SDT 212
I glanced at Doctor Kim and fell silent.
The master of the Forest of the Crimson Waved. That brilliant green field.
I sometimes visited the sanctuary just to sit and touch those blades of grass. Yet, the master of the forest never spoke to me again.
Those tiny shoots were spreading slowly in all directions. And monsters could not set foot on any land where that grass had once grown.
That was when a hope began to take root in me. If that grass could spread to Earth, perhaps the remaining monsters would lose their power?
Yet, I felt I shouldn’t ask the master of the forest for such a thing. It was as if that being was so powerful that it felt like an irresistible law of nature.
Like asking someone to suddenly turn summer into winter.
“It would be great if the master of the forest sowed seeds in our homeland too, but even if it did go there, it would take centuries for them to sprout.”
To nature, a moment was a lifetime to us; even if this method were viable, it didn’t feel entirely satisfying.
“The master of the forest is slow as molasses.”
“Tell me about it.”
“So, is it only useful for eating?”
What?
I slowly turned to look at Doctor Kim.
“You’ve tried eating it?”
“Just a taste. The roots were substantial. No toxins, either.”
“Just because there’s no toxins, you’re going to eat it?”
“I was thinking of making kimchi out of it.”
Seriously? In a land overflowing with food, she was going to turn a being greater than a divine beast into kimchi…
“I think it would taste similar to godeulppaegi kimchi.”
I flinched.
“The roots have that slightly bitter taste. The aroma reminds me of godeulppaegi.”
“You should make it. Right now.”
Master of the forest or not, my mouth was already watering.
***
“Lord Lu.”
As soon as I returned to the castle, a man who looked like a walking corpse approached me. It was Rick.
“Why are you back so late? I heard you were returning before dinner. And is that… a Divine Herb in your hand?”
They called the master of the forest, which had begun spreading across Tubain, the Divine Herb.
“Are you planning to plant it somewhere else?”
No, I’m planning to eat it.
“…Something like that.”
“I suppose so; since they don’t grow well when transplanted artificially, you must intend to plant it yourself.”
I stopped in my tracks at this news.
“They don’t grow well?”
“Yes. Hadn’t you heard? Many people want the Divine Herb, so we distribute it, but strangely enough, it doesn’t thrive when humans transplant it to new soil. Aside from it spreading naturally on its own, there’s nothing humans can do to cultivate it.”
That was odd. It was fine when I planted it. I found myself looking down at the herb in my hand with a serious expression.
“We keep a close watch on the areas where the Divine Herb grows to ensure no one takes it without permission, so you needn’t worry.”
But it would actually be better for me if it spread far and wide. That way, I could finally make and eat kimchi with a clear conscience.
“I’ll ask Baron Owick when I go back to the greenhouse tomorrow.”
Baron Owick was the best farmer in Tubain. However, Rick immediately frowned at the mention of the greenhouse. A sign of life returned to his otherwise corpse-like face.
“Don’t tell me you went to the greenhouse again today? To see that… ‘Devil’s Fruit’?”
I had shared some chili peppers with him because we were close, but ever since then, he’d been badmouthing our peppers like that. I tried to object, but Rick briskly continued in a businesslike tone.
“The Grand Duke has been looking for you.”
“Why?”
“Why? Because he misses you, I suppose.”
It was a sappy reason, yet I couldn’t bring myself to frown. How could I get angry at a corpse?
“Rick. Take some time off right now. Go get some sleep. If you keep working like this, you’ll collapse… Huh? Why are you crying?”
Startled, I stepped back as Rick wiped away the tears dripping down his face.
“It feels strange to have you worry about me this much.”
Was it something to be that moved by? Apparently, it was.
“After all, most of my overwork comes from handling the official duties that were supposed to be yours.”
“……Ah.”
“It’s fine. Serving Lord Lu is serving the divine beast.”
No, that wasn’t right. But I couldn’t exactly pour cold water on the sense of duty driving a man who was already half-dead.
“Is there anything I wouldn’t do for someone as precious as you, who converses with the divine beasts every day?”
“I don’t actually talk to them every day. Lately, I can’t seem to find where they’ve gone… ha. Anyway, the divine beast would want you to live a happy, healthy life.”
