After a while, Mr. Quid, a peddler, came to the village, and I immediately tried to negotiate with him.
“I’d like to talk to you about something, if you don’t mind.”
“Oh, oh, Mr. Ash. What is it?”
I hadn’t made any particular contact with him since then, but Mr. Quid’s reaction was firm. Perhaps he thinks that he will finally be blackmailed with the previous story. I don’t intend to do anything that would violate my conscience, but I can’t avoid the fact that he would take it as a threat. It’s not my problem, but his.
“As a matter of fact, I’ve discovered this plant. I wonder if Mr. Quid is familiar with it?”
I showed him some aloe, but Quid didn’t seem to know anything about it and shook his head. I thought that since it was such a vigorous plant and there were so many varieties, maybe it was available in the city, but it didn’t seem to be known around there.
“What the hell is this? It’s dripping and it’s kind of gross……”
“That’s a leaf from a plant.”
“That’s a leaf? Not a stem or anything, but a leaf?”
Because of its thick flesh, it may indeed feel more like a stem or trunk than a leaf. It’s definitely an unusual one.
“Actually, according to what I read, this plant can be used as medicine.”
“Wow…….Well, if it’s so unusual, it must be good for something, right?”
I think that medicine made with that kind of feeling is very dangerous. This is why I don’t feel safe with the medicines that Mr. Quid brings. There must have been quite a few times in the past when mercury, a deadly poison, was thought to be a secret medicine. There are other things like animal feces and urine, including humans, and parts of dead bodies…….
“So I’m going to try to make a potion with it, but I need to do some experiments to see if it works and if there are any problems.”
“Why? Doesn’t the book say it’s medicine?”
I guess that’s because some big shot somewhere says it works. It’s troubling because this idea is pretty much the norm in our society.
“It’s true, but if you use it too much, it might cause problems, and depending on how you use it, it might not work. Experimentation is absolutely necessary.”
“It’s kind of a hassle.”
“Mr. Quid, don’t you also observe and gather information about the people you are dealing with for the first time?”
When I told him it was the same thing, he seemed to understand a little better.
“I’m glad to hear that you understand. Now, I would like to obtain a pen and paper for my drug experiments, please.”
“Oh, so that’s what you wanted……”
Mr. Quid chuckled, feeling a little relieved. I guess it’s better to know than to not know what kind of threats are coming. There is a saying that even a bad outcome is better than no outcome.
“Pen and paper. And ink, of course?”
“Oh, yes. That’s a must, too.”
“Hmm…….”
I was so worried. After all, it was a very expensive item, so it would be difficult to give it away for free. Even though I had his weakness, Mr. Quid had the option of never coming to this village again. That would be detrimental to both of us, so I am not going to push him to that extent.
“I wish I could pay you properly, but I don’t have any money at my disposal.”
“I’d be surprised if you had any money at your disposal…….No, Ash, I can understand why you would.”
What kind of perception do they have of me as a naive child?
“If the development of the drug goes well, I will give Mr. Quid some money. Perhaps we can even sell it in the city.”
I’ll do my best, so I’m sorry if I overstep my bounds.
“Uh-huh…….”
Mr. Quid just snorted and didn’t nod. Not good. Even though he doesn’t understand scientific methods like experiments, Mr. Quid is a realist who lives as a peddler. And as a small business, he can’t be bothered to make a profit. So, what better way to screw my father out of his money? As Mr. Quid and I were pondering this, Mr. Van, the hunter, arrived.
“Oh, Mr. Van. Hello.”
When I greeted him, Mr. Van, who was as quiet as ever, nodded. He seemed to have come to buy some necessities in exchange for selling the smoked meat and furs from his hunting trip to Mr. Quid. Mr. Van pointed out what he needed and asked Mr. Quid to do the math for him.
He had been ripped off before, but he wouldn’t be this time since I was there. After finishing his shopping, Mr. van looked at me and tilted his head.
“What’s up?”
“Uh, yeah. I just needed some paper and pens, so I was checking to see how much they cost.”
Mr. Van nodded as if to say, “I see.” Mr. Quid looked surprised at the sound of Mr. Van’s voice, but I wondered how quiet he was. I mean, how did he manage to shop until now?
“How much?”
“Well, how much is it after all?”
I, along with Mr. Van, tilted our heads to look at Mr. Quid.
“If you want a set of slightly damaged paper, you can get a set for fifteen……iron coins, or thirteen……coins, or twelve……coins. I’m sorry.”
Twelve iron coins. The price must be a complete loss for Mr. Quid, but even so, it was not something I could afford. The price is enough to buy salt, a necessity.
“I’ll pay.”
Mr. Van said incredulously.
“What? Mr. Van, I’m sorry about this not-so-cheap stuff. I owe you for saving my life the other day.”
To tell you the truth, I would like to say, “Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, I did it,” but I am not that thick-skinned, so I am afraid. But Mr. Van shook his head silently at me. He nodded to Mr. Quid with his piercing eyes.
