Chapter 12: Truth and Little White Lies

Chapter 12:
Truth and Little White Lies

 

LEAVING NOELA in charge of the drugstore, I headed back into the lab.

The Demon King Ejil, my newest employee, followed me. “What medicine are we making today, Dr. Reiji?”

“We’re low on potions, so I’m whipping up some of those,” I replied. “Hrm…I think we need to make something else, too.”

“I’ll go take a look!” Ejil immediately exclaimed, heading into the store.

He’s pretty useful.

“Ejil seems to be doing well!” giggled Mina, entering the lab with tea in hand.

It had been three days since Ejil started at Kirio Drugs, and he’d already memorized the drugstore’s products and their effects. He was also fast when it came to calculating bills. In terms of skills and knowledge, he could probably run the store on his own for an hour or two.

“He’s helpful,” I agreed. “The problem is that other than me, his teacher, and Noela, the girl he loves, he treats everyone like they’re his subjects.”

“That really is the power of love, huh? Noela is awfully cute.” Mina looked like she found it hilarious.

No matter what Ejil says or does, Noela pays him literally no attention. It’s actually sort of impressive.

The demon king returned. “Doctor, our stock of energy potions is low. We also need more deodorizer and—”

“I’ve made some tea, Ejil. Would you like some?”

“Woman! How dare you interrupt me?! I am discussing important matters with the doctor!”

I lightly brought my palm down on Ejil’s head. Whack!

“Her name isn’t ‘woman’! She’s Miss Mina to you. Thanks, Mina. We’ll gladly have some tea.”

“Right! We will! Posthaste!” Ejil exclaimed. “Would you like some sugar, Doctor? Oh—you don’t take sugar, do you? My apologies.” The demon king was obviously kissing my butt.

“Good luck with work, you two!”

“Not your place, Miss Mina,” Ejil snapped. “I hardly want your encouragement.”

I smacked him again. Whack!

Mina simply smiled and exited the lab.

At this rate, it would be difficult to let Ejil serve customers. The situation wasn’t unlike what had happened with Elaine. Oh, well. To be fair, Ejil’s really an employee in name only. He’s here because he wants to learn to make potions.

Ejil glanced at me. “Doctor? I hear from some of the regulars that you use your skills to help people in need.”

“Yup.”

“Well, um…I’m in need.” Ejil grabbed the lab’s world map and pointed. “The humans are pushing back my Third Eastern Division. At this rate, one of my strongholds will fall. Please, assist me.”

“That’s a crazy request! I’m not a tactician. I make medicine! Get it?” Has he forgotten that I’m human?!

“Then make me a medicine that’ll resurrect the eight legendary historical demon kings. If it works, I’ll be able to conquer the world! You’ll solve the Third Eastern Division problem!”

“I can’t make anything like that. Even if I could, I’d never let you resurrect demon kings!” If we had that many around, this world would enter its very own chaotic, war-torn Sengoku Period.

Huh…? I realized that, according to my medicine-making skill, I actually could create a revival potion. Its effects seemed limited, though. And I’d never even heard of the ingredients.

If I asked Ejil, he might be able to get me those…but I’m not going to make it. I decided to keep the potion’s existence a secret; it’d only invite trouble if I mentioned it.

“What about a medicine that eradicates humans?” Ejil continued.

“That’d be a bioweapon. I can’t make anything that awful.”

My medicine-making skill reacted again. Gah! Needless to say, Ejil didn’t need to know.

The demon king changed the subject. “I want to know what Noela truly thinks of me, Doctor!”

“I’m pretty sure she’s already said.”

“But she is crafty and runs hot and cold.”

Noela? Crafty? Come on.

“I wish to know her truest feelings. Could you make an honesty treatment?”

Ejil seemed to think that Noela’s iciness hid her embarrassment at her infatuation. The fact that he was asking me for help meant that he didn’t possess any honesty magic. However, my medicine-making skill responded again.

I guess I could make what he wants. Urgh…when he asks with that expression, I can’t help wanting to give him a hand. Still, he’s better off not knowing some things.

“You gotta promise me—no matter what Noela says to you, no freaking out, no crying, no rampaging,” I told Ejil. “If you commit to that, I’ll help.”

“I promise!”

“The ingredients are pretty unique.” I jotted them down; they included medicinal herbs, tree roots I’d never heard of, and even monster blood. “Can you get this stuff for me?”

Ejil stood. “Of course! I’ll use my army’s full force!”

He activated some sort of magic. A spell circle appeared at his feet and glowed brightly, and he vanished.

All this, just so he can hear how his crush feels. My heart goes out to his army.

It didn’t take me long to finish working. I waited for a bit.

Fweeeen!

The spell circle from earlier reappeared in the air. Ejil dropped from it and fell to his knees. “Haah…haah…D-Doctor, I’ve got it all…!”

“Whoa. You okay?”

“I-I’m the only one who can use teleportation magic…and it takes a lot of power.”

That explained why Ejil looked so drained. Out of breath, the demon king was as docile as a frozen fish. Weird comparison, I know.

I took the two leather bags he held and checked their contents. Yup. He got it all.

I hurried to complete my medicine-making work, bottling and shaking the ingredients Ejil had gathered.

 

Truth Juice: Makes inner thoughts audible for about half a day.

 

“What’s the plan?” I asked. “You gonna get Noela to drink this, or should I?”

Ejil, still conked out on the floor, stayed as quiet as a frozen salmon.

“Bleh. I guess it doesn’t matter, really.” I headed back into the drugstore.

