NOVEL WEB Chapter 191
Karem heard that just as people and races differ in appearance, fairies aren’t that different either.
‘So, that’s true, but they’re even more different than I thought.’
Karem turned his head to look at Mary.
To be honest, Mary may be a Brownie, but her characteristics weren’t particularly prominent externally.
Her ears were pointed, but then again, so are those of other Elves.
“Is there something more you want to ask?”
“No. Just… not right now.”
In contrast, Flora, who seemed to be in a dilemma about what to do with Gordon in a clumsy posture, was different.
“No, Madam Mage! Karem! Mary! Don’t just stand there—”
Porong?
“Alright, green lady. First, calm down—”
“This one’s called Flora!”
“Yeees. Princess. Flora, huh? Now calm down and move back a bit.”
Porororong~♪
“I don’t really understand what you mean.”
For the time being, she insisted strongly that her skin was light green.
And what about her disheveled hair? When I first saw her, it looked like it was covered with fallen leaves, which changed with the seasons or emotions.
And, just like a fairy, she had that unique strength like Mary.
“Little one. You’ve seen it clearly, right?”
“Flora’s hair?”
“Not that. The spot you were buried in with just your head sticking out earlier.”
Catherine knocked the ground with her staff and pointed her chin towards where Flora had been stuck just moments ago.
Indeed.
“The ground filled in the hole with just one gesture. Is that magic?”
“No. If we only look at the result, it resembles Druid magic, but this feeling is more similar to something unique to Mary.”
Catherine calmly stated her analysis.
“Yes. It’s fairy magic. In this case, you could say it’s Dryad magic from the forest.”
Fairy magic varied endlessly depending on its type. Of course, it was often too vague to be called magic, but one thing was clear regarding its purpose.
“It’s similar to how House Fairy magic is specialized for household chores.”
“Honestly, that ping seems to have a performance that’s nonsensical to lump in with House Fairy magic.”
Mary’s eyebrows twitched.
“…I’ve been thinking about this for a while.”
“Is there something bothering you?”
“Isn’t there something better than ping?”
“Excuse me?”
Mary felt both pride in her abilities and irritation that those abilities were summarized as ping. She turned her head away.
“Why ping? Surely there are more specific or plausible terms, like teleportation or House Fairy footsteps, but why ping specifically?”
“As I said before, it goes ping when it disappears and ping when it appears.”
“That’s what I don’t like.”
“But I think ping is great.”
“Where exactly do you have a fondness for the word ping? If it really made a ping sound when I moved, that would be one thing. But that’s not the case. And where did that onomatopoeia even come from?”
“Ping.”
Mary seemed determined to correct that this time and spoke without taking a breath.
Catherine, having glanced at the two, clicked her tongue.
“Ping or meow, decide later. For now, calm that situation down.”
“…Understood.”
Mary stared intently at Karem as if to say they would deal with it later, but Karem appeared unfazed.
*
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Gifts are profound items.
Before giving something to someone else, you need to think twice, even thrice.
Is the gift too expensive, putting a burden on the recipient? Is the prepared gift something the receiver would like? Is there also a chance for misunderstanding or is the situation itself appropriate for giving a gift?
Of course, among gifts, there exist those that will at least not earn a scolding when received.
After all, no one seems to overly worry about food gifts.
If someone does, they must be quite twisted in character.
Either way.
Fortunately, Karem felt that Flora likely wouldn’t process things that far.
Of course, the situation seemed incapable of even mentioning the ‘gifts.’
The person who should receive the gift wasn’t listening at all.
Fortunately, the situation calmed down only after Corvus arrived, drawn by the ruckus.
Corvus pointed out Flora as if reprimanding a child who made a mistake, guiding the group to their nest. They soon sat at a prepared table.
“By the way, are you feeling alright? When I last saw you, it seemed serious.”
“I’m fine now. I’ve grown a bit though.”
“That’s a relief.”
Corvus turned his head, eyeing Karem carefully.
“Though your lifespan has likely decreased slightly.”
“Anyhow, Flora, is there something you particularly like?”
“Pororong? Porong!”
Corvus felt sad that his heartfelt (cough) joke was ignored.
Regardless, Flora blinked her pale eyes, tilting her head. The leaves growing in her hair rustled as she turned. Bouncing her head left and right, she pointed a finger at Gordon sitting next to her.
The meaning was clear.
Still, to be safe, Karem decided to ask someone who seemed to understand the situation.
“What does that porong mean right now?”
“It means she likes Gordon.”
“As expected.”
“And she’s suggesting making seeds.”
Right. Now that was something I’d heard just moments ago.
But Alicia looked puzzled as if she had no idea what it meant.
“What does it mean to suggest making seeds?”
“You could ask me, but… I’m not really sure either.”
“Is Flora saying she wants to play with Gordon in flower viewing?”
“Flower viewing?”
At that moment, Karem barely recalled that Flora was only 0 years old. Even though she seemed grown up, if she was indeed young, that was quite natural.
