Okay, all done.
I finished the substitute Noela, full body edition.
Oh, it looks just like Ms. Noela!
Exactly. I thought our part-timer could make do with this.
Expecting Noela to put up with him every time he's here would be rough.
Wel...come...
Hey, it's the Valgas's butler, uh...
It's Rayne. Pardon me.
Can we help you with something today?
Yes. Mr. Reiji, my master would like to see you.
Your master?
You mean Elaine's father?
Woof?
Drugstore
In Another World
Thank you for helping my wife the other day.
Today's Prescription: Part 1 Odorless Body Soap!
Because of you, everyone at the dinner party was talking about her.
Casty Fen Dran Valgas
Elaine was able to get some work experience at your store... as well.
I'm truly grateful to you.
Uh, sure... So, what can I do for you today?
About that...
Recently, my daughter Elaine has begun avoiding me.
Avoiding you?
Don't play dumb!
Huh?
I know what you're up to!
What?!
If you want my daughter, you'll have to defeat me first!
Why would I need to do that?!
How dare you use such underhanded psychological attacks against me,
your most difficult opponent?!
It's not like that!
Ms. Elaine's behavior is most likely caused by puberty.
Puberty?
I've heard that girls going through puberty
tend to develop a temporary dislike of their fathers based on their gender.
But my daughter used to adore me!
Daddy, I love you!
I'm gonna marry you someday, Daddy!
Are you, now?
She used to say that to me!
Even so!
Adolescent girls from every world go through a period
when they don't want to mix up their laundry with their father's.
Laundry? Come to think of it, the other day...
Elaine, I'm coming in.
Okay. What is it, Father?
This was mixed in with my laundry.
H-Huh?
Elaine looked at me as though I were garbage.
Yeah, I'm sure she did.
But Elaine is still too young for that type of underwear.
Huh?
Who does she intend to show it off to?
Dunno...
It's disgraceful, truly disgraceful.
Did you tell her that?
Of course!
That's the worst thing you could've done!
What? Really?
She'll think you see her as more than just your daughter.
But I'm just worried about her.
Even so!
Her father is her father.
She doesn't want to see an ounce of the opposite sex in him.
Does this mean my daughter hates me now?
Mr. Reiji.
Oh, Elaine.
I heard from our butler that you were here.
What did you invite Mr. Reiji here to discuss?
Well, uh...
I think I have an idea.
Mr. Reiji, rather than spending time with my dirty father...
D-Dirty?!
Let's go to my room where we can have a nice chat together.
But—
Hurry, this way.
Elaine, wait!
Elaine...
You know, you didn't have to put it that way.
Your dad's probably crying right now.
Yes, but...
Your dad has his faults, but it's not as if you hate him, right?
Well, of course.
Then let's go apologize to him later, okay?
Elaine seems to be aware that she spoke harshly to her father.
I wish there was something I could do to get them to reconcile.
Kirio Drugstore
Master! The botanical deodorant!
Thanks, Noela.
Woof.
Mr. Reiji, what are you going to do with that botanical deodorant?
I was wondering if I could tweak it a little.
By the way, why are you carrying around the substitute Noela?
I tried applying some charm fragrance to it so that it would smell nice.
I'm sure Mr. Ejil would've preferred for it to smell like Ms. Noela, though.
You think he'd prefer Noela's smell?
I see! That's it!
I can do that!
It's done!
The Next Day
Sir,
using this medicine may resolve your problem with Ms. Elaine.
Odorless Body Soap
Odorless Body Soap.
Removes the smell of sweat and other odors. Also disinfects.
I see. You're saying that if I just use this, Elaine will love me again?
I wouldn't go that far.
What do you think?
Smells nice, doesn't it?
It's a good, simple smell.
Take my word for it and give it a try.
I hate blindly trusting people.
Then what will you do?
At this rate, your relationship will continue to get worse.
Your daughter may never make eye contact with you again, much less speak to—
I'll definitely use this!
Someone prepare a bath!
Bathing In Progress
Huh? That's odd.
He turned handsome?!
Your medicine is perfect.
Well? What do you think of this rejuvenated version of me?
His voice, tone, and personality have changed, too!
Perhaps Elaine won't dislike me now.
Uh, I don't know about that.
I have a feeling Elaine will hate this, too.
Father, what do you—
Elaine!
Who is this man?!
Hey!
What are you doing?!
Alchemist, why are you stopping me?
Of course I'm stopping you! You can't just suddenly hug her!
You scared Ms. Elaine! Are you okay?
Mr. Reiji...
Get away from my daughter, alchemist!
Daughter? Wait, is that you, Father?
That's right, Elaine. It is I!
Why is he speaking like that and striking that pose?
Do I have to play along here?
Might as well.
Your daughter is mine, Casty!
Bastard, you've revealed your true colors!
You just now noticed?
By ensnaring your daughter and marrying her, I'll become nobility.
Marry?
Which means we'll be husband and wife? I'm delighted!
Hey, I'm the bad guy here! Don't make goo-goo eyes at me!
What are you doing?!
You deserve to die for toying with my daughter!
I won't allow you to hurt Mr. Reiji.
Don't side with me! You're ruining the plan!
Everything is going according to my plan.
If my father won't approve of us, then we'll have to elope!
Please shut up!
Hey, Casty!
Your daughter hates you, right?
She called you a smelly, creepy old pervert.
She didn't say all that!
He's right.
Wouldn't you prefer if your daughter were gone? I'll take her instead.
I've never wished Elaine was gone!
Father...
