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

 

 

Somersaults and the Comfort of the Trolley Ride

(Thank you for reading at bayabuscotranslation.com)

Meanwhile, at the Great Cathedral, Stella had returned to her private chamber after finishing her meal with Nana. She turned the key and opened the door.

“I am home!” (Stella)

“Welcome back, piyo!” (Dia)

“W-welcome back.” (Marcosias)

“What is the matter with that posture?” (Stella)

Dia and Marcosias were both on the bed. Dia was sitting normally, chirping as usual, but the problem lay with Marcosias.

Her body was curled upside down, as though caught midway through a handstand.

“I am in the middle of performing a somersault.” (Marcosias)

“She is practicing, piyo.” (Dia)

“I see. I understand.” (Stella)

Apparently, Marcosias had attempted a somersault and stopped midway through it, leaving her body half-inverted in an awkward position.

“Why are you practicing somersaults?” (Stella)

“Maru-chan was supposed to show me a demonstration, piyo.” (Dia)

“I am still in the middle of it.” (Marcosias)

“Are you sure you are alright? It does not look as though you are managing to roll over.” (Stella)

When Stella sat on the bed, Dia perked up her feathers.

“Piyo! Like this, piyo!” (Dia)

With a chirp, Dia pressed her head against the bedding and, in one smooth motion, rolled herself over. It was a perfectly executed somersault.

“How was that, piyo?” (Dia)

“It was flawless! So adorable!” (Stella)

Stella gently stroked Dia’s soft feathers, and Dia leaned contentedly into her touch.

Meanwhile, Marcosias remained trembling in her half-upended posture.

“It might be best not to push yourself too hard. You can try again another time.” (Stella)

“Piyo. Overexertion is bad, piyo.” (Dia)

To their concern, Marcosias answered weakly.

“I want to do it, it is. I never imagined that I could no longer perform a simple somersault.” (Marcosias)

As Marcosias continued trembling, both Stella and Dia clapped their hands and wings in encouragement.

“Please do your best!” (Stella)

“Just a little more, piyo!” (Dia)

“Nnngh!” (Marcosias)

“You are lifting off slightly, or so it seems!” (Stella)

“One more push, piyo!” (Dia)

“Here I go!” (Marcosias)

Marcosias kicked off from the bed.

*Pof*

She completed a full rotation, landing flat on her back with limbs spread wide. It was difficult to call it a graceful landing, but she had at least managed a full somersault.

“You did it, piyo!” (Dia)

“Yes, you managed to turn over properly!” (Stella)

Both Dia and Stella patted Marcosias all over in delight.

“I worked hard.” (Marcosias)

Marcosias looked deeply moved.

“Of course, piyo! I witnessed it, piyo!” (Dia)

Dia wrapped her wings around Marcosias’s neck affectionately.

“It was perfect!” (Stella)

Stella patted Marcosias’s head gently.

“Then, I shall do it once more.” (Marcosias)

“What?” (Stella)

“Piyo!?” (Dia)

Stella and Dia exchanged a brief glance.

“Piyo. Should we continue practicing, then?” (Dia)

“Yes, I wish to become faster.” (Marcosias)

“I see. Very well.” (Stella)

Outside the window, fine powdery snow was quietly falling.

No one truly understood why Marcosias was so fixated on mastering the somersault. Still, that determination must have held some special meaning for him.

“Let us keep you company, then! Until bath time!” (Stella)

“Piyo! I shall join in as well!” (Dia)

At their words, Marcosias’s eyes sparkled brightly.

“Thank you.” (Marcosias)

 

—

 

In Healberry Village, we arrived just before evening, nearly right on schedule.

After that, everyone dispersed and went their separate ways.

“Piyoyo!” (Good work!) (Cockatrice)

“Piyo!” (See you!) (Cockatrice)

The Cockatrices hoisted the Big Puzzle Mushroom onto their backs and headed toward the lodging house.

“Well then, I shall take my leave as well!” (Anaria)

Anaria dismounted from Wood and also walked toward the lodging house. Apparently, she had a method to preserve the Puzzle Mushrooms as stored food. When pickled in vinegar, they could last quite a long time, though the flavor became strongly vinegar-based.

“Well then, I shall take my leave here!” (Adventurer)

“I shall excuse myself first, degozaru.” (Hattori)

The adventurer in his thirties and Hattori waved their hands in parting.

“Now then, the soil baths are still open. Hmm, perhaps I shall take a quick soak!” (Adventurer)

“I shall go as well. My legs and back have become stiff, degozaru.” (Hattori)

“Hah-ha! Are you getting old?” (Adventurer)

“I would rather not hear that from you, degozaru.” (Hattori)

Gradually, the group dispersed until only Wood, Iskamina, and I remained, heading off to report to Naru.

“I believe Brown has already gone ahead to deliver the message.” (Elt)

Naru was working at the Adventurer Guild. We gathered in the third-floor office for the debriefing.

“Nya. Thank you for your hard work, nya.” (Naru)

I soothed my throat with the tea that had been served. The air outside was dry, and my throat had become parched without my realizing it.

“I heard the general summary from Brown, nya. To think there was another underground plaza, nya.” (Naru)

“Indeed, and we found yet another one. That makes three in total now.” (Elt)

“Nya!? There was a third one, nya!?” (Naru)

“Ugo. The area was smaller, but it was there.” (Wood)

“There was, mogu. I have summarized the main details here, mogu.” (Iskamina)

Iskamina rummaged through her belongings and produced a bundle of papers. She had carefully kept records of everything.

“Nya, then it seems that these underground plazas appear at regular intervals, nya.” (Naru)

“Most likely. I will continue investigating, but I believe we can see the pattern now. Next time, we should be able to proceed more smoothly.” (Elt)

We would prepare horses to enter from the third underground plaza while also organizing a forward team from the surface. That way, supplies and personnel rotations could be carried out efficiently.

“Nya. Leave the arrangements to me, nya. I shall have them ready immediately, nya.” (Naru)

“Ugo, how reliable!” (Wood)

“I appreciate that. One more thing, though, I am planning to build a magical trolley.” (Elt)

Beside me, Iskamina’s whiskers twitched in excitement. She looked absolutely delighted.

“Nya!? Of course, I am in full support, nya!” (Naru)

Naru leaned forward eagerly, nodding with enthusiasm. It seemed she was also quite keen on the idea.

“The thrill of that is irresistible, nya!” (Naru)

“Mogu! We shall make it an exciting one, mogu!” (Iskamina)

“Nya, that would be wonderful, nya!” (Naru)

Both Iskamina and Naru sparkled with excitement.

Hmm. I have the feeling their enthusiasm is somewhat misplaced. Could they possibly be assuming it is meant to be ridden for fun?

“It is actually intended for cargo transport.” (Elt)

At that, the two of them nodded solemnly.

“Of course we know that, nya. But still, it is quite fun to ride, nya.” (Naru)

“It goes bruun-bruun as it moves, mogu!” (Iskamina)

I see. Apparently, the magical trolley doubled as a sort of attraction. Well, that is fine too. It only means there would be more to enjoy.

A trolley in the underground, though… hmm.

Something about that stirred a faint memory from my previous life, as though recalling an archaeologist’s tale, yet not quite grasping it.

 

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