“…Seeds… No, surely not…”
Catherine, as if struck by a thought, took a careful look at the cup on the table while shaking her head.
“What is it you’re saying is not true?”
“I suddenly had a useless thought. It’s probably just my imagination.”
“A useless thought?”
You had a useless thought, huh?
Although she didn’t voice it, Catherine’s face clearly showed her thoughts, and then she checked Alicia’s reaction.
“Hmm.”
Catherine checking someone’s reaction was a first and felt fresh.
Didn’t she once rush at her lord Alfred out of anger and shout at Duke Richard until she ran out of patience?
What exactly was making her check Alicia’s reaction?
Fortunately, there was a hint.
“Seeds.”
There might be an answer in that read-between-the-lines statement where Flora suddenly clung to Gordon like a dwarf who found a barrel after a shipwreck.
Seeds are the medium through which plants spread their offspring.
And that results from the pollination of two distinct beings.
A medium for spreading offspring.
Pollination of different beings.
Now that I think about it, I did mention that it was born from the seeds I handed out.
In that case, the implication of suggesting to make seeds is…
Oh
Oh
Ooooh
God said,
“Be fruitful and multiply?”
While that wasn’t wrong—
“That’s a bit inappropriate.”
“Yeah. It’s improper to bring that up in front of anyone.”
Karem couldn’t help but agree with Catherine’s tone indicating she understood.
Saying Flora wants to make seeds is likely to be a very stimulating proposal for a 6-year-old who hasn’t even had a Coming-of-Age Ceremony yet.
“Should we report this?”
“Report? To whom?”
“To His Grace the Duke or Elder Iona. Anyway, to someone?”
While it may be normal for nobles to engage in political marriages with children 10 years younger, such a spectacle involving someone not even a year old was abnormal.
“You don’t have to.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“The age of a Dryad is counted from when the flower blooms to when the fruit is formed and ceases briefly when the seed is born, continuing from the moment they’re born.”
Which means that despite looking so young, they have actually aged enough.
Catherine felt a bit relieved without realizing it.
Karem felt the same way.
“Well… gifts.”
Then, suddenly the thought of gifts arose.
Why did he come all the way to the greenhouse?
Naturally, to repay Flora.
So he asked what she likes, but Flora didn’t seem to want to reveal her preferences. She only kept clinging onto Gordon.
At this point, it was clear to anyone that Flora liked Gordon.
Whether it was affection or a romantic inclination, it didn’t matter.
In that case, let’s think a bit differently.
Wouldn’t she also like something that Gordon particularly made for her?
*
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*
*
Flora likes Gordon.
Even Alicia has noticed it.
There’s no chance Gordon wouldn’t be aware of it.
‘Wow, this is honestly a bit hard to bear.’
Just a short while ago, he was a mercenary.
He surely had some experiences with women, and thanks to his Swordmaster skills, the countless invitations he received probably included the use of beautiful ladies.
Because of that, he must have developed some resistance to such temptations.
Although it was surprising, wouldn’t a man like being stuck to a woman who makes it easy for him?
Especially considering most women Gordon had met so far were, as mentioned before, half exploiting him through beauty or shallow encounters without any emotional investment.
However, Flora was different.
As he slightly lowered his head, a bright-eyed green lady smiled back with pure affection and friendliness.
Light green skin? Leaves in her hair? Those were merely points that enhanced her beauty.
‘Oh man. It’s a feast laid out for me, but I shouldn’t handle this like I used to.’
His past experiences with “not quite relationships” were simple.
He didn’t stop those who came nor did he stop those who left.
If he noticed hints of the beauty scheme or signs of unwanted pregnancy, he’d run.
But Gordon also knew that unlike the previous encounters, he shouldn’t approach this situation as he did before. The problem was how to treat her now.
His instincts whispered.
But how about if she’s the one seducing?
‘That’s not wrong either.’
The pressure and softness that could be felt from underneath her flowing dress on the right side. The rich scents of vibrant autumn and fresh spring emanating from her whole body.
“Flora, let’s take it easy. The guest looks exhausted.”
“Porong? Pororong!”
“Whoa, Flora. Do you remember what I said?”
“Pororong…”
“Exactly. So, what’s the next action we need to take?”
At Corvus’s words, Flora deflated, casting a gloomy expression. Then she took another fleeting glance at Gordon, giving him a tight embrace before sticking her tongue out at Corvus and fleeing into the woods.
“Flora!”
Alicia chased after her.
“Ah, please don’t take it negatively, considering she acts with such goodwill.”
“I wasn’t thinking that way.”
“You seem understanding.”
Freed from the soft embrace, Gordon felt a slight lingering sense of loss.
It was awkward, but if he had to choose between good and bad regarding his feelings, he would lean toward the good.
At that moment, Karem approached Gordon and spoke.
“Let’s handle something together.”
“What’s with that suspicious look?”
Gordon narrowed his eyes in defense.