New chapter of Plant Magic Lord is out! (6/10 chapters)

 

 

Bottled Tomatoes

(Thank you for reading at bayabuscotranslation.com)

The only other thing written was a message about caring for my health. Apart from the family headship topic, there was nothing special. It was a letter to family.

Even if I say something, the other party is my brother’s friend and an S-rank adventurer.
Moreover, a vampire, a noble from the northern country.

For now, I need to take a breather.

I picked up a wooden cup filled with orange juice and drank it down. A moderate blend of sourness and sweetness. That stings the head slightly.

The Nagash Household’s headship, huh. Generally, noble family headship is complicated. By the way, for merchants and commoners, the eldest child usually inherits. But nobles have issues of mana and aptitude. No matter how smart the eldest is, if mana and aptitude are not evaluated, they cannot inherit the headship. Especially in this kingdom, because of the sanctum reconquest, combat magic is emphasized. That also complicates the choice of family head.

In the Warring States period, maybe just being strong was enough, but now is the era of peace. Health, intelligence, charisma, mana, aptitude, spouse… There are many factors. For a great noble household like the Nagash Household, it is common to make children compete for the headship. This is because it creates more tension and ensures a superior lord is chosen. It’s somewhat like each running their own client company to see who is best. The noble household’s territories in this world are scattered…

The Nagash Household alone is divided into about 30 territories large and small. My territory is also one of those scattered lands. Hold is probably a lord of some territory like me.

Phew… Maybe I should react to the letter soon. There are many things to consider, but I’m troubled to be told such things in a letter like this.

“…They say this check and caring for health is a congratulatory gift for assuming lordship.” (Elt)

I showed the check to Stella. Stella glanced at it and expressed genuine surprise.

“Wow, 100 gold coins… When you are a Nagash Household’s son, you are handed such a large sum just like that.” (Stella)

100 gold coins felt like tens of millions of yen in my previous life’s sense. Living in this village, I got a bit numb but earning that without magic was tough.

“Hold usually doesn’t do such things… but he must care for Elt-sama.” (Nana)

Nana picked up the cup of tomato juice.

Now, what should I do? To be honest, I don’t know much about Hold. There is about a ten-year age gap and contact with other family members was minimal anyway.

I want to hear the true intention of the letter. Why did he send it with Nana instead of his own retainers? Nana has no relation to the Nagash Household at all. If this was such an important matter, the person himself could have come.

“When Hold used me, it was usually for bad news… Since student days, really. Often when he handed something over, the recipient got caught up in trouble immediately. So, it’s moving that he is concerned for his brother now.” (Nana)

Nana nodded earnestly while holding two small tomatoes, munching on them.

No, Hold’s tendencies haven’t changed at all. I’m being asked for a very strange and troublesome favor. However, it makes no sense to get mad at Nana here. After all, she is not a Nagash Household member.

Well, whatever. I will shelve the headship issue for now. It’s not something to talk about with Nana at this stage.

 

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Earlier, Nana said that she also came to this village at the Adventurer Guild’s request.

“…So, Nana came here at the Adventurer Guild’s request.” (Elt)

“Yes, to cooperate with the underground passage investigation.” (Nana)

Hmm, having an S-rank adventurer like Nana participate is reassuring. But my intuition whispers something. Is there really such an easy story…? Looking at Stella, I can tell how tremendous the power of an S-rank adventurer is. Would they come so casually?

Nana, then, looked somewhat apologetic.

“But to be honest, I myself am not enthusiastic. The full investigation has not even started, and it could take who knows how long. I came here to decline.” (Nana)

“You came to keep up appearances with the Adventurer Guild and to deliver the letter… is that it?” (Elt)

Nana nodded.

I am rather convinced. If she were going to stay, I would think there must be something going on. However, it is a pity from my perspective. I want her to cooperate with the investigation.

Nana started eating grilled tomatoes this time, still without getting tired. She really liked them.

