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

 

 

Lion Statue

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Preparations for investigating the underground passage rapidly finished. Well, this was just gathering tools based on Iskamina’s advice. The items were mining and digging tools, so there was nothing particularly hard to obtain.

Also, a rough map of the underground, which I had gotten from the Cockatrice sisters, was completed. Based on that, the adventurers discovered several entrances during their forest exploration. They were similar to the entrance by the spring.

And so, another week passed. With preparations complete, we all gathered by the spring. Adventurers like me, Stella, Nana, and Leia. Also, Wood and Iskamina.

The weather was good, clear and bright. Although the sun shone dazzlingly, it was moderately cold. Not cold enough for scarves, but one would want to wear thick clothes.

I stood before everyone and decided to say just one greeting. Long speeches wouldn’t get much attention anyway. I didn’t remember morning assemblies well in my previous life either.

Clearing my throat while scanning everyone, I coughed once. Everyone was lined up neatly.

“All right, be careful and… let’s start the investigation!” (Elt)

““Ooooo!!”” (Adventurers)

“Make sure not to get hurt!” (Elt)

““Ooooooooh!!”” (Adventurers)

The adventurers were very excited. Well, we made them wait quite a bit. It was understandable that they were excited to finally investigate. Though the atmosphere felt more like a construction site than an adventure. There were pickaxes and other tools placed in the tented area.

Then, we entered the underground passage. The first thing I felt was the coldness. No light reached here, so it was definitely colder than above ground. The smell… there was a faint scent of soil, but it was not unpleasant. It might be due to the solid stone construction.

As for the height, I already knew in advance, but Wood could just barely manage.

“The height is just barely enough for Wood…” (Elt)

“Ugo Ugo! If I don’t jump, it’s okay!” (Wood)

“Be careful not to hit your head.” (Elt)

“Ugo Ugo, I’ll be careful!” (Wood)

The passage was about the width of three adults. It was just enough for adults to pass by each other, so not much extra space.

Stella was walking at the front. She held the bat I made. Without light, it was hard to see at all.
In my previous life, there was some kind of light even underground or in tunnels, but here there wasn’t. We had a good amount of torches prepared, though.

I focused my mana.

[Moon-viewing Moss]

The glowing moss bloomed along the passage. It became bright enough to walk without torches. However, the glowing moss only lasts a few hours. Well, the cost performance is very good though.

“Hmm hmm… the footing is solid.” (Stella)

“Would it be a problem if it was soft?” (Elt)

“I thought you wouldn’t be able to swing properly without a firm footing…” (Stella)

“I see.” (Elt)

I hadn’t really thought about it, but that made sense.

Swinging is normally done on the ground. Bad footing isn’t usually considered. Games are canceled in the rain anyway.

We continued steadily through the underground passage. After a while, I saw the defense-type golem beyond the glowing moss. A lion’s head statue stood on a pedestal. It somehow reminded me of the Merlion. The color was milky white as well.

If somebody got too close to the lion statue, it attacked with lightning balls. Unfortunately, even a Cockatrice costume didn’t protect, so we had to break through head-on.

Stella showed excitement as she stepped forward. We stopped for a moment.

“…Well then, I’m going.” (Stella)

“Yeah, be careful.” (Elt)

Stella walked calmly alone while holding the bat in a ready stance. Illuminated by the glowing moss, she looked almost fantastical.

“…Eh, what are you going to do with a wooden stick?” (Nana)

Nana said this with a slightly flustered voice. By the way, it was daytime so she was wearing the Cockatrice costume.

Now that I think about it, this might be the first time she saw Stella defeat an enemy with a swing.

“Isn’t it dangerous…” (Nana)

“Well, just watch.” (Elt)

Mana crackled from the lion statue.

Hmm, that’s a lot of mana.

The lion statue’s mouth lit up, then released a purple lightning ball. In that instant, Stella adjusted her stance and swung the bat.

*Bzzt!!*

The bat charged with Stella’s mana struck the core of the lightning ball.

“Take this!” (Stella)

Stella firmly swung through to the end with force. The lightning ball was precisely hit and returned directly to the lion statue.

*Bzzt…!!*

The moment the lightning ball hit the mouth of the lion statue, a fierce burst of mana exploded outward. High-density mana bullets were said to have physical form, and this lightning ball felt just like that.

Looking closely, black smoke was rising in little puffs from the lion statue. Nana muttered in astonishment and disbelief.

“Th-This is outrageous…” (Nana)

“If you’re an S-rank adventurer, can’t you do at least that much?” (Elt)

“No way!” (Stella)

Is that so…? Even among S-ranks, there seems to be a difference.

The lion statue, which had its lightning ball returned, did not move. It did not fire another lightning ball either.

Stella readjusted her grip on the bat and said…

“…What could it be? The next ball?” (Stella)

“Did we defeat it?” (Elt)

“Eh, with just that one hit…?” (Nana)

No, the lightning ball just now contained a huge amount of mana. If you were hit properly, it wouldn’t just leave you numb.

“I’ll step a little closer…” (Stella)

Stella said this as she took steps forward.

Well, with Stella, she could probably dodge the lightning ball without any problem anyway…

Standing next to the lion statue, Stella gently stroked it. Maybe she was examining the internal structure by touch.

“The mana circuits inside… are broken. There’s no danger. Surprisingly fragile.” (Stella)

“Hmm… alright, let’s move forward!” (Elt)

““Yeah!”” (Everyone)

I had a sudden thought. There was a place in me that believed Stella would never lose. This atmosphere… somehow felt like a ceremonial first pitch.

 

—

 

After that, Wood, Stella, and the other adventurers continued down the underground passage.
Leia, Nana, Iskamina, and I stayed to investigate the lion statue. When Leia twisted the string on her hat, a dazzling light shone from her eyes.

*Pekaa*

It was about as bright as a flashlight… nice to have right now. I looked at Leia’s surreal Cockatrice hat and asked…

“When did it get such a function…?” (Elt)

“Unfortunately, it’s not quite a function yet. It only lasts for a very short time.” (Leia)

“Even so, that’s pretty impressive.” (Elt)

“Nana helped me too, but for now, this is as far as we got.” (Leia)

“Oh, Nana also cooperated?” (Elt)

Nana’s costume eyes were not lit though. She helped but did not install it in her own costume.

“That was the agreement. Leia goes back and forth between the village and Zanzas.” (Nana)

“Sigh, I want to finish it quickly…!” (Leia)

*Pekaa*

Well, since it’s bright, that’s good enough.

Iskamina leaned in and stared intently at the lion statue.

“How is it, the lion statue? It looks pretty clean to me.” (Iskamina)

Looking closer, it wasn’t covered in dust. It was quite shiny and milky white.

“The age is old, mugu. About the same as the walls, mugu.” (Nana)

“So, that means several hundred years ago… What about the material?” (Elt)

Nana also brought her face… her Cockatrice face close to the lion statue. A Mole tribe and a Cockatrice staring at the lion statue. It was kind of surreal.

She tapped lightly and peeked under and over it. The lion statue started to look like something about to be eaten.

After a while, Nana spoke with a trembling voice.

“In my estimation, it’s a stone magically fused from thunder ore and marble… It stores mana itself and has a mechanism to release it.” (Nana)

“I’ve hardly heard of that before.” (Elt)

I tilted my head.

Mana-infused materials have compatibility and don’t bond easily. Especially the stronger the mana, the more this tendency shows.

“…It’s my first time seeing this too. If my guess is right, it’s casually placed here but this is a great discovery!” (Nana)

 

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