#OH!! Also - this scene takes place sometimes vaguely after LN4 according to author-sensei

[chibimui]

Link to the original tweet: https://twitter.com/kusuriya_ten/status/1818845657505185993

The Apothecary Diaries official twitter account shared a short story that Natsu Hyuga wrote specifically for the account. I decided to translate it and share! It's just a cute casual conversation between Jinshi and Maomao about what they were up to as 10 year olds.

Disclaimer: this is a fan translation, I am in no way a professional and may have made some mistakes. Please do not use this translation elsewhere or claim as your own.

(translation under the cut)

The Apothecary Diaries (Hero Bunko) 10th Year Anniversary Short Story

10 Years Old

“Maomao”, Jinshi called to Maomao. This was after he’d called her in today asking for the details of another random case. Apparently the case was solved after she shared recollections of similar cases, and Basen had been sent to clear things up.

“What is it?”

Maomao drank her tea quickly with the desire to return home to prepare dinner.

“What did you do when you were ten?”

“That’s quite an unexpected question. Wasn’t that the age you began posing as a eunuch?”

“...that was later. I’m just curious what childhood could have led to your personality. Ten is a significant age, but eight or nine is fine too.”

Maomao grunted. “At ten years old things were pretty normal for me. I helped out at the apothecary shop under my adopted father Luomen.”

“Could you be more specific?”

Jinshi had asked Suiren for more tea and was now drinking it.

“That was around the time I was finally given permission to make my own medicines. Before then, I was yelled at for making things on my own, so I was really happy.”

“Don’t make things on your own.”

“Also, the madam taught me to do calculations and I was shocked at how messy my dad’s numbers were. I wondered why we always earned less than we sold, and I learned there was someone who was sick and had no money who he’d always give the medicine away to for free.”

“I see.”

“I followed them and found out they were a dirty little re-seller, so I enlisted one of the male servants and brought them with me to the marketplace to secure a spot. I took back our goods and told other buyers if they wanted stuff for cheaper to buy it directly from us instead.”

“Is that really something a ten year old should be doing?”

While Maomao had been speaking, Suiren had prepared her a new cup of tea and so she remained in her seat.

“If I hadn’t, the madam wouldn’t have given me my dinner.”

“She gave it to you?”

“She put it on my tab.”

There isn’t a single person more stingy than The Madam of the Verdigris House.

“Now I understand why you’re so particular with money.”

“What about you, Master Jinshi? What did you do as a ten year old?”

“Me?”

Jinshi grunted. “I was usually at my mother’s, the Empress Dowager’s, palace. How should I put this. Because of the odd proclivities of the previous Emperor, I was shielded from a lot of things while being raised.”

“I’m sure even a ten-year-old Master Jinshi was already sparkling with beauty as a child and was surely mistaken for a young girl.”

“Are you making fun of me?”

“Of course not.” Maomao denied such nonsense.

“I was taken care of by my nursemaids, and tutors were called to give me an education. The Ma brothers were my milk siblings, and Gaoshun would occasionally teach me martial arts.”

“I heard that Master Gaoshun was a military official back then.”

“That’s right. Since the Emperor was only the crown prince at the time he was guarded by another member of the Ma family. These were orders from the Empress Regnant and had to be followed, but it was still quite a lot to endure. Still, Gaoshun would occasionally visit the Emperor and make time to see me so he must have been quite busy. I remember frequently hearing him say ‘My daughter hates me’.”

Maomao recalled Mamei to mind and could understand.

“Even so, I couldn’t stay in the palace forever so sometimes they’d let me go outside.”

“Oh?”

“I was told everything is an experience and was brought to military training camps, and during summer retreats I remember having fun jumping down waterfalls. Although I was yelled at afterwards.”

“Summer retreat......, waterfalls. Ugh! H-How were the training camps?” Maomao appeared troubled, and attempted to refocus the topic of conversation.

“The training camps? I would join the soldier's in their regular training routines. This was also arranged by Gaoshun.”

Gaoshun’s paternal influence was strong.

Now that Maomao thought about it, Jinshi had mentioned something similar while eating chicken skewers before.

“Normally I’d only eat meals that had been carefully prepared, so I never realized grilled skewers flavoured with just salt could taste so good.”

Maomao could feel her mouth filling with saliva.

“What’s wrong?”

“I was thinking maybe my dinner can be paired with chicken skewers tonight.”

“Chicken skewers.”

It appeared that Jinshi’s mind had wandered in the same direction as Maomao’s and he held his stomach.

Just then--

“Young Master. Maomao.”

While smiling gently, Suiren appeared holding a large chicken.

“How do you two feel about chicken tonight?”

“Please and thank you!”

“Yes please!”

Both Maomao and Jinshi exclaimed loudly.

[cjrae]

Repost of @chibimui's fan translation! This is a cute little Apothecary Diaries short story that Natsu Hyuuga published via Twitter.

Link to the original tweet: https://twitter.com/kusuriya_ten/status/1818845657505185993

The Apothecary Diaries official twitter account shared a short story that Natsu Hyuga wrote specifically for the account. I decided to translate it and share! It’s just a cute casual conversation between Jinshi and Maomao about what they were up to as 10 year olds.

Disclaimer: this is a fan translation, I am in no way a professional and may have made some mistakes. Please do not use this translation elsewhere or claim as your own.

(translation under the cut)

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