"Speaking of which..."
Sylphy extended a slender finger and gently poked the watermelon's smooth, cool surface.
"Green and black stripes. What a... strange, slightly scary look."
She frowned slightly. To her, the colors were far too stark and bizarre to fit her idea of an "edible plant." She looked up at the still-excited Nanahoshi and asked uncertainly, "Can I pick it up? This thing... isn't going to suddenly come alive, open its mouth, and bite me, is it?"
Sylphy's concern was not unfounded.
In this vast and dangerous world, the boundary between plants and monsters was often blurred.
Especially on the Demon Continent, where the magic power environment was so abnormal that the entire region was known as a "magic stagnation zone," Demon Wood who lashed passersby with his branches, strange flowers that released hallucinogenic spores, and carnivorous plants capable of swallowing large beasts were far from mere legends.
After all, it had only been a few years since she, Alice, Cui Ciyou, and Rujierd had returned from the Demon Continent. No one could blame her for being wary.
Nanahoshi was basking in an immense sense of accomplishment. At that, she waved a hand.
"Yes, it's fine."
"But be careful not to drop it. The rind looks hard, but the inside is actually fragile. It can split open very easily if you drop it."
She was very much looking forward to tasting this flavor from home.
"Okay... oh? It's a little heavy."
With permission granted, an eager little Julie immediately pattered forward and used both hands to lift the watermelon, struggling a little.
She turned it this way and that in her arms, examining it from every angle.
Watching from the side, Cui Ciyou found the sight rather amusing.
People from another world actually thought an ordinary watermelon looked scary?