Chapter 43. Even on Nights I Can’t Sleep

In other words, being able to understand what the horses and cows are saying—and for them to somewhat understand me—is the super basic level of taming skill.

Once I got that down, I understood that meant I could have the tamer transfer right of command and the taming contract itself to me.

And, as I listened to all this, I suddenly thought—

The ability to have others understand what I’m saying…

Isn’t that the Translator’s skill?

Maybe, just maybe, the reason the sparkling tree understood what I was saying was thanks to the Translator.

When I asked about the automatic translation skill, I was told,

“Automatic translation allows you to communicate across different languages. It switches automatically without you having to think about it when you speak.”

And I think I understood that explanation.

But here’s the thing—

That ‘consciousness’—

That seems to be the key point.

If I subconsciously believe that I’m with someone that can understand what I’m saying, then the automatic translator activates.

Conversely, if I subconsciously believe theirs is a language barrier and we can’t communicate, then it won’t translate.

I think.

I talk to plants, and I believe they understand what I’m saying.

Like to a flowering plant that is overgrown with leaves, I’ll say “If you’re not going to bloom, I might as well cut you down,” and then it blooms—that kind of thing happens often.

But I don’t actually believe that trees talk.

So, in other words…

If I believe we can communicate, then that means there’s a chance that I can talk to that blue, squiggly thing???

I was feeling a bit stunned for a moment, when Meir-san took out some raisins from the bag I gave her. 

“This little one just loves dried fruits,” she said.

The slime gobbled up a single raisin that Meir-san handed it.

It bounced happily, showing how pleased it was.

I gently offered it a raisin that was given to me, and he ate the raisin from my hand as well.

The feel of it on my fingertips is like—that warm, soothing sensation you get when you put a comforting sheet on your forehead when you have a fever—

So cute.

Translator-san, Translator-san, I believe this little one can talk! Please help.

“It’s delicious! I love it! More!”

Ah, I heard it…

And, while trying to concentrate on the translator, I realized something—

The Translator seems to be evolving.

Maybe it’s because I’ve been using it in a strange way, but it seems like I can now constantly activate that slightly accented, broken-voice I’ve been consciously trying to keep.

And I felt a gentle wave that seemed to say, “I’ll also take care of the ending sounds for you, okay?”

Wait, does that mean I can speak in polite form now? And will it translate that as masculine or neutral? That would make talking so much easier!

Come to think of it, when I thought about translating potato starch, something already felt strange.

Was that just the translator’s modest assertion that it could be used more conveniently?

It was so subtle I almost missed it.

I want to open my status bar!

Where can I get an appraisal?

But maybe if they see my stats, that’s a problem…

Given all this, maybe my other skills are also growing somehow?

Now that I think about it, that God had said that the sealing skill would improve.

Is it possible that the other skills can also develop?

While pondering that, I offered another raisin to the slime.

“Love it!!”

The slime became even more attached to my fingers as I held out the raisins.

“Wow, it’s really happy,” I said.

Yeah, I’m glad you liked it.

I told Meir-san that I might need to rent cows or bulls sometime, so she should please excuse me, and then I left the Tamer Guild stables.

In the end, I wasn’t able to obtain the horse manure or cow manure that were potential fertilizer candidates, but I was satisfied because the slime was so adorable.

Now, about the fertility Worm, which is supposed to disappear in an instant like lightning.

Why is it still here?

What does this mean?

She told me I should talk to it…

If possible, I’d like you to go away, quickly and peacefully, without any fuss.

Alright, I’ll try to have a conversation with it. What does ‘seduce’ even mean; should I just praise it to get it to agree?

My words can reach it. Surely, they’ll understand. Translator-san, please help.

“You’re so blue and beautiful.”

“so c- cute…”

“That, looks like you’re wearing a bandage, and it’s so cool.”

“You’re huge.”

“Your slimy is amazing.”

“Totally banged up body!”

Nope, that’s not working.

I tried my best, but I have no idea what kind of compliment would really hit home.

But then, it seems like one of the words of praise struck a chord with one of the worms.