Then, I suddenly had an idea. Nana’s epithet had been Artifact Master. There had also been the costume storage technique earlier. I had never seen an item box elsewhere, so it must have been Nana’s magic. But it seemed true that she had been a great mage of the magical civilization. The more I thought, the more it felt like a waste to let her go then.

“For example, how about a story where you can eat those tomatoes even from far away?” (Elt)

“…That sounds appealing, but tomatoes don’t keep well. The tomatoes I ate at Hold’s place were transported with magical tools and expensive.” (Nana)

“How about cooperating with the underground passage investigation and developing technology to transport vegetables over long distances? Would you do that here in this village?” (Elt)

That must have been an unexpected proposal. Nana narrowed her eyes.

“Interesting, I think… but my costume storage technique has various limitations. If I could apply it, I would have done so long ago.” (Nana)

“That makes sense. I only just learned about it myself.” (Elt)

If the item box technique became widespread, it would truly be a logistics revolution. All aspects of society would change dramatically. Of course, what I wanted was not something like that. I wanted something more realistic and profitable.

“I have thought about it. Even if crops are exported, preservation problems always follow.” (Elt)

“Elt-sama, that is unavoidable…” (Stella)

“Yeah. You could say it gives the production area an advantage… but to grow bigger, efficiency is also necessary.” (Elt)

Stella tilted her head.

“For example, what kind of efficiency?” (Stella)

“…Bottled food.” (Elt)

Canned food requires metal processing, which is frankly difficult. But bottled food, like doubanjiang, is already somewhat established in this world as a container for high-grade products. The problem is that it is far from a price that can become widespread. That is where my knowledge has room to make a difference.

Naturally, it will take a considerable amount of time. Achieving a preservation period like modern times is an enormous task. However, just delivering tomatoes deliciously to the vampire country lowers the difficulty considerably. It would be enough to manage at least that much.

Nana looked at me intently. Her eyes seemed to weigh many things carefully and to waver.

“The current bottled food is for luxury seasonings and is not meant to hold things like tomatoes.” (Nana)

“But if the price is right, people would buy bottled tomato sauce and such.” (Elt)

“Of course… I have tasted these tomatoes again and they are wonderful. We also put our lives into tomato cultivation, but this is no less delicious than ours.” (Nana)

“If it turns out there is no prospect, we can stop there. I want you to help with the research and development of eating these tomatoes far from here. We will cover living expenses and research costs. I want Nana to oversee the technology side.” (Elt)

I was saying something unreasonable. Considering Stella’s value as another S-rank adventurer, that had been far too cheap. However, I could not think of any other reason to keep her there besides tomatoes.

Nana moved her gaze slightly and looked at me.

“There is just one condition. This is a matter of curiosity.” (Nana)

“Tell me.” (Elt)

“Hold always uses me as a convenience. When you see him, could you hit him once for me?” (Nana)

“There are a lot of things going on…” (Elt)

Nana shrugged.

“A lot has happened. I cannot hit him myself.” (Nana)

“That is something I can do anytime.” (Elt)

For now, I will go along with it. Though I do not even know when I will meet him. That stylish older brother seemed frivolous, and Nana must have some resentment too. If she meets Hold, I will probably satisfy her by gently pressing with the [Giant Tree Arm]… probably.

“Well then, I will be in your care for a while. For the tomatoes.” (Nana)

Nana placed her hand on her chest and bowed.

Phew, for now, I have managed not to lose Nana. What happens next is uncertain, but if bottled food takes off, the profit will be great.

I have learned from this world. It is difficult to start a business relying only on knowledge from a previous life. It is the opposite. You start a business suited to the human resources and entrust it to them.

 

—

 

Territory Information

Place Name: Healberry Village

Special Facilities: Adventurer Guild (temporary), Large Tree Tower (with soil bath)

Residents +1 (Nana, who loves tomatoes)

Total Population: 157

Tourism Level: D (Soil bath)

Fishing Level: D (Rainbow Fish breeding)

Ranch Level: D (Cockatrice sisters)

Demon Lord Level: F (Protecting a Demon)

 

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