Parallel World Pharmacy

Volume 2 - Ch 9

Falma de Mdicis, shop owner of the Diversis Mundi Pharmacy and the Royal Court Apothecary, was the first member of the Pharmacy Guild and also the de facto Guild Master. Apricum per Foliis Pharmacy was renovated after two months.

Now, the remodeled Apricum per Foliis Pharmacy was a pure white shop, a complete makeover from its previous state. There was no rush in opening, so they decided to take their time. The shop owner, Pierre, featured a curving mustache, a fresh hair-cut, a neatly sewn white medical gown with a nameplate and a badge signifying his status as an authorized seller. Starting from today, he will sell new medicines in cooperation with Diversis Mundi Pharmacy. He learned the knowledge on how to use the medicines, and the craft of customer service. He also learned business management. He had learned all the things that was necessary.

Knight Guards in plain clothes were dispatched from Diversis Mundi Pharmacy, their order was to guard this shop with scrutiny.

This was to prevent any potential thefts of the medicine and to hamper the potential harassments from the Apothecary Guild.

Apricum per Foliis Pharmacy sold a variety of things; more types of cough drops than Diversis Mundi Pharmacy offered, wafers with iron and calcium, antipyretic analgesics, eye drops, and all sorts of vitamins. Diversis Mundi Pharmacy specializes in compounding sophisticated medicine for specialized patients, who were seriously ill. On the other hand, Apricum per Foliis Pharmacy aims to differentiate itself by handling colds and the flu, relatively common diseases, and nutritional supplements. The number of patients had swelled in Diversis Mundi Pharmacy, to the point that it became too much to handle for both Falma and Ellen, which resulted in patients not getting examined. A decision was made to move some of the medicines to be sold at Apricum per Foliis Pharmacy.

A few days ago, to improve PR, leaflets were spread out, indicating that Diversis Mundi Pharmacy had opened a new pharmacy which they recognized as a business partner. Patients who had relatively mild symptoms with their chronic disease would be sent to Apricum per Foliis Pharmacy.

Ah, finally. I wonder what would happen today.

Pierre suddenly became anxious, wondering if any customers would come. Will the customers come from Diversis Mundi Pharmacy since they were selling almost the same medicine? Will he be okay without Falma?

Will he be able to manage properly? Will he be able to explain the effects of the new medicine?

His anxiety just went on. The other day, Pierre couldnt sleep a wink.

But, how about just open it now?

Outside the gate of Apricum per Foliis Pharmacy, many visitors had lined up before the opening that it covered the whole alley.

Pierre sniffed as he opened the gates with trembling hands, and bowed to the customers deeply.

Welcome to Apricum per Foliis Pharmacy.

After that, Pierre was entrusted by Falma and was inaugurated as the Guild Master of the Pharmacy Guild. The new Guild Master Pierre was so dissatisfied with the way that the Apothecary Guild conducted business that he personally recruited apothecaries who were on the brink of closing due to poor sales, and increased the members of the Pharmacy Guild to seven.

All pharmacies of the Pharmacy Guild were remodeled with the same process: large open gates, thoroughly clean, and an ingenious plan to serve the patients.

The apothecaries who came to handle the new medicines from the Pharmacy Guild were lively, content, and motivated.

After all, the formulation they learned from the two months of training from Falma showed that those medicines were indeed effective.

Medicine that would be effective for everyone!

Previously, this was an uncommon occurrence.

To work or not to work, such things were almost like gambling based on rules learned through experience. It was not unusual for a pharmacy to be set on fire or an apothecary to be murdered for selling expensive medicine that was not effective. Because of theft, the risk in being resented, and exaggerated large sums of reparations, medicine costs inevitably rose. Commoner physicians and apothecaries were like moneylenders, it was a corrupt business that was hated.

However, after reopening the remodeled pharmacies that were owned by the members of the Pharmacy Guild, they had an increase in repeat customers.

The patients trusted the apothecaries with words of gratitude, as the apothecaries prescribed medicine tailored for the patient.

Even without being greedy, profits came in.

Thanks to Master Falmas benevolence, I dont feel guilty towards the patients anymore.

Pierre thanked Falma when they came across each other. It was also thanks to that day when his daughter was suffering from influenza and the nearby clinic of Doctor Donald.

Let us build a bronze statue of Master Falma for his service in the entrance hall of the Pharmacy Guild, was what Pierre enthusiastically proposed during a regular meeting, but sadly, Falma personally rejected it.

Meanwhile in Diversis Mundi Pharmacy.

Seems like Master Falma is getting busier

Lotte looked worried as she was looking at Falma that fell asleep while he was organizing medical records.

Really. He is expanding the business to fast Is it because the Medicine God dwells in the body of a child that the god was tired?

While Ellen was looking down on the exhausted Falma, she was worried that although Falma had the ability to heal people, was there really a medicine that could heal him? Falma said that both medicine and poison wasnt effective on his body.

If there was a medicine that could heal the Medicine God, he would surely feel some gratitude. Ellen reflected upon it, and didnt forget to thank the Medicine God in her mind. She didnt know if it reached him.

Eh? What are you talking about Lady Elonore!?

Lotte innocently asked Ellen. Lotte believed the Falma was Falma.

