Chapter 64.5: Nikolaus, Part 1

The witch welcomed Nikolaus with her usual smile, looking lively and not weakened in the slightest. He also noticed the small empty vial of nutrient tonic he had given her a few days earlier resting on the table.

(…So it was of some use.)

There was no way he wouldn’t worry about one of his own kind who pushed herself recklessly simply because she possessed power. Compared to her, Nikolaus was still a fledgling, but if there was something he could do, then that was enough.

At times like this, he was reminded of just how useful the Flower Witch’s plant magic was. If one mastered the handling of plants, then medicines derived from them could be produced freely at any time. If he could do the same, healing the witch’s fatigue would have been possible for Nikolaus as well.

(A demonfolk who has mastered a single type of magic can become this strong. …in comparison I’m jack of all trades, but master of none. I thought being versatile would let me be useful, but it’s frustrating that it doesn’t quite work that way.)

When he looked at the Flower Witch, he sometimes wondered whether he should even now choose one thing and dedicate himself to mastering it. But he had no idea what to choose at this point. Seeing her, he couldn’t even imagine a magic beyond hers. …She truly had chosen well.

Plants supported the very foundation of human life. They could provide clothing, food, and shelter. If one could handle every kind of plant, people would never struggle to live.

(Ah, that must be it… that’s why she chose plant magic.)

Because it was a power that supported so many people. Watching the witch smile before him, he found himself thinking that must have been her reason. …Nikolaus still had no reason strong enough to choose a single path of magic.

Still, he wished he could at least support the fellow of his kind who tended to stride too far ahead on her own.

「Looks like you drank it properly.」

For now, this was the extent of what he could do. But someday, he wanted to become someone she could rely on, someone equal to her, someone who would not let her push herself alone.

As Nikolaus thought this, the witch smiled and wrote words on the drawing board he had given her before, then showed it to him.

『Thank you. It was delicious』

(…Flattery. To avoid hurting me, perhaps? As always, she treats me like a child…)

That nutrient tonic had been devised by Nikolaus with nothing but efficiency in mind. It could not honestly be called good-tasting. For her to smile brightly and praise it as 「delicious」 was likely a consideration, words chosen because she thought it was something a younger one had worked hard to make.

(Hmph. It’s not like I can make something as efficient and tasty as you can right now. But that’s only because I’ve never had anyone worth considering the taste for. …Just wait.)

Next time, he would improve the flavor as well and produce something beyond reproach. …Having someone other than oneself does change the purpose of creation.

But that wasn’t why he had come today. There was the matter of his familiars’ evolution, and before that, a request from the kingdom.

「Today… I’ll talk about work first. There’s one request for you from the country.」

As he spread out the delivered letter, he made sure to warn the witch, who seemed ready to accept anything with a smile. …An overly capable person who overworked herself was troublesome.

「Don’t just smile and accept everything. If it’s impossible, you can refuse. …Using too much magic power is poisonous for us.」

The more magic power they use, the weaker demonfolk become. If their magic remained depleted for a prolonged period, their bodies, usually remaining untouched by the ravages of time, would age. When filled with magic, demons were strong, but as it diminished, the risks rose accordingly.

(It’s true this witch has increased the Purifying Flowers throughout the village, and even along the riverside and at the edge of the demon realm, but still, how casually they say to just grow more.)

Even for Nikolaus, increasing Purifying Flowers was difficult. He did not wield plant magic to her level, so his efficiency was poor. At most, he could grow one or two in a day.

Yet the witch could cause them to bloom in large numbers in a single day. But that was the result of her devotion, not something easy. …Purifying Flowers consumed tremendous magic power to multiply.

(Normally they’d parasitize monsters, draining their magic… their life to multiply. …And yet they’re asking one person to do it on their own. This witch has already contributed more than enough to the country, and now they want to use her for diplomacy too.)

If they had Purifying Flowers, they could gain diplomatic advantage over the neighboring nation of Lusat. No matter how many antidotes they produced to counter the toxins overflowing from the desolate lands, it was a temporary fix. The source itself was corrupted. They needed to cut it off or purify it before it reached human territory.

If they attempted it with magical tools, it would require enormous magic power, and continually producing antidotes would be costly. But if they could create a boundary of Purifying Flowers, human labor would no longer be needed.

(And they even want her to prepare more than Lusat’s required amount? Do they have flowers blooming in their heads?)

Even within the Vaniria Kingdom, only urban areas had fully developed water and sewage systems. They likely wanted to distribute Purifying Flowers to rural regions to improve sanitation and reduce outbreaks of disease. The face of the elderly minister who likely proposed this floated to mind, and he almost clicked his tongue.

There was no need for one witch to devote herself so far. Even so, after he told her that, she smiled and nodded in acceptance. …He understood that was simply her nature, but it left him dissatisfied.

「…Creating purifying flowers uses magic power, doesn’t it? I can’t multiply them like you can, since you’ve mastered plant magic. They’re relying entirely on you… and the amount they’re asking for isn’t small. At the very least, demand something in return. …You don’t seem interested in wealth, but isn’t there anything you need?」

In this matter, Nikolaus could offer no assistance. It was something only she could do. But since it was such a massive undertaking, she ought to make bold demands in return.

Even if she had no interest in treasure, she could request conditions or rights, rare foreign plants, perhaps, or funding to establish a botanical research institute. She should gain something beneficial to herself.

The witch nodded at his suggestion, then smoothly wrote on the drawing board and showed it to him.

『I want the nutrient tonic you made』

The words struck him, and for a moment he forgot to breathe. He lowered his gaze, taking a deep breath to prevent the smile threatening to spread across his face.

(You’ve got to be kidding…! This witch… Of all things she could ask for, she chooses my nutrient tonic?)

That meant that to her, Nikolaus’s nutrient tonic held more value than treasure. Had she seen through his private wish to be useful? Or had she genuinely acknowledged his work? Either way, he couldn’t bring himself to lift his face.

「Fine. I’ll make as much as you want. I’ll have them prepare the finest ingredients and make it.」

He would improve upon the original formula and create something even better. …Though lately it has become difficult to use Mandragora as an ingredient. Improvements might prove challenging.