“Are you sure about this, Mr. Van? I mean, if it’s okay with you, it’s fine with me…….”
Mr. Quid looked quite surprised, but Mr. Van nodded again and quickly left with the items he had bought. What’s with that guy?
“Oh, that’s crazy cool…….”
“Yeah, that’s messed up cool…….”
The two of us walked off together. However, I had a little change, so I took it from Mr. Quid. I’ll be sure to give it back to him later, along with a thank you for the paper and pen.
＊＊＊＊
With each passing day, the feeling of summer becomes more and more intense. Even though the seasons have passed, my life has not changed much. I work in the fields, pick wild plants in the shallow part of the forest, go to church to borrow books, and teach Miss Maika to read.
The only thing that has changed since spring is that Mr. Van has started to give me some simple help and brought me some wild plants while hunting.
At Mr. Van’s house, I take care of his hunting tools such as spears and traps, and help him dismantle and process the game he brings back. However, it is only recently that I have become a helper. In the beginning, I had to be taught how to do everything, so I had to bow my head and say thank you for your help.
Thanks to your help, I think I have gained the basic knowledge of a hunter. One of these days, he will take me to the mountains, and I am really looking forward to it. Since Mr. Van’s main occupation is hunting, the amount of wild plants he brings is not very large. If I can keep up with him, the harvest will increase. I’ve heard that there will be some very tasty wild plants in the summer, so I’m looking forward to another plate for the table.
Another thing that has changed, I’ve started keeping rats. I named them “Guinea Pigs” with a twist. You can probably tell from the name that they’re not pets. At the moment, they are accompanying me in my experiments to check the medicinal effects of aloe. Eventually, I plan to ask them to work on other medicines as well. They have no right of refusal.
As a person who has memories of what seems to be a previous life, I don’t feel guilty – at all – about deliberately hurting the rats I’ve caught to check the effects of the wound medicine, or forcing them to drink an obviously dangerous amount of aloe. They are not weaklings to be pitied, but powerful enemies not to be trifled with.
In a previous life, I would not have hated them so much. But in this life, where I spend most of my days living in poverty, rats are vermin that devour both the crops in the field and in the warehouse, and I want to eliminate them.
I don’t want to torture them in the name of extermination, but I have become so tainted with hatred that it would not hurt my heart to do the necessary experiments. I think that when people starve, their hearts become poor.
Thanks to these annoying guinea pigs, I have learned a lot about aloe. 　It seems that eating too much aloe is not a good idea. I was a little surprised to learn that some rats died from it. Also, when used as an ointment, it can cause skin irritation. In other words, it is more potent than one might think, and if one understands the precautions, it is a very effective plant.
It is effective against cuts, burns, insect bites, and other skin and skin problems in general, and at least prevents them from festering and getting worse. It also seems to be effective when taken, and can help when the stomach is weak, it also seems to help with constipation.
After experimenting with guinea pigs, I started experimenting on my own body. I tried using aloe ointment only on my right hand, and although it was not as good as a baby’s……my hands, which were rough from working day and night, were no longer chapped or cracked, and became smooth. The difference was so great that my unpainted left hand looked pathetic.
I think this effect alone is enough to sell the product, especially for women. My mother was very enthusiastic about it, so I asked her to be the second subject of my human experiment. I am happy to see her smile as she says that her water work has become easier.
Once I’ve boiled down the ointment-making procedure a bit more, I’ll talk to Mr. Quid and ask him to market it on a trial basis in the city. There is not enough experimentation, but it is impossible for a farmer to conduct a full-scale clinical trial. I’m thinking of consulting with Mr. Quid about that as well, and asking him to choose a good partner to purchase the product.
However, I don’t think it will be a problem even if something happens. I have a strong feeling that in this world, we are lax in that area, or rather, we are responsible for ourselves. When I save up my earnings, I may buy farming tools, horses, or cows to make farming easier. Or is there something better I can do? I have to find out the best way to go about it.
What I need is knowledge, which means books. I need to read more books.
“You’re reading another difficult-looking book. What are you reading this time?”
I was reading a book in the church when I was approached by Miss Maika, who smiled at me. She seemed to have gotten used to coming to church alone and didn’t seem to be nervous. She sat down next to me and looked into my book.
“A practical book on……livestock?”
“Correct. Well done.”
Although it’s a bit awkward, Miss Maika has learned to read quite well. 　With a little more reading experience, she should be able to read at a normal speaking speed. Currently, she is focusing on writing. She seems to be happy that she can read, and she smiles at me
“By livestock, you mean horses and cows, right?”
“Yes, that’s right. Livestock is any animal that we can keep. Birds are also livestock if we can keep them.”
“So it’s meat.”
“Yes, meat.”
I agree with Miss Maika that nothing is wrong. As a child growing up, I can assure you that no other perception is possible.
“I don’t know how much it will be, but I’m thinking that if it turns into a sum of money, we can start something new here in the village.”
