What witch? The Deadly Pharmacist!

Lena stared at Leon's back for a moment in surprise, then realized what was happening, went over to pick up the headscarf from the ground, carefully brushed off the dust, and put it on Melissa, gently comforting her, "Come on, it's alright now."

“Thank you…” Melissa replied timidly.

"Tell me if you get bullied next time, and I'll take care of it for you. Don't be shy about saying it." Leon looked at Melissa and breathed a sigh of relief.

“Hmm…” Melissa responded blankly.

"Getting ready to go home?" Leon asked.

Melissa nodded slightly.

“Let’s go back together then. I have a guest with me.” Leon said, turning to Lena and solemnly introducing her, “This is my landlord’s daughter, Melissa.”

“Ah…” Melissa looked at Lena with some surprise, then at Leon, before noticing that they were colleagues.

"Hello," Lena greeted Melissa warmly.

Melissa's expression wavered visibly. She looked back and forth between the two of them before cautiously asking Leon, "Brother Leon, could this be your... um... girlfriend?"

A young woman would accompany a man to his home alone; at Melissa's age, the most likely explanation is that they are lovers.

Both Leon and Lena were taken aback by these words. Lena then waved her hands repeatedly in denial, saying, "No, no, no! How could that be?"

How could she possibly have that kind of relationship with the man who once pointed a gun at her head? It wouldn't be possible, not even if the sky were to fall. She would think twice before even pretending.

Hearing this answer, Melissa secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Leon cleared his throat, adopted a serious tone, and lowered his voice to deliver the prepared script: "Melissa, this misunderstanding is extremely disrespectful to this lady. Although she looks very young, she is Bishop Leona of the Church of the Creator, who is secretly traveling from the north to St. Jula's Church on a pilgrimage and just happened to pass through Hamel Town..."

"Your Excellency!?" Melissa's face turned pale instantly. Even at her age, she understood that those who could be given the title of bishop were extraordinary figures. She quickly began to bow her head repeatedly, "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! I actually said such rude things!"

"It's okay, it's okay, don't worry about it! Let's keep our voices down, okay?"

Lena was even more flustered than Melissa. While comforting Melissa, she kept an eye on the passersby around them, afraid that someone might have overheard their conversation.

"Alright, Melissa, His Holiness the Bishop is on a private pilgrimage this time, so it's not convenient for too many people to know. Let's not make a fuss." Leon gestured for silence.

Melissa nodded with lingering fear upon hearing this, then immediately realized the problem: "But, Brother Leon, our family..."

Their humble little house couldn't possibly offer anything to entertain such distinguished guests.

“It’s alright. Bishop Leona came at my invitation to treat your mother,” Leon said with a smile.

“For Mom…” Melissa murmured, her amber eyes lighting up, “For healing?”

Chapter 17 changed my opinion of you a bit.

The setting sun shone through the cracks in the window into the narrow attic. Lena, dressed in a nun's robe, sat by the bed, carefully examining Selena, who was lying on the bed. Melissa stood on the other side of the bed, watching nervously.

Leon waited alone downstairs. Lena's examination would require Sally to remove her clothes and expose her skin, so he naturally had to avoid it. Besides, there was no room for a fourth person in the small attic upstairs.

Lena carefully observed the crystals that had formed on Selene's body, and occasionally asked Selene about the various symptoms that had appeared since she fell ill.

Throughout the process, her expression remained grave, which distressed Melissa.

After examining the distribution of crystals on Selene's body and the condition of her joints in different areas, Lena listened to her heartbeat again by pressing her hand close to her chest and meticulously recorded everything with the paper and pen she had brought.

It took her a full ten minutes to record all the details. This was her first time in many years to come into contact with a real patient with salinization disease, and it was a very valuable research experience for her.

After making the notes, she began to review her past experimental notes, comparing them in her mind while thinking about how to administer the medication.

