Chapter 131 - Fifth Arc: Flora
The mission in the Flatlands ended, and we had a wrap party in the backyard of the Ghost Mansion, surrounding the Alraune in a flowerpot. Since it also serves as the Alraune's debut, we've also called Dune and Mel.
In the end, since the centipedes didn't come out of the hole, it was said there were no damage reports, and no subjugation reward was issued. Even so, combined with the bats from the fourth hole, we defeated one monster snake and forty-seven bats, so although the subjugation reward was cheap, we earned quite a bit of profit. This is because it was found that the snake's fangs and skin were quite high-priced, exceeding ten gold coins. My income for the five days ended up exceeding four gold coins.
The hole where the snake was turned out to be an ancient tomb, and it was decided that the Church would be contacted to investigate. Once the pioneering begins, priests will come and start the investigation.
Apparently, there used to be a large village of humans who lived mainly by hunting, but they fought a tribe that developed around the river and lost, and the village was also destroyed.
The mountain tribe apparently lived in harmony with Alraunes, but after the river tribe took over, they came to be treated as monsters, and they had no choice but to hide in the northern mountains and live sparingly while escaping from attacking monsters.
After a certain amount of time had passed, they moved back near the tomb they once felt nostalgic for, which was about to decay. The survivor of that seems to be the Alraune currently before our eyes.
Regarding living together, I received permission from Adolf-san and the Archbishop.
Both of them knew that the Alraune was a spirit and were happy that there was a survivor.
Not only that, they apologized for the past conduct of humans. This is because the descendants of the river tribe are the residents of Nakanohara.
Thanks to that, the Alraune also appeared on the picture plate. However, since she was depicted as a red flower at the feet of the three of us chanting magic at the monster snake, no one but us would be able to tell.
"We have to give her a name."
"It's fine. Just Alraune is okay."
"No. If you find companions in the future, we have to distinguish each one. If I don't call you by a name when calling you in front of people, there might be people who think strange things when they hear you're there. We have to protect your safety."
"Oh? You're thinking about my safety?"
"That's right. That's for our mutual benefit."
The Alraune can apparently separate and move the human-shaped part as long as it's near the main body. When I asked about the range, if the main body is at the Ghost Mansion, it seems she's fine as far as Nakanohara town. Since she can also become about the same size as us, we can go shopping in town together. I can't very well call out "Alraune."
The Alraune in human form is a beautiful girl with red hair and black eyes. Her appearance is the same as ours, looking to be in her mid-teens. Her style is also good, and unlike Mel, she's not flat. Since she seems to like red, when I said I'd buy her red clothes, she asked for Green Marble. As expected of a plant spirit. Since there was a ready-made one for women, she was happy when I gave it to her and wore it. I decided to make the embroidery red and put her name in.
Officially, like Mel, she became an acquaintance of Dune.
We were coming up with ideas like this and that, but we decided on "Flora," which Marcelo-san proposed. It's apparently a common name in a certain region of the continent. Flora also liked it.
"I'll do the water and fertilizer myself, so it's fine."
"Which is better, a flowerpot or planting in the ground?"
"If I'm going to increase seeds, the ground is better, but since I don't intend to do that now, a flowerpot is fine."
"Then, shall I put the pot by the window in my room? When I'm not there, I'll move the pot to somewhere else."
There, Lyudmila called for a wait.
"Do you know about the condition of the field soil or the quality of fertilizer?"
"I do. Shall I take a look for you?"
Immediately, she's looking at the soil of the field in the garden.
"It's not bad, but the soil moisture is low. The drainage is too good."
It's a residential area that was originally pioneered from wasteland. It's no wonder.
"The best thing is to bring soil from the forest. Because it'll absorb water to some extent. You just have to dig it up once and plow it in. Also, there's something called clover, right?"
A technical conversation started.
Between an agricultural researcher and a plant spirit, it's bound to be a meaningful conversation.
"Shouldn't she just stay in Lyudmila's room?"
It might be as Beatrix says.
Lyudmila, who finished talking, pulled my sleeve.
"Jeanne. Can I have Flora stay in my room? I'll prepare water and fertilizer too."
It's as expected. If Flora is fine with it, there's no problem.
"Flora is amazing. I want to do agricultural research together."
It seems she's found a master.
"Did she teach you a good method?"
"Yeah."
She's in a good mood. Her eyes are sparkling.
"She said it's good to plant clover first. We won't make it this year, but I think we can test it from next year."
