Chapter-06 · EP-097
Episode 97: How the Antidote Is Made
We decided to tag along with Duke Kujo and Mr. Ikoma on their inspection of the antidote factory.
Led by Yamashita-san, we went behind the prefab shed. There, wooden shelves were lined up.
"First, the antidote herbs are dried here."
Yamashita-san explained. Spread out on the shelves were the antidote herbs I had harvested yesterday. They were still green but had begun to wilt slightly.
"When antidote herbs are taken outside the dungeon, they wither in about a week. However, by drying them properly instead of letting them rot, their effectiveness can be preserved."
"I see."
Duke Kujo nodded. Drying instead of letting rot – that distinction seemed to be key to maintaining the medicinal properties.
"Dried antidote herbs are hard to chew as they are, so they are processed inside the factory. Now, please come inside."
Yamashita-san opened the door to the prefab shed.
The interior of the factory was kept clean, with workbenches and tools arranged neatly. Though small, it was clearly laid out efficiently.
"First, the dried antidote herbs are ground into a powder using this stone mill."
Yamashita-san pointed to an old stone mill.
"The powdered antidote herb is then kneaded with water to form a solid. It won't solidify with ordinary water, but curiously, it does with water collected inside the dungeon."
"Water from inside the dungeon… why is that?"
Mr. Ikoma asked while taking notes. Yamashita-san answered.
"I don't really know the reason myself. When Saito-san and I were experimenting, we succeeded in drying the herbs, but they were hard to eat, and they wouldn't absorb water when we tried to rehydrate them. I thought drying them was a mistake, but Saito-san suggested that since they were an item found in the dungeon, perhaps water from the dungeon would work. He brought back some dungeon water, and amazingly, the herbs returned to their original state. We considered just drying the herbs for storage and rehydrating them with dungeon water when exploring, but dungeons don't always have water nearby. That's when I came up with the idea of processing them."
Everyone listened intently to Yamashita-san's explanation.
Duke Kujo, in particular, nodded with great interest.
"I see. So it was born from trial and error. Wonderful."
Praised by the Duke, Yamashita-san, looking not displeased, continued his explanation somewhat bashfully.
"Then, when the mixture of powdered antidote herb and dungeon water is kneaded on a cutting board, it gradually turns into a yellowish, translucent color and naturally forms into evenly sized pellets. After letting it sit for a while to stabilize, it becomes like a gem."
Since no actual product was available, Yamashita-san used gestures to explain.
"Without any dried herb on hand, this is just a verbal explanation, I'm afraid."
"No, I understood perfectly."
Said the Duke.
"By the way, how long does the drying process take?"
"Depending on the weather, about three days to a week."
"I see. Also, the security seems a bit lax. Drying outside means there's a risk of theft. That's something to consider."
"Ah, indeed… I've never had to think about such things until now."
Yamashita-san looked troubled. Certainly, in such a remote mountain area, theft probably hadn't been a concern.
Mr. Ikoma spoke up.
"However, the process itself is very simple. With sufficient raw materials, mass production should be entirely feasible."
"Yes."
Duke Kujo nodded, satisfied. Then, as if struck by a thought, he asked Yamashita-san.
"By the way, Yamashita-san, where did the idea of drying come from?"
"Ah, that came from…"
Yamashita-san answered with a hint of embarrassment.
"I grow shiitake mushrooms. Dried ones sell for more and taste better. Using the concept from drying shiitake, I tried drying the antidote herbs, and it worked."
"I see!"
Duke Kujo smiled, impressed.
"An application from everyday experience. A wonderful idea."
Yamashita-san nodded happily.
"Now, next we need to go check how much antidote herb is in the dungeon."
The Duke turned to me.
"Ichinose-kun, is it true you discovered antidote herbs on the fourth floor?"
"Yes, sir."
"You're a first-year like Hikaru, aren't you? You've already reached the fourth floor?"
"Yes."
"Have you reached level 4?"
"I reached level 5 recently."
When I answered, Duke Kujo and Hikaru both exclaimed in surprise, "Level 5?"
"Is it possible to reach level 5 in just one month? And yet Hikaru has only just reached level 2."
The Duke looked at me as if he couldn't believe it.
"Well… I managed to."
I answered vaguely. It was certainly fast, but I didn't know how to explain it.
Hikaru was also looking at me with a complicated expression.
"I see. So you're talented. Then, Ichinose-kun, would you guide us there now?"
"Of course!"
I answered proudly.
Then Hikaru, with a determined expression, spoke up.
"Father."
"Hmm? What is it?"
"Would you take me along?"
Duke Kujo looked a bit troubled at her request.
"Hikaru, you're only level 2. The fourth floor, where the antidote herbs are, is still a bit much for you. It's dangerous. Would you mind waiting?"
The Duke gently chided Hikaru.
Hikaru looked very sad and hung her head.
"Wouldn't it be okay?"
I couldn't help but speak up.
The Duke and Hikaru both looked at me.
"I'm sorry for calling you away in the middle of a family trip. Let's go together while continuing Hikaru's leveling. I'll support her in the dangerous parts."
"But…"
"Father, please."
Hearing my words and Hikaru's, the Duke thought for a moment, then answered.
"If you insist, I understand. But Hikaru, be careful not to act on your own inside the dungeon. Follow my and Ichinose-kun's instructions."
"Thank you so much!"
Hikaru, having received her father's permission, said so with a beaming smile.
And so, with me as their guide, I led the Duke, Mr. Ikoma, and Hikaru to the antidote herb field on the fourth floor of the Okutama Dungeon.
Hikaru successfully reached level 3, and the Duke and Mr. Ikoma couldn't hide their astonishment at the abundant field of antidote herbs.