New chapter of Plant Magic Lord is out! (3/10 chapters)

 

 

Splitting Lightning Sphere

(Thank you for reading at bayabuscotranslation.com)

Iskamina seemed to have no injuries anywhere. Her fur was covered in oil, but that was unavoidable.

She raised both hands vigorously.

“I caused you worry, but I’m fine, mogu!” (Iskamina)

“You’re not pushing yourself too hard, right?” (Elt)

“Compared to being trapped in a mine for a week until help came because the tunnel collapsed, this is nothing, mogu!” (Iskamina)

“…That’s quite a harsh research life.” (Elt)

“There are two S-rank adventurers here, mogu. No need to worry, mogu.” (Iskamina)

“Hmm, that’s one way to look at it…” (Elt)

Having two S-rank adventurers who could match a knight squad alone must be reassuring. Personally, Stella and Nana are quite unique, but they’re not bad people.

At that moment, Stella and the others returned from the forest. They didn’t seem to have any injuries.

“We’re back! Whoa, Iskamina, you’re covered in oil. And what’s with this lion statue…?” (Stella)

“Looks like you’re back. Is everyone safe?” (Elt)

“Ugo ugo, we defeated the lion!” (Iskamina)

“We’re safe… Wait, you brought it all the way here?” (Elt)

It was natural to be concerned about that. I said it lightly.

“Iskamina got stuck inside…” (Elt)

“Mogu…” (Iskamina)

“…Did that happen while investigating something?” (Stella)

“She went round and round and pushed all the way inside…” (Elt)

“I see.” (Stella)

“The statue reacts to mana and has a mechanism to move its mouth. Be careful.” (Elt)

After confirming there were no problems, we gathered for lunch. Also, I had to hear Tetetoka’s story. Although, as she said, she might not remember everything because it was a long time ago.

…What do the Dryads know?

 

—

 

It was an extraordinary story. If what the Dryads said was true.

Summarizing what they recalled…

Long ago, Tetetoka was dispatched to this area by a Dryad called the Queen. Living here were the Cockatrice and a girl magician called princess-sama. These two made the lion statue and other things but eventually moved east. The Dryads remained in the forest and had lived there until now.

If all of this was accurate, this story dated back 500 to 1,000 years.

“…What did the Queen tell you?” (Elt)

“To grow the forest large. That’s all she said.” (Tetetoka)

Tetetoka said this while eating grass dumplings. The adventurers were silent, but then Leia spoke.

“The Cockatrice and the magician… If they were involved in making the Zanzas dungeon…” (Leia)

“…I don’t think there’s any such legend.” (Elt)

I had looked over legends and hypotheses about how the Zanzas dungeon was created. Most lacked evidence and had no decisive proof. As a result, dozens of theories remained unconfirmed.

Stella also tilted her head.

“There are many theories about a powerful magic user existing. But none involve a magician accompanied by a Cockatrice. Not even when I came to Zanzas.” (Stella)

“Do you remember what that magician looked like?” (Elt)

“Hmm, she looked like Maru-chan, pale skin and silver hair.” (Tetetoka)

An adventurer in his thirties sighed.

“Silver hair isn’t unusual. There are many just in this region. That alone doesn’t tell us anything.” (Adventurer)

Leia nodded a little disappointed.

“Interesting, but without knowing the exact time period… I’ll look into it more later…” (Leia)

“That’s right, but from what I’ve seen, this lion statue is a very interesting magical tool. Tracing the technology used to make it would be fun.” (Elt)

“I’ll investigate the passage’s age carefully, mogu!” (Iskamina)

“…I see. That does sound interesting. It pains me to rely on experts, though.” (Leia)

“Don’t worry, I’m glad I came here. This lion statue might even be [Demon’s Technique].” (Nana)

Huh?

Nana used a curious term.

[Demon’s Technique]?

“I’m not familiar with the term [Demon’s Technique]. What does it mean?” (Elt)

“It refers to excellent magical tools left scattered around the world that have no equivalent. They are said to be created by hellish demons summoned only by demon king-class beings… That’s what [Demon’s Technique] means, literally.” (Nana)

This is the first time I had heard it… Maybe it’s a very obscure term.

Perhaps noticing my expression, Nana added…

“It’s a technical term in magic art, and generally it is the stuff of legends or myths…” (Nana)

“So it’s a hypothesis?” (Elt)

“Yes, there are said to be magical tools and ruins of such legend. For example, some say the Zanzas dungeon was created by demons…” (Nana)

When put like that, it makes sense. Relics beyond human understanding are often said to be the work of gods or demons, even on Earth. It’s like Excalibur being given by the Lady of the Lake.

