Miniature Garden Chemister Chapter 17

Well I did end up doing another chapter, I finished much later than I thought I would. I got pretty distracted playing board games with my family.

So, I’ll try my best to translate this volume since my friend told me I might as well just translate one volume and see how I like it and see if I want to continue. And so far, translating isn’t too bad so I’ll try to keep at it! I’ll still be translating pretty slow, so I’ll try my best to get out a chapter each week at least. Hopefully.

Well enough of that, have fun reading!

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17. Hinami and Ikuru – 5

Ikuru had taught me about this world

The story about person with the > is not in the book of general information that was given to me by G.o.d.

The book of general knowledge only contains how to calculate money and the brief history of this world. It was also described by each continent, similar countries and villages and by what topography it has. Furthermore, monsters and demons that appear near by was mentioned. However, the G.o.ddess Retisurīru was not mentioned.

The thief who stole the "jewel flower" from the G.o.ddess Retisurīru. And their descendents. They are engraved with the > on their chest, status reduction, reduction of attack magic useable and an abnormal status.

There is only one way to release it.

Engaging in a contract for five years.

Those who decide to engage in a contract are called "curse slaves" and the curse slave merchants mediate the contracts.

Then the person who bought it and the cursed slave does a "contract of engagement". When I bought Ikuru, this is the process we went through.

The contract only lasts for five years, and after five years the > will disappear.

People can have the >, but it is not a necessity to erase it. If a person does not wish to become a slave, they will have the > for life.

Therefore, the amount of people that carries the > does not diminish. If you have the > when giving birth to a child, that child will also bear the >.

Then, why is it dangerous to be a "slave"? It is because religion exists everywhere.

It is thought that a person with the > is an enemy to the G.o.ddess Retisurīru, and therefore an enemy to them. Therefore, there are not very many places where they are treated well.

But it seems like he is normal contact with a person whose > has disappeared.

This the system of slavery in this world.

The G.o.ddess's > is called a "curse slave system", and the buying and selling of a contracts is done by a merchant which does "curse slavery". And the Guild manages the curse slavery contracts.

It's said that those who believes in the G.o.ddess have begun to call the "curse slave village" where Ikuru lived by a common name. "The village where people become curse slaves". It is called curse slaves, since they trade themselves for a contract to be free.

Such a sad system… I think it would be better if it were to disappear.

"Hinami-sama… it's burning"

"Eh!?"

More time had pa.s.sed than I thought while I was summarizing the things that Ikuru had told me. When looking at the frying pan, the meat that we had bought from the market was scorched. That's impossible… the first meat dish since I got here was scorched……a failure.

"You were thinking about the curse slaves?"

"……Was it obvious?"

"Obvious. However it's not something that Hinami-sama needs to worry about particularly?"

"Well, that may be so, but"

"But?"

"But it's a sad story. Something that was important to the G.o.ddess was stolen… but why is the G.o.ddess…nowhere?"

The meat that was burnt is put on the cutting board, where I cut off the burnt parts.

Ikuru is chuckling as he is making the soup. My idea may be hypocritical. But… I want to help the G.o.ddess.

It is because the > still exists … that the G.o.ddess's sorrow is continuing?

"It is said that the G.o.ddess is still somewhere in the this world… If it's Hinami-sama who is an excellent pharmacist, you may be able to meet her someday."

"Eh! Megami-sama are you there…?"**

"The G.o.ddess's church says that the G.o.ddess loves nature, so the G.o.ddess loves people who are close to nature like pharmacists.

The G.o.ddess may be still be here…! If it's true, then I would want to meet her. No, even if I go to meet her, I might be troublesome to her.

However, it's sad. I want to meet her, but I don't know if I can see her. I wish for the G.o.ddess to be happy. And I think that it would be nice to lose such a sad >.

"Well, I made the soup and salad, is Hinami-sama's meat… ok?"

" U~tsu…!* No, it's perfectly fine!"

Put the meat and the rice, which was cooked in a pot, into a bowl.

