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

 

 

 

From Tetetoka’s Perspective of Elt

(Thank you for reading at bayabuscotranslation.com)

After that, we went to call the adventurers waiting in the underground passage and regrouped.

We continued moving and, when we arrived at the underground plaza, everyone expressed admiration as expected. It was because of the splendid underground plaza and the Dryad and Cockatrice who had likely survived for a long time.

Iskamina and Nana seemed particularly interested in the structural aspects.

“Amazing mogu… To think that so much luminous moss grows here, mogu.” (Iskamina)

“I am also fascinated. The passageway was splendid too, but this place is amazing. It is a living space brighter than a brook or starry night.” (Nana)

Iskamina touched the walls and soil with pats.

“…This is not natural, mogu. Mana is mixed in, making it stable, mogu.” (Iskamina)

“Even including the Lion Knight, quite an effort like a small fortress has been made. It is unfortunate that no documents remain. I am very curious about who built it.” (Adventurer)

Leia and the adventurer in his thirties each spoke about the plaza from their own perspectives as adventurers.

“I have seen Dwarf settlements, but they are not this fantastical. Well, Dryads are straightforward and resilient, so as long as there is light and water, I suppose it is fine.” (Leia)

“To think it was connected under the village… and to see so many Cockatrices with glowing eyes…” (Leia)

Leia stared fixedly at the Cockatrices. The Cockatrices underground were now awake and were observing the visitors with soft chirps.

Those Cockatrice sisters might be relatives of these Cockatrices. There may have been a Cockatrice that emerged from the other side of the underground passage. And it seems Dia and Marcosias are also very interested in the Cockatrices.

“There are quite a few friends, piyo!” (Dia)

“Ahh, sniff sniff… about six.” (Marcosias)

“With the sisters included, that makes eight, piyo!” (Dia)

“Oh, Master can do addition!” (Marcosias)

“…Maru-chan cannot do it, piyo?” (Dia)

“I cannot do it very well.” (Marcosias)

“Let’s study together, piyo! If we become smarter, even more piyos will be easy, piyo!” (Dia)

“Ohh, yes indeed!” (Marcosias)

Setting aside the purpose, having motivation to study is a good thing.

Tetetoka and Lalatoma held hands and headed toward the Large Tree Tower earlier. It seemed they wanted to speak one-on-one. Rather, it was Lalatoma who seemed unwilling to let go of her hands… She really liked her older sister.

Well, it has been a long-awaited reunion. There is also the Dryad view of family. Lalatoma also appears to be the leader of this underground plaza. As fellow leaders, there are matters to discuss.

Leaving the confirmation of the Flower Castle to the adventurers should be fine. There did not seem to be any danger, so Stella and I climbed the slope again.

“However, things have gone in an unexpected direction.” (Elt)

I spoke to Stella, who was beside me at the top of the slope. Looking from here, the size of the underground plaza was clear. It really looked like a dome made of earth. Although I had not seen it yet, apparently the roots of the Flower Castle were in the corner.

“A vast space…” (Stella)

“What will you do from here on?” (Stella)

“That depends on what Lalatoma wishes, but I hope to get along peacefully.” (Elt)

No one knew how long ago it was, but there should have been some debt owed for defending against the Flower Castle. Speaking in terms of gain or loss, I wanted them to relocate to the village and help build it together. However, it was not something I should have said too directly. Dryads were a simple people. Honestly, I had come to like Dryads. They were free and lived uninhibited.

“Dryads are quite difficult. They are not swayed by gold coins or authority. Dryads will only settle based on their instincts or their own calculations.” (Elt)

“They are simpler than any other race…” (Stella)

“Do you think so too, Stella?” (Elt)

“At the very least, even Elves have clear social ranks. Of course, we also have the concept of money. But the Dryads… they do not have those things. They have light, earth, nature, and freedom.” (Stella)

“Those are, in truth, the most difficult things.” (Elt)

The choice of what to do next should have been left to Lalatoma herself. That was probably for the best.

“For now, let us return to the village. It seems they are free to investigate here… I also want to examine the water and soil.” (Elt)

 

—

 

The top floor of the Large Tree Tower.

