A month after the pharmacy’s establishment.
However, they had yet to receive any harassment from the Apothecary Guild.
Besides that, they would also arrive all dressed up to the utmost. They wore the same clothes they would wear when arriving at a ball. There were also some nobles who wore medals. Although the shopkeeper was just a child, he was still the second son of an Archduke. In addition, the Charter Mark in front of the store, made the shop quite overbearing.
Though before that, he was troubled on how to attract commoner customers.
Meanwhile, during their daily lunch break hour. On the third floor of the store, in the staff break room, the staff members were taking a break and eating lunch. By the way, in order to have Cedric, who has a bad knee, be able to get to the break room on the third floor, they installed a manual elevator counterweight (balance weight) the day they decided to hire Cedric, and so, Cedric could now comfortably access the third floor.
“It’s not like customers will suddenly come flooding in.”
“Well, since we have the time, it’s fine if the patients start coming in little by little. People who are in real need of treatment, or those who need medicine.”
It seemed like Lotte had been giving out questionnaires regarding Different World Pharmacy over the last couple of days. Since Lotte was the only commoner amongst the staff members, it was easier for her to talk to the people on the streets.
“You really did well, Lotte, you’ve been a big help. Nevertheless, I’m scared to hear the results.”
“Well then, please go ahead and announce it. Lottelita sure is talented!”
Slip, the three people pretended to fall down.
Ah, so it was like that, the three people were convinced.
There’s no need to be conscious, was what Ellen retorted.
It’s not like the gatekeepers weren’t smiling, was what Falma wanted to say in the gatekeepers’ defense.
It’s because of me! Falma fell on top of the table.
“Those who cannot read the signboard and are scared to enter – 10 people.”
It’s because of me again! Falma moaned. Falma, who had a strong mentality, somehow managed to reply.
“Thank you, I understand. It is as expected.”
“Somehow, we’ve stumbled on the most fundamental part.”
Ouch, ouch, ouch, Falma pressed his forehead.
“I wonder if it would be better if we established a price for the examination and specific medicine, and hang it outside the shop.”
“We need to make it so that there are some regulars visiting the shop.”
“I’d like to get those Sailor Candies (Bonbon). I’d like 3 today.”
“Yes, 3 candies it is. Thank you very much.”
Falma took out 3 candies from the candy jar, and handed it to him. In the pharmacy, they have prepared a variety of candies. Candies such as cough candy, cold prevention candy, candies for sailors (scurvy disease prevention candy), and salt candy (heatstroke prevention). Because these candies have the same pricing as candies found in other stores, children of wealthy merchants often come by with coins clasped in their hands to purchase these candies.
“Well then, since I’ve purchased the goods, I’ll help myself to some water!”
“Ohoho, this is it, this is it! This taste really good.”
“Please drink a lot of it. Since it’s quite humid outside, please rehydrate.”
“Since you’ve bought Sailor Candy, does that mean you’ll be going out to sea?”
“No, I don’t go out to sea anymore. However, I used to go out often back then. See you later then.”
It doesn’t matter if he’s a sailor. Since an intake of Vitamin C is always a good thing anyway.
I wonder, are they his walking companions?
It’s too suspicious!
“Dear Mother, please take care in not knocking the products off their shelves with your hair.”
“Eh, oh my. How did you know it was me?”
“If you wanted to come in secret, you shouldn’t have raised your voice so early in the morning.”
In contrast of his Mother’s increasing concerns, his Father remained seated in a calm and collected manner.
“Please feel free to do so.”
“It’s a good store. Although it’s very innovative, but when one slowly thinks about it, it makes logical sense.”
“Although there are a lot of things I still don’t know about, since Mr. Cedric is here, I think I’ll be fine.”
His Father struck Falma’s weak point, and he jerked as though he was stabbed.
“I-is that so.”
Mother said brightly, dispelling the heavy atmosphere.
There was some truth to this. Whatever is trendy amongst the aristocrats, merchants would want them.
Ellen has beautiful skin, so she doesn’t need any makeup, let alone Lotte who needs makeup even less, while Falma and Cedric are both male, so in conclusion, none of them knew much about cosmetic trends.
