014 薬草畑 (2)
「ところで、この畑を管理するのは、マイケルさんとイズーさんという事で、いいんですよね?」
「はい。兄は、“畑”になるまでの間、手伝いに来てくれているだけなので......。ご迷惑をおかけするかもしれませんが、ご指導のほど、よろしくお願いします」
「私も頑張ります。農作業はこれが初めてだけど!」
頭を下げるマイケルさんと、手をぎゅっと握って気合いを入れるイズーさん。
言動やその外見から想像は付いていたけど――。
「イズーさんは、農村出身じゃないんですね?」
「うん、私はサウス・ストラグ産まれのサウス・ストラグ育ち。農村で生活するのは、これが初めてなの」
「マイケルさんは、多少は農業をした事があるんです、よね......?」
ガットさんの弟なんだから、少なくともこの村にいた間は家の手伝いをしていたはずで。
でも、日にも焼けていないし、体格的にも農家には全く見えない。
町で何の仕事をしていたのか知らないけど、筋力にも乏しそうだし、少々不安を感じなくもない。
栽培方法自体は指導できても、私も農業の専門家というわけじゃないし、小規模に育てる錬金術師の薬草栽培と農業的な大量栽培。違うところも多くあると思う。
そんな私の心情を察したのか、ガットさんが少し困ったように口を開いた。
「あ~、成人してすぐに村を出ちまったからなぁ......。だが、そのへんは俺も手助けするし、こいつもちょっと要領は
「あ、はい、それは別に構いませんが......」
私自身は錬金術師がメインの仕事。最低限必要な薬草は採集者から買い取ればいいだけだし、一応、裏庭にある自前の畑もしばらくは維持する予定である。
最初に薬草の種や苗を手に入れるのに投資は必要だけど、仮に失敗して収穫が無かったところで、生活に困ったりはしない。
でも、マイケルさんたちの方は......。
「薬草栽培が上手くいかなくても、生活は大丈夫なんですか? 日々の生活費とか、住む場所とか......」
「今は兄さんのところで部屋を借りて住んでいます。生活費の方は、しばらくはエリンさんから給料が出ますので......」
「居候って事だな。ゆくゆくはあの辺に新居を建てられたら良いんだが......。子供ができりゃ、居候ってわけにもいかねぇしな」
そう言ってガットさんが指さすのは、私の家から見て畑の反対側。
これまでは私の家が村の端だったから、もしマイケルさんが家を建てれば、少し村の範囲が広がるって事になるのかな?
エリンさんも、『上手くいけば、薬草畑を増やしたい』みたいな事は言っていたし、村人が増える要因になるのかも?
「これは、責任重大ですね」
「いや、気にしなくていいぜ? サラサちゃんは、ちゃんと栽培できてんだろ? 失敗したとすりゃ、その責任はマイケルにある。おめぇ、安定して稼げるまで、子供をつくんじゃねぇぞ?」
「に、兄さん!」
にやりと笑って肩をパシンと叩くガットさんに、マイケルさんが焦ったように言い返し、イズーさんも少し頬を染める。
でも、そっか。
結婚したんだもんね。子供もできるよね。
「ははは......、でも、完全に任せてしまうのも申し訳ないですから、少しお手伝いしますね?」
できるだけ早く結果が出るに越した事はないと思うし、新婚さんを色々我慢させるのはきっと可哀想。よく判んないけど。
私、恋人がいたこと、無いし!
「土起こしさえしてしまえば、楽になりますよね?」
開墾作業で一番大変なのは、固い地面を掘り起こす事。
幸い、ここに生えていたのは灌木程度で、喬木は無かったはず。
根っこに苦労させられる事は少なかったと思うけど、それでも地面を掘り起こして柔らかくするのは大変。
ここだけでも魔法で対処しておけば、ずっと早く畑ができるんじゃないかな?
