Rou-chan’s Glorious Exploration Record
In the heart of the continent, there was a nation home to a warrior so formidable that even great powers feared him.
This man wielded a massive iron hammer as his weapon, capable of smashing through the sturdiest doors with a single swing and dispersing a rain of arrows with a single roar. His unwavering belief in the strength and honor of warriors captivated and drew in the strongest of fighters.
People called him and his nation “The Frontier.”
Since the country was no larger than a small kingdom, the name “The Barbarian Nation” was initially given in mockery. However, the man himself claimed that wherever he stood was the battlefield marking the borders of his land, and he proudly embraced the name “The Frontier.”
One year, the Frontier began waging war against neighboring nations under the banner of unifying the southern lands. Several years later, at last, their dominion stretched to the southern seas, making them the greatest power in the southern continent.
With the Frontier’s conquest of the South, the long and drawn-out wars over supremacy came to an end, ushering in a tentative era of peace.
And it was in this era that a boy was born.
He was the third son of the Melissa family, a noble house of the nation—his name: Rouville .
This is the tale of Rouville , a prodigy even among the Melissa family—renowned across the continent as “noble, beautiful, and wise”—who would later become known as “Rouville the Genius” throughout the lands.
“And so, after successfully delivering the concubine’s child, the first head of the Melissa family was burned at the stake. And they all lived happily ever after.”
The last page of the picture book was closed, marking the end of the story.
The book that Burke-nii-sama read to me was disturbingly vivid—because it was based on historical events.
And once again today, the customary “happily ever after” was anything but happy. The real world is far too harsh for such neat endings.
In any case, perhaps six-year-old Low-chan was still a bit too young for picture books.
Despite the cute illustrations, the story showed a gruesomely split-open belly. The schemes and underhanded tricks surrounding the First Prince were filled with as much love and hatred as a political drama from a royal harem—too intense for a child’s storybook.
Huh? A royal harem?
That word just popped into my mind when thinking about the twisted succession battles between the queen and the concubines. But… I don’t recall ever learning that word before.
Hmmm? It feels like I should remember something… but it’s just out of reach.
…
Oh well!
Low-chan burrowed into the blankets, getting comfortable for sleep.
I’ll leave the complicated thoughts for tomorrow’s Low-chan to deal with~.
“Alright, Low-chan, here’s a question! What was the reason the first head was executed?”
Burke-nii-sama, who seems to have no sense of the mood, decided to test me.
Maybe the reason the books he chooses are always so weird is that Burke-nii-sama simply has bad taste in picture books.
…
The blankets are warm and cozy.
I think I’ll have sweet dreams tonight.
I close my eyes and let my thoughts drift toward tomorrow’s fun.
“If you get the answer right, I’ll take you for a walk in the garden tomorrow, Low-chan!”
“The garden! …But we can’t go to the herb field, right?”
I opened my eyes at the mention of the garden, but I already knew—
The Melissa family’s garden didn’t have my beloved medicinal herbs.
The herbs were grown in a separate area, the backyard, which was guarded by gatekeepers.
“…Last time I took you to the herb field, you threw a huge tantrum when it was time to leave, remember? You really put me in a tough spot, Low-chan.”
“…Warm and cozy~.”
I turned my back to Burke-nii-sama and pouted. Bringing up past mistakes? How mean!
“…Alright, fine. I’ll take you to the herb field.”
I spun around to face him.
“Well, I suppose I can humor you a little, Burke-nii-sama. The reason the first head was burned at the stake is… the king’s whim!”
“…That’s actually a surprisingly difficult point to argue against.”
In the end, our ancestor met a dramatic fate—not from illness or disappearance, but by execution. And if it was by royal decree, then the reason was known only to the king. That made it the king’s responsibility.
Father always said—
Most things can be explained away with, ‘Because the king said so!’
The king is the most important person, so the lower classes shouldn’t presume to understand his decisions. It’s better to act like a humble servant and let things be.
In fact, even in our own household, Father and my eldest brother, Ark-nii-sama, were so high and mighty that I often had no idea what they were talking about.
