Chapter 302 - Chapter 16: New Northeastern Forest Regeneration Project
Bishop Phillips said he wanted to meet the spirits, so we decided to invite him to the farm in the Flatlands and have him participate in a banquet. We have to talk to Serena and Renata too, so Henry-sama and the others came along.
Before I knew it, the fence bordering the agricultural testing ground had disappeared, and a hut had been built instead. Seeing more than ten bandits wandering around, it seems the talk at the royal palace has already spread. Looking at the watchtower, I could see about two people sitting there.
"I heard, Jeanne! The fields have become seven!"
Lyudmila jumped at me.
Apparently, she had already been informed by the bandits and they were already discussing how to manage the seven fields.
"We've also taken on the reclamation plan for the entire Flatlands. The ones doing the work are the people who came from Engrio. Is it okay?"
"Yeah. Apparently, the light infantry at the fortress in the middle will give instructions. The person in charge is Adolf-san, and I'll just go around once a week in the light infantry's bowl and teach them what to do if things aren't going well. It'll be easy if I have Flora help me."
I see. If Adolf-san is backing her, it should be fine.
The meeting between Bishop Phillips and the Goblin Elder also ended safely, and we were able to get the support of the Alraunes. They'll apparently call out to the Alraunes living in Serena's forest too. This should reduce Flora's burden.
"I see. So we're going to replace the trees in the planned reclamation area with black trees."
"Sister, it's much better than cutting down the trees that are there now."
Regarding the replacement of trees, Serena agreed, but Renata didn't seem to be quite in the mood.
"Is something wrong, Renata?"
"Hmm. They're that black color and their shapes are twisted now, but you know, they were originally green trees. If it's to stop a war or to end it quickly, it's one thing, but if it's just to move them to be felled, well..."
I see. For Renata, there seems to be no difference between black and green.
"I understand Sister's feelings, but those are not the original forms of trees. The trees must be suffering too. Is it not also our duty to save them from suffering?"
"That's true, but if only there were something we could do for them."
Because the shapes are bad, they can't be made into lumber. The color is strange, so they can't be used as garden trees. Even if you cut them, they're black to the core. They can only be used as kindling, but we don't need that much because we have magic. Is there no good idea?
"Could they become compost?"
Lyudmila said.
"I was taught that at a farmhouse where I used to help out. If you mix wood chips and soil and let them sit for a while, you get good soil to spread on barren land. Flora also said it's effective."
Apparently, she gets wood chips from carpenters. However, since they aren't something you can get in large quantities, she said she couldn't do it on a very large scale.
"Hmm. In other words, you're saying we should chop up the black trees and use them to help make new plants? Well, decayed wood returns to nature, so it's logical."
"Hmm, to be precise, it's soil making."
Seeing Renata asking Flora, it seems Dryads don't understand the quality of soil in a field. According to Flora, for fertilizer, grass or things related to bowel movements are better than wood. I don't really understand what's different.
"Sister! I've thought of something good!"
Serena, who heard the two's conversation, clapped her hands and then pulled my sleeve.
"If we use Jeanne's magic on Sister's trees, acorns were made and they sprouted. How about using them as material for soil making as Lyudmila says, after creating the next generation by illuminating them with magic before felling them?"
"That's good," Renata also pulled my sleeve.
I can't refuse this. But how many should I illuminate?
"Jeanne has become an advanced mage, hasn't she? What's a thousand or two thousand black trees? At any rate, let's try to see the effect."
Triggered by Eleanor-sama's words, we decided to leave the banquet and experiment.
We go to the Northeastern Forest via Renata's tree.
We must not go in a large group and provoke monsters, so seven of us go: Renata as the leader, Serena, Alex, Eleanor-sama, Harris-sama, Marcelo-san carrying Glory's basket, and me carrying Flora's basket.
When I used advanced [Light] for rat extermination, they all fled at once and I couldn't exterminate them. I just got scolded by Beatrix. I tried surrounding them by making a wall of light, but they were just making a fuss trying to escape, and I couldn't defeat them. Since the result would have been the same even in the basic state, I haven't found out what kind of effect advanced magic has on monsters.
So, it's practically my debut battle.
The area around Renata's tree is densely packed with trees grown from acorns at equal intervals. As they grow, they'll apparently be transplanted to gradually widen the interval between each tree. Of course, it's the work of Elves.
