Chapter 24

"Hashira, look! The Mochi Mochi fruits are starting to swell slightly!"

Karmila, who was tending to the field, pointed at the Mochi Mochi fruits and called out energetically.

It had only been three weeks since the seeds were planted, but the fruits were already showing signs of growth.

"Oh, that's great. If they keep growing steadily, they should be big enough in about a month."

"Just a month! That's something to look forward to!"

Karmila smiled with satisfaction as she looked at the swelling Mochi Mochi fruits.

With a renewed spirit, Karmila had become very diligent in tending to the field.

She plowed the land, planted the Mochi Mochi seeds, and even transplanted the forest strawberries that Rent had recently found.

While I and Leidia offered advice, Karmila mostly tended to the field on her own.

Now, she seemed to take great pleasure in nurturing the plants she had planted.

It was hard to believe that she had once threatened to burn part of the field to scare us.

Karmila poked the Mochi Mochi fruits affectionately and then moved to point at another crop.

"How are the forest strawberries doing?"

"These seem to grow quickly, so the transplanted ones should be ready for harvest in about a week, I think."

The forest strawberries are round and red, similar to the snake berries from my previous life.

Unlike snake berries, which have a mild taste, these have a strong strawberry flavor.

Given their rapid growth and quick harvest time, we decided to start growing them in our field right away.

Karmila has been growing them for about a month. If I used growth acceleration, it would probably take no more than two weeks.

However, since Karmila is taking care of them as her first crop, I haven't used any powers to speed up the process. I wanted to see how far she could go on her own.

Of course, even the regular weeding is done by her, and she enjoys it without any complaints. Kids can change so quickly.

"Oh, these are almost ready! I can't wait to eat them!"

"If we make them into a jam-like consistency, we could eat them with the Mochi Mochi fruits."

"Hashira, that's going to be delicious for sure!"

But to make a good jam, we need sugar.

I feel bad for Karmila, who is so excited, but without sugar, the jam won't be as good.

Now that we have a more stable life, I'd like to start trading with a nearby village or town.

"By the way, Karmila, you came from a place called the Demon Kingdom of Belgios, right?"

"Yeah, that's right."

"How far is that from here?"

"It's a three-day flight for me with my wings."

She said it casually, but Karmila is the daughter of the Demon King. Her flying speed is not the same as that of ordinary demons or humans. I shouldn't take her word for it too seriously.

Still, if there's a kingdom, there must be a town. I'd like to start trading with Karmila's place.

"If it's a three-day trip, wouldn't it be better to go back once? Your father might be worried since you've been away for so long?"

I suggested this casually, hoping she would consider returning temporarily.

If Karmila goes back and talks to them, trade might start quickly.

But I'm also worried about Karmila's father. It's been three weeks since we came to this forest.

If a daughter is out for three weeks without returning, her father would be worried. He might even start a search.

I don't want someone like the old Karmila, who was quick to anger, to come and burn the field.

"No way! If I go back, I won't be able to take care of the field!"

"Don't worry, I and Leidia will take care of it while you're gone."

"These are the first crops I've grown myself! I want to take care of them until the end!"

Karmila's heartfelt cry made my heart tremble.

This kid has really grown and started saying impressive things.

I didn't expect Karmila to have so much love for her field.

I felt ashamed for trying to trample on her sincere feelings just because I wanted to start trading quickly.

"…Or does Hashira want to kick me out?"

"No, that's not it. I just thought your family might be worried."

"My father is broad-minded and won't worry, but Claire is a worrier."

"Hearing that makes me quite worried…"

Fortunately, the Demon King doesn't seem to be that worried, but I'm concerned about this Claire.

Is it okay that we've had Karmila for three weeks?

"Miss! I finally found you!"

Just as I was worrying, a voice came from above.

Looking up, I saw a woman with long silver hair flying in the sky.

From her bat wings and small horns, I could tell she was a demon like Karmila.

However, she looked quite ragged, as if she had had a hard time getting here.

She didn't have the same ease as Karmila in entering.

"Is that the Claire you mentioned?"

"Yeah, she's my caretaker."

"Hey, you! A mere human, don't you dare speak to the lady so casually! Do you know who she is—gah!?"

The moment Claire raised her voice with a threatening tone, vines shot out of the ground and knocked her down.

Then, a large number of vines started beating her mercilessly.

I didn't do it; it was the Kira Plant.

After Karmila burned part of the field and the house, I told the Kira Plant to attack anyone who showed hostility or magic.

The Kira Plant, the guardian of the field, shows no mercy to intruders. The vines were making a loud cracking sound.

Claire tried to escape, but the Kira Plant wouldn't let her. She was quickly restrained and beaten. It was brutal.

"Gah, gah! What is this! Stop! Please stop, I'll do anything…!"

Even the tough Claire was in tears. She had been so confident at first, but the violence of the vines had completely broken her spirit.

"Ah!"

Seeing this, Karmila, who had been traumatized by what I did to her, hid behind me with a tense face.

Then she looked up at me and timidly pleaded.

"Hashira… can you make it stop? Claire might die."

Even though she was rude, she is Karmila's associate. We shouldn't go too far.

"Kira Plant, that's enough. She seems to be one of Karmila's associates."

When I said this, the Kira Plant released Claire from the vines.

On the ground, Claire was crouched, sobbing.

"Claire, are you okay?"

"Miss… I thought I was going to die."

"I see, I see. That must have been scary. I understand how you feel. But don't worry, you're safe now."

"Uuuuuu, Miss, ahhh!"

When Karmila hugged her and patted her head, Claire burst into loud sobs.

It seems I've given another demon a trauma.