Chapter 320: Preparing for the Journey Back
The next day.
With my inheritance retrieved and the souls liberated, most of my objectives here in the Great Forest have already been completed. We still need to wait for the rhino leader, but until then, I’m free.
Glen-san was pleased with the goblins’ dressing of his spoils, so he’s out happily hunting. I considered accompanying him, but I couldn’t leave the village for too long in case the rhinos leader appeared.
I’ve been thinking about it hard since this morning, and in the end, I clean up the ruins in the village and do so landscaping.
“You sure about this?” [Ryouma]
“Yep.” [Cormi]
The village around the mansion had served as a stage to comfort the souls of the residents taken in by Cormi, but now that the undead have been liberated, it’s no longer needed.
There’s a chance for undead to spawn again on their own even without Cormi doing anything, so I’ve been instructed to clean things up nicely to prevent any problems.
Cormi is the one most attached to the village here, so if he’s okay with it, then I’ll go ahead and dismantle the ruins.
I’ve done this before already, but the environnt is different, so I’ll start with the small stuff.
“Then I’ll start by removing the weed and debris.” [Ryouma]
I brought out my Sand Slis from my Dinsion Ho and had them turn a portion of the ground into sand, then through sli magic, we summoned a swirling mass of sand to carve away at a corner of the village. It was just like when I dismantled children’s hos in the city of Gimuru.
Like this, I should be able to quickly clear all the debris, as well as the weeds and timber.
“Next, let’s do away with the sand and the remaining structures.” [Ryouma]
I worked together with the soil sli to cover up the remaining sand and pulverized debris. In the process, I made sure to remove any embedded objects such as iron fences. I also removed the roots of weeds and entrusted them to the Huge Bush Sli for disposal.
Just like that we’ve already mostly cleared the place, but to keep the Heat-Emitting Trees from falling onto the mansion, we also made sure to refill the soil without damaging their roots.
For the finishing touches, I got the Huge Bush Sli to cover the ground, and just like that, all traces of the old buildings were gone.
“That was fast!” [Cormi]
“Oh, we’re just getting started. That’s just one part, after all.” [Ryouma]
Cormi had been watching from inside the mansion’s fence, and when he saw how fast we cleared that one area, he exclaid in admiration very much like a kindergartener gleefully watching construction vehicles at work.
Anyway, the buildings were mostly made of natural stone and wood, so given the environnt, this thod should allow them to return nature completely
Let’s do the sa for the other buildings too.
Like that I continued to work on the buildings, progressing clockwise around the mansion, until noon ca, and Glen-san returned.
“Good job out there. Sothing the matter?” [Ryouma]
“I didn’t see the Cannonball Rhino you’re looking for, but the hunting grounds here are great. Tons of monsters you won’t find in shallower parts pop up here. I caught quite a bit, so I’ll have to count on you to dress them again. You can have the at, organs, and the Hotel Rafflesia.” [Glen]
“The flower too?” [Ryouma]
“Yeah, it’s not really sothing I look for normally, so I don’t even know who to sell it to. I’m sure soone will show up if I look for a buyer, but I can’t be bothered with the negotiations. There’s a good hunting place here, so right now, I’d rather just get more of the usual stuff.” [Glen]
I see, that makes sense. It’s not a bad deal for , and he’s happy, so let’s go with that.
“We’re in agreent then?” [Ryouma]
“Yep. I’ll count on you for lunch too.” [Glen]
“Alright.” [Ryouma]
And so, I started preparations for lunch, but there was sothing that got my attention.
“What’s the matter? You’re making a strange face.” [Glen]
“Try this.” [Ryouma]
“Isn’t this the usual snake at? Hmm? Did I get it wrong?” [Glen]
“No, it’s definitely immortal snake at, but despite handling it properly, and despite Identify saying that it isn’t rotten, it’s clearly worse than before.” [Ryouma]
“I wouldn’t call it bad, though. Rather, the at from yesterday was just too good. It’s decent in its own right, but it doesn’t compare to yesterday’s.” [Glen]
The at was slightly tougher and drier. If the at itself hasn’t gone bad, it’s probably due to the regenerative abilities of the Immortal Snake.
