Chương 137: Chapter 121.Harvest

It's been 2 days since I Contracted with Hank. I was excited ever since I woke up today. Not only for Angel's Swordsmanship finally giving me some amount of proper control, but because yesterday, I finally figured out how Accelerate and Decelerate worked. I used both Spells on some of the squirrels in the swamps after I allowed them to use their last resort to grow bigger and stronger. This was so I could get a better fight for my training.

My companions are never big fans of my use of this method of training, but no risk no reward... Or at least that's what I tell myself. Moving on though... My Spells, it seems that they do slow or speed others up, but more importantly than that. I used the Spells on myself. I know, it sounds strange. However, I finally figured out how to make it effect the perception of the person the way I want it to effect them from experiencing it myself.

After figuring it out, I just need to focus on either making it effect the body or the mind now. I was surprised at how easy it is to use now, minus the Mana Consumption of course. A single second felt like an hour to me when I used Decelerate on myself. I'd hate to think what it'll be like on someone or some Monster when both of the Spells are stronger from my using and understanding them better. But with that, I've gained quite a few new strategies during battle.

Speeding someone's perception up as I fight them to cause them to panic is a great new method of fighting strategy if I decide to get serious. So is slowing their perception so I can easily end the fight. And those are just the basic 2 ideas I had!" Lord Drake, we've arrived!" Ruby alerted me that we arrived at the field. Today was the day. The last dose of Magic before Paradise can make a 2nd farming field! Who would've thought that I, a city kid, would be excited about fresh vegetables being ready to get picked?

I sure wouldn't have. We've gathered a group of 30 Demons to collect the vegetables after Lily gives the green light." Lord Matthew, you have a nice smile!"" Huh? Oh, thanks, Ruby. I don't think it can compare to yours though. The first time I saw it, I couldn't believe you were the same person who was so angry when we first met." Ruby looked a little bothered by my words." I wish you would forget about that already..."" How could I?

It was the first time we met after all, then we fought the gator, and I evolved my Job. All in all, I thought that was a good day." Ruby seemed a little less bothered by my words. Regardless, with the silence between us, I decided to Summon Lily. I would've Summoned Gil as well, but through the past few days, we outfitted everything we could ever need for protecting this field. From Guard Towers to deep trenches. It's all there now. And as I thought about that, a burst of green light appeared at my side.

Out popped Lily from it." Todays the day, isn't it!?"" Yup!"" Hello, Queen Lily!"" Hello, Lady Ruby!" All 3 of us were excited for the day. Finally, after 2 weeks, our field will finally be ready for harvest!" I'll go and cast the final Spell! Wait here!" Lily took off with enthusiasm. Once she reached the height that felt most comfortable, she began to glow a pale-yellow again." I can't believe that soon, we'll be fully self-sufficient! Lord Matthew, this is going to be amazing!"" I know right!?

From only having food for around a year for about 30 people, to now, we have enough food for 3000 for a year! And the stockpile will only grow more and more as we go! How goes the training of the new hunters by the way?" While we've been busy hunting and farming all week, Ruby began to train the Demons who had the Hunter Job from the Settlers that have come to Paradise. I haven't heard anything about how she's doing though. Because of how busy I've been with everything and my mind being on separate problems.

Now that I had a moment though, it came to mind, so I asked her the question. Ruby turned to look at me and began to answer said question." So far, the training has gone well. Their growth now will only come from experience and knowledge of the Swamps. I believe we should take them North and allow them to hunt for a few days. After that, we should take squads for hunting when we head further East."" I don't see a problem with that idea. We can let them hunt the day after next. We'll spend that time farming.

It'll be 2 birds with 1 stone in terms of food procurement." The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident." 2 birds... 1 stone?" Ruby seemed to not understand the saying." It means to accomplish 2 things while only doing 1 thing. In this case. Farming and hunting, to solve the food problem."" Oh, I see. 2 birds 1 stone... I like it!" Ruby seemed happy with my explanation. While we were talking, Lily had finished up her Spell.

She flew in front of us and began to explain a few things to me." Now that the Spell is finished, you can begin the process of picking. I planted 4 robust vegetables that will last not only through the 4 seasons, but will also allow you to harvest every other week for the next 2 years. Then I just simply need to repeat this process of using my Growth and Invigoration Spells like I've done the last 8 times. Here, I'll show you how the 4 vegetables are to be picked."" Oh!