Apparently, she was taught a method for improving thin land. She seems to have been researching turnips this winter, but from now on she'll be researching clover and wheat. Immediately, she'll gather clover and transplant it to the field at the testing site, and take seeds at the end of summer.
"A long time ago, we used to live together in cooperation with humans like this. I never thought a day like this would return."
"From now on, you're with everyone. If we find a male flower during monster extermination, I'll tell him to move here."
"Thank you."
She looked like she was about to cry, so I hugged her.
The human tribe she was on good terms with was killed, and they themselves were treated as monsters, hunted, and driven away. Even so, she returned near the tomb of the tribe she lived with. It was the same with the Goblins, but I truly think that humans and spirits are originally meant to live together.
"Jeanne. I'll give you this."
Flora, who decided to live in Lyudmila's room, gave me a dark red stone. Whether she's bothered by her eyes being slightly red, her face is also a bit red.
"You're going to do monster extermination, right? It's a charm. If you wear it, you'll gain a certain amount of resistance to poison. If there were a male flower, I could also give you purple, but since there isn't, only red."
"Is it okay? To receive something like this."
"It's fine. Other spirits are giving them too. Right?"
Dune and Mel are also smiling.
"Jeanne. You're amazing. This is the fourth one."
It's as Beatrix says.
I feel somewhat like the alchemists I hear about in stories.
"If you wear various things like that, you can also counter strong monsters, and you can become friends with spirits you'll encounter from now on. Since they're rarely given, take it."
Paul-san also told me, so I decided to receive it gratefully.
Since there's a hole, I can put it together with the tree spirit's charm.
Immediately, I made it into a necklace and put it around my neck.
By the way, the purple stone apparently has the effect of charming the opponent.
"Wait a minute. Is that true?"
Mary bit onto that. She failed to get an aphrodisiac when she went to the Royal Capital.
"It's true. But it seems it only has the effect of making one look attractive."
"That's enough. Where is the male flower?"
"I don't know. If I knew, I wouldn't be here."
"I see. That's right."
"You're attractive enough. You don't need a stone."
"Thank you. But, that's not it..."
When Mary said she wanted to give it to the older sisters at the brothel who took care of her, she was told that an adult woman competes with red lips, and received applause from Dune and Angelica-san.
Come to think of it, both of them have red lipstick. Hanna-san and Bridget-san were also like that on their days off.
Humans and spirits might be basically the same.
At night, we decided to hold a meeting of the Class of 175.
Everyone gathers in the kitchen-cum-dining room on the first floor. The special guest is Flora. Since we'll be living together, we've told her about the plan to buy new land.
On the table, we spread out the map that Beatrix and Bonnie made for us.
"How much money will we have in total for everyone's share right now?"
Will herself has achieved her quota, although it's on the condition of selling her ancestral jewels. After that, I saved quite a bit, but the latecomers don't have that much.
When I had them state the amount in gold coin units, it was about two hundred and twenty coins for the eight of us. If we hadn't earned money in Medioland, it would have been even less. After all, for just me and Will, who has assets, it's one hundred and sixty coins.
"It's far from eight hundred coins."
As Beatrix says, it's only about a quarter, but undeveloped wasteland is also cheap. Since there are no taxes for three years, I was also considering buying it on a whim. The location is the southwestern part of the Flatlands. It's around where the centipedes were. Since it's closest to the plains, a road will probably be built, and I predict it will become an important place connecting the Flatlands and the plains.
"There was silica."
"Speaking of silica, it's a material for glass."
Will reacted. As expected of someone aiming to be the National Chancellor.
"However, even if there were a mineral vein, if it's found in a preliminary investigation before purchase, it'll become state-run, so we can't buy the land."
"It's as Will says. So, if we were to buy it, it might be around the planned site for a town near the mine."
"Do you know where the town will be?"
Mary's worry is reasonable. A mineral vein hasn't been found, and even if a town is made, they would avoid undeveloped private land. It's also a problem if it's too far away.
"Tell me something. If the land we bought is later designated as a mining area and becomes state-run, what happens to the land price? Surely it won't be taken away for free?"
Matilda raised her hand. Her worry is reasonable.
"It'll be bought at a fixed price."
"Then, if we buy it beforehand and even if we leave it alone, we won't lose out."
"It won't go that way. There's something called the ownership responsibility period, and you can't let go of it for six years. So you have to pay taxes for three years. If it's designated as a mine, you can't develop it, so you'll only lose out. Otherwise, rich people who buy recklessly and let go immediately if it's a miss would appear, right?"