「そりゃ、ありがてぇが......」
やや困惑気味に私を見るガットさんに頷き、私は魔法を行使しようと、手を上げる。
「じゃあ、早速――」
「サラサさん? もし魔法で藪や草が一掃できても、土を吹き飛ばしてしまうと、畑としては使いづらくなりますよ?」
「......ロレアちゃん、私の事、何だと思ってるの?」
まさか、『面倒だから全部吹き飛ばしちゃえ!』みたいな、雑な人間だと思われているのだろーか?
少々心外な言葉に、私がジト目を向けると、ロレアちゃんからも似たような視線が返ってきた。
「あそこを思い出してから、もう一度言ってください」
そう言ってロレアちゃんが指さした先にあるのは、裏庭から続く森。
しばらく前までは森だったそこは、今では草の生えていない地面が露出し、アイリスさんたちの戦闘訓練に最適な場所になっている。
そうなった原因を思い起こし、私はつぃと視線を逸らす。
「あ、あれは、攻撃魔法の練習だったからっ」
「......今回使うのは違うんですか?」
「それの一種ではあるけど――ま、まぁ、見てて!」
ロレアちゃんの言葉で少し不安そうな表情を浮かべ始めた三人に、私は背を向け、ゆっくりと地面に手をついた。
◇    ◇    ◇
「それで、ちゃんとできたのか? 店長殿」
エリンさんの所から戻ってきたアイリスさんにそう訊ねられ、私は当然と頷く。
「もちろんですよ。私、失敗しないので!」
最近はね!
師匠に弟子入りした頃は、それなりに――いや、正直に言うと、毎日のように失敗して、迷惑をかけていたけど。
でも、今回は本当。
ロレアちゃんも同意するように頷いているしね。
「ガットさんも褒めていましたね。『開墾を仕事にしても食っていける』って」
「ほう、それほどか」
「農地の拡大は、多くの領地で懸案事項だものね」
私の顔を見て、アイリスさんとケイトさんが感心したような声を上げた。
私は商人の娘だったので話に聞いただけだけど、人力でやる開墾作業というのは本当に重労働、らしい。
当然、領民を駆り出してそんな事をすれば、領主の人気は無くなる。
でも、自分の畑の農作業に加えて、それ以上にキツい開墾作業をさせられるとなれば、凄く大変そうと言うのは、想像力が乏しくても簡単に理解できる。
農地の多さは力の強さでもあるので、領主は開墾をして、より多くの農地を確保したいが、あまり無理をさせれば領民が不満を持ち、作業効率も上がらない。
一応、領地が豊かになれば領民にも恩恵はあるんだろうけど、それを実感できるまではしばらくの期間が必要なわけで。
今目の前にある重労働という現実を受け入れて、未来に目を向けさせるのはなかなか難しそう。
そのあたりのバランスを如何に取るかが、領主の腕の見せ所、なのかもしれない。
「でも、サラサさん。あの魔法は何だったんですか? 私は知りませんでしたけど、開墾に使うような魔法も存在するんですか?」
「あの魔法? あれも一応は攻撃魔法なんだよ。『
地槍
これをちょこっと改変して、土を固めないように、そして地面からほとんど飛び出さないようにして使ったのが今回の魔法。
速度や強度という、魔力消費が大きい効果を省略してあるので、実はとても効率が良い。
だからこそ、普通は敵の数体を相手に使う魔法を、畑一面にかける事ができたんだけどね。
「そうなんですか? でも、やっぱり凄いですよね、魔法って。農家の人が何日もかかってする作業が、一瞬で終わるんですから」
「そんなにか? ならば、その魔法を覚えて開墾専門の魔法使いにでもなれば、生活に困らないな。......難しい魔法、なのか?」
まさか覚えるつもりなのか、アイリスさんがそんな事を訊く。
特別難しいとは思わないけど、できるかどうかは......。
私は少し考えて、首を振った。
「そんなに簡単ではない、かも? 威力を考えなければ、『
そして、そんな精密な魔力操作ができるなら、開墾魔法使いなんかしなくても、錬金術師への道が開けるわけで。
もちろん、魔力操作だけで錬金術師になれるわけじゃないけど、努力次第でなり得るだけの素地はあると言える。
「そんな魔法使いの存在を聞いた事が無いだけの理由はある、ってわけなのね」
「もちろん、錬金術師の道を進まなかった人がそっち方面に進む可能性はありますが......地味ですからね。普通なら、一般的な魔法使いを目指しますよね」
「やはり、魔法使いといえば高威力な攻撃魔法、というイメージだからな。若者には人気が無いだろうな」
訳知り顔で頷くアイリスさんもまた、そういった魔法使いに憧れた口なのかもしれない。
その隣で少し呆れたような視線を向けている、ケイトさんの表情を見るに。
でも解る。私も子供の頃はちょっと思ってたから!
