kscans

Chapter 4 - His Royal Highness the King's Brother's Little Person

"It was wild strawberry seedlings you wanted, wasn’t it?"

They stopped their horses at the edge of the forest, and the knights took something out and struck it against the ground. What appeared were several dozen timbers, each about two meters tall. Before the wide-eyed little girl’s gaze, the logs began to move on their own, forming a long, single-file fence. They tied their horses up and down its length, and the knights sprinkled a blue powder around the fence.

"Preparations complete, Your Highness."

Over a dozen knights stood at crisp attention.

Romel nodded to them and lifted Chihiro into his arms.

Her eyes widened and she froze. He narrowed his eyes in amusement.

"...Your Highness?"

"Ah, did I not mention it? I am the king’s fourth younger brother."

You never told me that! In fact, you kept it a secret on purpose, didn’t you, with that smug look on your face! You’re not hiding it at all, you jerk!

Chihiro inwardly cursed the cheerful-looking Romel. He held the sulking girl as the group entered the forest together.

"Seedlings, eh. Can you spot any, Harold?" Romel called out to the knight walking ahead of them as they proceeded down a small path in the woods.
The knight called Harold furrowed his brow in thought and muttered softly, "I’m afraid I’m not very good with plants."

He had fiery red hair and dull indigo eyes. He was probably about the same age as Drago, maybe forty, maybe not quite. He was a handsome, rugged older man. In response to his words, Chihiro looked around and saw the other knights shrugging their shoulders with perplexed expressions.

"Hmm. Perhaps I should have brought a gardener."

Are you kidding me? That’s the most important part!!

Why would you come to collect seedlings without bringing a specialist!

Back on Earth, Chihiro had been a country girl who ran through the fields and mountains, picking and eating wild strawberries and currants. She had some knowledge, but it wasn’t guaranteed to apply here. This was a world with magical power, magic, and monsters. The basic principles were wildly different, and the ecosystem was surely not the same.

Chihiro puffed out her cheeks and pulled on Romel’s ear with a gunununu. At her squirrel-like expression, everyone around them burst out laughing, and Chihiro, flustered with embarrassment, lightly tapped Romel’s head, pechi pechi.

"Ow, ow, I’m sorry. Here, I’ll give you this."

Though it couldn’t have hurt much, Romel cried out dramatically and offered Chihiro a small package. She took it and opened it quizzically, her eyes flashing with excitement a moment later.

Isn’t this a sweet??

Wrapped in thin paper was a baked good, and it smelled faintly of butter.

"Fuoohhh, it’s a sweet!"

Romel burst out laughing again at Chihiro’s wide-eyed surprise. He laughed aloud, his shoulders shaking.

"Fuoohhh? You’re a funny one, you really are."

It couldn’t be helped. She had been on the verge of death, unable to get not just sweets but any food at all. Even now that food was no longer a problem, she still craved something sweet. It might be a luxury, but for Chihiro, who had grown accustomed to the abundance of modern Japan, her current environment was harsh. Sweets here meant either fresh fruit or dried fruit. They had butter and fresh cream, but the lack of sweetness made them completely different things. There was no way Chihiro could use honey, a delicacy even for royalty and nobles. She spent her days eating fruit while fantasizing about sweet pastries.

Chihiro picked up the baked good and brought it to her lips with eyes full of anticipation. Then she chewed a few times.

There goes my hope for something sweet again. Give me a break with this letdown. I’m so disappointed!

The baked good wasn’t sweet. Or rather, it was sweet, but only in the sense that the faint sweetness of the wheat was accentuated by the saltiness of the butter.

It was like something between a cracker and a biscuit.

Her disappointment was as great as her anticipation had been, and Chihiro’s head drooped in dejection.

"Oh? That’s odd. Is it not good?"

Chihiro, her gaze lost in the distance, managed a weak smile for the flustered Romel.

"It’s delicious. Thank you very much."

No, you definitely don’t think so, do you???

Romel, who had expected she would be delighted, was dismayed by the little girl’s sighing reaction.

Baked goods like this could only be made by royalty and nobility. Butter and cheese were expensive. They weren’t entirely out of reach for commoners, but they would never think to use them in a pastry. It was precisely because they were expensive that they were served at meals. The very concept of a snack was foreign to commoners. If they got hungry, they would munch on a piece of fruit. That was normal.

When the little girl had cried out that it was a sweet, he had thought, as expected of the head chef’s daughter. He must dote on her. He had assumed Drago was giving his daughter the same sweets he made for the royals and nobles.

But the result was a letdown.

The little girl was so disappointed she couldn’t hide it.

