NOVEL NEXT Ch33 - Flower Craftsman
Chapter 33: Flower Craftsman
Several days have passed since the flower-related incident at home, and Patricia was finally able to confess her true feelings to the party members. Blushing profusely, she expressed her desire to change jobs to become a flower craftsman, and the entire party welcomed her warmly.
Patricia’s decision to switch careers was likely influenced by Goldaro’s words: “If you ever want to return to being an adventurer, we’ll always lend you our strength! Prioritize what you want to do.” It’s not easy to relinquish all the stats and skills she had developed as a swordsman up to level 15 and start from zero again. Grateful for her friends’ kindness, she unexpectedly shed tears in front of them. Those tears would surely nourish the new dream that had taken root in Patricia’s heart.
During the few days that she had been holed up, Lena and the others had been busy completing G-rank quests at the guild. They weren’t in a hurry to level up, so they focused on quick and easy gathering quests to earn some funds. With daily meals becoming more extravagant, they had been spending quite a bit. As she ate a rustic sausage and three-cheese clam chowder, Lena reflected that they would need to be more careful with their spending moving forward. She hoped that if she cooked again, at least she could limit herself to just one type of cheese. Having grown up in Japan, her palate had become somewhat refined, so she hoped for some understanding.
In search of herbs and mushrooms, the group ventured to various places, including meadows, woods, and small caves. Thanks to the insects sent by Lily, their gathering quests went smoothly each time. Though they were sometimes attacked by monsters, the now stronger familiars easily turned the tables on them. Their performance in battle might have even exceeded that expected of F-rank adventurers. The proud familiars were showered with praise from their master, reinforcing their mutual affection.
Determined to switch careers, Patricia and Lena’s group gathered at the Adventurers’ Guild that day. Patricia thought they should first head to the meadows to gather flower seeds and requested that Lena and the others accompany her. The Goldaro party was away fulfilling a previously scheduled request, so it was inevitable that Lena’s group would take on Patricia’s request, considering how dangerous it would be for her to go alone without the benefits of her former class and having her stats reset.
Before opening her flower shop, raising wildflowers from seeds to increase her profession level was a standard growth path for flower craftsmen. Those who take up a lifestyle profession can earn experience points not only by hunting monsters but also through profession-specific training. Surprisingly, this latter approach could be more efficient.
Flower craftsmen prefer wildflowers over cultivated ones because they can use their unique skill, [Varietal Improvement], to create their own original flowers. Seeds from cultivated flowers cannot be modified further by anyone other than the original creator. By designing the colors and scents of wildflowers themselves and commercializing them, flower shops can differentiate themselves in the market.
Patricia approached the receptionist girl at the counter with a very modest voice.
“Uh, hello…”
“Oh? Is that you, Patricia? Good morning! It feels like it’s been quite a while. What quest are you here to take on today?”
“Um… well… um…”
“Patricia-chan, you can do it—fight!”
The girl, who appeared to be more boyish than girlish, seemed embarrassed to announce her desire to become a flower craftsman to anyone other than her party members. With flushed cheeks, she averted her gaze, occasionally glancing awkwardly at the older girl behind the counter and stammering her words. Beside her, Lena earnestly encouraged Patricia. A slime nearby joined in with a little cheer dance.
Gathering her courage, the girl finally spoke her dream aloud.
“…I want to… change jobs. To become a flower craftsman. Could you please assist me with the job change ceremony?”
“Well!”
The receptionist was caught off guard by the unexpected news, letting out a small gasp. After a moment of surprise, she quickly scanned the surroundings to ensure no other adventurers were paying attention before letting out a relieved breath. She hurriedly whispered an apology to Patricia, whose face had turned as red as an apple.
“I’m so sorry! You’ve worked so hard for your rank up, so hearing you want to change jobs surprised me. —I understand. I’ll guide you to the magic room. Please follow me.”
“Uh, o-okay.”
“Hehe. Thank you for using the Adventurers’ Guild as a swordsman up until now. You’ve done a great job. I hope your future path is filled with happiness! I’m rooting for you, okay?”
The receptionist smiled gently at Patricia, who had been tense and moved stiffly as she bowed her head. For guild staff, promising new adventurers are treasures. Though this time one talented girl chose to walk a different path, they did not refuse her job change; instead, they warmly celebrated it. As she thanked Patricia for her past contributions, Lena felt a favorable impression of the receptionist’s willingness to send her off cheerfully to her new path.
This world may be harsh, but it is equally kind. Lena felt incredibly fortunate to have made such kind friends. Gently stroking the familiars in her arms, she smiled softly. It was a moment when she recognized it was okay to indulge in their affection! Recognizing the moment, the little master was soon overwhelmed by her cuddly companions.
▽ Patricia has changed her job to Flower Craftsman.
▽ Let’s head to the meadows!
Meanwhile, in the meadows, Patricia, now a flower craftsman, and her bodyguard Lena were discussing which flower seeds to acquire near the border gate.
The border guard’s double take upon seeing Patricia’s guild card was understandable. Just recently, Patricia had been a rookie swordsman, hunting monsters with an incredibly heavy yellow sword. Anyone would react strongly if the girl, who usually passed through the gates in heavy armor, suddenly appeared wearing an apron.
Having put her sword away, Patricia now held a large shovel and a metal basket for storing seeds, along with a plant encyclopedia. To anyone who saw her, she clearly looked like a flower craftsman. Now, let’s take a look at her stats.
