Chapter 18: Vitality, Praise, and Promise

The man lay limp, completely motionless.  

Judging by his disheveled appearance, he must have been lost in the forest for a long time.  

“Is he exhausted? Dorori, grab my bag.”  

Dorori fetched the bag I’d left by the stream, and I pulled out a bottle of wild strawberry juice.  

I’d brought it to drink after my bath.  

Carefully, I poured the juice into the man’s mouth. 

The nutrient-packed juice would hydrate and energize him.  

“Ugh!”  

His lips twitched, and with a faint groan, he slowly opened his eyes.  

“Are you coming to? Drink this—it’ll give you strength. Chug it.”  

Gulp, gulp.  

Without pausing for breath, he downed the entire bottle of wild strawberry juice.  

A moment later—  

“Phew, I’m alive. Thank you so much for saving me.”  

“No problem. But how did you end up like this?”  

“I’m an herbalist from Alburton. I got careless and lost my way in the mountains. This is my first time venturing so deep into the hills near Alian.”  

“I see.”  

Alburton was a small city a bit away from Alian, where the innkeeper lived.  

“I’m truly grateful for saving my life. It’s not much, but please take this.”  

He handed me a single silver coin.  

“It’s fine. I didn’t do it for a reward.”  

“If you don’t accept it, I’ll feel uneasy. Besides, a drink this effective must be pricey. This coin might not cover it, but it’s all I have right now… I’m sorry.”  

The vitality drink was effective, I’ll give him that.  

“Thanks for the compliment on my product.”  

“What? You made this yourself?”  

The man’s face lit up with realization.  

“I had a feeling, but are you an alchemist? I knew someone wandering in a remote mountain valley like this couldn’t be ordinary.”  

“An alchemist? No, there’s a misunderstanding. This isn’t a potion—it’s a health juice. Pretty impressive, right?”  

The innkeeper had said something similar before.  

Alchemists create miraculous potions from herbs and ingredients. 

He must have mistaken my health juice for a potion.  

“A health juice?”  

The herbalist blinked, dumbfounded, his face frozen as if his brain had short-circuited.  

“Yes, a natural health food packed with nutrients. I don’t know anything about alchemy, though I’d love to learn someday.”  

“You’re a genius!”  

“Huh?”  

“To make something this incredible without even studying alchemy!”  

“You’re making me blush with all this praise.”  

“I’m serious! This is good enough to sell to adventurers. They’d go crazy for something with this effect!”  

“My vitality drink?”  

“That’s what it’s called? Vitality drink! Perfect name!”  

His over-the-top praise was a bit overwhelming, but selling vitality drinks to adventurers wasn’t a bad idea.  

“Let’s head down to the village. I’ll guide you.”  

I led the herbalist to Alian village.  

“This is the inn. The innkeeper’s cooking is amazing.”  

As we entered, the innkeeper spotted me and rushed over.  

“Oh my! What brings you here so late?”  

“I brought a guest. He needs a place to stay for the night.”  

The innkeeper glanced at the herbalist.  

“What happened out there? You look a mess. Wash up before dinner—I’ll prepare something special since our young man brought you.”  

She hurried to the kitchen.  

“I’ll head out now. You must be exhausted, so rest well.”  

“Wait a moment.”  

As I stepped toward the door, the herbalist stopped me.  

“My name’s Bernard. I was too out of it earlier to introduce myself. What’s your name?”  

“I’m Fabir.”  

“Fabir, if you ever need help, come find me in Alburton. I’ll do everything I can to assist you.”  

“Will do.”  

***

Back on the Floating Island, Elenia zoomed toward me.  

“Why are you so late? I was worried something happened!”  

“Did I keep you waiting? Sorry. Something came up at the stream.”  

“Are you hurt?”  

“Not me. I found someone collapsed and took them to the village.”  

“I’m just glad you’re okay. Is the person alright?”  

“Yeah, they weren’t injured.”  

Elenia’s concern warmed my heart, like the feeling of family.  

“Come back before sunset next time.”  

“Got it. Thanks for worrying.”  

“Ahem. It’s late—go to sleep.”  

“Alright.”  

Ding.  

[The Floating Island praises your good deed.] 

