Light Novel Volume 08

Volume 8

Japanese
English

Japanese

薬屋のひとりごと８

Romaji

Kusuriya no Hitorigoto 8

Trans. Title

Apothecary's Monologue 8

English

The Apothecary Diaries: Volume 8

Cover Character(s)
Maomao, Jinshi

Release Info

Format

Light Novel

Release (JP)

February 28, 2019 (Hero Bunko)

ISBN (JP)

ISBN-13：ISBN 978-4-07-436884-6
ISBN-10：ISBN 4-074-36884-6

Pages (JP)

360

Release (EN)

Digital：May 29, 2023 (J-Novel Club)

ISBN (EN)

ISBN-13：ISBN 978-1-71-836132-4
ISBN-10：ISBN 1-718-36132-7

Volumes
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Volume 7	Volume 9

"The Apothecary Diaries: Volume 8" ( 薬屋のひとりごと８, Kusuriya no Hitorigoto 8 ) is the 8th volume of the The Apothecary Diaries light novel series written by Natsu Hyūga and illustrated by Touko Shino. It was first published in Japan on February 28, 2019. The translated digital English version was published via J-Novel Club on May 29, 2023.

Blurb[]

The whole capital seems to have gone Go-crazy when Lakan publishes a book about his games. He’s got even bigger plans, holding a Go tournament that’s open to all — and rumor has it that if anyone can topple the strategist himself, he’ll grant them any single request they might ask. Jinshi sees an opportunity. But it’s not all fun and games, as Jinshi learns when reports arrive of crops devastated by a plague of locusts in a remote village. All his attempts to forestall the insects’ devastation will soon be put to the test, and the outcome may mean survival or starvation.

Chapters[]

Prologue
Chapter 1: The Go Book (碁教本, Go Kyōhon^?)
Chapter 2: A Jaunt Around Town (街歩き, Machiaruki^?)
Chapter 3: Trends (流行, Ryūkō^?)
Chapter 4: The Ma Siblings (馬姉弟, Ma Shitei^?)
Chapter 5: Cards (札, Fuda^?)
Chapter 6: Thunderclap (雷鳴, Raimei^?)
Chapter 7: The Expedition (遠征, Ensei^?)
Chapter 8: The Harassment (嫌がらせ, Iyagarase^?)
Chapter 9: Jinshi's Idea (壬氏の思惑, Jinshi no Omowaku^?)
Chapter 10: Baitang (白湯, Baitan^?)
Chapter 11: Sport and Fear (戯れと恐れ, Tawamure to Osore^?)
Chapter 12: Bad Cooking (不味い料理, Mazui Ryōri^?)
Chapter 13: The Hair Stick Thief (簪泥棒, Kanzashi Dorobō^?)
Chapter 14: The Go Contest (Part One) (囲碁勝負　前編, Igo Shōbu Zenpen^?)
Chapter 15: The Go Contest (Interlude) (囲碁勝負　幕間, Igo Shōbu Makuai^?)
Chapter 16: The Go Contest (Part Two) (囲碁勝負　後編, Igo Shōbu Kōhen^?)
Chapter 17: Freak vs. Perv (変人対変態, Henjin Tai Hentai^?)
Chapter 18: The Fingers' Owner (指の持ち主, Yubi no Mochinushi^?)
Chapter 19: The Go Sage (棋聖, Kisei^?)
Chapter 20: Check (王手, Ōte^?)
Epilogue

Synopsis[]

Yao has just recovered from food poisoning, which left her with jaundice.

Lakan has written a book about Go (based on the records he kept playing against Maomao's mother), which becomes a bestseller. He is planning on hosting a Go tournament for fun, but behind the scenes Lahan is implementing measures for it to help pay back their debts.

Jinshi receives news of a locust outbreak in the west. He has recently passed laws that increased taxes and created incentives to eat locusts as a preventative measure against subsequent locust outbreaks. However, he is busy with work following the announced death of the Shrine Maiden of Shaoh. Basen recommends his brother Baryou to help out with the extra work. Additionally, his sister Maamei joins as an assistant to help Jinshi with administrative tasks.

Jinshi sets out on a short expedition to one of the villages that has been ravaged by insects. He finds out that the locusts are in egg-bearing season and has the land burned, lest the eggs hatch and give rise to another swarm. He also sends some of the dead locusts to the Imperial Capital, where Maomao inspects them and compares them with the local locusts.

It is revealed that when Jinshi was thirteen, he challenged the Emperor in a game of Go and won, earning him the right to enter the rear palace as a eunuch so that he would not have to become the Crown Prince.

A garden party takes place to officiate Empress Gyokuyou’s father Gyokuen as a servant of the Emperor. She lost a hair stick at the garden party, but it was returned to her with some damage. Maomao is tasked with finding the culprit. Empress Gyokuyou, due to being bored, had decided to use a salt crystal Maomao had given her in the past as an ornament in her hair stick, despite Maomao’s warnings. While in a rush to get changed, Empress Gyokuyou’s hair stick had fallen out and landed in a bowl of soup, causing it to become extremely salty. In addition, the discoloration of silver occurred because of the presence of eggs. It is discovered that Koku-u, one of Gyokuyou's ladies-in-waiting returned the hair stick to her, as a warning that enemies are around her. She later receives a letter from her half brother Gyoku-ou, with whom she has a difficult relationship.

On the day of the Go tournament, Lahan has Maomao, Luomen, Yao, and En'en help out as event staff, much to Maomao’s annoyance. Through conversing with Lahan, she learns that he spread a rumor that whoever beats Lakan gets to ask him to grant a request. Maomao is surprised when Jinshi shows up to play in the tournament.

Lakan is losing the match to Jinshi not only due to a lack of sleep, but also because Suiren specially prepared some snacks containing alcohol at Jinshi’s request, which the freak strategist naively consumed. Maomao is annoyed that she is being used by Jinshi and Lahan, but is more incredulous over the fact that Lahan is selling Lakan out in favor of helping Jinshi. Despite the use of these underhanded tactics, the game is interrupted, and Jinshi ends up losing.

Jinshi, who is vehemently opposed to becoming the Crown Prince, gives himself a brand mark containing Empress Gyokuyou’s seal in defiance, marking him as her slave. This act is a pronouncement not to become an enemy of Empress Gyokuyou, even if the Emperor dies.