Chapter 37: Ingredients I Knew
“You’ve brought back quite a lot again.”
I murmured to myself as I stared at the massive pile of magic stones spread before me. Among them were a few unusually large ones that practically gleamed with latent power.
It was the result of being away on adventures for such a long stretch. She’d put in the effort, and now I’d reap the rewards. I’d better make good use of them.
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Geo’s Home Garden
Level 25 49／125
Garden Area: 1000／840000000
Skills: Wall Creation, Barrier Generation, Guardian Summon, Mega Guardian Summon, Garden Concealment, Garden-to-Garden Transfer, Garden Relocation
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〈Level Up!〉
〈Skill Acquired: Garden Relocation〉
〈New crops are now cultivable〉
It seemed I had finally reached level 25.
“Garden Relocation? Sounds similar… but how is it different from Garden-to-Garden Transfer?”
For some reason, I’d never been able to use Garden-to-Garden Transfer, no matter how much I tried. So what about this new skill?
“Garden Relocation… does that mean I can actually move the garden itself?”
…Honestly, I didn’t quite understand what that meant.
There was no way something like this could actually move—
〈Do you wish to enter Relocation Mode?〉
W-what? Relocation Mode?
I didn’t really know what was happening, but I hesitantly nodded.
The moment I did, I suddenly felt my body lift upward, as if I had risen about thirty centimeters off the ground.
“Nyah!?”
Milk, startled, clung to me with wide eyes.
“Huh? What just happened?”
I peeked into the garden, but everything seemed normal. Or… wait, was the roof of the neighboring house just a little lower than before?
A bad feeling crept over me, and I dashed outside. That’s when I saw it.
The entire plot of my house had risen—about thirty centimeters—as though it were a floating island.
“…Huh?”
〈Do you want to move the garden?〉
“…Just a little, toward me.”
I whispered timidly, and to my shock, the house shifted a few centimeters closer, exactly as I had requested.
“P-please put it back!”
And, just as expected, it returned to its original position.
“…Wow… incredible, but there’s no way I could actually use this.”
It was an absurdly powerful skill, yet there was no way I could risk moving my entire house somewhere else. Someone seeing that would cause a major scandal.
I decided then and there to seal this skill away.
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“Ah, excellent! You’ve come at last! Welcome, welcome!”
With nervous anticipation, Shifa and her party were guided through the castle halls. They were led into a lavishly decorated room, where they were met by a ten-year-old girl with a disturbingly commanding presence.
“A child? Where’s the lord of this domain?”
Shifa asked, and the young girl, sitting deeply in her chair, laughed heartily.
“Ahahaha! I am right here, in front of you!”
“Eh? But… you look just like a child.”
“I have long since passed my sixtieth year, mind you.”
“““Ehhh!?”””
When the group collectively gasped, the girl’s expression shifted to one of quiet satisfaction.
“It’s understandable to be surprised. And no, I am not of the Popit tribe or anything of the sort. I am entirely human.”
“Then… why do you look like this?”
“I cannot speak in detail, but due to certain circumstances… I appear in this form.”
Her name was Elisabeth Arcel, the rightful lord of this city, holding the rank of viscount.
Originally, her older brother had been the lord, but after his untimely death and with no heirs, Elisabeth ascended to the position over forty years ago.
“Well, well, enough about me. The reason I summoned you is far more important. You have achieved tremendous results in dungeon exploration, greatly contributing to the development of my territory. I wished to express my gratitude.”
Elisabeth, clearly a person who disliked unnecessary preambles, quickly moved to the main point.
“Moreover, I’ve heard that just the other day, you used a new potion to conquer the underwater area. Quite impressive, truly admirable.”
Rising from her chair, she clapped her hands together, her tone shifting to one of excitement.
“Let us hear the full account of your feats over a meal! Prepare it at once.”
“Yes, my lady,” came the reply.
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“Looks delicious! Mmm!”
Sena, unable to contain herself, began salivating over the lavish spread of dishes laid before them.
“Sena…!”
Anii tried to scold her, but Elisabeth merely laughed indulgently.
“Worry not about manners. Eat as much as you wish.”
“Yay! Thank you!”
Following the lady’s permission, Sena dove in without the slightest hesitation, gripping her knife and fork with eager anticipation.
“D-delicious! My lady, this is incredible!”
“Indeed, indeed, I see it suits your taste.”
“But… this meat… I feel like I’ve eaten it somewhere before…”
“W-wait!”
Anii panicked at Sena’s brazen comment, yet beside her, Shifa was examining the ingredients with rapt attention.
“Wait… this is…”
“Hey, Shifa! Don’t you dare…! The lord’s meal using the same ingredients as us… wait?”
Anii’s eyes widened as she realized something. The ingredients closely resembled those used in her sister’s diner—a local eatery she often visited.
“Ah? What’s the matter?”
“N-nothing, nothing at all! Still, it’s incredibly delicious! The cooking technique is, of course, excellent, but the ingredients themselves… they’re on another level!”
“Ah, you have a keen eye. In fact, a certain merchant supplied these special ingredients. A Popit merchant, no less. How they produce them, however, they refuse to say.”
(It’s him! It’s definitely him! It’s Geo’s!), the three of them thought in perfect unison.
Meanwhile, Merlin silently continued her internal prayer, whispering the name of her assistant over and over.
(I want to see Denis-chan… I want to see Denis-chan… I want to see Denis-chan…)