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

 

 

Eating Master

(Thank you for reading at bayabuscotranslation.com)

“Taiko drum…? How big is it?” (Elt)

I recalled a common taiko drum. It was the one I played at the arcade in my previous life. It’s cylindrical, and all it needs are the skin and drumsticks. I didn’t know what kind of wood was used, but I could imagine the shape. I should have been able to make it with plant magic, like with the castanets.

“Um, it’s a taiko drum that isn’t very big. It has skin stretched over it…” (Lalatoma)

“It’s about bigger than our bodies,” (Lalatoma)

Lalatoma spread her hands in a round shape.

That’s easy to understand. Size-wise, it’s not that big.

“How tall is it?” (Elt)

“Not very big, about this much…” (Lalatoma)

“Also, there’s skin and strings on the back too.” (Lalatoma)

“That part is important!” (Lalatoma)

The height is less than the distance between the thumb and index finger. So, it’s not tall.

Then, the two of them emphasized the skin and strings on the back. Stella seemed a bit puzzled and tilted her head slightly.

“Skin on the back too? So, it has skin on both sides?” (Stella)

“Ah… I see. It’s called a snare drum.” (Elt)

I reconstructed the structure in my head and understood. It was like the side drum at the player’s height in a drum set. It was a drum used in brass bands and well known even in Japan. Then, I could imagine the body part of the drum.

“Hmm … is the body like this?” (Elt)

I guessed from how the two spread their hands. I raised my hand and released magic.

What I created was the body part of the taiko drum. It was a round, flat wooden frame. Or rather, since there was no skin, it was just a round wooden frame.

“This, this! It looks like this,” (Lalatoma)

“Oh, perfect!” (Tetetoka)

“Excited, piyo!” (Dia)

“…Elt-sama really knows everything, huh.” (Stella)

“It’s just trivia. I don’t know it in detail.” (Elt)

I was lucky it was the kind of taiko drum found in schools or arcades. Thanks to knowledge from my previous life.

“Next is the skin and strings. Maybe Anaria has them…” (Elt)

“Yes. Probably used in mixing medicines or something…” (Lalatoma)

There had been various materials, so I thought they had skin and strings too. The apothecary warehouse should also have had processing tools. With materials and tools, Tetetoka and Lalatoma should have been able to make it.

“Alright, let’s do some adjustments at Anaria’s place. If possible, I want to hear the sound too.” (Elt)

Since we decided to hold the Grass Dumpling festival, I want to at least settle the musical instrument.

“Let’s play it, piyo!” (Dia)

“Let’s play it!” (Marcosias)

“Sounds good, let’s do it!” (Stella)

“Well then, let’s bring Grass Dumpling too. If only Eating Master was here.” (Lalatoma)

Huh?

“Tetetoka, do we need Grass Dumpling…?” (Elt)

“It’s good to eat while playing the drum.” (Tetetoka)

“Eat while playing the drum?” (Elt)

“As expected from Tetetoka-neechan…! It’s been a while since we saw the legendary eating-while-hitting!” (Lalatoma)

“O-okay…” (Elt)

“Sounds fun, piyo!” (Dia)

“Y-yeah…” (Stella)

When I glanced next to me, Stella’s eyes were also shifting. She whispered nervously.

“I’m not very familiar either, but is it normal to perform while eating?” (Stella)

“Well…” (Elt)

Sorry, I also started feeling a little uneasy.

 

—

 

At Anaria’s workshop, there was skin and string close to what we wanted. Tetetoka and Lalatoma quickly assembled the snare drum. Anaria seemed to be on a break, drinking tea while watching the drum being made. Tetetoka and Lalatoma skillfully cut and attached the skin and strings.

“Wow, a Dryad festival, huh… Sounds interesting. By the way, it’s nostalgic. There was a similar drum at the high academy’s festival.” (Anaria)

“Hit-eat too, piyo?” (Dia)

“Th-That’s too much…!” (Anaria)

Anaria’s eyes shifted. Everyone’s eyes were starting to shift.

“Done, it’s finished!” (Tetetoka)

“Tetetoka-neechan’s skills haven’t disappeared!” (Lalatoma)

“Of course not.” (Tetetoka)

Dryads were relaxed but skillful with their hands. Otherwise, they couldn’t have cared for plants well. Since drumsticks were also made, they could play it now. They were more like sticks than drumsticks.

When Tetetoka quickly grabbed sticks in both hands, the atmosphere changed. The fluffy air started to heat up. She could do it. This was the aura of someone who could do it.*Tan-tan!*

Tetetoka skillfully handled the sticks and hit the snare drum.

*Ta-tan-tan!*

She quickly pressed the surface of the drum to mute the sound. She was skilled. As expected, she seemed to have considerable ability. This meant we could expect good performance.

“Ohh.” (Lalatoma)

“Cool, piyo!” (Dia)

“We still need to make adjustments, but it feels good.” (Tetetoka)

“Then, let’s start seriously!” (Lalatoma)

Saying that, Lalatoma stared at me intently.

