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

 

 

To the Forest

(Thank you for reading at bayabuscotranslation.com)

A few days had passed since the accidental summoning of Marcosias. There was no reason for Healberry Village to be shaken, so the days passed quietly.

For the time being, Marcosias was going to stay at my house. I was too worried to let her live alone. The number of housemates suddenly increased, but that was enjoyable in its own way. Marcosias had not forgotten how to use a knife and fork. So, daily life was not that inconvenient. However, it would take patience to regain her strength. That depended on Dia’s growth.

Then, the day came to go explore the forest. The main members were me, Stella, Wood, Tetetoka, Brown, and the adventurer in his thirties. Along with a group of adventurers, Marcosias and Dia would also come.

I hesitated whether to bring Marcosias and Dia, but there should be no problem going as far as the rest stop. It would be a perfect hike until then. Rather, I was more worried about leaving them with someone else.

There was still time before winter, and the sunlight filtering through the trees was warm. It had been a while since I last came to the forest. As always, the forest was dense.

Still, my mana had increased since last time, so it should be easier to proceed.

“It takes quite a while to get to the old Dryad house, nya.” (Brown)

“It took about an hour last time, right? But this time it shouldn’t take that long.” (Elt)

I concentrated my mana and cast.

[Forest Waler]

This was an intermediate-level plant magic that consumed a lot of mana. However, its effect was tremendous.

The whole forest in front of me creaked, and the grasses and trees slowly moved aside… as if creating a path. In no time, a path appeared in the forest. It was just wide enough for two adults side by side, so not very wide. But it should be much easier to walk on. There was no need to avoid grass growing at random or dodge tree trunks.

Moreover, as I walked forward, the path extended further. Since I moved the plants with mana, there was no environmental damage. It was much better than trampling or cutting plants.

“…How is it? It should be easier to go now.” (Elt)

“Amazing, nya… The path has been made, nya!” (Brown)

Brown’s surprise made the adventurer in his thirties nod.

“Is this what they call noble magic? No need for construction work… It sure makes walking a lot easier.” (Adventurer)

“Yeah, let’s just go all at once.” (Elt)

“Ugo-ugo, let’s go!” (Brown)

By the way, Dia was tucked inside my large chest pocket. This was a special outfit for carrying Dia. It made me look a bit like a kangaroo. Dia stuck out her upper body and chirped piyo piyo.

So cute.

Stella and Wood were the physical attack-based members. I relied on magic, so this was probably better.

“Piyo! Exploration piyo!” (Dia)

Since it was Dia’s first time leaving the village, her excitement was high. Marcosias’s eyes also sparkled. The red armor was too conspicuous, so it was stored away. Now she wore fluffy cold-weather clothes.

“Wow… It is my first time walking in the forest.” (Marcosias)

“Same, piyo!” (Dia)

“…Well, I don’t think Maru-chan is really a first-timer.” (Stella)

Stella made a calm correction.

Hmm, it is good to bring her after all. It is also worrying to leave her alone at home…

 

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After 20 minutes of walking in the forest, the journey was going well. Indeed, having a path made it much faster.

The path would stay once made, so let’s keep going like this.

“Nya… About that woman named Marcis-…” (Brown)

Brown quietly spoke as she had come next to me.

Yes, outwardly Marcosias went by Marcis. Using Marcosias as-is would be problematic since it wasn’t an ordinary woman’s name.

“She is bright, but it’s tough, nya. Something like amnesia, nya?” (Brown)

“…Yes, that’s right.” (Elt)

Brown cast a sympathetic glance toward Marcosias. She was now trembling on her knees and being held by Stella’s hand.

“…What is that incomprehensible creature? It had many legs. I am scared.” (Brown)

“That is called a spider…” (Stella)

“It looked vicious. Surely it must have killed many people.” (Brown)

“No, it was about the size of a thumb and a non-venomous kind…” (Stella)

“Hold a strong heart, piyo. Kaa-sama is here, piyo!” (Dia)

“Yes… If it comes again, chase it away. Creatures with five or more legs… shudder.” (Elt)

“…She really hates insects, huh.” (Stella)

That was how the conversation went.

Hmm, I was hoping it might trigger some memories. To be honest, it looks hopeless.

“I thought she would be some noble lady to take care of, nya, but…” (Brown)

“I told you, right? A noble lady I know lost her memory and needs care.” (Elt)

I explained this to everyone in the village.

“I will be taking care of a noble lady I know for a while. She has amnesia, and since she is a sheltered daughter, her way of speaking is a little unusual. However, I want you not to worry about that.” (Elt)

Actually, I was not lying. It was true that she was a marquis of Hell with amnesia. Terrifyingly, it was true. If I said this, no one would pry too much. After all, it involved nobility. Since it was quite a careless story, I would be in trouble if questioned deeply.

“Have you tried potions on her, nya?” (Brown)

“Of course. There was no effect.” (Elt)

Just in case, I had Marcosias try all the potions we had available. Still, no effect. Perhaps the phenomenon caused by the summoning accident was not a simple debuff. I had some idea of that already. Either way, it did not seem like something that would be solved easily.

Brown, who was a merchant dealing in potions, seemed to have guessed most of the situation.

“Then, it seems the root is deep, nya…” (Brown)

“That’s right… We can only wait it out.” (Elt)

“…We have a little connection in our relatives, nya.” (Naru)

“A person who might help with amnesia?” (Elt)

“No guarantee, but nya.” (Naru)

“Still, that’s helpful. If possible, I’d like to ask for it.” (Elt)

Naru and Brown worked with potions. They might have some connections. Although I could not say it was a summoning accident, there might be someone who could heal related conditions…

“Piyo, a big tree, piyo!” (Dia)

As we walked, we unexpectedly arrived at the old Dryad house.

“It’s big, my master, but the tower in the village is bigger…” (Marcosias)

“That was made by Tou-sama, piyo!” (Dia)

“Eh!? Is that so…? That is no ordinary human’s mana!” (Marcosias)

Well, you are not human, though.

“Hmm…?” (Marcosias)

“Oh?” (Stella)

Marcosias and Stella spoke simultaneously. Where they looked, a small shadow appeared behind the old house. It was child-sized but hard to make out. Or rather, how did they notice it so quickly?

The shadow confirmed our presence and then…

“Piyo…? Piyo!” (Shadow)

“Ah, friend piyo!” (Dia)

It ran off into the depths of the forest.

 

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(Thank you for reading at bayabuscotranslation.com)