There are two types of at from the Immortal Snake: one taken from its body in almost pristine condition and another from its regenerated body after being severed.
Until yesterday, I was using the one with its head already removed, as that was easier to process. But after eating so much, we ate it all up already, so I turned to the regenerated body.
Perhaps it’s because the regenerated at has already depleted its stored energy and nutrients in the process of regeneration affecting the taste.
“So, in other words, if we want to eat that delicious at, we need to kill the snake in one blow without inflicting unnecessary wounds?” [Glen]
“I think it’s fine so long as you’re able to cut its head off. That’s how we got the at yesterday, after all. Of course, I can’t say for sure since it’s my first ti hunting the immortal snake too. Given the difficulty of acquiring it, I think it’s a taste most people won’t be able to taste.” [Ryouma]
“Most people won’t even be able to kill that snake, and they won’t co this deep into the Great Forest too.” [Glen]
That’s true. I laughed and asked what we’ll do about the at, but it was edible, so we decided to just eat it. He also asked to hunt more of those delicious at in case I ca across one. Well, I also want to bring them back as a souvenir so that the people at the shop and the duke’s household can have a taste, so yeah, I’ll make sure to hunt the snake down properly if I do co across it.
Day 2 of preparations.
As I continued the dismantling of the village in the morning, I stumbled upon a corner of the village that resembled a field. It seed neglected like the rest of the village, swallowed by the plants of the Great Forest, leaving behind only ruins of its once forr glory. Amidst the weeds, I noticed grape-like fruits growing on branches extending from the vines entwined around the support pillars. Hopeful, I decided to return to the mansion.
“Cormi.” [Ryouma]
“What’s the matter?” [Cormi]
“I found a place that resembled a farm. Oh, maybe it would be faster if you just read my mories.” [Ryouma]
“…That’s a pepper field.” [Cormi]
So it really was pepper. Then perhaps it might be better to harvest from there instead of demolishing it all at once. Despite the lack of maintenance, there seed to be so natural growth already. As I pondered the idea, Cormi ca up with an unexpected suggestion.
“We can raise so pepper if you want.” [Cormi]
“You know how?” [Ryouma]
“Yeah. Those fields have been abandoned for awhile now, but soone did cultivate it before. That’s why there’s a garden in the courtyard too. We can do other spices too on top of peppers.” [Cormi]
Apparently, among the forr villagers was soone who couldn’t forget their heyday from cultivating spices, so even after being bound by Cormi, they continued to farm in a corner of the mansion. Cormi, who could read mories and thoughts, gave them the illusion they desired as he watched their work. Naturally, he ca to understand how to farm pepper and other spices that grew here in the Great Forest.
Moreover, Cormi could take advantage of his illusions to demonstrate the process of obtaining suitable branches for cuttings from pepper trees.
“I could teach your goblins too since they seem to be free.” [Cormi]
Eager for the opportunity to interact with the new residents, Cormi left right away. anwhile, I couldn’t help but think about how convenient his powers were. He was just like a house that managed itself.
He knows how to farm pepper, he can read minds and create illusions, and he can even communicate with monsters. And the fact that he could use his illusions to teach feels very modern Earth. In fact, it’s a step above it, venturing into the realms of AR.
Cormi may have gone off track due to loneliness, but I think he’s a really diligent child.
I’m also starting to realize again that he’s soone with power that the gods are wary of. He didn’t know how to use his powers before, but if he puts his mind to it, there are plenty of ways to use it.
“Ryouma!” [Cormi]
“Hmm!? You scared . Did sothing happen?” [Ryouma]p
Cormi suddenly ca back. Well, the mansion is really his actual body, so technically, he’s always been next to , but let’s not sweat the small details.
