“Cloud, are you alright?”

Zeke asked, sounding relieved.

“The antidote worked… Cloud, that girl gave us the antidote.”

“I see. Thank you, you saved me.”

After Alex’s explanation, Cloud bowed his head toward me. As he did so, his body swayed unsteadily.

“Are you alright?”

Alex quickly caught Cloud, steadying him while peering at his face with concern.

He still looks pale and unwell. He really needs to rest, but can he get enough rest here? If another King Snake attacks like before, he’ll just get poisoned again.

After going through all that effort to save him, it would be a shame if he got hurt again… Maybe he could rest at my house until he’s recovered?

Yeah, that’s a good idea. That would be best.

“Um… if it’s alright with you, would you like to rest at my place for a while? It’s a small house, so I’m sorry about that.”

When I made the suggestion, Zeke and Alex looked at me in surprise.

Huh? Is it really that surprising?

I mean, I know we just met, but they don’t seem like bad people. And worst-case scenario, I have Koko, a strong ally at home, so we should be fine if anything happens.

So, for a short time until Cloud recovers, I think it should be okay for him to rest at my place.

“A house… in the middle of the forest?”

Cloud, looking unwell, asked in confusion, and I nodded.

“Yes, it’s close by. What do you think?”

Cloud hesitated, glancing at Zeke and Alex. When Zeke nodded, Cloud bowed his head again, “Thank you, we’d appreciate that.”

“Um, can you walk?”

“If I go slow, I think I can manage.”

Alex helped the shaky Cloud stand up.

Good, it looks like walking won’t be an issue. But just in case, maybe I should give him a potion too.

“Please, drink this for now.”

“What’s this?”

“It’s a potion.”

I handed him a potion from my bracelet, and Cloud glanced at Zeke again before drinking it after Zeke nodded.

“… It’s so sweet.”

He had the same reaction as Zeke.

I wonder what potions in this world taste like. Everyone says they’re so sweet, so now I’m curious.

“Aren’t potions normally sweet?”

“No. The herb used for healing, Healgrass, is quite bitter. You can’t get rid of the bitterness no matter what you do.”

“Then why are the potions I make sweet?”

“That’s what I’d like to know.”

“I see…”

Hmm, so Healgrass is bitter.

Does that mean my potions are sweet because I make them, or is it because the Healgrass that grows near my house is sweet? I wonder which one it is.

I’ve never thought about eating Healgrass raw, so I don’t know the answer.

Someday, I’d love to meet an alchemist from this world and compare my skills with theirs.

“Well, this way.”

I started to lead the way but suddenly stopped.

“What’s wrong?”

Zeke, walking beside me, also stopped.

“… I don’t know the way back.”

“What?”

“No, but don’t worry! Koko or Robo remembers the way!”

I turned to Koko in a panic, and she gave me an exasperated look.

Ugh.

I mean, Koko’s our ‘guardian,’ so I trusted her completely.

Plus, the forest looks the same in every direction, and I was gathering materials while walking, so there’s no way I’d remember the path!

“Koko, please!”

“Bawk!”

At my plea, Koko reluctantly stepped in front of me and gave a light peck at my foot.

“Ouch, Koko!”

“Bawk.”

With a look that said, “That’s your punishment,” I apologized, “Sorry, Koko…”

… In situations like this, it’s better to apologize quickly.

“Bawk, bawk.”

As I followed Koko, who scratched her head and took the lead, Zeke asked, “Are you sure about this?”

“Of course! Koko may peck me like that often, but she never does it seriously. If she were serious, my foot would be a bloody mess by now.”

“Oh… I see.”

Zeke seemed slightly taken aback, and I almost told him that Koko was a tsundere, but then I stopped to wonder—has Koko ever shown her dere side?

…Hmm, maybe not.

But she hasn’t yet. I’m sure she will eventually. Everything’s fine, no problem at all.

Following Koko’s lead, we walked through the forest and surprisingly arrived at the house sooner than I expected.

It felt like we had gone further, but I guess since I was collecting materials along the way, we hadn’t traveled that far.

As we exited the forest, a hedge arch covered in pink flowers appeared, and I heard Zeke and the others gasp in awe.

Heh-heh! Wait till they see the garden inside—then they’ll really be amazed!