New chapter of Plant Magic Lord is out! (2/3 chapters)

 

 

Piyo, piyo, piyo

(Thank you for reading at bayabuscotranslation.com)

So, that is how we ended up deciding to play Noball. Although it was sudden.

We finished our preparations and moved to the plaza. There, we also had Nyaff tribe members and adventurers gathered from other places. It was a good opportunity for an exchange meeting, or rather, to deepen our friendship. Brown was sharply dressed in sportswear, carrying a bat over his shoulder.

“Nyan, I am looking forward to this, nyan…” (Brown)

“Sorry for the sudden request, Brown.” (Elt)

“It is fine, nyan. The weather, looks like it will not rain, nyan.” (Brown)

A refreshing breeze blew, with few clouds in the sky. Gloves and balls were properly prepared. Apparently, various things had been brought in via Naal before I noticed.

“Pip, piyo, pip, piyo…” (Dia)

“Unsho…” (Audrey)

In the middle of the plaza, Dia and Audrey were leading warm-up exercises.

“Stretch your wings… piyo. Push your hips forward… piyo.” (Dia)

Dia stretched her wings, or sat down flat and wiggled about.

Cute.

She was completely motivated.

“……” (Stella)

“……” (Clarissa)

Clarissa and Stella were silently doing warm-ups. Even from a distance, their fighting spirit was intense. Perhaps it was only me, but I felt as if an Ashura was standing behind Stella…

“Nyan, will Elt-sama not be playing, nyan?” (Brown)

“Ah… I thought it would be better for me to sit at the side and watch.” (Elt)

Since Stella was fully motivated, I decided to be on the spectating side instead. That way, villagers who had no intention of participating would not feel pressured. This kind of consideration was probably important.

In Noball, spectators were also important. There were many people who liked watching even if they did not play themselves.

We made benches at the side of the plaza, and I decided to watch the game there leisurely.

“Waha, so many people.” (Tetetoka)

*Thud thud*

Tetetoka and the other Dryads came to the plaza. Incidentally, they also brought cockatrices along, peeping piyo, piyo.

“Fuu, it’s Cocka-chan!” (Audrey)
“Piyo, piyo!” (Come here!) (Cockatrice)

The cockatrice spread its wings, and Audrey jumped into them. Things were getting lively.

“Tetetoka, do you want to come sit over here?” (Elt)

“I will do that.” (Tetetoka)

Plop, the Dryads sat in a row on the bench.

Hmm… as expected, the Dryads seemed to have no interest in playing wild ball. Well, they did not give off the feeling of being athletic.

“Do you want to eat this for a snack?” (Elt)

I held out my hand and produced strawberries, grapes, and other fruits ready to eat.

“Thank you!” (Tetetoka)

““Yaaay!”” (Dryads)

“Share with the other spectators too.” (Elt)

““Okaaaay!”” (Dryads)

*Munch munch munch*

While producing fruit for the spectators as well, I looked at the plaza. It looked like it was about to start soon. For some reason, the cockatrice also had a glove and bat. Apparently it was going to participate.

“Piyo, ppi.” (Seems fun) (Cockatrice)

“Piyo, piyo, pi…” (Is there something about this wooden stick?) (Cockatrice)

“…Piyo, pi.” (That Elf over there looks motivated) (Cockatrice)

*Gulp*

I could not predict how this was going to turn out at all.

 

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The rules this time were a bit different from original baseball. Or rather, if we used the original rules, if Stella got serious it would be over. She would hit home runs repeatedly beyond the village outskirts, and if she threw the ball no one could hit it. The catcher’s life might not be safe either. The game was to be played with two teams, alternately batting and pitching. No element of running the bases. That was how it would be.

“Shup, piyo, shup, piyo.” (Dia)

Dia swung a small bat. She even properly wore a helmet on her head. Dia was playing wild ball with the Nyaff tribe in a small group. Stella, Wood, and the adventurers made up the adult group.

A reasonable division.

