Chapter 29

Exiting from the back of the guild main building and heading towards a separate building on the left, we pass the front and go around to the side.

We arrive at a flowerbed with nothing planted. I realize for the first time that there’s a place like this.

I stand next to her, not knowing why I was called or what we’re about to do.

“Mizuki, can you use magic?”

I’m taken aback by the sudden question about using magic.

Did we talk about magic during the tea party the other day? —I don’t remember, but considering the report about the attack must have been filed, she probably knows about it.

“Uh, which one…”

“Can you manipulate earth and produce water?”

“With earth, I can dig holes and make mounds. And for water, I can shoot it out like bullets.”

“…How about controlling water flow or sprinkling, for instance?”

“It wasn’t in the books.”

“I see… well, that’s fine.”

She doesn’t seem particularly concerned.

“Can you make the earth soft for me?”

“Eh!?”

Suddenly, I’m presented with a task.

I’ve only tested earth magic once during a crisis, confirming that I can lift and lower the earth. 

As I touch the soil in the flowerbed, it does seem a bit hard. Perhaps it hasn’t been used for a long time.

After thinking for a moment, I realize I can only lift and lower the soil, so I might as well give it a try.

I crouch down, touching the ground with my head in a bowing position—

“What are you doing!?”

Tinameril seems genuinely surprised by the unexpected gesture.

Well, if someone suddenly bows before you, anyone would probably ask for an explanation.

“Um… my magic activation is a bit strange, and it doesn’t work properly unless I do it from my forehead.”

I answer while still bowing.

If someone were watching from afar, they would undoubtedly think I’m apologizing to the deputy guild leader in an unusual manner.

—No one is witnessing this, right!?

She might find the reason strange, but she just looks down at me with a face that doesn’t express amusement or surprise.

I don’t have a hobby of kneeling in front of beautiful women and rejoicing… I hope I don’t develop any strange preferences.

I try lifting and lowering the soil a few times.

A one-meter-square area goes up and down with a thud… thud…

The sight of the ground sinking and repairing itself repeatedly is peculiar.

After finishing, I touch the soil— it hasn’t become significantly softer.

I inadvertently look up at Tina Meril, but she gives me a look as if asking, “Is it not done yet?”

Feeling apologetic, I stand up and decide to try water magic this time.

I thought it would become softer if I moistened it.

Splash!

However, the firing speed is too fast, and the soil from the flowerbed scatters around.

She instinctively recoils, and there’s a chance that some of the soil might have splashed onto Tinameril.

“Ah.”

Realizing my mistake, I quickly look at her. She seems a bit surprised and annoyed.

“I’m sorry!”

I apologize loudly in a panic.

Fortunately, it seems the soil didn’t reach her.

However, I feel down because I couldn’t use magic effectively and meet her expectations.

I happen to pick up a piece of wood lying near the flowerbed and start digging the soil vigorously.

“H-How about it? Something like this?”

“…It’s fine.”

Her words, spoken after a short silence, make me feel like she’s saying, “Well, it can’t be helped.”

Instead of showing something impressive in front of her, I end up demonstrating my uselessness…

Earth magic… It really isn’t of much use.

She hands me the Glorio Grass she was holding and gestures for me to plant it in the soil.

There were a dozen or so of them, and it seemed that several days had passed since they were brought here… they looked almost withered.

But somehow, I could sense the intention.

Following her instructions, I stab them into the soil, feeling as if I’m planting seedlings.

“Mizuki, did you read the book I gave you?”

Internally, I felt a flutter, but I replied with a slightly bashful “Yes.”

“Then, have you memorized ‘Growth Magic’?”

“Um… well… please wait a moment.”

I pat the soil off my hands, take out a piece of paper from my waist pouch, and transcribe only the magic spells from the book I received. I can’t carry that entire book with me everywhere.

“I transcribed it onto this paper.”

“Good. Now, give it a try.”

“Eh?”

A sudden request for practical application, but her expression seems to say, “You can do it, can’t you?”

“Well, I’ve never used it before…”

She looked towards the flowerbed and pointed towards the center.

“The location, huh… around here, I guess.”

She wasn’t really paying attention to my story.

The failure from earlier crossed my mind — this time, I hope it goes well.