I've loved her since the moment she was born! She's my child!
That doesn't mean it didn't hurt when she began avoiding me.
But so what?!
I trust that Elaine's dislike for me is temporary.
No matter what, I will always be on Elaine's side.
I love you, Elaine.
Father!
I'm sorry. I was so cruel to you, Father.
Father, this pleasant smell...
This is the same perfume I use.
Mr. Reiji... Huh?
Mr. Reiji?
Two days later, I received a letter from the lord,
thanking me and telling me that I couldn't have his daughter.
I replied that I was acting the other day
and not to worry because I had no intention of taking his daughter from him.
I wish he hadn't been acting.
Mr. Reiji?
Sorry, did I wake you?
I made lunch. Can you eat?
Yes.
Anyway, you don't often get fevers. After all, you're a ghost.
Today's Prescription: Part 2 Three-Minute Revive
I know.
I'll leave your lunch here, okay?
C-Could you feed it to me, please?
What? You don't think you can feed yourself?
It's not that. It's just that times like these make me want to be spoiled, so...
How is it? I'm not too confident in my cooking.
It's good. It's seasoned just right.
Oh, good.
Here.
What is it?
This was my room a long time ago.
What?
I stared at this ceiling for so long that I got sick of seeing it.
It hasn't changed at all.
Come to think of it, Mina mentioned being sickly while she was alive.
My mother always took care of me when I was sick.
I caused so much trouble for her.
Ultimately, I died first from an illness.
It's okay. Nobody thinks you're causing trouble.
I was a nuisance.
I made my entire family unhappy.
You should rest for now.
What? The boss isn't here? Too bad.
How dare you take that attitude toward me?!
Do you know you're speaking to Garo Ejil the Demon King?
What's that? Is it a tasty food?
What?!
Micott.
Woof.
Thanks, Noela. See you later.
Say "hi" to the boss for me.
Woof.
Hmph, what a bunch of rude customers.
Master.
Master, how's Mina?
She's sleeping soundly right now.
Will she get better?
Her cold will, but she has a more fundamental problem.
Woof?
Ejil, I want you to gather the ingredients listed here.
If you do, you can pet Noela's tail.
Not the substitute Noela, either.
The real one.
The r-real... fluff...
I'm going to pet Ms. Noela!
Woof?
All right. Noela, could you help me with something?
Woof.
Hup. Down here, Noela.
Woof.
Mina's family lived in this house a hundred years ago.
And this was Mina's mother's room.
I'm sure we'll find something useful in here.
What's this?
Woof?
The writing has faded.
Yeah, but some of it is legible.
It was Mina's mother's journal.
Master! I got everything!
Woof. He's back.
That was quick! Such is the power of ulterior motives.
Okay, it's all here.
Thanks for the help, Ejil.
You're welcome.
Anyway, our promise...
Oh, right. I'm not sure Noela will allow it, though.
My tail? No way.
Huh?
Woof!
It's done!
Three-Minute Revive
Three-Minute Revive.
Three-Minute Revive?
Yeah. By sprinkling a few drops of that medicine on this,
we can bring your mother back for just three minutes. Here.
What's this?
I'm pretty sure it's your mother's journal.
This is definitely my mother's handwriting.
But most of it is illegible.
It's up to you if you want to use the medicine or not.
I'll use it.
Are you sure?
Yes. I want to know what my mother thought.
It's been a hundred years since then,
but I believe I must accept it, no matter how she felt.
Got it. Like I said, sprinkle that medicine on the journal.
I'll be in the other room.
Mr. Reiji, could you...
Could you hold my hand?
Okay, got it.
Why?
I thought she was cured, but she's sick with something else now.
We don't have any money left to buy medicine.
I'm sorry.
My husband leaves taking care of our daughter entirely to me.
Why do I have to do everything?
She's right. I was stuck in bed while my mother was by my side.
Taking care of me must've been difficult.
I'm really sorry.
Why?
Why won't she get better?
Don't ask me!
I wasn't sick because I wanted to be!
Why don't the medicines work?
I don't know!
The doctor said he doesn't know, either.
I don't know what to do anymore.
That's why I died first!
Isn't that what you preferred, Mother?
I couldn't bother anyone once I was dead!
Why, Mina? Why did you have to die before me?
You should have so much happiness waiting for you,
but ultimately, I couldn't make you happy.
Huh?
This was harder on you than anyone else, wasn't it, Mina?
Mother...
I think I was happy because I had you, Mina.
Liar.
After all, now that you're gone, I miss you so much.
If you had found a boyfriend and married him, I was going to give you that brooch.
The brooch?
My mother gave it to me when I got married.
Apparently my grandmother gave it to her.
That's when my mother told me the meaning of that brooch.
Its meaning?
"I hope you find happiness."
Mother... Mother...
Mr. Reiji, thank you.
It's okay.
I'm glad you got to see your mom.
Me, too.
Mother, I am happy.
When I first met Mina in this house that had been empty for years...
A g-ghost?!
I'm not a ghost. I used to live here a hundred years ago.
Th-That's what you call a ghost!
I'm not a ghost. I watch over the residents of this house from the ceiling.
I'm what you'd call the guardian spirit of the house.
Guardian spirit?
But for some reason, everyone runs away when they make eye contact with me.
I bet they do.
I just have one wish:
for everyone who lives here to have a happy life.
A happy life?
Yes. That alone is enough to satisfy me.
Mina's mother, your feelings reached your daughter.
Closing Time
Thank you. See you later.
Next Customer
Illustration by: Nanohanakohina