Chapter 2 (1/2)

Chapter 2: She Who Is As Lovely As A Flower

Part 1

It was thenor summer

Cutting through the cool and dry at in the broadleaf forest This forest seems to be quite vast, as I can't see the end no matter how much time passes

In order to avoid the trees that block the path on the very narrow road, I shi+ft ainst branches

After that, I saw the sky This forest was so full of trees that I just reenery

”Oops”

While looking up, my tricorne ept away by a tree's branch

After stopping, turning back, and recovering it, I once again started my advance

If it's so difficult to fly in this forest, it would've been better to fly above it──But unfortunately, it's too late now

I already ca back would take too much time If I tried to forcefully fly up fro that this ti daed

I feel like I've fallen into a somewhat difficult situation

Whose fault is it you ask? Well, it's entirely my fault, so what?

While such complaints directed towards no one in particular drifted in

I don't kno long it was before the path finally opened up

”Wow”

I leaked

What I saw there was a garden of flowers

I was flying above the garden

There were red, blue and yelloers spread along the earth All of the the sun The wind fro rance

Good fragrances that touched the botto with the distinctly colorful flowers Holding my hat not to be stolen by the wind, I lowered the speed of my broom

There, in the middle of the forest, was another world

I was coht

”Oh”

Within the flowers—I saw the silhouette of a personcolors

Is this person caring for this flower garden? I pointed my broom towards them

”Um, excuse me”

As I called out fro It was a cute girl the seee

”Ara, hello”

”hello Are you tending to this flower garden?”

She shook her head

”No I'arden I'm here simply because I love flowers”

”You are not a caretaker? Then, all these flowers bloomed here on their own?”

”Yes That's how it is”

Is that so? I thought

I thought soh huain, the floere on earth before humans, so it's not like they won't exist without human interference

But, how can such nificent scenery exist by nature's power alone, without human assistance?

A

”Are you a Witch?”

Tilting her head, she asked as she gazed at my chest

”Yes I a”

That's so aht, in that case~ I have a favor to ask”

”If it's so in my power”

With that, she plucked some flowers, wrapped them with her jacked, and presented them to me

It was a bouquet made on spot

”If it's all right, I wanted you to deliver these flowers to the country that's up ahead from here”

”Is it fine to give it to anyone?”

I cocked my head in puzzlement as I accepted them

”Anyone is fine Handing them to people is considered a beautiful act and it's important”

In other words, she wants to spread the word about this flower garden

I feel like I can understand her feelings to show this beautiful scenery to everyone

”So in other words, you want arden, eh?”

”You won't?”

”No, it's fine”

Rather, it would be my pleasure──As I replied, she looked relieved frolad” while showing a smile

After that, we engaged in light conversation for a short while About countries I visited up till now, and about flowers she liked the most If I'm not mistaken, we talked about subjects like that

Then, afterwards we spent a lot of ti the moment:

”Well then, I have to hurry now──I'll deliver the flowers to someone in the next country”

”Please do, traveler-san”

She smiled and waved her hand

””

Suddenly, I got an uneasy feeling ”You are not going to leave this place?”

”That's right There's nothing bad in being in this flower garden Soon, the day will end fro in the sunlight Isn't this just lovely?”

She said it with a clear voice While continuing to sit

Part 2

”Halt, little girl Hey, I told you to stop, didn't I?”

After traveling for a few hours on arden, I, who arrived at a certain country’s gate, was greeted by the black clothed guard-san with a nervous tone

Taking such an oppressive attitude towards a stranger, and what's irl While there were no people that ood i for er raised if only just a bit

But, I didn't show it I'm an adult after all

”Traveler you say?”

”Yes Can't you see by looking?”

”What's that bouquet?”

”It's nothing important”

””

”What is it?”

”Show that to me for a bit”

He rudely approached me and snatched the bouquet from my hands

”Ah, hey!” As expected, I can't close ot down from broom and tried to take back the bouquet

But, he shook offto drill a hole in it As if nificant to him

To make it worse, ”ThisCould it possibly be that person's” he ended up ed I didn't get it

This gate guard fellow

”You, where did you get this”

”Why does it matter Please return it”

”Per chance, isn't this picked up froarden?”

”That's none of your business”

I am completely underestimated huh What should I do? Should I turn him to ashes?──I took out my staff

”Hey, what are you doing?”

It was at the ust and prepared my staff: a voice resounded from behind me And it had another oppressive attitude

Just what is this? Are there only arrogant fellows in this country? Haah? Getting angry, I turned around

”That is a traveler-san's possession Return it at once!”

There was a uard── He wasn't glaring at uard

As I turned around, that young guard was grasping the bouquet with an aard face ”But, sensei, This This is”

”I get it froet back”

”That's not it, This is──”

”Get back I said Didn't you hear it? You should rest for a bit”

”Tch” While slared at me and went away

”Ah, please return the bouquet”

””

He came back with a weak expression on his face, and:

”Here”

He pushed the flowers at me

”Thank you”

He didn't reply back And now, he went off souard felt irritated until the very end

Lets leave this behind now

After watching until he disappeared, that person as called a senpai made a troubled face

”Sorry, Witch-san It's because his little sister wentrecently He's been like that ever since Please forgive him”

”I don't mind it”

Even though that's a lie

”By the way, those flowers, I'm sorry but can you dispose of them here? It is prohibited to take them in the country”

”Prohibited to bring it? You mean these flowers?”

I didn't understand theand intention

I unconsciously ehtly

”There is a poison in those flowers” He indifferently said it instead of unreasonably snatching them away ”Since you are a Witch they are haric power that o mad──I also don't understand the details, but it's so like that”

”Poison”

He nodded

”Charinal field and spend their whole life nourishi+ng the them is prohibited”

””

”Is so?”

”No”

Supposing that there is a poison inside the flowers in