But with my second brother, Burke-nii-sama, and my younger brother, Heine, we could talk normally. Maybe it’s because being the firstborn noble son is a special, god-given cheat ability—one that lets you awaken a mysterious “different world perspective” that only the chosen can understand!
“Low-chan, what do you think was the official charge read out at the execution?”
Burke-nii-sama kept pressing me.
Sigh… I guess I’ll give it some serious thought.
For the herbs.
“…Did the concubine survive?”
“Mother and child both lived and thrived. Good observation!”
Then the first head, who was her physician, had no reason to be harshly punished.
Our family has been a lineage of doctors, serving as royal physicians while also cultivating medicinal herbs.
Because we deal with life and death, our responsibilities are heavy. There were even times in history when doctors were executed if their patients died.
But in this case, the patient lived.
So the real reason must be…
I recall the picture book’s gruesome image of an open belly and a newborn being lifted out.
A surgical procedure, huh?
In this continent, surgical medicine was not mainstream. It was considered an unorthodox, almost blasphemous, form of treatment.
The accepted medical practice was herbal medicine—drinking or applying remedies made from plants. To most people, a “doctor” meant a “herbalist.”
Surgery was seen as being on par with sorcery or ritualistic magic—a suspicious practice.
The Melissa family originally came from a lineage of herbalists and served as royal physicians.
However, it was the first head of the family—our ancestor—who pioneered surgery. From then on, only those who embraced surgical medicine were recognized as true successors of the Melissa family.
Their unwavering faith in surgery, their absolute belief in its necessity, and their devotion to its practice eventually led them to achieve what had once been thought impossible. They cured ailments that had been deemed beyond saving, earning the title of “The Miracle That Defied the Gods.”
Of course, the sight of surgery itself looked terrifying, so it was kept secret to avoid confusion.
Because of that, some foreign herbalists still consider our practices to be frauds.
However, within our own country, the Melissa family openly practices surgery. In fact, their success in the field led to their elevation to marquis status.
Through the efforts of the first head and his successors, they accumulated countless achievements, curing supposedly incurable diseases.
Their political influence also grew. They allied themselves with the formidable warriors of the Ozl family, who ruled the Frontier, and eventually wielded power surpassing even the king.
Among the nobility, the Melissa family is feared and revered more than the king himself.
“I see! Rō-chan understands!!”
“The mystery is solved! In the name of my father!! The truth is, the first head of the family didn’t have a pharmacist’s license!! That means they were practicing medicine without a license!!”
“You don’t have to swear on your father’s name, but correct! As expected of Rō-chan! You’re really sharp when it comes to your beloved medicinal herbs!”
Barku -nii-sama pats my head and praises me.
“That’s why, from then on, the Melissa family made it mandatory to have a pharmacist’s license. By the way, the reason the first head didn’t have a license was that there was an age restriction for the exam… Because of that, the Melissa family and the Pharmacists’ Association don’t have the best relationship…”
“Hmm, I see.”
Medicine made from medicinal herbs is standardized worldwide. As long as the correct tools and procedures are used, anyone can create medicine, poisons, or antidotes.
However, herbal mixing is a delicate process where even slight differences—like humidity, temperature, the freshness of herbs, or the timing of mixing—can significantly affect efficacy. That’s why it takes considerable experience to consistently create proper medicine.
Whether someone is a qualified pharmacist is determined and certified by the Pharmacists’ Association. This certification, called the “pharmacist’s license,” is essential to be recognized as a doctor on the continent.
Since knowledge and methods of herbal medicine are consistent across nations, the pharmacist’s license is a continent-wide qualification that is valid anywhere.
As the governing body of this qualification, the Pharmacists’ Association holds immense power. However, it is a neutral and independent organization, unaffiliated with any specific country.
The association also purchases surplus herbs and medicine from various nations, selling them to those in need. If new herbal knowledge or formulas emerge, they immediately disseminate the information to pharmacists. Their dedication to medical advancement is genuine. Because of this, they also request governments to crack down on unscientific treatments when they become popular.
