Chapter 6: Volume 1 - CH 3

Four months have passed since I’ve been summoned.

On that day because the potions from the research institute saved many people from the 3rd Knight Order, a special reward was bestowed from the royal palace.

In particular the person who I made drink the advanced HP potion was the captain of the 3rd Knight Order and also the 3rd son the Margrave family. So a reward was also sent from the Margrave.

In addition because of the efficiency, the 3rd Knight Order purchased my potions, which couldn’t be sold to wholesalers.

Thanks to that, the research institute budget is abundant lately.

“So, is there anything you want?”

One day, when I bring tea to the director’s room, I am asked if there was anything I want.

It was so abrupt that I have to think a little before answering.

“Well… I want a bath and a kitchen.”

“A bath and a kitchen?”

“Well ~, I like cooking.”

The reason that I answered with is true, but that’s not all.

After all the cooking level of this world is low.

Or should I say, there are many dishes cooked without seasoning.

There are times when it’s seasoned with salt or vinegar but it doesn’t suit my tastes.

Although I went to the employee’s dining hall at the royal palace to eat, it was really horrible.

Because the food was unappetising, I unexpectedly went on a diet.

I’ve never worried about it before but since coming to this world, I was strongly aware that I’m a Japanese person who is picky about food.

Although I’m crazy about food, I’m not very good at cooking. But based on the idea that what I make would surely be better, I requested a kitchen.

“Cook? Will Sei be the one cooking?”

“Yes.”

When I said that I would be that one cooking, the Director opens his eyes as if he is surprise.

I don’t think it’s something to be surprise about though.

Or do I look like I can’t cook?

When I tilt my head the Director tells me why he was surprised.

As I thought, he didn’t think I could cook.

It seems that rich people like aristocrats and wealthy merchants hire cooks so the woman and children of those households don’t cook.

Of course the wife in common households will cook……

“Director, I’m also a commoner, you know?”

“Ah, now that you mention it, that’s true.”

The Director smiles wryly, he completely forgot about it.

The Director knows that I was summoned to this kingdom.

When I was assigned to this research institute, he had asked the High Official about me. But he’d also wanted to know more personal things, he asked me directly.

Questions like: my social status in Japan, what kind of life I was living, etc.

At that time I talked about being a commoner and working at a company.

“When I look at Sei, I don’t think you look like a commoner at all.”

“I think that no matter how you look at me, I look like a commoner.”

“That’s not true. There are only a few commoners in this kingdom who have acquired high education like Sei.”

According to the Director there are no schools for commoners in this kingdom.

The Royal Academy that Jude had told me about before is a school where aristocrat children attend. It seems that only those with exceptional magic skills among commoners can attend as a scholarship student.

It’s no wonder the Director is surprise when I told him that education was compulsory in Japan and even commoners have to attend.

While we were talking about such things, the Director finishes his tea and the conversation ends. Two days later the craftsman come to the research institute.

To be honest when I was asked what I wanted, I half-jokingly said bath and kitchen.

I didn’t actually think that the Director would get things ready in order to build it.

I was naïve.

Didn’t he already make arrangements beforehand? Things proceeded at a frightening pace and just like that the bath and kitchen were built.

The pace in which it was completed was fast enough that I thought it was comparable to that of Japan.

Thus the Medicinal Herb Research Institute was expanded.

The kitchen was like a large kitchen and next to it is the dining hall which can fit all of the researchers.

Moreover it came with a chef.

In short it is a dining hall exclusively made for the researchers but it’s popular with everyone.

Up until now I went to eat at the dining hall exclusive for employees at the royal palace but it’s far.

The shut-in researchers were overjoyed.

“What’re you making today?”

“Today is herb grilled chicken and salad.”

While I’m cutting lettuce in a corner of the new kitchen the Director called out to me from behind.

I went through great pains to get the chef to agree with me and now I was allowed to make my own share of food when it’s not busy.

Because this kingdom’s food didn’t suit my tastes from the start, I requested it.

When I said that I wanted to make my own food, I was worried that the chef, who had finally came all the way here, would be offended. But fortunately this chef was a kind person and without any disgruntle he let me use a section of the kitchen.

