155. School closure period (4)
A farm spreads out to the north of the Philea Academy campus.
The only means of transportation to and from the floating island is the warp gate. If there is a problem with this warp gate, you have to be locked up without moving, so a self-sufficient system has been formed to some extent.
The Ministry of Horticulture is a club that has the authority to manage the farm, but to be honest, it is not a club that has a strong voice.
Anyway, Philea Academy is an academy that nurtures adventurers.
Since combat ability takes precedence over gathering, there was a strong impression that joining the Horticultural Club was a club for underachievers with poor combat abilities.
In addition to that, nobles are not very interested in growing crops.
Because they think that farming is for the lower classes, nobility students do not want to join the horticultural department.
Because of this characteristic, the Horticulture Department could be said to be a weak and weak club.
“You want to visit the gardening club…? Prince Beheritt…?”
“I’m just saying that.”
“…….”
Hearing my words, Lena Min Lena, head of the horticultural department, thoughtlessly looked around her.
If I listen closely, I can hear the whispering voices of gardening staff from a little distance away.
“Shi, don’t you have to report it…?”
“You’re a duke’s fool… I don’t know what you’re going to do…”
“It might be tyranny by using the authority of the nobility…”
You are also on guard.
Well, this doesn’t happen for a day or two, so I think so. Rather, I would say this level is now cute.
I gave Rachel her gaze, and she nodded her head.
“I’m sorry for coming so suddenly, so I brought you a present. Will you accept it?”
Rachel pulled her wheelchair and stood in front of Min Lena, holding out one of her boxes.
When Rachel opens her box, inside….
“This, this…!”
Min Lena raised her voice involuntarily.
There are seeds of various crops in the box.
These are the things I found here and there for today. She made a request to Flora and got her a lot of rare crops that only grow on the borders of the empire and seeds of plants that grow overseas.
There is a setting that the Horticultural Department is at a disadvantage in budgeting as it is a weak club.
The available budget is limited to only edible crops, and even those that can be used as staple food or stored for food.
“I’ve also received permission from the student council president, Wiris Tanfel. You can use it however you like.”
I said so.
And it wasn’t a lie. I went to return the master key I borrowed the other day and stopped by the student council room to ask.
-“A new plant seed? It would be fine if it was an item that was allowed to be brought in.”
-“It doesn’t matter if the gardening manager gives permission.”
“Can I really take this?”
“If they don’t accept it, it’s rather difficult. I’ll probably throw them away because they’re unnecessary.”
“Yes…?”
From noble mtl dot com
Rachel moves her wheels with her magic and backs her up.
I waited for Rachel to come up to me and then she put my hand on the lid of the crate.
“I’ll tell you one last time. I want to tour the horticulture department.”
He spoke in a stronger voice.
It was already decided how Minrena would respond.
“That… The orchard starts from here. It will be in season soon…”
Minrena walks ahead and introduces the crops she grows. As a member of the duchy, in order to guide me, she, as her manager, had no choice but to step in.
Minrena was explaining various things with a sense of responsibility, but unfortunately I didn’t listen very much. I’m sorry, but I wasn’t very interested in farming.
“I’m an outsider, so I don’t understand even after hearing the explanation. I think Marie would understand.”
“If it’s Marie…The one from Count Ruhelif?”
“That’s right. Marie has had quite a bit of interaction with the people of the county.”
“Is that so…”
Minrena averts her gaze.
She seems to be uncomfortable not only with me but also with Mari. It must be because Mari has a phoenix dwelling in her body.
It’s not certain, but it feels like the level of vigilance against Mari has gone up a notch higher than before.
Maybe it’s because I personally witnessed the students turning into monsters during the last infection.
Marie might have thought that she might one day turn into a monster.
‘I don’t intend to leave it that way.’
I’ll have to find a way to get Marie back to normal.
Because that’s why I joined Professor Milas.
“Hey, Prince Beheritt… May I introduce you to the next crop?”
“No, even if I heard more than this, it would be difficult for me, who lack knowledge, to understand.
“Bo, the point…?”
“A member of the duke’s family came to the farm that nobles don’t even pay attention to. Of course, you must have fully guessed that there is a reason for that, Director of Horticulture.”
I pulled out a small box from my bag.
When I handed it to Minrena, she flinched.
“That, that’s…?”
“It is the seed of Ulkoa. It is the seed of a tree that only grows in certain dungeons.”
I handed the box to Rachel, who was next to me.
“To put it bluntly. I need the fruit that grows on Ulcoa’s trees. So, I’d like you to lend me an empty seat at the farm.”
“Did you come all the way here for that…?”
“To be precise, I want you to plant two more crops besides Ulcoa. I plan to harvest the items called Blue Sunset Petals and Sea Lion Leaves.”
Of course, all three are materials used to make automatons.
Acquiring these three items is quite troublesome. It was an item that could only be obtained by clicking the mouse several times a day during game time.
Of course, plants do not grow in a day or two.
All three of the above are magical plants, so they grow faster than normal crops, but it can only take dozens of days.
Moreover, sooner or later Lucius will be leaving for County of Findelnerca.
And, as long as I don’t act with Lucius, I plan to work in the County of Findelnerca.
That’s why the floating island will be empty for a considerable period of time during this school closure.
“Raising the crops will be done through Rachel here. You will see her face often in the future.”
“That… It’s difficult. Growing personal crops is prohibited. Once you start giving permission, the professors in the research building will ask you and me to grow plants for research…”
“You should have received a present?”
Minrena flinched at the word gift.