Guild Card: Rank G
Name: Patricia Nature
Equipment: White shirt, pants, apron, boots, shovel, iron cage, plant encyclopedia
Affinities: Blue Magic, Yellow Magic
Health: 40
Intelligence: 20
Agility: 38
Magic Power: 10
Luck: 12
Skills: [Hybridization], [Flower Appraisal]
Gift: [Mighty Arm] ☆3
Title: Youth, Survivor
Patricia is still very much a brawn-over-brains type. She’s considerably stronger than most novice adventurers. Thanks to the influence of her [Mighty Arm] gift and the muscle she built up as a swordsman, her skewed stats remained even without the job bonus of being a “swordsman.” For reference, the average health for an adult at level 1 in this world is 30.
When she received her guild card after changing jobs, there was a bit of a scene as she grimaced at it, leading to a commotion over who would comfort her. In the end, it was Counselor Lena who read the room and managed to follow up with her. The words she managed to squeeze out were, “You could probably dig up even the hardest soil! Plus, you can carry a lot of pots, so you’re perfect for being a florist!” What kind of follow-up was that?
Let’s briefly explain how guild cards are issued across different guilds. Firstly, the guild card received upon application is the same no matter which guild you apply to. Whether it’s the Adventurer Guild, Commercial Guild, or Artisan Guild, all information related to guild affiliations is consolidated into one card. Holding multiple guild memberships is also possible if you have the capability.
Patricia still carries the card she used as an adventurer for identification purposes. When she eventually establishes her florist shop, her guild card will read “Adventurer Rank G,” “Merchant Rank G,” and “Artisan Rank G.” Since she will no longer be able to fight as she did before after changing jobs, she’ll have to start again at Rank G for adventurers. This is a measure taken to protect lives, but it has deterred many from changing jobs.
Patricia, with her combat experience, high health, and strong gift, could likely defeat most low-level monsters even with a shovel. However, Lena and the others remain cautious and adopt formations to protect their client.
Two humans ride atop the now 3-meter-tall Hamal, with Lily perched on its head, keeping watch. The slime remains quietly balanced on their laps to prevent them from being dropped during Hamal’s gallops. Should the need arise, it’s prepared to transform into tentacle ropes to bind the two of them to its sheep body.
Since this outing isn’t for hunting, they’ve set up a formation that allows for a quick escape if needed. With Patricia riding behind Lena, the support provided allows her master to sit comfortably. Indeed, the difference in innate athleticism is significant.
“Wow…
This sleeping sheep’s fur is incredible. It’s so fluffy…”
“Hehehe.
My H-kun’s fur is definitely the best in the world!
Enjoy it to the fullest!”
“Hmm.
If Lady Lena recommends it, I guess it’s okay to touch, right?”
Though the proud parent is bursting with excitement, Hamal seems to acknowledge Patricia as a friend of its master. Without much objection, it offers its fluffy fur. The senior familiars also seem to be fond of Patricia, who has been kinder to Lena than before. In this warm atmosphere, the group slowly advances through the grassy fields.
Their current destination is the nearby lotus flower field. Leading the way are the insects enchanted by Lily, so they won’t likely get lost. Ahead, they might even stumble upon rare flowers at hidden spots. Patricia’s journey to becoming a florist is off to a rather easy start, with plenty of help from her friends. Although the Goldaros aren’t around, they must still be a source of emotional support.
Deciding to gather seeds from various plants, Lena and the others engage in cheerful conversations filled with hints of their mission.
“Hmmm, the flowers we often see around here are… Chule, Marigold, Azalea, Lotus, and Thistle.
Something like that, I guess.”
“Really? Is Marigold a wildflower too?”
“Yep.
The seeds that were transported ended up falling on the grasslands and became wild.
Let’s see… they’re smaller than the ones sold at flower shops and are a paler shade of yellow.
Once they go wild, we can [Hybridize] them because they haven’t been altered by humans for a long time.
If cultivated seeds are spread and go wild, it could disrupt the natural balance… so we florists need to handle the seeds we create with care.
Make sure not to drop them.
There have been instances where seeds from carnivorous plants, influenced by natural magic, have turned into monsters.”
“Wow… that’s a heavy responsibility.
So that’s why you have a sturdy iron cage, huh?
Hehe, you really know a lot about flowers, don’t you?”
“Yeah…
I loved them, so every time I went outside, I’d observe the wildflowers.
The vibrant flowers sold in shops are nice, but wildflowers have their own charm, don’t you think?”
“Absolutely!
Just looking at them makes me feel warm inside.
What kind of flowers do you want to create, Patricia?
Something that emphasizes their original characteristics, maybe?”
“Well, I’ll try various things, but personally, I prefer arrangements of smaller, simple flowers that look bright.
Like Baby’s Breath. It’s plain, but I like it.
Also… I want to include genes from sturdy wild plants to prevent them from wilting too quickly.
If I also sell potted plants, flowers that are resistant to disease and environmental changes will be favored for their easy care after purchase.
Maybe I could base it on a beautiful flower and incorporate strong genes into it.”
“Right.
That sounds great!
After all, beautiful and strong flowers are the ideal, aren’t they?
We need to find lots of unique wild plants that have standout characteristics!”
“Yeah! I’m counting on you, Lily!”
“…Leave it to me! My insects will work hard today!”
“Okay.
I have no idea what you’re talking about. Hahaha!
But thanks for your help!”
…The master with [Luck: Unmeasurable] desires special wildflower seeds!
It felt like the world of Ranash was shining brightly.
I’m really looking forward to what kind of flowers the maiden Patricia will create from here on out.
▽ Next! Let’s look for wild plant seeds
▽ Let’s do some [Hybridization]