After five minutes of unbearable silence, Selena and Melissa finally couldn't hold back any longer and cautiously spoke up: "Um, Your Excellency..."

"..." Lena did not respond immediately.

“Your Excellency the Bishop?” Melissa called softly again.

"Huh? Ah! W-what's wrong?" Lena snapped back to reality; she hadn't quite gotten used to being addressed that way yet.

"Is it... serious?" Melissa asked anxiously, clutching the hem of her clothes.

Lena realized that her lengthy examination and serious expression had caused the other woman much worry. She was about to offer words of comfort, but then felt it was inappropriate; Selene's condition was indeed quite serious. The church's holy water hadn't been entirely ineffective in treating the long illness, but it wasn't enough to completely halt its progression.

“I’ve seen things much worse.” After a moment of silence, this was the only answer Lena could give.

She witnessed firsthand the entire process of her grandmother's condition deteriorating until her body was covered in crystals, culminating in her death. The pain, accompanied by despair, affected not only the patient but also the family members who were with her.

“There are some things I need to make clear to you first.” Lena looked back and forth between Selene and Melissa and said solemnly, “I have indeed studied salinization disease for a period of time, but so far I have not found a cure. It’s just that in animal experiments, the drug I’m currently developing… I mean, holy water, can only slightly alleviate some symptoms, and it still cannot completely stop the progression of the disease.”

"Then..." Melissa was already eager to ask for the medicine after hearing this.

Witnessing their mother's daily suffering, and constantly using expensive holy water that could not stop the illness, even just relieving some symptoms was an immense luxury for them now.

"Let me finish," Lena gestured for Melissa to calm down. "I haven't tested this drug on humans, so I can't be sure if it will produce the expected results, nor can I be sure if there will be serious side effects. I can't rule out the worst-case scenario... I'm not sure if you can accept this, so I must get your consent before administering the drug."

Melissa hesitated for a moment, then cast a questioning glance at her mother on the bed.

"Please give me the medicine, Your Excellency. I'm willing to bear the consequences." Sally didn't hesitate at all; her weak voice held a resolute tone. She then turned her head with all her might to look at Melissa. "Melissa, remember, if anything happens to me, don't blame anyone. It's my fate..."

“I know, Mom!” Melissa reached out and took her mother’s hand.

“After I left, the house was taken away… Write a letter to your uncle in Norden. There’s always a way. You mustn’t do anything rash…” Celie whispered in her voice.

For Sally, even dying from the side effects would be a relief; the only thing she couldn't let go of was Melissa.

"You'll be alright, Mom, you'll be alright! Don't think like that!" Melissa held her mother's hand tightly, her voice already starting to choke up.

Lena silently watched this familiar scene; Melissa looked just like herself when she used to stay by her grandmother's bedside.

“I will prepare a course of medication and give it to... to Judge Seth to bring back. He will tell you how to use the medication. I happen to be staying in Hamel Town for a while, so let's try the medication and see how it goes.” Lena said, standing up to leave.

“Your Excellency,” Melissa said nervously, glancing at Lena as if she had just remembered something, “How…how should I pay you for the medicine?”

“This is holy water under development. We’re asking you to take the risk of trying it out, so how can we charge you? It doesn’t need any money,” Lena replied, shaking her head.

"Ah, may the merciful gods bless you! Thank you, Your Excellency... thank you..." Seri thanked Lena with tears of gratitude.

“However, I need you to keep this a secret. To be honest, giving you access to the holy water under development without permission is against the rules, and if it gets out, we could all be punished by the church! Can you swear you will never tell anyone else?” Lena delivered her prepared statement, signaling the two to keep their mouths shut.

“Of course, Your Grace, we won’t tell anyone!” Melissa replied firmly.

If this matter were to get out, Leon, who was involved, would likely be implicated as well. She was determined that even if the Inquisition came to interrogate her, she would not reveal a single thing about Bishop Leona.

“Hmm…” Selena returned the look of confirmation.