However while I was in the middle of cooking he gave me a frightening glare.

Apparently he is a very ambitious person.

Because he wanted to have a taste, I told him, “Please help yourself”, he ended up eating the whole serving.

After eating a mouthful he became so engrossed in it that he remained silent while eating.

Since he wanted me to teach him by all means, since then every time I make a new dish I teach him the recipe.

As a result the food at the research institute’s dining hall became delicious and the employee’s dining hall at the royal palace was no match.

If the food has become delicious to this extent, it’s fine even if I don’t make it myself but since the chef bowed his head asking me to teach him new recipes; recently I cook for myself once a week and the chef behaves himself.

“Is something the matter?”

I ask the Director, who was standing behind me, while grilling the chicken.

From some time ago, not only just the chef but the Director is also standing behind me, gazing at my hands.

I wonder if a hole will open up in the chicken if he keeps staring like that.

I guess it won’t open.

Since I’ve started cooking in the kitchen, whenever the Director was in the research institute he would always come to see me.

Director: “I was just thinking that it looks tasty.”

“Thank you.”

“What flavours are you using this time?”

“I only grilled it with salt. Afterwards I used medicinal herbs for fragrance.”

“I see.”

That was the extent of our conversation. When I look behind me again, the Director’s eyes are still pinned on the chicken.

“Director, perhaps you want to eat this? I have a feeling I saw you eating lunch earlier.”

“Uogh…… Well, I did but……”

When I glance behind me again, the Director has a shameful look on his face.

Even though he’s looking like that he still won’t leave. It seems that he really wants to eat it.

Usually when he’s eating in the dining hall, he eats the same amount as everyone else so I can’t see him being a big eater.

Was he lured in by the smell of the medicinal herbs smeared over the chicken?

Well the basil and rosemary were freshly taken from the herb garden so it’s really fragrant.

Even the salad was freshly made.

I place the grilled chicken onto the plate and on the side is the salad I made, accompanied by a homemade dressing.

The two dishes set up for plating was for the chef and I. But I prepared another small dish and arrange a little bit of chicken and salad from my plate onto it.

When I finish arranging the food the chef cheerfully picks up the plate and carries it to the dining hall and put it down on the table closest to the kitchen.

I too follow after him with a basket of bread in one hand.

“If you don’t mind, please eat.”

I say to the Director, who was following behind me, and pointed to the spot where the small dish was placed. He gladly sits down.

Director: “It’s tasty as ever.”

Even without that comment, I smile at the Director who looks as if he’s going to melt.

Above all else, it seems to suit his tastes.

The Director had already eaten lunch so I only served him a little bit of food but it seems that it wasn’t enough.

He neatly cleaned his plate, even going as far as to spread the chicken fat and medicinal herbs onto the bread.

“But I was surprised that you used the medicinal herbs for cooking.”

“In my hometown, we use various medicinal herbs for cooking.”

It’s called medicinal herbs in this kingdom but it’s actually the so-called herbs.

Herbs itself meant medicinal herbs.

The herbs I used today, basil and rosemary, were common herbs used for cooking in my original world.

But in this world medicinal herbs were used as remedies and it seems that it’s not used for cooking.

“By using medicinal herbs in cooking, you can prevent food poisoning and help accelerate digestion.”

“Hoh.”

“There are also medicinal cooking methods aimed at preventing illness.”

Medicinal cooking was a method in the neighbouring kingdom and since the chef is also with us, I blurred out that I was from a different world and talk about it as my hometown.

Although the chef might know that I came from another world.

Or he might not know, so just to be sure.

The Director is interested in cooking and medicinal herbs so he asks me questions, one after another.

Seeing him like this, it really makes me think that the Director is also a researcher.

He’s usually in the director’s office doing nothing but administrative work so he didn’t feel much like a researcher.

I didn’t know some of the answers to the questions that the Director asked me, in such cases he told me to take a guess and he also talked about what he’d thought.

The conversation got lively but because we were only talking medicinal herbs the chef couldn’t join in and I feel that we did something bad.

