I understood why Marne-san wasn't growing.
"My mother used to do research for me in between her own studies to help me grow. But I was an adult too and I told her that I could take care of myself, so I decided to do research to help me grow as well. I did research together with my mother, but there were limits. I thought I would be able to get more out of my research by working at the Ministry of Magic than by doing research on my own." (Marne)
"The Ministry of Magic has a huge amount of material. It's the perfect place to research." (Yuna)
"Yes, you can see everything from valuable documents to researchers' documents. And best of all, the pay is good." (Marne)
People could not live without working.
The only way to survive was to earn money and buy food or become self-sufficient.
It's hard to be self-sufficient while doing research, so it's better to work in a field you're good at and earn money. Moreover, working at the Ministry of Magic might be the best option, since it would give you access to valuable documents.
Above all, you could gather more information and materials by working for a national specialist institution than by collecting them on your own.
"By the way, you can't get a job at the Ministry of Magic unless you're pretty talented." (Yuna)
Indeed, when you heard the name Ministry of Magic, you imagined a gathering of talented people.
Even I could tell that the color-changing ink from earlier was not something that could be made easily.
"Well, I grew up watching my mother's research from a young age. Exams were easy for me." (Marne)
It's a kind of gifted education.
"...What about your mother?" (Yuna)
I asked because I was a little curious.
"She's dead." (Marne)
"Sorry" (Yuna)
"It doesn't matter. It's a long time ago now. I'm not old enough to remember and cry. By the way, I don't know if my father is alive or dead. I haven't seen him for over ten years. Anyway, I'm not at an age where I miss my father or anything, and if he's still alive, I'm sure I'll meet him someday." (Marne)
It's a simple idea.
Even though she looked like a child, she's actually an adult inside.
"Since joining the Ministry of Magic, Marne-sama has developed her skills and contributed greatly to the country, and she holds a high position there." (Ellelaura)
"I just live longer than most people." (Marne)
Still, it's amazing.
There were some research projects that didn't progress even after many years.
It could even be passed down for generations.
It's great to be able to contribute to any field.
"Well, since I joined the Ministry of Magic, I've been researching things that will benefit the country, and researching potions that will help me grow." (Marne)
I understood why Marne-san joined the Ministry.
"So, is this growing research progressing?" (Yuna)
"I've compared the research my mother left behind with my own research and the materials of past researchers, made various prototypes, and checked them all... and it's as shown here." (Marne)
Marne-san made a gesture as if looking at herself.
If she was successful, she would grow.
"I don't think it's too bad the way it is now." (Ellelaura)
Ellelaura-san looked at Marne-san.
"Well, I didn't mind it at the time, but I couldn't work while I was in child's form, and even people younger than me treated me like a child, so I was treated like a child wherever I went. When I went shopping, people thought I was running an errand and praised me." (Marne)
That certainly was painful.
"If it's work, I don't think there'll be any problem if you continue working at the Ministry of Magic."
"My dream is to one day travel the world on foot and search for plants I've never seen or heard of before." (Marne)
It would certainly be inconvenient to do that in child form.
Wherever she went, she was treated like children, and depending on the place, there were some places that children could go or were not allowed to enter.
"Besides, I can't even enter the auction house because I look like a child, and no matter how much I tell them I'm an adult, they don't listen to me." (Marne)
"I was there to keep her accompanied." (Ellelaura)
Ellelaura-san soothed her.
"There's an auction?" (Yuna)
"Yes, they are usually hosted by the Commercial Guild." (Ellelaura)
"I participate because sometimes they bring out something unusual." (Marne)
I'd like to participate too.
In manga and other places, I saw scenes where people held up their number tags, raised their hands, or made strange finger signs.
I'd like to try it once.
But if I went dressed as a bear, I'd definitely stood out.
"And Ellelaura's baby was smaller than me, and now she's bigger than me, and I hate it." (Marne)
"Do you know Shia and Noa?" (Yuna)
"I only met the younger Noir when she was little. I met Shia at school." (Marne)
"Marne-sama sometimes teaches at the school." (Ellelaura)
"It's part of the job." (Marne)
So, Shia also knew that Marne-san looked small.
"But all the kids are bigger than me and they treat me like a kid. So, I started deducting points from students who treat me like a kid." (Marne)
"Tyranny." (Yuna)
"It's the students' fault for treating me like a child." (Marne)
Is that why Sia was calling Marne-san an old woman?
"So, if I could get hold of the materials deep in that forest, would it be possible for you to grow?" (Yuna)
Marne-san shook her head.
"I don't know. All I can say is that it has the effect of stimulating growth." (Marne)
"I see" (Yuna)
"Research involves checking each possibility one by one and proceeding steadily. We research because we don't know the answer. If we knew the answer, no one would do research. You may not be able to create what you want in your lifetime. But there are those who will follow in your footsteps. The books in this room. There is a lot of half-baked research and results. I have taken over that work, and I am creating something even better." (Marne)
Perhaps there was no end to research.