「......サラサさん、私がその魔法だけを頑張って練習すれば、使えるようになったりしますか?」
「なに? 覚えたいの? それなら教える事はできるよ。できるようになるかはロレアちゃんの頑張り次第だけど......ドッカン、バッコン、じゃなくてもいいの? 一応、そっち方面も教える事はできるよ?」
「そんなの覚えても、私、使う機会が無いですから」
ロレアちゃんぐらいの年齢なら、と思って提案した私の言葉を、ロレアちゃんが苦笑と共に否定する。
「それより、村の人の役に立つ魔法の方が良いかと」
「大人っ!? 私なら絶対、攻撃魔法を選んでたよ! ロレアちゃんの年齢なら」
「えぇ? そうですか? でも、サラサさん、私と同じ年齢の時、何してました?」
「学校で勉強に明け暮れていたけど――でも、それは、私が孤児だったからね」
もし両親が健在なら、また違っていたと思う。
それに、町の間を行き来する事が多かった両親の後を継ぐのなら、むしろ攻撃魔法の方が役に立ったと思うので、必ずしもそれが間違いとも言えない、よね?
――私の趣味も、多分に入っているけどねっ。
「ま、良いよ。教えるのは。簡単ではないと思うけど、この村なら役に立つ事は間違いないしね」
ロレアちゃんぐらいなら、村の事より自分の事を考えて欲しい気もするけど、反対する理由も無いので、私はこくりと頷く。
......それとも、将来的な事を考えているのかな?
アイリスさんじゃないけど、覚えておけば、飢える事が無さそうな魔法である事は間違いないのだから。
66 014 Herbal Fields (2)
"By the way, it's Mr. Michael and Mr. Izu who manage this field, right?
"Yes, because my brother is only here to help me until I become a" field "...... Thank you for your guidance, as we may inconvenience you."
"I'll do my best, too. This is my first farming job, though!
I bow my head, Michael, and Izu, who grips his hands tightly to get in the mood.
I had an imagination from words and deeds and their appearance...
"Isuzu isn't from the countryside, is he?
"Yeah, I grew up in South Strag, born in South Strag. This is the first time I've ever lived in a rural area."
"Michael has done some farming before, right...?
He's Mr. Gatt's brother, so I should have helped him with the house, at least while he was in this village.
But I haven't burned it in the day, and I don't look like a farmer at all, physically.
I don't know what I was doing in town, but I think I'm lacking muscle strength, and I don't have to feel a little anxious.
Even if the cultivation method itself can be instructed, I'm not an agricultural expert either, and the herbal cultivation and agricultural bulk cultivation of alchemists growing on a small scale. I think there are many differences.
You perceived my mood like that, Mr. Gatt opened his mouth like he was having a little trouble.
"Ah, because I left the village as soon as I grew up...... But I'm going to help you, and this guy's a bit of an evil guide, but he can do what he's told to do. Sarasa, I'm sorry, but can you look at me in the long run?
"Oh, yes, I don't mind that..."