◊♦◊♦◊♦◊

“Sei.”

Today in order to teach the chef a new recipe, we are making sandwiches in the kitchen when Jude comes in.

“What is it?”

“There’s a message from the Director, he wants you to go deliver this document to the 3rd Knight Order barracks.”

“I’m in the middle of something right now, so can’t you go instead, Jude?”

“Nah, he said he wanted you to deliver it, Sei.”

“I wonder why? Do I have to go now?? Since I’m nearly finished with this, can’t I do it afterwards?”

Jude: “If it’s just a little while longer, isn’t it fine?”

“Got it. I just need to go to the 3rd Knight Order’s barracks, right?”

“Yeah, he’s in the captain’s office so bring it there.”

“Got it.”

I arrive at the captain’s office in the 3rd Knight Order’s barracks and when I ask a knight standing next to the door to announce that I was here, he immediately leads me inside.

Apparently the Director had let him know in advance that I was coming.

As I enter I see the Director and another person sitting on a lounge suite set in front of a splendid office desk.

He’s the captain, right?

“I am sorry to keep you waiting.”

“No, you’re very helpful. Thanks.”

“Then, I will return now.”

“Wait a minute.”

When I pass the documents to the Director, he smiles while thanking me. I turn to leave the room once my task was done but the Director stops me.

I look at the Director wondering what it could be and he urges me to sit down next to him.

Why?

When I glimpse at the other person, who is probably the owner of this room, he also urges me to sit down.

When I reluctantly sit down next to the Director, he speaks to the other person.

“She’s Sei.”

“I see, so it’s you. I’m the captain of the 3rd Knight Order, Alberto Hawk.”

“Nice to meet you. My name is Sei.”

I don’t say my family name.

In this world only aristocrats have family names and I’m not an aristocrat.

When I was assigned to the research institute, the Director taught me this when I introduced myself.

In this kingdom if an unfamiliar family name is untactfully given, an enquiry will pursue and that’ll become troublesome so since then, I’ve decided not to give out my family name.

The other person is the captain after all.

I sit across from him and look at him again.

He’s a quirky man with blonde hair and blue grey eyes that give out a cold feeling.

Is he the same age as the Director?

His physique is better than the Director’s but only because he’s a knight.

No, the Director is pretty tall and sturdily.

How can I say it, their muscle thickness is different.

Out of all the people I’ve met since coming to this kingdom, he might be my favourite type.

“Do you remember the things that happened during the 3rd Knight Order expedition?”

“Expedition?”

“You know about the Salamander.”

“Ah.”

I suddenly received an introduction, while I was thinking that it was odd for them to have business with me, the Director abruptly began to speak.

I was told that it was about the expedition and at first, I didn’t know what he was going on about, but when the Salamander was mentioned, I understood.

The other day the Knight Order who went to Ghosh Forest, located to the west of the capital, returned with a large number of casualties.

Since then I haven’t heard anything about it so I completely forgot. Was it the 3rd Knight Order?

“At that time, you made a guy drink an advanced HP potion, right?”

“Yes.”

“It’s him.”

The Director says. Now that he mentions it, I do remember that there was such a person.

At that time, I only made the most injured person drink the advanced HP potion.

You are reading story The Power of the Saint is All Around at novel35.com

The burn was terrible. It was hard to look at so I tried not to look too much and because of that I didn’t remember anything about the person’s features. I certainly remember the knight who was next to me call the person, Captain.

I see, so he’s the person who nearly died at that time.

Immediately after he drank the potion I saw his charred skin peel off and new skin regenerated from underneath but I didn’t see him when he was completely healed.

Since after that I went to distribute potions.

When I look at the Captain again, there was no burn wounds from that time, only beautiful skin.

I think the potions from a different world are really excellent to be able to heal to this extent.

If it was like this then wounds other than burns might completely heal as well.

Although I want to see the effectiveness of the potion, it was still impossible for me to ask him to take off his clothes so that I could see.

“Thanks, I was saved by you.”

“It’s nothing……”

Crap.

