The Legend of the Bamboo Grove (1)
“Teacher, is this really okay?” Ben stared at Patrick with a look of utter disbelief. Even to a child’s eyes, Patrick’s bedroom was the very definition of imbalance.
His house had been little more than a ruin. When word spread that an exile was coming, the village chief had rushed to repair it, but with limited supplies and a tight schedule, the work had only made the place barely livable. Comfort and coziness were still far out of reach. The windows creaked, the front door looked ready to fall off at any moment, wind whistled through the walls, and the ceiling was guaranteed to leak during the rainy season if left untouched. Yet because Patrick’s belongings had been so sparse to begin with, the house had possessed a certain humble charm.
That was before the expensive furniture arrived—purchased with most of the money he’d earned selling rare mushrooms.
“Kid, sleep is the best medicine. Got it?”
It wasn’t quite the artistic masterpiece high nobles supposedly used, but it was a large, luxurious bed the likes of which the island had never seen. Four posts stood at the corners, draped with flowing white fabric. A proper “princess bed,” the sort a noble young lady might own.
“You should’ve just bought a goat instead.”
“Wait until you’re my age. Sleeping on wooden planks every night wrecks your back.”
“Still, this is a bit much…”
“I sleep ten hours a day. Can’t I at least invest in that?”
“Well, it’s your money, so I guess I can’t say anything. I just don’t want to grow up to be an adult like you, Teacher.”
“Hmph!”
Patrick shot Ben a sideways glance, then dove onto the bed with sparkling eyes.
Poof—
“Yes! This is it!”
For that moment, even a five-star resort hotel couldn’t compare. The bedding he’d bought along with the bed was on an entirely different level from the straw-stuffed blanket he used to sleep under.
No prickly bits, no weird smells.
Even if everyone pointed fingers at his spending, Patrick stood firm. Sleep was one of humanity’s strongest desires. Why else would “sleep deprivation torture” be considered the worst punishment for prisoners of war? This wasn’t waste—it was an investment.
“Anyway, you’ll have to redo the roof repairs now, right?”
“Huh? Why me?”
“Can’t you see the hole at the end there?”
“I see it. You can even see the stars through it at night. Quite the view.”
“Stop being childish. Even if summer’s still a ways off, the rainy season’s going to make this place leak like a sieve.”
“Eh, whatever.”
“You can’t just pretend it’s not happening.”
“Why are you picking a fight with your sky-like teacher today?”
“What do you think will happen to that bed if it gets wet?”
“……Huh?”
“I ran into Halmae on the way here. She said her back’s been aching.”
“Halmae’s in pain?”
“It means it’s going to rain in a day or two.”
“Damn it.”
Only then did a look of dismay cross Patrick’s face. Since arriving on the island, he’d experienced rain a few times—light showers three or four times, and two proper downpours that lasted more than a few hours. Each time, water had dripped from various spots in the ceiling, and he’d placed wooden bowls beneath the leaks, lulled to sleep by the sound.
I’m screwed! Back then it didn’t matter if things got wet and ruined, but now…!
Come to think of it, the sky did look rather overcast.
“Hey, Ben?”
“Yes?”
“Do you know how to fix a roof?”
“You don’t know something like that, Teacher? All the grown men around here are handy with that sort of thing.”
“I’m a mage. I can’t do manual labor.”
I’m an INT-focused mage. Not a strength build.
“Uncle Luca’s the best at that kind of work.”
“You sure?”
“Positive.”
“What does he like?”
***
“Oh my, Teacher!”
When Patrick arrived at his house, Luca greeted him with a bright smile.
“You could’ve just sent the kids to fetch me!”
“Haha, it’s fine. Did you have a good time on your mother’s memorial day?”
“Of course! I placed her tablet in the sunniest spot. All thanks to you, Teacher!”
“Here, it’s nothing much, but please take it.”
“What’s this?”
Patrick had brought number cards. While teaching the children to read, he’d also taught them basic arithmetic. Though only Ben had mastered multiplication and division, several other children could now handle addition, subtraction, and even two-digit multiplication. Since the kids no longer needed the basic number cards, Patrick had decided to repurpose them.
“The village chief mentioned that knowing numbers opens up a lot more work opportunities.”
“Oh dear, Teacher, I’m too uneducated for something like this.”
“The children managed it. It’s not difficult. I’ll stop by now and then to help with anything you get stuck on, so don’t worry. Age has nothing to do with learning.”
“R-really? I’m grateful, but also a bit embarrassed…”
Luca’s eyes welled up at Patrick’s thoughtfulness. You really can’t judge people by their appearance. A man who looks like a bandit chief has such a sensitive heart.
“I didn’t do it expecting anything in return. By the way, I heard it’s going to rain soon.”
“Yes. The wind’s damp—probably a big downpour by the day after tomorrow at the latest.”
