In the three months since the Empress's house call,
Bruno and I began to exchange knowledge and information.
Regarding the new medicine for the white death,
a contingent from the Novalout College of Medicine
showed up demanding the recipe be made public.
That's still something only I can make...
I know.
I made up a reason and sent them away.
The treatment is a miracle wrought by the Panactheos.
I doubt there's any point to telling others.
On the contrary,
it can be produced without the use of Divine Arts.
Eventually, I will make a production method public.
My word!
It can be made by ordinary people?
Yes.
Useful knowledge ought to be shared with everyone.
I believe doing so will make new discoveries possible.
Hmm. Quite right.
Is that, too, the will of the Panactheos?
I'd say it's more my conviction as a pharmacologist.
Still, not everyone can understand that will.
Both your knowledge and beliefs are, from a pharmaceutist's perspective,
heresy itself.
I expect some will attempt to get rid of you.
Of course, such attempts won't just come from pharmaceutist circles...
Returning to the Empress's case,
there is talk that someone attempted to bring the white death into the palace.
You mean... intentionally?
It would mean someone schemed to assassinate or depose Her Majesty.
That sounds far-fetched.
Even if infected, the probability of developing illness is about ten percent.
It would seem difficult to target Her Majesty intentionally.
Ten percent?
Is that knowledge also a revelation from the Panactheos?
Oh... Something like that.
Ah, it's about time for Her Majesty's appointment.
I see. Be careful making the trip.
Yes, Father. I'll be on my way, then.
Just how much devoted study would it take to approach that level...
A heretical... pharmaceutist...
Bruno, do you still not see it?
This world's beautiful...
truth!
Episode 4
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Hey, Farma!
So it's that time again.
Greetings, Lord Noah. How is Her Majesty?
Oh...
First, can we talk for a sec?
Come with me.
Listen, I got some juicy info for ya. Wanna hear it?
Huh? Uh, no... Not really...
See, it appears Her Majesty is considering what reward she will soon give you.
A reward?!
You dummy! Why're you acting like ya don't get it?
Ow, ow, ow!
You saved Her Majesty the Empress's life!
And provided examinations and treatment for everyone in the court!
Right now, no one else has rendered greater service to the nation!
What?
So, just between you and me, what piques your fancy?
Money? Status? Territory?
Oh, I don't need a territory or anyth—
Idiot! You're a noble, so grab anything you can!
That doesn't mean I have something in mind...
There must be something you want.
Come on. Maybe a goal for the future.
I won't tell anybody.
Promise.
A future goal...
In that case,
I'd say... opening a pharmacy!
Huh?
A pharmacy that provides safe,
affordable medicine for everyone, whether noble or commoner...
That's my dream.
What?
I can say that for now, the medicine appears to be working.
No need for modesty.
The new medicine is definitely effective.
My condition is improving every day, after all!
So far, yes.
With medicine and people, you never know what will happen tomorrow.
Hmm. You mean to say no medicine is an absolute guarantee.
That's not the demeanor you had when you gave a grand speech to the court physicians.
I understand.
At the time, I was in the depths of despair, simply waiting for death.
The reason you spoke so definitively was to make me believe I would recover
and light the flame of hope in my heart.
After I was afflicted with the white death and my euthanasia was decided upon...
my authority as ruler and my value plummeted straight to the ground.
Your Majesty, that's not...
Having become worthless once, am I fit to occupy the throne again?
Your Majesty, who was it that still needed you, even when you felt that way?
Why, my son Louis.
Then firstly, as his mother,
Your Majesty can hardly be called a worthless person to Prince Louis.
Furthermore, in the Empire as well,
there are a great many people who adore and need you.
As long as those people exist, Your Majesty can never become worthless.
You say such interesting things.
Forgive me for speaking out of place.
Forgiven.
Your words are as medicine for the heart.
I will take my leave, Your Majesty.
Oh, allow me one more thing.
Humans move continuously toward death.
Your Majesty has experienced death once already.
I am certain Your Majesty will live this second life even better.
I, too, was moved to live my next live better.
To value each and every day.
What do you mean by that?
It's nothing. Until tomorrow, Your Majesty.
Please take care.
Several Months Later
Allow me to express my congratulations on Your Majesty's convalescence.
