The highlight of the cherry blossom festival, of course, is the beautifully grown cherry blossom trees in full bloom.
The Lurun Academy Student Council put in their blood and sweat every year to prepare for this event, and their efforts were successful.
“These aren’t trees grown by magic, are they?”
Epherna examined the trees closely.
She tried to infuse mana into them, but there was no reaction, indicating that the cherry trees were not artificially created.
Ern spoke up.
“The Academy’s gardeners must have put in a lot of effort.”
Munch, munch.
He had a mouthful of snacks bought from one of the festival booths.
On the day of the cherry blossom festival, the academy didn’t provide regular meals.
Instead, there were many booths giving out free food, so this was the choice they made.
“Mister, try this too.”
Epherna handed him a drink she received from Sierra.
“What’s this?”
“A drink Sierra gave me. She’s thinking of selling it at a booth at next year’s cherry blossom festival and wants to know what you think.”
“If it’s something like that, sure.”
Ern accepted the drink and opened the lid.
It had a typical cherry blossom scent.
Nothing seemed off at first glance, so Ern took a long gulp.
The subtle sweetness and cherry blossom aroma simultaneously stimulated his tongue and nose.
“This could be a bit of an acquired taste.”
Ern gave his honest impression.
It was fine, but it was a bit strong, almost too stimulating.
He wondered if it might be better with some alcohol, turning it into a cocktail.
‘I feel like my body’s warming up a bit.’
Could it be an aphrodisiac?
Given Sierra’s track record, he suspected it, but it didn’t seem likely.
The effect was too mild to be an aphrodisiac, and it was easy to detect.
It wasn’t even worth comparing to previous aphrodisiac magic she had used.
‘Come to think of it, maybe it does have alcohol in it.’
This was just a guess, so he couldn’t be sure.
How did she even make something like this?
He had tried many different liquors and aphrodisiacs in his life, but this was a first.
“You shouldn’t drink this.”
He warned Epherna, just in case.
She was already weak to alcohol, and if she lost her mind because of it…
“I already drank it.”
Oh.
*****
Holding a sandwich in one hand and a chicken skewer in the other, Ella asked.
“President.”
“Yes?”
“What kind of drink did you give to the Princess?”
“I told you, it’s a prototype for a booth I want to set up next year.”
“I want to try it too!”
“No.”
“Why not…”
“Even if you act cute, it’s still a no. It has alcohol in it.”
“Huh? Then can you even sell it?”
“I’ll remove the alcohol when we actually sell it. It also has aphrodisiac properties, so I can’t give it to anyone right now.”
“Aphrodisiac? Why did you make something like that?”
“Because I was frustrated.”
“…?”
Sierra let out a deep sigh.
Then she smiled meaningfully.
“With this… even a hero will take time to detox.”
The completeness of alchemy and magic depends on the time spent.
Sierra had spent nearly a week working tirelessly, using all her knowledge to create a potion that combined alcohol and aphrodisiac effects, and the result was successful.
A potion with no scent, making it impossible to tell if it was an aphrodisiac or alcohol just from the smell.
‘The effect might not be strong, but it will gradually take hold.’
Additionally, this potion had a special effect that previous aphrodisiac magic didn’t.
Sierra was confident it was on a whole different level.
“Ella, I’m going to check on Professor Astra and the Princess, so could you hang out with the other members for a bit?”
“Huh? Why all of a sudden?”
“I want to see how they’re reacting now that they’ve probably drunk it.”
“Oh! If that’s the case, go ahead!”
Sierra smiled contentedly.
She had successfully caused some trouble, and now it was time to create her alibi.
*****
Epherna wasn’t particularly weak to alcohol.
She had gotten drunk once before, but that was because she didn’t know her own limits.
Even if she were to evaluate herself objectively, one sip of an alcoholic drink shouldn’t be enough to get her drunk.
However, whatever was in that drink, Epherna was far from being in a normal state.
“Mister, my body feels hot…”
“Just hold on a little longer.”
Ern glanced around, noticing that more and more people were starting to pay attention to the First Princess, whose condition was clearly not good.
He quickly cast a concealment spell.
It only blurred their presence, but all the stares immediately disappeared.
Epherna was holding tightly onto Ern’s hand.
With her head resting on his shoulder, she walked with difficulty.
Ern was searching for Sierra.
If anyone could have an antidote or some way to restore Epherna to normal, it would be Sierra.
‘Maybe I should have been stricter with her earlier.’
He should have given her a firm warning so she wouldn’t dare try anything like this again.
While thinking that, Ern saw a female student running somewhere in a hurry.