But then I got stuck on something.

Tetetoka said the magician resembled Marcosias. How close was that resemblance? Only my family knew that Marcosias was actually a hell demon summoned by Dia. Could it be that Marcosias was once involved in making this dungeon?

Neither the lion statue nor the underground passage was something easily made. Even if my village were ten times larger, would it be able to create such a long underground passage? It is all nothing more than speculation…

When I looked at Stella, she was nodding ever so slightly. Probably the same thought crossed her mind as mine.

Among us, I had the longest relationship with Tetetoka. Tetetoka seemed to live casually, but there had never been a single mistake in her stories or memories. She just forgot unimportant things quickly.

 

—

 

I ate a grass dumpling and took a sip of tea.

Stella and the others once again went down into the underground passage. They stopped several lion statues and finally headed toward the end of the map. From here on was uncharted territory.

The light of a torch flickered in the darkness. The illuminated underground passage was eerie yet beautiful.

The adventurer in his thirties remembered the lunch they had just eaten and said…

“…Still, I didn’t expect those lion statues to be that valuable. Well, they must be quite old…” (Adventurer)

“Ugo ugo, but they were pretty!” (Wood)

“If they can’t be scratched by a little force, they are troublesome. Especially since their only weak point is inside the mouth…” (Adventurer)

“Ugo ugo! Can we only repel them?” (Wood)

“Exactly. If arrows or stones don’t work…” (Adventurer)

Then, Stella quietly raised her hand.

“I hear a faint sound from over there.” (Stella)

Stella pointed toward the darkness of the underground passage. Only Stella, who had keen senses, noticed it. Tension ran through the adventurers.

“…Is it a monster?” (Adventurer)

“No…” (Stella)

Stella took castanets from her pocket. She had brought them just in case. She focused her nerves and clicked the castanets.

*Click*

The sound of wood hitting wood echoed. Stella’s hearing caught something deep in the darkness.

“…A golem…” (Stella)

“A golem…? Well, there are some left behind. It wouldn’t be strange if some were walking…” (Adventurer)

The adventurer in his thirties drew his sword as he spoke, and at that moment, he also saw it.  From beyond the darkness appeared a milky-white golem. It was a golem knight with the head of a lion and a dignified presence.
Its head was constructed just like the lion statues we had defeated many times.

“No way…” (Adventurer)

However, even the adventurer in his thirties quickly realized the great amount of mana it possessed. A chill pierced the skin. His instinct warned him it was stronger than a dragon.

“Ugo ugo, Kaa-san…! This one is dangerous!” (Wood)

“…Yes.” (Stella)

The lion knight opened its mouth wide. Mana shook the air, preparing to be unleashed.

“The attack is the same lightning sphere… then…!” (Stella)

Stella gripped her bat and took stance. There was only a brief moment between the gathering of mana and its release.

*BACHI!!*

The thunderous sound of lightning shook the underground passage. Stella immediately understood. The destructive power and projectile speed were incomparable to the lion statues. But she could strike. She could hit it back.

At the moment Stella was about to swing the bat, she alone saw it clearly. The lightning sphere split into two. It was not impossible. After all, the lightning sphere was a product of mana. Once decided, it would obey.

But… two lightning spheres with this speed and destructive power. They both aimed straight at Stella.

No god could hit both. The bat could only swing once. Two lightning spheres aimed at her. But Stella swung. She had no other choice.

“Ugo ugo!!” (Wood)

Wood instantly protected Stella, who had hit back one of the lightning spheres. The other lightning sphere struck Wood. That was truly a sign of growth. Wood covered her knowing the lightning sphere’s movement and Stella’s swing.

*BACHI BACHI…!!*

An intense flow of mana raced through the underground passage. The lightning sphere Stella returned struck the lion knight directly. Of course, she accurately deflected it toward its head… but she only returned half of the split spheres. The lion knight shuddered and began concentrating mana again.

“Wood, are you okay…!?” (Stella)

“Ugo ugo, just a sharp sting…!” (Wood)

Wood was not injured. However, Stella immediately lowered her stance. That lightning sphere was barely avoided. Without Wood, one would have definitely hit.

…Of course, if you do not fear injury, you might win. But Elt would surely dislike such a victory. Prepare more. Make a better plan. He said many times we must not push forward recklessly.

Therefore, Stella hesitated no longer. She understood at least part of the enemy’s power now. She raised her bat and called out.

“We will retreat, report to Elt-sama!” (Stella)

 

—

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