Chapter 250
Chapter 250
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 250
Chapter Title: Omen of Disaster? (10)
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Earth potato.
A small one, no bigger than a baby's fist, not even fully grown.
That was my first impression upon facing the earth potato—no, the mole—that had pushed its way out from between the dirt clods.
Normal moles were about a handspan in size, and the well-fed, plump ones were so big you couldn't hold them in one hand. But this little one, caked in dirt, was barely half a handspan.
-Kku....
It twitched its pink nose in the air, sniffing around, then let out another weak sound and started digging back into the ground with soft pats—pok, pok.
'No way....'
Looking down at its pitiful form, a hypothesis came to mind. No way....
'...This little guy dug that huge pit all by himself, big enough to swallow a wagon?'
As I said, this earth potato—no, mole—was less than half a handspan, but the pit was enormous and deep enough for a wagon to fall into. Our wagon was a small one for one or two people, but still a wagon. Spacious enough to carry two and even convert into a bed compartment. And this guy dug a pit that big and deep all alone?
It wasn't even fully grown, looking so frail it could die any moment?
-Snap!
I bent down and snatched up the little earth potato—no, mole. Grabbing it by the scruff, it lifted up light as dust. Small as a potato, but insisting on being a mole, with its fluffy brown fur and tiny toy-like front and back legs kicking about.
-Jji...!
-Jjik...!
It thrashed with all its might, letting out what must have been its version of a 'scream.' Jji! Jjii! Like the sound from squeezing a toy ball. Holding tight to its scruff, I dangled and shook it as I spoke.
"Did you dig this pit?"
-Jji...!
"You naughty little earth potato."
It was barely a mouthful—when the hell did it dig this pit? According to Callisto, the area had been fine just last night. So this tiny thing dug the pit in just one night?
"Impressive little guy, huh?"
Its struggling lasted only a moment before it went limp, limbs dangling as it panted weakly. Yeah, digging such a massive pit alone must have exhausted it. I placed the spent mole on my palm and rummaged in my pocket for some dried bugs—the treats I sometimes gave Ppippi. Crispy and crumbly; this guy might eat them too.
-Jji....
"Here, try some of this first."
-Kkhm kkhm....
I held out what looked vaguely like a snack, the dried bug, and it sniffed for a bit before crunching—crisp—and started eating. Crisp, crisp, crisp.... It finished one in no time and sniffed my palm again. Must be starving. I dumped all the dried bugs from my pocket onto my palm for it to eat its fill.
-Crisp, crisp, crisp....
-Chomp, chomp, chomp....
While it eagerly filled its belly, I examined it closely. As expected from its small size, it was a baby mole, not yet grown. Stroking its round back, I felt the soft, fluffy fur unique to young animals. Wow, addictive. I kept petting its back. Luckily, it didn't mind—or maybe it was too focused on the bugs—it stayed docile.
"How'd you end up alone here?"
-Jji....
"Still hungry? Hmm. Those bugs you just ate were the last ones."
-Jjii....
It curled up weakly into a fluffy ball, like a ping-pong ball with fur. Should I let it go? I pondered, scanning the surroundings.
"...."
No bug tracks, just like in the thicket. Now I got why it had torn up such a wide area. No food around. The thicket drying up meant bugs and small animals vanished, and their predators followed. But for some reason, this one was left behind....
In nature, parents abandoning young in harsh conditions isn't rare—it's common. Unless it's something like an elephant with strong attachment to offspring, most follow survival of the fittest. That's nature's law.
This baby mole, not yet an adult, couldn't leave like its parents and just circled the same spot, over and over, creating this deep pit. The result of its desperate struggle to survive while starving.
"Tsk...."
For now, I pocketed it and climbed out of the pit.
"Theodore, what's that...."
"A mole."
I dangled it, shaking it. It kicked its little limbs and squeaked jjiii! like before.
"A mole?"
"Yeah. Probably the one who dug the trap."
"...."
Even Lloyd, who rarely showed emotion, looked dumbfounded. I gave him a hollow laugh in return, then snapped off a berry bush twig. Activating [Gift of the Forest]....
"...Huh?"
Nothing happened. Normally, my mana would flow out, revitalizing the twig with fruit at the tip, but it remained unchanged. What was wrong? I tried [Gift of the Forest] again. And.
"...."
Still nothing. The dry twig wouldn't absorb the life force I offered. Which meant....
'As expected, the thicket isn't just withered.'
Magic, shamanism, or a curse—something unknown, but definitely afflicted. I tossed the dry twig into the pit. It fell silently into the dark depths.
At that moment, why did that woman's face come to mind?
The smiling face veiled by white, translucent silk.
"...Lloyd, we need to clear out the thicket."
"Find something?"
"Maybe."
El and Callisto returned right on cue. Together, we uprooted the dry thicket, tossed it into the pit, and threw in a lit match. Flames roared up from within. I watched until the fire died down to white ash. Hoping some trace might appear. But nothing did—just ash remained.
No shamanistic signs, but better safe. I cast [Natural Purification] around the pit and thicket. Any mystery disease or poison would be cleansed. I considered [Fertile Land], but.... This was a rarely traveled field. [Natural Purification] sufficed. Seeds would soon drift in, things would grow, and the locals would return.
That left one issue.
-Jji....
This little earth potato.
"Wow, cuter than I thought."
"Careful, El. I won't take responsibility if it bites."
"Eee~ Its eyes are so tiny! So cute!"
Ignoring my warning, El petted, lifted, rolled the fluffy baby mole every which way. No good. I snatched it from her hands.
"It's still young; don't handle it roughly."
"But~!"
"No buts."
I wrapped it gently in a small cloth and tucked it into my pocket. Legion climbed onto my shoulder, extremely annoyed.... No choice. Couldn't leave it in this barren place.
'...When it's better, release it somewhere suitable.'
Survival of the fittest, nature's laws—whatever. I'm human, and one human strength is 'compassion.' That's why we thrive.
"Wasted time on this. Let's get going."
Horses and wagon fine, luckily. A bit delayed, but so what? Life happens—even saving a baby mole. El took the reins; I boarded. The mole in my pocket stopped wriggling, asleep probably. Legion and Ppippi across from me glared coldly. Ahem. I cleared my throat and addressed them.
"Just for a bit. Just a short ride."
-Ppi.
"Hey. No 'ppi.' Learn to share."
「Theo. Only. Weak. Things. Share.」
"Legion, you're seriously misunderstanding. Opposite. Sharing is for the truly strong. Like you sharing your pocket with the baby mole."
-Ppi. Ppiiroppi.
"Ppippi, no whispering to Legion."
-Whisper whisper.
"Legion, no whispering just to Ppippi."
「Theo. That's. My. Freedom.」
-Ppi. Ppiiro ri ppi.
Their cold stares lasted until sunset.
* * *
"This place...."
The woman gazing at the ruined altar in the Sequoia Forest's center muttered something incomprehensible, then veiled herself and descended slowly. The ritual was broken, the altar destroyed—deciphering anything was near impossible. Just faint traces of mana lingering in the air.
"...That's all?"
"Yes, Theophania."
"...."
In silence, she closed her eyes again. Deep breath, and faintly....
Very faintly....
-Sparkle.
"Ahh...."
Theodore.
She could sense him—both stranger and familiar.