New chapter of Plant Magic Lord is out (2/10 chapters)

 

 

Hellish Training

(Thank you for reading at bayabuscotranslation.com)

When I tried taking a nap, it was just as I was told. I felt refreshed, as if a weight had been lifted from my shoulders. Apparently, I was really tired.

When I opened my eyes, Dia was burying her face into Marcosias’s back. She spread her wings and was lazily draping over her. They seemed to be completely blended together.

“Suyaa… Piyo… Suyaa… Piyoyo…” (Dia)

Looking outside, it was already close to evening. Stella, Marcosias, and Wood were still napping.

Maybe they were more tired than expected, or perhaps the cotton was too comfortable… Recently, naps have been becoming a daily routine. I heard moderate naps are good for the body. For that reason, in this world, I don’t have to work that much.

Hmm, somehow it feels like I used my day off wastefully, but maybe it’s fine once in a while…

After the nap, we ate a normal meal and lazed around. Then we fell asleep again.

 

—

 

The next morning.

The sky was clear and dry, warm for autumn. There was no wind, making it a good day for baseball. The meeting place was the Second Square…

“Piyo.” (Cockatrice)

“My commentary seat is there.” (Anaria)

“Would you like tropical juice and grass dumpling?” (Nana)

There was a noisy crowd. Rather, it seemed people gathered from the entire village. When they saw us, Naru ran over.

“Good morning, Naru. There are a lot of people.” (Elt)

“Good morning, nya! N-Nana told me, nya. It seems there will be a game with the Black Dragon Knight Order, nya.” (Naru)

“Well, yes… But did that cause this many people to gather? It’s fine here though…” (Elt)

Baseball was played with spectators. Besides, almost all the spectators were villagers. It was basically a home ground situation.

“Speaking of the Black Dragon Knight Order, they are the most prestigious, the highest class entertainment, nya. We have proper consent from the other side, nya.” (Naru)

“I see…” (Elt)

“When I said, ‘If we win where no one is watching, it feels like there are no witnesses, nya’, they said we can watch as much as we like, nya.” (Naru)

That was a clever way of putting it. When said like that, there is no way to send the spectators home. Certainly, there are spectators even for knights’ duels and audience matches…

The black knights removed their armor and, probably to match Stella, gathered in light clothing in the square. They came earlier than the meeting time but seem fired up. The other side seems to have come even earlier. Regarding age, there were no knights about the same age as me. Mostly, they were in their twenties.

At the prepared table, Anaria and Nana sat. This was the commentary seat. Anaria was probably in the announcer role. Then, lying face down on the laid cloth were the Cockatrices. Everyone leaned against them. It was like gathering around something that made people useless.

“Here you go, grass dumpling!” (Nana)

“Freshly made!” (Villager)

“Piyo ppi!” (Thank you!) (Cockatrice)

“Piyo.” (Is it really okay just to do this here?) (Cockatrice)

“Piyopi.” (Apparently it is okay.) (Cockatrice)

“Piyopiyo.” (Everyone gathered, warm and comfortable.) (Cockatrice)

“Piyo…” (Getting sleepy…) (Cockatrice)

The Cockatrices were thoroughly pampering with grass dumplings and juice. I wanted to lean against a Cockatrice while watching too. The Cockatrices were nearby, but the knights were not pretending to sleep. Nana had probably explained that part. She was a capable mascot.

“Berzel-sama is over there, nya.” (Naru)

Away from the commentary and Cockatrice seats, there were chairs and a table. Berzel was sitting there alone. Berzel was also in light clothing, and now his face was fully visible. A black-haired, wild-looking knight. However, he did not give a savage or rough impression. He was like a noble wolf. That seat… I guessed he had to sit there alone.

When Berzel saw me, he stood and slowly approached. His expression was as always, best described as enjoying himself.

“Good morning, everyone.” (Berzel)

“Good morning, Nii-san.” (Elt)

The knights gathered here as well. We exchanged greetings and confirmed the rules. The leader seems to be a tall, muscular knight. His eyes burn with fighting spirit.

