Chapter 64

After taking a breather with the tea Noel had brought, Nikolaus gave a light cough to reset the mood and began speaking about business once more.

「You’ve got that merchant you favor, right? He has connections here… with the lord of the Elnat territory, and his background is solid. We’ll handle the transactions through him, so all you need to do is increase the Purifying Flowers.」

It seemed that Ilai would be taking charge of trading the Purifying Flowers. And I learned something for the first time, apparently, he even does business with the lords.

What I remember about him the most is him constantly rubbing his hands together while flattering me, so I’d always thought of him as a rather eccentric merchant at best, the sort who would even come to a remote place like this to peddle goods. But to think he was a major merchant who dealt directly with lords, it surprised me a little.

(But that makes sense… Ilai was the one who brought that mirror, but the true sender was Nikolaus… Just remembering it is scary…)

And Nikolaus usually lives in the royal castle, so he is close to royalty and nobility. If that was the case, then Ilai, who had been entrusted with the mirror by him, must also be connected to that circle. …I hadn’t considered that at all.

「And on another matter… I have something else I’d like to consult you about.」

When Nikolaus said he had something to discuss, I instinctively braced myself. I couldn’t shake the anxiety over what kind of topic might come out next. I clasped my hands tightly together on top of the table and waited for his next words.

「It’s about your familiars. They’ve got strong personalities, but they haven’t evolved as monsters, have they? They’ve remained harmless and have blended into the village this well… I’d like to try an evolution experiment.」

(That means… you want to level up the saplings…?)

The proposal was completely unexpected. The saplings are meant to be harmless, powerless. That’s why I’ve only allowed them to evolve enough to 「be able to run」 and to 「have their voices sealed so they don’t suddenly scream」 …Well, in Purple’s case, I did give one extra evolution command to take on a female body shape, but aside from that, nothing else.

That’s precisely why the saplings are frail and incapable, harmless because they can do nothing. I never imagined a human would deliberately suggest giving monsters more power. As expected, Nikolaus is unusual.

「Especially that purple one. …I’m very interested in whether it’s possible for her to produce offspring with a human.」

(Ah… I see. Ritter… So that’s what they’ve been talking about lately.)

Ritter and Nikolaus had been deep in conversation, and Leonhart had looked quite lonely. He’d even gone so far as to seek conversation with a witch he’d barely spoken to before.

But for Ritter, who genuinely seems to have romantic feelings for the purple sapling, the biggest issue must be the barrier between species. I have no idea how anyone even arrives at the idea of a plant and a human producing offspring, but he’s serious about it, and Nikolaus seems willing to entertain it.

(Hmm… Since it’s the humans who came up with this, it should be fine… right?)

If I were the one raising the saplings with the intent of turning them into dangerous monsters, I might be branded a dangerous witch. But if Nikolaus, a court mage, is saying he wants to do this, then surely it’s not a problem.

And above all, Nikolaus is the sort of mad scientist who loves experiments like this. While he’s absorbed in the saplings, his attention won’t be directed at me, something made clear by how he’s left me alone these past few days. I’d like the saplings to serve as my substitute.

When I nodded, I caught sight of him lifting the corner of his mouth in a rare smirk. …It was so frightening that a small scream echoed inside me.

「Well, I won’t do anything bad. Your Mandragora familiars have strong wills, don’t they? If they don’t like my request, make sure they know they can refuse.」

(Do they really have such strong wills…? Well, maybe I just don’t notice because they’re obedient to me. They do seem to be developing their own personalities… Maybe something like self-awareness is growing.)

Of course, it’s also possible it’s all an act. They’re simply following the first command I gave them: 「Be harmless and appear cute」. Each of them is striving to embody what they believe to be harmless and cute.

But since there’s variation and individuality among them, perhaps they truly do have their own will and thoughts.

(Hmm… But to level up, they’ll have to defeat monsters… I’m worried about making the saplings fight. A Mandragora that can’t scream is just a plant.)

The saplings, whose voices I’ve sealed so they can’t harm humans, have no means of attack. Their roots can absorb a little magic power, but unlike me, they don’t cause anything they touch to wither away instantly.

(I should at least give them some form of self-defense. Not for attacking… more like a capturing net?)

I’ve already been warned that the number of people coming and going will increase, and that dangerous individuals might enter as well. To preserve my image as a 「useful and benevolent witch,」 the saplings should be able to resist in some way if the villagers are ever in danger.

「If the Mandragoras show any changes, I’ll share them. …And if you notice anything, I’d like you to tell me as well. Research requires many opinions and perspectives. …I’ll bring nutrient solution regularly.」

(You don’t need to bring it regularly…!! Once in bulk is fine…!!)

Though I tremble inside at the thought of Nikolaus visiting frequently, my lips still curve into a bright smile. Seeing Nikolaus smile faintly in return makes it even more terrifying. …His mind must already be filled with sapling experiments. That mad scientist.