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TL: ALT
Chapter 18 – Purchasing the Mountain and the Dragon Vein
The real estate company primarily sold mountains within Osaka Prefecture that were closer to Wakayama Prefecture.
Specifically, they were located in a mountain range connected to Izumisano City.
After driving along a lightly grass-covered dirt road, they arrived at an old, single-story house with a large barn.
Beyond that were mountains that had been long neglected and left unmanaged.
Trees grew densely and wildly, creating a thick, overgrown appearance.
There were also open areas, and it seemed there was a spring, though the water flow was minimal.
The house had electricity, but gas was supplied by propane tanks, and water came from a well.
The barn was quite large for personal use, and it seemed even more spacious now that it was empty.
After the tour, Wataru and the others told the real estate agent they intended to purchase the property and stayed behind.
The mountain was covered in lush green conifers mixed with broadleaf trees that were dyed a deep red.
A cool breeze blew strongly, making it feel slightly chilly when standing still.
Wataru and Mariel were both dressed comfortably and ready to move around.
The stretchy material outlined Mariel’s body, drawing attention to her attractive limbs. This made Wataru feel flustered, even though it wasn’t the time for it.
He wanted to slowly unzip the zipper and see what was inside.
Unfortunately, now wasn’t the time.
The sun was still high in the sky, but November sunsets came early, especially in the mountains.
If they lingered, the sun would set soon.
He wanted to avoid driving an unfamiliar car at night as much as possible.
“Let’s go,” Wataru urged.
“Stella, Aire, and Cloche, you three find a spot suitable for the herb garden. Considering the future, I think it’d be good to clear part of the mountain for farmland.”
“I think this direction is better. It seems to be near a dragon vein where the magic power is likely dense.”
“Hmm, I think there are huge trees growing there, so a clearing would be better for now!”
“I agree with Onee-sama! In the short term, we should choose a spot without trees. In the long term, I think managing and utilizing the mountain would be best.”
“W-what? Cloche saying something intelligent…!?”
That Cloche!
Wataru was so shocked that he blurted out something rude.
For Cloche, it was probably a mistake she’d rather forget.
Her face flushed as she confronted him.
“H-Hold on, Master! What do you take me for? I am certainly not stupid!”
“S-Sorry. Remembering how we met just… made me…”
“That was just me losing my composure in front of Onee-sama!”
Held back by Aire, who pressed her shoulder, Cloche reluctantly gave up her pursuit.
Unlike Aire, who often acts on instinct and impulse, Cloche is more thoughtful. She gathers information on Aire, follows her, and waits in the bustling capital where people come and go.
However, that first impression was so terrible that Wataru mistakenly thought she was reckless and carefree.
“Is it okay to cultivate medicinal herbs around here?”
“I think it should be fine.”
“Either way, I should see the place Stella mentioned. I want to see it with my own eyes before deciding how to proceed with future plans.”
“Yes, please this way. I’ll show you.”
The ground wasn’t packed down, nor had any animals passed through.
Accumulated fallen leaves had turned into soft humus that cushioned their steps. However, tree roots stretched out and nearly tripped Wataru.
His sleeves got caught on sideways-growing bushes, making progress arduous.
Unable to bear watching him struggle, perhaps, Aire stepped to the front of the group.
“Hmm. Master, I’d like you to walk behind Stella and me.”
“G-got it.”
Aire drew the Great Ice Tiger from its sheath and began cutting through the thickets as they walked.
Instantly, a cleanly sliced space wide enough for one person to pass through opened up.
The branches within the thickets were as thick as a child’s wrist, yet they left behind clean cross-sections as if offering no resistance at all.
Since purchasing Aire, he had seen this sword technique so rarely that he could count the instances on one hand. Yet its sharpness remained formidable.
As they walked and cleared the thicket, the burden lessened dramatically.
“Your skill remains as impressive as ever. Thank you.”
“Ehehe.”
“It’s beyond ordinary skill. I’m truly glad fate didn’t pit me against you, Aire-sama.”
“Well, yes. But Stella’s pretty strong, too, right? I really wish I could have fought you once.”
“You must be joking! Even at full strength, I’d want to avoid that. Fighting you now, without my staff, is impossible.”
Aire looked pleased by Wataru’s praise. Behind him, Stella was surprised by her skill and showed a slight wariness.
Stella fought as an elf warrior and was ultimately captured.
Elves are known for their loyalty to their comrades, and in most cases, a hefty ransom can be expected.
General Etgar’s subordinates had muttered that securing Stella had required a significant financial sacrifice.
She was clearly an exceptionally skilled mage and an outstanding warrior.
“Huh, so even from Aire’s perspective, Stella is strong.”
“Yeah. She’s unarmed now, but if she were at full strength, I wouldn’t want to fight her at long range or in the forest.”
The fact that the elves never paid ransom for Stella must have been an unforeseen situation, even for the military.
She was a battle-hardened veteran who had taken the lives of many of their countrymen—an enemy.
Keeping her as a slave would be a potential source of trouble, yet releasing her carelessly was unthinkable.
Allowing her to work as an alchemist to earn money felt far too wasteful.
Through twists and turns, that very situation led to her being used as a bargaining chip in the exchange for Wataru. Was it fate? Or perhaps destiny’s guidance?
Only the gods know.
It was about twenty minutes into the mountains.
After heading straight ahead in the intended direction, Stella stopped.
“This area and the stretch ahead are the most magic-filled places.”
“Huh… It feels refreshing, I guess. It’s like my body and mind suddenly feel lighter.”
“The magic overflowing from the dragon veins revitalizes the body and mind. The density here is sufficient for cultivating medicinal herbs. If you manage the trees in this area well, preventing them from scattering or accumulating too much, you could grow plants with even more potent medicinal properties.”
Even Wataru, who lacked any innate magic, could sense the subtle difference.
An indescribably solemn space spread out before them, reminiscent of a historic shrine.
The trees were deep green, with well-developed trunks and branches.
A rich green scent filled the air.
While not as extreme as ancient city ruins, it was clear that the trees in this area were benefiting too.
Someone with magical aptitude, like Aire or Cloche, would understand this even better.
He nodded in agreement, seeming convinced.
“But coming from someone who tried it, I gotta say—how’d you even find a dragon vein?”
“It was a matter of perspective, you see. Just as the term ‘dragon vein’ suggests, the energy pooled within the earth isn’t confined to famous spots alone. It exists widely deep within the ground. Much like bubbles rising from boiling water, dragon veins exist in many places.”
“So if you search nearby, finding one wouldn’t be that surprising?”
“Yes, but the amount gushing out varies greatly between them.”
“I see. So, the famous spots are the main ones, huh? Anyway, I’m glad we found the land. I’m really glad. Ah, I’m exhausted…”
He had been driving an unfamiliar car since morning, touring five locations in the mountains with strangers, and was now deep in the mountains.
His body was completely soaked in fatigue.
“Do I really have to drive back today?”
“Master, I’m terribly sorry, but I can’t take over the driving.”
“If only Cloche and I could drive…”
Obtaining licenses required the slaves to acquire nationality.
How could this problem be solved? Right now, Wataru couldn’t think of a concrete solution.
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Yeah, none of the girls have proper identifications. Thanks for the chapter.
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