Chapter 124: 27th Floor: Raising a Plant
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 124: 27th Floor: Raising a Plant
"Then let the trial begin. First, you will each take a pot back to your mansions and raise the plant within."
Even as the Crown Prince continued to speak, his gaze remained fixed on me. He even licked his lips from time to time, as if savoring a meal.
What's with him...
"However, there is only one horse, is there not? I assume you all have stables at your mansions. The horse will be lent out for two days at a time. It may look frightening, but it is a gentle creature that will not attack unless you try to force yourself upon it or cause it harm."
The order for the horse was Elina, then Kesira, then me.
So, I could only start taming the horse on the fifth day. And if someone else tamed it before then? I'd be screwed, that's what.
"Now! Go forth and show me the full extent of your qualifications to be the Crown Princess, in a truly objective manner! Hahahaha!!"
Ugh... I oughta just deck him!
And so, I returned to the mansion with the enormous flowerpot.
As I was leaving, I could feel the horse's disappointed expression following me.
* * *
At Kalisha's mansion.
"How on earth am I supposed to grow this plant?"
This trial was absurd. The pot was massive, but nothing had sprouted yet.
How was I supposed to make it sprout? They should have at least told me the type of seed so I could figure out the right temperature or humidity.
That shady bastard of a Crown Prince... This is actually starting to piss me off.
I had originally planned to just take it easy, but seeing this blatant plan to screw me over was starting to get on my nerves.
If I showed up with an empty pot, he would surely mock me for not possessing the virtues of a Crown Princess.
I didn't care what the Crown Prince thought.
The problem was that news of this would reach the ears of the non-hereditary nobles, who held the most influence.
The Crown Prince's methods might involve considerable trickery, but they were also the kind that ordinary people could easily understand and sympathize with.
Hmm... I need a plan.
First, I called the head butler and the other staff of the mansion for a meeting.
Four people attended.
Me, the head butler, the guard captain, and the Crawford family's spymaster.
The spymaster was a member of our family's secret unit, operating primarily in the capital.
"Don't you think we need to find out what kind of seed it is first?"
All eyes turned to the spymaster.
Spymaster, you're up.
"Ahem... Even with my skills, I cannot possibly know the type of seed the Crown Prince secretly planted. Let's summon a botanist and a magician. The family should have connections we can use."
"Are there any spells that accelerate plant growth, or any growth-promoting potions?"
"As far as I know, no. Manipulating life with magic is often classified as black magic. A Spirit User is likely the only exception."
Hearing the spymaster's words, the head butler shot up in a rage.
"Ugh, such an unfair trial! That damn Crown Prince, I'll tear him to shreds! Lady Kalisha, even if you are chosen as the Crown Princess, you should just dump that irritating bastard!"
"Pardon?"
Huh, can I actually do that...?
To be honest, as long as I cleared the trial, I didn't really care. A guy who was just handsome and nothing else? I had no desire to have him.
Though it might be a different story if his dick was impressive.
Anyway, I focused my thoughts.
What did the system say at the beginning?
[Beat your competitors and be chosen as the Crown Princess.]
Right, the system said to be chosen, not to get married. They were basically the same thing, but if I played my cards right, the finale could be really interesting.
"Head Butler, watch your words, even if it's just us here. And I will look for a solution as quickly as possible. For now, let's place it in a warm spot and water it a little at a time. We'll try the conventional methods, using a bit of fertilizer too."
It was a trial, after all. Wouldn't it be embarrassing if I was the only one to show up with an empty pot? I didn't know how effective Spirit Arts were, but if I just showed that I'd done my best, I could prevent the non-hereditary nobles' votes from slipping away.
They would know that Elina was a Spirit User. So, if I used this trial wisely, I might even be able to make her overplay her hand.
* * *
Night fell, and I sat before my enormous flowerpot.
Is the huge pot a hint?
This was my room.
A spy in the mansion could try to ruin the pot, so I had it moved to the most heavily guarded place in the estate.
Besides, the temperature was warm, and I'd told them I had an experiment to run.
"Alright everyone, what should I do with this? C'mon, any botanists in the chat?"
- Even a botanist wouldn't know.
- Dude, we can't see anything to comment on.
- It hasn't even sprouted, what are we supposed to do?
- Just dig in the dirt and find the seed.
- Should we try giving it breast milk?
- How are we supposed to know anything about an isekai plant in the first place?
As expected, even with the hive mind, it was hard to find any useful advice.
"Come on, give me a serious suggestion."
- Breast milk?
- Why would a plant drink that?
- Let's just give it some?
- Hey, that's our breast milk.
- Seriously, let's just try it once. Wasn't there something in it that's good for babies?
"Hmm... Was there?"
Most of what my viewers said was nonsense, but sometimes they were right.
