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Chapter 63

Chapter 63

Several days passed after the base was built, and nothing unusual occurred. It seemed there had been no suspicion that I had overdone things and might be some kind of monster.

Since then, Green Sprout and Pink Sprout have been taking turns monitoring Nikolaus. However, Pink Sprout is apparently beloved by the villagers as a helper and cannot neglect those friendly ties, so the primary watcher remains Green Sprout.

(Hm? …It feels like a signal is coming. Since it’s Green Sprout, does it have something to do with Nikolaus-san…?)

The little sprouts can send signals to me, so whenever they have some sort of message, it reaches me. I don’t know the details, but I can at least tell that something is happening.

I was just about to synchronize with Green Sprout to check when a large presence approached, and I immediately understood the content. …I see, it was advance notice that Nikolaus was heading toward this house.

「Ah, the magician-sama is coming? I’ll go greet him.」

Seeing me suddenly stand up and check myself in the mirror for anything out of place, Noel seemed to sense Nikolaus’s visit. He went outside to welcome him.

If I know Nikolaus is coming, it’s become a habit to put on a veil. Even a single layer of cloth makes a difference, just enough of a barrier to give me a bit more peace of mind.

(A board I can write on… and the small vial of medicine he gave me before… I don’t need to prepare anything else, right?)

I placed them on the table and finished preparing, but then anxiety crept in. What if he glared at me in a bad mood again? Was there anything else I should have done? In any case, Nikolaus is scary.

(…Maybe I should just put flowers on the table as a sort of screen…)

Creating an obvious wall of plants would be too blatant, but if I placed a large bloom or arranged a cluster of small flowers in the center of the table, perhaps I could create a subtle little barrier without arousing suspicion,

Just as I was thinking that, the door opened and Noel returned with Nikolaus.

Behind them, Green Sprout saluted, then disappeared from view as the door closed. …I should have placed one of the little sprouts on the table. If I opened the door behind them now to fetch one, they might think what the hell is she doing and get suspicious.

(I, I didn’t make it in time…!)

I’d come up with such a good idea, yet there wasn’t enough time to carry it out. I cried out internally in despair, but no one could hear it. If they did, they would die, so it’s better that they can’t.

Noel went into the kitchen to prepare tea for the guest, leaving me alone. Before I could even offer him a seat, Nikolaus sat down as if it were only natural, and I had no choice but to sit across from him. …Next time, I will definitely decorate the table with flowers as a partition. He’s just too scary.

「…Looks like you drank it properly.」

(Yes… Ah, I should write a thank-you, right…?)

I wrote on the magical board he had given me. I added 「Thank you」 and also 「It was delicious」 including my impression. He snorted at that. …Well, he doesn’t seem angry, so it’s probably fine.

「Today… I’ll talk about work first. There’s one request for you from the country.」

(Um… what could it be? Last time it was about cooperating in defense, but…)

Is it additional work? Or did I overdo things at the base and draw suspicion, and now they’re going to detain me or summon me for questioning? If that happens, should I run with all my strength, or pretend to comply while thinking of a way to slip away?

As I trembled inside with fear, Nikolaus let out an exasperated sigh.

「Don’t just smile and accept everything. If it’s impossible, you can refuse. …Using too much magic power is poisonous for us.」

(Ah, from that tone, it’s about work…? That’s a relief. But is it such a difficult job?)

「…Here’s the letter. In short, they want you to prepare purifying flowers to export to the neighboring country. If you can continue securing them afterward, they’d like as many as possible.」

Since I can’t read modern script, Nikolaus carefully explained it to me.

Currently, because poisonous and curse-type monsters have increased, the demon realm has become a contaminated zone. But on this side, the purifying flowers I’ve grown are holding back the contamination, so there’s no impact here. Although the purifying flowers are gradually expanding their range, they haven’t reached the opposite side.

(Ah, right… Of course. It’s not like the river exists only here. There’s a human country beyond the mountains too…)

I had simply happened to come to this side and forgotten that there might be a human nation beyond the mountains.

If that’s the case, then just like Bit Village when I first arrived, or Noel’s homeland, there could be human regions suffering terribly under the influence of the demon realm. …That would be awful.

「For now, Lusat isn’t suffering that severely. There’s a stretch of mountain range on that side. …Though that natural region is gradually being eroded, and after confirming our situation here, they’re discussing countermeasures.」

Apparently, there’s a country called Lusat beyond the mountains. Because there are no purifying flowers on that side, the demon realm is spreading there. In seeking a breakthrough, and coordinating with the Kingdom of Vaniria, which should have been in the same situation, they learned that thanks to the Flower Witch spreading purifying flowers, the erosion here has been halted. To prevent further expansion of the demon realm and to protect Lusat, they are requesting cooperation in supplying the flowers.

(Yes, that’s necessary. Of course. I’ll make as many purifying flowers as needed and send them.)

Purifying flowers require magic power to multiply. They grow freely here because this land overflows with magic power, but in regions inhabited by humans, they cannot spread on their own.

The ones here were created through my diversification ability, so if I command them and use magic power, they will multiply easily, but humans cannot cultivate them naturally. If they plant them all along the boundary of the demon realm, they can halt further poison and encroachment.

No matter how I think about it, it’s a necessary measure. I nodded firmly, but Nikolaus looked distinctly displeased.

「It’s one thing to suppress the demon realm’s erosion, but these ongoing demands for purifying flowers after that… They intend to use them to improve sanitation across the entire country. I don’t think you owe them that much.」

(Public health, huh. This village started with nothing but simple toilets and cesspits…)

Perhaps because it’s a remote countryside with few magical tools, Bit Village didn’t have proper water and sewage systems. Cities might be different, but if it’s about improving human sanitation, I don’t mind cooperating.

Surely everyone will be grateful to me and acknowledge that the Flower Witch is truly useful. I nodded again, but Nikolaus’s expression grew even more displeased. …Why?

「…Creating purifying flowers uses magic power, doesn’t it? I can’t multiply them like you can, since you’ve mastered plant magic. They’re relying entirely on you… and the amount they’re asking for isn’t small. At the very least, demand something in return. …You don’t seem interested in wealth, but isn’t there anything you need?」

(Hmm… something I need… Ah, then…)

The plant nutrient tonic Nikolaus had made and given to the little sprouts, that’s what I want. It’s probably more effective for me than magic recovery potions. I’ve never actually tasted it myself, even though I’m the main body.

If I say it’s for growing flowers, it shouldn’t seem unnatural to request it. Thinking that, I wrote on the board and showed it to Nikolaus.

『I want the nutrient tonic you made』

Seeing that, Nikolaus looked momentarily stunned, then lowered his head for some reason and let out a long sigh.

「…Fine. I’ll make as much as you want. I’ll have them prepare the finest ingredients and make it.」

With that, the deal was settled. While I signed the letter, Nikolaus kept turning his face away for some reason.