Chapter 46: Planting Frostbloom

Frostbloom’s unique toxicity required it to be isolated from other plants, so I decided to create a separate garden bed.

Previously, I expanded the café’s land forward and sideways, but for this exclusive plot, I planned to extend the backyard.

The backyard was rarely visited by guests.

“This is my café. Time to get down,” I said to the white snake on my shoulder.

I preferred working alone without distractions, and the snake’s weight was straining my shoulder.

“Our pig is scared of you, so stay outdoors. I can build you a shelter if you want.”

Having lived wild, it should manage outside.

I knelt, extending my arm for it to slither down, but it clung tightly, clearly fond of my warmth, coiling around my forearm in protest.

“My word is law here. Understand? New dimension, new rules. Want to go back to Wishstone’s realm?”

My stern tone made it loosen its grip, sliding down my arm listlessly.

…I felt guilty. It was manipulating my conscience.

Glancing at me, its pitiful act was clearly feigned.

How could this be the same snake that initially threatened me?

It turned away, gazing pensively into the distance, still sneaking glances at me. The more I observed, the more cunning it seemed.

In our brief encounter, it had pegged me as soft on small, young creatures.

Ignoring it, I used one foot of causality to expand the land and began preparing Frostbloom’s plot.

Unwrapping the apron revealed Frostbloom, with frost scattering and ice already forming inside the fabric.

A fleeting thought crossed my mind: growing this could cool a hot summer.

Slither…

Noticing my focus elsewhere, the snake approached, watching my work.

As I dug to transplant Frostbloom, I paused.

“Will I need Latte Art every time I tend it?”

To avoid its poison, I had to be meticulous.

With Insight active, I could see what to avoid, like following a guide. Without it, I felt blind, hesitant to handle it.

“I might’ve taken on too tricky a plant…”

“Are you okay?” Bernell appeared, likely worried about leaving me alone with the snake.

Still wary, he nudged it aside with his shoe.

The snake endured his rudeness, but I felt uneasy watching.

“It’s a rare being, not to be treated so carelessly. Don’t mistreat animals.”

“It’s a venomous snake. Keep your distance,” Bernell said.

“It’s wise enough to converse with gods and won’t harm me. It might even become a god like Wishstone someday.”

Protectively pulling the snake closer, it accepted my touch docilely.

“Don’t handle it barehanded,” Bernell warned.

“You didn’t come to argue. Help me out.”

His face lit up at my request. He relished being relied upon.

“Your brother will handle it. What do you need?”

“I need to plant Frostbloom, but it’s as toxic as the snake.”

His expression hardened at “toxic.”

“You’re reckless. Why bring such dangerous things here?”

“The leaves and flower are poisonous, but the roots aren’t. Handled right, it’s a potent herb.”

I thought of Blue Child’s mentor, Medicine Sage. Showing Frostbloom to Blue Child might yield advice on handling it safely.

I’d ask if they visited.

“With Latte Art’s Insight, I can manage it easily, but I used today’s already. Forcing another use might knock me out for days.”

“That won’t do,” Bernell said.

“Right? I’m human, but you’re a demi-god. Can you plant it? It’s simple—place the seedling in the prepared soil and cover it.”

“Step aside. I’ll do it.”

As Bernell reached for Frostbloom, the snake hissed sharply, rejecting his approach.

“Why’s it acting up?”

The snake’s reaction prompted Bernell to draw his sword, escalating tension.

“It’s not trying to harm Frostbloom. He’s helping plant it…”

Suspecting a misunderstanding, I defended Bernell.

“Ssss…!”

“It shows its true colors. I can’t let this stay near you. Run—I’ll cut it down.”

“Wait! There’s a misunderstanding. It’s protecting others from Frostbloom’s poison…”

A thought struck me, and I looked at the snake.

It coiled tightly around Frostbloom, blocking access completely.

“Could Bernell be harmed by the poison? He’s a demi-god, unlike me.”

The snake nodded, confirming my suspicion.

“But you didn’t object when I said demi-gods at the café would be fine. Doesn’t that mean the poison isn’t a threat to them?”

It shook its head, then pointed its tail at the café and nodded, but shook its head at Bernell.

Repeating this, it stared at me with yellow eyes, as if asking if I understood.

“The café’s fine, but Bernell isn’t? What does that mean?”

I recalled the pig-bird fleeing into the café, terrified of the snake.

“Is the pig-bird safe, but not Bernell?”

The snake nodded.

“Why? They’re both demi-gods.”

“No poison can harm me,” Bernell boasted. “Trained since childhood with small doses to resist assassination attempts. That snake dares worry about me?”

“But Frostbloom’s poison isn’t ordinary.”

With Bernell’s “Last Knight” authority, shouldn’t he be safer than the pig-bird, who only eats, plays, and sleeps?

“A poison strong enough to kill an evil god…”

A realization hit, and I looked at Bernell.

Could the poison, deadly to evil gods, affect him due to his “evil” alignment?

The pig-bird, too young for Manager Mode’s detailed stats, likely differed in alignment.

“There’s ‘evil’ in him, making him vulnerable to the poison, right?” I asked the snake.

It nodded promptly.

My guess was correct.

“Evil in me?” Bernell scoffed.

“Like inner bad intentions. Only truly good beings are safe from Frostbloom’s poison.”

I couldn’t reveal I could see his alignment stats.

“Such people exist?” he asked.

“The pig-bird’s safe, so apparently. Anyway, I can’t plant Frostbloom today. I’ll do it tomorrow. No tasks here, so help clean the café. No guests today, I think.”

I pushed Bernell inside, sensing he’d pick a fight with the snake.

More chillingly, the link between “evil” alignment and evil gods unnerved me.

“Evil” wasn’t just a bad mindset.

If Bernell’s evil stat grew, he could become an evil god.

Manager Mode showed alignment for a reason—I had to manage him. Pretending he’s my brother seemed best, but was it?

“It’s only 2%. I’ll be careful,” I sighed.

The snake rested its tail on my hand, comforting me. Clever creature.

“Will Frostbloom be okay left for a day?”

It nodded, coiling around the seedling’s soil, like a living pot.

“I’ll plant it first thing tomorrow. Call me if anything’s wrong.”

Brushing off my hands, I headed to the café. The snake’s plaintive gaze followed.

“I’ll let you curl in my apron pocket after it’s washed. Not today.”

With that, I walked away.

The next day, I used Latte Art to plant Frostbloom.

Insight showed it was unharmed.

The surrounding soil had turned snowy white overnight.

“If it multiplies, it’ll affect other plots…”

Using two feet of causality, I built a glass greenhouse for temperature control and access restriction, adding a pet door for the snake.

I placed a wide cushion from the pig-bird’s nest inside as the snake’s home.

“Sleep here. I might crush you otherwise.”

Pointing at the cushion, the snake nodded.

After washing the soiled apron and hanging it to dry, I prepared to open the café.

“I’m here,” Wishstone announced, arriving promptly.