episode_0007

“So dazzling….”

The administrator murmured gloomily, shielding the sunlight with the back of his hand.

Together with the administrator, they went to the outskirts of the village to survey the surroundings.

The first thing to check was the land suitable for cultivation.

The development of the village starts with self-sufficiency in food, and for that, extensive arable land is essential.

Where should we look?

Near the village, there were only small vegetable gardens made with amateur hands.

They were filled with randomly grown vegetables, lacking any coherence, not even suitable for consumption.

Clearing the crops with a spade, the soil revealed was a mediocre brown, mixed with a little gravel.

It would be ideal if it were red or black, but if the soil wasn’t fertile from the start, it wouldn’t have been neglected like this.

Such land lacks nutrients and is hard, even if one works hard to till it, the yield won’t be high.

If this area is all like this, it means the entire region is the same.

However, even with such land, it’s better to cultivate.

“Give up, Jack. This land only grows death….”

“Ah, let’s stop with such pessimistic talk.”

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry… because I’m an incompetent administrator….”

Ignoring those words, I looked down at the vegetable garden and took out a bottle of healing potion from my waist.

Opening the lid, I poured it all around the wilted pumpkin leaves.

“Why are you pouring that expensive stuff on the ground….”

“Let’s see if it works.”

Squatting down, I carefully examined the moist pumpkin leaves.

After observing it for a while, I stood up.

“Let’s go back, Administrator.”

“Is it a failure after all…?”

“No. It’s a step back to gain momentum. Let’s go back. There’s much to do.”

As soon as we arrived at the store, I brewed the potion.

To quickly adapt to life after possession, I devoured regulations and research materials related to potions, word by word.

The conclusion I reached was that the potential of potions is infinite.

The Potion Association only treats them as high-strength healing tonics and vitality boosters.

Furthermore, making them in forms other than healing potions is strictly prohibited by very strict potion management regulations.

However, based on my research, I judged that potions could be utilized for various purposes with just a slight variation in the manufacturing method.

Because I possess all sorts of bizarre item combination methods, I can calculate the effects of blending certain ingredients in specific proportions.

I scraped various ingredients from the basement shelves and thoroughly mixed them in different ratios.

I poured it into a pot, simmered it sweetly, stirred it gently, and boiled it.

When the potion emitting a faint orange light was completed, it was already midnight.

I poured it into a bottle and went outside.

I evenly sprinkled the potion over a certain vegetable garden that I had arrived at by piercing through the darkness.

If my calculations are correct, it will undoubtedly succeed.

In the given situation, all I need to do is my best.

* * * * *

The result was a great success.

The crops in the vegetable garden where the so-called “fertilizer potion” was sprinkled explosively grew after a few days.

The village was thrown into chaos as the crops, which would normally take months to harvest, grew lush and tempting.

Along with that, a strange rumor began to circulate.

“It’s said that when a person emits light from their body at midnight and sprinkles an eerie liquid on the vegetable garden, the crops grow on their own.”

That’s not it.

It’s simply the power of the potion made from the original knowledge and thorough calculation formula.

Well, highly developed science is probably similar to magic and indistinguishable.

* * * * *

In this way, the effect of the so-called fertilizer potion was clearly proven.

However, I cannot be satisfied here.

Just because I succeeded in a small vegetable garden doesn’t mean I can solve the food shortage of the villagers.

We must plow all the outskirts’ fields into cultivated land.

Moreover, since it’s early spring, we must start cultivation without delay.

I immediately went to find the administrator.

When I arrived at the office, I showed the administrator the fertilizer potion and explained that the incident in the vegetable garden was due to this potion.

“Really…?”

Several days after drinking the healing potion, the administrator turned gray again and asked gloomily.

After forcibly pushing the healing potion into the administrator’s mouth, I looked around and brought a small flowerpot.

“Take a look.”

The fertilizer potion was poured entirely onto the air-purifying plant that was dying due to lack of proper care.

The plant, excessively soaked in the potion to the point where the bottom was sealed, suddenly stood up straight with thickened leaves at a visible speed.

“It’s completely perked up… looks big and sturdy… are you a wizard by any chance…?”

