After inspecting the dungeon and letting it absorb the materials I created with «Creation Magic» one after another, and lifting the restriction on various facilities in the process, I managed to find a lot of information.
I might have been able to acquire data even more efficiently if I had also let Baretta and the others help out, but dungeon management was basically my hobby so I didn't bother troubling them over it.
After the birth of the dungeon, we spent the next week going in and out, and once I had basically tried out everything I could think of, I decided it was time to create a dungeon floor, but— we found ourselves lost on exactly what to create.
"...... So many options, what exactly should we create?"
"Teto likes a place with lots of delicious food and fun!"
"Hmm, I guess so. We might as well proceed with our initial goal, and focus on the practical aspect that would be more profitable."
I used the mana stored in the dungeon core and went through the floor layouts to decide on one. I was looking through the list when Baretta came and informed us of a guest.
«Master…… Erneah-sama has come and requested a meeting with you.»
"Oh, it's been a long time since Erneah-san came here-nanodesu!"
"Don't tell me she's here once again to skimp on her duty?"
I had installed a «Transfer Gate» in both the «The Forest of the Creation Witch» and the castle of the Eldar Forest Nation, connecting both places so each side could visit the other at any given time. It was just that Erneah-san, the High Elf Queen, always snuck here all alone so briskly.
Usually, she just comes here to run away from her duties and pass the time. This time shouldn't be any different, I guess.
"Baretta, please prepare the tea. Also, can you contact Altair-san after a while?"
«Understood.»
In a case like this, I would entertain her for a while if she slipped here to take a breather and then contact Altair-san to take her back.
Well, now that our plans had changed, Teto and I returned to the mansion following Baretta and found Erneah-san behind the mansion looking up at the fruit tree we had planted there.
"Erneah-san, you know you're a queen right? Won't your people worry if you keep coming here alone?"
When I addressed her with an exasperated voice, Erneah-san gracefully turned around to look at us.
"Come on, even a queen needs to take a breather from time to time. Well, that's not important right now, Chise. I see that you have created yet another absurd thing with your «Creation Magic»."
Erneah-san's gaze was focused on the fruit tree as she spoke.
It was originally a sapling of the world tree on which I had grafted a fruit tree when I was inspecting the world tree and the sakura spirit tree before visiting the Eldar Forest Nation.
Though it wasn't comparable with them in terms of growth speed and mana generation, the fruits they bore had become what I call «Mysterious Nuts» due to the mana being transferred to those fruits.
"Do you want to try it? They're quite delicious."
"Teto will pick them!"
Teto sprinted towards the tree, climbed on it, and plucked off several fruits.
A dumbfounded expression appeared on Erneah-san's face upon seeing that.
"Fufu, so this is the secret behind your enormous mana capacity, even bigger than mine who has lived for 2000 years. Do you know what this fruit is called in legends and folklore?"
"Hmm? Isn't it called «Mysterious Nut»?"
It was something I used to create with my «Creation Magic», or in this case, it was a fruit borne by the fruit tree grafted on the world tree with the mana of the world tree ending up becoming those fruits.
But that was the extent of my knowledge.
"There are many folklore and legends about them, but at the root, all of them call it the «Fruit of Immortality»."
Apparently, it was the general term for the fruit that grew only in the mana-rich lands or spirit trees, or in another case, a fruit borne by a fruit tree once every several hundred years.
Eating a single one of them granted a long life.
So it was something sought by countless people.
"You already know mana is linked to a long lifespan for humans. And this «Fruit of Immortality» is specifically sought after because it grants anyone who eats it huge mana capacity, power, and youth as passed down in the legends and folklore."
"I see……"
To be frank, I had taken it as a Status Up item in a certain RPG.
But what a surprise. Who would have thought it was closer to the fruit from the Tree of Life in the Old Testament, the apple of Avalon—The Golden Apple, or the peach of Immortality from Shangri la among others that appeared in mythology or legends widespread in my previous world?
"Well, the thing I create with «Creation Magic» doesn't increase the mana capacity as you said, Erneah-san. It only increases mana amount by around 30 at best."
"Then it means the fruit you create does have the ability to increase mana capacity, it is just unripe at the moment."
"Oh, I haven't thought of that."
As my eyes drifted to the horizon after realizing that I was eating something so precious pretty much every day, Teto, who was standing next to me, was eating the fruits she had plucked earlier with gusto.
«Master, Teto-sama, Erneah-sama. The tea is ready.»
"T, Thank you, Baretta…... I needed this urgently to calm myself down."
"Snacks time!"
I sipped on my tea and decided to forget about the truth of the «Mysterious Nut»...... mostly to protect my sanity.
On the other hand, I was surprised to see Teto once again starting on the snacks prepared even after eating all those «Mysterious Nuts», while Erneah-san showed her more elegant side while drinking her tea.
"So, what's the reason for today's visit, Erneah-san? Are you really here for a breather?"
"You remember I had talked to you about the matchmaking of mythical beasts before? So I came here to inspect your forest."
That talk had ended on an undecided note due to the stampede in the western continent before. It was basically to look for a partner for the mythical beasts in our respective lands, and if there were new kinds of mythical beasts to see if we could invite them to each other's land.
"I don't really mind, but I don't think this warrants your direct visit?"
"You're going to be scolded by Altair-san once again!"
Listening to my suspicious tone, and Teto mentioning her worrywart aide, the Dark Elf Altair, Erneah-san flashed a slightly mischievous smile.
"Even I want to sometimes put the crown down and act on my whims. What can I do, that's just how heavy the responsibility of a queen is."
"......Haa, make sure to keep it in moderation, or you will be at the mercy of Altair-san again."
I replied mixed with an exasperated sigh, though it didn't make the person herself happy as she pouted and looked a bit discontented.
Well, this was a matter between Altair-san and Erneah-san, and it wasn't a place for an outsider like me to comment on so I steered the conversation back to the original topic.
"So I guess you'll be coming here more often?"
"Yeah. I'll be the only one for now, but soon, I'm also planning to send some personnel here to interact with the mythical beasts to matchmake."
"Teto's looking forward to seeing even more kids of mythical beasts!"
Erneah-san spoke as she gracefully munched on her snacks and sipped on her tea. "There wouldn't be any problem then,' I nodded.
As we continued to chat and entertain Erneah-san, a telepathic communication echoed in our heads as an enormous shadow descended on the opening lot of the mansion—a place exclusive for Dragon Grandpa.
«I heard Majou-dono and Fairy Queen are together. I rushed here thinking there must be a discussion about the dungeon. I am not late, am I?»
"Oh, long time, Elder Dragon! I almost forgot I heard about it from Leriel-possessed Rorona as well. What's the dungeon here like?"
With the sudden addition of Dragon Grandpa, the discussion over tea instantly flipped to a talk about the dungeon.