"So it's not that easy to buy."
Matilda folded her arms at Beatrix's explanation.
The problem is these six years. It's made so that you can't easily buy it just in case.
"But if we can't develop it ourselves, we'll lose out no matter where we buy, right?"
"That's the point. So, we'll develop it with a development method that even we can do, and once they start making a town nearby, we'll earn there."
This time Bonnie tilted her head. Well, that's natural. The development we can do now is negligible.
"A pasture?"
As expected of Lyudmila. She hit the mark.
"That's right. We'll make it a pasture. Flora will explain the details."
According to Flora, near the forest a little distance from the centipede hole, a certain amount of grazing should be fine. It apparently takes many years to make good fields.
"I recommend clover. After that, maybe oats or ryegrass. If you plow to some extent, sow seeds, and give water when there's little rain, they'll increase on their own, so no care is needed. Both sheep and goats will eat them. When summer comes and seeds are made, you plow them directly into the soil. It would be good if we could burn weeds and do slash-and-burn farming first, but it's fine even if we can't. I think we can make it into a field after doing it for several years."
I decided after hearing this story.
"You learned the size of the pasture needed for sheep at the orphanage, right? About two fields' worth for ten sheep. Since wasteland is about forty gold coins for one field's worth, if we have land worth one hundred and twenty gold coins for three fields' worth, we can graze ten sheep and have one field's worth of leeway. In winter, we'll plant turnips for feed. First, we'll increase clover, and then buy sheep little by little. That's how we'll make soil little by little. Since the tax is a little over one gold coin for three years, even combined, it's fine with one hundred and twenty-two gold coins."
If possible, I don't want Will to let go of her jewels. Since she seems to have about seventy gold coins, even combined with what I have on hand, there'll still be change.
"What about the well? Even if it rains on the fields, we have to dig a well for drinking water, right?"
"That's the point, Beowulf. Since it's impossible for us, we have no choice but to pay Angelica-san or Paul-san to dig it."
"How much does it cost?"
When I look at Beatrix, she replied that it's five gold coins for one at a normal depth.
"I think we probably won't need that much water. We won't be releasing sheep at first, right?"
According to Flora, since the only animals in the Flatlands that eat a lot of grass are rabbits, if we set traps, it might grow as much as it wants.
"If there's a lot of clover, we might be able to get honey."
Lyudmila had been apprenticing at a farm before becoming an adult. She apparently learned beekeeping there too.
Furthermore, there was a powerful ally.
"Leave the honeybees to me. I can make them listen. If you like, I'll even gather the honeybees from the back mountain."
"I can make hives, so if we have the bees move in, we can get honey."
As expected of a flower spirit.
It seems fine to leave this to the flower spirit and the agricultural researcher.
"For now, we have to study how to buy land. Even if we buy, it's a loss if we buy now, so we'll just set a prospect, and it'll be after October. Otherwise, even though there are only four months, it'll be counted as the first year."
Tax payment is in October. Farmers can't pay taxes until the time when wheat threshing is finished. Since land tax is also based on the last day of September, you lose out if you don't buy in October.
By the way, the poll tax is billed monthly from the month one becomes an adult.
"However, can we break even with ten sheep and honey? We have to earn at least the tax amount."
"Um, Will. This time I'm not really thinking about breaking even, or rather, earning from that land."
"Why?"
"It's like practice. If we all gather a lot of money and buy a wide piece of land, and if we fail, we'll be penniless. We have no experience in land management. So it's practice. While we were in Medioland, everyone started preparing for the shops, right? It's the same as that. If it goes well, let's buy new land and expand."
She's groaning with her arms folded. After all, everyone has little on hand. We can't put it out in eight equal parts. At the very least, fifteen gold coins per person will be needed for just the land price.
"Right now, if we add five gold coins per person to the money I have on hand, we can somehow buy it. For those who couldn't put out five coins, Will, please advance it. If everyone is okay with it, I intend to proceed with the talk. From next month, the Marcelo Company will participate in the monster hunting in the Flatlands. Since the assigned area will be that place, I'll take a good look while scouting."
I was immediately opposed.
"Jeanne. That's no good. I can't let you put it out alone."
The Mad Dog, who has the least on hand, started getting angry. She became an adult in December, the latest, and the material costs for the many silverwork pieces she's been preparing for the shop are piling up. She also has debts to us for the shop preparation itself.