"Then I'll go back and prepare the medicine." Lena stood up and said goodbye to the two of them.

Melissa also got up and saw Lena down the narrow stairs, where Leon was already waiting at the top.

"How is it, Your Excellency?" Leon asked.

"Try using the medicine for a while first. Please come with me to get the medicine."

By this point, Lena had become somewhat accustomed to her role as "Bishop Leona" and had begun to speak to Leon in a more natural, superior tone.

"Yes." Leon bowed obediently.

“If anything happens, just have Judge Seth contact me.” Lena looked at Melissa and gently stroked her forehead. “You need to take good care of yourself. You cherish your mother so much, don’t forget that your mother must cherish you just as much.”

"Thank you, Your Excellency, really, I..." Melissa sniffed, her eyes still a little red. This was the first time she had seen a glimmer of hope since her mother fell ill.

"Let's see how effective the medicine is first. Goodbye." Lena couldn't bear the hope in the other person's eyes for a moment, and turned around to say this.

“I’ll take Bishop Leona home first. I’ll be back for dinner. You stay home and keep your mother company,” Leon said to Melissa.

Melissa nodded vigorously.

Leon and Lena left the alley. Leon glanced at Lena and lowered his voice, "Let's find a place to change our clothes first."

"Well, there's no need to rush," Lena said, unusually.

"Weren't you just restless because of this?" Leon asked, somewhat surprised.

"Suddenly, I feel like this suits me quite well, Bishop Leona. It wouldn't be bad if it taught you to speak to me more politely, hehe." Leona smiled, then looked at Leon, "My opinion of you has changed a bit."

"What changes?" Leon asked casually.

“To be honest, I used to think you were just a money-grubbing bastard,” Lena replied.

"And now?"

"It seems like you don't only care about money!"

"The bastard part hasn't changed, has it?" Leon raised an eyebrow.

“You said it yourself,” Lena said with a sly smile.

Chapter 18 Magic Element Production

Two weeks later, in Lena's cellar, Lena stood in front of an altar-style surgical experiment table and placed a basin of bright red, clear liquid, like a ruby, on the altar.

Previously in the labyrinth workshop, Leon assisted Lena in slaughtering the headhunter rabbit and slime, completely removing the headhunter rabbit's brain and heart, as well as the slime's core. After washing with lime water, they added Lena's prepared potion to grind and extract the contents, then filtered it. After adding a new potion and heating the mixture, they obtained these red liquids.

Leon can still help with these steps to some extent, and can even complete them independently by strictly following the steps without relying on Lena, even if he doesn't fully understand the underlying principles.

But what happens next is something only Lena can do—she needs to extract magic essence here.

Lena placed the basin on the gray tabletop inscribed with a magic circle, then covered it with a specially made curved glass lid. A long blowpipe was attached to the side of the lid, and the end of the blowpipe was connected to a tadpole-shaped glass container. A rune was engraved on the tabletop directly below the container.

This was the distillation apparatus used in alchemy during this era. Instead of heating the container as in the normal distillation process, Lena placed her hands on either side of the basin containing the blood, closed her eyes, and began to meditate, infusing it with magic.

The magic circle on the table began to glow, and bubbles started to appear continuously in the blood-filled basin. The liquid inside began to boil without any heating.

Leon stood by with his arms crossed, watching. If the previous parts could still be considered within the realm of chemistry, this step was completely metaphysical.

He recalled the excitement he felt when he first discovered the existence of supernatural powers in this world after transmigrating to it. Since it was another world, it would be more interesting if it were accompanied by some extraordinary powers such as magic, cultivation, and superpowers.

While there was some chance involved in getting into church work, it was mainly his own choice to go down this path. This is because the extraordinary powers in this world are basically monopolized by the four major churches that worship the four origin gods. Only the churches and related organizations have the resources to allow people to receive divine blessings and extraordinary powers.

