Chapter 4

Thank you for reading.

Regarding the parts that have been published in book form, I have intentionally left the typos, omissions, and additions as they are, hoping that they might serve as reference material in the future.

Please understand.

There are people who use the typo reporting function to proofread.

I decline any reports other than typo and omission reports.

If it becomes too excessive, I will block it.

Please bear with me.

Exactly seven days after finding wild roses in the inner garden of the mansion, I came for my daily walk while singing and found something unfamiliar.

Surrounded by bright red wild roses, there was a single luxurious peony in full bloom.

Since peonies and wild roses bloom at the same time, it wasn't an unusual combination. However, until yesterday, there were no peony buds among the wild roses.

As I wondered about this, my legs moved on their own toward the peony.

The single peony, blooming quietly, had a regal presence like a beautiful queen standing tall, and for some reason, I couldn't look away. In fact, I was drawn to the flower like a moth to a flame.

The peony before my eyes had petals as lustrous as the finest silk, layered upon each other.

This peony was not ordinary.

The sweet fragrance was so strong that it made me feel as if I would get drunk just by inhaling it.

Originally, peonies, depending on the variety, do not emit a strong fragrance from a single bloom. Yet, this beautiful peony exuded a scent that was like peach, or perhaps rose, or even plum—indescribably wonderful.

The phrase "unearthly" seemed fitting for such a moment. As I felt this way, a poem slipped out of my mouth.

"Having shed all the remaining red, it begins to exude fragrance

Called the king of all flowers

Boasting the unparalleled beauty of the world

Possessing the first fragrance of mankind"

This is a poem by a poet from the previous world, and its meaning is something like, "The peony blooms after all the other flowers have fallen. It is called the king of all flowers, boasting the unparalleled beauty of the world and possessing the most fragrant flower of mankind."

In other words, it's a "Hail to the Peony!" kind of sentiment, which seems to reflect the feelings of both 'me' and 'I'.

As I gazed at the flower in awe, the peony suddenly began to shimmer and transformed into a human form.

The woman who appeared had lustrous hair that seemed to reach her ankles, a cool and composed gaze, and a flowing costume like those worn by heroines and princesses in the 'Peking Opera' of the previous world. I was so surprised that I couldn't even speak. But, for some reason, she seemed familiar.

"Hmm, to immediately recite a poem upon seeing my peony, you are quite a talented young boy. I like it. You may state your name."

"…Huh? What?"

Ignoring my shock, the beautiful woman laughed lightly.

"What, you are a young boy who can recite a poem praising me, but you are still a child. Do you not understand?"

"Ah, yes, um... My name is Kiku-no-i Kouta, the eldest son of the Kiku-no-i family."

For some reason, I felt I had to do this, so I knelt and bowed my head, and the woman nodded again.

"A well-mannered young boy is to my liking. You are Kouta, correct? My name is 'Princess Hyakka.' Do you know me?"

Her words were so matter-of-fact that I stiffened.

I don't know her.

She seems familiar, but I don't remember her name.

Seeing my stiffness, the princess's eyebrow twitched in displeasure. However, this kind of person must not be angered.

I prostrated myself and struggled to speak.

"I apologize. Until recently, I was a foolish child who did not listen to the teachings of the adults around me. Perhaps I was taught your name by the adults, but I ignored it. Therefore... that... I do not know your name."

"Yes, it is indeed shameful."

"An impolite young boy. However, I will forgive you this time for your apology. ...I am Princess Hyakka, the goddess of flowers, greenery, healing, and abundance, who governs the fertility of the earth."

Her red lips curved into a crescent moon. No matter what she did, the beauty exuded an elegance that was different from ordinary people.

As I was captivated, the princess waved a fan made of silk or some translucent fabric.

"Is this the young boy's mansion?"

"Yes... no, to be precise, it is the Kiku-no-i family's residence."

"Hmm, an odd way of speaking. In any case, this is a garden related to you. I have been residing in the wild roses in this garden for the past seven days, listening to your songs since that day."

"Ah... I apologize for the unpleasant songs."

"Do not apologize. I enjoyed the poetry in your songs. I have lived a long time, but I had never heard those songs before, so I was entertained. Therefore, I decided to appear in person to give you a gift as a token of my appreciation."

While the princess smiled playfully, I turned pale.

The songs and poems I sang to her were not my own.

They were the knowledge and memories of 'me' from the previous world.

I am not shameless enough to claim them as my own, nor disrespectful enough to deceive a goddess.

In a hurry, I explained my mysterious background, the memories from the previous world, and that the songs and poems I sang to her were not my own. The princess raised an eyebrow, this time with a mischievous smile.

"Foolish young boy. If you had kept quiet, no one would have known. However, it is fine. Even if the songs were created by someone else, you have been offering them to me for seven days. And I have accepted them as offerings. Once accepted, the proper payment must be made to avoid imbalance. Therefore, I must give you something appropriate. Accept it gratefully."

As she said this, the princess circled me and suddenly pressed a point on my medulla oblongata.

"Ouch!?"

"What, making such a loud noise, how vulgar."

"It, it hurts... pressing the medulla...!?"

"Hmph, I pressed the meridian of the magic nerve that was stagnating in your neck. Now, the magic nerve should be firmly rooted in your body and spread throughout. You will be able to use magic."

"Wow! Thank you so much!"

"Also, your appearance... is not good at the moment, but your voice is pleasant. Your singing is not bad, but not great. Not great, but... come and sing every day from tomorrow. Comfort my boredom."

"But... um..."

"The knowledge from the previous world is irrelevant to me. I just want my boredom to be relieved. If the songs and poems you know do not exist in this world, it will be more enjoyable for me. Do not forget the respect for the great predecessors of the other world, just as a bard performs the songs of old poets in front of an audience. The command of a god is absolute. I have told you to come and sing, so you must come every day from tomorrow without any excuses. That is all. Answer!"

"Yes, yes!"

You must not defy this kind of person. It's important, so I'll repeat it twice.

The princess seemed satisfied with my quick response, waved her fan, and disappeared like smoke.

Seriously?

The poem mentioned in the story is from Pi Xiu's "Peony."