第665話 Sweet Watermelon
I approach one of the round watermelons in the direction the Spirits are pointing.
The watermelons here are round orbs with glossy green skin and stripes of dark green, almost black, a bit smaller than the Japanese watermelons I remember.
They’re much sweeter than the watermelons originally here. Though the sugar content is lower compared to Japanese watermelons. In the first place, the watermelons here are bitter before they’re sweet.
If you keep watermelons in a cool, shaded place, they last for weeks, or even months at most, mainly for moisture storage.
It seems that the people of Es have a custom of offering watermelons at graves, believing that the deceased will need moisture during their long journey in the afterlife.
Bitter watermelons were used as diuretics, or chilled rinds were placed on the foreheads of children with heatstroke to reduce fever, and they were used in various other ways. I researched a lot when I first tried to make sweet watermelons.
The diuretic and antipyretic effects—promoting blood circulation, making it easier to release excess heat from the body, which is an indirect antipyretic effect—remain the same. Sticking the rind on the forehead is a bit sticky because it’s sweet now, but it should be fine.
Just like the original bitter watermelons, there’s a high possibility that effects other than as food will be sought after, so I checked that out.
The watermelon in front of me is round and doesn’t seem to have any holes.
“Ex-Staff?”
“Aye aye, sir!”
I flip the watermelon over with the Ex-Staff.
There was a hole. There were fluffy white and black things. What are they, what kind of Spirits? They’re round like watermelons, and fluffy like they’re made of fur. What is it, a fur charm? Like those round fur keychains attached to women’s winter bags.
Those black and white ones are moving fluffily inside the watermelon. And as they fluff, the flesh disappears.
A watermelon-eating Spirit??
『Um, can you talk?』
Fluff fluff.
…It understands what I’m saying, but it’s the type that can’t talk, huh?
“Master, this is a new Spirit.”
“Huh?”
Fluff fluff.
The Spirit fluffs in response to what the Ex-Staff said.
“It feels like it was born from the power that some human with strong Magic Power leaked out? Its existence is faint, and it wasn’t created intentionally.”
“Is that so?”
“Yeah, probably!”
The Ex-Staff grins.
It said “probably,” but I’m sure it’s certain. Or rather, the Ex-Staff has the ability to distinguish the nature of Spirits?
“Master?”
The Ex-Staff smiles.
Sorry, I don’t really remember any performance other than “kon kon,” or rather, I’ll try my best to remember.
“—In this vicinity, the human with strong Magic Power would be Karn? Does the ‘King’s Branch’ have the effect of creating Spirits in addition to attracting them?”
“It does, but this is different. The ‘King’s Branch’ can properly grasp the Spirits it creates. Because they’re connected!”
I see?? Like a Retainer. If it was a Spirit created by Karn, he would immediately realize if there was a problem with the watermelons, so as the Ex-Staff says, it probably isn’t Karn.
“Then Haulon?”
“I don’t know about that!”
The Ex-Staff laughs heartily.
I cut the watermelon from the vine, along with the Spirit fluffing inside the watermelon orb. For now, let’s show it to Haulon. Even if I show it to him, he’ll probably just see a Ball of Light, but if it’s a Spirit born from Haulon, he might be able to see its form.
“Master, watermelon, watermelon. I want to eat!”
“Ah, then let’s eat one before we go.”
A taste test, a taste test.
“Let’s choose a sweet one.”
“Okay!”
I put the fluff-filled watermelon aside for now, and choose a watermelon with the happy-looking Ex-Staff.
“What kind is sweet?”
“First, let’s look for one that’s bigger than the small ones, with clear stripes.”
“Ooh!”
I look around the Watermelon Field.
The Spirit on top of the watermelon waves its hand. Which one has clear stripes on its clothes? The stripes are easier to distinguish than on the actual watermelon.
“Master, that one, that one.”
“Ah, that looks good.”
When I look in the direction the Ex-Staff is pointing, there’s a Spirit wearing a dress with clear stripes sitting on a watermelon.
“Excuse me.”
I stroke the watermelon itself. It seems like it’s good if the darker stripes are slightly raised and bumpy.
The round part of the butt where the Flower was attached is big, and the vine should be thin, right? And then it makes a light sound when you tap it.
Kon kon with the Ex-Staff.
“How is it?”
“…”
I can’t tell if it’s light or not!
The Ex-Staff’s eyes are sparkling with expectation.
[Appraisal]! —In other words, cheating!!!!! Now was the time to use it!
“This watermelon is the right one. It’s sweet.”
“Okay! Can I cut it open?”
“Of course.”
I tapped it with the Ex-Staff, cut it open, and ate it. It was very sweet.