Chapter 460: The Research Enthusiast
On the rooftop of the tower, I slipped into the flowing hot water bath. While I was at it, I decided to do a light cleaning. Not that it was visibly dirty or anything; the water I was using was kept clean thanks to the Spirits I asked for help, so I could leave it be without worry.
Cleaning the bath is such a hassle…
That aside, it feels like the Spirits have been coming and going too much, and I have a nagging feeling that the stones used to build the tower are in trouble. But that’s probably just my imagination, right? Spirit Iron? No, Spirit Stone? That can’t be right.
Aotokage-kun has grown quite large, and it seems he can now traverse the island by climbing the castle walls and cobblestones. It feels like the Spirits are steadily thriving…
Most of the island’s Spirits have become Aotokage-kun’s retainers, so I can understand their size. As for the “House,” it’s the Gods and Note’s retainers. Note hasn’t grown larger but has taken on a humanoid form.
Now, what should I do about the Dragon Meat for everyone on the island? Cooking enough dishes for everyone would be a pain, and if I just handed over the meat, it would lose flavor without the Spirits’ help for the Changelings.
Maybe I should make jerky? Or perhaps Meat Pies? Jerky could be made thick from the fibrous chicken breast, and it might be nice to shred and eat it. As for the Meat Pies, I could make a lot of smaller ones—yeah, that sounds good.
If I make jerky, it would be convenient for Retze and the others when they go on Guild requests as preserved food, so I’ll make plenty.
On the island south of Kanum, the spring roses have already begun to bloom. The blue roses on the rooftop are a variety that didn’t exist in Japan, a deep, rich blue. In this world, the colors of flowers can be anything thanks to the Spirits’ influence.
Since I found them so rare, the gardener Charles gifted me some blue roses. The ones climbing the sunshade shelf near the entrance are also blue, but those are lighter and cuter. I even had a few white and soft pink roses mixed in.
I was surprised to see so many small, pom-pom-like flowers blooming, resembling peonies. I had thought my roses were beautiful but common, only to learn that here, most petals are single or double layered. It seems that’s all there is?
This is all thanks to the Spirit’s craftsmanship based entirely on my memories. I can only imagine how wild the standard rose shapes blooming in this place must be…
I suspect the flowers blooming in my “House” might be quite extraordinary. The shapes of the vegetables are also a bit concerning. I thought they wouldn’t change unless I crossbred them…!
Relaxing in the bath while gazing at the blue roses, the stars, and the sea. From walking on the Dragon Continent to dismantling, and the feast with the Earth Folk, I’ve been busier than usual.
The next day, it rained in Kanum.
It was perfect since I planned to lounge around. In the back of the Card Game Room, there’s a room with a bed. The rain fell quietly without wind, and even when I opened the shutters to let in some light, it didn’t blow in.
The thick stone walls of the house barely let the sound of rain through, but in this room, where the roof is close, I could hear the rain tapping on the tiles. I had the window open, after all.
With a cup of coffee on the side table and Daifuku curled up next to my pillow, I read a book while lounging around.
Just as I was enjoying my lazy day, Retze and Haulon showed up.
“You…”
As I opened the door to let them in, I noticed Retze looked a bit worn out.
“What’s up?”
What’s going on?
“This time, I’m accompanying you.”
When I glanced at Haulon, he had a nonchalant expression, as if to say, “Ufu.”
“Dragon meat!”
“Huh?”
It was rare to see Retze so fired up.
“That stuff has physical enhancement effects, right!?”
“…Does it?”
I knew about the presence of poison and whether it was delicious or not, but that was it.
“It does! There’s a legend that a body bathed in Dragon blood is impervious to weapons, so it wouldn’t be surprising if it had some effects.”
Haulon seemed relaxed this time. He looked like he was enjoying himself.
“Did you extract most of the Black Spirit? Is the Dragon meat unique?”
Did the Spirit’s influence linger in the meat?
“They say Dragons host various Spirits besides the Wind Spirit, right? With that non-flying form, it probably housed many Spirits suited for protection, like those of the earth, minerals, and rocks—before the Black Spirit possessed it.”
“Are you saying it was a Sacred Beast?”
I asked Haulon.
The Black Spirit possesses Demon Beasts, while ordinary Spirits possess Sacred Beasts. The difference in abilities isn’t particularly significant; it mostly comes down to whether they attack people or not.
“It’s not like it could take over its will like a Sacred Beast. I’ve seen Dragon Scale armor before, and it was inhabited by a mineral Spirit. I wonder if the Dragon’s body is a comfortable home for them?”
“Oh? So, the influence remained?”
“Considering its massive size, it only consumed a little, so the impact on those who ate it isn’t that significant. In fact, when we cut it, it sliced easily.”
Haulon stroked his arm.
“You cut it!?”
“Opposing any unsettling human experimentation!”
“For me, it’s a significant impact!”
Our shouts echoed, Retze and I.