150話 難しい花
これについて、
そう、この国で出回っている酒というものは、酒作りの技法がそれほど洗練されていないこともあって、ほとんどが酒精の薄い安酒ばかりだ。
酒に弱いものはこの安酒で十分に酔えるのだろうが、それでも前世で売られていた酒と比べると大きな差がある。
そんな安酒ではない、ちゃんと酔える酒精の強い酒とは、当然高価なものとなる。
それを浴びるように飲める人物となると、よほどの金持ちであろう。
一方で、中毒になるケシ汁の量はほんの少量で足りる。
「ケシ汁を痛み止めの飲み薬として使う分では、多幸感を生む成分は腸で吸収・分解の末にほとんどが身体の外に排出されて無害になりますが、煙の吸引だと成分が脳に直接被害を与えてしまうのです。
ここまでのケシ汁の話を聞いて、太子が疑問を口にした。
「その脳という場所への被害というのは、具体的にどういうことなんだい?」
「簡単に言うと、吸引したケシ汁の成分が脳を破壊して、思考の仕組みをケシ汁を欲しがるように作り変えてしまうのです」
雨妹の答えを聞いた三人が眉をひそめている。
「それは、穏やかではない話だね」
「破壊って、頭を強く打ったわけでもないのに?」
はなおもケシ汁の作用が謎であるようだ。
「脳は繊細なものでして、異常な刺激を受けると簡単に壊れてしまうのです」
そして当然ながら、煙の吸引を止めるとその多幸感は消えてしまう。
あの多幸感をもう一度だけ味わいたいと願って吸引を繰り返すうちに、ケシ汁の摂取をやめられなくなる。
「こうなったらケシ汁に誘導されるように何度も吸引して、末には精神錯乱を伴う衰弱状態になって、死に至ります。
一度味わえば二度と抜け出せない、ケシ汁の吸引はそういうものだと思ってください」
「それは、怖いわね......」
末期症状を想像したのだろう、秀玲が青い顔をして呟く。
「治療の方法は?」
がそう問うてくるのに、雨妹は「残念ながら」と返す。
「破壊されて変えられた脳を元に戻す方法はありません。
素の自分を偽り続けて一生を生きることは、どれだけ困難であるだろうか。
だからこそ途中で挫折し、自信を取り戻そうとまたすぐに多幸感に頼ることになるのだ。
「......つまり、ケシ汁の煙草とはろくなものではないということだな」
立彬の出した結論に、雨妹は大きく頷く。
「聞けば聞く程に、大変なことになったらしいね」
以上の話をなんとか理解したらしい太子が、そう呟いて大きく息を吐く。
「ケシの花とやらに、そんな危険なものを生み出す力があるとは驚きだ。
「まあ、そうなの?」
これを聞いた秀玲がホッとした顔になる。もしかするとケシの花が好きなのかもしれない。
そうした種類は見栄えがするので、花壇を飾るのにうってつけだろう。
つまりケシとは、そのように取り扱いが微妙なものなのだ。
「それに花壇に咲いているだけなら無害ですし、加工するにしてもあの程度の花の数ではケシ汁を作るのに足りません。
Chapter 150
Yui Mei then explained about this matter.
Indeed, the techniques used to produce the alcoholic beverages that were sold in this country weren't really sophisticated. That's why most of the liquor available here was cheap liquor with low alcohol content.
Well, even if the alcohol content was low, it was enough for people to get drunk with these cheap liquor. However, the gap was huge compared to the ones being sold in her previous life.
Strong alcohol that could make people drunk would naturally fetch a high sum.
A person who could drink so much of that must be very wealthy, indeed.
On the other hand, just a tiny amount of poppy juice was needed for someone to become addicted to it.
"When poppy juice is ingested as oral medicine, the intestines absorb it, and after disintegration, most of them are expelled from the body so it doesn't really harm it if properly used. But, if people smoked it, the ingredients would directly damage the brain. That's the reason why there's a mountain of difference between the effects."
The crown prince listened to Yui Mei's explanation, before posing another query.
"Can you elaborate and give me a more concrete example of that so-called damage to the place called brain?"
"Simply put, the inhaled components of poppy juice would damage the brain, and it would alter the mechanism responsible for thinking, making the person crave that poppy juice."
The three people who heard Yui Mei's answer knitted their brows.
"That's not a story that can be taken lightly."
"Damage? Even though the person didn't hit their head hard enough?"
The crown prince was still frowning, while Xiuling seemed to find the effect of poppy juice baffling.
"The brain is a delicate thing, so it can be 'broken' easily with abnormal stimuli."
The euphoria would also vanish once the person stopped smoking, of course.
If the person kept on inhaling it just to experience that euphoria once again, he would reach the point where he wouldn't be able to stop himself from using that poppy juice.
"If this happens, the person inhale it again and again -- as if being controlled by that poppy juice. If that continues on, the person will go into a debilitating condition of mental derangement, finally ending in death.
Please bear in mind that once you've tasted it, you will never be able to get rid of it. That's what inhaling poppy juice is all about."
"That's scary..."
Xiuling was pale as she muttered, apparently imagining the terminal symptoms the person would have.
"Is there a cure?"
Libin asked, and Yui Mei replied.
"Unfortunately, there's no way to restore a brain that had been damaged and changed. If the person who reached that state wanted to live a decent life, he must constantly fight against his cravings for poppy juice for his entire life. He had to act and live so that he would appear decent."
Just imagine how difficult it is to live one's life pretending to be something that the person wasn't..
That's why those addicted people would get frustrated in the middle of rehab, immediately returning to their habits and relying on euphoria to regain their confidence.
"...In short, that poppy juice tobacco isn't a decent thing, huh."
Yui Mei energetically nodded when Libin expressed his observation.
"The more I listen to you, the more I see how dreadful this is."
The crown prince appeared to have understand their conversation,  and he heaved a deep sigh.
"I am shocked that a thing like a poppy flower have the power to produce such a lethal thing. Do they bloom in this palace's garden?"
"Oh my, is that so?"
Xiuling seemed relieved when she heard that. She must be fond of poppies, perhaps.
These types of plants looked quite flamboyant, and they were perfect for adorning the flower beds.
In short, handling poppies was quite tricky.
"Besides, poppies blooming in the flower beds are harmless, and even if you process the flowers, they won't be enough to make poppy juice. You need massive amounts of flowers, so you have to grow them in wide fields."
Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Palace
百花宮のお掃除係～転生した新米宮女、後宮のお悩み解決します。
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/housekeeper-of-the-hundred-blossom-palace/
Fantasy Romance Shoujo Slice of Life
Adapted to Manga Ancient China Complex Family Relationships Different Social Status Female Protagonist Imperial Harem Love Interest Falls in Love First Reincarnated in Another World Royalty
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n4104ev/
黒辺あゆみ