New chapter of Plant Magic Lord is out! (7/10)

 

 

Piyo’s Perspective

(Thank you for reading at bayabuscotranslation.com)

The Cockatrice Queen spoke… right? What was born was a talking chick. Did the Cockatrice Queen speak in the game? No, it should not have spoken human language…

When I glanced over, Stella, holding the cockatrice, had wide eyes and was frozen. If the cockatrice normally talked, she wouldn’t react like that. It seemed to be unexpected.

“Piyo! Kaa-sama, it’s warm!” (Cockatrice Queen)

The Cockatrice Queen rubbed her body against Stella.

Cute.

Stella’s frozen expression softened.

“Tou-sama?” (Cockatrice Queen)

“W-what is it…?” (Elt)

“Pet me…” (Cockatrice Queen)

“O-okay.” (Elt)

As she begged, I gently touched the Cockatrice Queen with my fingertips.

…Fluffy. Soft.

Warm and extremely pleasant to touch. I slowly moved only my fingers up and down.

“That feels so good!” (Cockatrice Queen)

“I’m glad…” (Elt)

“Kaa-sama, pet me too?” (Cockatrice Queen)

“Fuuehh… o-okay…” (Stella)

Like me, Stella stroked the Cockatrice Queen’s feathers.

After both of us had been petting for a while, the Cockatrice Queen fell asleep soundly without us noticing.

…No problem. She is sleeping well. It is unexpected that she spoke, but… since she does, there’s no choice. We just have to interact with her that way.

“Piyo… suu… piyo… suu…” (Cockatrice Queen)

I must not wake her.

In a whisper, I spoke to Stella.

“…For now, should we sleep too?” (Elt)

“Yes, let’s do that…” (Stella)

I lay down on the straw bedding. The stars visible through the window shone beautifully.

I’ll think about the Cockatrice Queen tomorrow… yeah. The straw is softer than I expected, and it feels nice…

My consciousness fell immediately.

 

—

 

Morning. I got up with a stretch. The light coming through the window was dazzling. Or rather, I woke up because of the light.

How’s Stella and the cockatrice?

Looking to the side, Stella was mumbling but awake. The cockatrice was moving a little.

I greeted quietly.

“Fuueh…” (Stella)

“Good morning, Stella.” (Elt)

“Good morning… Ah, please don’t mind my hair…” (Stella)

Only then did I notice.

Hmm… Stella’s hair is a mess. It is a serious bedhead.

“Fuueh. It’s all messy…” (Stella)

“Sorry for looking. More importantly, how’s the chick?” (Elt)

I quickly changed the subject.

“Hm… she’s sleeping.” (Stella)

“Piyo… suu…” (Cockatrice Queen)

“I see…” (Elt)

If it stays like this, Stella can’t move. Should I wait for her to wake?

While I was thinking that—

“Piyo! Tou-sama, Kaa-sama, good morning!” (Cockatrice Queen)

“Whoa! You woke up!?” (Elt)

“I’m awake!” (Cockatrice Queen)

“That was sudden…! Good morning.” (Stella)

“Good morning!” (Elt)

The Cockatrice Queen switched on and started to move energetically. She seemed like a type who was fully active right after waking.

After bustling about a bit, the Cockatrice Queen drooped.

“Piyo, I’m hungry…” (Cockatrice Queen)

“Alright, I’ll bring some food.” (Elt)

I took out cockatrice food prepared on the shelf. From what the adventurer had said, cockatrices liked the leaves and fruit of the Fossil Tree, which was a plant with mana. Especially as chicks, they were seen eating Fossil Tree leaves. So, I had prepared crushed Fossil Tree leaves sent from Zanzas.

Actually, the Fossil Tree was in my plant magic repertoire, but I had hesitated to feed what I produced magically as is. It seemed the plant magic created higher quality than normal. I didn’t know how a chick would react to that yet. I trusted the ones brought from the Zanzas labyrinth more.

Crushed Fossil Tree leaves were placed in a shallow dish. The Fossil Tree, true to its name, had the gray color and hardness like old stone. Its leaves were green, but as hard as rice crackers. When crushed, they turned into green dust.

I held out the dish in front of the Cockatrice Queen.