Yes. My sudden summons must have startled you.
Today, I wish to discuss your son.
My son, Your Majesty?
Indeed.
Father, are you sure it is okay for me to attend such a grand ceremony?
What kind of question is that?
You are the son of an archduke. Stand proud.
Y-Yes, Father...
Her Majesty Élisabeth II, Empress of the great Sain Fleuve Empire!
Chief Royal Pharmaceutist Bruno de Médicis.
Ma'am!
You have served brilliantly in my treatment
and in training the next generation of pharmaceutists.
Both are the result of long years of loyalty.
So this has earned him the territory of Marseirre.
Accordingly, I grant you the territory of Marseirre.
That large territory, known for its medicinal herbs?
Continue to pursue pharmacological advancements.
Fitting for His Excellency, the Chief Pharmaceutist.
Thank you, Your Majesty.
Next! Apprentice Royal Pharmaceutist Farma de Médicis!
Huh? Wh-What?
What is the matter? Come forward at once!
Y-Yes, Your Majesty!
Farma, I permit your promotion from apprentice to official Royal Pharmaceutist.
Farma, what are you doing?
Give Her Majesty your oath!
Um... I am honored, Your Majesty.
Go on, Farma. Take your Royal Pharmaceutist's badge.
Is this really okay, Father?
That is not all, Farma.
In addition, I grant you special permission to open a pharmacy in the capital.
Continue to devote yourself to me and the empire.
Huh?!
Congratulations, my son.
Thank you.
Thank you, Father!
By Her Majesty's command?
Yes. We were ordered to begin construction today.
What? Hold on a moment.
I'm not mentally prepared, or prepared at all!
That may be the case, young man.
But the carpenter, the stonemason,
and the various craftsmen and workers are all assembled.
We need to receive some instructions.
I brought tea!
Set your mind at ease!
We are all super-first-rate workers employed by the palace!
Ah, that's not really the issue...
Please, have some tea.
Prime real estate within the capital has already been secured.
I assure you it's quite delicious!
Please guide us in creating the blueprints at once!
What? I-I'm deciding that?
Oh, my! They're here already.
You're all starting early.
Elen, what brings you here?
The master summoned me.
He told me to assist you with establishing your pharmacy.
So,
what sort of pharmacy do you want?
You must have some kind of image in mind.
We're deciding already?
I'd like to visit other pharmacies and take time to consider ideas.
That won't work, sir!
If we don't start immediately, it'll be our heads!
That's right.
Socially...
and physically.
What?!
But I'd like to consider user-friendliness and other issues...
"If it is not to your liking, you can simply rebuild it!"
That's how Her Majesty is.
Okay.
In that case...
The ideal pharmacy I've dreamed of...
My word... Now this is something.
I must say, the plans you drew up for us were so precise
that work is proceeding splendidly!
So, what'll it be for the name?
Huh? I have to decide that now, too?
It affects construction time.
Something like "Imperial City Pharmacy"?
That seems a bit much.
"De Médicis Pharmacy" would be a standard, straightforward name,
but I'd prefer not to publicly brandish the family name for this.
My dream... to start a little pharmacy of my own one day...
I never imagined it'd be a parallel world pharmacy, though.
Got it! Very good, sir!
Hey! Sign-maker!
Yes!
What?
Parallel World Pharmacy
O-Oh my...
How did it turn out this way?
Oh, my! That's quite a name!
Th-This was just a little miscommunication...
Oh? Well, I think it's fine this way. It stands out.
I'd prefer not to stand out in a bad way, though...
It doesn't matter.
No matter what name you choose,
all-out confrontation with the Pharmaceutist Guild is inevitable.
The son of an aristocrat—the son of an archduke at that—running a store?
It's absolutely unheard of.
I would've liked to have had a more peaceful start...
Just think of it as good advertising.
My, my!
The storefront is as impressive as the rumors said!
You there, boy.
You're an employee here, yes? Where is the proprietor?
I am the proprietor. How may I help you?
Oh, do forgive me!
I am Veron, head of the Sain Fleuve Pharmaceutist Guild!
A pleasure to make your acquaintance.
I am Royal Pharmaceutist Farma de Médicis.
Nice to meet you, Veron.