In a room overlooking the entire village, Tetetoka and Lalatoma faced each other. Lalatoma had understood the general situation by the time they climbed up here. It was because Tetetoka had said, “Elt-sama, I would like to talk with my younger sister for a bit”.

Lalatoma spoke honestly while eating the prepared grass dumplings in the room.

“To think Tetetoka-neechan would serve under someone… That is unexpected. Even though you used to argue with the queen.” (Lalatoma)

“…It is surprising after all, huh.” (Tetetoka)

“That queen was smart, yet are you dissatisfied, Tetetoka-neechan?” (Lalatoma)

“She ordered me to go to many places, so of course I was not without dissatisfaction.” (Tetetoka)

“Well, that is… because of a certain line of thinking.” (Tetetoka)

Lalatoma thought of the hardships her sister had faced. Her sister was one of the most powerful Dryads and was sent to various places under the queen’s orders. The queen probably had her own reasoning, but the resentment was understandable. To begin with, Dryads were not a race that liked to wander or go to unknown places. They instinctively desired to be with quiet, untouched nature.

“Lalatoma also came to this side.” (Tetetoka)

“To think that Nee-chan was so close by…” (Lalatoma)

“The queen hid even that. There is no use saying it now though.” (Tetetoka)

Tetetoka did not dwell on the past much. Partly because she could not remember it, but also because there was no point in remembering.

“…The queen may be smart, but she is human. She can only think like a human.” (Tetetoka)

“Wait, Nee-chan…!” (Lalatoma)

Lalatoma panicked. That was something one should not say if possible, even among Dryads. That the queen was not the Dryad itself.

“Since then, an extremely long winter came. The queen is no longer alive.” (Tetetoka)

“That may be so, but… then why? Do you obey the humans here?” (Lalatoma)

“This big tree was made by that person.” (Tetetoka)

“…Huh?” (Lalatoma)

“The many trees you can see from this window. All of these were increased by Elt-sama.” (Tetetoka)

“H-Hey!!” (Lalatoma)

Lalatoma was honestly surprised that there was a human with such power. A human who had power like a Dryad. At the same time, Lalatoma somehow understood why Tetetoka had settled in this village.

“Elt-sama is trying to slowly expand the forest. That matches our way of life.” (Tetetoka)

Tetetoka did not speak much. However, because she was true to her instincts and free, she was respected among the Dryads. Tetetoka and her group had transformed many wastelands into forests and contributed to the Dryads. The queen was probably no longer here. She had forgotten where her hometown was.

Too much time had passed. Still, one must continue to live.

“What will you do, Lalatoma, from now on?” (Tetetoka)

“…For a while, I will try to live like Nee-chan. I have always thought that place was dark.” (Lalatoma)

“Mm, understood.” (Tetetoka)

Tetetoka had finished eating the grass dumplings on her plate.

“Grass dumplings were precious underground, but…” (Lalatoma)

“Here, you can eat as many grass dumplings as you want, as long as you knead the dough.” (Tetetoka)

Tetetoka stood up and smiled softly.

“Wait for me, I will get the ingredients. Let’s make and eat them together.” (Tetetoka)

Tetetoka casually looked down at the village from the window. Elt and Stella were just returning to the tower with the Nyaff tribe and others.

Though it looked like they were resting, plants never rest. Branches must grow, leaves must become thick, and roots must spread. And the appearance of trying hard to become big was very pleasant to Tetetoka.

 

Territory Information

Place name: Healberry Village

Special facilities: Adventurer’s Guild (temporary), Large Tree Tower (with soil bath), Underground plaza

Residents +36 (28 Dryads who looked like zombies led by Black Rose Lalatoma, 8 Cockatrices with glowing eyes)

Total population: 193

Tourism level: C (soil bath, fantastic underground space)

Fishing level: D (Rainbow Fish breeding)

Ranch level: C (Cockatrice sisters, Cockatrices with glowing eyes)

Demon Lord level: E (Demon Maru-wanchan)

 

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(Thank you for reading at bayabuscotranslation.com)