New chapter of Plant Magic Lord is out (4/10 chapters)

 

 

Mysterious Plushie Artisan

(Thank you for reading at bayabuscotranslation.com)

“And so, I humbly request apricot kernels… please!” (Stella)

Stella extended her hand with a smooth motion.

Eh… apricot kernels? I know about almond tofu well enough. But the apricot kernels themselves… ah… Aren’t they the seeds of some kind of fruit?

“Tou-sama, I think it’s apricot.” (Dia)

“That’s it!” (Elt)

I remembered. It was the kernel inside the pit of an apricot. That was why it’s called annin doufu. Once I knew the fruit, the rest was easy.

I concentrated my mana and instantly conjured up an apricot.

“Yes…! Thank you so much!” (Stella)

Humming to herself, Stella headed to the kitchen. Dia was still munching on her steamed gyoza, puffing warm air as she ate.

“Piyo, annin doufu… piyo?” (Dia)

“It’s a dessert. Lightly sweet, kind of like jelly…” (Elt)

Gulp, piyo. “Sounds tasty, piyo!” (Dia)

The annin doufu you’d find in Japan was quite jelly-like. Most supermarkets carried it, and it was a familiar dessert for Japanese people.

Truly nostalgic.

“Maru-chan, have you ever eaten it before, piyo?” (Dia)

“Hmmm…? What even is an apricot…?” (Marcosias)

“You don’t know, piyo?” (Dia)

“I answered on reflex, but truthfully, I’m not quite sure myself…” (Marcosias)

Marcosias tilted her head as she spoke.

It seems like her fragmented memories occasionally returned. However, it didn’t appear she could recall things in a chain once one thing came back.

“Are you okay, piyo…?” (Dia)

*Tapu tapu*

Dia gently stroked Marcosias’s chin from below.

“I am fine, my master. Occasionally, I feel as though I’ve brushed against the truth of the universe.” (Marcosias)

“…Ugo.” (Dia)

“…Are you really okay, piyo?” (Dia)

*Tapu tapu*

Hmm, this conversation seemed like it could loop endlessly. Her memory was slowly, very slowly returning. Well, all we can do is watch over her.

“Sasa, it’s ready~!” (Stella)

“That was fast…!” (Elt)

“You already finished, piyo!?” (Dia)

Actually, it really was fast.

Was it supposed to be this quick?

“It’s because we have gelatin! With this, it sets quickly…!” (Stella)

Ah, I see.

Gelatin was used in cooking around here too, so it was easy to acquire. As long as we had the apricot kernels, everything else was simple.

“Like this…! Please, enjoy!” (Stella)

Stella looked visibly pleased.

“Ugo ugo, so white…!” (Marcosias)

What had been served on small plates was unmistakably almond tofu.

Perfect. No matter how you look at it, it is definitely annin doufu.

I scooped up a spoonful and took a bite. It had a pleasant firmness, with a mild sweetness.

Delicious. Come to think of it, Stella’s cooking is always good… Whatever the dish, it always comes out above average.

“It tastes gentle and is so good, piyo!” (Dia)

“Yeah, it’s soft and delicious!” (Marcosias)

“Ugo ugo, not very sweet!” (wOOD)

Right, annin doufu was subtly sweet. It didn’t have any sourness or bold flavors. Maybe it was more popular among adults than children.

“Thank you very much…! There’s a bit more if you’d like seconds!” (Stella)

“Piyo! I’ll eat it, piyo!” (Dia)

Dia had been eating more lately. A clear sign that she was growing every day. The bigger one gets, the more they eat. The dishes that had been prepared were eaten in the blink of an eye.  Not a trace was left.

“Thanks for the meal, piyo!” (Dia)

“Thanks for the food!” (Marcosias)

“Ugo ugo, thanks for the food!” (wOOD)

“Thanks for the meal, Stella.” (Elt)

“Thank you so much… You finished it all! I’m so glad I made it!” (Stella)

After eating, Dia and Marcosias began to doze off. Eating well and sleeping well.  There was nothing wrong with that.

“Don’t push yourselves. Go ahead and take a nap.” (Elt)

“Piyo, I’ll sleep, piyo~…” (Dia)

“Nap time~” (Marcosias)

“Just be sure to brush your teeth first…!” (Stella)

“Yes, piyo~…” (Dia)

“Alright~” (Marcosias)

Hmm, I guess the food lineup for Hold is all set. S-rank adventurer-made authentic elf cuisine… although, honestly, I still don’t really get what made it “authentic”. But whatever. Stella’s cooking is good, so there shouldn’t be any issues.

 

—

 

At that time, in Hold’s mansion…

The whole house was in an uproar, preparing for the Hold family’s upcoming trip. Meanwhile… Hold’s only daughter, nine-year-old Audrey, was studying in her room with a friend.

