New chapter of Plant Magic Lord is out! (9/10 chapters)

 

 

The Dead Bird’s Grassland, Full of Fluff

(Thank you for reading at bayabuscotranslation.com)

The next day. From the morning, rain was falling lightly. It had become a little chilly. Today was a holiday. Even so, there was a plan from the morning. Everyone was going to make sweets and share eating them. The main participants were the Nyaff tribe and the Dryads.

The origin of this was the Dryads. Dryads basically loved sweet things. They made and ate grass dumplings whether it was a weekday or a holiday. Riding on that, they decided to make sweets and eat them… well, that was all there was to it.

In this world, eating sweets was also a form of entertainment. Right now, the Large Tree Tower was the largest building. It was perfect for gathering. The Dryads didn’t care about such things at all. Or rather, both Dryads and the Nyaff tribe seemed to like being in groups.

I was joining because Wood wasn’t around, and I wanted to knead grass dumplings. It was hard to find time to knead grass dumplings on weekdays. I wanted to take the chance to knead some on a holiday.

After getting ready, I left the house. I remembered it was raining. I tried making a makeshift umbrella using plant magic. The large, water-repellent leaves of taro plants were perfect for umbrellas.

Walking through the village, I saw Nyaff tribe members ahead. They were going to the Large Tree Tower just like me. The Nyaff tribe happily sang while walking in a line. All of them wore raincoats. They were colorful, with ears and tails properly exposed. Seeing them lined up like that was quite cute.

“Nyan nyan… even if it rains, nyan nyan nyan…” (Nyaff tribe)

The song seemed pretty random, more like just a vibe. While watching them walk, Naru seemed to notice me.

“Nnya, Elt-sama! Good morning nya.” (Naru)

“Good morning, Naru.” (Elt)

“That leaf umbrella is very lovely nya. Is that magic nya?” (Naru)

“Thanks. Yes, it is. Your Nyaff raincoats suit you well too.” (Elt)

Saying that, Naru wagged her tail a little.

“Thank you very much nya! These raincoats are our new products nya. They are developed in collaboration with the apothecary and have a water-repellent medicine applied on the surface nya.” (Naru)

“I see, that’s well-made.” (Elt)

“Yes nya. For the Nyaff and beastmen, their fur is important nya. Everyone is testing them now nya.” (Naru)

The Nyaff tribe really was efficient.

While impressed, I walked a bit further and reached the Large Tree Tower. There was already an adventurer soaking in the soil bath. Even though there was a roof, having the guts to enter it early in the rain was impressive. That soil-bath-loving thirty-something adventurer was already soaking there properly.

“Good morning, Lord-sama!” (Adventurer)

“Good morning… You’re really enjoying yourself early in the morning.” (Elt)

“Yes, since it’s rainy today, I’d just be lazy at home…” (Adventurer)

“But soaking in the soil bath is basically just soaking.” (Elt)

“That’s true. But the soil bath is good for health. When it rains, fewer people come, so I don’t have to take turns. I can stay in longer.” (Adventurer)

“…I see…” (Elt)

That was how an addict sounds, but I didn’t ask further. It probably helped his body. He might have had some unhealthy habits before living as an adventurer here. I wanted the thirty-something adventurer to stay healthy and work hard, so managing himself was good.

While thinking that, Naru nodded.

“Nya, we’re going to make sweets here… I’ll bring some later, nya.” (Naru)

“Is that okay!?” (Elt)

“No need to hold back, nya.” (Naru)

Hmm, he was probably the one who disposed of leftover sweets. I didn’t think they’d force-feed those who couldn’t move. But eating lots of sweets might be unhealthy… Well, I’d rather not think too deeply. The soil bath would surely solve everything…

 

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Meanwhile, in Zansas, Stella and Wood were finally departing for the dungeon. Zansas’ dungeon had reality distorted at each floor, creating mysterious spaces. Each floor was completely different from the others.

