Before my mind could even process the fact that Rin possessed a theoretically impossible ability, Lilia-san and the others were already deep in a serious discussion.
Incidentally, Aoi-chan and Hina-chan were incredibly quick to announce they "suddenly remembered some business" before making a break for it. It was a fluid and masterful retreat; both of them have certainly polished their skills.
"Speaking of which, hasn't Rin’s magic power grown quite massive as well?"
"Yes, Rin-chan is currently in her magic power growth period, but even taking that into account, it’s far too large."
"Miyama-sama, did you perhaps feed her something strange?"
Food? Something strange? Oh no. I actually had a very good idea of what it was.
"Ah..."
"Kaito-san?"
Hearing my voice slip out reflexively, Lilia-san turned toward me with a suspicious expression.
"A-Ah, no, well..."
"Don't tell me... you actually know what caused this, don't you?"
"U-Um..."
"Kaito-san?"
"I do."
Lilia-san wore a smile that looked like it was about to burst. It was a smile, yet her eyes weren't laughing in the slightest. If I looked closely, I could see veins pulsing on her forehead. An aura that practically screamed, "Is this your doing again?" was overflowing from her entire body. It was truly terrifying.
"And? What exactly did you feed her?"
When I honestly admitted it, Lilia-san approached with her smile intact and placed her hand on my shoulder with a soft thud. This was probably the "I won't be mad, so just tell me the truth" gesture. Yeah, it had to be. I felt like I could hear a grinding sound coming from my shoulder, and the pain was quite real, but I told myself it was just my imagination.
Feeling my blood run cold, I fearfully uttered the words.
"The... F..."
"The F?"
"The Fruit of the World Tree."
Lilia-san immediately collapsed to her knees.
"Milady! Please, pull yourself together!"
"The... the Fruit of the World Tree?"
The truth was, a while back, while I was working on a music box, I had been snacking on a Fruit of the World Tree. Rin happened to see me and pestered me, wanting to try one. Since they were so rare, I refused at first, but she was so persistent and adorable that I eventually gave in.
She seemed to take a real liking to them and started begging for them every chance she got. Eventually, I started giving them to her as rewards whenever she helped with things like washing Bell.
"Um, Sieg-san. Is that really what caused this?"
"I think the possibility is quite high. Monsters have separate physical and magic power growth periods. Rin-chan is currently in the middle of her magic power growth period. There is a common theory that giving a monster magic-rich food during that time can cause their magic power to surge."
"..."
"The Fruit of the World Tree is essentially a mass of powerful healing magic. I suspect that magic merged with Rin-chan’s own during her growth period and caused it to change... or rather, to evolve."
It had turned into something far more incredible than I had imagined. For my part, I only intended it as a reward for my cute pet. I never dreamed her magic power would actually change because of it.
As I stood there dazed by Sieg-san's explanation, Lilia-san stood up unsteadily.
"I mean... just what are you giving her!? Honestly, you!!"
"Gack!? L-Lilia-san... I can't... breathe..."
"Why are you feeding your pet the Fruit of the World Tree—something people struggle to obtain even a single one of—as if it were a common snack!?"
"I'm... so... rry..."
Lilia-san grabbed me by the collar and shook me violently back and forth until my brain felt like it was in a blender. I managed to squeeze out an apology. She continued to yell at me for a while longer before finally letting go with a deep, weary sigh.
"Goodness, you really are beyond all common sense..."
"Cough... My deepest apologies, truly."
"Haa... I'll ask just in case, but surely you didn't go to the World King-sama to ask for the Fruit of the World Tree specifically to use it as pet food..."
"I-I'm sorry."
"You did, didn't you..."
I bowed my head again to Lilia-san, who had slumped her shoulders in utter exasperation.
Just as she suspected, a little while ago, I had visited Lilliwood-san. I explained that Rin liked the Fruit of the World Tree and asked if I could have some more. Apparently, the fruit doesn't spoil over time, and because Lilliwood-san has been restricting its distribution for centuries, she has so many that she has trouble disposing of them. She told me I could take as many as I wanted.
