Reunion and a Promise

Ann and the others seemed to notice that Cal and I were flying, and waved toward us. We flew just above the surface of the sea and drew close enough to converse.

"Hey, King. Little Cal looks well too."

"Likewise, I'm glad to see you all doing well, members of the 'Blue-Scaled Pirate Crew.' So, what brings you here? You said you would come to the exhibition, but this seems awfully early..."

"Of course we'll go to the exhibition. Separately, though, we're thinking of using this continent as a base while we search for something. That's why we stopped by."

Hmm, Ann and the others seemed to have their own reasons. Searching for something, huh...? I wouldn't mind helping, but the fact that she deliberately obscured it by calling it 'something we're looking for' made me curious. Perhaps she wanted to keep what they were searching for a secret. I should ask, at least.

"If you need help with your search, I can lend a hand. The event only requires tending a flowerpot, so I'll have free time once the city's reconstruction is complete."

"No, it's all right. The thought's appreciated, but we can manage on our own."

As expected, she gently refused. If I tried to force the information out of her, I would sour the mood, so I decided to leave the subject there. Perhaps I should offer them a piece of information instead. This was something we were better off sharing with each other, after all.

"I see. Then good luck. If you need more potions or equipment repaired, you should ask Iris and Shiitake. They'll probably want items that can only be obtained underwater in exchange, though."

"That's mighty helpful. We'll take you up on it."

"Also, remember the place where we fought that horde of Hell Beasts? Something interesting is happening there."

"Oh? Tell me about it while we make our way to shore."

We started moving. While we did, I told them about Felphenir-sama—how the Dragon Emperor had collapsed a hill to build a nest over the Hell Hole, and how she would take us to Hell without a fuss if we asked.

Ann and her companions reacted enthusiastically. They eagerly asked what Hell was like and what enemies we had encountered. It would be hard not to be interested in a completely unknown field. I prefaced my account by explaining that I had fought a Hell Beast only once and had only just begun exploring, then went into detail about Hell's environment.

At that point, I deliberately did not tell them how Felphenir-sama took us to Hell. If they had heard from someone about the experience of being wrapped in a tongue with an oddly pleasant fragrance, the impact would have been considerably diminished.

I wanted them to experience the same feelings we had. And I wanted to hear their impressions... If I had had a face, I surely would have been wearing a very wicked expression.

"Sounds interesting. I don't much like leaving the sea, but I suppose we'll go take a peek too."

"If you find any items you don't need, I'll buy or trade for them. Oh, by the way, what did you plant in your flowerpots? If you don't mind, tell me."

"Sure. Here."

Ann agreed breezily and pulled up a cord dangling from the orca's saddle, the one she was riding. At its end was a flowerpot tied to the cord. The pot was filled with a large amount of sand and seashells, as well as seaweed and a seedling growing from its center with pale purple flowers.

Ah... So that's what this is. Are they growing it underwater—or rather, in the sea? Since Ann and the others operate at sea, they must be developing plants that can grow in seawater. When I looked back, every member of the 'Blue-Scaled Pirate Crew' was growing a different crop the same way.

"So, underwater cultivation, more or less... By the way, what kind of vegetable is yours, Ann?"

"This is an eggplant. Each crew member is growing a vegetable or fruit they like."

"If it grows well, it might become a crop with useful effects for activities underwater... I can imagine Shiitake wanting to buy it if it produced seeds."

"That depends on the price. We might sell it as a material rather than as seeds, you know. But it's definitely too early to talk about that before it's finished."

While Ann and I counted our chickens before they'd hatched, we reached the continent's shore. We parted ways, and I returned to the palace while checking today's results. Then I logged out. What a fulfilling day it had been, more than I expected.

◆◇◆◇◆◇

I logged in. Let's see how the flowerpot is doing... Whoa, it's grown even more, and its shape has changed again! Its bark was even rougher and more dragon-scale-like, and several lumps had formed on its surface. The lumps seemed to be clumps of sap, shining like bright-red crystals.

White spheres floated inside the lumps, making them look like eyeballs. Ooh, wonderfully creepy—just my kind of thing. It had grown to about a meter tall, and perhaps because I had started moving, it was vigorously shaking its branches. As expected, it seemed to be obtaining information from outside by some means.

I took a glass bottle filled with 'Scorching Hellblood of Resentment' from my inventory and slowly poured it over the flowerpot. The sapling shook its branches happily. I think I can recognize that as happiness solely because I've become accustomed to Iris's tentacles. You never know what experiences in life will prove useful.

"That should do it... Whoa! What are you doing!?"

I had watered it with one bottle, but the sapling began whacking me repeatedly with its branches. Could it be complaining that this wasn't enough? One bottle had been sufficient yesterday... I suppose I can't help it, since it's grown.

