Peaceful ending? Yeah, right.
With Yue now happily surrounded by his little fan club, I figured I could check on the other attractions.
Passing by the pond where Kurin was playing with the mermaids, I quickly averted my eyes. If they catch me, I’ll be forced to host a "Rosarin Recital." Hard pass.
"Ah! Rosarin-chan!"
"Oneechan!?"
"Roja-chaaan!"
Haku and his adorable kids waved at me. They would’ve fit right in with the fluffy squad, but turns out they’d been helping with setup and were now on break.
"Haku, thanks for pitching in. Dan’s serving yakisoba over there, by the way."
"After everything you’ve done for us, this ain’t nearly enough payback. But Dan’s yakisoba, huh? Might just grab some."
"Yachi?"
"YAKISOBA!"
Haku’s wife bowed politely before herding the kids toward the food. Those little gremlins had somehow befriended everyone, language barriers be damned. Smiling at the heartwarming scene, I moved on to the next big draw—my brother’s garden exhibit.
Our family’s prized rose garden was technically impossible. Thanks to my brother’s "divine inspiration," it bloomed year-round, seasons be damned. (Same deal with the lilies-of-the-valley and spider lilies—flowers that should never coexist.)
"Saboo!"
"Saboo!"
The cacti saluted as I passed. They doubled as both therapy and security—earlier, some jerk got mobbed after littering and yelling at them. Karma’s a cactus, pal.
The garden itself was stunning. Rainbow roses, lace-petaled varieties, gradient hues—from massive blooms to delicate miniatures. Even the benches, fences, and arches were crafted from intricate white lattice, making the whole place feel like a pocket dimension. I don’t even like flowers, and I’m impressed.
"T-This…! Is that the legendary—?!"
"No way… A NEW SPECIES?!"
Unfortunately, most visitors weren’t here to admire the beauty. They were plant otaku—my brother’s kindred spirits.
"Hey, hey, HEY! Ru’s garden is INSANE! I can’t believe he has THAT cultivar too! And the pruning?! Flawless! Who’s your gardener? I NEED to meet them—PLEASE introduce me!!"
Diesel-san’s machine-gun chatter left me speechless. Worse, the other plant nerds were laser-focused on us.
"Ojousama, came to see the exhibit?"
"G-Grandpa Tom…!"
Perfect timing. Grandpa Tom, dressed in full gardener attire, had just walked into Diesel-san’s crosshairs. Another verbal barrage ensued.
"Alright, alright, one question at a time. Ojousama, go enjoy the other attractions. I’ve got this."
"Grandpa Tom…"
The kind old man was actually going to humor them.
"... Saboo."
A cactus tapped my foot. We locked eyes (hypothetically), and I understood. "If Grandpa Tom’s in trouble, we’ll help." Grateful, I left the roses behind.
My brother’s garden had other draws—like potato digging and fruit-picking. (Lou had been baffled by the idea, but freshly harvested produce hits different.)
Yams became roasted sweet potatoes on the spot; fruits were juiced or turned into desserts by Dan’s whims. Guests could even take some home (within limits—no hoarding for resale!).
"Yo, Rosarin!"
"Haru!"
Haruwas on "branch repair duty"—fixing accidental cuts or falls. Arisa helped too, diligently guiding kids.
"Only you’d think of something this wild! It’s a hit!"
"Couldn’t do it without you guys."
Haru’s natural charm made him a magnet for grateful grandmas and clumsy pickers alike.
"Baachan, need a chair?"
"This batch is riper—tastier!"
"Dropped one? No sweat. Here, try this spot!"
What a sweetheart. Even the other wind spirits pitched in. Arisa, ever the diligent helper, beamed when praised.
"Here! I saved you some frozen apple juice. Figured you’d wanna try it!"
"My kids are angels—!"
"We’re spirits."
Sui, our resident deadpan snarker, corrected me.
Just as I was relaxing—Gora-chan came sprinting.
In human form. (Clothed. Shocking.)
"Rosarin, emergency!"
Normally, his Mandragora form attracted… unwanted attention. Today, though, he looked genuinely worried.
"Ygg… I mean, the big tree—something’s wrong!"
Smart save. We couldn’t let guests suspect Yggdrasil’s presence.
Sui’s eyes narrowed. "Green mana’s dropping. Guess we’re up, Haru."
"Leave it to us!"
"Mama, Arisa will work extra hard for you too!"
"Thanks, you two."
I sighed. Of course peace was too much to ask for.
What do you think about this chapter?
