Parallel World Pharmacy Vol 1 Chapter 12

“I know I’ve talked about opening up a pharmacy some day… But why today?”

 From an apprentice apothecary to the official Royal Court Apothecary, Falma de Médicis (10 Years Old), who had been appointed by an imperial sanction by the Empress directly, was dumbfounded in the mansion of his family.

 Then today, it had come to this.

 Her Majesty was too impatient.

 For Falma, who was given an Imperial Charter for the pharmacy, was now given the responsibility of building a pharmacy from the empire. The Empress’ command was a big deal. From the workshops that had Her Majesty’s Royal Warrant of Appointment, competent stonemasons, quarrymen, blacksmiths, lumber merchants, glass blowers, roofers, and virtually all craftsmen who were experts in their profession had journeyed and gathered with their apprentices. They told Falma they were first-class craftsmen who had participated in the building of the palace.

 “Since I’m not mentally prepared, nor have the first drafts been made, would you leave for now?”

 “As I have told you Young Master, an imperial order had been issued, really.”
 They won’t return as is, the planned construction site had also been decided, the craftsmen would be fired if they didn’t start working today; Is what he was told.

 Heads will roll certainly.
 That was the line of thought of the muscle-brained Empress.

 “Come on now~ The job will be quick.”
 Ellen arrived at the place that was in disorder. She was summoned by the carrier pigeon that was sent by Bruno. She was ordered to help the establishment of Falma’s pharmacy. The empress strictly ordered Bruno to have Falma operate the pharmacy as soon as possible, so Bruno requested Ellen for help as Falma’s support. On that subject, Bruno went to visit another noble today.

 “Wait a minute-”

 “I’m happy for your big promotion Master Falma, but what on earth did you do to get Her Majesty to do this, because that one is hasty. Like one time…… I-, I got caught insulting the monarch.”

 “There’s a deep reasoning behind it, and it’s a long story.”

 “That was quite a long story. So, what kind of pharmacy would it be? Do you have some rough image of what it would look like?”

 “Do I have to decide right now? I’m not yet mentally prepared for that. I would like to look around at the other pharmacies first.”

 “Stop it. The craftsmen’s heads will roll if you don’t do it now, socially that is.”

 “You should just rebuild it if you don’t like it, as Her Majesty had said.”

 Falma was handed over to a craftsman, while groaning as he saw only a sketch of the construction site on a blank blueprint, as Lotte emerged with a tea and cake for Ellen and Falma.

 Lotte was pleased with the success of Falma.

 “Young Master, haven’t you decided yet on a draft plan? I humbly beg of you.”

 The craftsmen from the guild who were waiting are getting restless. Falma had no other choice but to move his hand.

 “Enough already, I’m just going to wing it.”

 Since his father and Her Majesty said that he could design the pharmacy however he pleased him, Falma had prepared for the worst, and started to draw a plan. As long as there was an outline, the construction work would proceed smoothly and the foreman’s skill would let him see the confidence in their work.
 As for the location of the pharmacy, it would be built on the prime corner lot in The Imperial Capital’s main avenue that the Empress had gained control of. The location was selected away from the shopping district of the Apothecary Guild. It was probably the forethought of the Empress, so in order for the business rival not be in close quarters.

 “I got it! Fine details will be placed later on because the building will still be under construction.”

 At most, the craftsmen from the guild had been expecting him to draw at the level of a child, but once afternoon came, and Falma gave them the blueprints. They were left dumbfounded, because the drawing had many precise dimensions written on it.

 After Falma and Ellen heard the opinions of the master craftsmen, they filled the blueprints using the interior design of the other pharmacies as reference.

 That very same day when the blueprint was completed, the construction was pushed forward with amazing performance and speed. Construction budget influenced the construction time. As The Empire was the one ordering the work done, gold wasn’t an issue, and a large number of people were able to build it using the highest grade of materials.

 A few days had passed since the start of the construction, the frame of the new shop had emerged from a plot of land in The Imperial Capital.

 A stonemason asked Falma for the name of the pharmacy. As he was looking around the neighboring shops, the name of the store was engraved largely on the wall.

 “Isn’t it kind of pretentious?”

 If the pharmacy gained an approval from the empire even before it was established, it would have even more prestige and social standing.

 “Please decide immediately or else the construction time will fall behind.”

 “Now. Immediately. As soon as possible.”
 The craftsman was short tempered. If Falma wanted to name it without pizzazz, it would be de Médicis Pharmacy, but because it was a challenging job, it would be unwise to publicly use his family name, so he was troubled.

 “How about if I call it Different World Pharmacy.”
 After thinking a lot and being indecisive, Falma finally got a good idea and he murmured that line. After several hours later of concentrating on the splendid ornament, the gold plated signboard engraving was completed.

 The name of the shop would probably read [Diversis Mundi Pharmacy] when converted to the roman alphabet from his previous life.

