Chapter 87, Investigation Report

Translator: Barnnn

 

After the joyful reunion with its companions, Sato toddled over to Ize and spread its limbs wide, clearly asking to be picked up.

Ize, who had just been roughhousing with Poe, immediately declared an impromptu ceasefire and scooped Sato into her arms.

 

“Did you have fun?” she asked, smiling.

“Kekyo!”

“Not too tired from all that running? Want some healing magic?”

“…Kekyo?”

“It’s okay, don’t worry about it.”

 

Sato tilted its head as if unsure whether it was really okay to ask for magic after running off on its own, but Ize simply smiled and cast a gentle healing spell.

 

“Kekyo kekyo!”

 

Sato rubbed its leaf affectionately against Ize’s cheek in what seemed like a thank-you. Ize chuckled, the touch tickling her skin.

 

“You two are so close. I’m a little jealous,” came a warm voice. “I’ve been thinking of living with a Sugar Mandragora too.”

“Oh — hello…” Ize replied, turning to the speaker. “Was everything all right on the way here?”

“No trouble at all,” the woman said. “Wardon carried me the whole time.”

“Carried…?” Ize repeated, tilting her head.

 

The woman pointed toward a corner of the staging area where their supplies had been gathered. There sat an enormous basket, about the size of the vat they’d once repurposed for bathing.

 

“I was in there.”

“Wait — you didn’t walk at all?”

“Of course not. I’d rather not be seen too much, you know. If people saw me surrounded by A- and B-rankers, they’d assume something was up.”

“I guess that makes sense,” Ize admitted.

“Oi, Ize,” rumbled a deep voice as a broad figure stepped between them. It was Wardon, the A-rank adventurer. “Don’t let her fool you. This lady didn’t want to walk and had no shame climbing right into that basket. And while I carried her, it was all ‘don’t jostle me,’ and ‘warn me before you turn.’ She never shut up.”

“You were trying to bruise my delicate frame. I won’t stand for such barbarism,” the woman replied coolly.

“See? She’s not even denying it.”

“Uh… I see,” Ize murmured, unsure how to respond.

“Kyo-fuu,” Sato added, blinking up at them.

 

She may have claimed to be delicate, but clearly, her body was the only fragile thing about her — her mental resilience seemed more than solid.

 

“Oh, right,” Ize said quickly, shifting the topic. “I forgot to introduce myself. I’m Ize, a light-elemental mage. And this is Sato, a Sugar Mandragora.”

“How very polite,” the woman said with a kind smile. “I’m Sharoella, a healer working for the Guild — and Duris’s wife.” Her expression turned solemn as she reached out and took Ize’s hands in both of hers. “I’ve wanted to thank you and your group. Thank you for sharing this information with Duris. The batch you’ve already provided has been distributed to those who need it, including members of Wardon’s team here. But there will be more in need. This discovery… it’s hope. You’ve given hope to so many. Truly, thank you.”

 

Tears shimmered in Sharoella’s eyes as she squeezed Ize’s hands tightly. Her smile trembled on her lips.

 

“I’m just glad it could help,” Ize replied. “But the decision to share it with Mister Duris — that was Fieda’s call. He’s our leader. At first, the three of us weren’t sure we could trust the Guild with something this big. We worried someone might hurt Sato’s friends. But Fieda spoke with Duris and decided we could trust him.” She met Sharoella’s gaze squarely and squeezed her hands in return. “This success is as much Mister Duris’s as it is ours. The way he fought for those in need of Sugar Mandragoras — it was enough to convince Fieda that he would never misuse it. He’s a good man. And so are all of you who’ve come here to help him confirm everything.”

“…Thank you,” Sharoella murmured. “That means more than I can say. He really is a kind and wonderful man. But when we first heard about all this, I could hardly believe it. The thought that we might actually be able to get Sugar Mandragoras when we needed them…” She let out a quiet laugh, brushing at the corners of her eyes. “When we arrived here two days ago, I tried using healing magic — just to see. And then…”

 

Ize could imagine what happened next. She glanced at Sato, now nestled quietly between her hands.

 

“Next morning, you woke up and they were already there?”

“Exactly! We stayed out in an open spot so we could see any changes. And when we woke up, the place where there had been nothing was covered in leaves! I was so excited I cast healing magic again, just like the instructions said — and more and more of them popped out! I couldn’t stop laughing. I cried so hard…”

“You should’ve seen her,” Wardon chuckled. “Laughing her head off with the ugliest crying face I’ve ever seen.”

“Quiet, you,” Sharoella snapped. “Big lugs like you should stay out of it.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

 

Ize laughed, too, as she pictured the scene. She was sure those tears hadn’t just been from laughter — but she also knew there’d been no sorrow in them.

 

“I spent all day with them yesterday,” Sharoella went on. “Learned so much.”

“Wait — hold that thought,” Wardon cut in. “Let’s talk together. Hey, Ivern!”

 

He bellowed the name and began rounding up the rest of the group.

 

“By the way, how much longer are you lot staying in the Dungeon?”

“We’ll be heading back after checking this floor,” Ize replied.