Elves are working even now.
"Ah, Renata-sama. You've returned. You're earlier than expected."
"Yeah. I have a bit of business. I'll be back again after staying a little while."
The three Elves are politely greeting Renata. They stiffened their expressions when they saw us.
"Can't you lot be a bit more friendly? These people, especially Jeanne, accelerate the forest's regeneration every time they come."
"Ha, our apologies. When humans are present, we involuntarily..."
Their true feelings are so interesting, it's a waste.
I whispered it secretly, but the Elves all looked over here at once. Long ears are not to be underestimated. Everyone knows I use [Thought Communication].
"I'm not using any magic right now."
"We can tell that much."
They replied expressionlessly.
After our eyes met, they seemed a bit embarrassed, so it doesn't seem like they hate me.
"What kind of thing are you going to do this time?"
They asked, so when I explained this and that, they thought about it.
"I know that ultra-high-level [Light] magic has enough power to drive away monsters. However, even if it's strengthened by layering [Holy], can monsters be defeated?"
"If the opponent is a tree, no matter how much you illuminate it, it can't escape, right? Since monsters escape, there must be some effect that causes damage, and that might accumulate."
"I see. We would like to be present for that experiment."
The Elf Prince's participation was also decided.
I had them find a manageable tree growing apart from the others and fly a Firefly. Perhaps because I've become advanced, I've become able to manipulate them even from a bit of a distance. I had Harris-sama fire one full-powered [Holy Lance], and I illuminated it with four from above and four from below all at once.
While illuminating, the tree I targeted started to emit a little smoke.
When I continued to illuminate, all the leaves fell off.
"Um, did I defeat it?"
There was no change in normal green trees. Clearly, something is wrong.
When I had Serena and Renata examine it, it seemed to be alive.
"Jeanne. Could you keep illuminating it a bit more?"
Renata said.
Seeing her biting her lip, it must be truly painful to witness it firsthand.
Serena put her hand on her shoulder and said it's okay, but she's tearful.
"Harris-sama. Let's strengthen it more. Marcelo-san, please too."
Rather than taking time and slowly killing it, I'll finish it off at once.
I have Marcelo-san layer two shots, and Harris-sama another two. It's five shots' worth.
"[Light]!"
A powerful light like I've never seen before burst forth, and I felt a temperature that was a bit hot rather than warm.
"Hmm. Although they've become monsters, black trees seem to be different from normal monsters."
After illuminating for a while, Eleanor-sama said while looking at the tree that looked like it had encountered a great wind. With a cracking sound, large cracks appeared in the thick branches and trunk, and they split. It hasn't caught fire, but it's like it was struck by lightning.
"Look, Jeanne. Sprouts are coming out."
Renata, who had been shedding tears, ran to the base of the tree and showed a smile.
When I went to look, young branch-like sprouts were growing out from the lower part of the split trunk. It's like new sprouts coming out of a stump even if you cut down a tree. I've seen such things in the forest.
"It's not acorns; it's trying to regenerate by growing new branches as it is. The branches are green, right? This tree can regenerate."
"Will it return to normal?"
"I wonder? Wouldn't it be better to take the new branches and plant them?"
Renata held something over it and chanted, and it became the size of a young tree. When she broke it off from where it was attached to the original tree, she wrapped the cut end in moss.
"This young branch is, so to speak, the proof of the regeneration of the tree that turned black. Thanks to Jeanne, something to leave behind has been made."
"Then, is it a success?"
"Yeah. Thank you, Jeanne. We're indebted to you for various things."
The two hugged me.
"It's pitiful, but let's dig up this stump. Instead, let's plant the young branch we just took."
Eleanor-sama, who received Renata's words, dug it up root and all, and then crushed it into pieces with something like a condensed version of [Tornado Wind], involving soil and stones.
It could only be described as wood chips mixed with soil.
"Can this not be used for soil making?"
The spirits nodded silently. They seemed surprised by the tremendous power of Eleanor-sama's magic.
As a result of Flora's confirmation, it was OK. It seems fine to just let it sit in that state for a while.
As a result of repeating the experiment after that, several things were found.