But reality quickly poured cold water on him. As a commoner without any special connections, he wasn't even qualified to participate in the selection of apprentice knights. At most, he could start as a servant in the church, then be selected as an inquisitor for heresy, and work diligently for another ten years or so before he could be promoted to captain—that was the career end he could foresee.

Among the Inquisitors, only those in positions like Chief Caron can attain a rank in the Church and receive blessings. To sit in such a position requires additional recommendation, either by having a strong background or by making great contributions to the Church. The former is impossible without a second chance, while the latter is a rare opportunity that often requires risking one's life.

By now, Leon has been tempered and gradually accepted reality, basically giving up the unrealistic fantasy of becoming a superhuman.

A moment later, a wisp of mist emitting a faint glow rose from the basin Lena was holding, then spread along the glass blowpipe, beginning to fill the tadpole-shaped container connected at the end.

About five minutes later, the mist in the container reached a certain concentration, and Leon finally saw a few crystals begin to precipitate on the inner wall of the container.

Ten more minutes passed, and the fog gradually thinned until it disappeared completely.

Lena opened her eyes and released her grip; the runes and magic circles on the table stopped glowing.

She took off the distillation vessel and gently shook it; a few cloudy crystals had already appeared inside.

“That looks like a lot,” Leon said.

The amount of magic essence here looks about the same as the batch he sold last time, but this time they only killed three male hunter rabbits.

The monsters they are currently raising are still in their breeding season and are not ready for release yet.

However, breeding doesn't require that many male headhunters. Lena also needs materials to research potions and prepare medicines for Selene, so they still took three adult male headhunters out of the cage to slaughter and obtain materials and magic essence.

"This is just the first batch of coarse crystals. The concentration of magic essence is only 20% to 30%. The rest is useless inert magic crystals. It needs to be purified twice more like this. The inert magic will disappear during this process. The final product will only have about one-third of the magic essence here." Lena explained to him carefully, then suddenly changed the subject, "However..."

“But what?” Leon asked.

“But this is indeed much more than when I produced it, almost double. Your idea is right, raising monsters in the labyrinth can indeed greatly increase the production of magic essence.” Lena said as she began to purify the magic essence for the second time.

"Will the purity increase?" Leon continued to ask.

Even a slight increase in the purity of magic essence can drastically change the price; the higher the purity of magic essence, the greater the profit margin.

"We'll have to wait until the final purification to see, but for now it seems... the purity isn't much different from before," Lena replied, observing the crystal.

"Can't we increase the purity by purifying it multiple times?" Leon said.

“It’s no use. Every witch has a limit to the purity of magic essence she can extract. I can probably purify it to a little over 70%, and with good luck I can get up to 75%. But I can’t go any higher. This should be directly related to the extractor’s magic power level,” Lena replied.

"Speaking of which, you still haven't told me why you insist on bringing it back here to make it?" Leon asked, looking around the cellar.

"Ugh, you ask so many questions!" Lena pouted impatiently, but still gave an answer. "To extract the magic essence, it must be done on this altar that can connect with Lord Moirai's source power. The altar can only be successfully made in an active labyrinth. This thing is very heavy, and it's not safe to leave it in that labyrinth. It's better to leave it in this cellar."

“No wonder. I’d heard before that the Inquisition valued the Moirai Altar the most when arresting witches. It turns out that only here can magic essence be extracted.” Leon was enlightened.

Then another question suddenly occurred to him: "Wait, where did you get this altar from?"

He had actually investigated Lena's background in secret long ago. Lena was originally from another village. It was said that her mother left home when she was young, and her father abandoned her after remarrying. In the end, her grandmother, who lived in Hekou Village, took her in and raised her.

Lena is only sixteen years old this year, so she obviously has no chance to make the Moirai Altar by hand in a labyrinth. In the end, witches are usually taught by their masters. Without an old witch to teach the ritual of becoming a witch, an ordinary girl has no chance to become a witch.