My eating habits has improved from the two years that I have lived here, except for meat. Also, the fruit and vegetables that I get from the points exchange… although it's completely random… I noticed it several times! The dishes are sometimes exchanged for miscellaneous goods which appears in the point exchange. So this house has become very comfortable to live in.

However, there are no explanations for them, so I need to think of one by myself. But because I've gotten comfortable, I've spent my time not thinking about it too deeply.

But, I went to the city and from now on… I firmly believe that I want to live as myself.

"Itadakimasu"

A stomach is filled when two people are seated!**

But my stomach is growling and it's super embarra.s.sing. Even though everyone will eventually experience it… but I'm still embarra.s.sed! I would like enter a hole if I had one. The items on the menu that I had cooked include meat (baked only) and rice (boiled only). Ikuru made the vegetable soup and the salad. Wait, does Ikuru have higher girl’s ability than me? No, that's not true. Absolutely.

"Ah… I'm getting warm"

"The soup made by Ikuru is delicious!"

"Yes? I can only make soup."

Fu fu, I do have higher girl's ability, I'm relieved!

"Why only soup?"

"Because it was not a wealthy village, I just made soup in the evening and then go to sleep, so my ability to make soup was improved."

"Only soup at night, it seems good for dieting"

"Hinami-sama is skinny enough, so it isn't necessary."

Hmm. Is that so?

I do not know my exact weight since there isn't a scale, but I am usually confident, but I do not know anymore. Or rather, it's because Ikuru is skinny. Oh, I see, he has a figure of a model. If you look at how delicate Ikuru is, he gives off a feeling of an idol.

"Separately, because it isn't burned, it's ok. The pepper is effective, and good."

"I'm glad!"

As Ikuru was eating the meat, I got impatient to see if it tasted okay. I immediately put the meat in my mouth and tasting it as I was chewing it. I bought a little extra meat, so I put it in the bas.e.m.e.nt, since items do not deteriorate in there.

"Oh, that's right!"

"What?"

"The jewel flower of the G.o.ddess, what is it?"

"Oh… it is a gemstone like mineral which is the favorite of the G.o.ddess of nature, in theory though it's shaped elaborately like a flower."

"Jewelry and flowers … it's very G.o.ddess-like."

But why would you steal it? I guess it's worth something. I wonder if G.o.d knows something about it. I'll ask G.o.d about it in the exchange diary later.

"It feels really nice to eat a meal with someone."

"What is it, suddenly saying that?"

"Oh, I just thought of it."

All of the dishes are eaten up and tea is made after the meal. Well, the contents of it are potions for recovering physical fitness. After all, if you are j.a.panese, you drink tea. Oh, wait, I was j.a.panese. Am I a Retisurīru citizen now?

After this… I will collect points and enlarge the room for Ikuru. I had previously exchanged points for a room and I do not really need to add anything, but I wonder if there's anything else that needs to be added, I can't think of anything right now. Well I will add it whenever I notice it… I wonder if that's okay.

Oh, that's right.

I had forgotten about it because Ikuru was telling me the story of the G.o.ddess, but I am living with him in this house from now on. I understand that it's nothing in particular, but I am still nervous.

…When I glimpsed at Ikuru, he seems calm. Anyways, let's stop thinking about this. I am as calm as I can be…!

"Come to think of it, what about the snow rabbit?"

"How about it being a new family member…?"

"You don't know about snow rabbits do you?"

"…Yes."

Really, I have seen Ikuru's amazed face a lot.

"Before I said that a snow rabbit is very rare, and that it is a 'demon' when you find one?"

"Yes"

"But this snow rabbit seems to be a 'spirit', since it fulfilled certain conditions. However it's extremely hard to find examples of it since the conditions are very hard to find and fulfill."

"So demons can become spirits…"

"Yes, it's something that I have not seen personally, but there is such cases. However it's also possible that the material that I saw was lying."

That very snow rabbit is around the house, or the garden. Or rather, despite it being so cute, it's weird that it's a demon. It makes me even more convinced that it can become a spirit. Because I mean, it's adorable!