This is quite the storefront.
But what sort of medicine do you intend to sell?
For someone of your age, I suppose it would be hard candies.
Now, see here—
Indeed. Dosage forms similar to candies will be available, such as lozenges.
"Dosage forms"? You have studied well, young man!
Commendable!
Much obliged.
If I might confirm something with you,
do I need to join your guild to operate?
Unfortunately, we do not offer registration to aristocrats.
We are commoner pharmaceutists only.
But if you truly wish to join, we could accommodate you.
I appreciate the offer, but no.
I thought not.
You noble individuals approach things differently.
I expect your selection of goods will be quite pricey.
No, we should be able to offer low prices.
"Low" prices?
"Low prices"?!
Do you know how far out of reach your conception of "low" prices—
Yes, yes. That's quite enough!
How can a grown man treat a child in this manner?
If you want to crush this store, then simply say so!
I'll gladly deal with you myself.
Oh, no, no.
I simply came to offer greetings.
May we develop a fruitful relationship.
I must be going now.
We don't need your greetings or relationship!
Get lost yesterday!
I think we're all set on tools.
Yes, you have everything covered.
We can take care of the compounding, sales, and customer interactions,
but what do we do about the accounting?
Ooh! Ooh!
Okay. Ms. Lotte.
I'm Lotte!
I'm good at arithmetic! And I can read and write!
So please allow me to do it!
You?
Yes! And my handwriting is neat!
I think...
But you're only nine years old.
Employees need to be adults.
Master Farma, you are only ten yourself!
But I, uh...
I want to always serve at your side, Master Farma!
Please let me work for you!
I'll clean or do odd jobs! Anything!
Okay.
Then, I think I'll have you do simple jobs and errands.
Really, Master? Thank you so much!
I'll do my very best!
So please, give me lots of tasks!
Now then, allow me to perform...
my dance of gratitude for Master Farma's kindness!
With Lotte around, the atmosphere of the shop will certainly be cheerful.
That's true.
But I still need someone who can handle the finances and prepare official documents.
Got any possible candidates?
No, none.
I hope I can find someone trustworthy.
What's going on?
Oh, Master Farma.
I appreciate my years of employment here.
Mr. Cédric? What do you mean?
As of today, my retirement begins.
What? This is so sudden!
I haven't heard anything about this from Father.
We are surprised as well.
To think he'd be suddenly dismissed...
Even though Sir Cédric managed the estate's finances
and has served for many years.
Now, now.
This is the master's way of telling me to give my knees a rest out in the country.
It is?
Even if I said I still wanted to work, you can see how my knees are.
So, if your knees could get better, you'd like to keep working?
I would love to.
Then come to my pharmacy!
I'll also treat your knees!
Brother?
What?
I see. You're saying you wish to hire Cédric?
Yes, provided I have your permission, Father.
I have already released Cédric from service.
You may do as you wish.
So then...
Simon, bring it in.
Yes, Master.
Here it is.
Go ahead.
This is a congratulatory gift from me. Use it to operate your pharmacy.
Oh...
Th-This is...
There are many costs when starting a new venture.
It never hurts to have more capital.
But I couldn't possibly accept so much money!
My dear son is starting a new chapter in his life.
Let me make a grand fatherly gesture on this occasion.
Cédric is honest and loyal.
You should have no worries entrusting the pharmacy's finances to him.
Give it your all.
I will, Father!
Wait, was this whole dismissal about...
Thank you, Father!
With gratitude, I received a charter directly from the Empress,
which allowed me to successfully open this pharmacy today.
And so, we wish not to rest on our laurels
but to support everyone in the capital in living healthy and bountiful lives.
A aristocratic pharmaceutist is opening a pharmacy.
As was written in that imperial rescript,
I guess he's playing shopkeep with his parents' money.
What's with the way he's talking?
we aim to provide a pharmacy for everyone living in the capital.
Can he not distinguish between nobles and commoners?
So that we may provide treatment that meets the wishes of each patient,
care for both the body and mind, and become a pharmacy you will all choose,
I and my staff together will strive to deepen our skills and commitment.
You know, for a kid proprietor...
...this speech is long.
Without further ado, our pharmacy is open for business!
Episode 5
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