“Cosmetics such as those that adjust one’s skin texture, in that sense, the whiter it is the better; those kinds would be good.”
“With white skin, it looks like the skin that of a baby, and if you can make it so that the face powder is long-lasting without any smell, it’ll sell like hotcakes.”
His Father gave him an advice with a serious face. The face powder in this world, when Falma looked at the recipe, he knew that it contained white lead and mercury which are toxins to the skin even in a different world. However, his Father shouldn’t know it is harmful.
“According to what I know, women who uses face powder excessively ends up dying a premature death. Because of that, as someone on the path of medicine, shouldn’t sell those. The white thing is bad.”
I see, so Father indeed knows about it.
The knowledge Bruno has of the medicines in this world were right on target. That was what Falma had felt vaguely. Bruno does not just immerse himself with reading books; he also diligently observes the cases he is presented with. And sometimes, he is even willing to doubt what he read in books.
“Really, it’s because of what you have said. It’s probably just your imagination! Even I want to use white face powder.”
What Falma has been selling were just basic cosmetics such as moisturizer, lotion, and hand cream.
“Go call for an Apothecary, hurry!!”
Someone, who had looked at the signboard, seemed to have remembered that there was a pharmacy for nobles. A man, who was dressed up looking like an attendant, plunged into the store.
“Examination? I understand.”
After saying farewell to his parents and asking Ellen to look after the store, he ran out of the store and proceeded to the place crowded with people.
While his Mother was lamenting, Cedric spoke up.
“Oh, it has a nice fragrance.”
Bruno silently stood up from his seat, and casually stepped out of the shop.
“It might be as you say.”
“That person, he said he had something he wanted to say to Falma…”
“Ah, how could this have happened. Young lady, please do put yourself together.”
Falma was being guided by the attendant through the large crowd, and they moved towards the voice in the buried within.
“Sir Apothecary is passing through, please make way! This way please, Sir Apothecary.”
The lady thought that medicine has finally arrived, however, because it was a child who came, she had a quizzical expression on her face. When Falma saw her, he estimated she was a noble’s child who is in her late teens. She seemed to be a daughter of a Marquis.
Falma showed her the badge on his collar. Because it was essential to Falma’s work, he placed the crown looking badge of the Royal Court Apothecary on the collar of his white coat. He decided to show off his identity, because if he didn’t, he would probably be underestimated because he was still a child, and then medical examination would be refused.
With just one glance, Falma immediately noticed that she was anemic. However, he couldn’t afford not to look see if there were any other ailments. And so, with his left hand on his eye, Falma activated his divine skill Diagnostic Eye to look into the details of the human body. There were no bone fractures, and neither were there any glowing parts.
However, despite it being hidden by the long sleeves of her dress, his ability allowed him to see myriad lights on her arm.
There was an incision wound. It looks like a wound from phlebotomy.
” Iron-deficiency anemia”
This is not any ordinary anemia.
“It looks like you’ve had phlebotomy done. You’re suffering from anemia.”
An energetic woman, who was looking down, suddenly looked up in surprise. It was as though she was asking what the problem was. In this world, it was standard practice to phlebotomize the patients until they faint. And the repeated incision on the blood vessels, could also cause infection on the wound.
“You are currently not suffering from any particular illness. Although you’re not sick, why did you go through phlebotomy?”
In addition to that, because she doesn’t originally have very white skin, she ardently went through phlebotomy.
This girl should not be doing this.
Falma guided them to the pharmacy. His parents had already gone home. He asked the girl to rest while he prescribed her with iron, and also recommended antibiotics for the wound infection. The girl let out a small sigh and said,
Before Falma had a chance to respond, the attendant handed him a large sum of gold coins, surprising him. Aristocrats seemed to like keeping up appearances.
Falma was worried. As long as she kept up with her pursuit of beauty, if she continued doing the same thing, the situation would just repeat.
Falma decided to take her wishes into consideration.
“I will prepare a cosmetic set especially for your skin.”
That was what Falma had promised her, and on that day, he shut himself on the 4th floor of the Different World Pharmacy, where his laboratory was located.
He decided to make a harmless foundation that could be used to lighten the skin tone.