It had been a while, so I opened my status window to check the effects.
[SSS-rank Nutrient-Rich Breast Milk]
- You will develop a constitution that produces a great deal of breast milk. The amount is proportional to the size of your breasts.
- When a young child consumes 200ml, they will become extremely intelligent, never suffer from minor illnesses, and develop a supremely superior appearance and physique.
- When an adult consumes it, Strength, Agility, Defense, and Divine Power will increase by +2. This can be consumed up to two times.
- Restores an additional 100 Divine Power.
- It is very, very delicious!
Indeed, it included the description that it was very good 'when consumed by a young child.'
- Doesn't that only apply to humans? lol
- Let's just do it. That Crown Prince bastard is pissing me off.
- fr
"Alright. I'll give it a try."
I pulled down my shoulder strap, revealing my large breast.
A heavy breast, full of milk.
I leaned over the large pot and slowly massaged my chest.
"Hnnngh..."
A pleasant sensation made a soft moan escape my lips.
- Oh...
- Ah
- I'm already getting hard.
- Wow, those tits are fucking huge.
- Hooo...
- I wanna grab them tight and just...
After a little kneading, breast milk immediately began to pour out onto the pot.
Drip...! Squirt, squirt!!
"Haaahng..."
Damn, this feels good...
I felt it every time, but the subtle pleasure of lactating was quite nice.
The refreshing feeling, like I was releasing something, stimulated the erogenous zones in my breasts, making me wet down below.
Come to think of it, I need to do that breast pump ad... I should do it as soon as I get out.
Swept up in the pleasure, I mindlessly squeezed out my milk until the soil in the pot had turned a faint white, thoroughly soaked.
"Haaa... haa... It's probably not good to give it too much, right?"
- Just give it all.
- Ever heard of 'the more the merrier'?
- The plant's gonna suffocate and die, stop lmao
- You're gonna get yelled at tomorrow for what you did to the pot, aren't you? lol
"Ah... you're right. This will get absorbed into the ground, right?"
I had a slightly ominous feeling, but what was done was done.
My close aides knew I could produce breast milk, so I could probably just make up a plausible excuse and they'd let it slide.
"Phew... I'll just use the breast pump to get the rest out and go to sleep."
- k
- G'night
- Hurry up and produce our food supply.
- I wonder if the plant will actually grow...
* * *
The next morning.
As soon as I woke up, I checked to see if the plant had grown.
But what was this?
"What the, why did it actually grow?"
The plant I had jokingly given breast milk to had grown very, very well. And it had clearly enjoyed the milk I'd given it, as there wasn't a trace left.
In just one night, a fresh green stem had shot up to about 20-30cm.
"No way, this actually worked?"
What a plot twist.
It turned out I was better at raising plants than a Spirit User. Victory in this trial, which I had been sure I would lose, was now in sight.
Communing with nature? Affinity?
Whaaat? Spiiirit Aaaarts?
Nope, just overwhelming nutrition.
It had devoured the incredible nutrients of my breast milk and grown this much in one go.
I summoned the family's key members to share in this joy.
"How on earth did you do this?"
The head butler and guard captain's eyes went wide as they entered my room.
"Ahem... well, I infused it with my energy all night, and this happened... ahem, ahem..."
As a princess, my dignity wouldn't allow me to admit I'd fed it breast milk.
"Wow... You were truly serious about this trial. By the way, can plants really grow by consuming a person's energy?"
"Ah, perhaps Her Highness was born with a special kind of energy. That could be the reason."
Just then, the spymaster rushed in.
"Ah, you're here? I don't think you'll need to look for a magician after all."
But then came another plot twist.
"Lady Kalisha, oh... you've grown it well, but a report has come in that Elina's plant is approaching 30cm."
"Whaat...?"
It was like a bucket of cold water had been dumped on me.
"No way, Elina's plant is about the same size as mine?"
Had I underestimated a Spirit User?
No, this is definitely because of the type of plant. That bitch...
Using such a cheap trick... I would never forgive her.
For the record, my breast milk wasn't a cheap trick. It was pure skill.
Since it had come to this...
I would crush her pride by winning.
With the overwhelming power of my breast milk!
I poured out the breast milk I had secretly stored away.
- No, you crazy bitch!!
- Ah... our breast milk...
- KYAAAAAK!!
- Who was the bastard who suggested giving it breast milk?
* * *
That night.
I gave it another full charge of breast milk.
As I poured the milk, the plant grew so fast I could almost see it happening.
I knew it, it was the breast milk.
I had no idea what principle was making it grow so fast, but it was a good thing regardless.
The sturdy, robust plant already looked to be over a meter tall. The milk I'd poured on it during the day had clearly worked.
I will definitely win!