 Literally translated to [Different World Pharmacy]. Falma viewed it in amazement as he wondered what to do about it,

 “Sacred Pharmacy? Is that really its name? Isn’t that a little exaggerated?”

 “Sacred? How did it became like that!?”

 “Because this was an Imperial Charter by Her Majesty, you will be fully protected as that was the command, it will be a sanctuary from the people on the same business, heck, it may be a sanctuary already when the Medicine God is here.”

 With that kind of name attached to it, it will certainly attract a bad crowd!
 And so, Falma regretted his blunder, the stonemason and the engraver had already finished their work so he went to eat lunch, and went back home.

 “I don’t want to find myself in discord with those on the same business as me. They might not let me borrow some medicinal herbs if I run out.”

 “It doesn’t matter now.”

 “Eh?”

 It was because the types of medicine being handled are different, it was highly unlikely there would be compromise. That was Ellen’s analysis.

 “Even though you have Her Majesty’s protection, you will still have strong opposition.”

Ellen’s remark was like a prediction.

 The first Imperial Chartered pharmacy and the youngest Royal Court Apothecary of the empire.

 Before long, the leaders from the apothecary guild from the empire went and began to openly scout in front of the shop. When Falma was present at the location, the apothecaries would suddenly approach baring with hostility.

 “Well, well, where is the store owner?”
 The middle aged man that had a good physique, was believed to be a guild leader, he took off his hat and greeted Falma while examining the store. He was doing it in a polite but also rude manner.

 “I am the store owner.”

 “Pardon for the intrusion! Oh my, you’re too young. I am Veron, a leader of the Imperial Apothecary Guild.”

 “I heard that you established a pharmacy so I came along, and it even has the Imperial Charter seal. I see, Her Majesty did something whimsical, no, that’s rude.”

 Since Veron thought that because Falma was only child, he wouldn’ t be able to take notice or understand sarcasm.
However, Falma didn’t feel offended at all.

 “Still, the name of this pharmacy is very much elegant, what kind of medicines do you sell? Are you selling something for someone as old as you, like candies (Bonbon)?”
 They weren’t aware of Falma’s reputation within the Royal Court. The guild leader Veron was teasing him by pretending to lick a candy with his tongue, and his posse of apothecaries went along with him and chuckled.

 However, Falma had high resistance to useless instigation.
 During Falma’s previous life, every time he developed a new medicine, it was not only favorable reaction that he got, he also received objection and skepticism from researchers all over the world, there were terrible remarks in their sarcasm. There was even a fight regarding patents with a rival laboratory. He felt that he needs to deal each one of them, but it wasn’t smart if he instigated them.

 “I do intend to sell candies.”

 “It’s one form of a medical dosage though.”

 Falma replied briskly and cordially in a child-like manner.

 Veron wanted to criticize Falma one more time as Falma doesn’t seem to mind his words, but he can’t just blatantly slander a Royal Court Apothecary that had an imperial charter. A commoner who was being disrespectful towards a noble will be punished. Although sarcasm was permitted.

 “Well, that is some splendid dedication.”
 Veron claps his hands exaggeratedly.

 “By they way, now that you have established your business, shouldn’t you register as a member of the Apothecary Guild?”

 “It’s unfortunate but, the Apothecary Guild is for the commoner apothecaries only.”

 “You can join us if you really want, I’ll accept you. It’s going to be a tough for a long time trying to operate independently, you know?”
 Veron was provoking him with a serious face.

 “No, that’s too much trouble. I’ve already mastered the minimum skills as an apothecary. I will be selling new medicines that I’ve personally developed, so it’s totally different from the shops under the Apothecary Guild.”
 Since Falma was a noble, it was expected that he wouldn’t be joining a guild for the commoners.

 “By the way, as for your Royal Court Apothecary made medicine, isn’t it expensive? To the commoners, they simply cannot get their hands on it.”
 Medicines made by a Royal Court Apothecary used high quality raw materials. Top brass of the guild knew the market value of these medicines, so they know they shouldn’t let the business run slow, but having it expressed in this kind frank way of sarcastically pitying someone was just disdainful. So, Falma replied apathetically.

 “I believe I can offer medicine, cheaply.”
 “Cheap? Oh my, nobles indeed don’t take into consideration the commoner’s pocket! For you it’s cheap, but how much is it, really?”

 “What the heck are you saying? You aren’t going to say you’re going to crush this pharmacy right?”
Ellen appeared in the shop while crossing her arms, she scowled at them without flinching as a way to backup Falma. Ellen’s name as the best student of Bruno was known in The Imperial Capital. All of them acknowledged her superiority.

 “No, not at all, we are just fellow businessmen in the same field, let’s work together. Well then, I will leave for now.”

 Falma drifted his line sight up into the sky with a serious face. Ellen was worried about Falma, whether he was able to endure those cruel remarks or not.

 Then Ellen followed up what she said,

 “Really… I think I should do just that, then.”

 Ellen greatly admired Falma’s resilient mentality and being optimistic while remaining calm.

Chapter end