Chapter 118: Is it true that watermelons originate from the desert?

「Okay, we’ve arrived. This is our destination. 」

The next day. The moment that I, Fitis, and Dora-chan, who were ready, shook my dad’s hand, the scenery changed, and the next thing we saw was a desert landscape.

「Where is…this place…? Dad. 」

For a moment I thought we had returned, but that wasn’t the case.

This seemed to be a desert somewhere on Earth after looking at the scenery around us.

「This is the Kalahari Desert. And here’s what I want to show you. Follow me. 」

And so I followed my dad who was walking in front of us.

After a while, a rugged, dry area spread ahead of us, and some kind of plant with countless vines and leaves was growing on the ground, and at the end of the vines were green balls.

「Dad, what’s this? 」

「Have you ever heard of the Kalahari watermelon? 」

I couldn’t help but shake my head at the name of the plant that my dad said.

It had the word watermelon in it, did that mean it was in fact a watermelon? While I was thinking about that, my dad explained to me.

「This is a wild watermelon that grows in the desert. Its shape is a little different from the one we know, but it’s said to be the native species of the watermelons we normally eat. 」

Really?! But what did it mean that the desert one was the origin of watermelon?

「Originally, watermelons were a type of vegetable that were developed to survive in such harsh environments. Why do you think plants and vegetables don’t grow in the desert? Besides the environment making it hard for water to accumulate, being constantly exposed to sunlight causes symptoms of summer withering. 」

I nodded at what dad said.

It was true that if I tried to grow crops in the desert, in addition to the lack of water, the heat of the sun was a huge hindrance.

It was the same in another world, and in that desert the sunlight was stronger than in other environments.

「Well, that’s why they have leaves that can protect them from the sun’s rays and long roots that allow them to get more water even in places with little water. So, the essential part is like this. 」

Saying this, dad picked up one of the watermelons lying at his feet and cut it in half with a knife he took out of his bag.

What appeared was not the red core I was familiar with, but a yellow-green core.

「Take a bite. 」

My dad urged me to try it, and Fitis and I each took a bite of the halved watermelon, but…it was bitter!! What was this?! It wasn’t sweet at all! Was this really the watermelon I knew about!? And it wasn’t tasty!!

Dad laughed with amusement as he watched me and Fitis spit it out without thinking.

Damn, dad…he knew what he was talking about and still made us eat it.

「Haha, that’s the reaction I expected. But, well, now you know, it’s not tasty by any stretch of the imagination. But, in this desert, it’s so highly valued that it’s like a water jar in the desert. 」

When dad said those words, I once again looked at the core of the watermelon in my hand.

Hmm, it certainly did look fresh and juicy, just from the outside.

「In the desert, any food is a valuable ingredient. And it doesn’t get spoiled even two or three years after it’s been harvested. 」

Really?! That was amazing

「In other words, there are always foods that adapt to their environment. Even if the price is a loss in taste, their adaptability and preservability will increase. But if you can increase the adaptability and preservability without compromising its taste…that would be perfect, right? 」

Dad spoke, clapping the watermelon he was holding, and a pleasant sound echoed around the area.

I see. But a watermelon?

I couldn’t even imagine it.

It was true that a vegetable with that much water content would be a treasured ingredient in the harsh environment of the desert.

The watermelons we ate were probably the result of selective breeding of this Kalahari watermelon.

In that process, it lost its ability to grow naturally in the harsh environments of the desert.

But if it could retain that ability and make the taste closer to the watermelons I knew, it would be a pretty revolutionary ingredient.

So should I get some Kalahari watermelon seeds here or buy watermelon seeds in Japan?

Or should I find a monster with similar attributes to a watermelon in the other world, selectively breeding it, and growing it into a watermelon that grew naturally in the desert?

「You idiot. 」

As I was thinking about this, dad hit me on the forehead.

「What are you doing, dad?! Who’s the idiot here!! 」

I couldn’t help but yell, but dad sighed and replied.

「You see, what’s your greatest strength? It’s your ability to cultivate monsters, isn’t it? But going out of your way to grow watermelons from Earth, or turn monsters over there into watermelons, that’s just killing your unique qualities. And most of all, if you’re just turning monsters into vegetables, it’s no different from what I do. 」

When dad said those words, I couldn’t help but nod in agreement.

「Listen, Kyou. Your talent has the ability to cultivate monsters. And you can further evolve and transform monsters from that. That’s something no one else can do. That’s why there’s no need to copy what already exists. Make something that only you can create, or even better…just make your own “new species of monster”. 」

My heart fluttered when I heard dad’s answer.

I see. What dad showed me was just a hint.

He wasn’t telling me to cultivate the watermelon itself.

He showed it to me as a representative of this adaptability.

And he wanted to say that I should create a monster that combined this adaptability with preservation.

But certainly, this was enough of a hint.

The ecology of this watermelon, the vines that had grown to survive in the harsh desert, and the thick leaves that blocked the sun’s rays.

And the roots that had grown long and thin enough to keep water from escaping even on dry ground.

He told me the elements necessary for growing in various deserts.

All that was left was to create a monster that had those elements.

I didn’t know how to do it yet, but I had a goal.

Just having the fun of taking on the challenge was a great reward.

「And lastly, I’ll give you this as a hint. 」

And with that, dad tossed me a clay ball.

「What’s this, dad? 」

「It’s the best farming method for growing crops in the desert. 」

When I asked him, dad replied with a meaningful smile.

The moment I tried to ask him more about it again, I saw several old men coming towards me, making a fuss.

Maybe it was just my imagination, but they looked quite angry…

「Oh, no, we stole their watermelon without permission, and now they’re angry. 」

And with that, dad grabbed our hands and teleported us again.

Or rather, you dad. I kind of knew it was coming, but did he really steal it without permission?

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