Alchemist is my main job myself. The least you can do is buy the necessary herbs from the collectors, and once you do, you plan to maintain your own field in the backyard for a while.
I need to invest in getting herb seeds and seedlings first, but I don't have a problem with my life where I failed and didn't have a harvest.
But Michael and the others......
"Even if the herb cultivation doesn't work, is life okay? Everyday living expenses, places to live..."
"Now I rent a room at my brother's and live there. If you have a living, Erin will be paying you for a while..."
"You mean stay. I wish I could build a new home in that neighborhood... If I had a kid, I wouldn't be living here."
That's what Mr. Gatt points to, from my house. On the other side of the field.
Since my house was on the edge of the village until now, if Mr. Michael built the house, would it mean that the village would expand a little?
Erin also said something like, 'If it works, I want to increase the number of herbal fields,' which could be a factor in the increase in the number of villagers?
"This is a serious responsibility."
"No, you don't have to worry about it, do you? Sarasa can grow it properly, can't she? If it fails, the blame lies with Michael. Hey, you're not gonna have kids until you make steady money, are you?
"To, brother!
Michael says back like he's in a hurry and izu dyes his cheeks a little too, to Gut, who laughs and slaps his shoulders with a pasin.
But, you know what?
You're married. Kids can do it, too, right?
"Ha... but I'm also sorry that I'm totally at your disposal, so I'll help you out a little bit, right?
I don't think we've ever gotten past the results as soon as possible, and it must be pathetic to put up with the newlyweds a lot. I don't know.
I don't have a girlfriend!
"It would be easier if you even soiled it up, wouldn't it?
The hardest part of opening work is digging up hard ground.
Fortunately, what was growing here was about the shrub, and there shouldn't have been any joe trees.
I know I've had less trouble with the roots, but it's still hard to dig up the ground and soften it up.
If we just magically deal with it here, we'll be able to field it much sooner, won't we?
"Well, there is..."
He nods at Mr. Gatt, who looks at me somewhat puzzled, and I try to exercise my magic, hands up.
"Well, hurry up -"
"Mr. Sarasa? If magic can sweep away the clouds and grass, if it blows up the soil, it's hard to use as a field, right?
"... Lorea, what do you think it is about me?
No way, 'cause it's troublesome. Blow it all up!' Like, they think you're a cluttered person?
To a slightly out-of-heart word, when I turned to Zito's eyes, a similar gaze returned from Lorea.
"Remember over there and say it again"
That's what Lorea pointed out. Ahead is the forest that leads from the backyard.
Until a while ago, it was a forest. There, now the grassless ground has been exposed, making it the perfect place for Mr. Iris and his men to train in combat.
Reminds me of the cause that happened, and I get out of sight.
"Oh, that was an attack magic exercise."
"... is it different to use this time?
"It's a kind of thing - stay, well, look!
I turned my back and slowly laid my hands on the ground to the three of them who began to give me a slightly uneasy look at Lorea's words.
* * *
"So, did you do it right? Store Manager"
That's what Iris asked me back from Erin's place, and I nod naturally.
"Of course it is. Me, because I won't fail!
Lately!
When I apprenticed to my master, it was quite - no, to be honest, I failed like every day, and it bothered me.
But this time it's true.
Lorea's nodding to agree, too.
"Mr. Gatt complimented you, too. He said," You can eat even if you work in Kaizen. ""
"Well, not so much."
"The expansion of agricultural land is a matter of concern in many territories."
He looked at my face and raised his voice as if Mr. Iris and Mr. Kate were impressed.
I was the daughter of a merchant, so I just heard the story, but the manpower opening job seems to be really heavy labor.
Naturally, if you drive out the people and do that, the popularity of the lords will disappear.
But in addition to the farming of my field, it is easy to understand even if my imagination is scarce to say that it would seem very difficult if I were allowed to do more tight opening work than that.
