Chapter 126: Monster Egg (Large)

Lilcarlia Trembled.

In Geo’s second household garden, an absurdly formidable gathering of people had somehow assembled.

(Last time I came here, they weren’t around, right? Which means… in just this short span…? What on earth is going on…)

Lilcarlia’s thoughts raced, only to be pierced further by Geo’s cold, matter-of-fact words.

“And there’s one strange wizard, too.”

(There’s still someone else!?) 

“Wait… that wizard… could it be the one who’s in that tower?”

Before them stood a lone tower, a structure that could only have been conjured by some form of powerful magic. The group approached it cautiously, stepping across the threshold.

“This statue… could it be… Miranda-san?”

(Miranda? That name sounds familiar… somewhere…)

A small demon, apparently a familiar, led them up the winding staircases of the tower. At its very top, they found a woman with hair the color of twilight.

“Ughhh! Damn it! No matter how many times you ask, I’m done with all this nonsense! Just go home already!”

A few men and women bowed their heads desperately, pleading to the woman who spat her frustration in every word.

“Miranda-sama! Please, don’t say that! The magical depths you’ve reached will shape the future of the magical world! I beg you to guide me in even a fraction of it!”

“I am certain that I am the one most worthy to inherit Miranda-sama’s magic! I implore you to teach me!”

“Miranda-samaaaa! Please! I’ll do anything! Anything at all!”

Lilcarlia stared, her eyes widening in shock.

The people bowing before her were legendary magicians, the very ones she knew by reputation.

(“The Fiery Beauty” Ansuria… “The Absolute Ice Tyrant” Elmonah… and “The Dark Spider” Rojinne… and more…)

Each carried a title reserved only for the absolute elite of magical society. And the fact that they were kneeling, begging to become disciples, pointed to one possibility in Lilcarlia’s mind.

“These wizards… could it be that Miranda is… the legendary…”

“Lilcarlia-san? Are you all right?”

“…This is completely out of control…”

“? Lilcarlia-san?”

At that moment, Geo’s words barely registered.

(The “Twilight Witch” Miranda… during the Great Human-Demon War, humanity’s forces were crushed by the demon army… yet she, alone, turned the tide and became the most powerful mage… why is she here…?)

Even after returning to Arcel, she couldn’t shake the dazed state that had gripped her.

“…It’s gotten… remarkably lively, hasn’t it? Weren’t we supposed to hide the Gifts as much as possible?”

“Of course, that was the plan… But, well… nobody should have come there, yet they did. Can’t really blame it on anyone.”

And then came the rumors she overheard.

“They just… gathered by themselves… that lineup… what kind of coincidence is that…?”

Lilcarlia gave up thinking.

(Well, maybe it’s all just my imagination. Yeah… that’s it, it has to be. I know nothing. I saw nothing.)

And so, she resolved to pretend she had seen nothing.

◇ ◇ ◇

“By the way, don’t you think it’s getting hard to keep these two here anymore?”

Anii’s comment hit home. Watching Milk and Pippi, I nodded in agreement.

“Meow?”

“Pip?”

They tilted their heads cutely, yet both had long since grown far taller than me. There was no mistaking it now—they were fully-grown magical creatures.

“Maybe I should move them to the second household garden. Though… everyone would probably be shocked… Oh! But I can double up the barrier, right? If I section it off, that should work.”

The corners of the garden were already in use. Setting aside the center for Milk and Pippi would give them plenty of space to run. The second household garden was massive, after all.

After Shiifa and Anii had left, I flew to the second garden with the two of them.

“First, let’s put up a barrier… alright. Next, I should build a house here.”

Using my house-creation skill, I summoned a dwelling in the very center of the second garden.

“This will be your home from today. Make yourselves comfortable.”

“Meow!”

“Pip-pip!”

Unlike the other house, it wasn’t furnished yet, so the two of them wouldn’t feel cramped despite their size.

“Right. While I’m at it… let’s try making that thing here too.”

“Meow?”

“Pip-pip?”

Before their curious eyes, I began cultivating the newly added crop on the list.

Monster Egg – Large

Yes. A new monster egg. Bigger than the egg from which Milk hatched (small), and Pippi’s egg (medium), this was a large monster egg.

I wondered what kind of creature would emerge. When the prompt asked, 

〈Do you wish to cultivate a Large Monster Egg?〉

I nodded eagerly.

“Meow!?”

“Pip!?”

“Whoa… it’s huge!”

We all froze in amazement.

The egg was roughly as tall as me. One could almost climb inside it…

“Could it be… an enormous monster will hatch from this…?”