[TTH] 37 – ☆ It seems there is no inhibitor substitute for Majiram. However, the magic replenishment escalates rapidly. ☆ (1)

It's not there.

Elrand Academy.

In the tranquil magic library on the campus, built of bricks.

Flip, flip, flip...

The spacious, sky-like high ceiling is made of glass windows, letting in sparkling sunlight. The lined-up books breathe history into the secretive atmosphere. 

The sound of flipping pages and the whispering voices of men and women echo in the corners of the bookshelves, crammed with old, heavy books that can be searched for with a ladder.

It's not there.

"A love potion? Miranda, is there someone you're trying to win over?"

"Not at the moment. But didn't you say, Axel, that I might meet a wonderful man at the evening party?"

Flip, flip, flip...

"Eh? So, you're preparing even before you meet him? Don't you have any feelings about trying to do it alone?"

"It's true. Your Highness, you're naive. There's no guarantee that a man I meet will choose me, an ordinary Earl's daughter. Especially when there are so many attractive ladies around, I can't afford to be lukewarm on the battlefield of men and women."

"Sigh..."

Flip, flip, flip...

"Karina, if you want to make a love potion, it's meaningless to only look at pages about herbs. There is nothing more effective than Pathuram."

"Shh! ...Sonia, why..."

"It's obvious, Karina. You've only been looking at pages with aphrodisiac effects."

"Kyaa, So, Sonia...... Ah, is that so...?"

"Well, Karina. I thought you might already be doing such things with your fiancé since you've had your magic replenishment."

Flip, flip, flip...

"...Just because we're engaged doesn't mean he necessarily makes a move, Miranda."

"Really? I wouldn't let go of such an attractive fiancée till morning."

"Your Highness Axel, that's a s3xual harassment remark."

"Oh, is it? Sorry."

It's not there.

"My fiancé is seven years older than me and very mature. He might think I'm still a child. He was my butler... I've liked him since I was little and couldn't give up, so I forced him to engage with me."

"Oh my, how wonderful!"

Flip, flip, flip...

"But even after getting engaged, he didn't do anything... This time, he said that I needed to have my magic replenished during the academy practice, and that's when I finally got my first kiss."

"Wow, it's the opposite of someone... Ow... Zinon, stop attacking remotely."

It's nowhere to be found.

"Hey, what have you been looking for?"

"Kyaa!"

A figure suddenly enters my vision, startling me. I immediately step back and hide the Encyclopedia of Magic Medicine against my chest.

Zinon flicks his glittering golden bangs and leans against the wall, peering into the magic encyclopedia I'm trying to hide against my chest.

"Ah, don't look. It's nothing, Zinon, please go over there."

I twist my body to occupy the corner of the bookshelf and chase Zinon away. He frowned suspiciously and left in a huff.

Phew.

No matter how you look at it, it's not there. It's not anywhere.

Could it be that it doesn't exist? Only that one?

I flip through the Encyclopedia of Magic Medicine.

I think I saw it wrong, so I checked again. I think I missed it, so I looked again.

I flip through the pages repeatedly, searching, but there's nothing.

You're kidding, right?

Even though the encyclopedia and the magical botanical garden are filled with many plants...

I was plotting to find something that could substitute for Majiram’s aphrodisiac withdrawal effects and make it into a magic potion to drink instead. When I excitedly picked up the Magic Encyclopedia in the Magic Library and saw that only the word "Majiram" was listed under the page of aphrodisiacs among the various effects, I was shocked.

Despite my enthusiasm to casually make and drink the magic potion, I, who had joyfully entered the library, was plunged into despair even though there were so many ingredients for aphrodisiacs, love potions, etc.

(What should I do...)

"What's wrong? Lady Richeli."

Noticing I was downcast, Luna Maria leans in worriedly to peek at my face.

"It's nothing... Luna Maria, have you decided what plant to use yet? Do you have a magic potion you want to make?"

When I ask, Luna Maria vaguely smiles with a slightly clouded gaze.

"Well... I was wondering if there was any plant with a sleep-inducing effect... A little...since the pillow has changed, so I can sleep soundly until morning."

"Oh, is that so? Have you found what kind of plant would be good?"

"Yes, Patrick and Luciano looked together and gave me advice. This is Lavantia. Along with this calming plant and a few other magic plants."

Saying this, Luna Maria showed me the illustrated page of the magic potion she had opened. The magic plant with light blue grains pointed out.

"I've drunk this before, too, but it's a slightly bitter magic potion."

At Patrick's words, Luciano nods and opens a red-covered book to show me.

"Found the recipe. This one says you can enjoy drinking the magic potion made with Lavantia by adding it to warm milk with honey."

"Thank you, Luciano. I'll try drinking it that way when the magic potion is ready."

Luna Maria smiles happily, and Luciano also narrows his eyes in satisfaction. It's a good atmosphere.

"Did you find it, Richeli? What were you looking so enthusiastically for?"

Patrick tilts his head, his gaze stopping on the Magic Encyclopedia I'm hiding against my chest.

"Um, um... I've been getting tired easily lately. So, ...I wanted to try making a potion that could act as a recovery agent."

While stumbling over my words, I line up the lie I just thought up.

"Hmm. That's nice, then the recommended magic potion is..."

Patrick takes the Magic Encyclopedia I'm holding and flips through the pages.

***