Since the abundance of agricultural land is also the strength of power, the lord wants to open up and secure more agricultural land, but if we force it too much, the inhabitants will be dissatisfied and the work efficiency will not increase.
For once, if the territory is enriched, it will benefit the people as well, because it will take a while before they can feel it.
It seems hard to accept the reality of heavy labor right now in front of us and make us look to the future.
Perhaps the show of the Lord's arms is how to balance that area.
"But, Mr. Sarasa. What was that magic? I didn't know, but does magic exist that you use to open it?
"That magic? That's attack magic for once, too. Because it's the Earth Spear Earth Needle application."
Attack magic that solidifies soil and pierces enemies from the ground.
It is this magic that I used to modify this a little bit, to keep the soil from solidifying, and to keep little from jumping out of the ground.
It is actually very efficient because it omits the effects of high magic consumption, such as speed and intensity.
That's why I was able to put the magic of normally using a few of my enemies against me on one side of the field.
"Really? But it's still amazing, isn't it, magic? The work that farmers do over the course of days ends in an instant."
"That much? Then if you remember the magic and become a wizard who specializes in opening, you won't have any trouble with your life.... difficult magic, is it?
Are you going to remember, Mr. Iris asks about that?
I don't find it particularly difficult, but I don't know if I can...
I thought a little and shook my head.
"It's not that easy, maybe? If you don't think about power, the Earth Spear Earth Needle itself isn't that hard, because if you're going to alter it, you need precise magic manipulation."
And if you can do such precise magic manipulation, you don't have to open up a wizard, so the way to an alchemist opens up.
Of course, magic manipulation isn't the only way you can be an alchemist, but I can tell you that there's just enough ground to be depending on your efforts.
"You've never heard of a wizard like that before. That's why."
"Of course, it's possible that someone who didn't go down the alchemist's path will go that way... because it's plain. Normally, you want to be a general wizard."
"After all, when it comes to wizards, it's a high-powered attack magic. It won't be popular with young people."
Mr. Iris, who nods with a translation face, may also be a mouth longing for such a wizard.
I'm turning a slightly dazed gaze next to it, to see Kate's expression.
But I get it. Because I thought about it a little bit when I was a kid too!
"... Sarasa, if I only practice that magic so hard, will I be able to use it?
"What? You want to remember? Then I can teach you. It depends on Lorea's hard work to be able to... doccan, buckon, doesn't it have to be? For once, I can teach you that, right?
"Even if I remember that, I haven't had a chance to use it."
If you were about Lorea's age, Lorea would deny my words with a bitter smile.
"I was wondering if the magic that helps the villagers would be better than that"
"Adults!? I would have chosen offensive magic! If you're Lorea's age."
"Huh? Is that right? But, Mr. Sarasa, what were you doing when you were my age?
"It was dawn in school - but that's because I was an orphan."
If my parents were alive, I think they would have been different again.
Besides, if you're going to succeed your parents, who used to come and go between towns, I think attack magic would have been more useful, so that's not necessarily a mistake, right?
- My hobby, maybe in there, too, but hey.
"It's good. Teaching is. I don't think it's going to be easy, but I'm sure this village will help."
If it's about Lorea, I'd like you to think more about yourself than about the village, but there's no reason to disagree, so I snort.
... or are you thinking about the future?
It's not Mr. Iris, but remember, it's definitely magic that doesn't seem to starve.
The Novice Alchemist’s Store
[Web版] 新米錬金術師の店舗経営
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/the-novice-alchemists-store/
Adventure Comedy Fantasy Shoujo Ai Slice of Life Supernatural
Adapted to Anime Adapted to Manga Alchemy Artifact Crafting Artifacts Business Management Carefree Protagonist Crafting Cute Story Fantasy World Heartwarming Herbalist Jack of All Trades Marriage of Convenience Orphans Protagonist Strong from the Start R-15 Store Owner Sword And Magic
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n3174fc/
いつきみずほ