they even sent out envoys when there were matters to attend to.
That was the only time when you could obtain items from the High Elves or items from the World Tree.
“That’s a story from 25 years ago already.”
Time flies, doesn’t it? Fordell laughed as he added.
Then, as if realizing something, he muttered softly.
“I was holding onto the patient too much. I’m sorry, Your Highness.”
“No, I enjoyed hearing the story.”
And I received a very important gift.
I hugged the box close to my chest and smiled widely.
Leaves of the World Tree, leaves of the World Tree!
“When I leave, the maid will come in.”
Fordell, who said that, was about to leave but turned around as if something had occurred to him.
“And His Highness Leonard will visit tomorrow. He went into meditation.”
Right, that’s good.
The blood I fed him must be overflowing with mana right now.
It was better to gather it together before it dispersed.
“Yes, thank you. Mage Fordell.”
“No problem. Please rest well.”
Fordell bowed lightly once again and left the room.
As soon as the door closed.
“Yahoo!”
I cheered.
Leaves of the World Tree! Really, leaves of the World Tree! And a fruit too!
‘Wow, I finally get to see the real thing.’
Inside the plain wooden box were five dried leaves and one red fruit.
At first glance, they didn’t seem much different from the leaves and fruits commonly seen on the roadside.
However, there was a subtle flow of mana and a refreshing aura.
It was indeed a product of the World Tree.
First, let’s try the leaves…!
‘How, how do you eat this? What did Roy say?’
I racked my brains.
Right, tea!
If they weren’t dried leaves, there could have been other ways, but dried leaves were best consumed as tea.
“Can I come in?”
Betty coincidentally opened the door slightly and peeked inside.
She seemed to be checking if Fordell had left.
“He’s gone, come in. Come in.”
In Betty’s hands as she entered the room was a kettle full of water.
I pulled back the blanket, got off the bed, and headed towards the fireplace.
It was transitioning into early summer, so naturally, the fireplace was extinguished.
“Betty, could you light the fire?”
“Yes? Sure.”
Betty brought matches and lit the fire. Meanwhile, I boiled water in the iron kettle.
I hung the kettle on the thin rod installed in the fireplace and waited for a while until the water bubbled.
“But, Lady Lottie, why are you boiling water? If you want tea, I can ask the kitchen staff.”
“Well, no.”
I couldn’t entrust this to others when it’s something like this.
I had to do it myself.
When the water was boiling just right, I put a leaf from the World Tree in it.
And I waited for it to steep properly.
“Wow.”
Betty, who sat next to me, widened her eyes.
“What kind of tea leaves are these? The scent is so nice.”
“That’s right.”
The scent that brushed against my nose was unlike any I had ever smelled before.
Subtle, refreshing, and somewhere cool.
But why?
Why does it smell so nostalgic?
“It seems to be steeped. Let’s drink together, Betty.”
“Yes, Lady Lottie!”
Betty quickly brought two teacups. As I poured the steeped water, the scent became even richer.
A scent that made you feel like it wasn’t ordinary just by smelling it.
I swallowed my saliva.
“Let’s drink!”
“Yes!”
Glug glug.
Betty and I quickly emptied our cups.
“Wow…”
“Whoa.”
We both exclaimed at the same time.
“What kind of tea is this, Lady Lottie? Honestly, I’ve been very tired lately. Working during the day and studying at night.”
Betty continued, looking at her empty cup.
“But after drinking this, it feels like all the accumulated fatigue is melting away. My body feels much lighter! Isn’t that right, Lady Lottie?”
“Yeah.”
Lighter? Fatigue melting away?
No.
It wasn’t just that.
‘I feel like I’m flying.’
Those who are sick would understand.
How painful it is, and how much it weighs a person down.
How it irritates and makes one sensitive.
And how it eats away at a person mentally.
Everyone would know.
But with just a sip of water, it all disappeared for us.
The heavy body felt light as if it could fly, and the sensitivity sank.
There was room to breathe.
‘I could run for more than 20 minutes right now.’
I placed my hand on my chest.
The heartbeats, always weak, now thumped happily.
‘Even Mandragora didn’t have such a good effect.’
Maybe the leaves of the World Tree suit me well?
And if the leaves are this effective, what about the fruit?
I swallowed my saliva and stared at the fruit.
The desire to swallow it right away bubbled up, but I shook my head soon after.
I had to save the last move.
‘But why the World Tree?’
The joy of recovering soon turned into tears.
Why the World Tree…?
Why, among all the miraculous medicines! Why the most difficult to obtain!!
‘Darn it.’
I drank the remaining water, tears streaming down my face.
‘I have to somehow obtain other products of the World Tree.’
If the leaves had such a wonderful effect…
The bark, and the roots, might have similar or even better effects.
‘I really knew it, my body is the worst.’
With no abilities.
Tears welled up at the thought that I wouldn’t be surprised if I suddenly collapsed.
‘Is the fitting medicine the product of the World Tree?’
And not just once, but it would have to be taken consistently.
My head was spinning.
This is something you can’t buy even with money!
‘But it’s strange, isn’t it? Being human, not any other race, yet the best-fitting medicine is a product of the World Tree.’
In a way, it’s obvious, but different races responded differently to medicines.
Mermaids responded well to medicines with strong aquatic energy, while dwarves preferred medicines with strong earth energy like roots.
Humans, being in between, were generally good with anything.
But still, at this level, it must be…
“Hmm…”
“Lady Lottie?”
As I made a strange noise while furrowing my brows, Betty, who was tapping the bottom of the teacup as if something remained, asked.
“What’s wrong?”
“Uh, nothing.”
I shook my head and put down the teacup.
“But when should we go to our palace?”
“Well, Lady Lottie, you’ve just woken up.”
Tapping, Betty licked the teacup as if reluctant to leave any remains.
“Do you want another cup?”
While it’s polite, seeing her like that makes me want to give her more.
“No, I’m good with this.”
Betty firmly declined.
“Wow, this looks good for your health, Lady Lottie! You should have it!”
She said that while glancing at me softly.
It was a look of holding back the desire to have one more sip.
‘So cute.’
Lately, Betty always insisted on feeding me whenever there was something healthy.
‘It’s not a bad feeling, being taken care of.’
“Alright, I’ll finish this.”
I smiled, and Betty smiled back bashfully.
“His Highness Leonard said he’s going into some kind of training. When he’s done, why don’t we go together?”
No, Leonard won’t go with us.
He needs a place with abundant mana right now.
He’ll focus on strengthening the 6th circle at the Tower for a while.
‘But I should greet him. Maybe I’ll go after his training is over.’
Now that I’m in good health, it’s fine!
I chuckled.
“I’m in excellent condition.”
Just a while ago, I felt like I was going to die, but now I feel like I could fly.
‘I have to go to the Emperor.’
I’ll beg the Emperor and the Good Empress to get me the World Tree!
Yes, if I can’t do it, I’ll make others do it!
And I didn’t only have the Good Empress and the Emperor.
‘The Temple of Detmé to the Tower of Leonard!’
The priests of the Temple of Detmé, who worship the god of abundance, were welcomed in any country.
And the mages at the Tower had connections all over.
Even if I couldn’t obtain new products from the World Tree, I would find what’s hidden all over the continent.
‘Alright, I’ll return to the palace as soon as possible!’
I hugged the box containing the remaining leaves of the World Tree tightly and clenched my fist.