Chapter 52: Production

It made sense—if Healing Magic truly were that convenient, diseases wouldn’t exist in this world.

However…

Lost in thought, Finihiya pursed her lips as she recalled the flax-colored haired maid.

She was somewhat taken aback, even incredulous, that an ordinary maid could use magic, and not just any magic, but Intermediate Healing Magic.

Only a select few could wield magic.

The vast majority were unable to properly use Mana throughout their entire lives, from birth to death.

Among those fortunate enough to wield Mana, an even harsher ratio meant most remained limited to only Basic Magic.

Therefore, those capable of using Intermediate Magic were considered talents and nurtured by the state.

Yet such a valuable magical talent was working hard as a maid in a Western-style mansion, which naturally caused her some confusion and disbelief.

“Hmm…”

As she absentmindedly pondered these things, preparing to steady herself on the stair railing and head to the second-floor library, an unusual noise suddenly came from the front door.

Instinctively, she turned her gaze in that direction.

A figure wrapped in leather rain gear hurried inside from the pouring rain outside, carrying a basket full of grass and leaves on their back.

Raindrops slid down the rough leather, pooling on the polished floor.

“Thank you for your hard work.”

Danila stood by the entrance, offering a warm smile as she greeted the newcomer and reached out to help unload the basket on their back.

“No,” came a young woman’s voice from beneath the tightly wrapped rain gear. “I’m merely bringing it back. This kind of work isn’t hard.”

“All right, Angela. Please head to the kitchen. I had some fresh broth prepared—drink it to warm yourself up.”

“Thank you, Danila.”

***

After watching for a while, Finihiya picked up her book and started walking upstairs again.

But after just two or three steps, she heard Danila’s gentle voice, soft as a trickling spring, from behind her.

“Lady Finihiya.”

Hearing Danila call her name softly, Finihiya turned to face her approaching figure.

“Miss Danila.”

Danila stopped before her and bowed lightly.

Seeing this, Finihiya returned the polite lady’s bow.

“I have brought back the soapberry fruits and soap pods you requested some time ago. Where would you like me to put them?”

Only then did Finihiya realize that the grass in the basket was indeed soapberry fruits and soap pods.

“Thank you. I’ll take care of the rest.”

“Would you like me to send two servants to help?”

“Not for now.”

“I understand. If you need anything, Lady Finihiya, please don’t hesitate to order the servants.”

“Hmm.” Thinking of how long it took to find these leaves, Finihiya asked, “Are these materials difficult to obtain?”

“If these leaves are hard to get, I’ll just give up and choose the first, slightly more complicated method of making it.”

“It’s not that difficult; these two types of leaves just grow in the Southland, so it takes some time to send them over.”

“I see.”

“Is there anything else you’d like me to do, Lady Finihiya?”

“No, that’s all.”

“Then I shall take my leave.”

Danila bowed gracefully once more before disappearing down the corridor.

Watching her elegant silhouette fade away, Finihiya put the book she’d been holding back on the library shelf.

Then she stood before the overflowing basket of grass.

She had originally planned to use the kitchen sink.

But concerned that boiling the leaves might produce odors that would bother the kitchen staff, she ultimately chose to experiment outside.

After asking the servants to help set up a simple fire, Finihiya sat down in the usual resting pavilion.

The heavy sky darkened ominously.

Rainwater gathered on the slope, converging along the pebble path to form a rushing stream that flowed down into the distant black ocean.

Crackling…

The dry firewood in the flames made faint popping sounds.

Taking a small portion of the soapberry fruits from the basket, Finihiya patiently peeled off their skins, then crushed the soap pods.

She dropped the peeled fruits and crushed pods into boiling water.

Straightening her back, she surveyed the plants growing in the courtyard.

Violet, rose, hydrangea, and in the distance, blooming marigold and wild roses.

The carefully tended flowerbeds were quite abundant.

After a careful examination to her left and right, Finihiya opened a pale white parasol and stepped onto the path, lightly treading through the sparkling puddles.

From a bit farther off, she picked two wild roses.

Returning to the pavilion, she plucked the petals one by one, then added them to the boiling pot along with the soapberry fruits and pods.

The key ingredients for the simple shampoo were the soapberry fruits and pods; the petals were merely to add fragrance.

The water in the pot gradually turned cloudy.

“…Looks like I need some filter cloth.”

Murmuring to herself, the words slipped from Finihiya’s cherry-like lips as she furrowed her brows seriously, watching the simple shampoo about to finish cooking.

After receiving a large piece of clean cloth from a servant, Finihiya filtered the cooled shampoo liquid twice.

Gazing at the dark, murky liquid finally collected in the small wooden basin, she silently stared for a while.

Then, cupping some of the liquid in her hands, she rubbed it between her palms.

After a long moment, Finihiya looked at the faint bubbles forming in her hand and lightly furrowed her slender, graceful brows.

Although it seemed a bit different from what she had imagined, she decided to test it anyway.

Cradling the basin to her chest, Finihiya opened her parasol and headed toward the mansion’s bathroom.

Pushing open the bathroom door, she filled a basin with overnight cold water from the tub, then rolled up a small section of her long hair and soaked the ends.

To have a more direct comparison, she chose to wash only a small portion of her hair.

Taking some of the shampoo liquid from the basin, she gently massaged it into the wet hair.

After rinsing carefully, Finihiya grabbed a clean towel from the rack and dried her hair.

Then she stood in front of the bathroom mirror.

Her golden hair still looked full and glossy in the reflection.

“Hm?”

She rolled a strand of washed hair and a strand of unwashed hair between her fingers to compare, and her delicate, slightly upturned nose twitched in puzzlement.

“…No effect?”

Perhaps due to her elven constitution, even the washed hair remained as naturally fluffy and clean as before.

Watching this, Finihiya let out a soft sigh.