New novel Plant Magic Lord is out! (3/10 chapters)

 

 

First Resident

(Thank you for reading at bayabuscotranslation.com)

After being quite surprised, Naru looked up at me with eyes full of respect. That felt strangely ticklish. I had never been looked at like that since I was born.

“Noble-sama… well, if I may ask you one thing, nya.” (Naru)

“What is it?” (Elt)

“Is it still possible to obtain these Healberries, nya?” (Naru)

“You want to know if we can trade continuously?” (Elt)

“You guessed it correctly, nya! If… if we can continue to purchase them regularly, I will add extra to the price, nya.” (Naru)

Naru pleaded with sparkling eyes.

Hmm… it would be good for me as well if they bought them regularly. The Healberries’ healing effect lasts one month. Since they cannot be stored for long, it is more convenient if they take them regularly. Negotiating with passing traveling merchants every time would be troublesome. It is easier to sell to a fixed merchant.

“That’s fine. I would also appreciate that.” (Elt)

“Nya! Thank you very much again, nya!” (Naru)

After that, we negotiated the price. But since I did not know the market well, I had no choice but to trust them. The Nyaff tribe had a good reputation even in my previous life, so I left it to them.

Naru brought a scale and carefully checked the weight of each Healberry. He was so cautious not to damage a single one, handling them as if they were jewels.

…So, it has become such precious goods now.

Watching Naru’s buying stance, I thought how times really do change.

 

—

 

“…All of them were top quality, nya. How about a total purchase price of 20 gold coins, nya?” (Naru)

“That much money?” (Elt)

This time, I was a little surprised.

A peasant family could live for a month on one gold coin. One gold coin was roughly worth about three hundred thousand yen. 20 gold coins was too much even as pocket money for a noble child. I had imagined it would be fine if it was one gold coin total. But it ended up being 20 times that price.

“They are really in short supply now, nya. I am lucky to meet Noble-sama here, nya!” (Naru)

“I-is that so…” (Elt)

“How about it, would you sell them at this price, nya?” (Naru)

“Ah, of course I will sell. Twenty gold coins is no problem.” (Elt)

The deal ended smoothly.

In front of me, shiny gold coins were lined up. I had never seen such a large sum of money before. At least, never as Elt.

My excitement was rising a bit. With this much money, I could eat meat until I was full. Plant magic could produce vegetables and fruits to eat. However, I had hardly eaten any proper meat or fish.

Ah, just thinking about food makes me hungry.

“Naru, can I buy food with this money?” (Elt)

“! Of course, nya!” (Naru)

Alright, since I have this money, I can afford a little splurge. Tonight, I will eat until I am full.

 

—

 

After finishing a few more transactions, Naru returned to the company’s carriage. Of course, carrying the box filled with Healberries.

“I can’t believe it, nya… to think I could get Healberries in a place like this, nya.” (Naru)

“It feels like a lie that they have been in short supply everywhere until now, nya.” (Nyaff #2)

The one who answered was the company’s number two. A brown cat Nyaff.

“…We don’t have to investigate where they came from, nya?” (Nyaff #2)

“No need, nya. The House of Duke Nagash is one of the kingdom’s five great noble houses. If we made a mistake, our heads would be gone in an instant, nya.” (Nyaff #2)

The surrounding Nyaff all nodded at once.

Nobles were terrifying beings to commoners. They could use magic, a marvelous technology that was now almost lost. Naru was a somewhat well-known merchant in the kingdom’s north, but before a duke, he was nothing more than a breath away from being blown away.

“Still… that Noble-sama was friendly and a good person, nya. It was the first time I traded so smoothly with a noble-sama, nya.” (Naru)

“Usually, they give all sorts of unreasonable demands, nya. But there were none at all this time, nya.” (Nyaff #2)

“That’s right, nya. And to be entrusted with a territory at such a young age—there is a lot of expectation on them, nya. They are a hope for sure, nya.” (Naru)

From Naru’s experience, only outstanding heirs were entrusted with territories. He never imagined this territory was something given as severance pay.

“Those Healberries were probably given by the family as development funds, nya. From now on, the House of Duke Nagash plans to develop this place.” (Naru)

“The way they carried themselves was dignified, and there was nothing childish about them, nya. I felt the dignity of speaking with an adult Noble-sama, nya…” (Nyaff #2)

“Yes, nya… my eyes do not deceive me, nya. That Noble-sama is not someone who just sits on their pride. Though young, their eyes blaze with burning ambition, nya!” (Naru)

At those words, Naru clenched his fist tightly.

“I’ve decided, nya! I will establish a base here and support Noble-sama, nya!” (Naru)

 

—

 

“So, you want to live in my territory, is that it…?” (Elt)

“We will buy the Healberries, nya. Of course, we will properly pay taxes, nya.” (Naru)

“Hmm. That is a welcome offer to me, but…” (Elt)

What Naru and the others proposed was to live in my territory and set up their company. Honestly, I have never expected it would come to that. I thought they would just stop by regularly, but to become this serious…

“I originally planned to move the main base here, nya. I was preparing to move all our business tools and funds, nya.” (Naru)

“I see… so that was your original plan. But isn’t that sudden?” (Elt)

“The current value of Heal Berries justifies it, nya!” (Naru)

Not only Naru, but all the Nyaff behind him nodded enthusiastically.

“…But is that really okay? As you can see, this territory really has nothing.” (Elt)

“That’s fine, nya. We are used to living in tents, nya!” (Naru)

If merchants stay here, they could expand business widely. That should be a big advantage for me too. My knowledge is biased towards magic. I did not even know Healberries were in short supply. Having residents who understand business is definitely reassuring.

“Alright, I will approve your residence. I look forward to working with you.” (Elt)

“Thank you very much, nya—Lord of the territory!” (Naru)

…Lord of the territory.

My family, my butler, and the maid… none of them acknowledged me because of my magical aptitude. But now? Due to the problematic plant magic, I finally have people who follow me. That is the first time.

“Is something wrong, nya?” (Naru)

“No, I just feel very moved…” (Elt)

This is only the first step. From now on, I will increase my subjects even more. But this is a very important first step for me.

 

Territory Information

Residents: +20 (Naru and the Black Moon Trading Company’s Nyaff tribe)

Total Population: 21

 

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