With an anxious expression, I brought my head close to the indicated area and chanted a spell — in Elvish.

《Encourage the growth of itself.》

The current drawback of my magic is that it activates from the forehead.

Shooting projectiles like water or stones allows me to see the results with my eyes, but using magic while lying on the ground leaves me blind to the situation.

Moreover, this… doesn’t seem to shine like a healing spell. Is it really activating properly?

Since it’s the first time using this magic, I don’t know how long I should keep it up.

However, sensing my uncertainty, Ms. Tinameril gives instructions.

“Stay in that posture just as you are.”

She seems to be observing the situation. I continued the prostration position according to her instructions for about a minute.

“Good, you can stop now.”

I ceased and stood up.

Then, brushing off the dirt from my knees and forehead, I looked at the field beside her—

What a surprise!

Vibrant Glorio grass was there.

Crimson petals arched upwards, blooming into flowers that resembled flames.

“Whoa, what’s this?”

“Hehe… you used it quite well, Mizuki.”

The broken stems straightened, and the scattered petals rejoined.

I was amazed by the “Growth Magic” I saw for the first time—simultaneously relieved that I used it effectively.

She observed me intently.

“What… is it?”

“Hmm.”

She seemed slightly surprised by my condition.

Was it strange that I, who had been downcast, became lively…?

Then, Tinameril explained about this magic.

This “Growth Magic” is a spell that accelerates the growth of plants, allowing one to sprout seeds, hasten the growth of seedlings, and even restore vitality to wilting plants.

The Glorio grass we bought seemed to look withered, but apparently, it wasn’t truly withered. So, it seems I used the magic to revitalize it.

“But, the roots were cut, right?”

“Plants can take root even without roots, you know.”

“Hmm, is it something like roots growing through cuttings?”

“You know about that, don’t you?”

“Well, this is grass.”

She gave me a look like I was saying something weird.

I see, so even grass can take root if you stick it in the soil. Well, I didn’t take biology, so I wouldn’t know…

“Huh? Has it taken root?”

She instructed me to collect one, so I dug into the soil and pulled out a plant.

“Oh! Thick roots… it’s like a potato. Ah, right, it’s blooming. It’s completely back to normal.”

Then, I remembered the value of this grass.

“Wait, this grass…”

As I shifted my gaze to her, she was still watching me intently.

I wondered if I did something strange and closed my mouth.

“To be honest, I didn’t think it would grow until it bloomed.”

“Huh?”

“I thought reaching the point of taking root and getting healthy was the limit.”

Ah, I see.

It seems like quite a mana-consuming magic — no, it doesn’t!

It’s strange enough for a human to be using elf magic.

“Mizuki… you seem to possess a considerable amount of mana.”

“…It appears so.”

Tinameril looked at me squatting down without asking any more questions.

“Leave one and dig up the rest.”

“Um… any particular reason for leaving one?”

“Apply ‘Growth Magic’ once again.”

“Yes.”

Having a vague idea, I used the magic again in a prostration position.

“That’s good.”

This time, I could see dried sheaths splitting open, revealing red grains.

“Are these seeds?”

“Yes. You catch on quickly.”

She seemed a bit pleased.

“Collect them and keep them.”

I quickly grasped the situation.

This could work for cultivation alchemy… I calculated in my head.

However, she quickly saw through me.

“Mizuki, you’re a guild employee, remember? Don’t think about anything inappropriate.”

“Eh!?”

As I looked up at her with dissatisfaction, she smiled while looking at me.

“Do it properly.”

“Alright.”

This exchange was quite enjoyable.

While harvesting the seeds, I suddenly remembered something and decided to ask.

“Tinameril, you mentioned something about being able to extract components from the stems of this grass. Is that true?”

“I don’t know.”

I involuntarily turned to look at her.

Seeing her expression of not knowing about it, I couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

“You’re quite the character…”

I felt like I had regained some points, and the intimacy between her and me seemed to have increased a bit.

“I’m back.”

In my hands, I held freshly harvested Glorio grass that I had just collected.

“Mizuki-san, that…”

“Yeah, well…”

The grass that had almost withered with no roots when I left had now taken root and become freshly harvested upon my return.

It would be impossible not to be surprised.

The chief looked at me in disbelief.

Previous chapter | TOC | Next chapter