"What the hell does this guy do at ......?

　Unknowingly, I let those words slip out of my mouth.
　Now, in front of me is a boy with a face that looks exactly like Shin's.
　Although I said it was a perfect match, if you look closely you can see that there are differences in hair style and body structure.
　But even so, it's hard to believe that it's just a stranger's face, and I immediately thought of the word "brother".

I thought of the word "brother" as soon as I thought of the word "brother. ...... No way.

　Thinking that much, I ask the manticore standing behind me.

"Who is this girl. Why are you harboring this girl?

"............

　The manticore did not respond to my question.
　Instead, it came back with a different answer.

"Fix the boy. You can fix the boy.

　You sound as if you think I'm a doctor or something.
　Unfortunately, I don't know anything about medicine.
　Even in my former world, I know only general medical knowledge.
　So why does this guy assert that I can cure him?
　To such questions, a surprising answer was given.

"I know you're a unique person who can create demons. I know you're a unique person who can create a demon that can heal its child, or create a demon that has such a cure inside its body".

　Why does this guy think I'm a demon grower?
　While wondering that, surely that would allow me to cure the sick too. However--

"Impossible. I can't... I can't create such a convenient monster in a desert cave. At least such a monster seed or egg or even a carcass or something like that: ......

　As soon as I say it, the manticore leaps to a corner of this hall.
　There was something hidden in that place, and as soon as it was in its mouth, it dropped it in front of me.

...... the seeds, eggs, and carcasses of demons from this desert. That should be no problem.

　There were cactus balls, killer scorpions, sand rats, and other dead monsters I'd never seen before, as well as all kinds of seeds and eggs.

"How do you get this stuff?

This is my nest. A nest should always have something to eat. As for the seeds, they're few and far between as I scavenged the other day.

　Certainly. It's no wonder that I always have the carcasses and eggs of other demons on hand, since they serve as food.
　But the way she said it, she didn't know me by chance today, but before that.
　Then how in the world did he know?
　But as if to interrupt my thoughts, the manticore speaks a shocking line from the manticore again.

Above all, you have the so-called universal cure for all things. Why don't you use it?

　Those words sent a chill down my spine.
　I have a universal cure, which is none other than Dora-chan of Mandragora.
　As soon as I heard that line, I could feel Dora-chan's fear in my chest.

Wait, I'm not going to use Dora-chan. I decided from the first day I met her that I wouldn't let you use her no matter what.

　Yes, it was the day the child was born.
　It's an oath I've made since the day I was threatened to give her to those ruffians.
　I'm sure you'll be happy to know that I'm not the only one.

If you're ......, you'll have to do something about it. If you're missing something, just tell me. I'll provide what you need to grow as much as possible.

　With that said, the Manticore moved to the only exit of this space and sat down to block it.

　Now, what's going on.
　Fortunately, even though it's a cave, there are many places with holes in the ceiling where sunlight leaks in.
　Under there, the demons could grow.
　As for the ground, it's not so different from the place where I was cultivating the other day.
　If you ask the Manticore to get some clay, you can take the clay ball farming method.
　But the problem is what kind of monster we need to grow.

　I glimpse the condition of the boy who fell.
　He's asleep and unconscious, but his breathing is shallow and his face is pale.
　It's obvious that he's weakened from some cause.
　If we were to cure it, we'd need to create a demon with a certain healing effect.
　But when you look at the demon that the manticore just presented, there is no demon that can serve as a cure.

"...... master. I'm ready to sacrifice myself for my master any time. If there is no other way, you may use me.

　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make the most of your time with us," she said, smiling as she declared, but I didn't miss the fact that her body was trembling slightly.

"It's okay, Dora-chan. I won't let Dora-chan be sacrificed.

　As I said before, I'm going to say that vow.
　Even if I end up getting killed, I'm not going to do that.
　But still, it's important to check out the mandragora's biology here.

　The mandragora's panacea is said to be contained in its body parts.
　This means that the only way to use the mandragora as a panacea is to kill it.
　The body part of the mandragora is said to taste like chicken, which is said to be excellent.
　Well, I don't plan on eating it all my life.

　Also, according to what Lily told me, although mandragoras are plant-type demons, their structure is close to that of animal-type demons.