“What if you stayed another day?”

“I’d need to check with Fieda first.”

“Fair enough.”

 

Once everyone was gathered, standing around started getting uncomfortable. Fieda gave Ize a look, and she nodded. She and Hal reached into their respective Magic Bags, pulling out tables, chairs, drinks, and snacks.

 

“I figured Hal had a fancy bag,” Wardon said, eyeing the bangle, “but you too, Ize?”

 

From the tiny ring on her finger — smaller even than a bangle-shaped Magic Bag — Ize kept producing sweets and setting them out, prompting a low whistle from Wardon.

 

“Are you sure you want to show that off in front of us?”

“We already shared the big secret about the Sugar Mandragoras, so I figured why not,” Hal said with a shrug.

“You’re too casual about it…” Ivern muttered.

 

Fieda clapped him on the shoulder.

 

“Just give up. Trying to keep up with their pace will drain you.”

“Don’t say that with those dead eyes, Fieda. It’s terrifying.”

“Gahaha! Ize, are you secretly amazing or something? Doesn’t look like it!”

“I’m not amazing — and that’s rich coming from you, Poe!”

 

Once chairs were set up for everyone, they each settled where they liked.

Sato and the other Sugar Mandragoras were given free rein for now. After a brief chirping consultation, they quietly lined up and burrowed back into the ground.

 

“…Even like that, you can still tell which one’s Sato,” Hal remarked.

“It’s got one big leaf,” Ize noted.

“I thought this before, but… are their leaves all slightly different?”

“That’s what makes harvesting Sugar Mandragoras so tricky,” Sharoella explained. “You can’t tell them apart by leaves alone.”

“All right, listen up,” Wardon called, clapping his hands. “We’ve got familiar faces, but Sharoella’s here too, so let’s do proper introductions.”

 

With that, the group began formally introducing themselves one by one.

The confirmation mission this time was headed by the A-rank adventurer Wardon, with the Guild’s healer Sharoella specifically appointed to the main task. For protection, the escort party was led by Ivern, accompanied by his comrades Zew, Ryzant, and Poe. Lastly, the ones who had provided the initial intel: Fieda, Hal, and Ize.

 

“I’ve been told that Ize, a light-elemental mage, was the one who first discovered them. Is that correct?” Wardon asked.

“Yes,” Ize replied with a nod.

 

Wardon gave a slight nod of his own, then turned his attention to Sharoella.

 

“Could you share with us which parts of the report have already been verified, and pass on the additional information to Fieda and the others?”

“Of course.”

 

Reaching into her pocket, Sharoella pulled out a small slip of paper. Her expression sharpened as she began her explanation.

 

“Our initial encounter with them went smoothly. From there, we’ve been gathering information by speaking with each one individually. As for their nature, it seems they normally remain in a dormant state and awaken upon detecting healing magic. We believe that the first instance of such magic triggers the emergence of self-awareness. Once awakened, if they go for — roughly — a week without being exposed to healing magic again, they return to dormancy. To stay active, they require a single casting of healing magic each day.”

 

At this, Ize and the others stirred slightly, their gazes shifting to the line of Sugar Mandragoras beside them. One of the large leaves at the edge gave a subtle tremble — almost as if pouting. Evidently, their Mandragora was a glutton.

 

“The biggest discovery this time,” Sharoella continued, “is that they’re willing to offer just their leaves.”

“Wait — so we don’t have to harvest the entire creature?” Fieda asked, eyes widening.

“Exactly,” Sharoella confirmed. “We’ll need to establish protocols, of course, but it should be possible to simply come here and collect a leaf from willing individuals.”

“Do the leaves grow back eventually?”

“According to them, yes — it takes about a year for a leaf to fully regenerate.”

“A year, huh… Longer than I expected, but still far better than harvesting an entire creature.”

 

Ize nodded enthusiastically, agreeing with Fieda.

 

“Just one leaf can be used to create detoxification medicine for five or six people. Even if we only take one leaf per year from different individuals, discreetly, it’ll be more than enough.”

“So that would cover the necessary supply?”

“Yes. Compared to how we used to only find them once every few years, this is a major improvement. Honestly, I’d love to come visit them more often myself, but… if I suddenly started adventuring again, people might get suspicious.”

“I heard something about choosing one to bring back with you?”

“Ah, so you’ve already heard. Yes, I was hoping to bring one with us — just in case something happens to the others, or if our stock runs low. Having at least one individual with us would be a safeguard.”

 

Suddenly, a chorus of muffled cries erupted from underground.

 

“Gubyo!”

“Gegegegegege!”

“Jaaaaah!”

“Gogyogyogogogogo!”

“Djudjudjudjudju!”

 

The Sugar Mandragoras burst into eager noise, all clamoring as if to volunteer themselves.

 

“…Gegyo,” came a plaintive voice from one of them.

 

[Dammit, Sato, you’re not part of THAT group…]

[Man, sure hope Sato doesn’t actually feel like going with THEM…]

[Aww, Sato, you’re so cute…]

 

Apparently, one particular Mandragora and one specific person were somewhat confused about the conversation.