I hurried to the courtyard and drew enough from the blood fountain, whose volume had increased slightly, to fill every glass bottle I had. Then I returned to my room and resumed watering. The sapling was satisfied after four more bottles—that is, five bottles total including the first. Hmm, apparently it had suddenly become a big eater. I'd better stock up on extra bottles for tomorrow and beyond.

"Its branches have filled out nicely too... Maybe it's a little too bushy. Pruning means... er, cutting off unnecessary branches... Would you mind that?"

Its branches had lengthened and its leaves had multiplied as it grew taller, so I thought it might need pruning and asked it directly. Before I could even finish, it bristled its bark in defiance. It's so convenient when something understands speech.

Still, pruning really does involve cutting branches, so it might be frightening to a tree. But it isn't simply about injuring a tree. It shapes its appearance, improves air circulation, and encourages growth. I'm an amateur, but since the sapling understands words, I should be able to cut only the branches it considers troublesome. I'll try to persuade it a little more.

"I imagine you understand your own body, but, for example, these two branches are caught against each other, right? If they keep growing like this, it won't be good for either branch. I hear they'll grow poorly or become more prone to disease. Are you still okay with that?"

When I explained the benefits of pruning that I'd researched online yesterday, the sapling shook its branches as if troubled. Oh! The fact that it was troubled meant my persuasion was having an effect. It looked like it might accept soon.

"I'm an amateur, so I plan to cut only branches you don't need. Just tell me which ones have grown too long and are bothering you. Do you still not like the idea?"

If that didn't work, persuasion would be impossible. Just as I thought that, the sapling drooped its branches as if resigned, while holding several branches straight out. It apparently wanted me to cut those. All right! I succeeded in persuading it!

I took out and equipped the great scythe from my inventory. This great scythe was one of the few bladed weapons I possessed. I had nearly reached the level of mastery in handling it. I was confident I could cut the branches with pinpoint precision, but... perhaps from fear, the sapling trembled its branches while bristling its bark.

...Come on, trust me a little. I'm raising you, not treating you like a weed, you know? This is sad.

"Don't move, okay? If you do, I'll cut more branches than intended... Here goes."

I lightly swung the great scythe, but the sapling bent sharply backward and dodged. Hey! Dodging defeats the purpose! I raised the great scythe again... and then realized. My scythe had an extremely dangerous effect.

【Soul Absorption】 and 【Defiled Blood】 had effects that absorbed magic power and inflicted status ailments, respectively. They were far too dangerous for pruning the sapling. Since it was planted in a goddess-made flowerpot, I didn't think it would wither, but this had clearly been a mistake in judgment. When I put the scythe away in my inventory, the sapling drooped its branches in relief.

"Sorry. I'll bring a normal... no, a sharp blade. Wait here."

I went straight to Iris's workshop. As part of the city's reconstruction, we had built it in a secluded part of the palace. It was spacious and equipped with a great many specialized tools. She manufactured various weapons and armor there almost every day.

Towa was here as her assistant. She had previously been Shiitake's assistant too, but apparently she was nearly destroyed when Iris involved her in an accident during an experiment with a new drug. To make sure nothing like that ever happened again, Iris had taken Towa away, saying she would help whenever extra hands were needed. Iris would surely make a good mother.

"Huh? Izamu. What brings you here?"

"I have a small favor to ask. I'd like... pruning shears. As quickly as possible, if you can."

"For the event, right? I thought something like this might happen, so... Ta-da!"

As she supplied her own sound effect, Iris pulled out a pair of shears. Their design was unusual: both of the intersecting blades were curved. They weren't the flower scissors my grandmother had used for ikebana long ago; they were exactly like the pruning shears the old man who lived nearby had used for bonsai.

A spring had been built into the grip, so after squeezing it to cut branches and leaves, simply releasing my grip returned it to its original position. Iris really was dexterous... But the grip was strangely large, which made me curious. There was probably another secret hidden here too.

"These aren't ordinary pruning shears, you know? Attach this special attachment here, and—abracadabra! They transform into long-reach pruning shears!"

"...Is this an infomercial?"

"Hehe... I just wanted to try that. Here you go."

Iris responded shyly to my quip. In any case, I had obtained pruning shears. I would gratefully put them to use. Still, I felt awkward accepting them for nothing. I should ask whether there was anything I could do to help.

"Thanks. Is there anything you'd like me to do in return?"

"Hmm, let's see... Oh! Are you free tomorrow? There's a small favor I'd like to ask."

"Hmm, I should be fine as long as I don't have to work overtime. So, what is it?"

"It's a secret."

Was the favor itself a secret? I was a little uneasy, but I was the one who had offered to repay her for the pruning shears. Besides, if it was a request from Iris of all people, I couldn't refuse. Surely Iris wouldn't make me do anything outrageous. I agreed to her request and returned to my room.