New chapter of Plant Magic Lord is out! (1/2 chapters)

 

 

Ice Crystal

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Wood took the scale that I had held out to him.

…He is staring fixedly at the scale. Surely, he would not simply pop it into his mouth just like that?

“Ugo… will it sting? Something like mother’s cooking?” (Wood)

“It is not nearly as spicy as that. Even I was able to eat it, so it is more akin to a slightly spicy cookie.” (Elt)

Well, in truth, with my knowledge it would be closer to a rice cracker or a snack food. This would simply be the spicier version of such.

Anaria nodded in agreement.

“Yes, that is right. It is rather like chili extract. It even goes well with snack time.” (Anaria)

“Ugo, I see…” (Wood)

Hearing our words, Wood seemed to have his anxiety dispelled. I had felt the same way. When it was explained properly, one could summon the will to eat it.

“Ugo, then I shall eat it…!” (Wood)

Wood steeled himself and brought the scale to his mouth. Anaria and I too held our breath as we watched.

*Crunch, crunch…*

Wood’s biting power was more than sufficient. If even I had managed to bite through it, then for Wood it was no challenge at all.

*…Gulp.*

As Wood swallowed the scale, his eyes opened wide.

“Ugo…! Something has come!” (Wood)

“Oh! It came at last?” (Elt)

“Yes, it surely has!” (Anaria)

Such was something that only those who had eaten could understand with one another.

Meanwhile, the Cockatrice pair in the living room were chirping while prodding at each other’s bellies. Why they were doing so in my house remained unclear. Perhaps the very act of prodding in an unfamiliar place was somehow important to them.

“Ugo, I have gained a new skill!” (Wood)

“You did it!” (Anaria)

“Excellent, the first step has been cleared!” (Elt)

We cheered and high-fived. For me as well, Wood’s growth was a joy. It was like witnessing the growth of my own child.

“Well then, shall we begin?” (Elt)

“Yes!” (Anaria)

“Ugo~!” (Wood)

First, we would repeat our practice until he grasped the sense of kneading. And once he produced dumplings of proper quality, we would make them into gifts for Lalatoma. Indeed, the unending kneading time had now begun.

 

—

 

Meanwhile, in the northern lands, Stella and her companions drew steadily closer to the Grand Cathedral, riding upon Nana as though she were a sleigh.

“Whew, we are nearly arrived, are we not?” (Stella)

“Yes, we should reach it before nightfall.” (Nana)

Nana was carefully calculating both direction and speed.

“We shall arrive sooner than I had thought.” (Marcosias)

“Yes. One might think at first that flying through the air would be faster, but this Nana-sleigh can make precise adjustments to its course. At least here in the northern snow country, the Nana-sleigh proves the correct choice.” (Stella)

“Piyo. Nana-sleigh, what a fine sound that has piyo…” (Dia)

Dia patted Nana’s back with her wings.

“Well, it is simply a sleigh all the same though…” (Nana)

“You are not denying it, are you?” (Marcosias)

“It is too late to argue now. Besides, with Stella’s handling, it is comfortable for me as well.” (Nana)

“Thank you very much…!” (Stella)

Indeed, Stella’s heightened senses were remarkable. With subtle shifts of her weight she glided smoothly along. In truth, the Nana-sleigh was little different from strapping on a rocket and letting it launch. Control was exceedingly difficult. An ordinary person would crash headlong into obstacles, or else spin in endless circles.

“Oh?” (Stella)

“What is it?” (Marcosias)

Stella had noticed something. She pointed with one hand toward the right.

“There is a high-pitched sound, keening over there.” (Stella)

“…Apologies, but I cannot hear it.” (Nana)

“Neither can I, piyo.” (Dia)

It seemed Nana and Dia could not perceive it. Marcosias, however, sniffed the air.

“The scent of the air has changed…” (Marcosias)

“Yes, that would be… a swarm of Ice Crystals.” (Stella)

The Ice Crystal was literally a magical creature in the form of a crystal of ice. They took the shape of glittering crystals the size of a human head, drifting through the air as they moved. Any living thing they encountered, they would freeze. Strictly speaking, they were not living creatures, but magical phenomena born of mana. Alone they were weak monsters, but in swarms they became formidable. They generated cold together, and no matter how many one struck down, they would regenerate.

“Over there…? That direction, is it—” (Nana)

Nana worked her mind furiously within the costume.

“The Grand Cathedral!” (Nana)

“Piyo! But that is where we are going, piyo!?” (Dia)

“Yes, indeed. Hm, by my instinct, it seems to be a considerable swarm.” (Stella)

“Ice Crystals… of all things, now!” (Nana)

The Ice Crystals were often carried by the wind, drifting beyond their natural habitat. Though such wanderers had but short lifespans.

“I heard that the ones that appeared near Stephen’s village were Ice Crystals?” (Marcosias)

“Yes. In these parts, there are few monsters that suddenly appear near human settlements.” (Stella)

Stella exhaled lightly and then, called to Nana.

“The distance between us and the Ice Crystals is closing rapidly. At this rate, we shall collide with them.” (Stella)

“Ice Crystals vary in threat depending upon the size of the swarm. If they have spread this far, it must be a truly enormous one.” (Nana)

Nana had fought Ice Crystals many times. She knew well that one must not take them lightly. A great enough swarm of Ice Crystals was rated as an S-rank threat. They were masses of mana-born ice. They raised up snow like a whirlwind, freezing everything in their path. They were disasters incarnate. Against a vast swarm, there was no recourse but to flee or to barricade oneself within a sturdy building.

“There is no problem! With this bat, a thousand Ice Crystals would be no trouble at all! Please watch, Dia, Maru-chan!” (Stella)

“Piyo! That is amazing piyo!” (Dia)

“You are so cool!” (Marcosias)

“…” (Nana)

Nana fell silent, deep in thought.

Surely many vampire nobles had gathered at the Grand Cathedral. Among them would doubtless be her elder brother Ignat. Ignat, the great magician and master of shadow magic, who could sweep away avalanches themselves. If he was there, the Ice Crystals would surely be repelled. Yet that did not mean the Cathedral itself would be unharmed. The arts festival could be imperiled.

A solitary charge into a swarm was recklessness itself. But Stella was one who acted upon recklessness as a matter of course, without pride or hesitation. Stella would simply strike down any monster that threatened, nothing more.

“Ordinarily I would say there is no need for us to be the very first to fight. Yet with you, that would be a foolish question, would it not?” (Nana)

“You are beginning to understand me.” (Stella)

Stella spoke joyfully.

“Very well then. Let me dismount at some convenient place.” (Nana)

“No, rather you must charge straight through!” (Stella)

“What?” (Nana)

“The key to fighting Ice Crystals is one alone! You must strike them relentlessly, without giving them the chance to regenerate!” (Stella)

So declaring, she deftly drew her bat into her hands.

“Maru-chan, full speed ahead!” (Stella)

“What?” (Nana)

“Understood!” (Marcosias)

With that, the red radiance about him flared brighter. Maru-chan accelerated with astounding force. The cost, however, was that control became even more difficult.

“Piyo! White, spinning piyo!” (Dia)

Where Dia pointed with her wing was the swarm of Ice Crystals. They were indeed a pure white whirlwind. With a keening sound that shook the very air, they froze everything in their path. A swarm of this magnitude was without doubt rated at least an A-rank threat.

Yet Stella showed no fear.

“Here we go!” (Stella)

“Ehhh… wait!” (Nana)

“Nana-sleigh Thousand Batting Practice, let us go!” (Stella)

 

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