SRS 162
“Where did that sound come from?”
Yohan and Mikael turned around, thinking someone had broken in, but no one was in their sight. Finding no one who could be the owner of the voice, they looked at each other, feeling as if they were trapped in a ghost story. The sound rang out again.
“Give me a name as well.”
It was a very polite and deep voice. Since it seemed to come from the window, Yohan raised his eyebrows and walked over slowly. He checked on Mikael just in case, the latter who had been searching the dormitory spoke upon realizing something.
“I think it’s the flowerpot?”
“The flowerpot?”
“Specifically, the mandrake you said you received from the Mandrake King.”
“Ah…!”
Only then did Yohan remember. He did have a moving mandrake. He had completely forgotten about it because so many things had happened lately.
But… was the mandrake’s voice always like that?
Even the Mandrake King, who had a voice that seemed to embody the will of the world, wasn’t like this. How should he describe the voice he just heard? It sounded like the gravelly voice of a seasoned warrior who had survived countless wars. The last time he saw the mandrake, it moved cutely and giggled playfully. Yohan walked over with a skeptical expression and looked at the mandrake in the pot he had obtained from the commercial district.
“…Were you perhaps speaking to me?”
Because the voice sounded quite old, Yohan unconsciously used polite speech.
“Indeed, I was.”
Once the target was confirmed, the sound became clearer. After confirming that the sound was coming from the flowerpot, Yohan placed his hands on his knees and leaned down to meet the mandrake’s eye level. At that, the mandrake opened his wrinkled eyes and looked at Yohan.
“…Um, did you know how to speak before?”
“Originally, I could not.”
“Ah, as I thought…”
“However, the King bestowed a soul and an ability upon me so that I may converse with my master in this manner.”
“The King?”
The only one a mandrake would call a King was the World Tree. Surprised, Yohan asked for confirmation, and the mandrake straightened his body, before digging his roots through the multiple holes at the bottom of the special flowerpot. A plant that could move was a strange lifeform no matter how many times he saw it.
“Indeed. Thus, give me a name as well. I deserve to receive a name.”
“Uh… is it alright if I choose it?”
“Of course.”
“Hmm…”
No matter how I look at it, this soul seems quite old… doesn’t he already have a name?
Given the way he spoke and the maturity of the voice, he definitely wasn’t born this year. As Yohan hesitated to answer, the mandrake became visibly disappointed. His whispers – asking why Yohan had named the bird and the griffin but wouldn’t name him – were transmitted to Yohan as waves of energy every time his green leaves rustled. Startled by the sensation, Yohan scratched his cheek awkwardly.
“Hmm… then…”
He had realized it while naming the griffin and Shine, but Yohan had no talent for naming. When he looked at Mikael for help, the latter shook his head. It was a sign not to entrust such a heavy responsibility to him. Left with no choice, Yohan racked his brain and came up with a name for the mandrake.
“…Then, how about Manno?”
“Manno, you say…”
The mandrake pondered. Mikael looked at his friend with a surprise expression. He knew his friend’s thought process well and seemed to have guessed the steps Yohan took to come up with the name.
He’s a mandrake now, so take the ‘Man’ from the species name. Since he speaks like a seasoned veteran, take ‘No’ (老 – Old/Elder) to reflect that experience.
Thus, Manno.
As the white-haired student gave him a look asking if he was really going with that name, Yohan turned his head slightly to avoid his gaze. Does my opinion matter? Manno is the one getting the name, so his opinion is what counts.
As he waited for an answer, the mandrake, who had been contemplating with rustling leaves, moved his roots.
“Good. I am Manno.”
“…!”
I had a hunch, but he really accepted that name. Yohan was delighted, while Mikael was horrified. Manno glowed, happy to have a name. Not long after, Manno’s glowing body began to transform. His roots grew thicker, and his facial features became more distinct. The color of his leaves became darker, and the soil holding his body took on a healthy sheen. Finally, as Manno even bore a red fruit, Yohan marveled.
He knew that if a mandrake grew through some catalyst, it would become mature, but this was a very rare occurrence. Yohan couldn’t believe he had witnessed the mysterious growth process with his own eyes.
