Chapter 57

My name is Gorazi.

I was born in a small town's seedling shop.

The enterprising shopkeeper not only stocked seeds and flowers but also grew seedlings and collected seeds from the plants he cultivated, expanding his business and making the shop prosperous.

...I didn't understand much of this back then.

"Back then" refers to the time when I was sold as a vine rose seedling.

There was plenty of information to be gained from the light, shadows, and vibrations in the air, but I had no interest or understanding of it, nor did I care to.

I didn't even have a name.

One day, a tingling magic arrived.

How should I describe it?

It felt like a force seeping into me.

A pleasant wave brushed against my skin, making me shiver.

I was drawn to the person approaching.

From that person, I sensed a light brighter than the sun.

Back then, without words, everything was just an impression, but I was strongly attracted, and if I had eyes, I would have cried. If I had a heart that could beat, I would have made it pulse.

Someone like that came.

Everyone in the seedling shop was excited, of course, only the non-human ones.

The seeds and seedlings that were bought were all happy. No one probably noticed.

I was also bought.

How fortunate, I thought. But at that time, I didn't even have the words to express such a thought.

I didn't realize I lacked the words to express joy, nor did I know the frustration or irritation of that lack.

He... I later learned his name was Lucian, gave me the earth magic "Nourishment" to plant me in the soil. His father cast it. His earth magic was gentle, softening and smoothing the soil. He was a talented earth mage.

"Happy, happy, happy," my heart was filled with nothing but that.

Then, I rooted myself in that soil.

My roots trembled with joy, and that joy spread to my leaves.

Lucian poured water into my new home. The water was unique, not even fitting the name "water" so much as it was extraordinary. It was like light, seeping into every vein of my leaves.

He said,

"Gorazi. You are the vine rose knight Gorazi.

Grow big, strong, and sharp.

Protect this mansion.

But don't hurt the family."

From that moment, I was no longer just a vine rose; I became Gorazi, the only one of my kind in the world.

The closed world expanded.

At the time, I didn't fully understand words, but his "words" conveyed a sense of his heart being poured into them, more accurately than clumsy words could ever express.

The sound of the name "Gorazi" was infused with Lucian's expectations and impressions. What I received was the image of a mercenary stronger than anyone else.

The words "big" and "strong" were imbued with the grandeur of a legendary dragon.

The word "sharp" made my small thorns bristle.

"This mansion" referred to the place where I would live.

The word "protect" meant that I should repel all calamities with my thorns, as hard and solid as a rock.

In the word "family," I saw the gentle father, the beloved butler Heine, the friendly knight Jess, and the chicken friends.

It also seemed to include those whom the family trusted.

Who should I exclude? That was a bit ambiguous.

For now, I would encircle the mansion, grow my thorns, and sharpen them.

I would try to meet the expectations of my master, who had given me a name, words, and a wise heart.

But later, I thought.

The shopkeeper of that seedling shop always told me, even when I was just a vine rose, with great pride, "the most beautiful rose."

However, Lucian's wish did not contain any words like "beautiful" or "elegant."

Could I grow beautifully?

◇◇◇

When we first met.

Lucian wasn't very good at earth magic.

Lucian's strengths were "water" and "wind" magic.

He could easily make magic water gush out from a young age, like a small spring.

When Lucian let water overflow from his palm, the surrounding plants trembled with joy.

I did too.

I couldn't help but stretch out my roots.

Lucian was also skilled at wind magic and used a scythe spell to pick fruit from high branches.

Eventually, he became proficient in earth magic too.

Lucian's earth magic was very powerful.

So powerful that it made me worry.

Lucian was better at "water" and "wind" magic, with "earth" being third. Yet, even his clumsy "earth" magic had a significant impact on plants.

I thought, God must be good at making things work.

Was it intentional that Lucian's earth magic was third? I wanted to ask God.

The herbs given Lucian's sweet water were no longer the same.

They had changed into something different.

Heine picked them and used them in stews, herb-roasted chicken, and pork.

He then made a lunch box with the roasted meat and gave it to a young knight.

The young knight, who was a devoted son, was so surprised by the delicious lunch that he gave half of it to his mother.

His mother, who had suffered from a tumor for years, was completely cured, but the cause was unknown.

I wondered if it was better to keep such things hidden.

I knew the family was hiding Lucian's power.

Since then, I have extended my roots to absorb the excessive nourishment from Lucian's earth magic.

The surrounding plants seem to resent me a bit, but it's for the sake of protecting Lucian and the family.

Occasionally, Lucian's cousins, Yusei and Odine, visit the Vione household. They are also part of the family, so I must protect them.

Their magic is similar to Lucian's.

One day, Odine said,

"Beauty is a woman's weapon."

It was a rather aggressive statement, coming from a young girl.

Lucian neither denied nor affirmed this statement.

If this is true, does it mean I can bloom beautiful flowers?

In fact, thanks to Lucian's nourishment, I am in the best health possible.

I am in excellent condition and blooming large flowers. The petals shine through, a soft peach color with a creamy hue. I think they are beautiful and elegant.

Beauty wasn't what my master asked for, but if beauty can be a weapon, why not?

When I looked at Lucian, he had a slightly dazed expression.

Ah, he doesn't understand.

I realized that Lucian often didn't understand what Odine meant.

But if he asked persistently, Odine would look at him with disdain and say, "You don't even know this?"

So he couldn't ask.

Later, Lucian asked Heine about it.

Heine said, "Well, I myself don't think a woman's weapon is simply beauty, so I'm a bit troubled..."

He had a troubled look on his face.

"Is what Odine said wrong?"

Lucian tilted his head.

"No, no, words don't always convey their true meaning. It's hard to explain exactly what Princess Odine meant.

Let me explain in general terms."

"Okay, general is fine, as long as it's easy to understand."

Lucian nodded.

"Understood.

For example, Gorazi is very beautiful. Such a beautiful rose is rare.

If a thief came and noticed Gorazi's roses, what do you think would happen?"

Heine pointed to the flower blooming nearby.

"Steal and sell them?"

Lucian thought for a moment before answering.

"Yes, that could happen.

Another possibility is that they might let their guard down... I think.

They might think such a gentle rose isn't dangerous and carelessly brush against the vines, only to be pricked by the thorns.

Beauty can penetrate a person's heart.

In other words, beauty can be a weapon, a psychological weapon."

"I see..."

Indeed, experience pays off; he answered well.

So, I can bloom beautiful flowers, then.

Thank you for reading. I'm scheduled to post again at 9 AM tomorrow.