Hold and Yaya had married for love. There had been a huge commotion before Audrey was born, but that was a story for another time. Both parents showered Audrey with unconditional love.

“Hm-hmm~. They say the place we’re going next is Zanzas and it is full of cockatrices~” (Audrey)

Audrey’s room had numerous cockatrice goods. Her favorite, of course, was a cockatrice plushie. It was a high-end piece, with real cockatrice feathers used in places.

“…But, are you really sure it’s okay?” (Clarissa)

“What is~?” (Audrey)

Audrey stopped her beautiful, flowing handwriting, something she’d inherited from her father, and turned to her friend. Her friend’s name was Clarissa. Long blonde hair and translucent white skin. Even Audrey thought she was stunning… her face sparkled like a gemstone.

“About taking me along… Ojii-sama and Obaa-sama also said I could come, but…” (Clarissa)

“If Father and Mother said it’s okay, then it’s totally fine!” (Audrey)

“I-Is that so?” (Clarissa)

“It is! I’d rather go with you, Clarissa.” (Audrey)

“…Thank you.” (Clarissa)

Clarissa wasn’t from this country. She came from a land further east. Audrey had heard it was something like a homestay arrangement. Living under the same roof, Audrey didn’t fuss over the details. She got that trait from her mother, Yaya. Both of her parents were sociable, and Audrey had a natural charisma. She and Clarissa weren’t just best friends, they were practically family.

“After all, you said it, right? That your ancestors came from around Zanzas!” (Audrey)

“You remembered? Y-Yeah… it was someone from hundreds of years ago, though.” (Clarissa)

“But they weren’t gone! They were still alive!” (Audrey)

“Yes… I’m still in shock too.” (Clarissa)

Clarissa lightly brushed back her hair. Peeking out from the golden strands were pointed ears, it was the mark of an elf.

“Stella-sama’s onee-san… she’s my ancestor.” (Clarissa)

“Wow!” (Audrey)

“You’re going to look for that plushie artisan, right?” (Clarissa)

“Yup yup…!” (Audrey)

Audrey stood up and hugged her favorite plushie tightly. It was a cockatrice plushie made in Zanzas, using real cockatrice feathers.

“It seems like they’re in Zanzas. That mysterious plushie artisan!” (Audrey)

“There was a mark on the sole of the foot, right…?” (Clarissa)

“Father doesn’t know either. Apparently, they sometimes appear for sale near Zanzas.” (Audrey)

Audrey showed the bottom of the plushie’s foot to Clarissa. There, stitched in red thread, was a tiny “R”.

“Father said it might be connected to a shadowy organization, so I shouldn’t investigate it too much, but…” (Audrey)

“T-That sounds serious…” (Clarissa)

“Yeah. But I just know it’s a really amazing artisan making these with all their heart!” (Audrey)

Audrey’s head was filled with thoughts of the yet-unknown plushie maker. Now that she knew she was going to Zanzas, her imagination had only gotten worse.

“Probably, it’s a really cool knight making them in secret…!” (Audrey)

“Y-You think so…?” (Clarissa)

“Definitely! A retired knight, crafting them while hiding their identity!” (Audrey)

Clarissa thought to herself.

Audrey isn’t just a little dreamy, she’s wildly imaginative. When the time comes, I’ll have to protect Audrey’s dream.

 

—

 

Meanwhile, in Healberry Village…

Leia was at the cockatrice dorm, sewing a plushie while gently fluffing a cockatrice’s belly. Hattori was playing with the cockatrices, wearing a full costume to imitate their behavior. A true shinobi was thorough when it came to doing something properly.

“You seem rather fired up, degozaru…” (Hattori)

“…This one’s going to be entered in the World Plushie Fair. It’s a custom piece.” (Leia)

Leia verified the fluffiness of the cockatrice with her left hand while carefully selecting and stitching feathers with her right.

It was a true one-of-a-kind item.

“There’s such a thing, degozaru…?” (Hattori)

“There is! I’ve placed in the top ranks three years running!” (Leia)

“S-Such a thing, huh…” (Hattori)

“Piyo?” (Cockatrice)

Hattori tilted his head slightly. The cockatrice next to him also tilted its head. Seeing that perfect synchronization, Leia cried out.

“Perfect! The angle and timing of the head tilt were amazing…!” (Leia)

“Glad to be of service, degozaru.” (Hattori)

“You truly are talented. Yes, yes.” (Leia)

Leia looked very pleased. And so, preparations across the village steadily progressed.

Just three weeks until the festival…

 

Cockatrice Festival Preparation

55%

Grass Dumpling Festival completed

Lodging set up in the underground plaza

Elven Cuisine Welcome (Spicy Stir-Fried Tomatoes, Steamed Dumplings, Almond Tofu)

Dia’s Play: (Cockatrice Costume Edition)

Adventurer Guild Design finalized

 

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(Thank you for reading at bayabuscotranslation.com)