Originally, human beings don’t really want what they can’t have from the beginning. Humans are quick to give up what they cannot obtain.
However, it is human psychology to not want to let go of something once acquired.
“The reason professors can’t grow plants for research is probably because the student council is blocking them. At Philea Academy, where student autonomy is valued, professors shouldn’t be abusive. So whenever a professor asks to grow crops, the student council You must have rejected it through ?”
“That’s right, but…”
“However, I am a student, not a professor. Growing crops that individual students want fits somewhat with the academic tradition of Philea, which emphasizes student autonomy. In other words, this is an agreement between students, so the student council will not prohibit it either. If you, the head of the gardening department, allow it.”
“Ugh…”
“Above all, the way professors are wrong. If you’re going to ask someone for a favor, there’s something you need.”
Jjallang.
As I pulled out the money bag, I heard coins clinking inside.
I shook it slightly and put it in Minrena’s hand.
“It’s an advance payment. Why don’t you take the members and have a dinner later?”
“Oh, no… I’m a follower of Gerginia, the only god, so this kind of bribe…”
“I think you’re misunderstanding, but I’m not really violating anything. Yes, this is business. It’s fair pay for fair labor. ──If you bring me the crops, I can give you three times this amount. Only.”
I said so.
Min Lena sighed.
After all, money is the best in this world.
Quiet.
It’s only natural that the library is a quiet place, but now it’s quieter than ever. That’s because there were no students.
Is there really a reason to protect this place where no one comes?
Unintentionally, Nina thinks that way.
“…….”
Nina sat blankly in the scenery where she couldn’t even hear the sound of turning the pages of her books.
Even if an hour passes, even if two hours pass. It will stay like this until the next shift with the librarian.
Some thoughts just come to mind in the passing time.
Even coming up with something seems meaningless, so I just glance at things that are nothing.
Breathe out a sigh as you feel each second passing by and the second passing by.
It feels like everyone has disappeared and I am left alone in the world.
I feel like I am not allowed to remain in this world.
“…I could have closed the library.”
The murmur dissolves in the air and disappears.
In principle, the library at Philea Academy is open 24/7. That’s why Nina, the library committee member, was keeping this position.
During vacations or school closures, a librarian would have been in this position, but unfortunately, it seems that the librarian is no longer in this world.
She was told that the last infection cost her life.
Because of that, the library committee members decided to take turns guarding the library temporarily until she found the next librarian, so Nina was only here.
She’s not sure if it’s salvation or not.
She thinks that she should be by Bennett’s side in a situation like this, but what can she do when Benit himself refuses to come.
There is nothing to do except there is no special reaction to the tearing of fate in her right hand.
So, she just waits to be dispatched at any time.
I think emotions are really a hindrance.
Like a stone. Like a machine.
Since it is okay to lose the soul, how nice it would be to live in this world without emotion.
How wonderful it would be if we could live without knowing pain, suffering, and futility.
I’m just blankly thinking about those things.
“…….”
No one is in the library today.
The fact that no one was there made me feel like stabbing myself with a dagger.
“Hello.”
─It was just a moment ago that I felt that.
A guest has arrived after a long time.
“……This is Rachel-sama.”
She appears with the sound of her wheelchair being dragged.
I haven’t seen her face much, but I’ve gathered some information. She is Ariel Beheritt’s housemate, although few people probably know her.
She hails from Beltark Academy, pretending not to be but Ariel Beheritt’s escort attendant.
In a way, she is in the same position as herself.
“Oh, you can just call me Rachel. I’m of a much lower rank than Miss Nina.”
“…….”
She is lower in rank than Nina, a commoner.
That means the slave class. Is it that the mark of a slave is engraved somewhere?
Nina also knows what a slave is.
However, she couldn’t even imagine the situation of slaves attending the academy, and thinking about it, it was the first time she encountered slaves. There were no slaves at Count Findelnerca’s residence.
In particular, she will not be able to meet a slave with a lively atmosphere like her for the rest of her life.
So, I honestly don’t know how to deal with it.
“So Rachel, what are you doing here?”
“She only comes to the library for one reason. Of course she’s here to borrow books, Miss Nina. But I’m in this condition. Can you help me a little?”
Secretly, Rachel held out her note to her Nina.
There are several book names written on it.
—
Understanding the Dark Elemental Volume 4 / By Quderes.
The Chimera Theory / by Antipe Aures.
Plant Dictionary / Edelweiss.
Characteristics and Understanding of Fertilizers / by Lembit.
Raising Rem anyone can do / Rembit me.
—
“…A plant?”
“Yes. I’m growing flowers these days.”
Rachel says with a smile.
Oh, I see. Was it Rachel’s side to grow the flowers?
I thought she was on an errand for Ariel Beheritt.
‘…… The master-servant relationship seems smooth.’
Isn’t that a guarantee of freedom enough to grow flowers and read books?
Speaking of which, what are your hobbies?
Maybe you don’t remember.
Or maybe it wasn’t there from the beginning.
“Okay. I’ll get it right away.”
Nina got up from her seat.
She didn’t have to bring the book herself, but she just wanted to move her body a little bit. She felt that if she could serve as a library committee member, it would ease her mind at least a little.
Nina came back with the five books Rachel had given her.
“Thank you for bringing it. Good job then.”
After receiving her book, Rachel leaves the library again.
Then silence fell.
Nina was alone again.
“…….”
Nina sat down in her seat and leaned her body against her back.
It is quiet.
It is the stillness that seems to deny her own existence.