As he etched the special experience into his memory, Manno plucked one of his fruits and held it out to Yohan.
“Take this. I wish to give my master a gift. This is my sincerity in asking you to look after me from now on.”
“…Is it fine for you to give this to me?”
“Indeed. I wish to give it.”
“…Thank you.”
Even the roots of an underdeveloped mandrake were sold for a high price, but the fruit of a mature mandrake was even more so. Since it was treated as something quite precious even in the Nameless Realm, Yohan marveled and reached for the fruit. At that moment, Shine displayed his interest in the fruit.
Coo, coo, coo, coo.
The pigeon hopped from Yohan’s arms and flew to the windowsill where the pot was placed. He tilted his head back and forth as he inspected the fruit. It was obvious he wanted the red fruit.
“…Do you want to eat it?”
Coo, coo, coo.
“Hmm…”
Yohan looked at Manno and Mikael.
A mandrake’s fruit was an excellent elixir that healed all internal injuries and helped boost energy. However, Yohan wasn’t injured right now, nor was his energy lacking. It wouldn’t be a problem even if he gave the fruit to Shine.
But others might think differently. Mikael, knowing the value of the fruit, would likely want Yohan to keep it and consume it when necessary, and Manno had gifted it to help his master, so he would also want the master to have it. Since he wasn’t alone with Shine, Yohan hesitated to choose and looked back and forth between the two. Mikael looked at the divine beast upon noticing Yohan’s hesitation.
Coo?
After a staring contest with the white pigeon, who tilted its head as if asking what the problem was, the student sighed in defeat.
“…If you want to give it, you can. It’s an elixir you received as a gift. What you do with it is up to you, Yohan.”
“Is that alright?”
“Of course. If that divine beast eating it is more helpful to you, his master, then you must do so.”
Following Mikael, even Manno expressed his intention to respect Yohan’s choice. Moved, Yohan smiled and handed the fruit to his divine beast.
Coo, coo, coo!
Shine flapped his wings in delight and swallowed the mandrake fruit. Soon, Shine’s body glowed even brighter. The divine beast, which originally had a pure white light, had now become almost transparent.
Coo, coo, coo, coo!
After finishing his meal, Shine rubbed his head against Manno to express his gratitude.
“Wh-what are you doing…!”
Yohan chuckled upon hearing Manno’s flustered voice. The mandrake was pestered by Shine for a long while after that. He only managed to get away from the divine beast after struggling until one of his leaves wilted.
As time passed and evening arrived, Kylus and Suhyeok returned from the commercial district. Yohan thanked his two friends for the books and snacks they brought him and promised to buy the food next time they visited the commercial district.
Later, when he introduced the new Manno and Shine to the two, their eyes widened as they saw a mature mandrake for the first time since enrolling.
Coo, coo, coo, coo!
Since they only paid attention to Manno, the translucent pigeon became grumpy and flew through the air. He danced, asking them to look at him too. His antics amused the students, and for a while, laughter flowed through Room 304. Suhyeok, who had been playing with Manno’s leaves, suddenly let out an exclamation upon remembering something.
“Ah, but Yohan. It’s probably better not to let the other students know about this.”
“Why?”
Yohan asked with a slightly troubled face. After talking it over, Manno wanted to explore this mysterious school by stepping onto the grounds of Fantasiademia with his two roots… no, multiple roots. Since Manno had been trapped in the room for a long time despite having a self, Yohan wanted to respect his will, so he asked for the reason, which in turn flustered Suhyeok.
“You were planning to tell them?”
“…Wouldn’t Manno be able to walk around more comfortably if I told them?”
“Are you sure you’ll be fine?”
“With what?”
“If the students find out, Professor Will will find out too.”
“……”
“If the story gets out that you have a mature mandrake, do you really think that professor will leave you alone?”
“……”
Every word Suhyeok murmured turned into terror that overwhelmed Yohan. Since it was a story more terrifying than any ghost story in Fantasiademia, Yohan licked his dry lips and looked at Manno with sad eyes. Seeing his master’s pale face, Manno rustled his leaves in a panic and made a suggestion.
“In that case, how about we do this?”
That night, a new ghost story was born in Fantasiademia.
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