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

 

 

A Hero, Silently

(Thank you for reading at bayabuscotranslation.com)

Meanwhile, at that very time, the Grand Cathedral was wrapped in a tense atmosphere. It was because a swarm of Ice Crystals was approaching.

Hold, Leia, and Ignat were gathered together in the Cathedral Chancellor’s chamber, a chamber adorned with solemn ornaments. During the era of wars, this very chamber had also served as a command room. There Ignat spoke bitterly to one of the palace guard piyo.

“The swarm of Ice Crystals is indeed heading directly this way, is it not?” (Ignat)

“Yes, we have secured the carriages around the Cathedral, however…” (Guard Piyo)

The carriages that had brought Hold and Leia, as well as those of the people who had come to make preparations for the art festival, numbered in the dozens. Yet the Cathedral itself was also a fortress. From the beginning, it had been built with countermeasures against cold waves and monsters.

Leia gazed out the window with stern eyes.

“That swarm of Ice Crystals, by the standards of the Adventurer Guild, would be rated at threat level A or S. I believe it is closer to S.” (Leia)

Victor crossed his arms inside his costume.

“I feel the same. Ordinarily one would evacuate or else endure it in a fortified place…” (Victor)

The true difficulty of Ice Crystals lay in their mutual regeneration. Once they formed into a massive swarm, they became unmanageable. Yet fortunately, they did not deliberately target living beings. From within his Cockatrice costume, Victor began making calculations.

“With that magnitude and the mana it is radiating, it will weaken by perhaps thirty percent in four days.” (Victor)

“If that happens, with the forces currently present here in the Cathedral, we will without doubt be able to subjugate it.” (Leia)

Leia nodded in agreement.

This was the joint estimation of a professor of monster studies and the master of the Adventurer Guild. Though both of them were, incongruously, wrapped in Cockatrice costumes.

“However, in that case…” (Hold)

Hold furrowed his brows and touched his small moustache.

“People will continue to arrive here in great numbers, will they not? The craftsmen making preparations, the chefs and their ingredients, the musicians… soon even the emissaries from Healberry Village will come. What of them?” (Hold)

“It will depend on the path of the Ice Crystals, but there is no helping it if their arrival is delayed.” (Ignat)

Where the Ice Crystals would head after passing the Cathedral, no one could possibly know. Their course was left to the wind, and to the flow of mana.

Ignat declared firmly.

“The defenses of the Cathedral are perfect. I will not permit so much as a single guest to be harmed, nor a single pane of glass to be shattered. However, for the people who are still on their way, until the swarm can be subjugated, they must be kept away.” (Ignat)

“That cannot be…!” (Audrey)

Audrey cried out despite herself.

What would happen to the preparations for the art festival then? Would it mean that everything could no longer proceed as planned?

“If we call upon the palace guards and the nearby forces, the subjugation may be hastened. In that case, we would shorten the festival’s duration by several days. If so, there would be no loss of life.” (Ignat)

“Ghh…!” (Hold)

That meant reducing the festival by half. Of course, the impact and significance of the art festival would be greatly diminished.

“I feel the same regret, Hold-dono. However, there will be many distinguished guests.…” (Ignat)

“…I understand. If the guests were to be harmed, it would indeed be irreparable. This is your domain. I will yield.” (Hold)

“Thank you. It cannot be helped…!” (Ignat)

Ignat sighed heavily.

“…Hmm.” (Victor)

When the discussion had ended, Victor quietly tried to leave the chamber.

“Professor Piyo, where are you going?” (Ignat)

“To the swarm of Ice Crystals. It may be futile, but I shall attempt to strike them with my wind magic.” (Victor)

“I appreciate the sentiment greatly, but that is not a scale that can be dealt with by one individual…” (Ignat)

Ignat, being a noble of the region, understood well.

“To divert the path of a swarm of Ice Crystals in the past required several knightly orders. Even if you are a noble of the old blood…” (Ignat)

“You are no doubt correct. The chance of success is less than one in ten. However, there is always the chance of fortune. And for defense, this costume will take care of it. Even if the worst should happen, I will be safe.” (Victor)

“Nii-san, if that is the case, then I as well…!” (Hold)

Hold leaned forward, but Victor restrained him with a wing of his Cockatrice costume.

“You have Audrey and Clarissa. You have the art festival.” (Victor)

“But…! Nii-san, you only happened to come here by chance…” (Hold)

“Do not trouble yourself. I will simply make it part of a new thesis.” (Victor)

At Victor’s words, Ignat spread his wings wide.

“Very well then…! If it is long-range attack, I too am skilled at that. The chance of success will scarcely change, but I shall attempt it as well.” (Ignat)

“Ignat-dono…!” (Hold)

“Do not make such a face, Hold-dono. This is our land. It is severe, yet worthy of love, our land… And these Cockatrice costumes are not mere hobby. They are respect for the creatures who yield to nothing and endure all.” (Ignat)

In truth, the defensive strength of Ignat’s costume was of an extraordinary level. Even being stepped upon by a dragon would not harm it.

“Mm…!?” (Leia)

At that moment, Leia pressed herself against the window. Ignat tilted his head and moved to her side. Outside the window, in the far distance, a white whirlwind was spiraling.

“What is it?” (Ignat)

“Just now, something red flew into the swarm of Ice Crystals…” (Leia)

A faint, small light had plunged into the Ice Crystals.

“Something red? Did someone launch an attack with magic? Yet I have given no such order.” (Ignat)

“Could it be… ah.” (Leia)

Even as Leia thought it could not be, the event had already occurred.

*Crackle, crackle, crackle…!!*

From the whirlwind of Ice Crystals, the sound reached even this place. Within the pure white whirlwind, something was happening.

“…Indeed, there is some red light flickering.” (Ignat)

It could not be seen clearly through the Ice Crystals, yet something was changing. At the upper reaches of the whirlwind, a white light suddenly shone forth, and then, it broke apart. From the single great whirlwind, a smaller swarm of Ice Crystals separated away.

“What…!?” (Ignat)

Ignat pressed himself against the window. Never before had such a phenomenon been witnessed.

Once Ice Crystals formed into a massive swarm, they remained so. That they would divide was unthinkable. Yet before their eyes, the whirlwind was spitting out shining white mist, one after another. Each one was a small swarm of Ice Crystals.

“Something is breaking apart the whirlwind from within…? Dividing the swarm of Ice Crystals into smaller groups? But such a thing is absurd…” (Ignat)

At Ignat’s words, Leia nodded firmly.

“That red light, and this phenomenon… there is no mistake.” (Leia)

“You know what it is, Leia?” (Ignat)

She did not know what was being done, but she knew who was doing it. It could only be those two adventurers. One was a living legend, whose valor had not faded even after centuries. The other was a master of magical tools, unmatched in knowledge and in the relics they wielded.

The Hero of Zanzas and the Artifact Master…

“They are the S-rank adventurers, Stella and Nana!” (Leia)

 

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