5-03 怪しい客 (2)
「既に予想は付いているでしょうが、私がここに来たのはこの頭のことがあったからです」
「それは......殿下の頭髪が少々......その......暇乞いをされている件ですか?」
失礼にならないよう、どう表現するべきかと悩んで言った私の微妙な言葉に、殿下は「ふっ」と笑ってはっきりと言う。
「普通にハゲと言ってください、ハゲと。無駄な気遣いは不要です。そうです、それです。サラサさん、あなたには発毛剤を作ってもらいたいのです。できますよね?」
「それはできますが......」
発毛剤は錬金術大全の五巻に載っている
そして先ほどのアイリスさんたちに提示した、この時季の採集に適した素材の一つが主原料となっている物。
不思議なことに、とてもグッドタイミング。
けど、それもある意味では必然。
その素材、“ミサノンの根”は時季を問わずに採取が可能な素材だけど、寒さの厳しいこの時季に採取した物のみが“発毛剤”の原料として使え、他の時季に採取した物で作った場合は、“育毛剤”となる。
つまり目的が発毛剤であれば、この時季に来るのが合理的で、そこまで不思議というわけではない。
――その人が、王子という立場になければ、だけど。
「しかし殿下。ご依頼頂ければ、素材をお届けすることも可能でしたが......」
むしろそうして欲しかった。
事前連絡もなしにいきなりやって来るなんて、なんて無慈悲な行為!
貴族ならある程度は慣れている私も、王族なんて勝手が違うんだから!!
「わざわざご足労頂かずとも、王都であれば腕の良い錬金術師には事欠かないと思いますし、そちらの方がご都合もよろしかったのでは?」
「例えばあなたの師匠である、ミリス師のようにですか?」
「はい」
当然だけど、私と師匠の技術の差は言うまでもない。
師匠にはつい先日もお世話になったばかり。『ミサノンの根を採ってきて送れ』と言われれば、私に『直ちに!』以外の返答はない。
それさえあれば、殿下がわざわざこんな遠くまで来る理由なんてない。
少し貴族嫌いなところのある師匠だけど、さすがに殿下の依頼を断ったりはしないはずだし......断らないよね?
「確かに錬金術の腕だけを考えるなら、ミリス師に依頼するのが一番でしょうね」
フェリク殿下はニコリと微笑んで私の言葉を肯定しつつ、首を振って言葉を続ける。
「ですが、事はそう単純ではありません。これでも私は王子、そしてミリス師はマスタークラスの錬金術師。依頼をすれば、どうしても注目されます。王都は人が多いだけに、隠し通すのもなかなかに難しい」
発毛剤という物は、なかなかにデリケートな代物。
まったく気にしない人もいるけれど、気にする人は非常に気にするのが頭髪問題。
何故か殿下はあまり気にしていない――どころか、それを笑いのネタにするような余裕を見せているけれど、普通に考えれば気にする部類に入るのが、殿下の立場である。
つまり、この話が不完全であれ漏れてしまえば、色々と暗躍が始まるのは想像に難くない。
フェリク殿下に取り入りたい派閥であれば、殿下よりも先に入手して恩を売りたいだろうし、敵対している派閥なら入手を邪魔して殿下の失点を狙うだろう。
日和見している派閥であっても、取り引きのネタとなるならば、何らかのアクションを起こす可能性は高い。
そうなれば確実に錬金術素材の相場は荒れるだろうし、迷惑を被る人も多いわけで。
「それは私の本意ではありません。私としては、このままでもさほど困らないのですが、このままで公の場に出るのはダメだと父に言われましてね」
「それは、そうでしょう......」
殿下自身は気にしなくても、パブリックイメージというものがある。
年配の王族ならまだしも、まだ若く外見も良いフェリク殿下の髪がないとか、外交的にも支障を来す。
年配の王族ならまだしも、まだ年若いフェリク殿下。
その外見の良さは外交的にも価値があり、そんな殿下が公の場に出られないとなれば、それは王子としてかなりの失点だろう。
確かフェリク殿下は第一王子だったはずだけど、今の国王は未だ皇太子を決めていないし、状況によっては他の王子、王女が指名されることもあり得るのだから。
「まぁ、そんなわけでして。厄介な横槍を避けるため、可能なら秘密裏に入手したいのです」
「――フェリク殿下、発言、よろしいでしょうか?」
「えぇ、かまいませんよ。先ほど言った通り、礼は不要です」
アイリスさんが少し手を上げて発言を求めれば、殿下は鷹揚に頷いた。
「恐れ入ります。事情は理解しましたが、何故殿下ご本人がこちらに? 使いでも出せばより目立たないはず。わざわざ足を運ばれる必要はなかったのでは? しかも、こんな田舎まで」
「何故私が来たか、それは錬金術師であるサラサさんの方が詳しいでしょうね」
殿下から視線を向けられ、私は頷いて口を開く。
「えっとね、アイリスさん。育毛剤には二種類あるんです。一つは誰にでも使える汎用的な育毛剤。もう一つは、使う人に合わせた育毛剤。本格的に治療しようと思うと後者の方が必要なんだけど、これを作るためには本人がいないとダメなんです」
前者でも毛は生えるけど、発毛するまでの期間はやや長く、使うのを止めるとまた抜けてしまうことも多くて、効能としてはちょっと微妙。
それに対して後者の方は、一度生えてしまえば数年程度は効果が続くため、多少値は張っても、個人に合わせた物を作って使う方が最終的には良い結果となる。
だからこそ、個人用に作った育毛剤は“発毛剤”と呼ばれて区別されるのだ。
ただ、発毛剤を作るためには使用者の診察が必要で、必然的に錬金術師のところへ本人が行くか、錬金術師の方を呼ぶかするしかない。
殿下であれば後者の方法を採れるだろうけど、そんなことをすれば確実に目立つ。
今回に関しては、選べない手段だよね。
「そうだったのか。結構、面倒なんだな」
「はい。“禿げ薬”の方であれば簡単なんですけどね。誰にでも使えて、効果も抜群なので」
載っているのって、微妙な代物が詰め込まれた錬金術大全の一〇巻だから。
作り方はそんなに難しくないので、作れる人はそれなりにいるし、知っている人に訊けば教えてくれるらしいけどね。
本来なら五、六巻ぐらいに載せるのが適当な
作った人、もしも気付かずに使ったとしたら、涙目だよね。
「禿げ薬? 店長殿、そんな
「えぇ、ありますよ、案外。永久脱毛ができるので、一部の人には人気です」
宗教的に髪を剃っている人たちとか、ムダ毛の処理がしたい女性とか。
安くはないので誰でも使える物じゃないけど、師匠のお店にも時々買いに来る人がいた。
「使い方次第、ということなのね。でもそれなら、名前を変えれば良いのに」
「ははは......、名前を付けるのは、最初に作った錬金術師ですからね」
これなんかまだマシな方。
簡単に変えられるのなら、変えるべき