According to Barku -nii-sama, all doctors in the Melissa family now hold a pharmacist’s license. Even though they don’t specialize in herbal medicine, they are still recognized doctors approved by the association, so they are left alone.
“Our Melissa ancestors worked tirelessly to get to this point, where the Pharmacists’ Association at least tolerates our medical practices… But you see, Melissa-style medicine does have its risks…”
Ah, I almost forgot my bedtime routine!
Rō-chan pulls out a sachet of herbal potpourri from under the pillow, presses it to their face, and takes a deep breath.
Sniff, sniff, sniff.
“Phaa~! The wonderful scent of medicinal herbs fills my lungs. So blissful~.”
“Rō-chan?! What are you doing?! Wait, what is that?! What did you bring into the bed?!”
“Barku -nii-sama, good night. Please turn off the lights and leave. We have to wake up early tomorrow!”
“…You know we’re going on a morning stroll after breakfast, right?”
“Understood!”
If I take some emergency rations from the supply bag and wake Barku -nii-sama around 4 AM, we should be able to start our garden walk by 4:15.
Oh, I should also pack food and drinks for lunch!
I hope tomorrow is sunny~. It’s the perfect day to explore the herbal fields!
“I have a bad feeling about this… Good night, Rō-chan.”
“Aye, sir!”
I must get plenty of sleep to prepare for tomorrow!
4:30 AM!! Rō-chan finally arrives at the herbal fields!!
We were late because Barku -nii-sama took too long getting ready.
But once I saw the vast expanse of medicinal herbs, all my complaints vanished!
Sparkling, fresh herbs!! They are so lively and full of energy!!
“Herbs!! Thank you for waiting! Rō-chan is here!!”
The last time we parted was so long ago. Barku -nii-sama is so stingy, I barely get to visit them.
Since I’m still a child, I’m not allowed to leave the estate without an older escort.
I can’t wait to grow up so I can visit the herbal fields on my own!
“Rō-chan, you’re only allowed to take three herbs as souvenirs. And before you pick them, you must get my approval! Understood?”
“Three?! But there are so many?!”
“Three.”
“How about…?”
Barku -nii-sama’s expression went blank. That means I haven’t reached his limit yet!
“Actually, maybe just a few more? Pretty please?”
“…Five. Father said five is the absolute limit. No more than that.”
“Understood! That means ten in total, including Barku -nii-sama’s share!”
“Rō-chan, stop sneakily including my share!”
“But it’s only fair that you get some too!”
“But you’re the one picking them, right?”
“If Barku -nii-sama gives me his share, his dignity as an older brother remains intact!”
“You’re quite the schemer… Fine, but in exchange, no tantrums this time. You must return home by sunset.”
“Aye, sir!”
Last time, I was only allowed to look, but this time, I get to take some home! That means they expect me to leave eventually—it’s like a subtle way of telling me, “Please go home.”
…Huh? What exactly is a “subtle hint”?
My thoughts got a bit tangled, but oh well!
My focus quickly shifted to the swaying medicinal herbs in front of me.
I must select the perfect ten before sunset!
I take a deep breath and open the notebook where I recorded my last visit.
I had already looked up the properties and effects of the herbs I noted last time and added them to my records.
First, I need to compare the notes with the actual herbs to see if I missed anything.
I crouch down and examine the nearest herb.
It’s “Foundation Grass!”
As its name suggests, it forms the foundation of many medicinal herb mixtures.
Most herbal medicine recipes require “foundation medicine,” which is made from this herb.
That’s why pharmacist exams often test how well someone can make foundation medicine.
By the way, since I’m still a child, I’m not allowed to mix herbs yet. But I do get to observe sometimes!
Melissa House has a special room for making medicine. If I wait there, sometimes Father or Arc-nii-sama will let me in, saying, “Just watching, okay?”
Herbal mixing tools are expensive and delicate, so I understand why they don’t let kids use them.
But I do wish they’d let me wander freely in the herb fields…
Then again, the Melissa family is one of the most powerful noble families in the country, so there’s always a risk of assassination or kidnapping.