Was he giving her different sweets? Something more delicious than this? I’ll interrogate him when I get back!!

In reality, she was just comparing it to the sweets of another world, but Romel, ignorant of this, was fuming at the head chef out of misplaced frustration.

"Ah, that’s it!"

After walking a little further, Chihiro pointed at a familiar flower. Amidst large, rustling leaves, tiny white flowers bloomed here and there. It probably wasn’t their peak blooming season yet. The plant, covered in numerous buds, had leaves and flowers with the characteristic shape of the rose family.

Chihiro had Romel put her down, and she dashed off at full speed. Staring at it up close, the little girl’s face broke into a grin.

"It’s a wild raspberry! I found it!"

"This? Hmm, it’s quite large."

The overgrown raspberry bush was about two meters tall, even taller than Romel.

"We should be able to just pull it out by the roots. I’m counting on you."

At Romel’s instruction, several knights, holding shovels that appeared from nowhere, nodded.

"I was wondering earlier, where are you getting those from? The lumber and the shovels."

"Ah, you don’t know yet. It’s magic. We seal them into these small spheres. Many of the knights are nobles, so a lot of them can use magic."

Hoaaah, classic isekai staple, take two.

"Can I use it too? Magic!"

Met with her sparkling gaze, Romel was at a loss for words. Though he was a baronet, the head chef was a commoner. His magical power was only enough for simple daily life magic useful in cooking. But that was still magic, wasn't it? Especially for a child this young. Even that much would surely make her happy.

"Well, if you work hard, I’m sure you’ll be able to use it."

Romel nodded with an indulgent smile. Just as Chihiro was about to clasp her hands and jump for joy, her eyes froze on the knights’ movements.

"Nooo, you’ll damage the roots!"

The knights were thrusting their shovels directly under the raspberry bush’s main stalk. Several shovels were already stuck in the ground.

"Aaaahhh, ah... it’s no good, this one’s a goner."

Chihiro rushed over and confirmed that many of the main roots had been severed. She judged that this particular plant was unsalvageable. Wild raspberries are tough and highly reproductive plants. They can easily sprout new shoots even if their roots are cut. However, this plant was finished. Just as they are highly reproductive, it was also a characteristic of wild raspberries to give up quickly. It would soon weaken, and this plant would wither and die.

"Can’t be helped. Let’s collect the roots and take some basal shoots. We might be able to propagate them with cuttings or grafting."

If you plant the roots, they’ll sprout on their own next year. In fact, they’re such terrifying plants that if you don’t isolate them by digging a deep perimeter, they’ll reproduce explosively and cover the ground. Wild strawberries are as tenacious as any invasive plant.

"You’re quite knowledgeable. Cuttings? Grafting?"

Chihiro gave a rough explanation to the tilting-headed Romel, and she went on to acquire many other plants, including trailing blackberries, currants, and silverberries. The knights, now more cautious, followed Chihiro’s instructions, inserting their shovels far from the plants and loosening the soil to collect the roots in a ball.

"Collecting plants is quite a laborious task, isn’t it?" a knight murmured while taking a break.
Chihiro gave him a soft smile. At the cute, age-appropriate smile, the knight’s face relaxed as well.

"That’s what makes it fun. If you put in the effort, they respond. The soil here is good. The forest seems happy."

The little girl took a deep breath, and her eyes, bathed in the sunlight, flashed a brilliant gold.

Huh?

The knight’s heart gave a great thump, and he stared at Chihiro anew. The little girl’s eyes, now looking back at the ground, were a light brown. A truly pale amber, like milk tea.

Was I seeing things? But...

He couldn’t shake the feeling. The knight hesitantly reached for Chihiro’s hood.

At that moment, a piercing buzz from many wings echoed all around them.

"Huh? What’s that?"

"Draw swords!" Harold shouted at the top of his lungs. Instantly, the knights drew their blades and formed a protective circle around Chihiro and the others.

"We were careless. It seems we’ve stepped into their territory," Harold said.

Without delay, Romel pulled Chihiro into his arms, crouching low and scanning their surroundings. The strength in his arms as he held her revealed his tension.

What? Did something bad show up???

"If you take down one of those, they’ll swarm you. Don’t move a muscle, Chihiro."

She held her breath and looked toward the source of the buzzing. There was a large bee.

Heh? A bee?

It was a honeybee with a rather cute appearance. The only thing was, its size was extraordinary. It was about the size of a human baby.

Dad, your explanation was way too vague! If I’d known they were like that, I never would have thought about beekeeping!!