“We take turns throwing the ball and hitting it with this wooden stick… I think it is a strange rule, but since it is a contest involving swinging something, knights must not fall behind. The lord decided this method. We will accept it.” (Knight Leader)

“Oh!” (Knights)

No objections came from the knights. Rather, the desire for revenge seemed to come first, and they seemed willing to accept anything.

“So, how do we determine victory or defeat? If it is whoever hits the most, that would be too advantageous for your side…” (Knight)

“No, we play until one is exhausted. That is all.” (Berzel)

“What…!?” (Knights)

“The motto of the Black Dragon Knight Order is indomitable, endurance, and persistence… The last one standing wins. It is simple and also lets us fully understand each other’s strength.” (Berzel)

The Black Dragon Knight Order’s emblem. The knight trampled by a dragon symbolizes precisely indomitability, endurance, and persistence. The muscular knight seemed somewhat hesitant but nodded slightly.

Seeing that, Berzel smiled wryly and said…

“That is acceptable then. They thought it through. If it is a test of endurance, all the more there is no backing down. It seems they have learned some tactics.” (Berzel)

“Leader, if it is a contest of physical strength and spirit, we will definitely win.” (Knight)

Simple victory or defeat means once you get involved, you cannot back down. The knights handed out their equipment. Stella brought Durandal (my homemade bat).

“If it is this contest… I cannot lose either!” (Stella)

Maybe because it is the first one-on-one match. No, rather, it is more like joint training… a test of endurance to see who gives up first. I can see it.

*Gogogogogo!*

Behind Stella, a burning heat blazed.

A golden fighting spirit…!!

 

—

 

Several hours later.

The knights’ shouts echoed throughout the square.

“Ahhh! M-more…!!” (Knight)

“Endure…!! How can you face the founder!” (Knight)

Out of the five knights, two had already dropped out. They lay collapsed in the square.

“T-this is… far worse than knight training…!” (Knight)

“Not yet!” (Stella)

Stella swung the bat vigorously. There was no deep meaning to it.

The two at the commentary seat discussed this.

“There it is again, Stella’s casual swings…” (Anaria)

“From what I saw, she swung ten times that round. The knights have to swing too if they want to be equal, right?” (Nana)

“Right, since Stella swings first, they cannot avoid swinging…” (Anaria)

That was harsh. Stella had been pushing hard from the start and wearing down her stamina. Also, in pitching, they used slow and fast balls to wear down nerves. They did not aim to hit, but this became a mental battle. After all, the knights’ throws were hit every time. The knights had no choice but to try to hit the bat. That also drained their stamina and will.

“Huff huff… Oryaa…!!” (Knight)

“Haah… haah…” (Knight)

The knights usually train and are confident in stamina. However, baseball practice is not easy. If you swing the bat nonstop and keep throwing balls, you become very tired. Especially under the tension of a real match…

“Now then… please throw the ball!” (Stella)

“Phew, phew…” (Knight)

*Kaan!*

Stella did not do pitcher returns. She just calmly returned the ball at the pitcher’s feet. The knights picked it up and threw it again without a break.

Only Berzel and I watched from the distant seats, and Berzel kept smiling.

“They are doing well, but they are too tense and stiff. They need to relax more.” (Berzel)

“…Yes, that is true.” (Elt)

No household topics have come up for a while. It is commentary on this battle or village matters. Just casual conversation.

“Did you know Stella would win from the start?” (Berzel)

“Haha, yes. But I was begged. Sorry for dragging you in. Still, this village was truly built from zero by Elt. Impressive.” (Berzel)

“…Thank you.” (Elt)

I said thanks briefly.

Hmm, somehow I do not understand the distance between us.

“Looks like the conclusion is near.” (Berzel)

When I looked there, the only remaining one was the muscular knight. The others had collapsed. However, even the muscular knight’s body was swaying.

“Uoooh! Not yet…!!” (Knight)

“That spirit is good…!” (Stella)

“Elt, when it’s over, shall we talk somewhere private?” (Berzel)

Finally, the main topic. I do not think he came just for this.

I nodded and agreed.

However, the scene before me… Is this what they call hellish training?

 

—

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