Chapter 85: The Lord Has Arrived
While the lord was visiting, I decided it would be best to leave Milk and Pippi in the third Home Garden, so I took the two of them along and teleported us there.
But when we arrived, something unexpected awaited in the garden: a mysterious creature.
They looked like adorable children with pale green hair. Judging by their size, perhaps around three years old?
Though, I doubted they were human. After all, each had a large flower blooming right atop their heads.
At first, I thought the flowers were merely placed there, like a hat or an ornament. But no—it was clear they had fused with the hair itself. Interestingly, the colors differed: one had blue, the other pink.
The little ones were half-buried in the garden soil, as if taking a sand bath, their expressions calm and content.
Uhh… this is my garden, though…?
“Meow?”
“Pii?”
Milk and Pippi tilted their heads, curious, as if to say, What is that? They didn’t sense any danger.
“!!?”
Finally, the children seemed to notice our presence and turned toward us.
“H-Humans!?”
“They… they spoke!”
It seemed they could actually talk.
“They’ll kill us—”
“They might eat us—”
“Either way, it’s the end for us—”
“Waaahhh!”
Despite their frantic words, they didn’t try to run. I suppose being half-buried in the soil made it difficult. They simply flailed their little hands in panic, struggling to free themselves.
…Adorable.
“Ugh… at least, make it quick—”
“I don’t want it to hurt—”
Eventually, perhaps out of resignation, they closed their eyes and fell silent.
“Uh… we’re not going to hurt you, okay?”
I spoke gently, hoping to reassure them.
“Really!?”
The blue-flowered child peeked out fearfully, seeking confirmation. But the pink-flowered one immediately shot back:
“Don’t be fooled! Humans always trick you like that—make you feel safe first, then stab! That’s what human high-class husbands do!”
“Waaahhh!”
The blue one buried its head in its hands.
“No, I’m serious. I won’t do anything.”
“Or… are you pretending?”
“No, I really won’t.”
Wow, their caution is intense.
“Meow!”
“!!?”
Then, for reasons I couldn’t quite guess, Milk suddenly bounded toward the two and bit the pink one on the back, yanking them out of the soil.
“Eek!? Are we going to be eaten!?”
Ah, they do have legs. But they look more like roots than actual feet.
Of course, Milk had no intention of eating them and promptly tossed the pink one back onto the soil. I did the same with the blue one, dropping them nearby.
“Sh-shivering…”
“Alright… now you can escape, right?”
“Ha!?”
Finally realizing, the children scrambled to their feet and bolted away.
“What… were those kids?”
I was intensely curious, but right now the lord took priority. Leaving Milk and Pippi in charge, I returned to the first Home Garden.
“Very well. I am the lord of this city, Elizabeth Arcel.”
At the entrance of my home, a voice proclaimed this with an air of authority—but the speaker was unmistakably a young girl.
Judging by her appearance, she didn’t seem to belong to the Popit tribe like Lilcarlia-san.
“Huh? This child… no, this person is the lord?”
“Yes, that’s right~”
From behind me, Sena confirmed casually, as if this were no surprise. So what she said earlier was true…
I had prepared myself for a visit from the city’s lord, but this—this I had not anticipated. How should I even act…?
No, no matter how young she looks, I must treat her properly as the lord.
“Well, it’s understandable to be confused. Due to certain circumstances, I currently appear like this, but I am indeed the legitimate lord. Rest assured.”
“Y-Yes…”
Apparently, her actual age is much older. That’s a relief… I was worried the lord of our city might actually be a literal toddler.
“I will also enter—”
“Oh, Lilcarlia-san.”
Following the lord, Lilcarlia-san entered our home as well. Right, they are acquainted.
Honestly, I don’t think I could manage a proper conversation with the lord alone. Having Lilcarlia-san here is a huge relief.
“So… what do you know so far…?”
“Hmm. I believe I can roughly deduce the situation… or at least I think I can. But to be honest, much of it strains belief. I wish to see it with my own eyes.”
“I-I see…”
For now, I decided to guide the lord to the garden.
“Uh, this is my home garden, created with my Gift.”
“…Home Garden?”
She tilted her head, clearly confused.
“Y-Yes. I received this Gift during the recent Descending God Festival. It’s called a [Home Garden], and it allows me to grow one.”
“Wait, wait. Then what about that massive field outside the city?”
“That’s also my Home Garden…”
“Home Garden? Isn’t a Home Garden supposed to be, you know, small-scale?”
“Lord, you really shouldn’t worry about that—”
Lilcarlia-san quickly interjected, helping smooth things over—though I wasn’t sure if it was truly a ‘support’ or just damage control.
Perhaps it would be better to show her the other garden.
“Then, let’s move to the other garden.”
“Move? That alone would be quite the ordeal. Let’s talk here first—”
“Oh, we’re already there.”
I had teleported the lord straight to the second Home Garden.
“…Huh?”