Drawn Mochi Volume 5 Chapter 19.1: To The Wide, Wide Land*6

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　It is now spring. The mornings and evenings are chilly, but during the day, it is much warmer where there is sunlight. It is especially nice and warm near a window where the sun shines in. I usually take my naps in such places.

　…Yeah. A nap. I started taking naps.

　Before, I didn’t even take a nap and even sleep at night to paint, but lately… because I don’t have the energy, I end up taking naps.

　I started helping out with the field work.

　In the end, we decided to build a field outside the forest. I guess it’s because Lila wanted to keep the environment inside the forest as it is… and more importantly, it’s hard to cultivate in the forest because there are a lot of trees.  That’s why I create a field on flat land about a minute’s walk from the edge of the forest, and grow crops there.

　From the middle of the forest, it takes about 40 minutes by horseback. It takes quite a bit of time, but it can’t be helped. If you think of it as a kind of commute to school, it’s all right.

“Wait a minute. Don’t push yourself too hard, alright?” (Laocles)

“I won’t.” (Tougo)

　It was too much for Lila to cultivate the field by herself, so I decided to help as well. Laocles will take care of the things that require strength, and me, Lila, and Lian will take care of the rest.

　Ms. Croix and Ange are waiting for us and making lunch. We will eat lunch after returning from the fields and spend the afternoon at our own leisure.

　Lila and I are painting, Lian is taking care of the horses and playing with Angel, and Laocles is working on his training in his spare time. …And he sometimes picks me and Lila up and takes us with him.

　However, unfortunately, I’m pitifully weak, so when I do farm work, I get tired and sleepy before I can paint, and I have to take a nap. Especially when I have to do maintenance on the forest barrier, I can’t do it anymore. I fall asleep. It’s not that I run out of magic power, it’s just that I just doze off.

　…I am ashamed of my lack of stamina, but that can’t be helped. I’m sure I’ll be napping every day for a while until I increase my strength.

　…And the field next to Lila’s house, where the seeds were sown, is covered with beautifully grown sprouts.

“…I wonder what kind of plant this is. I wonder if it’s food?” (Lila)

　Lila pondered as she poked one of the leaves with her fingertips.

　The plant that had sprouted up was something very strange.

　It grew very fast. Within a month of sowing the seeds, they were already flourishing… I wondered what kind of plant they were.

“Maybe the plants grow faster if you grow them in this forest?” (Lila)

“Eh, no, I don’t know about that…” (Tougo)

　…It’s not that there is no possibility, but I don’t know that, so I don’t know anything about it. Well, to begin with, I have never tried to grow normal plants in this forest.

“Well, they are all well and good, but… I’ve never seen this plant before. It might be a medicinal herb, but…” (Lila)

“Do you want to try eating it?” (Tougo)

“…we could look it up in a picture book first, right?” (Lila)

　I see. Yep, well, that’s right. I ran ahead.

　Then I took one of the leaves to Fay’s house to look in the plant book. Lila didn’t show up. It seems like she’s a little hesitant about going to Fay’s house. …I see. I didn’t hesitate to go, but… should I also holdback? Hmm…

“Hmm. Is the plant all grown up already? It’s early.” (Fay)

　However, Fay doesn’t particularly care if I don’t hold back. She’s more interested in the leaves than I am.

“Yep, I was surprised. Lila said maybe it’s because of the forest that it’s growing so fast.” (Tougo)

“Ah, I see. Yeah. It is in your forest, that seems likely…” (Nyango)

　I was really surprised. It’s growing like a bamboo shoot. …Ah, by the way, the original bamboo shoots are being dug up by the energetic horses and used as ingredients for soup today, and the bamboo shoots are also being eaten as a snack for the Houou and the Luans.

“I wonder what this is all about, anyway. Do you have any idea?” (Tougo)

“Hm, judging from the growth rate, bamboo…?” (Fay)

“No, that’s not it…” (Tougo)

No, of course not. Just looking at the growth rate, it’s bamboo. Bamboo. But Lila’s grass is not bamboo-like at all. It is more like normal grass. It has reddish stems and slightly slender leaves. The leaves are soft and, well, I think it would be tasty if boiled. I haven’t eaten it yet.

“Well, that’s alright. You can use the picture book I have at home if you want!” (Fay)

“Yes, thank you!” (Tougo)

“Just don’t get it dirty, okay? Look, Tougo. Your hands are dirty.” (Fay)

“Oh?” (Tougo)

　I looked at my hands when Fay told me. There was color on my hands. What is this?

“Blue paint?” (Fay)

“Hmm…?” (Tougo)

　The color on his hands is pale blue. Somehow, it’s similar to when you touch blue ink.

　…When Teacher wrote, he preferred to use ballpoint pens with blue or blue ink rather than black, but after it got on his hand, when it rubbed off and became lighter, it turned this color.

“I haven’t touched any paint yet today.”  (Tougo)

　But I haven’t touched the paint today, let alone the ballpoint pen. I woke up, ate, farmed, looked at leaves, and came to Fay’s house. So, I don’t think there was ever a time when my hands were dyed blue….

“……oh!” (Tougo)

　I look at the leaves, wondering if it might be possible.

　I picked a leaf from Lila’s field to look it up in my illustrated book.

　I looked at the stem end of the leaf and saw…

“I knew it.” (Tougo)

　Blue juice was seeping from the cut end of the leaf.

“So, I think this is indigo.” (Tougo)

“……really?” (Lila)

“Yep.” (Tougo)

　I went home and explained it to Lila, showing her the illustrated book I had borrowed from Fay.

“It’s the material for indigo. It is used for dyeing.” (Tougo)

　I crush the leaves I picked and run my fingers across the paper. …Then, the paper turns green.

“…but it’s green.” (Lila)

“Yep. Let’s wait a little.” (Tougo)

　Shaking the paper and let it have more contact with the air, and the green color gradually turns blue.

“…Wow.” (Lila)

　Lila’s eyes widened when she saw the blue that had appeared.

“So beautiful……” (Lila)

“Yep.” (Tougo)

　Lila looked at the paper for a while, but then she looked up as if coming to her senses.

“T-this can also be used for cloth!? I wonder if you can use the raw leaves to dye things!?” (Lila)

“No, I don’t know much about it either…” (Tougo)

　I wondered. Indigo dyeing, but I thought they ferment the leaves or something. Hmmm.

　I found a little information on how to use indigo in an illustrated book I borrowed, but as I thought, it looked like a lot of work to dry and ferment the leaves, so I decided to try a method that uses only fresh leaves.

　I cut some of the leaves and separated the stems from the leaves. Then, I put the leaves in a cloth bag and rubbed them in water.

“…The colors are vibrant.” (Lila)

“Yep.” (Tougo)