Not to mention, the Melissa family is famous for their beauty, making kidnapping an ever-present threat.
Just looking at Father’s unbelievably gorgeous, dazzling face makes me think, “He shouldn’t even be outside! He belongs in a vault or something!”
…Yet, for some reason, I ended up with the least striking features in the Melissa family.
Father is at the pinnacle of beauty, Arc-nii-sama and Barku -nii-sama are radiant princes, and even my little brother Heine is dazzling like a celestial being.
And then there’s me—plain compared to all of them.
Father says I resemble my grandfather, which means it must be recessive genetics.
Grandfather is a bit rough around the edges, but as a pharmacist, he’s somewhat famous.
He works at a clinic in the royal capital, making medicine.
Since I’m still too young to travel there, I haven’t met him yet.
But one day, I want to visit him and talk about herbs to my heart’s content!
Oh! This herb has grown so much since last time! I feel such a strong connection to it!
ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー
[Side: Barku (Second Son of the Melissa Family)]
I had an urgent matter to discuss with my father, so I made an appointment and was called to his office right after dinner.
“Sorry to trouble you when you’re busy.”
“It’s fine, I heard you wanted to discuss something. Now that you mention it, we went to the herb field together today, didn’t we?”
“Yes…”
I had decided what to talk to my father about, but when facing him, I hesitated on how to convey it.
“Is something wrong?”
“I gave permission to Rou-chan to harvest the herbs as planned… but… the roots were transplanted near the field as her own.”
“Is she planning to water them starting tomorrow?”
“Yes… I apologize.”
I had prepared myself for a scolding from my father, but instead, he chuckled.
“She got you good, huh? Well, Rouville is quick-witted when it comes to herbs.”
Because Rou-chan transplanted herbs to the corner of the field, it gave me an excuse to visit the herb field again. It wasn’t to visit the field but to check on the herbs I had received.
“By the way, which herbs did she pick?”
“Four Lirin Grass and four Teketeke Grass. She also harvested and took Marie Grass and Meal Grass.”
“…Well, that’s fine. I’ll increase the guards, so make sure Rouville has them when she goes to the field.”
“Understood… But, are you sure?”
“These herbs need special fertilizer, or they will wither in three days… Tell the gardener not to touch Rouville’s field.”
“Understood.”
Thinking of Rou-chan’s happy face as she found an excuse to visit the herb field, I felt a bit sorry for her, but deep down I also thought it might be better than having her go to the field every day.
Three days later, I received a report from the guards that all the herbs had withered. Relieved, I went to check on Rou-chan, expecting her to be disappointed, but surprisingly, she was full of energy.
After that, nothing unusual happened, and two weeks passed. It seemed like the shock of her herbs withering had worn off, and she hadn’t mentioned wanting to go to the herb field lately.
To cheer her up, I decided to take her to the herb field. Luckily, my father was around, so I immediately got his approval. Imagining how happy Rou-chan would be, I went to her room.
“Rou-chan, it’s Big Brother Barku , I’m coming in.”
When I opened the door and entered the room… there were herbs.
There were dense herbs in a planter on the table.
Wait, looking closely, they were Lirin Grass and Teketeke Grass.
…What?!
“Huh?! Rou-chan?! I told you not to take herbs from the field without permission!”
“It’s a misunderstanding! Rou-chan grew them from her own herbs!”
“Huh?”
Rou-chan was acting confidently, and it seemed she wasn’t lying.
“After the herbs withered, I took the bulbs that were sleeping in the soil, cut them into four parts, and when I put them in water, the roots grew!”
“…I see?”
Was this herb something that could be cultivated according to the herb encyclopedia?
I wasn’t too interested in herbs myself, and I had put off studying pharmacology, so I knew less about them than Rou-chan.
“Then, if I planted them together, three new shoots came out, and I split them and arranged them one by one!”
“I see… But wait, Rou-chan, didn’t Father say this herb needs special fertilizer?”
“They’re growing strong with Rou-chan’s recommended breakfast set of ham, yogurt, cheese, and eggs.”