If that's the case, let me grab one more person!" I stopped Lily from continuing and returned with an old woman who was the leader of the farming group we brought with us today. Lily looked at her as we arrived. She was a thin-looking woman, but she was taller than me by what seemed to be 2 feet." Who is this, Matthew?" Lily examined the old woman with her bright-pink eyes. I proceeded to answer her question." This is Kaede. She's the leader of the farmers for this field.

She'll be in charge of the field as we work on the fields to come. I plan on installing groups of farmers in each field since it would be hard for just Sarah, Anna and I to do it after all."" I see. so, you wish for her to also see how to harvest the vegetables and know how to handle them?"" That's correct!"" Very well, follow me you 3." With that, Ruby, Kaede and I followed Lily as she arrived at the row of veggies that were closest to us." These are known as Jade Carrots.

They have a sweetness to them that are great either as a snack, as an accompaniment for a meat dish or as an addition to any stew or soup. Here, have a bite! You take them off of their plant like this." Lilly proceeded to pick a bushel of green carrots off of the plant holding them. It was like how you harvest bananas back in my world." Should we wash it off first?" I asked if it required any kind of cleaning."

Yes, to remove the dirt, but since it was grown with my Magic, if you shake it or just peel off the outer skin you can eat it without using any water." Lily used a small amount of water from a container that Kaede had on her hip and took a bite of the carrot and smiled deeply. She then handed a carrot to me. Bite... Sweetness... I bit into the green carrot and as Lily said, there was a sweetness, but it wasn't something that was overpowering to my palate." It's delicious!"

Beside me, Ruby and Kaede both smiled as they chewed. Seems the first plant is a success. We then moved to the next vegetable." Matthew, you should be somewhat familiar with this one." Lily spoke, as she pulled a big green ball from the ground, like you would a root vegetable. I squinted at it since I'd never seen something like it before." Here, get a bit closer." Lily held it out to me. Wait is this..." Broccoli!" Lily smiled at me." Yes! I saw it in some of your memories!

It turns out we had something similar, so I played around with the seeds a little and I was more or less able to create it. The only difference is I had to grow it as a root vegetable instead of a flowering one like your memories showed me!"" This is great, Lily! I love broccoli!"" What is this, Lord Matthew?" Ruby asked me a question." It's a vegetable from my country! I didn't think I'd ever see it again! It's best either steamed or cooked in a soup! This is great!! It's basically a super food! Oh!

A super food is a food that was really healthy and its nutritional value was greater than average! The only downside to broccoli is that it could lead to some... Flatulence, only if you eat too much of it."" I see. I'll take note and inform the women."" That would be for the best." After that, Lily took us to a pretty purple fruit tree with plump round fruit growing from it." What is this, Lily?" I asked a question as I gazed at the tree. Lily began to answer me as she picked one of the fruits from the tree."

This is a fruit from the Southern Regions of Gaia. It's called purple pearl. Here, have a bite." I took a bite of the fruit and chewed. Bite! Sweet!

"!!!" It tastes like a sweet apple! With only a bit of tartness to it. It's perfect! I felt bad when I passed it to Ruby to try, since I wanted another bite." It's delicious too!" Ruby was a fan. Kaede chose not to eat it. Maybe because of the gas issue? Either way, we then moved on to the last one." This here is another vegetable. It's a cruciferous vegetable. Nutrient dense, but without much taste. good for sandwiches and salads. I won't say you should taste it, but here is how you remove it from the ground."

Lily showed how to remove the plant and then handed the vegetable to me." And with that, my job is done, you can harvest the plants every other day for the next week after that, they take a week to regrow and prepare for harvesting again. I suggest waiting an extra week unless an emergency happens and you absolutely need food." With that, Lily decided to return Home. But only after taking a few pearls and carrots with her first. Seems she's a big fan of them. I turned to Ruby and Kaede and began to instruct them."

Okay, Kaede, Ruby. Let's collect the harvest and prepare to return back with the food. After that, proceed to follow the plan of using 3/4 as fresh food and the quarter left to be preserved. Also, like Lily said, Kaede. Wait 2 weeks to harvest after every 3rd harvest of a given week. Do you need me to repeat myself at all?"" No at all, Lord Drake."" I'm also good to go, Lord Matthew!" Kaede answered me first. It's weird to me that an elderly woman is referring to me as a "Lord", but what can you do?

We harvested the food and proceeded to return home before the sun fully set.