Even with its cute appearance, its size alone was terrifying enough. And it stings? It bites? Of course that’s dangerous! A stinger that size is practically a knife!

"This is bad. They’re the masters of this forest, so it’s trouble if we hurt them."

Forest Master? The bees?

But it somehow made sense. Insects overwhelm larger creatures with their threatening numbers. Just like how tiny termites can bring down a large building.

As Chihiro fearfully stared at the bee, the bee stared back at her. For some reason, she felt like she was being watched.

"I may not be strong enough, but I’ll give it a try. Someone take Chihiro."

Romel handed her to a nearby knight and walked quietly toward the dozens of bees surrounding them.

"What? What’s he going to do? Is it dangerous?"

The knight frowned and explained to the little girl who was flailing her arms and legs and looking up at him.

Basically, he was going to offer his magical power as an apology for trespassing on their territory. Monsters are fond of magical power. The reason they attack humans is to obtain it. In other words, they see us as prey. So, by releasing and giving them magical power itself, intelligent monsters will supposedly let you go. The bees called masters were that type of creature.

"With normal monsters, we’d just defeat them and be done with it. But we can’t defeat them. If we harm them, the entire country will be attacked."

A chill ran down Chihiro’s spine. She’d seen an old movie like that once. Countless bees attacking and swarming people.

Why... if I had known this forest was so dangerous.

...Though she probably would have come even if she had known. But if she were alone, it would have been her own responsibility, and she would have just ended up being eaten.

"Anyone from this country would never enter their territory. This time... well, we got carried away... This is our failure. What was the point of us coming along?"

In other words, the knights, who should have known the forest well, had been led deep into the woods by Chihiro.

So it’s my fault.

Because I was running around, their senses were dulled.

As Romel chanted something, a haze like heat shimmer began to form around him. The large bees swarmed it, and in an instant, Romel was no longer visible.

Is he okay? Over there...

Her heart was pounding. Baku baku. Something was wrong. Something felt strange.

Chihiro clutched her chest, her eyes wide. In her vision, the cluster of bees wavered, and Romel, freed from the swarm, collapsed to the ground.

"Your Highness!"

What happened?

It was Harold who shouted. But he didn’t move. No, he couldn’t move. Based on what he had said earlier, they couldn’t attack the bees. Yet the bees were moving closer to the fallen Romel. The shimmering magical power had already vanished from his body.

No way... no way, no way, no way!!

Chihiro started running before she could even think.

Are they going to eat him? Romel??

She could hear the knights screaming behind her, but who cares about that!! Right in front of me, a person is about to be eaten!!

"Stooooop!!"

Tumbling and stumbling, Chihiro threw herself over Romel as if she were flying. Her hood fell off, and her golden hair glittered brilliantly in the sun. Heedless of that, a golden haze spread out from her body, covering the area. The startled bees swarmed the golden mist as if competing for it. More bees arrived from deeper in the forest, following suit, and soon the surroundings were plunged into darkness by the ever-increasing swarm.

"What’s happening...?"

Completely surrounded by hundreds, thousands of bees, the knights could only watch, helpless to do anything.

Amidst the chaos, a single bee flew in with a particularly loud buzz. The surrounding bees made way for the massive creature, which was easily the size of an adult. And through the gap, the two figures at the center became visible.

"Your Highness! Young lady Baroness! Are you alright?!"

Romel gave a small wave to the shouting Harold.

Seeing Harold’s relief, Romel looked at Chihiro, who was still draped over him.

Why. Why is it you?

He stroked Chihiro’s hair, her hood now off, confirming its texture and color. Platinum blonde, almost silvery white. The lighter the color, the higher the magical power.

Your eyes were light too, now that I think about it.

He patted the back of Chihiro, who was clutching his clothes tightly and wouldn't let go, and gave a wry smile.

"Chihiro. It’s alright. You can get up now."

At his words, Chihiro lifted her head and was struck speechless by the sight of the tremendous swarm of bees thronging around them.

Where did so many of them come from?

"Romel, it’s okay! I won’t let them eat you!"

Chihiro clung to him in a tight hug. Romel felt his eyes grow warm at the feel of the still-trembling little girl.

Ah, you were trying to save me... I’m beaten.

We do not eat people, how rude.

Huh?

Chihiro looked around, bewildered.

"Bees don’t eat people. It’s a different story if you attack them, though. They’re intelligent creatures."

That is correct. That man simply used too much of his magical power, so my children were trying to return a little of it.

A disembodied voice seemed to be speaking in stereo.

"Heh? So, I misunderstood?"

Romel nodded with a wry smile. Chihiro’s face turned bright red, and she apologized to the bees.

