ASDP Chapter 26

“Congratulations to both of you. This is the end of your demonization treatment.”

“The magical power generating organs have returned to normal.”

　The day after I exterminated the bees with Theo, I went to the clinic and my grandfather announced that the treatment was over. Theo smiles happily at those words, but Alfie is still dreaming. Fortunately, the treatment for his demonization was completed before the mushroom disease progressed, so his hair was not cut into a mushroom shape, but he continues to cling to the tree half-naked. It depends on his personality, but I feel like he’ll be in hell after this when he comes back to his senses… I looked away from the poor mushroom.

 

“Will you come to my house after I remove the mushrooms? My father said he would give you something other than honey and beeswax to thank you for yesterday.”

“Did you get that many good materials?”

“Yeah. Poison bags and stingers. My father dismantled the nest after we brought it home, so I don’t know what it looks like.”

　That bee is a carnivore and eats honey, but it doesn’t store it as honey. In other words, what was in that nest… let’s stop it. That’s why my father purposely made it so that I didn’t have to see it. I’ll probably have nightmares if I see it. Well, the sight of yesterday’s cut-up remains of the giant bee spread out all over the place with no place to step was also terrible. In the end, I burned it with magic, but that was a nightmare enough.

　My father is a professional who walks through that place without hesitation and collects materials.

 

“You can eat monster bee larva.”

“Uhii”

　I’m scared of what my grandfather said to me. It’s not the disgust of eating monsters, but the idea of ​​eating insects is more harsh to me.

“I don’t feel well, but in case something happens, it’s important to know which monsters are safe to eat.”

“I know. I know!!”

　It’s better to have some knowledge in case of an emergency. I understand that, but I would like to avoid having to eat insects as much as possible.

“Still, I can’t believe he’s trying to manipulate people based on the materials. What a pathetic son.”

“Grandpa”

　Being tricked.

　It’s true that my father deals with things other than honey and beeswax, which is exceptional. However, my father is the type of person who values ​​his own unique sensibilities, so I guess he decided that just selling honey and beeswax preferentially at a reasonable price was not enough.

 

“I still don’t approve of the relationship between you and Amelia!”

“Grandpa… Please, don’t admit it without permission. That’s not what I meant. It’s bad for Mr. Theo.”

　Haaaaaaaaah, I sigh at my ridiculous grandfather.

　I’m so embarrassed that I can’t stand it anymore, so I really want him to control his stupidity a little more.

“Mr. Theo. I think you understand, but don’t worry about my grandfather.”

“…Ah, yes”

　It seems like Theo was so taken aback by it that he couldn’t find the words to say anything. Well, there’s no place for me to deny it here, and my grandfather seems to be bothered by it.

　

“Let’s pull ourselves together and remove the mushrooms. Dad will be waiting for us too.”

“It can’t be helped. I guess I’ll get to see that funny head again today.”

　The grandfather’s gaze was locked onto Theo’s head, not Alfie’s. Theo also shakes his shoulders, startled by the fact that he’s the only one being watched.

　Well, it’s probably because his pity for Alfie gets the better of him and he wants to turn away.

“For mushrooms, just apply this ointment to the area where the mushroom grows.”

　Theo smelled the pale yellow medicine my grandfather had brought with him and winced a little.

“It smells sour.”

“You’re not going to drink it, so be patient. Mushrooms may turn into monsters, but they’re still bacteria after all. So you can think of it as a strong antibacterial.”

　I put on my gloves, dip a brush in the chemical, and dab it on the mushroom.

　It’s okay to get it on your hands, but the smell seems to stick to your hands, which bothers me.

 

　It was right after I smeared it on the mushroom. The mushroom peeled off from Theo’s head, becoming shriveled and hard like a dried shiitake mushroom.

“Is this what I had on my head?”

　Theo made a strange expression when he saw the mushroom falling on the bed. He may have imagined it growing on his head.

 

　Next, I approached Alfie, but he started shaking and trying to run away.

“Oh, stop it. You’re a mushroom killer!!”

“Grandpa…”

“Well, he meant it as a mushroom.”

　Being called a mushroom killer is a bad word that doesn’t hurt me at all, but I feel really strange and in a weird mood.

“Can I borrow it?”

“Eh? Theo?”

“Alfie. There’s no way I’d do something you wouldn’t like, right? This is what Alfie needs.”

“But, but, Theo, it’s a child!!”

　…Do mushrooms look like children?

　Alfie is serious. He is seriously crazy.

　Now, I wondered how Theo would convince him, but he smiled and without hesitation applied the medicine to the mushroom.

 

“Mr. Theo…”

“Sometimes it’s better to do it all at once.”

　No. I have no doubt about it.

　When I thought he was going to try to convince him, Theo gave up and used brute force, which raises suspicions about his brains, but as long as he can get rid of them, it doesn’t matter whether he uses his brain or not.

“Hiiiiii…huh?”

　The moment the mushroom fell, Alfie let out a scream and suddenly looked like he noticed something had fallen on him.

　Then, when he saw the mushrooms wilting in front of his eyes, he let out a scream and tried to move. However, his limbs are tied to a tree, so he can’t move.

　Moreover, he noticed that he was shirtless, and when he looked around, his face instantly turned bright red.

 

“Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! W-what? Huh?”

　That’s what happens.

　He tried desperately to cover his body with the blanket, but he can’t do anything because he can’t move his limbs. As he was flapping around wildly, he fell off the bed with a thud.

 

“Eh? Are you okay?!”

　I hurriedly looked over at the sound of pain, and when he saw me, his face turned even redder.

“It’s okay. Huh? No, that. Please don’t look at me!! Ah, but. Untie me!! Who is it?!”

　Alfie is extremely confused and seems more concerned about his current situation than the pain.

“Alfie calm down. I’ll untie you now.”

“Calm down?! I can’t calm down! Why am I dressed like this… no, wait. What, this memory!!”

　Theo untied his limbs, but Alfie remained sitting on the floor, holding his head.

 

“It’s not like you’re going to lose your memories. It’s not like your body is being moved by another personality, it’s just that you’re living your life according to the wishes of the mushroom. It’s the medicine that makes you sleepy.”

　It was the first time I had seen the treatment of a person whose symptoms were so severe that they had to plant mushrooms, but I wonder if their memories remain intact. It’s cruel in a way.

　Alfie took the rope and freed his limbs. He realized that he was half-naked, and in a panic, he grabbed the blanket on the bed and tried to wrap it around himself, but he saw a mummy-like mushroom stuck to it. He screamed and threw away the blanket again.

　However, he remembers that he is naked again and tries his best to cover himself with both hands, but there is no way he can hide it.

 

“Grandpa. I feel sorry for him, so please bring him some clothes–no, it’s best if I’m not here. I’ll get them for you.”

　I swear I don’t look at him with evil eyes, but I’m sure he doesn’t want people of the opposite sex to look at him. If you don’t know my personality, then I’m just a young woman.

　I know it’s in a case in the warehouse, so I guess I should go.

“If you learn anything from this, you’ll learn to properly refuse orders that you can’t do.”

　What my grandfather is saying is absolutely true, but I think that there are various reasons why I feel so sorry for Alfie, who was stepped on and kicked. I headed to the warehouse, listening to my grandfather’s words of comfort that sounded like a sermon.

 

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I don’t know why I kind of expected Alfie to have more of a calm personality.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter and thank you for reading!