Chapter 26

It had been a week since Claire left for the demon country of Belgios.

I had been expanding the fields, anticipating the arrival of new crops.

Using my abilities, I removed the obstructive trees and weeds, and transformed the divine tool into a hoe to till the soil.

"Hashira! Is it okay to harvest the Forest Strawberries now?"

"Sure, let's see."

Interrupting my work at Carmilla's call, I went to check the Forest Strawberries.

The Forest Strawberries that Carmilla had grown were now large enough, and my knowledge confirmed that they were ready for harvest.

"This looks good. Shall we start harvesting?"

"Great! I'll go get the baskets!"

With my permission to harvest, Carmilla ran happily to the house.

"Oh, the Forest Strawberries are ready for harvest?"

"Yes. Reidia, let's harvest them together."

"Sure, I'd love to."

Harvesting new crops is more fun when everyone does it together.

"I've got the baskets!"

"Let's start with Carmilla, shall we?"

"Really, is that okay?"

"Since Carmilla grew them, she has the right to harvest them first."

I wouldn't do something as tasteless as harvesting before Carmilla, who had nurtured them.

Reidia, who seemed to share the same sentiment, smiled and said so.

Then, Carmilla tentatively reached out her hand.

However, her hand hovered in the air without touching the Forest Strawberries.

"Ah, sorry. I get a bit nervous when it's time to harvest."

This must be proof of how much love Carmilla had poured into the crops.

In my previous life, I also felt reluctant and pitiful when harvesting my first crops.

Feeling a similar emotion, I found it endearing.

"You only feel that way because you've nurtured them so carefully. I understand that feeling. But it's polite to harvest and eat them."

"You're right."

With my words, Carmilla's hesitation seemed to disappear, and she smoothly extended her finger.

Gripping the thin stem and pulling, she plucked the fruit with a satisfying pop.

"These are the Forest Strawberries I grew..."

Carmilla gazed at the Forest Strawberries she had grown with a sense of accomplishment.

Forest Strawberries grow quickly and are not particularly difficult to care for, but it's not something to belittle, especially when a beginner has grown them from scratch.

The first harvest, no matter what it is, is precious to the grower.

"You can eat it if you want."

When I said that, Carmilla wiped it lightly on her clothes and put it in her mouth.

"...They're delicious."

Carmilla murmured, seemingly moved.

"That's good. I'm glad."

"You did a great job growing them."

To an ordinary person, these might be common Forest Strawberries, but to Carmilla, they must have tasted special.

Things that you've worked hard to grow taste better than those you eat casually.

"Shall we try some too?"

"Sure."

Reidia and I also picked a Forest Strawberry and tasted it.

"Yeah, these are delicious."

"The tartness is nice."

The tartness and fresh juice of the strawberries spread in the mouth, making them delicious.

With this, I think we could make a decent jam even without sugar.

"...It's really nice to have something you've grown yourself eaten by others."

"That's one of the joys of growing things."

"Right. It's a good feeling."

The three of us enjoyed the Forest Strawberries and harvested them noisily together.

◆

After harvesting the Forest Strawberries, we started having Forest Strawberry jam for breakfast.

Having olive oil with every meal can get greasy, so this was a revolutionary step for our food situation.

However, without sugar, it felt a bit lacking.

"...Hashira, is something wrong?"

Reidia, sensing my subtle dissatisfaction, asked.

"No, I just wish we had sugar for the jam."

"Really? I think it's fine as it is."

While saying that, Reidia spread the jam on a soft bun.

Carmilla, who didn't seem to mind, was quietly eating the jam.

Carmilla and Reidia didn't seem to care much, but as someone who likes sweet things, I found it a bit lacking.

If Claire brings back sugar, we can make the jam to my liking, but it will take another week for her to return.

Until then, I should probably make do with the current jam... No, as a Japanese person, I don't want to compromise on food. Jam should be sweet.

Is there a substitute for sugar in this forest? For example, honey.

After finishing breakfast, I went outside with Rent.

"Hey, Rent. Have you ever seen a beehive in this forest?"

When I asked Rent, who often goes into the forest for hunting, he surprisingly nodded.

I didn't expect there to actually be one, so I was surprised.

"Really? Where is it?"

Rent pointed to the west side of the forest, where the Kira Plant had lived.

He must have found it while walking around.

"Can you show me the way?"

Rent nodded and started walking west, so I followed him.

After walking for a while, we arrived at the area where we had encountered the Kira Plant.

This place used to be dominated by the Kira Plant, but now it looks spacious because it has been transplanted to my field.

There are beautiful flowers here, but some of them are poisonous, so we need to be careful.

If you touch them carelessly, your skin might get burned.

Avoiding the dangerous poisonous plants, we continued walking. Then, Rent tapped my shoulder.

When I looked in the direction he pointed, I saw a large beehive hanging from a tree branch.

"Wow, a beehive! But if I touch it carelessly, I might get attacked..."

Small bees were buzzing around, and if I reached out to collect the honey, I would definitely get stung.

What should I do? Should I grow a tree to enclose the hive and bring it back? That way, I wouldn't get stung.

"You're the one who tamed the terrifying Kira Plant, right?"

While thinking about this plan, a voice came from nowhere. It was a rather refined female voice.

I instinctively looked at Rent, but he doesn't speak.

There's no way he would suddenly start talking now.

"Where is the voice coming from...?"

"From above you."

When I listened carefully, I heard the voice clearly and looked up.

Among the bees buzzing around the hive, I saw a particularly large one, about the size of my fist. It must be the queen bee.

"Could it be you?"

"Yes, I am the queen of the Hell Hornets."

I was surprised to find a talking bee.

Well, this is a world where anything is possible with spirits, elves, and demons. A talking monster isn't that strange.

I'm curious about how it's speaking, but I shouldn't think too deeply about it.

For now, I'll accept the reality that the bee is talking.

"So, why is the queen of the Hell Hornets talking to me?"

"Recently, I watched you tame the terrifying Kira Plant from here. If you want our hive, we'll give it to you, but please spare our lives."

It seemed she had come to beg for mercy.

Since you were pointing at Rent and me, it was clear what you were after.

"Even with the power to tame the Kira Plant and the Gaia Note, we stand no chance against you. Please have mercy..."

Indeed, I came here to collect honey, but it's difficult when the other party can communicate.

"Then, how about you come and live near my place?"

"Near your place?"

"We'll take care of you and protect you, and in return, we'd like you to share your honey regularly."

Since we can communicate, we can negotiate. I'd rather have a friendly and long-term relationship. It's troublesome to find and destroy Hell Hornet hives every time I want honey.

"That's an attractive offer, but are there flowers there? We can't survive without the nectar from flowers."

"Would these flowers be okay?"

Using my ability, I made colorful flowers grow at my feet. Not just any flowers, but ones rich in nectar that the Hell Hornets would like.

"W-What a rich nectar scent..."

The queen of the Hell Hornets exclaimed in surprise, and the small Hell Hornets around her buzzed excitedly.

"Will there be such flowers if we come to your place?"

"I can grow as many as this. Also, the Kira Plant might share its nectar if asked."

The Kira Plant's flowers have a wonderful scent, possibly to attract various creatures. The nectar stored there must be irresistible to the Hell Hornets.

"We'll come! Please take us under your protection!"

The flowers I grew and the nectar from the Kira Plant must have been decisive. The Hell Hornets decided to move their hive.

Now we can get honey regularly. We can even make sweet jam.