「そういう理由であれば、殿下がお越しになったのも解るけど......何故店長さんなのか、よね。ここまで来なくても、錬金術師は他にもいるだろうし。殿下、店長さんがオフィーリア様の弟子だからでしょうか?」
「それもありますが、一番の理由は先ほど言ったノルドです」
「えぇ。彼と私はそれなりに長い付き合いでして。先日、彼があなたたちにかなりの迷惑を掛けたでしょう? 『なんとかしてくれ』と頼まれたんですよ」
129 5-03 Suspicious Guests (2)
"You already have predictions, but I came here because of this head thing"
"Is that... a matter of His Highness having a little hair... that... being begged for free?
To my subtle words, which I said worried about how to describe so as not to be rude, His Highness laughs and says clearly, "Phew."
"Normally say bald, bald and. No need for futile care. Yes, that's it. Mr. Sarasa, I'd like you to make a hair conditioner. You can, can't you?
"I can do that..."
Hair growth agents are smelters (potions) listed in all five volumes of alchemy, and can be made if I am now.
And one of the best materials for collecting this season, presented to Iris earlier, is the main raw material.
Strangely enough, very gutsy timing.
But that's also inevitable in some ways.
The material, "Missanon root", is a material that can be harvested regardless of the season, but only those harvested during this harsh cold season can be used as raw material for "hair growth agent", and if made from other harvested items during other seasons, it becomes "hair growth agent".
I mean, if the purpose is hair growth agents, it makes sense to come this time of year, not so surprisingly.
- If that person isn't in the position of a prince, though.
"But Your Highness. If requested, it was also possible to deliver the material..."
I would rather you did.
What a merciless act to come all of a sudden without any prior contact!
I'm used to it to some extent if you're a nobleman, because royalty is so different on its own!!
"I don't care if you don't bother to step up, if you're a king's capital, I think you're essential to an alchemist with good arms, and you were more convenient there?
"Like Master Millis, your master, for example?
"Yes."
Naturally, it goes without saying the difference in skill between me and my master.
My master just took care of me the other day. If you ask me, 'Pick up the roots of the Missanon and send', I say, 'Immediately!' There is no other response.
As long as that is the case, there is no reason why His Highness should bother to come this far.
I'm a master with a little bit of a loathing for nobility, but I'm just not supposed to refuse His Royal Highness's request... and you're not gonna say no, are you?
"If you do think only of the alchemy arm, it would be best to ask Master Millis"
His Highness Felik smiles and affirms my words, while shaking his head and continuing his words.
"But it's not that simple. Still, I'm a prince, and Millis is a master class alchemist. If you make a request, it will get you really noticed. The King's capital is just so crowded, it's hard to hide it through"
A hair growth agent is quite a delicate substitute.