Even if there was a goal, there was still a road beyond the goal.
Even if you succeed, it's not your final destination.
Even after achieving research, there was always more to be done to create something even better.
There were various types of recovery potions, from low grade to the highest grade. The goal might be the elixir of immortality.
"Anyway, I can't get started until I get it." (Marne)
That's a positive thought.
For now, it's important to take even one step forward.
"So, will you be my bodyguard?" (Marne)
After hearing this much, I couldn't refuse.
Plus, no one understood the struggle of looking good better than I did.
"Yeah, I'll take it." (Yuna)
"Thank you. But I'll have Sanya check on you just in case." (Marne)
That couldn't be helped.
You couldn't just trust your life to a girl in a bear costume.
"So I'd like to go early, what are your plans?" (Marne)
"Nothing in particular." (Yuna)
No plans.
If I had to say, I'd just laze around and relax.
However, I never expected to end up working just a few days after the battle with the ice dragon.
"Well then, let's leave tomorrow. Is that okay?" (Marne)
"It's okay" (Yuna)
"Maybe we should meet at the Adventurer's Guild?" (Marne)
We confirmed the meeting place and time and then talked about the transportation.
"As for transportation, we will be using the Kumayuru and Kumakyu, so there will be no need for horses and carriages." (Yuna)
"To those kids?" (Marne)
Marne-san turned her attention to Kumayuru and Kumakyu, who were remaining quiet.
Kumayuru and Kumakyu looked at us as if to say, "Leave it to us."
"It's faster than a horse, and it will let us know if there are any monsters nearby, so we can get there safely." (Yuna)
"They're amazing bears." (Marne)
When Marne-san praised them, Kumayuru and Kumakyu squealed happily.
Tomorrow's schedule was also decided.
"Well, I have to go to work now. What about you, Yuna-chan? Are you going to go see Flora-sama?" (Ellelaura)
What should I do?
I would like to hear about Marne-san's research.
I'd also like to see the magical tools you're researching.
Looking at Marne-san, she was saying things like, "Um, what do I need to do today?", "That will be fine for a while," "Check that report," "I need to ask someone to take care of the plants," and "Also, I need to write a vacation request."
It didn't look like I'd be able to casually ask about magical tools and research.
"I'm going to see Flora." (Yuna)
I wanted to meet Flora too.
"Then let's go together." (Ellelaura)
Earlier, she told me that she was going to work.
Whatever I said, she'd probably say that accompanying me was her job.
Besides, I had no idea how to get to Lady Flora's place by myself from here at the Ministry of Magic, so I'd keep quiet.
I sent Kumayuru and Kumakyu home, said goodbye to Marne-san as she got to work, and Ellelaura-san and I got back in the elevator we had come in on, returned to the first floor, and returned our cards at the reception desk.
"Yuna-chan, thank you for agreeing to be Marne-sama's guard." (Ellelaura)
"Well, I was bored so it's no problem." (Yuna)
The truth was, I just wanted to relax for a while.
But after hearing that story, I couldn't refuse.
I understood the struggle of looking at it.
So I accepted.
Once it's over, I could just rest.
We got into the carriage and traveled through the castle.
The carriage moved along on a well-paved road.
The Ministry of Magic was here, and I'd never been on this side before, so it felt fresh to me.
By the way, on the opposite side of the Ministry of Magic there was a place where knights and soldiers practiced.
"Has Marne-san been at the Ministry for long?" (Yuna)
"I don't know the details either, but she was there when I was a student. And they would get angry if I treated her like a kid." (Ellelaura)
So that was it.
"She helped me out when I was a student, and she has helped me out even since I started working at the castle." (Ellelaura)
The married Cliff and she knew Noa and Shia when they were little.
So, I guessed she's being polite to Marne-san.
Next time, I'd like to hear from Marne-san about Ellelaura-san's school days.
Author's Note
It seems that Marne-san has been with Ellelaura-san since her student days.
So it seems like she was being polite.
[Books]
Book volume 20.5 was released on May 2, 2024. (The next volume, volume 21, is planned and in the works.)
Volume 11 of the comic was released on December 1, 2023.
Volume 2 of the comic spin-off was released on March 5, 2024.
The paperback version of volume 10 was released on May 2, 2024. (The deadline for the campaign to win a big acrylic stand featuring Yuna and Sanya on the cover is August 20, 2024. 20 lucky winners will receive a prize.) (The next volume, volume 11, is currently in the works.)
Thank you to everyone who reports typos.
Some of the kanji have been corrected to match the book, so please understand that there are some parts that have not been corrected.
Translator's Note
The author actually did take a break on Sunday following this chapter. So, please expect no new chapter next Sunday. The next translation (Chapter 807) will be published on the next Wednesday (19 June).