No, this is nothing. Thinking about the patients who are suffering, dont you think its an injustice to leave them alone?

Ellen was being evasive.

At least, we should be able to do something about the procurement of materials, we want Falma to devote himself to medical treatment and compounding.

Cedric seemed to worry about Falma too. Cedrics knee recovered with Falmas medicine and had been walking without a cane for a long time now.

Despite that, there is almost nothing that little Falma cannot synthesize. I believe I can compound alone in the fourth floor laboratory, but he wont even show me the methods or teach me. I already asked several times. Although I could help him, its frustrating.

Lately, Falma was working overtime everyday. Until now, the medicines prescribed by Diversis Mundi Pharmacy was created alone by Falma using raw materials supplied by business partners. Because there are also medicines mixed with herbs supplied by the Marseille province, some compoundings are left to Ellen. Falma also works on Saturdays and Sundays, working overtime until late at night, and would come early in the morning to stay at the laboratory to produce materials for the medicine, and would accommodate off hours medical treatment for patients who took a sudden turn in their condition. That was his daily routine.

Although Falma has a wellspring of divine power that was inexhaustible, his body still gets tired.

Did I fall asleep?

Falma raised his half asleep face while the desk left a mark on his forehead. Lotte covered Falmas shoulder with astoleso he wont get cold.

You had a long nap, did your consciousness fly off? You looked tired.

Ellen was rubbing the mark on Falmas forehead with her fingers.

In his previous life, he had the habit of gathering work immediately as soon as he becomes idle. And then, he was overconfident with his physical condition as a pharmacist. As a result he made a big mistake.

So although this time he should be spending his life not overworking, Falma admonishes himself for not doing it that way.

Am I working too much?

As to Falmas daily work schedule,

As for the things that occur irregularly:

Hey, aside from me, you should increase the apothecary in Diversis Mundi Pharmacy, why not take in an apprentice? Once you put up a system to teach the next generation, your life would become easier.

Ellen gave such a proposal. Falma had a brain with the pharmaceutical knowledge of new medicines, and being the only one on this world was the only fatal flaw. In this situation, this put too much burden on Falma, as he felt that he was close to collapsing from the pressure on his shoulders.

That is my intention. Because once the pharmaceutical company is done and its able to operate, I will begin to make chemosynthetic medicines. I also intend to do other things too.

Soon, the pharmaceutical pharmacy will rise, so Falma was thinking of attracting local and foreign talented engineers and researchers, and will try to teach them little by little the necessary pharmaceutics to manufacture medicines.

The sales of Diversis Mundi Pharmacy, funding from the Church, financial assets of the Archduke family and funds from the Empire was all invested unsparingly to the pharmaceutical factory in Marseille Province. It was being constructed at a fast pace. Once it was constructed, it would be possible to distribute from the production base, giving Falma some extra time.

In San Fleuve Pharmaceutical University where my teacher, Lord Bruno, is the president, have many excellent students. Even I have taken some apprentice there.

Ellen was Brunos best apprentice, she was also an excellent First Class Apothecary that she had three apprentices. Because she was busy helping in the pharmacy, she didnt pay attention to them anymore and entrusted them to Bruno, she said that he may employ them for the pharmacy.

All right, I will talk to my father about this now.

Since Falma became an independent Royal Court Apothecary, he thought that he was ready and it might be okay to borrow his fathers influence and position. His father also may mutually benefit from him.

By the way, isnt there anything else thats necessary for the pharmaceutical factory? I should get it now before its too late.

Ellen wanted to push forward the preparation much earlier.

Sophisticated glassworks, and after that I want to hire some engineers with blacksmithing skills.

Without the laboratory equipment for organic synthesis to make medicines, the factory wont operate.

Those arent sold anywhere?

Because I want to request something of unusual shape.

In Japan, a graduates of pharmaceutics and organic chemistry have skills in simple glassworks. But, its not possible for them to create flasks, test tubes, adapters, funnels, condenser tubes and the likes. Professionals in the glassworks were necessary.

Little Falma, only the best of the best engineers can realize your ideas.

Ellen was worried. Falma would want to employ an excellent engineer so she thought he would definitely spend lavishly.

It doesnt need to be the best, an engineer that have high degree of workmanship will be enough.

There is an Archduke, who is a Medical Flame Engineer, an expert in making laboratory tools for physicians, an alchemist and an apothecary too. That person can make glassware and also metal works, and made the tools of my teacher. But doesnt accept request from the commoners, but I think that person will take it with the connections of my teacher, Lord Bruno.

They decided to be introduced at once using Brunos connections. Because it takes time to make the tools. The factory wasnt complete yet, but if they dont place the request now, it wont make it in time.

Archduke Mlodie Le Roux.

It was a lovely name that belies a remarkable engineer.

A female Archduke?

When he inadvertently mumbled it, Ellen responded in shock.

I think you should have known it, Archduke is a title bestowed to an individual person rather than the head of the family. It doesnt matter if you are a man or a woman.

Is that so

Thats why its possible that two or more Archduke can appear in one family. Little Falma, once you become an adult, you might get the rank of Archduke.

That is awesome, Master Falma! Once that happens, let us have a party! With a grand feast!

When Lotte heard that he could become an Archduke, she was in high spirits. Lotte was filled with strength when it comes to grand feast.