"I'm home! Mom! I brought back some herbs!"
"Oh, Alan! You made it back safely, cough cough... I'm glad you were safe too, Mr. Alan."
I brought Marle back to her home, and her mother greeted us by propping herself up in bed.
"Thanks, big bro! I'm gonna go get this premium herb made into medicine. Hehe, aren't the leaves pretty? You relax here, big bro!"
But this was a problem.
"Wait, Marle. I've got medicine too. How about you trade those herbs for my medicine? That way you can give your mom her medicine sooner."
"Really, big bro?! Yay! Here, you can have this premium herb. Gimme the medicine!"
"Sure enough."
And so I traded Marle's leaves for my medicine.
My medicine was, of course, an elixir.
The leaves I received were actually poisonous herbs that induced hallucinations.
When I'd found Marle in the eastern forest, I'd spotted the herb she was clutching tightly while checking her with Divine Eye, but it wasn't a real herb.
You couldn't exactly expect a small child to tell the difference.
The appearance was very similar, and the color was more vivid than ordinary herbs, so it was no wonder Marle had mistaken it for a premium herb.
So basically, I'd traded what would have been an illegal substance in my previous life for an elixir.
It was a loss, a massive loss, but the reward was only pocket change to begin with.
Besides, the white king tiger wolf would sell for a good price.
After all, even the marquis household I'd served didn't have fur pelts that fine.
"Oh my, Mr. Alan, are you sure about giving away such fine medicine?"
Marle's mother asked just to be sure after accepting my medicine from her daughter.
"I don't mind at all. I wanted to give Marle a reward for her bravery too. But please make sure she never wanders deep into the forest again."
"I understand. Marle, you mustn't do anything so dangerous ever again. Everyone in the neighborhood was worried sick, and you caused trouble for this kind gentleman too."
"Okaaay. Sorry, adventurer big bro."
Well, being honest was a good trait.
But this kid would probably do it again someday...
Which was exactly why the elixir mattered.
Marle's mother gulped down the medicine with a loud glug.
"...Oh my, my body feels so light. No more coughing, no more headaches. I can't even remember how many years it's been. Lord Alan, this must be some sort of miracle elixir..."
"An ordinary adventurer couldn't possibly have something like that. Those are the kind of items nobles clamor to get their hands on. The medicine I made from the premium herbs Marle gathered just happened to work well, that's all."
"...I see. Still, I wonder how I could ever repay you... If Lord Alan were just a bit older, there might be a way to show my gratitude."
Um, well about that.
Even though she was a mother, Marle's mother could still be called quite young.
Seeing her fully restored, healthy body, those impressive chest armaments were...
Whoa now, with a body like that, plenty of men would line up offering to take care of both mother and daughter if she'd just marry them.
There was no room for me in that race.
"Your kindness is thanks enough. I'm planning to head for the royal capital soon. Knowing that Marle won't do anything dangerous is all the reward I need."
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Skills: [Reverse] [Divine Eye] [Sword God] [Phantom Thief Gentleman]