Mandragora (3)
Pristine white clouds part before us.
I'm riding on Dania's broad, sturdy back, slicing through the sky.
Each time her massive wings unfurl, the air shudders heavily, whipping up fierce winds.
The scales on her wings shimmer in different colors, catching the sunlight and gleaming brilliantly.
That light envelops my face and body, creating a mystical scene as if I'm shrouded in a rainbow veil.
Shwaaaaaah!!!
Clouds smash into my face and scatter, opening a path through the heavens.
The wind is strong but harmonious, blowing in sync with Dania's speed without annoyance.
The chill air sharpens against my skin, refreshing, while Dania's body heat warms me comfortably.
Thus, I soared the skies atop Dania, glowing with her five-colored radiance.
The skies and earth along her flight path were bathed in iridescent light.
It was a beautiful sight.
Then—
Kraaaaaah!
Grrrrrr rumble—
A monstrous roar shakes the heavens and earth.
Below us, on the ground, countless monsters surge like waves.
Orcs, ogres, trolls, goblins, minotaurs, cyclopes, hydras, and more.
From low-tier to mid and high-tier monsters.
This was a colossal monster wave.
But unlike ordinary waves—
Their eyes glow red, their skin twisted blackish-crimson, and a mad aura swirls around them.
If they crossed the continent like this, not a single blade of grass would survive.
A nightmare of apocalyptic proportions, foretelling utter devastation.
"Dania."
I called out to her calmly as I gazed down at the horde.
Dania's jaws gaped wide.
Hoooooom!
Five-colored energies gather in her maw.
It swells rapidly, soon reaching the size of a small meteor.
Elemental Breath—
Kwaaaaaah!!!
The moment Dania unleashes her breath, a blinding beam of rainbow light erupts, streaking from sky to earth.
Flames, water, wind, earth, lightning—the powers of multiple elements fuse into a massive storm, sweeping the monster wave.
Flames explode outward, ice follows to freeze the foes, and earthen might piles up boulders to block their path.
Kuuaaaaaaaaah!!!
The breath annihilates the monsters in one go, birthing a colossal mushroom cloud.
A cataclysmic explosion twisting sky and earth, spine-chilling in its scale.
No monsters survived within it.
"Whew."
I exhaled the breath I'd held, surveying the cleanly erased wave.
But at that instant—
Shweeeeeek!!!
A beam of light shoots from the earth toward me.
"What."
No time to react—it closes in right before my nose.
This is...?
Up close, I recognize it.
A thick root like a stem, with what look like tiny arms and legs—a spirit herb.
It was none other than—
A mandragora?
@Groooaaah-!
As it shrieks right in my face—
My vision flips.
"Gasp!"
I bolt upright, and a familiar sight greets me.
A massive glowing crystal embedded in the ceiling.
And beside me, Dania and the guardians sleeping soundly.
Just a dream, huh.
Whew.
What a vividly real dream.
Almost like a prophetic vision.
For some reason, my gut tells me it wasn't just any dream.
Will Dania really grow into something like that as an adult?
Hundreds of meters long.
A majestic, mythical presence straight out of legends.
And that breath—its destructive power defies description.
A scene that perfectly explains why dragons are called the strongest, most ferocious race on earth.
"Those monsters, seething with madness... Huh?!"
I shuddered, turning my head.
The mandragora from my dream lay right beside me.
"What the heck?"
I picked it up—it was unmistakably a mandragora.
But it looks even smaller than yesterday?
@Groooaaah!
Then, I heard the mandragora's cry.
Looking over, yesterday's first mandragora was shambling toward me, waving feebly.
"Why is the mandragora... Ah!"
Glancing at where I'd planted it, I understood.
"The seeds I planted have all sprouted."
This one's a fully grown one I harvested.
"But why isn't this one moving?"
@Groooaaah-!
In response, it slowly waves its arms and legs.
"Once the seeds... come out, it stops moving. Something like that?"
I roughly got the gist.
Come to think of it, when I looked up mandragoras on the Superhuman Net, there was a note that they stop moving after expelling seeds.