　There are not many monsters that have the characteristics of both plant and animal forms.


　Ys's friend Dori from Doriard is also a plant-type and animal-type demon, whose lower body is a tree and upper body is a human.

　It's not difficult to create a plant-type demon that has the characteristics of an animal-type demon while being a plant-type demon.

...... Wait, I see.

　That's when I came up with a great idea.

　The other day, I succeeded in combining the seeds and eggs of various demons into one.
　It was a combination of a jack-o'-lantern, a watermelon, and a killer plant, all of which corresponded to the plant type.

　The other killer plant and cockatrice combination was just an evolutionary method of having the eggs of the cockatrice laid on the killer plant's tree.

　And that's what I was going to do from now on.
　That is, to create a monster that mixes the characteristics of animal-type and plant-type demons.

　Thinking back now, a representative of that was also mandragora.
　They are a type of demon that has both animal and plant-type attributes, but as their elixir, their efficacy is contained in their body parts.
　But if we can give the effect not to their physical body, but to the plant part, i.e. the flower on their head, which is harmless to them.

Dora-chan, do you have a favor to ask. Do you think you could do me a favor and give me a flower for my head?

　Dora looks a little surprised at the request from me.

"What, a flower for the head?　Then of course you'll be fine, but . As I may have said before, there is no panacea for the flowers in my head: ......

It's okay. If you do what I think, Dora-chan, this should do the trick.

　That said, Dora-chan apologetically handed me a flower for the head, but that was fine with me.
　What you need is a part of the mandragora's body.
　Based on this, we need to give their elixir of elixir not to their body, but to a part of their body, a part of the plant that can be eaten over and over again and has no effect on the human body. Create such a monster.
　If this is possible, then you should be able to safely take the elixir without killing the so-called elixir, the mandragora, in the future.

　In fact, I had intended to combine low-ranking animal-type and plant-type demons such as cactus balls and killer scorpions and try them out a few times before putting them into practice, but I hadn't imagined that I would be trying out the valuable demon called mandragora from the beginning.

　Moreover, once the mandragora's head flower is harvested, it takes weeks for it to grow back.
　And the manticores here probably won't even wait a few weeks to try again.

　It's literally a crash course.
　This multiplication must succeed in one shot or it's worthless.
　I'll pick up the monsters that the manticore put there that will take over the mandragora's characteristics well.

　Even if the base is a mandragora, we have to choose a monster that can grow well in this desert.
　My new jack-o'-watermelon is a mixture of the Kalahari watermelon, a species that can grow even in the harsh environment of the desert.

......?　This is ......

　In the middle of it all, I find an unfamiliar seed, or egg-like object.
　At first glance, it looks like a gummy bear, and then it looks like a transparent salmon egg.

What the hell is this thing?

　Questioning the Manticore about it in his hand, he replies, "It's a desert jellyfish seed".

It's a desert jellyfish species.

　Desert jellyfish.
　That's what I was holding on to before the manticore took me.
　Was it a seed-born demon?
　So asks the manticore.

When the desert jellyfish is planted in the sand, a transparent body is born from within the seed, which absorbs moisture and nutrients from the ground and grows larger and larger. Even the smallest amount of water is enough to cause it to swell up, and eventually it will grow to a size where it can stretch its grass-like limbs out of the ground to catch its prey".

　I see. So that's the ecosystem.
　Does that mean that this desert jellyfish has both animal and plant characteristics?
　I asked again.

Perhaps it is. I don't know much about other demons' lives either, but desert jellyfish have plant-like limbs that serve as tentacles, and their bodies are animal-shaped. Their bodies are thought to be animal-shaped.

　When I heard the description of the Manticore, I had an idea.
　Then I thought of this formula.

I could go.

　Muttering, I grab a desert jellyfish seed and Dora's flower.
　But first, I have to ask the manticore for one last important question.

I want to ask you one more question before we start growing. If I save her safely, you will let us out of here?

Of course. Help the boy and you'll be released safely and I'll take you to your people.

　I nodded, feeling that it was a quick answer and not a lie in its affirmation.

　The image is already done. All that's left to do now is to grow it.
　I immediately plant the demon seed in my hand into the ground.