Hmm, I have a vague bad feeling about this.

“We need one more person for the eating-while-hitting. Anaria, let’s challenge!” (Lalatoma)

“Eh!? Me!?” (Anaria)

“You said there was a similar drum, right? Rhythm sense is necessary!” (Lalatoma)

“Ehh!? Then, Elt-sama too…” (Anaria)

“This eating-while-hitting is dangerous… Elt-sama is dangerous. Danger is dangerous.” (Stella)

“Dangerous!” (Marcosias)

“All right, Anaria. Do your best.” (Elt)

“I’m cheering for you…!” (Stella)

“I don’t really understand, but do your best, piyo!” (Dia)

“Eh, eeeh!?” (Anaria)

 

—

 

A table was prepared, and the Grass Dumplings I brought were placed on it. In the center, there was the drum and Tetetoka. Lalatoma and Anaria sat on either side.

“…W-What are we going to do?” (Anaria)

“We eat along with the sound.” (Tetetoka)

“That’s all!” (Lalatoma)

“H-Huh… Well, if that’s all…” (Anaria)

No, no. After seeing Tetetoka’s hand movement earlier, I understood. Eating to the beat is… pretty dangerous.

Stella looked calm but was nervous. In terms of physical ability, Stella was the strongest there, but she was not a big eater. Dear chirped excitedly, looking forward to it. It might have been interesting to watch.

“By the way, how long do we eat?” (Elt)

“Until I can’t move anymore, we eat.” (Tetetoka)

“…Eh?” (Elt)

“The person hitting who eats too much and can’t move, that’s when it ends!” (Lalatoma)

“W-Wait.” (Anaria)

“Well then, let’s start!” (Tetetoka)

*Tak-tak-tak-tak, tan!*

*Munch, munch, munch, munch, munch.*

Lalatoma started eating at an amazing speed matching the drum’s sound. Tetetoka… released the sticks at the moment of hitting, quickly picking up a Grass Dumpling. What incredible fast handwork. At that moment, I was seeing the Dryad’s top speed.

“W-Wait, wait, wait!” (Anaria)

But Anaria’s enthusiasm was also great. She grabbed Grass Dumplings with both hands and ate.

“Ohh.” (Elt)

*Clap clap*

“That’s fast, piyo.” (Dia)

Lalatoma was child-sized but fast. However, because Anaria had long and strong arms, she still had a chance.

“M-M-M!” (Anaria)

“Can you still go?” (Tetetoka)

*Ta-ta-tan, tak-tak!*

*Munch, munch, munch.*

“I will do it! This is a rival discovery!” (Lalatoma)

“Ehh!?” (Anaria)

Gradually the Grass Dumplings disappeared. The pace was fierce. Each Grass Dumpling was small, and that way of eating might have been possible, but…

*Tatata…!!*

Anaria was eating the fastest without noticing. Or rather, it might have been because she was taller…? She was about two heads taller than the others. Tetetoka and Lalatoma didn’t have the bodies to eat a lot. Lalatoma’s eating speed was slowing down. Anaria too… yes, she was desperate. She was eating desperately.

“U-ugh… I skipped breakfast today!” (Lalatoma)

*Plop.*

Lalatoma collapsed, probably from eating too much.

*Tak-tak-tak, tan!*

Tetetoka pressed the drum to mute the sound.

“Oh, Lalatoma lost.” (Tetetoka)

“Ugh…” (Lalatoma)

“Haah, haah… Did I win!?” (Anaria)

“Anaria won.” (Tetetoka)

*Clap clap*

It was a terrible battle. Or rather, it somehow became a battle…

“Now Anaria is also a ‘Eating Master’, right?” (Lalatoma)

“Eating Master… what is that?” (Anaria)

Lalatoma suddenly sat up and raised her index finger. She seemed revived.

“At the Grass Dumpling festival, the person who eats next to me and Tetetoka-neechan is a Eating Master! It is very honorable!” (Lalatoma)

“Right, right. It looks good only if the two Eating Masters are on both sides. We already have two.” (Tetetoka)

“……” (Anaria)

Anaria was sweating nervously and moving sluggishly, but it seemed too late now. Dryads did not compromise in this matter.

“It’s okay. The Eating Master only needs to be there for the main event. After that, they just hit casually and eat.” (Lalatoma)

“Relaxed, piyo. But it feels good, piyo.” (Dia)

“All right, is the Grass Dumpling festival roughly like this?” (Elt)

I wrapped it up. We had made the instrument and gathered the Eating Masters. Only the small details remained.

“…A-Agreed! This is for tradition!” (Anaria)

Anaria clenched her fist firmly.

Her spirit is really admirable. Let’s all work to liven things up!

 

Cockatrice Festival preparation progress

15%

Grass Dumpling festival complete and everything is ready

 

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(Thank you for reading at bayabuscotranslation.com)