“Dia-chan…” (Audrey)

“What, piyo?” (Dia)

“Cute…!” (Audrey)

“Thank you, piyo! Audrey is super cute too, piyo!” (Dia)

Next to them, Clarissa was trying to swing at a ball thrown by Brown.

“Here I go, nyan.” (Brown)

“Yes…!” (Clarissa)

Whoosh, Brown underhanded the throw. The ball floated up softly.

Oh, a breaking ball! Amazing…

“Khuh…!” (Clarissa)

*Whiff*

Clarissa missed with a huge swing.

“Haa, it is no good…!” (Clarissa)

“Nyan, not with all your strength, nyan, but match the timing, nyan.” (Brown)

“Yes…!” (Clarissa)

Brown’s pitching… though not fast, he threw to a spot that was very hard to hit. A pitching technique unique to the dexterous Nyaff tribe. Clarissa’s swing was still monotonous and she was being outmaneuvered. But once every few tries she hit the ball properly. Brown also mixed in straight balls, which she was able to hit relatively well. Next to Clarissa, Audrey was swinging. She was still quite wobbly.

“Ei!” (Audrey)

*Plop. Miss*

Her swing form was… well, but at least her attention was on the ball. Nobody could do it perfectly from the start.

“Clarissa, how can you swing so beautifully?” (Audrey)

“Um, that is…!” (Clarissa)

Clarissa explained to Audrey about the way to spread her legs, use her arms, and so on.

“Hmm-hmm…” (Audrey)

“Not just the arms, but use your hips and your whole body…” (Clarissa)

Marcosias also demonstrated.

“It’s like this. Even if slow, the form is important.” (Marcosias)

“That is right, piyo. Hips are important, piyo!” (Dia)

Dia twisted her hips with a squeak.

“Cute…!” (Audrey)

“Thank you, piyo!” (Dia)

Hmm, meanwhile Stella…

Stella was just about to pitch. It was harder to see because they were farther away than the children’s group. Her opponent was Wood.

“Ugo, ugo…!” (Wood)

“Here I go!” (Stella)

Stella wound up and threw. The ball bent with a squirm.

It is curving… right?

With the speed and the distance, I was not entirely sure.

“Ugo…!” (Wood)

Whoosh, Wood’s swing barely missed.

“It curves so much… Ugo!” (Wood)

“Fufufu… I practiced in secret!” (Stella)

So, she practiced. It seemed to be a perfect curveball.

“Piyo, ppi!” (Bring it on!) (Cockatrice)

Further back, a cockatrice faced off against the adventurer in his thirties. Wobbling its fluffy body, the cockatrice readied its bat. The adventurer challenged it with a straight pitch.

“Piyo!” (Eii!) (Cockatrice)

*Clang*

But the cockatrice hit the adventurer’s pitch with ease.

“Got hit again!” (Adventurer)

The adventurer in his thirties hung his head in disappointment. The difference in physical ability was merciless.

“Piyo, piyo, piyo.” (Clap clap clap) (Cockatrices)

Other cockatrices in line flapped their wings.

“Piyo, pi!” (Next is me!) (Cockatrice)

The cockatrice who had just batted went to the back of the line. One of the cockatrices in line stepped into the batter’s box. It seemed they were batting in turns.

“Come on, come on! I’ll win next time!” (Adventurer)

*Clang*

“Piyo, piyo, piyo.” (Clap clap clap) (Cockatrices)

The adventurer in his thirties’ ball seemed fairly fast, but the cockatrices were hitting well.

“Ahhh, got hit again! Next!” (Adventurer)

*Sniffle*

“That looks rough.” (Tetetoka)

“But this is also Noball…” (Elt)

Sometimes there are battles you could not win. But until a mercy rule or three outs, it would not end.

Tetetoka nodded while eating grass dumplings.

“I see.” (Tetetoka)

And so, the wild ball tournament ended like that. From today’s participants, first place was Stella, second was Wood. Next was the cockatrice team. Then, came the adventurer in his thirties, I suppose. He was exhausted halfway through, but good work.

 

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(Thank you for reading at bayabuscotranslation.com)