“I’m not a wizard, I’m the owner of a potion shop. I slightly modified the potion recipe. Of course, it’s a secret. Only the magistrate and I know about this.”

“A secret known only to two people…”

“Well, what do you think? With just this, you can surely grow crops even in barren village lands.”

However, the magistrate still shook his head with a gloomy expression.

“The villagers won’t cooperate…”

“What?”

“People who are only thinking about how to leave the village suddenly have to farm… and on top of that, how can we force them to work? I am an incompetent magistrate and have lost the trust of the residents… The only guards we have are just five people who haven’t even unified their armor… If I were to hand out farming tools to the villagers and tell them to go outside and farm, there would be a riot, and I would be dragged to the square, stripped, and humiliated…”

He sighed, touching his forehead.

“Magistrate, if this succeeds, the village can lay the groundwork for a revival. Self-sufficiency in food is the most important. We have no money, so we can’t buy from anywhere.”

“That’s true…”

Wait a minute.

Suddenly, a certain thought came to mind.

Come to think of it, there’s no need to desperately appeal to the villagers.

“Forget about the people, do we have farming tools?”

“We do… we lend them to those who have small gardens.”

“And seeds for planting? As far as I know, the legally designated amount is supplied at the beginning of each year.”

“We have those too…”

“Then get them ready. I’ll find the people.”

“Wha…? Where from…?”

I left the office and headed straight to the slums.

“Hoestante Kyeong!”

Former imperial knight Hoestante Kyeong, who was supervising people painting dirty walls, greeted me when he saw me.

“Welcome, Jack.”

“Hoestante Kyeong, I have a favor to ask.”

“Is that a request? If it’s a request, I should fulfill it. What is it?”

“Let’s farm together.”

“Farming?”

Hosutan-te explained everything to the bewildered lord.

They planned to turn the outskirts of the village into farmland and cultivate crops. They would need a lot of people, and if the Potion Knights helped, it would be sufficient. Among the produce from farming, the portion for the knights would be given first priority.

“Hmm, I see…”

The lord Hosutan-te stroked his chin.

“If we can grow our own food through farming, the village can develop based on that. If all the poor villagers belonging to the knight order are mobilized, there will be an abundance of labor. Please help us.”

Hosutan-te, who had been silent, shouted to the people.

“Stop working! We have a new mission! Everyone, gather!”

People dropped their tools and hurriedly gathered in front of Lord Hosutan-te.

“Where should we go?”

“Thank you, Lord Hosutan-te.”

Considering the favor you’ve done for me, this is nothing. Besides, it’s not free, you’ll get food in return.”

And so, the Potion Knights from the poor village were mobilized for the development of the village’s outskirts.

Mirella organized the kids and evenly spread the fertilizer potions I had made overnight.

“It’s tough…”

A magistrate, wearing a large straw hat to avoid the sunlight, plowed the land awkwardly with five guards.

* * * * *

However, there was one problem.

Farming is hard work, and people get hungry quickly.

So, we make them work while providing them with food, but our village’s food situation isn’t that abundant.

It’s truly ironic that we work to solve the food issue, yet there’s no food to eat.

Thinking deeply about this, I came up with a solution.

I searched through potion-making books and spent the night creating a new potion.

“Hey, what are you doing?”

Mirella, vigorously stirring the pot with a ladle, came to visit the store.

“Ah, you came at the right time. Stir this for me.”

“Why me?”

“I feel like my arm is going to fall off. You’re strong.”

“Hehe. Move aside.”

Mirella pushed me and took the ladle, vigorously stirring the potion.

“You’re so weak, what do you need this for?”

“Well, I won’t use it on you, so don’t worry.”

Let’s joke. Mirella’s face stiffened at once.

“Not use it on me? Do you think you’re a prophet, brother? How can you be so sure whether you’ll use it or not? Isn’t it possible that you might use it?”

“Haha, well… sorry.”

Mirella, who glanced at me, soon focused on stirring the ladle.

* * * * *

Stupid brother.

You won’t use your power on me?

Perhaps you will use it soon?

Hehehe.