So what's with this guy?
The first mandragora that begged me to save it yesterday.
I didn't fully understand.
But anyway.
Fine.
"Looks like you carried out your mission well."
I could see it upon inspection.
Traces of the new sprouts emerging and being replanted.
"Good. You pass. Promoted to full-time employee."
From now on, it's the manager of the mandragora fields.
@Groooaaah!!
It bends its knees in a bow.
Whoa.
This thing's intelligence is practically on par with a sentient being.
"Your name..."
I should give it a name to call it by. What to pick?
I pondered briefly.
Decision came quick.
"Mandrian. Yeah, that's your name from now on—Mandrian."
Just a meaningless mashup of mandra and -rian.
But then—
Fwaaaah!
Suddenly, a burst of five-colored radiance flashes from its body.
A name is imprinted on the Mandragora's spirit.
Mystical power infuses 'Mandrian'.
'Mandrian's potential greatly increases.
@Groooaaah!!
Mandrian thrusts its arms skyward, letting out a triumphant roar.
Like it just hit the jackpot.
"Quiet down, you."
@Grooo...
Mandrian deflates instantly at my words.
But inwardly, I swallowed my surprise.
What was that? Its energy just doubled instantly?
The power within Mandrian had more than doubled.
Is naming it that significant?
"You're Mandraco."
I tried naming the mandragora in my hand, just in case.
@Grooo?
Mandrian just tilts its head at me.
Nothing happened.
No dice.
Seems like it only works on special ones like Mandrian.
Either way, good news.
The stronger it gets, the easier it'll be to cultivate mandragoras.
"Mandrian. From here to there—that whole area's for planting mandragoras. Tend them well."
@Groooaaah!
Mandrian nods eagerly, full of determination.
Good.
Mandragoras sorted.
When will the Seondo ripen?
It's taking longer than expected to absorb the Breath of the Seed.
I smacked my lips in disappointment and plucked some leaves from the Azure Clarity Herb.
Time to finish what I started yesterday.
Nagatara meat stew with mandragora.
Bubble bubble!
Soon, the Azure Clarity Herb broth boiled.
I added the nagatara meat first, simmered long, then tossed in the mandragora.
Saaaaah!
A subtle, deep aroma slowly spread.
The broth glowed clearer blue as it boiled, carrying a dense forest scent mixed with faint grassy notes.
As it bubbled up, the rich, earthy aroma of nagatara meat deepened—like the essence of soil and trees. Its tangy richness blended subtly with the mandragora's fresh herbal crispness, creating a cool, nutty finish.
"Chuchu!"
"Popo!"
Kkyu! Seojun! Smells so good!
The aroma woke the sleeping Dania and guardians.
They crowded the pot, drooling.
Extra hungry right after waking, it seems.
Grrrrowl!
Same for me.
"I'm starving—let's eat!"
Kkyu! Yay!!
"Chuchu!"
"Popo-!"
They cheered in unison at my words.
I portioned it out—broth and solids into bowls.
Nagatara meat for me and Dania only.
For Popo and Chuchu, broth with some chopped mandragora.
Slurp.
I sipped the broth first.
Clear and clean.
Fills the mouth perfectly.
"Kya!"
Just what I needed.
A spontaneous exclamation escaped.
Makes me crave a shot of soju.
Another sip.
Slurrrp!
Chewy nagatara juices burst on the tongue—intense yet sweet.
The Azure Clarity Herb's cool aftertaste slides down refreshingly, leaving a dewy forest freshness.
Delicious.
I marveled inwardly, scooping up solids.
Crunch!
The tender mandragora had a slight bitterness, adding unique flavor.
Paired with the meat's chewy bounce, pure chewing bliss.
Kkyuuuung! Seojun!! This is too yummy!!
"Popo!"
"Chuchu chu!"
Everyone's reactions were scorching hot.
The pot was scraped clean, not a drop left.
Mana capacity greatly increases.
Guardian <Popo> reaches Lv 110 and Gaia's power.