Drip, drip...! Drip!
Tonight, I squeezed out every last drop of my remaining milk.
"Hnng... Grow well, my little baby."
I put my heart into it, as if I were raising a child.
I stroked the sturdy stem up and down and brushed the dust off its leaves.
I had become quite serious about this myself. The Crown Prince and Elina had thoroughly ignited my competitive spirit.
And seeing it actually grow so quickly gave me a sense of accomplishment. The results were immediate and visible, so it was fun just to space out and watch it.
Is this why people raise plants?
It was a little different, but Lee Do-hee had come to understand the hearts of plant growers.
And so, the second day came to an end.
* * *
Day three.
When I woke up the next day, my plant was already in bloom. It was a red flower.
"Hmm... Already? Does this mean this is its maximum growth?"
This wasn't good.
If this was the maximum size of my plant, I might not have had a chance from the start.
What's more, it seemed like all the nutrients were going to the flower; the stem was slightly thinner and was bent over like some kind of vine.
The Crown Prince had clearly said 'the one who raises it best'. If my plant was only about the same size as Elina's, he could abuse his authority and insist that hers was grown better.
It had to be overwhelmingly larger.
"Well, if I give it more, it'll keep growing, right?"
As soon as I got up, I gave it breast milk.
- No, our breast milk!
- Stop feeding it...
- I can't believe we're losing out to a plant.
- It's already blooming?
- Something's super suspicious, isn't that thing a monster?
- But what the hell kind of plant is that anyway? lol
"I don't know. The botanist is coming later, maybe he'll know?"
Funnily enough, every botanist and florist in the imperial capital had apparently been co-opted by Elina's minions. That's why it took an extra day to bring someone in from another region.
It was so cheap it was speechless.
I'll beat you with my overwhelming breast milk.
Right now, my plant was still only about a meter tall. Not enough.
Finally, around noon, the botanist arrived.
But when he saw my flower, he looked troubled.
"Hmm... This is a plant I've never seen before. Even I don't know every rare plant in existence. And you say it grew this much in two days? This is unprecedented in history."
"I heard Elina's plant has grown about this much too."
From what I'd heard this morning, Elina's plant had also grown to nearly a meter.
"Ah, that plant is a Haig Wood. It's naturally that kind of species. It's a plant that evolved to grow in size first with a hollow stem for rapid photosynthesis. However, the moment it surpasses about two meters, its growth in height will stop, and it will begin to fill its empty core."
Just as I thought. Elina.
She had used a fraudulent method, but that gave me even more hope.
Didn't this mean I had a chance to win as long as I surpassed two meters?
"Then is there no way to find out this plant's name?"
"There is. The royal court's botanical encyclopedia is said to contain records of all plants. But would you be able to gain access?"
"Hmm... I will try petitioning His Majesty the Emperor directly about that."
And then, the spymaster brought one more piece of good news.
"It seems Elina has failed to tame the horse."
"Hahahahahaha!!! So even her precious Spirit Arts are useless before a horse!"
The head butler beside me burst out laughing in delight.
"What's more, she apparently fell when she tried to force her way onto its back! Fortunately, she wasn't hurt, but the knights who rushed the horse are said to have suffered very serious injuries!"
Serves her right. Could this mean I can win both trials?
For some reason, I had a gut feeling that the horse would let me ride it.
I had no proof, just a feeling.
Anyway, if this went well, I might be able to forcibly take that 20% stake from the Crown Prince who hated me. A pouting Elina would just be a bonus.
Hehe... should I give this a real shot?
My motivation was soaring.
That night.
I once again poured out my maximum of four liters.
The plant's growth seemed to have truly stopped, as it didn't get much bigger.
If anything, only the flower bud grew larger while the other parts seemed to wither slightly. And the single stem had now split into several branches.
But it's not over yet. I haven't given up!
And so, I diligently squeezed my breast and gave it to the plant.
"Haaahng... Grow up big and strong, okay?"
As I was feeding it, I glanced at the chat window.
- Wait, the plant's condition?
- What the fuck is that?
- ???
- Oh shit
- Ugh, that's creepy.
- Ack
- We're fucked lol
- ??
- What is that?
The chat was in an uproar.
"What? What's wrong?"
I looked behind me, but there was nothing but the beautifully bloomed red flower.
- LMAO
- What, it just transformed into a flower?
- Whoa, creepy as fuck
- That reaction speed was insane.
- Whoa, that's scary.
- No, what the hell is that thing?
- That flower is weird...
- I'm scared...
- Do-hee, that plant is weird, throw it out right now.
"Everyone? What did you see?"
The plant was the problem? Transformed... into a flower?
I naturally turned my gaze to my plant's large petals.
"Hmm...?"
But... was this flower always facing me directly like this?