Acorns can only be taken from Renata's tree, and other trees produce sprouts when given commensurate damage. When a tree was felled and light was applied to the stump, it didn't produce sprouts. To produce sprouts, strengthening equivalent to four intermediate [Holy]s by an advanced mage was necessary.
The problem is the method of strengthening, but one tree with four shots is too inefficient.
So, I decided to strengthen eight Fireflies with six shots instead of four, and illuminate the forest from above all at once. If I illuminated for two hours, I could produce sprouts in units of nearly a hundred trees.
"Now, first let's make sprouts. Renata and Serena, please make them large and take the scions. The planting and wood chip making can be done by Elves, right?"
"That's right. The wood chips can be bagged and jumped with [Teleport], right? It's fine to have Elves do that much, isn't it?"
Renata is smirking at Eleanor-sama's proposal.
I feel like the Elves' work has increased, but this is also a contract. Let's have them do their best.
After returning to the Flatlands and consulting with Marcelo-san, it was decided to go to the black forest once a month to regenerate the black trees. Because if you kill too many trees at once, the soil will wash away when it rains. Acorn making was about once in summer and autumn, so from now on I'll be going every month.
Ancient language at the church once a week, ancient language under Alex's guidance once a week... well, this is half a banquet while drinking mead at dinner, so maybe it doesn't have to be counted. Black forest once a month. Weekends are spent in the village where Beatrix is the landlord; other days are monster extermination and scroll making.
Because the rank as a mage has risen and monster extermination has become efficient, it's easier to put in other work.
After all, with Beatrix's [Ice Cube], me surrounding them with a wall of [Light], and Bonnie's arrow, and depending on the case, my [Over Flow], it's settled in one shot.
"Why don't you just do monster extermination while you're at the Northeastern Forest?"
Beatrix told me.
Beatrix and Mary went to support the Higashinohara Corps and learned one advanced magic each.
"That is good. Let's learn support magic. It seems it was found during the northern campaign that double-casting defensive magic like [Increase Defense] by an advanced or higher mage has a considerable effect."
I know from hearing it from the ghost from Finis. To be precise, the one who imbued the magic into the jewel was an ultra-high-level mage, and they were layering [Defend] and [Shield] as well. It's six layers, so to speak. Apparently, even if a stone the size of a human head fired from a catapult hit, it ended with just a bruise. Although it only lasts for two hours, they are no longer human. The soldiers of Septanaquila who were charged by such a group of monsters must have been terrified.
"The Finis tactics are unsuitable for the operation of other countries' armies that cannot use jewels, but they are extremely effective for small units that exterminate monsters in Higashinohara. If we can wipe them out with [Over Flow] while heavy infantry receiving support are holding back magic beasts, efficiency will also increase considerably. Jeanne can use [Over Flow], right? The Higashinohara Corps, given its organization, also has those who use advanced Holy magic, but strays are originally few in number. Roberts will also be happy for Jeanne's participation. I'll get in touch with him for you."
It was decided before I knew it.
When I secretly poked Beatrix's shoulder, she replied, "The earnings are good."
If so, well, I guess it's okay. Since the land has increased, I want to increase the livestock too.
"Since you can use [Over Flow], just set a trap and do it all at once. Bears will come in swarms."
Come to think of it, she was doing hunting on a different scale in Finis.
Bonnie pulled my sleeve.
"What? Does Bonnie want to go too?"
Perhaps because she's had many misses recently despite being selected by Eleanor-sama, she's unusually impatient.
"Hmm, I want to try working with the Higashinohara Corps scouts. Is it no good?"
"That's the spirit. By all means, go on a trial enlistment with the Higashinohara Corps together with Jeanne. I'll talk to Adolf and Roberts. Paul, Marcelo, you don't mind, right?"
There's no way the two could refuse.
Moreover, before I knew it, even I am being treated as a trial enlistment.
"Um, the rat extermination... foxes and boars, and when summer comes, bats too."
"It's okay. I'll just freeze them quickly. You take the scrolls before magic is imbued and go for a three or four-day stay once a month."
It was decided that I would go on a trial enlistment as if I were being pushed, or rather kicked, by Beatrix. And it comes with side work.
"That's right. Basic-class [Anti-Sepsis] is fine, so could you do about twenty a day?"
Marcelo-san. What you're saying is harsh despite your smile.