“Chief, please prepare the Uda leaves. With that amount, about half should be enough. Put them into the mortar, please.”

The chief pharmacist did exactly as instructed.

There was no trace left in his eyes of underestimating her because she was a young girl.

After witnessing the efficient, waste-free synthesis magic Li had used, he had acknowledged her skill.

“Yes, that will be sufficient. Now, we will use synthesis magic once more.”

[Synthesis]

“Next, could you remove the flesh from the Zolma fruit?”

The Zolma fruit was about the same size as Li’s head.

Moreover, it was covered in a hard outer shell.

To the Li, it brought to mind the image of a coconut.

If the shell was peeled away skillfully, a semi-transparent flesh resembling lychee could be extracted from inside.

It looked extremely delicious, but in fact it was not suitable for eating.

It was not poisonous, but it was incredibly sour and astringent.

“It looks like the residual heat has dissipated.”

She strained the liquid from each beaker.

“Now add the material we synthesized earlier here and stir it well. Then, synthesis magic.”

[Synthesis]

The blue and pale green liquids turned transparent.

“What should we do with the extracted flesh?”

The chief pharmacist had cleanly removed the outer shell.

Looking at the oval-shaped flesh trembling softly, the Li spoke.

“I’d like you to cut it in half lengthwise. Remove the seed and pour this liquid into the hollow.”

Pleased by the chief pharmacist’s superb knife work, the Li smiled.

The center of the two halves of flesh was hollowed out neatly.

She poured the earlier liquid into each half.

[Synthesis]

Through the Li’s magic, the flesh and the liquid were synthesized.

What resulted was something red and blue and slime-like.

“This is the final step, but from here on, much more precise mana control is required, so please be careful.”

Up to this point, the process was not particularly difficult for a skilled magic pharmacist.

However, from here on, the difficulty rose sharply.

It was like the difference between walking across a plank about thirty centimeters wide and sprinting at full speed across a plank narrower than one’s foot.

[Synthesis]

To the chief pharmacist’s eyes, it was nothing short of a divine technique.

Precise yet bold, delicate yet resilient synthesis magic.

It was a realm he himself had yet to reach.

Before he could even feel frustration at that fact, he found himself simply thinking it was beautiful.

The red and blue slime-like substance was reborn as a special-grade healing potion.

It was transferred into a new beaker.

“Phew,” the Li exhaled.

The work that required such fine control had taxed her nerves, leaving her breathing ragged.

On top of large-scale magic she did not normally employ, the delicate work had compounded her fatigue.

“It’s finished. With this, the special-grade healing potion is complete!”

Even in that state, the Li declared it with a refreshed smile.

“Uncle, you do know how to use the special-grade healing potion, correct?”

“Y-yes,” the king nodded, still somewhat bewildered.

“The chief seems to know as well, so once Her Majesty the Queen awakens, please administer it while monitoring her condition.”

The Li’s body swayed unsteadily.

Grandmother supported her shoulders.

“Honestly, this child pushes herself too hard. Andy, we’re heading back for today. Just do exactly as Li said after this.”

“Aunt, will Li be all right?”

“She’s just a little tired, that’s all. Look.”

Resting against Grandmother’s shoulder, the Li’s sleeping face looked utterly satisfied.