“…”
Did she feed the herbs the same food?
Rou-chan… her idea was cute, but the results…?
In the planter, the herbs were growing vigorously, much more than the ones in our field.
I hoped it was just my imagination, but they looked even healthier than the ones in our field.
“If I plant this in new soil without fertilizer and keep taking the bulbs, they’ll keep multiplying, and soon, Rou-chan’s room will be full of herbs.”
“Wait! Stop! Rou-chan, let’s not do that!”
“?? Big Brother Barku wants herbs too? Well then, I’ll give you some of the bulbs I’m currently growing.”
“It’s too lateeee!! The second batch is already done!! Rou-chan, you’re too fast!”
If this kept up, her room would soon be filled with herbs, so in a panic, I called my father.
I was in over my head.
My father, though in the middle of work, immediately came to Rou-chan’s room after hearing my report.
Rou-chan greeted him happily, offering to harvest herbs for him.
Father looked at the planter, checked the fertilizer, and then asked Rou-chan a few questions. His face showed a mix of surprise, understanding, and deep thought as he stared at Rou-chan before smiling.
Rou-chan beamed in response to his smile.
Father’s smile seemed to make her very happy.
“Rouville, let’s return these herbs to the field, okay?”
“!!”
At Father’s cold confiscation declaration, Rou-chan’s expression froze.
Tears quickly welled up in her eyes.
“Of course, I’ll give you any herb you like in exchange.”
“Anything!!”
Rou-chan was nervously excited, more than I had ever seen her before.
Father nodded slowly.
“Of course, I’ll also order foreign herbs for you. Which herb from the herb encyclopedia do you like the most?”
“My favorite… But the herb I want to hold with these hands… um, please give me a little time!! I’ll decide which herb is number one!!”
Rou-chan was panicking, and it was adorable.
Today must have been one of the happiest days of her short life.
“Alright, go ahead and decide. But can I return this to the field?”
“Go ahead~”
She had no lingering feelings about it.
While Rou-chan fidgeted with the herb encyclopedia, it seemed her mind was already fixed on the herbs she wanted to order.
Thus, the herb cultivation incident in Rou-chan’s room came to a close.
Or so I thought, but…
One month later…
It turned out that the foreign herbs I had ordered for Rou-chan were thriving in her closet, and I had to call Father again.
As a result, Rou-chan was made to help take care of the herb field.
It seemed better to let her grow them in the field than to let her breed them in her room, so I decided on a strategy where the trees are hidden in the forest.
“Rou-chan! Don’t scatter herbs in the garden!! Only grow herbs in the herb field!”
“But the herbs say they like it here!”
“Herbs don’t talk! …Wait, Rou-chan, can you really talk to the herbs?!”
Rou-chan gave me a lukewarm look.
“Big Brother Barku , you’re such a child, aren’t you? Grass~w”
“Rou-chan, you’re the one who started it! Why are you acting like I’m the one who’s disappointing? Also, where did you learn that way of provoking people?!”
“Father does it often!”
“Eh… I don’t know whether I want to know or not.”
“With Ark-niisama.”
“Ah, I don’t want to hear it!! Rou-chan, don’t listen!!”
“Grass~w”
“Looks like you’re really into it… and you’re quite good at it now.”
Sighing, I decided I should make sure to warn Rou-chan not to provoke Ark-niisama. As the future head of the Melissa family, Ark-niisama had been trained in imperial manners and was strict about hierarchy. If Rou-chan insulted him, there could be serious consequences.
Since Ark-niisama had a meticulous personality, I figured he and Rou-chan wouldn’t get along at all.
“Big Brother Barku , I’ll share some with you too!”
Rou-chan quickly came over, pressing her dirt-covered hands into mine.
Was that herb seed?
What fell into my palm was a worm.
“Roouuuu-chan!!!”
Seeing me scream, Rou-chan blushed.
I wasn’t happy, okay?!
Thus, Rou-chan, having expanded her territory and become freer to move, definitely became more of a problem child than before.