Hair problems are the ones that some people don't care about at all, but those who do care very much.
For some reason His Highness doesn't really care - on the contrary, it is His Highness's position to enter the category that makes it a laughing story, but normally cares.
I mean, if this story leaks, even if it's incomplete, it's not hard to imagine things starting to leap.
If you are a faction that wants to join His Highness Felik, you will want to obtain it before His Highness and sell your grace, and if you are a hostile faction, you will interrupt your acquisition and target His Highness's loss.
Even an opportunistic faction is likely to take some action if it is to be a deal story.
If that happens, the market for alchemy materials will surely be rough, and so many people will be annoyed.
"That's not what I meant. As far as I'm concerned, I'm not as troubled as I am, but my father told me that I can't go out in public like this."
"That would be..."
His Royal Highness himself doesn't have to worry, there is something called a public image.
If you're an older royal, you still don't have the hair of His Royal Highness Felik, who is still young and has a good appearance, or you come in the way diplomatically.
If you're an older royal, you're still young, Your Highness Felix.
The goodness of its appearance is also of diplomatic value, and if His Royal Highness were not to be able to go out into public, that would be a considerable loss as a prince.
Sure, His Royal Highness Felik should have been the first prince, but now the king hasn't decided on the crown prince yet, because in some circumstances other princes, princesses, may be nominated.
"Well, that's why. I want to get it in secret if possible to avoid a nasty cross spear."
"- Your Highness Felik, may I make a statement?
"Yeah, I don't mind. As I said, thank you is not necessary."
If Mr. Iris raised his hand a little and asked to speak, His Highness nodded to Eagle Deep.
"I'm afraid so. I understand the circumstances, but why is Your Highness here himself? It should not be more noticeable if it is also used. Didn't you have to go out of your way to get your feet taken? Besides, even in this country."
"I guess that's more familiar with Sarasa, the alchemist, why I came."
His Highness turns his gaze, and I nod and open my mouth.
"Uh, Mr. Iris. There are two types of hair conditioners. One is a generic hair conditioner for everyone. The other is a hair conditioner tailored to the person who uses it. I need the latter more if I'm going to treat him in earnest, but I can't do this without him."
Even the former grows hair, but it lasts a little longer until it grows, and when you stop using it, it often falls out again, which is a bit subtle as a function.
In contrast, the latter, once grown, will continue to work for about a few years, so even if the value is slightly strained, it is ultimately better to make and use things tailored to the individual.
That's why hair conditioners made for personal use are called "hair conditioners" to distinguish them.
However, it is necessary to examine the user in order to make the hair growth agent, and it is inevitable that he/she will go to the alchemist or call the alchemist.
If I were Your Highness, I would be able to adopt the latter method, but if I did that, I would certainly stand out.
As for this one, it's a means you can't choose, right?
"Was it? Fine, that's a hassle."
"Yes. It would be easy if you were a" bald pill "person. Because it can be used by anyone and works great."
It's on because it's ten volumes of all the alchemy filled with subtle substitutes.
It's not that hard to make, so there are quite a few people who can make it, and if you ask someone you know, they'll tell you.
When it comes to the proper smelting drug (potion) to be put on about five or six volumes, it seems that the history of making it is "because it has been made as a failure of the hair growth agent".
If the person who made it used it without realizing it, it would be a tear eye.
"Baldness pills? Lord Store Manager, is there a demand for such smelting drugs (potions)?
"Yeah, I do, I'm out. It's popular with some people because it can permanently remove hair."
With people who shave their hair religiously or women who want to treat waste hair?
It's not cheap so it's not something anyone can use, but there were people who came to my master's store sometimes to buy it.
"So it depends on how you use it. But I wish I could change my name."
"Ha ha..., you're the first alchemist to name it"
If this is still good.
If it's easy to change, there are lots of smelters (artifacts) and smelters (potions) to change.
"If that's the reason, I know Your Highness is here... but why you're the manager, right? Even if we don't get this far, there will be other alchemists. Your Highness, is it because the manager is Master Ophelia's apprentice?
"There's that, too, but the primary reason is Nord, whom I said earlier"
"Yep. He and I have known each other quite a long time. He must have caused you a lot of trouble the other day, didn't he? He asked me to do something about it."
The Novice Alchemist’s Store
[Web版] 新米錬金術師の店舗経営
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/the-novice-alchemists-store/
Adventure Comedy Fantasy Shoujo Ai Slice of Life Supernatural
Adapted to Anime Adapted to Manga Alchemy Artifact Crafting Artifacts Business Management Carefree Protagonist Crafting Cute Story Fantasy World Heartwarming Herbalist Jack of All Trades Marriage of Convenience Orphans Protagonist Strong from the Start R-15 Store Owner Sword And Magic
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n3174fc/
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