Not Enough
“How do we go about selling the dragon scales?”
“We can’t just sell them off on our own. The royal family will probably make an announcement and put them up for auction. That way they can sell for a higher price, the royal family earns a commission, and it also serves as a good show of power to other nations.”
“Father, when I said I wanted to thank Ripka and Bianca’s families, they asked for a new curry dish in return. The dish I have in mind uses rice like the beastkin prepare, which means I’ll need to thresh and polish the rice. I’d like to ask Maria to make a thresher and a rice polisher. Is that okay?”
“You mean that grain you mentioned before?”
“Yes. I think we can modify the ones we use for wheat and make it work.”
“Got it. If it’s just that, you can ask Maria.”
“Hardt, they want a new curry dish. There are still that many ways to eat it?”
“Brother Gerald, that’s actually my favorite version among the ones I know. There are other dishes that use curry powder, but even though I know their names, I don’t know how to make them, so I can’t cook them.”
“Hardt, finish that new curry recipe before I return to the royal capital.”
Today too, I’m giving mana to the dragon egg, but it’s draining a considerable amount.
The egg still seems to want more. Ever since I voiced my concerns, it’s been stopping after taking about half my mana. I wonder if there’s some way both sides can be satisfied...
“Georges, do we have any of that liquid left?”
“Young master Hardt, what are you planning? Weren’t you scolded by Young master Gerald? You haven’t learned your lesson?”
I explained that the dragon egg seemed unsatisfied with just my mana, so I thought maybe I could give it that slime-made pseudo-holy water liquid instead.
“You have more mana than anyone, right? And it’s still not enough?”
“Exactly. The dragon egg seems to want even more. If I didn’t stop it, I’d probably collapse every day.”
After thinking it over for a bit, Georges agreed and brought it to me. Since he had to hide it, he brought two small bottles that fit in his pocket.
I poured one of the bottles on the dragon egg. It trembled, and the liquid was absorbed into the shell.
“Is it happy? Or does it hate this?”
“If it hated it, I don’t think the egg would absorb it. Maybe try the other bottle and see?” Georges suggested, so I poured it too.
Then I saw a flickering light from inside the egg.
“Can I take that as a sign of happiness?”
“Why not try applying the liquid first tomorrow, then give it your mana?”
“I’ll do that. Do we still have more of the liquid?”
“We’re fine. I’ve stored it in a magic bag, so it hasn’t deteriorated.”
In conclusion, it worked.
After pouring the slime’s pseudo-holy water again, the inside of the dragon egg flickered just like yesterday.
Then, when I gave it about a third of my mana, the absorption stopped.
If the egg starts taking in more again, I might try increasing the amount of the pseudo-holy water.
“Since Young master Chris’s school friends are still here, I think you should report this to Young master Gerald at least.”
“You’re right. I’ll go tell him.”
Brother Gerald was training alone in the garden, so I gave him the report.
He sighed and said, “Until I report this to Father and the others, don’t let anyone see you.”
Lord Chris’s friends returned to their respective homes three days after they came back from the Forest of Trees.
They originally said they’d head home after two days, but Young master Maxwell said he wanted to train with the masters. He barely got to test his abilities in the forest and wanted to see if he had improved since last time.
Young master Rainhall and Young master Jarrett agreed, so their stay at our house was extended by a day.
Of course, Atre and the others were motivated. This time even Ripka would be joining.
I thought, “They did so well in the forest—do they really need more training?”
But since the fluffballs of our house had gathered together and seemed to be happily planning things, I decided not to interrupt.
What do you think about this chapter?