The individual that appeared to have heard my voice started to twist its body and puff out its chest—like a proud pose. Well, I have no idea which part of its chest it was, or if it was actually voluptuous or not.

“Food. Delicious food. Can you give?”

Oh! I heard a voice!

“I’ll give you some food.”

Most likely, it liked the mushroom compost I offered.

“I’m giving this to you, so after you eat it, can you all go home right away?”

Thinking that it would be fine as a bargaining chip, I offered them just a tiny amount—about a single yen’s worth of mushroom compost.

“Food. Happy. Go home. Why?”

Honestly, I’m a bit scared with all these worms around.

“Well, it’s a bit too much,” I said honestly.

And then, the fertility worms, led by the proud one, started a meeting.

I think I might have said something wrong. Did they interpret that as “It’s okay if some stay behind”?

The debate grew heated: “I’ll stay,” “I’ll stay,” “We all stay.”

And,

In the end, the discussions failed to reach an agreement and they all decided to stay.

　

The fertility Worms wiggled together and transformed into a single blue dragon.

It shimmered with a metallic sheen, changing colors from blue-purple to green and gold, sparkling beautifully—it was a very cool dragon.

No, no, no, wait—!

I wanted to shout, “That’s not supposed to happen!”

Sure, I could accept a snake turning into a dragon.

It’s easy to believe that a snake evolving into a dragon makes sense.

Or a carp evolving into a dragon—I get that.

But worms turning into dragons? That’s just too much.

I have this thing about dragons—an admiration, a sense of awe. I really want you to understand—that’s a dragon. I have deep feelings about them.

I know that the earthworm is called ‘tǔ lóng’ (土竜) in Chinese. But wait—aren’t moles called “土竜” too? In China, that term actually refers to earthworms, not moles. Moles love earthworms, so perhaps that’s why it was mistakenly used for moles in Japan, or something like that.”

Also, I looked it up and found out the Chinese medicinal name for earthworms is—“地龍” (Earth Dragon)—which sounds pretty cool.

But once you learn where that name comes from, it loses some of its flair.

Apparently, a doctor in the olden days prescribed earthworms to treat a high-ranking person, and when asked what the medicine that cured him was made of, he thought that if he told them he had made them eat earthworms, they would get angry, so he decided to make up a cool name to cover it up! That’s the name he gave it! This is just information I read online, so I don’t know if it’s true or not, but such a random name…

Ah, but thunder and dragons are deeply connected, after all…

The “lucky blue lightning”—just hearing that, it’s easy to imagine a blue dragon, right?

Wait—I just realized— it’s a combination of “luck” and “plowing” ? That’s interesting.

I was so surprised that I eventually came full circle and calmed down.

“A dragon would be too conspicuous.”

I don’t think it’s right for a dragon to be near a town like this.

“I’m an earthworm, you know?”

Oh, maybe because it’s fused, its speech has become smoother.

Sure, the actual body might be an earthworm, but I’d really prefer it not to be a dragon…

But I feel guilty toward earthworms, so I’m weak.

As I grumble, suddenly—

“well then, Is this okay?”

It transformed into a human form, about the size of a first grader, with blue hair and purple eyes. It looks like a boy? Or a girl? I can’t tell.

Wait—aren’t earthworms hermaphroditic? So, is it a “boy girl” now?

“Or maybe this?”

It changed into a tiny lizard.

Its tail is blue and sparkling, and very pretty.

“Umm, I’ll go with the lizard, please.”

A dragon would be a no-go.

“Nice to meet you.”

A gentle bond was formed.

And finally, I needed to give it a name—

“Mimi.”

And I realize—I have no talent for naming.

And so, by some stroke of luck, I ended up getting my hands on a cultivator.

Its true nature is a little odd, but basically it’s a cute little lizard, very eco-friendly, and happy with just soil as food. And it’s fine with mushroom compost occasionally.

The compliment it seems to like best is “Totally banged up body!”

From now on, I’ll keep praising it.

What other kind of praises are there like that? Something like, “it keeps me up at night,” or something similar?

But wait—I had planned to get it to go home peacefully, quietly, and smoothly. How did it turn out like this?

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