What I see in front of me are several tall standing things――big tree-like shadows, on the far-away white background of magical power.
Among them, saplings with countless, thin flows of magical power that are hardly moving.
Today, I came to see the treasure Theo is taking care of.
The possibility of it being a sapling is very high.
While pondering, the gardener-like people who were lowering their heads in the distance have gathered.
「Theo Bocchama1, madams. Welcome and thank you for coming」
「Un. As announced this morning, today is the unveiling of my treasure!」
The oldest man――an elderly that looks older than the old man Randolph, steps forward from the group of twenty that has gathered, takes off his hat and very deeply bows.
It appears that the hair covered by the hat has already retreated considerably.
「The preparations are already done, you can begin anytime, Bocchama」
「Un. Then, everyone, come this way!」
The elderly gardener whose gentle expression deepens because of wrinkles states that the preparations are done.
While Theo advances to the place with the sapling, his expression is full of confidence and satisfaction can be seen on his face.
「Ta~dah. This is the "Asherah sapling" I'm raising!」
He says so while making a gesture of grabbing something, he removed something from the sapling and the flow of magical power in the sapling became completely different from the relaxed flow that was visible before.
「Ara, ara, maa, maa…… how wonderful……」
「Really…… I'm surprised. To raise the Asherah sapling to this size……」
「Oniisama worked hard every day, after all」
「Ehehe~ I had a hard time~ how is it, Lily~?」
Annela Obaasama and Ena raise voices of surprise.
Considering Ellie's remark, Theo must have been working very hard.
To be precise, the magical power in other saplings is hardly moving, but the magical power flow of this Asherah sapling is nearly as fast as the magical power flow in humans.
「Lily-chan, Asherah sapling is-」
「Ah! Obaasama stop! I will explain, okay!」
「Ara, ara, I'm sorry. Then, can I leave it to you, Theo-chan?」
「Un! Leave it to me! So, Lily. This Asherah tree is a very rare tree, you see? Although it doesn't grow big, it's a valuable tree with great demand as a material for magic tools. Moreover, if not grown in natural conditions, the quality of the wood won't be high. But, this child is fine! Lily's "cane2" can be made with confidence!」
It was a rare type of tree as expected.
Is it a useful material for magic tools because of its human-like flow of magical power, I wonder?
Nevertheless…… a cane?
No need to guess, it most likely is that cane the visually impaired people use――the white cane.
He must have found out that cane is indispensable for visually impaired people while researching the Cloudy Eyes in the library.
「Besides…… this child has sprouted on the day Lily was born, you know? Although more than 100 other Asherah trees have been planted, only this child has properly grown up. It surely sprouted on the same day Lily was born so that it could grow up for Lily's sake!」
Theo's talk gradually heats up, and he rapidly raises the tone of his voice with sparkling eyes.
「Because this child will finish growing very soon, I will make a cane for Lily then! Looking forward to it, okay!」
Theo's confident, and eager fervent speech and expression seem very reliable.
I think that making a cane won't be that easy, but he's that much motivated.
Theo's bright smile was that of a proud and reliable Oniichan after a long time.
「Fufu…… in addition, things made from Asherah trees have the effect of improving the physical ability of the user. It's popular because of its material's affinity with magic tools, but because raising it is difficult and the Asherah trees in nature have been recklessly deforested because of the demand. They are so precious that they are strictly controlled by the country, you know? This tree is the result of Theo-chan's extremely hard work, isn't it? Aren't you glad, Lily-chan? The cane made with Theo-chan's great effort will surely be something wonderful」
「Ehehehe~」
With Annela Obaasama's supplementary explanation and words of praise, Theo who was my proud and reliable Oniichan started bashfully twisting his body in embarrassment……
I wanted you to maintain that expression for a little longer. Maa, the present expression might be an expression that tickles the maternal instincts, but I'm unfortunately not ticklish.
「But well, it's not done by Oniisama's power only, you have to properly come clean about that」
「Uh. T, that's right, but…… I worked hard as well!」
「I admit that you worked hard. But, I can't accept you taking the achievement all for yourself」
「Uu…… b,but……」
Just when I find the twisting and turning reliable Oniisama turn unpleasant, Ellie's cold words pierce him.
Exactly as Ellie said, it's probably not like Theo did it all by himself.
Ellie probably couldn't accept Theo talking as if he has done all the work by himself.
As expected, Christophe house is different from the knowledge of nobles I have.
I wouldn't say that Ellie is special. Annela Obaasama is also nodding to Ellie's remark.
Maa, but it's true that he has worked hard, and I think it can't be helped that he got too excited because this is the unveiling.
Since no one is defending Theo, I decided to stand by him in my mind.
After that for a while, the reliable Oniichan was lectured by the little sister.
Footnotes
Way servants address the son of a rich household. Translates basically as 'young master.' ↩ 杖 - also can be translated as staff or wand. ↩