Having secured an exclusive contract with the Rymal Company, we rode the wave of momentum and tackled the next problem: Kiara’s assignment.
The medicinal herb that Kiara needed to clear her academy assignment was called rannerou. It was easy to obtain and inexpensive. In fact, the Rymal Company store where we had our crop appraisal sold the seeds, and we purchased a small quantity.
With that, we had accomplished all of our goals for coming to Driessen.
It was still early in the day, and I would have liked to explore more, but that would have to wait for another day.
For now, we needed to fulfill Kiara’s wish as soon as possible.
And so, we returned home to the treehouse in the dungeon.
-0-
The dungeon farm is located near the underground lake.
After leaving our luggage at the treehouse, we immediately headed to the field and took out the Dragon Tree Sword.
Martina, with the help of the two woodmen (Stefan and George) as assistants, had secluded herself in the kitchen to prepare dinner. …given the way she’s acting, she’s definitely trained as a chef.
……Leaving Martina’s background for another inquiry, our focus now shifted to cultivating the rannerou.
「What are you doing?」
Standing beside me, Kiara tilted her head and asked.
I held up the rannerou seeds we had purchased and answered.
「I’m going to plant these seeds.」
「Plant them…? Didn’t I say the deadline for the assignment is in a week? It takes almost a month for rannerou flowers to grow enough to be used as herbs, you know?」
「I’m going to finish it in three days.」
「Three days!? That’s impossible!?」
「It’s not impossible――with the power of this sword.」
At first glance, it looked like a pitiful piece of junk, comparable to a child’s toy. But this was the very sword that made the impossible possible in farming――the Dragon Tree Sword.
I opened the lid on the hilt.
I put the seeds in there… and the preparation was complete.
「Now I can produce rannerou seeds at any time.」
This was one of the unique properties of the Dragon Tree Sword.
By absorbing the seeds of vegetables and plants, it would become possible to create those seeds using magic in the future.
This technique allowed me to continuously acquire seeds, which in turn increased the variety of crops I could grow. It was truly a remarkable ability.
In addition, the water from the underground lake in this field―― the holy water――accelerated growth. In other words, it was possible to cultivate crops using an ultra-induced method.
Furthermore, the growth rate of rannerou was even faster than the material plants and magic-boosting vegetables I had grown previously.
If my prediction was correct, then――
「Ooohhhh!」
As soon as I sowed the seeds in the field, the sight I had anticipated unfolded before me.
The rannerou grew rapidly.
In a matter of minutes, it had grown to a size suitable for use as a medicinal herb.
「A-amazing!」
Kiara was also thrilled by this.
However, more than the joy of being able to complete her assignment,
「What kind of magic is this!?」
She seemed to be deeply interested in the capabilities of the Dragon Tree Sword.
「This Dragon Tree Sword is a weapon――no, an item specialized for farming.」
「I see. If you fought with that sword, it would probably break in an instant.」
Kiara said with a giggle.
The wariness she had towards me at the beginning was now completely gone.
「…………」
「What is it!?」
Oops.
It seemed she found my staring suspicious.
「Nothing, I was just thinking it’s good to see you’re able to smile naturally now.」
「Huh? I-I’ve always been natural!」
I didn’t quite believe that… but it would be rude to pry any further.
「……Hey.」
「Yeah?」
「Are you going to live here for a while?」
「For a while… if possible, I’d like to stay here permanently.」
That was my true feeling.
The scenery was beautiful, and the existence of the underground lake was a major factor.
I had learned that the holy water not only accelerated the growth rate of crops but also greatly improved their quality. I had an ambition rising from the depths of my heart to expand the farm and grow a variety of crops in the future.
「Is that so……」
On the other hand, Kiara seems to be trying to say something but she can’t seem to get the word out.
「Bale-dono! I’ll help too!」
From the kitchen on the first floor of the treehouse,
The large window was currently open, and Martina’s shout reached the farm clearly.
「Ah! I’m counting on you, Martina!」
I shouted back with all my might, not to be outdone by the volume of her voice.
Having someone as energetic and skilled in cooking as Martina would be a real help and a blessing. It seemed like every day would be fun.
「…..me too」
As I waved to Martina, Kiara muttered beside me.
「Eh? What?」
「I said… I want to stay here too.」
「Kiara?」
「Y-you see, my major at the academy is magical pharmacology, and I use a variety of crops! The Flame Tomato and Iron Cosmos you’re growing are among my research subjects… so, in other words, I’m going to stay here!」
「Fine by me.」
「Really!?」
Kiara seemed genuinely surprised that I had agreed so readily.
「The third floor of the treehouse has an empty room, so feel free to use it.」
「That’s the room I was sleeping in. I appreciate it.」
She tried to maintain a cool demeanor, but I didn’t miss the small guts pose she did in secret… but that was something I wouldn’t pry into. Let’s just forget about it.
In any case, the dungeon farm had gained a new resident.
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