"I’m sorry! I thought for sure you were going to eat Romel... Oh man, this is so embarrassing!"

Indeed. By the way, you can hear my voice, can you not?

"Huh? Yeah, I can hear you."

Suddenly, the air stirred. The buzzing of wings grew even sharper.

I came, sensing golden magical power. Just as I thought. It has been a long time since a king has visited. It is a pleasure to meet you. Shall we form a new pact?

"Hoeh? A pact? What’s that?"

.......We are starting from there, are we?

She introduced herself as Queen Merda and descended before Chihiro. At the arrival of the adult-sized bee, both Romel and Chihiro’s faces froze.

And then she told them. About the ancient pacts that bound this world, and how it came to be.

"So you’re saying every forest has a master, and one pact is formed for each forest?"

That is correct. The conditions are that one’s magical power must be high, and it must be golden. We call such a person a king.

Such individuals with high magical power were extremely rare, and not many pacts had been formed. It was said to happen about once every few hundred years. According to the pact, the king who forms it becomes the master of the Forest Master, and they remain together until the king’s life ends. It was an honor for a Forest Master to serve someone with high magical power and receive a share of that power, which in turn allowed them to revitalize the forest.

Merda puffed out her chest, wiggled her hands... or perhaps they were legs, wakya wakya, and brought her face pressingly close to Chihiro.

Therefore, by all means, let us forge a new pact, my King!!

Merda’s breath was heavy, her compound eyes gleaming.

Well, I’m not a king yet, and in fact I’m the Eighth Princess. And a discarded one at that.

"Ah, I don’t really get it, so I’ll put that on hold. I’ll do some more research. About the pacts, and the Forest Masters."

Romel watched the little girl try to brush it off with a polite smile, and he became certain.

You can converse with the Queen. Really, why is it you?

He couldn’t understand what the one person and one creature were talking about. Only a golden king could converse with a Forest Master. Or perhaps a queen, this time?

If a new pact was formed, Frontier would be safe for a while longer.

Other countries did not know. They could not be told.

Romel looked up at the sky, his gaze distant.

To think that the deep forests scattered across the world, and the masters dwelling within them, were the source of magical power. If a forest was revitalized and its master was healthy, the land around it would be filled with magical power.

A pact once every few hundred years.

The surrounding countries had forgotten this over the long course of time. Pushed by the wave of modernization, they had killed the Forest Masters, branding them as vicious monsters, and cleared the forests.

By the time our country realized it, it was already too late.

In most countries, the forests were gone, and with them, magic and magical power. To reveal this now would only create new conflicts and envy. If they had only investigated a little and gathered some data, they would have seen that rich lands radiated out from the forests. Even without that, our country’s Forest Master is a creature that soars through the sky and boasts numbers in the thousands. It cannot be defeated as easily as those in other countries. That threat was probably a blessing in disguise. Thanks to it, the records of the golden king born every few hundred years were not lost.

But...

Why is it you? Who in the world are you?

The two of them were still chattering away, wachawacha. One of them drooped her head dejectedly.

If a pact is not made, then I must return the magical power I received. And I was so looking forward to the forest becoming bountiful...

Merda’s shoulders slumped, and she began to cry, gusugusu. Chihiro clapped her hands with a pon.

"Honey!"

Pardon?

"You don’t have to return that magical power stuff from before, so give me honey instead. We’ll call it even."

Is such a thing sufficient?

"Yup!"

She had started working on the flower garden with the intention of starting a bee farm anyway. If she could get honey like this, in exchange for magical power, there was nothing better.

Merda agreed with a smile that looked like it deserved a gold star, and after a short while, she returned carrying a large mass. It was a long, hexagonal tube, about fifty centimeters in diameter and a meter long. It was a brown cylinder filled to the brim with honey.

If something like this is acceptable, please take it anytime.

Merda beamed. The goddess has arrived.

Chihiro, whooping with joy, was oblivious to the uneasy gazes around her. Or to the fact that her hood had fallen off, exposing her magnificent golden hair.

Suspicious gazes, a mix of astonishment and admiration.

As for Romel and Harold, their expressions were dark smiles that went beyond menacing.

"Well now. Chihiro? Sorry to interrupt your celebration, but could we have a little talk?"

"Heh?"

The Little Person finally realized the situation, but it was too late.

The now-silent Little Person was placed on the horse of the King’s brother, who sighed with cold eyes, and pokkuri pokkuri, they made their way home.

Around that time, in the outer palace grounds, Drago was said to have been pacing around with a grim face like a bear before hibernation.

The legend of the Little Person had only just begun.