Because I wanted to see the progress, I stared at him for too long and now the Captain is slightly blushing.

The figure of a handsome bashful guy has such destructive power. My heart throbbed while I give a neutral answer and I hear the sound of light laughter next to me.

When I turn to my side thinking, what is it? I saw the Director put a hand over his mouth and trying not to laugh.

“Director?”

“Nah, it’s nothing.”

Although he says it’s nothing, he still seems to be holding in his laughter, but what’s funny?

The Director was acting so suspiciously that it wasn’t just me but also the Captain who had a dubiousness look on his face.

No rather than dubiousness, he looks sullen or embarrassed.

Do you feel embarrassed?

I look at the Director doubtfully and crease my eyebrows.

“Oh yeah, you wanted the ingredients for the advanced HP potions, right?”

“Yes. But they cannot be gathered without going to the forest, right?”

How vague. At the moment when the Captain tries to speak, the Director loses his urge to laugh and speaks while changing the topic.

I feel it was abrupt but I’m glad it happened before the Captain got angry. I quietly stroke my chest.

About the advanced HP potion ingredients that the Director brought up, I certainly remember talking about it to the Director.

The meagre amount of medicinal herbs cultivated in the herb garden for advanced HP potions had considerably decreased recently due to overharvesting.

I want to rapidly make more potions to level up my pharmacy skill but unfortunately those medicinal herbs are difficult to cultivate and I was prohibited from using them any further by the Director.

Therefore I consulted with the Director about purchasing it from the outside but since cultivation was difficult, it was sold at a very high price.

Although recently the budget is abundanty, it is still difficult to purchase a large quality of high-grade ingredients from the outside.

It grows naturally in the forest outside of the royal palace but it takes time and effort to go there to collect it, although it saves on cost. It is difficult for researchers to go gathering alone since there are demons in the forest.

“Right. If it’s nearby then they grow in the forest to the south. Why don’t you go and gather them for a while?”

“Director, I want you to spare me from being attacked by demons.”

“About that, it seems that the guys from the 3rd Knight Order will protect you.”

“Eh?”

“Apparently it’s a reward for the potion the other day.”

I unintentionally turn to face the Captain upon the Director’s words.

He looks calm, completely different from earlier. As the Director said, as reward for the potion it seems that they’ll guard me when I go to gather the medicinal herbs.

But……

“But I have already received a reward……”

I received a special reward from the royal palace and one from the Margrave household too.

Any more than that just feels too much.

“Captain-dono wanted to give you something personally.”

“Oi!”

The Director says while grinning and the Captain stops him in a panic.

But it was too late.

Is it fine to mobilise the Knight Order for personal gratitude?

“Personally?”

I glance at the Captain and as if he knew what I was implying, he clears his throat and awkwardly explains.

“We’d originally planned to go to the south forest for subjugation. So we talked about it in passing.”

“Is that so?”

It was originally planned.

If so, it won’t be any problem, right?”

I certainly want medicinal herbs for advanced HP potions.

“If it is not a nuisance then please take me with you.”

I bow my head and the Captain nods as if saying not a problem.

After that we talk about practical business such as when the expedition will start, etc, and it was evening before I realised.

◊♦◊♦◊♦◊

Today I’ve come to Saul forest located to the south of the capital.

The 3rd Knight Order has been regularly killing demons around the kingdom and after the Ghosh forest to the west, they planned to expedite Saul forest.

It wasn’t normal for the Knight Order to go on subjugation expeditions so frequently but the situation has been so bad in recent years, that the normal subjugation frequency couldn’t keep up and as a result they now constantly go out on expeditions.

Well because of the 【Saint】summoned by the【Saint Summoning Ceremony】the situation is deemed to have gradually improved.

Do your best, Aira-chan.

This time the researchers from the Medicinal Herb Research Institute have joined the expedition.

The main purpose of this expedition was to subjugate demons but the researchers have never came to this forest with the Knights before so everyone wanted to go, for the chance to gather a variety of medicinal herbs not available at the herb garden.

There were some researchers who wanted to survey the plants and not just gather medicinal herbs but the Director firmly rejected their proposal because it would get in the way of the main purpose.

