1

The germination of the Divine Lily was planned to coincide with the next full moon.

Noel attended several meetings regarding the use of the seed, and everyone at the Magic Institute began busy days, tensely preparing for that day.

And yet, though she was about to face a major task that would carve its name into the history of artificial cultivation of magical plants, Beth, the person concerned, remained the same as ever.

“Since it seems I will have to stay overnight in the greenhouse to care for it before it blooms too, please give me one more of those sofas.”

For her preparations for the major task, what Beth asked Noel for was arrangements for someone to look after her personal needs during the work, arrangements for someone to care for the other plants in the greenhouse, and, unexpectedly, Naranda’s old sofa.

For a magician, staying overnight for research was common, so arranging bedding in the greenhouse was not unnatural at all. However, Beth said she wanted the other half of the pair to the old sofa that Naranda had brought into the greenhouse on his own.

“Beth, do you want a bed in the greenhouse? I will have a new one arranged, so you do not have to go out of your way to sleep on an old sofa. Are you perhaps saying that out of consideration because I am sleeping on that sofa now?”

Noel said that in wonder, but Beth shook her head and said,

“Noel-sama has nothing to do with it. I like that sofa. I like that smell. The smell of medicinal herbs, the smell of the sun, and Naranda-sama’s smell.”

“She is a natural…!”

At the rather destructive words that slipped from Beth without any ulterior motive, Naranda thought, I give up, and involuntarily blushed and covered his mouth, then had his head struck grandly by Noel.

Good-natured Meg had asked Naranda for permission to look after Beth’s personal needs during this major task before Naranda could even request it of her.

Of course, Meg’s wish was granted together with a special bonus.

Before long, Noel, who had become sulky like a child, was left alone in the greenhouse, and the other half of Naranda’s old matching sofa was carried into the greenhouse by the magicians.

The sulking Noel secretly threw himself onto the sofa first and rolled around on it, where Beth was supposed to sit. On top of that, he even went so far as to catch that same stray cat and make it nap on the sofa, and everyone at the Magic Institute pretended not to see it.

This quiet greenhouse, where normally only Beth, Noel, and occasionally someone from the Magic Institute who came to take a break went in and out, was filled with many magicians today.

The curious flowers seemed to be enjoying the greenhouse’s atmosphere, which was different from usual, with great interest.

Around the time the sun had set, Noel, who had returned to the greenhouse from his third meeting of the day, handed one beautiful box to Rodney.

Rodney, wearing a tense expression that still retained something young about it, gulped.

“Noel-sama. This is…”

“Yes. The final material. The seed of the Divine Lily, said to bloom in profusion in the Celestial Realm.”

A silence suddenly filled with tension spread through the greenhouse that had been peaceful.

Noel had apparently obtained permission for its use from the Council.

The use of the Divine Lily seed required the approval of the Council, even for the person in charge of the Magic Institute, so precious was the seed.

Its habitat was in the Northern Country, deep in the mountains of the tundra region of eternal snow, where it bloomed quietly in an area inhabited by ice-attribute dragons.

In order to obtain this flower, magicians risked danger to challenge the icy mountains, sometimes hiring dragon handlers and sometimes bringing armies with them, desperately trying to obtain just a single petal.

From the moment it was picked by human hands, it began to deteriorate, and by the time it was processed as an ingredient for potions, most of its magical power had been exhausted.

Even so, by using the special magical power of this flower that remained like a residue, it became possible to create every kind of potion. Artificial cultivation of this flower was also the dream of every magician.

“Ah, the seed has come? Welcome.”

Because Beth had not been told the value of the seed, she was as relaxed as usual.

While Noel was attending the meeting, Beth had been caring for the plants in the greenhouse as usual while saying something to them, operating exactly as normal.

(Splendid.)

As always, Noel could not help being fascinated by Beth’s skill.

No matter when he looked at Beth’s care for plants, it was truly concise, truly delicate, and she did nothing special.

She made just the right air holes in places where the roots were a little packed, thinned out only two or three leaves that had grown too dense, shifted the position of a pot just a little, or opened the windows only in the morning.

Naranda was always moved by the splendid finish of Beth’s plants and, as a researcher, repeatedly asked detailed questions about her cultivation methods, but Beth’s answer was always the same.

She only picked up the small voice of each plant and granted what that voice wished for.

When plants learned that even small wishes would be granted, they felt at ease.

Once they felt at ease, they could focus on growing healthily without worry.

“The basics are the same as with humans.”

Beth smiled as she said that.

“That is why humans, too, must listen to what their hearts and bodies say, even if it is something small. For example, Ezra-sama’s knees and lower back are saying right now that they want to sit, are they not? Then you must let them sit, or your knees will be sad later.”

When Beth pointed that out, Ezra sat down in a nearby chair, looking a little embarrassed. Apparently, his knees had been tired.

“Beth, I am really getting nervous. It is true that I am the best here at ice magic, but…”

Rodney was usually always joking around, but as he held the box containing a precious seed worthy of being called a national asset, he had gone stiff with nerves.

Rodney was the youngest magician in this Magic Institute.

Though young, he possessed such high magical ability that he ranked among the top five in the country.

It was guaranteed that several decades later, he would become an important figure leading this country’s magic, but this was the first major task in Rodney’s life.

“It will be all right. Your job lasts only until germination. Germination also requires delicate temperature adjustment, but after germination, Beth and I will take over. If it is you, you will certainly be able to make it germinate.”

Encouraged by Noel, whom he respected, patting him on the shoulder, Rodney was moved and became a little tearful.

The honor of being involved in the germination of the Divine Lily, precious even among magicians, did not come around often in life.

Noel smiled slightly at Rodney, then looked around at the circle of the finest magicians in this country and made his declaration.

“Then, everyone. We will begin the germination of the Divine Lily.”