Noela’s ears twitched as she sensed my approach; she turned around. “What wrong, Master?”

“Yo! You’re doing a good job. I made a new treatment in the laboratory, and it’s pretty tasty. Wanna try it?”

“Yup, yup!” I handed her the bottle, and she downed it in one gulp.

Let’s see whether this stuff works. “How do you feel about me, Noela?”

“Garoo?” As Noela spoke, her inner thoughts also resounded through the drugstore: “What this all about, Master?”

“Whoa!” I gasped. “It seriously works. Holy crap!”

Noela tilted her head, clearly confused. Judging by her reaction, she couldn’t hear her thoughts.

“Um, so…yeah, how do you feel about me?” I repeated.

“Love Master.” Noela wagged her tail, hugging me tightly. “Super-duper love love love love love bestest!”

Love, huh? I see. Before I could ask how she felt about Ejil, the boy opened the door and stepped in. “You’re good to go, Ejil.”

“Okay.” He grinned.

If he really thinks Noela runs hot and cold, he probably assumes he’s going to hear the “hot” side.

“Noela.”

“Garoo?”

The demon king played the moment up, tossing his hair. “How do you feel about Garo Ejil, who will one day conquer the world?”

Noela blinked a few times and then laid it out as directly as possible. “Don’t care. Don’t care.”

Even I didn’t expect her not to give a crap! In a way, this was the worst possible answer for Ejil. “See? I told you. She hasn’t been messing with you.”

“I-I’m only just getting started, Doctor! H-how can I win your heart, Noela?”

“Dunno. Have to be Master.”

Ejil hung his head with an odd expression. “I see. This is your way of encouraging me.”

“Nope.”

“If I learn to make potions, like Dr. Reiji, you’ll fall in love with me!”

“Nope.”

“You want me to put my nose to the grindstone!”

“Nope.”

Noela’s thoughts were consistent, but Ejil wasn’t even trying to listen. He jumped at her, attempting to embrace her. “Noelaaaa!”

“Garroooo! Stay back!” With a wag of her tail, Noela fended him off in midair.

“Blaaaugh!” Ejil flew through the house door, landing in the hallway. “I am the demon…who will one day conquer the world…”

When it came to Ejil and Noela, this truth juice was ultimately pointless. Noela only said what was on her mind, and Ejil only heard what he wanted to hear. On the other hand, Mina was the kind of person whose inner thoughts I wouldn’t want to listen to.

“Oh, my. Is this a brand-new treatment, Mr. Reiji? Let me have a sip.”

“Huh?” I turned around to see Mina drinking from the bottle of truth juice.

“Oh! It’s a bit sweet!” Mina exclaimed. “It’s delicious!”

“G-great,” I mumbled, anxious about hearing Mina’s thoughts.

She spotted the demon king. “Ejil? You’ll catch cold if you nap there,” she warned him. “Hey! Aren’t you supposed to be working? Why the hell are you asleep?!”

Eek. Mina’s inner thoughts were tough.

As Noela took cover behind me, I heard the werewolf girl think, “Mina scary!”

“Noela, dear, did you just say that I’m scary?” Mina asked. “I can hear you!”

Noela shook her head rapidly. “Said it! Mina scary!”

“Gosh! What about me is scary?” Mina laughed. “There she goes—hiding behind Mr. Reiji again. Why does he always baby her so much?!”

I quickly stood up straight. “You have my deepest apologies, Mina. I won’t baby Noela anymore.”

“Huh? Pardon me? What’s going on, Mr. Reiji?” Mina asked. “Seriously, what the hell?! I really need to finish prepping lunch and doing the laundry!”

The fact that Mina was usually all smiles made her inner thoughts that much more terrifying. I dub thee Dark Mina.

“Mina…” I hesitated. “Er, I mean, Lady Mina…you should take a rest. Leave the chores to your adoring housemates.”

“Lady Mina…? But, Mr. Reiji, those are my job. Argh! My shoulders are so stiff!”

“Give her a shoulder massage, Noela!”

“Groo! Gotcha!” Noela darted behind Mina, sitting her down before rubbing her shoulders.

“What’s gotten into you, Noela? Ah! That hurts a little. Farther left.”

“Garroooo! Okay! Left! Nice and slow!”

While all this went on, I noticed Ejil wake up and slowly try to make his exit. I grabbed him by the shoulder. “And where do you think you’re going?”

“D-Doctor! Um, my shift is over, so I was heading home.”

“Your shift ain’t over yet. We’re going to survive this together, so get back to your position.”

“Okay…”

Noela, Ejil, and I cleaned and did the chores, giving Mina a wide berth. As for the store, well, I closed it temporarily. This was an emergency.

With the sharp blade of Mina’s thoughts hovering over us, we somehow finished cooking lunch. On the plates was the one entree I knew how to make—fried rice.

We sat down around the table, and Mina stared at her plate. I was a nervous wreck at this point.

“Hrm.” Mina took a bite. Noela, Ejil, and I watched in a cold sweat. “Ooh! This is delicious. This isn’t bad.”

“Doctor, we did it!”

“Thank goodness, Master!”

I shook hands with Ejil and Noela.

“What’s gotten into everyone today? They’re all acting so weird.” Mina didn’t notice her thoughts leaking out as she munched the fried rice, smiling at us.

There was no way Kirio Drugs could sell this truth juice. If couples got their hands on it, it’d lead to huge fights. Dealing with the raw truth all the time was exhausting.

Sometimes, it’s okay to lie a little.