"Um, she just warned me not to give them to other people or let them enter the market, and then she gave me a whole lot of them."
"Is that so..."
Lilia-san stared into the distance with eyes that suggested she had given up on everything. I continued to apologize profusely, but then Sieg-san, wearing a wry smile, offered me a lifeline.
"Lili, please forgive him already. Kaito-san didn't mean any harm."
"Sieg... you are far too soft on him."
"Hmm. Well, seeing Kaito-san take care of Bell-chan and Rin-chan every day, I can tell he treasures them very much. He only did it because Rin-chan is precious to him."
"T-That may be true, but..."
As expected, Sieg-san was an angel—no, a Messiah. Hearing her gentle support, Lilia-san’s expression began to soften into one of reluctant acceptance. I was starting to feel relieved, but that feeling was shattered an instant later by Lunamaria-san.
"I wonder if he’s given anything to Bell-sama as well..."
"..."
"Kaito-san? Why did you just look away?"
"..."
Stop it, Lunamaria-san. Please stop. This is a very sensitive topic. If you push this, I’m going to get scolded again.
But it was already too late. Lilia-san was once again staring at me with that terrifying smile. I felt a cold sweat pouring down my back.
"Kaito-san, please answer me honestly. What did you give to Bell?"
"U-Um, well, Bell said it wanted to become stronger... so when I consulted with Magnawell-san, he told me I should grind his scales into powder and mix them into its meals... so I did that..."
"Please sit over there for a moment."
"Yes."
Hearing my fearful confession, a vein clearly throbbed on Lilia-san's forehead. She told me to sit in a tone that brooked no argument, so I obeyed and sat in formal seiza.
"What are you doing!? Do you intend to create the strongest monster in history!?"
"Hiee!"
"The Dragon King's scales? Honestly, just how many rules do you have to break before you're satisfied!? Even I want the Dragon King's scales... and yet, you're feeding them to a pet! Just how strong are you trying to make Bell!?"
"Milady? Milady? Was there perhaps a bit of personal greed mixed in there at the end?"
Lilia-san loved dragons. When I showed them to her before, she was so surprised she fainted, but I didn't realize she actually wanted the Dragon King's scales. If she wanted them, she should have just told me. Magnawell-san gives them to me as tips every time we meet, so I have quite a collection.
"Um, Lilia-san? I'll give you some Dragon King's scales. And even some fragments of the fangs!"
"Ahem. Well, I suppose Kaito-san didn't mean any harm, and I don't intend to scold you quite that harshly, but..."
"Milady? Why were you so refreshingly and instantly bribed...?"
I had spoken out of desperate fear, but I was actually bewildered by her transparent reaction. Did she really want them that badly?
"Well, Kaito-san. It's fine to dote on your pets, and I won't forbid you from giving them your own belongings as food, but please report such things properly from now on. The amount of stomach medicine I'm going through is becoming a serious matter. I feel like I've already taken a lifetime's worth..."
"Y-Yes. I am truly sorry."
Hearing Lilia-san's deeply earnest plea from her very soul, I placed both hands on the ground and apologized profoundly.
Dear Mother, Father—Lilia-san found out that I had been giving Rin the Fruit of the World Tree and Bell the Dragon King's scales, and I got scolded for the first time in a while. Well, it was my fault for not reporting it properly, so I can't complain. Reporting is important.
Note: Bellfried (Behemoth) Has a slow, steady growth period spanning hundreds of years. Grows about 5 meters every 100 years, eventually exceeding 100 meters. Since he is being raised like this from such an early stage, he will become truly monstrously powerful.
Lindwurm (White Dragon) Magic power growth period is from age 1 to 5. Physical growth period is from age 5 to 10. Rin is currently 2 years old. Because she has eaten so many Fruits of the World Tree, her magic power already exceeds that of an adult dragon. There seems to be a specific reason why she keeps begging for the fruit.