It was Sierra, and Ern canceled his concealment spell as he called out to her.
“Student Sierra, were you looking for me?”
Her black eyes turned to Ern.
“Oh, yes! Actually, I might have accidentally given the wrong drink to the Princess… Did you drink it?”
Ern showed her the two half-empty bottles.
Sierra immediately bowed deeply in apology.
“I’m sorry! I think I mixed up the potion I was making with the drink and accidentally gave the wrong one to the Princess!”
“This is the one I meant to give her…”
Sierra pulled out two bottles and showed them to Ern, leaving him speechless.
“It was a real mistake! The Professor even warned me, so I wouldn’t do something like that on purpose!”
Whether she was lying or not, Ern couldn’t hold her accountable right now.
First, he needed to get Epherna back to normal.
“Cure the Princess, and I’ll let this slide quietly.”
“That’s… impossible.”
“Isn’t this potion something you created?”
“There’s no such thing as an antidote for aphrodisiacs and alcohol… These are things that only subside with time….”
“Tsk.”
Ern clicked his tongue at Sierra’s candid reply.
It wasn’t the answer he wanted, but there was no helping it.
“I’ll come back for you later.”
Ern used his concealment spell again, masking his presence.
As Sierra had said, the only way to calm the effects of the aphrodisiac and alcohol was to rest.
Ern headed toward the dormitory, where no one’s gaze could follow them.
*****
My body is hot.
It feels completely different from when I was drunk.
When I was drunk, I felt full of energy and a sense of omnipotence as if I could do anything, but this time it was the opposite.
My body was weak and my body kept tingling.
When I was attached to the Mister, it was somewhat less, but it wasn’t enough.
I needed something more, but I didn’t know what it was.
When I arrived at the dormitory, I felt my body drenched in sweat.
First, I went into the bathroom at Mister’s instruction to wash up.
I cooled my body down with cold water and only then did I feel a little better.
“Hah…”
I changed into my pajamas and lay down on the bed.
Mister brought me a cup and an unknown drink.
“Drink it. It’s a refreshing tea.”
“Okay.”
I drank the tea.
It got better, but my body that had been heated up once didn’t calm down easily.
“Aren’t you going to wash, Mister?”
“I didn’t sweat. Do I smell?”
“No… That’s not it.”
It was the smell that Mister usually had.
The problem is that it’s so strong.
‘I must be imagining things.’
I don’t know if the aphrodisiac had this effect, but anyway, it’s not Mister’s fault.
“Mister, come closer.”
I pulled his shoulder.
“Hug me.”
He couldn’t resist when I pulled him forcefully.
I could see what he was thinking, but I didn’t care right now.
“Hah…”
I hugged him and buried my face deep in his shoulder, and his scent seeped deep into my nose.
“Haa…”
For some reason, I felt relieved.
My body, which had been excited, calmed down and the warmth of my body began to fade.
Ern, on the verge of disbelief, held her tightly.
He realized that as long as Epherna was like this, the effects of the potion would diminish.
She was only wearing pajamas, but Ern didn’t let that bother him as he stayed by her side for a while.
*****
By now, they must have noticed.
Sierra thought to herself as she took a bite of the bread in her hand.
“Presideeeeeeeent!! We have a problem!!”
Ella, who had gone to the clubroom, came running in, screaming.
“That ‘thing’ you made is gone!! Do you know how much capital went into making that one item?!”
“It’s okay. I used it.”
“Huh? President? I barely made it by smuggling the Demon Language Scroll to the principal?”
“So? Is that a problem?”
“Don’t you feel it’s a waste? And who did you use it on?”
“That’s a secret.”
Sierra didn’t regret giving the potion to those two.
She was confident that one day, the cost and effort put into making it would be returned many times over.
‘The Princess will be grateful later.’
She had indebted a member of the royal family to her.
As a noble and an alchemist, this was an unparalleled achievement for her future.
Of course, she didn’t think her actions were entirely free of personal feelings, and while she might feel a bit of regret, the outcome was what mattered most.
Sierra was certain the result would be favorable.
When it came to the combination of magic and alchemy, she was more confident than anyone.
“And President, the Student Council President asked me to check if you’ve decided where you’ll work after graduation? If you haven’t, he said there’s a position available at his family’s workshop. He’s offering you a job.”
“I’m fine.”
Sierra Rirelstan.
With her long black hair that reached under her eyes and her introverted nature, she didn’t have many friends.
But she was the only daughter of the Count family, the greatest alchemist family.
And the top student in the third-year magic department.
