Chapter 93: Wall Painting
As the branches I pruned during winter dried out, I tended to the field while enjoying a campfire. I had some sweet potatoes waiting to be tossed into the flames once the roaring fire dimmed to glowing embers.
The field was thriving, with the pea plants blooming beautifully. I had some snow peas to eat while they were still young, and I was also growing green peas. A few snap peas were planted, and the red peas were meant for sweet bean dishes.
Comparing the peas I took from the pantry to those in the field, the ones here were growing vigorously. While the pantry peas had more flowers, the vitality of these field peas was remarkable.
Peas are self-pollinating and don’t require other flowers, but the spirit of the peas flitted curiously between the two types of flowers, so I left it be. I didn’t feel up to the meticulous task of cutting the stamens and performing artificial pollination…
The small spirits that appeared in the field had distinct features that made it clear they were vegetable spirits. There was one wearing cabbage-like pants, another in a dress shaped like a pea flower—though it had no legs, making it look like that was its true form—and a round entity sprouting leaves like Italian parsley.
Humans offer magic power in the form of prayers or fears, allowing spirits resembling humanoid forms or nearby threats—like wolves or dragons—to gain strength. The strongest spirits, often referred to as gods, typically take on those forms, but the smaller spirits come in various shapes, creating a bit of chaos.
It seems that spirits don’t form from the vegetables in the pantry. They were created by the power of the gods from the start. While it’s said that strong attachments can lead to differentiation from that power, I was content as long as I could enjoy a delicious meal, so I didn’t foresee that happening.
Having spirits around seemed to deepen the color of the vegetables. The vibrant, fresh greens stood tall, their shapes beautiful down to the tips of the leaves.
Eggplants, potatoes, tomatoes, green onions, chili peppers… I also planted a few spring vegetables. The harvest would include shallots, cabbages, rapeseed flowers, and onions—everything was going smoothly.
Rishu sniffed at the onions I had dug up.
“Rishu, onions can make dogs sick—”
“Rishu is not a dog.”
Rudil appeared!
He once claimed to be my former master, but he still seems to adore Rishu, doesn’t he? I could tell he had a lot on his mind regarding the puppy form.
“Oh my, what wonderful vegetables!”
Pal had somehow made his way to the center of the field, inspecting the crops. The vegetables seemed to perk up even more in his wake.
I could see Ish watering the plants too. Thanks for the help right after arriving.
While I had seen spirits before, nothing this fantastical had happened in my field until those two showed up. Suddenly, strawberries that shouldn’t be bearing fruit yet were blooming white flowers, and before I knew it, bright red berries were swelling up.
Rudil stood next to Rishu, who was playing in the soft soil after harvesting the onions. I wondered what he was doing. Was he perhaps acting as a bodyguard?
I paused my work to prepare a salad. I made a dressing with shallots and white wine vinegar, tossing in lettuce and thinned baby greens. I grilled some onions, and for dessert, I had strawberries.
Some of the strawberries here had lost their bumpy surface and were starting to resemble the strawberries from Japan. I planned to let them ripen, save the seeds, and try to grow more of the strawberries I knew next year.
“Here’s the salad. It’s just a small portion for you to try.”
I heard that without attachment or interest, flavors wouldn’t come through.
I prepared some wine, bread, and salt, along with the salad and strawberries, serving them one by one.
Pal and Ish seemed to enjoy the taste of the vegetables and strawberries. Great, it looked like vegetable dishes were a go!
—Rudil, on the other hand, seemed to have flavored the onions…
The plumbing work around the house I bought on Gray Fox’s Back Street was finally complete. For now, I decided to repair the walls, floors, and roof.
“Sure, I did say I’d help out for free with things in town, but…”
Retze grumbled as he applied plaster to the wall where I had replaced the chipped stones.
“Hahaha! I’m getting tired of doing this all alone.”
It was the second house, after all.
“Come on, man.”
Even while talking, Retze skillfully plastered the wall.
“Taking your time, huh?”
“I’m sorry, Retze-sama.”
Ash and the butler were also busy plastering the wall.
I had entrusted the management of this place to Ash, or rather, the butler. It was a hassle to involve the Merchant Guild every time, and it took too long. With the butler involved, I figured they would be more selective about who they let in, given Ash’s connections.
The reward would be one-tenth of the rent that came to me, and it would serve as an escape route if needed. I had to be cautious in case my brother, who had taken over that house, hadn’t given up on eliminating Ash.
I wasn’t sure if I was hiring someone who worked across borders, but it seemed he had been targeted by several groups domestically. The butler had managed to keep him safe within the country, and since leaving, he hadn’t been targeted even once.
“I’ll pay a fair price for the work; this is quite labor-intensive.”
Painting the ceiling, in particular, was going to be tough.
“Would you like to live here too, Retze-sama? Considering the amenities, the rent would be quite a bargain.”
The butler’s first invitation was directed at Retze—just as expected from a butler.
“I hear Retze is looking to buy a house and find a wife?”
“Oh, is that so?”
“Not that I’m in a hurry for a wife or anything…”
Retze’s gaze wandered.
“Buying a house means you’re looking for a wife, huh…”
Ash, that’s a significant misunderstanding.