By the way, while brewing the tea after the meal, if you peek out slightly out the window, you can see the snow rabbit playing with the chicken. Yes, this is very peaceful and good.

"For a long time it seems like the snow rabbit's 'snow' relates to it's power… well I know this much too."

"It's enough, thank you!"

"Well, it's already dark outside… wouldn't it be nice to play together tomorrow?"

"Yes, I will do that …… Ah!"

That's right, it's getting dark.

I have to expand the room for Ikuru.

"I'm sorry, let me go prepare your room!"

"Do you have an extra room? I can stay anywhere but the bas.e.m.e.nt."

"Okay leave it to me! I will prepare it properly"

"Okay, then I will go wash the dishes"

"Thank you! I'll be back soon!"

I hurry to go to my room, and take out the exchange diary to see the list of point exchanges.

[Exchange diary] = 3 points added

[Current Points : 31,193]

[Potted plant: Small]  1

[Potted plant: Medium] 10

[Potted plant: Large] 20

[Vegetable seeds set] 10

[Fruit seeds set] 10

[Herb seeds set] 10

[Wheat seeds] 50

[Rice seeds] 100

[Brick : x1] 5

[Fountain] 1,500

[Bottles: x100] 3

[Room] 50

[Bath – Extension] 5,000

[Hinami's Room – Extension] 2,000

[Rooftop – Extension] 10,000

[Bas.e.m.e.nt – Extension] 30,000

[Compounding room – Extension] 15,000

[Door of the miniature garden] 50,000

"Huh… my name is next to the room that I am in. I wonder if G.o.d do it to make it easier to understand? For the time being, use points for another room and enlarge it!"

[Room – Ikuru] 50 points used

[Room extension – Ikuru] 1000 points used

[Total of 1,050 points used]

[Current points : 30,143]

Oh, now that Ikuru's name is next to the room. It makes it very easy to see.

The second floor currently has my room and a compounding room. Then on the third floor is the rooftop. The bathroom is on the first floor, and then the bas.e.m.e.nt is underneath. By the way, by extending Ikuru's room by one, it is the same size as my room. I do not know what will happen when I extend the room by one more, but right now the room is the size of about 10 tatami (16.53 square feet) along with a bed. In other words, the room becomes slightly wider with an extension and a bed is added without permission.

Thunk! A loud sound resounded throughout the house when it was adding the new room.

As I'm going out into the hallway from my room to check on the new room … huh?

"My room is locked…?"

I did not have this before, but because the number of residents increased, did G.o.d put my private s.p.a.ce into consideration? Somehow, this small consideration is making me very happy.

When I got out into the hallway. There is a plaque on my door that has Hinami written on it! This is also because of G.o.d's concern, thank you! I feel like when I am looking at my room it makes me calm.

As you climb up the stairs, on the right is the compounding room, and the first door on the left is my room then Ikuru's room. There is also a plaque with Ikuru's name on the door.

"Ikuru! Come up the room is ready"

"Okay, got it."

Ikuru came up just as he finished cleaning and he was surprised when he came up to the second floor for the first time.

"This is a really strange and mysterious house … I cannot think that this house is a stump." **

But it's G.o.d who made this house for me.

As Ikuru is looking at his name plaque on his room door, his face is saying when did you do this? I was surprised also you know.

I gently opened the door and entered the room. Near the window is a desk, a bookshelf and a bed was also put in here.

However, it has a completely different atmosphere from my room.

My room has more of a cutesy girly feel to it. However, Ikuru's room was cute, but had a more quiet feel to it without the cute items. Is it because it's for a male?

"Amazing… can I use such a nice room?"

"Yes, feel free to use it"

"…I understand. Thank you Hinami-sama."

"You're welcome."

Two people are smiling naturally.

This peaceful feeling is making me very happy.

*it's a depressed sound effect

** I put Romaji so it can flow better

*** IDK about this stump part also – 切り株