[Floating Island affinity increased by 10.]  

Fresh from a bath and comfortably tired, I knew I’d sleep well.  

The next day, I headed to the fields.  

The fields were thriving.  

*** 

Corn stalks stretched toward the sky, green chili peppers ripened red in the sun, and plump pumpkins and radishes flourished nearby.  

The sight alone was filling, but I still needed to eat.  

“How about boiled corn for breakfast?”  

“Sounds good.”  

“Squawk!”  

I lit a fire in the hearth, boiled water in a large pot, peeled and cleaned the corn, and added a pinch of salt for flavor.  

“It’s torture standing by this fire.”  

The heat from the flames made my face flush.  

It was only bearable because it was morning—if it were noon, I wouldn’t have gone near the fire.  

“Here’s some ice water.”  

“Thanks.”  

I chugged a glass of ice water, the cold snap making my head tingle.  

“Ah, I’m alive now.”  

Drinking ice-cold water in summer was a luxury I was grateful for, all thanks to the Ice Cave on the Floating Island.  

What else would the island grow into? 

The thought alone was exciting.  

Soon, the pot boiled vigorously.  

I kept adding firewood, boiling the corn for nearly an hour.  

“Should be done by now.”  

Using tongs, I lifted the corn into a bowl. 

Steam rose from the golden kernels, their glossy sheen tempting.  

I twisted off a piece and took a bite.  

“Mm! Perfectly cooked.”  

We gathered in the shade.  

“It’s hot, so eat carefully.”  

I bit into the side of a cob.  

“Mmm~”  

The salt added a savory kick, and the kernels were juicy and chewy—a perfect texture.  

“Delicious!”  

“What a treat!”  

“Squawk!”  

“But it’s sticking in my throat. I wish we had something to drink.”  

I dashed to the Ice Cave and grabbed a glass bottle of wild strawberry juice I’d made the day before.  

I filled a glass with ice and poured the juice. 

The vibrant red liquid sparkled with floating ice, condensation glistening on the glass.  

“Here, try it.”  

Elenia tilted the glass to her lips.  

“Wow! So refreshing!”  

I took a sip.  

Gulp.  

The coolness hit my throat, amplifying the tart sweetness of the strawberries.  

Delicious corn and a glass of icy wild strawberry juice made for a perfect start to the day.  

Could life get any better than eating tasty food like this forever?  

“I’m off to deliver to the inn.”  

I headed to Alian village with Dorori.  

Murmur, murmur.  

“The inn’s lively today.”  

It was unusually bustling.  

I went straight to the back door.  

Knock, knock.  

“Ma’am, I’m here.”  

Bang!  

***  

The door flew open, and the innkeeper grabbed my hand, pulling me inside.  

Startled, I was dragged into the storage room.  

“What’s going on? Why the rush?”  

“That aloe juice you gave me—you know it healed a young man’s burn scars, right?”  

“Word’s out already? That was fast.”  

“It’s spreading like wildfire. Everyone’s heard you frequent the inn, so they’re camped out inside, waiting.”  

She glanced around cautiously.  

“If they spot you, they’ll swarm you, so I brought you in here quick.”  

“I see. That explains it… But I don’t have much aloe juice.”  

“This could cause a fight over who gets it.”  

“Sorry for causing trouble for your business.”  

“Can’t help it when your stuff’s that good. I’ll handle things here, so don’t worry.”  

I could push through a crowd, but I didn’t want anyone getting hurt in the chaos.  

A fight breaking out over limited stock was the last thing I wanted.  

“Why don’t you open a shop in Alburton?”  

“Huh?”  

“That herbalist you brought said your skills are exceptional. I agree—you’re too good for this place. Like he said, you’d succeed in Alburton.”  

“Ma’am…”  

Her sudden suggestion caught me off guard. She must have heard something from Bernard.  

“Running a shop isn’t easy, but I’ve been at this inn for 20 years, and I can tell—you’ve got what it takes. Give it a shot.”  

Her warm smile stirred my heart. 

Her encouragement filled me with drive, like I could do anything.  

After a moment’s thought, I smiled back.  

“I’ll give it my all!”  

My heart raced.  

A new challenge always brought excitement and nerves.