“Looks delicious, piyo!” (Cockatrice Queen)

“If it’s no good, don’t push yourself…” (Elt)

Humans could also eat Fossil Tree leaves. They tasted mostly like flavorless crackers.

“I’ll eat, piyo!” (Cockatrice Queen)

Crunch, crunch.

She was eating with energy.

Phew, she seems okay.

Stella watched that scene with a relieved face.

“…We have to give this child a name. Have you decided from the ones I told you before?” (Stella)

“Yeah, I’ve thought about it.” (Elt)

“May I hear it?” (Stella)

“Dia. It should mean ‘sun’ in the old Elvish language.” (Elt)

I remembered there was such a word in an Elvish-related quest. So, I took it from there.

By the way, I showed all the names to Stella, and she agreed. Still, she wanted me to decide in the end. Apparently, I was the one who makes the final call in these things. Honestly, with my sense, I might have named her something like Piyo. But since she was the Cockatrice Queen, the name needed some origin and weight that people in this world would respect.

I secretly asked Naru and got her approval.

Stella nodded happily.

“That’s a very good name…! As expected of your wide knowledge. Even when I was born, it was already an old word.” (Stella)

“Will it be okay?” (Elt)

“Yes… it suits this child perfectly!” (Stella)

“Piyo?” (Cockatrice Queen)

“That’s your name… Dia.” (Elt)

“Piyoyo! That’s my name?” (Cockatrice Queen)

“Yes, Dia. How do you like it?” (Elt)

“Yeay!” (Dia)

Good, it seems well received.

“I want to eat!” (Dia)

Crunch, crunch.

Dia resumed eating.

Well… it’s natural that appetite comes first. Rather, I want her to eat well and grow strong.

After finishing the leaves on the plate, Dia tilted her head.

“Is someone over there?” (Dia)

“Yeah, probably someone who just woke up. There are others living around here too.” (Elt)

“Piyo! I want to greet them!” (Dia)

“I-is that okay…?” (Elt)

You just were born… Or rather, you are active before we sorted things out. Powerful, I’d say.

“Cockatrices are very curious… even in Zanzas, they approach people immediately when they see them.” (Stella)

“I see… then, just a little.” (Elt)

“Piyo!” (Dia)

 

—

 

So, we started walking from the birdhouse. Of course, we changed clothes and cleaned up a bit at least. Dia was wrapped in a blanket made from cockatrice feathers. Stella was holding it. She has better reflexes and physical ability anyway.

We headed toward the Great Tree Tower, which is just behind the birdhouse. We arrived quickly.

“Piyo? They’re dead!” (Dia)

“Eh!? Ah, no… that one isn’t dead.” (Elt)

What Dia saw was an adventurer soaking in a soil bath since morning. His head was facing us. He probably couldn’t see us from that angle.

Only his head was out of the soil. She thought he was dead. Smart, but close.

“He’s in there by choice. Not dead.” (Elt)

“Piyoyo? Why?” (Cockatrice Queen)

“Hmm…” (Elt)

If I said it was good for the body, she might want to try. Not yet. I want her to prefer the blanket over soil.

“They are cursed… see, they don’t have much hair on their heads? They enter the soil to break that curse.” (Elt)

Forgive me, adventurers. It might sound bad, but this is for newly born Dia. Soil baths are too early for her.

“Poor piyo…” (Dia)

“Yeah, let’s leave them alone…” (Elt)

“…Y-yeah…” (Stella)

Stella blinked, seemingly accepting it.

We passed the adventurers and kept walking. A proper introduction can come later.

After walking a bit, Dia spoke again.

“Piyo? They’re dead!” (Cockatrice Queen)

“Hmm… those are Dryads.” (Elt)

Not dead. They are just buried up to their roots in vegetables and trees since morning.

 

Territory Information

Place name: Healberry Village

Special facility: Large Tree Tower (with soil bath)

Residents +1 (Cockatrice Queen, Dia)

Total population: 151

Tourism level: D (soil bath)

Fishing level: D (Rainbow Fish farming)

Ranch level: E (birth of Cockatrice Queen)

 

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(Thank you for reading at bayabuscotranslation.com)