He paused. Rick’s eyes wavered as he looked at me. Was he genuinely moved this time?
“You’re testing me. I won’t fall for it. I’m the only one who’s going to receive the divine beast’ blessing.”
I had brought this on myself. I felt like telling him to do whatever he pleased, but feeling guilty that he’d taken on the work I was supposed to handle, I asked tentatively:
“Is there really that much work for me to do?”
“It’s chaos everywhere. Everyone wants to claim they have the divine beasts’ permission.”
I’d heard that with two divine beast families having fallen into ruin, swarms of people were now vying for their wealth and prestige. The disappearance of Grand Duke Montaine, who sought to destroy the world using monsters, didn’t mean that all evil in the world vanished along with her.
Selfish people and conflicts exist everywhere. They ought to be spending their time rooting out the remaining dark mages instead. Then again, perhaps I was the one ignoring reality by chasing after ideals. But I couldn’t just idle away while leaving everything to Rick forever.
“I’ll handle the tasks I’m supposed to do. Leave them to me starting tomorrow.”
“No, you shouldn’t.”
“It’s fine. I need to do something too.”
“Lord Lu.”
Rick called my name and looked me with a serious expression.
“There is no need to rush. If there is work to be done, the divine beasts will let you know.”
I wanted to retort that the divine beast wasn’t the kind of being he imagined, but I gave up when I saw his devout faith. His next words left me dumbfounded.
“So, please don’t take away the labor that is my privilege to perform for the divine beast.”
The fanatic’s eyes gleamed with fervor.
***
“Rick said that?”
Tairok frowned, when I recounted the conversation.
“And yet, he piles endless work onto me.”
As he grumbled, he casually reached out toward me. When I noticed his hand moving toward my waist, I quickly dodged to the side. He used to be displeased by my actions, but now his eyes sparkled; it seemed he had discovered a new thrill in trying to catch me when I evaded him.
Is he saying I’m free to run away?
“You’re the Grand Duke, so naturally, you have a lot of duties to attend to.”
I moved to the seat directly across from him, effectively blocking any chance of him touching me. He let out a soft chuckle.
“I could simply step down. You are my priority.”
It sounded like a joke, yet I felt he was sincere, as if he would willingly follow me to some secluded place if I chose to cut ties with the world.
He seemed to understand the confusion I was feeling. Although I had finished the mission that brought me to Tubain and had become a resident here, I couldn’t say I fully belonged. Yet, I didn’t want to wallow in melancholy.
So, while I was grateful for his words, I had no intention of letting the moment turn romantic.
“You shouldn’t use me as an excuse just because you don’t want to do your job as Grand Duke. I’ll find something to do on my own soon enough.”
“There’s no need to force yourself to do work you dislike.”
True, I certainly didn’t want to play Salvation.
“Even so, I’m sure there’s something out there for me to do. If all else fails, I could always try transplanting the Divine Herb.”
“Absolutely not.”
Why not? I’d been living in the chili pepper greenhouse lately; I was practically becoming a farmer. But the reason he gave took me by surprise.
“Dangerous elements have been discovered in some of the regions where the Divine Herb doesn’t grow, traces of black magic or the presence of monsters.”
Ah, I see. Well, it was a vast territory. There were bound to be remnants scattered here and there.
“So, you still have work to do as well?”
“Are you envious?”
It wasn’t so much envy as a feeling that I had nothing left for myself.
I recalled the fanatic Rick’s conviction, that if there was a task meant for me, the divine beasts would let me know.
As if.
I’d just be lucky if those insufferable zealots didn’t pester me with annoying requests. But why haven’t I seen them lately?
***
Perhaps because I had heard stories about divine beasts earlier that day, I found myself standing in a vast field in my dream. It was a place filled with only one type of grass. The Forest of the Crimson Waves.
Whenever the wind blew, the grass would sway in unison. Like an orchestra playing to a conductor’s baton, the sound of the wind brushing against the grass was loud and refreshing.
Even though it was a dream, the cool air made me feel as though my body were being purified. Yet, it was still strange. Why was I here? As I turned my head, I realized I wasn’t the only one there.
In the distance, a mountain goat with horns stood with a proud, regal air. On the opposite side, a black bear sat. And in yet another direction, a blue serpent glided through the air.
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