"I'm a priest. Originally, it's only right to give alms. (T/N: 'Kisha' refers to the religious practice of giving alms or making a selfless donation.) So using it here is in line with the doctrine."
No matter how much I say, she won't listen.
"What does Beatrix think?"
Mary is asking Beatrix, who plans to open a shop like herself.
"I'll put out up to half of what I have on hand. I can't say anything too big, but investment is necessary. As long as I don't borrow money elsewhere, I'm fine with going along with Jeanne's story."
"But it's not eight equal parts."
"It doesn't matter. According to the current story, investment will be necessary in the future too. We can just put it out then. In the first place, this time is a trial, right? There's a possibility of failure, and if everyone puts out all they have on hand, recovery will be difficult. If we keep a proper record of how much each person put out, we'll know how much to pay later, right?"
As expected of Beatrix. Even the Mad Dog became quiet.
"It's a story of what to do with the money we have now. It's not decided that we'll buy, and if there's another good story, we can switch to that. We don't have to hurry, right? But a first candidate is necessary."
"In that case, I have no objection. Let's earn as much as we can while gathering information until September."
We reached a conclusion with Will's words.
"The Marcelo Company's monster extermination might also be possible as a day trip. Since people from the guard squad and the town hall will also participate, if it goes well, everyone will be able to see the site. Flora also saw it. For now, until a new story of pioneering comes in by September, let's earn money aiming for that land."
The Mad Dog also agreed.
First, it's about actually trying to buy wasteland and seeing what happens.
After we disbanded, Beatrix came to my room.
She probably has something on her mind.
I have her sit on the sofa and take out mead.
We had a light toast and I decided to hear her story.
"Do you think we can manage by planting clover there?"
"It's impossible. Lyudmila also told me. But for now, the only pioneering story that's come out is about that Flatlands, right?"
"There's one more place."
There certainly is.
"The Northeastern Forest, right? It's the construction of the highway and town connecting the Higashinohara and the Royal Capital area that Roberts-sama is planning."
"That's right. If monsters don't appear, it's prime land."
That's certainly true. If the forest is cleared, the land is more fertile, and a selling product called timber can be obtained. Since hunting is also possible, one won't be troubled for immediate living either. Since it's along the highway leading to the Royal Capital, the movement of people will also be active.
However, the price and tax for a forest in the plains are three times that of wasteland.
"But there's no prospect of pioneering yet."
Construction shouldn't start until the remnants of the Demon Lord's army are driven deep into the forest.
"In my opinion, Roberts-sama is serious. He intends to eradicate the monsters in that area. I think it's better to prioritize saving money until then."
After all, he intends to defeat the Demon Lord. Remnants would just be a passing point.
"I know. But I want to experience it in the Flatlands until then."
"Experience?"
"Yes, land management."
Beatrix's eyes widened. She seems to have noticed my plan.
"In other words, the real target is the Northeastern Forest."
When I nod, she starts smirking.
"Since when have you been thinking that?"
"We did the exploration of the hole in the mountains, right? At that time, Eleanor-sama told Roberts-sama. If you intend to defeat the Demon Lord, choose your companions, or something like that. Neither Roberts-sama nor James-sama denied it. Those two, they're definitely motivated."
"So you believe Roberts-sama's words."
Two princes from different countries, joining hands across borders, trying to defeat the Demon Lord. One is a warrior renowned as the strongest in history, and the other is a mage called the strongest of the current age. If I don't support these two, I'm not a woman of this island.
"That's quite a romantic reason. Is it okay? For a priest to be like that."
"It's fine. Because I'm just believing and supporting them. We just have to have the monsters in the Northeastern Forest exterminated for us."
"Then we just have to save money until then."
Food production might not be sufficient in the Flatlands.
Wilson-san was saying. A country excellent in food production will rule the island. It should be the same for towns and villages.
A place away from the border to avoid war, with sufficient food self-sufficiency, and where distribution can be controlled.
It should be fine if we clear the Northeastern Forest and bring it under cultivation.
Right now, money is still insufficient.
More than that, we don't have the power to bring it under cultivation by ourselves.
At the very least, we have to be able to use mid-level magic of wind, earth, and water.
Until then, it's earning money and studying.
Beatrix said she understood, and after that, it was small talk.
Beatrix is currently the only mid-level mage in the Class of 175. She might be the key.
The fact that she had a serious face when she left the room is surely because she's aware of that.