The Strongest Onmyoji and the Shikigami With AI are Unparalleled in Another World ~ A Second Life Properly Enjoyed Using Artificial Intelligence ~ - Chapter 232

When we arrived at the market, Merell and I watched as Natalia and Lily discussed which seeds to pick.

“How many do you need, Merell?”
Natalia asked her.

“A lot!”

“…Yeah, no, that’s a bit…”

I mean, I doubt this shop even has that much stock in the first place.

“Merell, if it’s seeds, I can send you as many as you want later—just test a few first.”

With Leanne’s teleportation, we could easily send seeds without Merell having to come here herself.

“Really? Then just enough for a trial’s fine. If it works out, I’ll buy a bunch later.”

“You… even have money?”

The gold coins from her side aren’t usable here.

“I’ll give you magic stones.”

“Well… if that’s the case—Natalia, Lily, don’t worry about the quantity, just get her more variety.”

“That’s a good idea.”

“Okay then, let’s see…”

The two of them continued picking out seeds.

“You’re all such nice people… Sorry for trying to kill you, okay? But that was just because that idiot Domik made me do it, so please don’t hold a grudge. I was totally reluctant.”

…She’s got one hell of a personality.

“Was that how it went?”

“More like—‘Oh, Yuuma’s gone, might as well kill them while I’m at it.’”

“Might as well” is a bit much.

“Just your imagination. If I have a daughter, I’ll name her Natalie.”

Merell nodded cheerfully, smiling all the while.

“…You’re gonna live a long life, aren’t you.”

After buying the seeds, we also picked up groceries for dinner and headed back to the dorm.

Merell went off to the kitchen with Natalia and Lily, so I waited in the room.

Annie was already awake, brewing medicine.

“So that’s what’s going on over on the Demon Continent, huh…”

After filling her in on what had happened while she slept, Annie wore a thoughtful expression.

“For now, I don’t think there’s any threat to us here.”

“The Resistance isn’t going to attack, sure. But that means a new power is starting to form.”

Seems Annie understood as well.

“You mean Sven.”

“Who do you think’s stronger, him or the Resistance?”

“The Resistance is just small fry. On top of that, they seem to have lost public support. I doubt they could beat Sven.”

He’s not on Volker’s level, but he was definitely stronger than Domik.

“And having Merell with him is huge. She knows the Resistance inside out and she’s skilled at moving in secret.”

Honestly, she’s too strong for her own good.

If she felt like it, she could just assassinate their leader and be done with it.

“Well, the reassuring part is that Sven’s a muscle-brain. Leading an army isn’t exactly his strong suit.”

In fact, back in the forest he’d always acted alone.
Furthermore, his lack of cooperation likely means not training anyone and pushing work to others.

“And I’m sure Merell would be against attacking here anyway.”

Yeah, she hasn’t exactly had the best experiences on this side.

“True enough. Leanne, let His Majesty know about this.”
“Understood.”

After that, we continued enjoying our downtime until evening, when the three of them brought dinner.

The menu was mostly potato-based dishes—looked like Natalia and Lily had taught Merell how to make them.

“Mmm, delicious… When it comes to food, this continent is definitely better,”
Merell murmured from her seat beside Annie, savoring her meal.

“You learned to cook?”
“Yes. They taught me some simple dishes. Even those muscle-headed idiots could make these. Well, except Sven-sama, of course—he won’t cook!”

Merell puffed up with a smug grin.

“Good for you. Leanne will teleport you back after dinner, so go home.”
“Aww, let me stay a little longer. I want to keep learning about cooking.”

…Is she planning to spend the night?

“Are you planning on sleeping in the kotatsu again?”
“Even I know that’d be rude. Just lend me the sofa outside—I’ll sleep with the dog.”

Ah, the lounge area in the entrance.

“Not gonna be cold out there?”

“I’m good with the cold, so this much is no problem. Oh, but—can I borrow a blanket?”

“That’s fine, but just so you know—we’ve still got work starting tomorrow.”

If she gets eaten by a snake, not my problem.

“Oh, that reminds me—what are you doing in Axa? Looking for a new wife?”

…Great, she’s got me pegged as that kind of guy too.

“Of course not. Winter around here kills most work, so we go on expeditions instead. Like labyrinths.”

“Ooh, labyrinths! We have those on the Demon Continent too. You can get tons of magic stones there.”

…So they have them over there as well.

“Even the demons make money off them?”
“Somewhat, yeah? Magic stones are fuel, so when we run low, we just go harvest more. There’s even a labyrinth in our mountains.”

Huh…

“Why do those things even exist, anyway?”
“Why? Because they just do, obviously. Labyrinths are alive, so they’re just trying to survive.”

…Wait, what?

“Labyrinths are alive?”
“Sure, they’re a type of monster.”

A monster, huh…

“You know a lot about this. Spill it.”
“Hah?”
“I mean—what are they exactly? Why do they give out magic stones?”
“They give out stones to lure people in. Then they absorb their magic power. Some labyrinths even spawn monsters to kill intruders.”

Absorbing magic power…

“Wait, so they’re draining you?”
“Of course. Once you’re inside, they slowly sap your magic. That’s how labyrinths feed themselves—then they, uh, expel waste.”

…Waste?

“Don’t tell me that waste is the magic stones.”
“Exactly.”

…It’s poop.