Chapter 6

From the next day on, I started going to the forest every day, wearing my sword and armor.

In the first few days, I could only find one herb a day, and the income I earned was no different from working a regular job. However, by the end of the week, I had a better sense of where the herbs might grow, and I was able to collect several leaves.

I always picked up eggs from the chicken farm on my way home and incubated them before going to bed. By repeating this, I gradually got used to it, and my fatigue decreased.

Although there was a risk of encountering monsters, I started earning a higher income than my previous job. At this rate, I could save up a substantial amount of money by working a little more.

With that money, I could show it to my parents, tell them that I am a adventurer, and persuade them to let Seria study in the capital.

Thinking about this, I walked through the forest...

"Hey, it's you again..."

I discovered a Magic Worm eating herbs. It was the first encounter since the first day.

Later, I casually asked the knowledgeable Seria about it during dinner, and apparently, Magic Worms do not increase in number much. They move slowly and are often eaten by other monsters. Their eggs also contain magic power, making them a source of nutrition for small animals like insects, which makes it difficult for them to reproduce.

Thinking about this, I felt a bit sorry for them, so I quickly picked the herbs before the Magic Worm could eat them.

The Magic Worm, having lost its food, slowly finished the remaining herbs and disappeared into the shadows of the trees.

"Hey, it's laying eggs again."

Dozens of small purple eggs were scattered where the Magic Worm had been. There was no need to crush them this time.

The Magic Worm must have worked hard to lay them, but if left alone, ants and other creatures would carry them away and eat them...

"Hold on a second?"

Then I had an idea.

What would happen if I incubated these eggs?

I had been incubating chicken eggs every day, thinking that it might eventually help provide food for the family. Since my skill is 'Incubation,' could these eggs also be a target?

Furthermore, according to what Seria told me, Magic Worms are known to weaken when their [living environment] changes, and there have been cases where Magic Worm eggs were incubated and raised. If I could bring these eggs home and incubate them, could I make a profit?

With this in mind, I put the purple eggs in a burlap bag, being careful not to crush them.

"I'll take them home for now."

I put the purple eggs in the burlap bag, being careful not to crush them, and returned home.

"Well, shall I do it again today...?"

At night, I started my activities. Today, I would incubate the Magic Worm eggs. After repeating 'Incubation' for about a week, I no longer felt as tired. At first, I was exhausted by incubating just one egg, but now I felt I could incubate two or three.

Feeling that my abilities were gradually growing, I decided to try something new today.

I took out one Magic Worm egg and immediately used the Incubation skill.

"Ugh, it's been a while since I felt this intense..."

I thought it would be easy to incubate such a small egg, but it wasn't. I felt a force being drained from me, far more than with chicken eggs. Still, I could sense that the incubation was getting closer.

The egg swelled, and finally, the Magic Worm broke through the shell and came out.

"..."

The newborn Magic Worm was just a small, ordinary Magic Worm. It crawled out of the egg, found the herbs I had saved, and started eating them. I had saved them thinking they would be needed after a successful incubation.

"Still, I'm exhausted..."

I didn't expect to be this tired from just one egg.

"I'll raise this one for a while and see how it goes."

Feeling extremely sleepy, I put the Magic Worm in a basket and went to rest.

"Recently, brother has a smell."

"Huh?"

As usual, I was eating breakfast when Seria said this.

"Even though I take a bath every day, maybe I'm not washing enough?"

I tried to smell myself, but I couldn't detect anything. I wondered if it might be a rebellious phase from my sister...

"No, I think it's a smell that ordinary people can't detect. It's the kind of smell that lingers after using magic..."

There was only one thing that came to mind. It must be the Magic Worm.

Seria, with her talent for magic, must have noticed. She was moving her nose, trying to find the source of the smell. If I left for work, she might start searching my room.

"S-Sure... I have some urgent work today. I'll be leaving now."

I hurried into my room, collected the Magic Worm, and immediately left the house.

"I didn't expect Seria to find out..."

I looked at the Magic Worm eating herbs on my palm. It was quite cute in its own way.

In any case, I couldn't leave it at home. After all, Seria was not fond of such creatures.

"Since it's just born, should I release it into the wild?"

As I said this, the Magic Worm's head moved and it looked at me, as if it understood my words... The more I looked at it, the cuter it seemed. Without thinking, I called out a name.

"From today, you are 'Purple.'"

The next moment,

《'Purple' has been contracted as a familiar. [Minor Magic Power Increase] has been obtained.》

"Wh-What was that voice...?"

Suddenly, a voice echoed in my head, and I covered my ears. The voice I just heard sounded similar to the goddess Muse, somewhat detached from reality.

"Familiar contract? Minor Magic Power Increase? What is this? What's going on?"

Confused by the unprecedented situation, I looked at the Magic Worm in front of me—Purple.