It was normally unthinkable for researchers who are good for nothing burdens, to partake in a Knight Order’s subjugation but this was the Knight Order’s way of repaying the favour.

Because there are researchers willing to participate in the harvesting, I thought that I could leisurely make potions at the research institute but the Director sadly obliged me to participate since I was the one who mostly used up the herbs.

“Oi ~, don’t separate too far.”

I find a medicinal herb I want in a place slightly away from the road and when I go over and try to take it, Jude warns me from behind.

I quickly harvest the herb and when I return to where Jude is, he scolds me some more.

“Just because this forest is calmer than the west forest, doesn’t mean that demons don’t appear. If you plan to separate, then say something before you do.”

“Sorry, sorry.”

The demons that appear in the south forest is weaker than the ones in the west forest but that didn’t mean that they didn’t appear at all.

I know I have to be careful but I can’t shake off my Japanese mentality. When I find something that interests me, I unintentionally totter towards it.

“I’m keeping a proper watch out so you should be fine if you don’t stray too far.”

The Captain calls out from behind us while abruptly laughing.

The Knight Order and researchers are currently separated and acting in 3 group.

This is because it’s most efficient this way. Jude and I are a part of the Captain’s team.

The demons that appear in the south forest are not that strong so the Captain doesn’t normally partake in expeditions to the south forest.

However according to a knight in the same team, the Captain made a special exception for us.

Although it’s a reward, I’m feeling somewhat apologetic.

“Thank you. Even so, I having a feeling that we have gone considerably deep into the forest, but no demons have appeared.”

That’s right.

I think it’s already been two hours since we’ve entered the forest but we haven’t encountered a single demon.

Is this normal?

While thinking so, I question the Captain and this doesn’t seem to be the case.

“No, it’s usually not strange to encounter several demons already, but……”

“Is that so?”

“Ah, it is unusual to make it this far without encountering any.”

As he says this the Captain creases his eyebrows together and thinks a little before talking to the other knights.

Yes ~, I wonder what’s up?”

It’s not the calm before the storm but it would be nice if a strong demon like the Salamander doesn’t just suddenly pop up.

While thinking such things, I pick up the medicinal herbs growing on the roadside and head towards the meeting point.

There is a little opening a short distance from where I’m walking. We’re joining up with the other groups there and have lunch.

“Tasty!”

At the lunch meeting place where everyone has joined.

Listening to the voices from here and there, it was worthwhile for me to help out.

There was chatter about the lunch preparations being done by the Knight Order but for me who grieves over this world’s cooking situation, I had to help out.

The soup I made by using herbs, which aren’t usually used, seems to be popular.

“I heard that the food at the Medicinal Herb Research Institute’s dining hall is delicious but…… Are you perhaps the one who makes it all the time?”

The one who says this is the Captain while looking at the soup that is scooped in his spoon.

After all it was unusual to use medicinal herbs while cooking. Even while I was making it I was asked various questions like: what kind of medicinal herb is that? Why are you putting it in?

That behaviour was exactly like some Director who always looked at me from behind.

The Captain and Director have been friends since childhood. I’ve heard from the researchers that they’re really close but does being close mean that even their behaviours are similar?

“No, I just provide the recipe. The chef is the one who always makes it.”

“To always be able to eat something this delicious, I’m envious.”

I saw him narrow his eyes and deliciously eats the soup, which delights me.

But it was a bit nerve wrecking to be in the middle of this group.

The knights and researchers seem to have opened up to each other as a result of this morning’s subjugation. While everyone sat down where they liked, the Captain sat next to me.

The Vice-Captain sat on my other side. I’m the only researcher who has been thrown into this group of executives.

Jude?

When I tried to drag him along with me, he escaped.

I’ll remember this.

“I was told that various medicinal herbs were used in this soup, but my body is warmer than usual. Are there medicinal herbs with this kind of effect?”

“Well, that is right. Today’s soup is……”

I mainly speak with the Captain but at odd times the knights would also call out to me, or rather many ask me about the herbs used in the dish. It’s exciting.