“So, livestock?”
“That’s an idea. However, just by doing a little research, I found out that livestock is difficult to raise, so it would be impossible unless we could get a lot of money.”
There is too much expertise required and it takes a lot of work. If it is too much for the current villagers to do, we will have to ask people with such expertise to move into the village. We will need houses for the newcomers, and animal housing for the livestock. Of course, the livestock for the first shift would have to be purchased from somewhere. The amount of money that we can get from the aloe ointment will not be enough.
The farm horse that died two years ago was apparently a horse that had been given to the village specifically for the purpose of cultivating the area. It was assumed that the horses would be used up beforehand, so the initial investment alone must have been cheap.
In the early days of pioneering, when it was important to overcome immediate difficulties, it was fine to think in terms of short-distance running, but now we need to think in terms of long-distance running. If we think about it that way, it would be more cost effective to make new farm tools out of steel rather than livestock, which are supposed to be used up.
Chickens would be quite easy, but wolves and demons would come out of the forest, and it would be very difficult to raise them in a farming village without a barrier. My research has revealed that demons are clearly distinct from wolves and other vermin. I wonder what they really are…….
Incidentally, wolves and demons seem to be attracted to cows and horses, but chickens seem to attract them especially well. This may be the result of breeding from ancient civilizations.
Cows and horses are large, so there is a limit to how much they can be raised in a city. It is also easier to pasture them for the sake of food. Chickens, on the other hand, are small enough to be tolerated in cities. As a result, chickens have been able to live in cities without worrying about vermin, while large domestic animals have been able to live outside the walls of cities, threatened by predators.
Natural selection pressures may have caused the fading of bloodlines that were easy for vermin to detect, made a good noise, and had a strong body odor. Chickens, on the other hand, are not subjected to such pressure, so they always cluck every morning. That must be a delicious sound in the wild, I don’t know if it’s true or not but I don’t think I’ll be able to prove it in my lifetime. I’d like to write a book about these thoughts in the future and hope that future generations will praise me as a great man who was born in the wrong era.
I tell the practical side of these thoughts to Miss Maika. She is still very young, but she seems to enjoy going along with my not-so-funny stories. She is a good person. I’m sure she’ll make a wonderful wife in the future.
“Ash, you’re amazing!”
“No, I’m not. I haven’t done anything yet.”
“I think the aloe medicine is great too, my mom and dad said so too.”
“Here,” says Miss Maika, holding out her hands for me to see.
“Oh. Now if you’ll excuse me.”
I said no, then pulled Mistress Maika’s hands together and traced them with my fingers, looking at them both back and front. I am not a sexual harasser or a pedophile , because physically we’re the same age, and mentally I can’t see myself as such an object. This is pure observation, yes, experimental observation. Actually, Miss Maika is the third test subject of the aloe ointment.
When I was applying the ointment only on my right hand, Miss Maika, who I was teaching, noticed the difference in my left and right hands and when I told her the reason, she was very eager to use it. After all, she was a girl, even if she was young. After I finished my own experiments on the human body, I asked her to participate in the experiments with my mother.
“Yes. I don’t see any abnormal reactions such as rashes or redness. Do you feel any pain or itching?”
After checking the texture of her skin, I tried to ask her a question, but there was no response from Miss Maika. I wondered what was wrong with her, and she went into a tense state with a bright red face, staring at her hands and my hands holding hers.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I touched you too unkindly, didn’t I? What I did was very rude to a woman…….”
After all, she was a woman, albeit a young one. It was my fault. If I may be allowed to make an excuse, I was worried about the negative effects of the experimental phase.
“Uh, no, no, no, it’s okay……it’s okay, so…..”
I’m glad that Miss Maika is a kind person. However, I will try to be a proper gentleman next time. Since I’m going out of my way to be a better person than I was in my previous life, my goal is to be a perfect gentleman in this life. I don’t think I can understand a woman’s heart, but I want to try as hard as I can.
“Uh, so……Ash, the first thing you warned me about is nothing, okay?　Yeah, I’m really happy with how smooth my skin is.”
“I see. That’s good.”
It seems that even though the world has changed, women’s awareness of beauty is something they share. At this rate, I suppose I can expect to see it when it comes up for sale.
“So, you know, my mom wants to try it…….”
Mistress Maika glances up at me apologetically. No problem, I just got subject number four.
“Yes, that’s fine. But as I told Maika at the beginning, there is a possibility that it may have side effects or may not suit her constitution.”
“If it hurts, itches or feels strange, I should stop using it right away, right?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
As long as you’re not hurt, you can use it as much as you like. Miss Maika’s mother, Mrs. Eureka, is the one who gave me books to read.
“Okay, so let’s start today’s lesson. Shall we practice writing again today?”
“Before we do that, there were some words I didn’t understand when I was reading…….”
“Let’s start there.”
In addition, I’m handling most of Miss Maika’s studying. Priest Folke, get to work.