The first floor of Zansas’ dungeon was called ‘The Dead Bird’s Grassland’. A vast savanna field where only one species of monster lived. Stella, Wood, and accompanying elite adventurers were slowly advancing through the tall grass. The grass was about chest-high and light brown, so visibility was poor.

The elite adventurers were summoned from outside Zansas as a countermeasure against moving lightning. They mainly handled magic attacks. There were ten of them in total, a rather large party. All were Rank A adventurers, talented veterans.

Even so, they didn’t seem very intimidating. They wore the dorky cloaks embroidered with “It’s human nature to delve into dungeons”, prepared overnight by Leia. Leia said she wanted those adventurers to “experience how tough Zansas’ dungeon really is”.

“…Though she also called them pack mules and reaction squad… hmm?” (Stella)

All the elite adventurers had tense faces. A woman magician wearing light blue clothes and holding a staff was breathing roughly. Her complexion was clearly bad.

Stella asked her with concern.

“Haa… haa…” (Magician)

“Are you alright? Though it’s still soon after entering the dungeon…” (Stella)

“Sorry, Stella-sama… I just felt sick thinking about the monsters here.” (Magician)

“As explained before entering, as long as you don’t stray from the route, it’s safe. No deaths or serious injuries have occurred on this floor for hundreds of years.” (Stella)

“I understand that…” (Magician)

“Ugo ugo… stop!” (Wood)

Wood, the tallest, stood at the front as a lookout. Immediately after, a shrill monster cry echoed across the savanna.

“Piyo piyo!” (Cockatrice)

It was a giant yellow chick—the Cockatrice. Standing three meters tall, it waddled with fluffy feathers. The cockatrice didn’t notice Stella and the others and walked toward the far side of the grassland.

“Again with the cockatrices…! This really is only cockatrices here…” (Stella)

“They won’t attack if you don’t provoke them…” (Stella)

“But Zansas’ cockatrices are A-rank monsters, right? Normally no dungeon has A-rank monsters appearing on the first floor… This place is special.” (Elite adventurer)

“Well… yes…” (Stella)

Usually, monsters on a dungeon’s first floor were only F to E rank at best. Having A-rank monsters on the first floor was unique to Zanzas’ dungeon.

“But really, it’s safe. They’re friendly monsters… Oh, here comes another cockatrice meeting one.” (Stella)

Zanzas’ cockatrices always perform a certain behavior when they meet in the grassland. This was a special trait unique to Zanzas’ cockatrices. The fluffy cockatrices recognized each other and then dashed.

*Thud thud thud*

The ground shook. When they met, they hugged.

Thud!

Piyo piyo. Piyo piyo piyo!

After chirping greetings, they parted. This was their habit.

Cute.

Stella loved this heartwarming scene.

“Phew, so cute and soothing…” (Stella)

However, the elite adventurers looked at her as if they couldn’t believe it.

“No, no… It’s basically hell, right? Having so many A-rank monsters…” (Elite adventurer)

“It’s grass-eating and won’t attack. It just mistakes moving things as friends and hugs them…” (Stella)

“That’s the problem!” (Elite adventurer)

Zanzas’ cockatrices were very gentle. On the first floor, there were no other animals, birds, or fish besides cockatrices. So, they mistook moving beings for their own, even if the size was different. Then, they charged forward to hug.

“It’s fine. When hugged, you relax and go into their chest feathers… That way, it’s fluffy and you don’t get hurt. If you struggle, they get worried and squeeze harder…” (Stella)

““Eek!”” (Elite adventurers)

That was the role of the reaction squad, Stella thought absentmindedly. Although magic users were precious, probably she and Wood alone could defeat moving lightning.

Well, it was fine. Carrying fifty paralysis cure potions was heavy. Having someone carry them was better. More than that, seeing the cockatrices again made her think.

…Cute. Very fluffy.

“Haa… I want to keep a cockatrice as a pet…” (Stella)

“Terrifying, that’s an S-rank adventurer…” (Elite adventurer)

At that time, Stella did not yet know That eventually, there would be a cockatrice ranch in Healberry Village.

 

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(Thank you for reading at bayabuscotranslation.com)