“What’s the matter? I thought you went over to the goblins’?” [Ryouma]
“Do you want to grow Hotel Rafflesias too?” [Cormi]
“…Huh? You can grow those things? Is that alright?” [Ryouma]
“As long as the flower part remains intact, it’s not difficult to grow them. Just place them next to sothing suitable for support. It’s just that people won’t be able to live nearby, and attempting to harvest them would require risking one’s life.” [Cormi]
“That sounds plenty problematic to .” [Ryouma]
“The last villagers went that far. ’Let’s make a living from this and live a decent life!’ Or so they said.” [Cormi]
“Sounds like the beginning of a terrible pattern.” [Ryouma]
Could it be that the “Hotel Rafflesia” habitat that Glen ntioned is that farm I found? It might have ended up like that due to being pushed too hard, but the way Cormi put it makes it sound like sothing only those desperate for a miraculous turnaround would attempt. Of course, those sort of ventures rarely ever succeed.
“Hotel Rafflesia certainly sells for a high price, but it would be a waste not to be able to live here anymore.” [Ryouma]
“I can pacify the gluttony flies with my illusion magic.” [Cormi]
“I still don’t want those things nearby. I’m not struggling for money, so let’s not do that for the ti being. If necessary, I can just get it elsewhere. Oh, did you get the materials for the Hotel Rafflesia from Glen-san? Along with the other materials he didn’t need?” [Ryouma]
He ntioned that yesterday when I agreed to dress his spoils.
“They’re all in the storage room.” [Cormi]
“Okay.” [Ryouma]
There’s no need to rush the dismantling of the village, so let’s collect the dismantled materials for now. I also want to check if there are any slis that prefer materials from the Great Forest since there’s plenty of them available.
With that in mind, I went to the warehouse and checked…
“Ohh…!! I guess I should’ve expected it given these are materials from the Great Forest, but it looks like I might be able to get a plant type sli.” [Ryouma]
Even with just the stuff I had on hand, there were weed slis that already reacted. They reacted to the branch of the Heat Emitting Tree that I picked up before, the seeds I found from inside monsters, and even the petals of the Hotel Raflesia. Robelia-san, the researcher, once spoke of Tree Slis that could beco trees when they consud plant-based materials. Could this be related?
Are the seeds the common point, or is it sothing else? The only way to know is to evolve them.
Similarly, are they only able to eat the Hotel Raflesia’s petals? This too will have to wait until they evolve to be understood. However, Hotel Raflesia is precious, so maybe I should consider growing them, after all. Well, for now, let’s just prioritize the Heat-Emitting trees that are easy to procure. We’ll find out if they can evolve into tree slis just yet.
Speaking of readily available materials, there’s an excess of Raptor at.
Similar to the Tree Sli, I heard from Caulkin-san before that there was a sli that evolved by feeding it lots of monster at.
He apparently went bankrupt from it, but I can provide it myself, so let’s try this evolutionary path too.
“I’m already looking forward to the results. Since that’s been decided, I better start gathering ingredients now.” [Ryouma]
“Ryouma! Hurry up and deal with these two!” [Glen]
“Glen-san? What is it all of the sudden!?” [Ryouma]
As I was planning in the warehouse, Glen-san arrived in a hurry. Wondering what was so urgent, I looked over to find him holding the head of a green snake on each armpit. Moreover, the snakes’ bodies were coiled around his torso multiple tis, constricting him!
“You found an Immortal Snake!?” [Ryouma]
“I found them so ways farther than usual from the village! There was a bigger one too! I’ll keep them coming, so hurry up and kill these two!” [Glen]
“Alright. Cormi!” [Ryouma]
“Yes?” [Cormi]
He must have already understood the situation, and as if on cue, Cormi appeared out of nowhere, and the two snakes slid away from Glen-san’s body, falling asleep peacefully on the floor of the warehouse.
“This should make it easier to kill it.” [Ryouma]
“Alright, I’ll leave it to you then!” [Glen]
Since there are more snakes, then that must an there’s a nest of Immortal Snakes not far from here. That makes this place that much more dangerous, but also that much more superior for gathering materials. How wonderful.
As I prepared to deal with the large snakes, I naturally began to think about the material gathering plan for the afternoon.
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