“I’ll finally get to fall asleep to the sound of rain again. As long as I don’t run out of bowls to catch the leaks, that is. Haha.”
“Pardon? The sound of rain…?”
At Luca’s question, Patrick put on an exaggerated act.
“I’ve been too lazy to fix the ceiling. Truth is, I’m a little scared too. Never done it before… Haha, pretty funny, right?”
“Good heavens! What if you climb up there and fall, Teacher? Let’s go!”
“What?”
“It’s nothing I can’t fix in a jiffy. No need to put it off!”
Luca began gathering his tools.
“I’ll do my best as your assistant.”
“Oh, no need for an assistant. Ah, not that you wouldn’t be helpful, it’s just… you know what I mean? If you really want to help, maybe… instead of numbers, could you teach me letters too…?”
“Ah! Letters! Of course! I’ll make sure you’re fully literate before summer ends!”
“Thank you, thank you, Teacher!”
With that promise secured, Luca beamed and led the way to Patrick’s house. Both men walked away satisfied with the deal. Patrick got to protect his expensive bed, and Luca earned a chance to learn reading and writing in exchange for a few hours of labor.
Jackpot! The teaching materials were already made!
Can I really accept such kindness for just this little work…?
Their inner thoughts couldn’t have been more different.
***
“All done. Took longer than I thought—there was more to fix than expected.”
“Here, have this.”
Patrick handed Luca a wooden cup as he climbed down the ladder.
Gulp.
Luca downed the contents in one go without thinking, then felt a chill run down his spine. It was Patrick’s special drink—spring water mixed with honey, lemon, and a few kinds of mint. The sweetness and tartness were perfectly balanced by the fresh herbal aroma.
If only I could add some fizz… but the kids have never seen that, so it can’t be helped.
Patrick felt a twinge of regret, but the real highlight was the ice magic he’d cast on the drink.
“I-is this magic?”
“Yes. First-circle spells may be weak in power, but they’re perfect for little things like this. Haha.”
Luca clutched the cup reverently and gazed at Patrick with eyes full of admiration.
“Would you like another glass?”
“Yes, please!”
“Ice!”
Crackle—
When Patrick poured more of the prepared drink and cast the spell, a thin layer of ice instantly formed on the surface.
“It feels like magic is stronger here somehow. Especially ice magic.”
Patrick tilted his head. Contrary to its name, ice magic didn’t actually create solid ice. With only second-circle skill, Patrick could only lower the temperature by a few degrees.
Has my magic gotten stronger?
While he felt a quiet pride at the thought of his abilities improving, Luca spoke up.
“Maybe it’s connected to this land?”
“What do you mean?”
“The bamboo grove behind your house. The village chief told me there’s an old legend about it.”
“A legend?”
“Yes. Something about a young woman from outside the island who got lost in the bamboo grove during the rainy season.”
“……And then?”
“It was drizzling, and the sun had set so you couldn’t see a thing. Imagine how terrified that poor girl must’ve been. She shivered all night and froze to death. Even though it was the rainy season, it wasn’t summer—still, the weather shouldn’t have been cold enough to kill someone.”
“……”
“Ever since then, the bamboo grove and this hill behind your house have been damp and chilly even in broad daylight. They say it’s because that dead girl can’t leave the grove.”
“Haha……ha. That’s just a legend, right?”
“Yes, it’s a legend.”
“Legends aren’t real, though.”
“But they’re not always just nonsense either. Old village stories always have a reason for being passed down. If they weren’t true at all, why would they survive?”
“Oh dear, look at the time. I’m sorry, Teacher. You must be hungry, and I’ve kept you too long. The roof won’t leak anymore. Ah! Be careful with the windows—they were about to fall off.”
“Oh, would you like to stay for dinner…?”
“No, no! I couldn’t possibly trouble you any more, Teacher!”
Luca tipped his hat in farewell and hurried back to the village.
Whoosh—
A cool breeze swept past Patrick, now alone. Even the rustling of bamboo leaves sounded eerie.
“I don’t hear anything, I don’t hear anything! I don’t hear a thing!”
The bamboo grove that had seemed ordinary moments ago now looked unsettling. Patrick quickly ducked inside and burrowed under the covers, glancing around nervously.
“Come on, ghosts don’t exist in this world. It’s all nonsense……”
Then a thought struck him. This world has magic and gods. Why wouldn’t it have ghosts?
Thud, thud, thud—
Swallowing hard, Patrick made a clumsy sign of the cross (in the wrong direction, since he’d never properly practiced any religion) and felt his heart drop at the sound coming from outside.
“Why is it raining now……? You said tomorrow or the day after……!”
Whoosh—
Through the sudden, torrential downpour that defied all predictions, the cowardly mage’s scream echoed across the island.