The talk about herbs used in drinking side-dishes was especially interesting.

It’ll be delicious if you put it in sausage.

Just like that, there’s a heated discussion about food. We continue subjugating in the afternoon and return to the royal palace in the evening.

The people who went out to subjugate is supposed to gather at the 3rd Knight Order’s training ground upon returning to the royal palace.

Despite being tired and maybe because the subjugation ended without any casualties, the researchers in the training ground were gathering in groups of 3 or 5, talking as if they’d just returned from an outing.

They didn’t just talk about the medicinal herbs they’d gathered, they also talk about the demons they’d encountered and how the knights were at the time of subjugation.

Demons still didn’t appear in the afternoon on the road that my group took and the knight who was with me said, “They’re probably not coming because they fear the Captain’s strength.”

As the Captain of this Knight Order, his strength can compare with 1 or 2 people amongst his Order, right?

The knight had said it as a joke, although he did say that this kind of thing has never happened once, ever.

Actually it seems that the other group encountered demons several times in the afternoon. The researchers joined in with the knight’s subjugation.

The researchers at the research institute all have magic skills.

They supported the knights by casting magic from behind.

They haven’t subjugated demons since they’d left the Royal Academy so everyone had a bit of fun.

“I prepared myself since I was told that it was a subjugation, but we finished it so easily, I’m disappointed.”

“Ah, it’s been awhile since I’ve fought against demons, but considering all that, my condition’s good.”

“You too? I have a hunch that my condition’s better than when I was at the Academy.”

“All the same, isn’t that saying too much?”

Just like that everyone was talking noisily and the nearby knight joins in when he heard it was about the subjugation.

“You guys as well?”

“Eh?”

“Well, we were talking about how strange it was that we were able to move better than usual.”

According to the knight, at first everyone thought it was just them but when they saw that the movements of the other knights were also better than usual, they started talking and concluded that their physical abilities seemed to have risen.

“What’s the cause?”

A researcher mutters as if speaking to himself and everyone starts expressing their opinions.

Well, they quickly realise what the cause was……

“Wasn’t it the lunch?”

“””That’s it!”””

When they think about what they did differently than usual, everyone comes up with the soup that they ate for lunch.

It was certainly the first time the knights ate soup with herbs but the researchers should be used to eating it at the dining hall.

So was the herb the cause?

The researchers immediately become lively.

I manage to stop the enthusiastic researchers from returning to the research institute for investigation before they receive the break up signal. When we return to the research there was a big uproar.

Even though everyone should have been tired.

Then one week later.

In order to investigate the cause I made dishes with various conditions at the research institute then we eat and examine.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner we had a midnight snack on top of that as well. We eat all day long.

As one would expect it was too much for the researchers alone so we also ask for the cooperation of the 3rdKnight Order, who we’d become friends with during the subjugation.

The knights gladly cooperate since they could eat at the rumoured Medicinal Herb Research Institute’s dining hall. It’s a great help.

The result is, when one eats a specific dish made by someone who had the cooking skill, their physical ability improves.

When using this cooking skill the magic power of the creator will decrease, just like with potion making.

All chefs working at dining halls have this skill.

Of course our chef at the research institute also has this skill.

And before I knew it I also acquired it.

This was the reason why everyone’s physical abilities was improved during the subjugation.

Even though the researchers eat this food every day, they rarely move their bodies so they didn’t notice.

It was a knight’s job to move their body so they noticed straight away.

Actually I think that’s not the only reason they noticed.

The accursed 50% increase that appears when I make potions also occurs when I cook and the dishes I make are more effective than those made by the dining hall chefs.

Perhaps because of that the effects of the food became remarkably visible and it got noticed.

When the Director heard about it he was incredibly shocked and forbade me from cooking in public.

You can find story with these keywords: The Power of the Saint is All Around, Read The Power of the Saint is All Around, The Power of the Saint is All Around novel, The Power of the Saint is All Around book, The Power of the Saint is All Around story, The Power of the Saint is All Around full, The Power of the Saint is All Around Latest Chapter