Chapter 39

"Madok, would you help me with my work?"

Understanding the source of the logger's anger, I thought for a while and then said this to Madok.

"What kind of work are you talking about? The development you are doing?"

"Kind of different. I was thinking about what you said earlier. I want to manage the forest from now on."

"Manage the forest?"

"Yeah. I think that's the only thing that can benefit both the loggers who love the forest and me, who wants to develop the land. Instead of leaving the forest to nature, I want to create a managed, artificial forest."

"Hold on, hold on, that's not possible. A forest is not something that can be managed like that. The power of nature is something far beyond human control."

Madok immediately opposed my suggestion after hearing what I said. However, I don't think I'm saying something completely wrong. In fact, it's not just a random idea. My knowledge from my previous life has led me to this conclusion.

I think my development speed is abnormal, even by my own standards. I've heard that the forest to the north of the village is vast, but no one in the village knows how large it is. It's said that if someone wanders too deep into it, they never come back. However, if I combine my magic with the power of the Valkyries who inherit it, I believe the forest's size can be significantly reduced.

Deforestation is a serious form of environmental destruction. When trees are removed from the land, the water retention capacity of that land drastically decreases. This would lead to poor crop yields in the fields, and the fertile soil might be washed away by rain. In severe cases, it could even lead to desertification.

The problem doesn't stop at environmental destruction. While it might not happen during my lifetime, it's more likely that another issue will arise: the disappearance of firewood.

If all the trees are depleted, obtaining firewood will become difficult. This would be a terrifying event for those living here. In my previous life, I never thought about firewood because we had gas and electricity for heating. But in this world, they use firewood for heating. Even with life magic, you can cast 'Ignite,' but without firewood, there's nothing to burn. If winter comes in such a situation, everyone will surely freeze to death.

I think it's not a bad idea to start thinking about countermeasures now. I want to manage the forest, essentially engage in forestry.

I've heard that a well-managed forest can be very beneficial to humans. It can help mitigate the effects of deforestation, and it can provide a stable supply of high-quality forest resources. In a forest left to nature, trees and grass can grow so densely that they block sunlight from reaching the ground. This makes it difficult for strong, sturdy trees to grow. By thinning the forest appropriately and improving sunlight exposure, we can produce robust timber.

Additionally, my business plan includes cultivating magic mushrooms, which require logs. I don't want to deplete the forest just for that.

"That's why I want to manage the forest. It's like planting trees in a field. But I don't know much about trees, even though I've grown vegetables and wheat. That's why I thought someone like Madok, an expert in forests, could help me."

"Hmm. To be honest, I can't really imagine what will happen if the forest's trees are gone..."

"That might be true. But I think you can at least see the effectiveness of forest management. Besides, if you don't agree, I might end up cutting down trees without any order. To prevent that, I think it's not a bad idea to work with me."

I feel like what I'm saying is half a threat. However, Madok seems to be showing interest, even though he's still hesitant. After a while, he said he would consult with the others, so I went back home that day. A few days later, Madok apparently conveyed my words to the loggers and persuaded them. The loggers seemed skeptical about what I said, but they agreed to observe for a while, saying that if Madok would take care of that child, they would see how it goes.

Thus, I began to develop and manage the northern forest. Incidentally, by acknowledging that I will manage the forest, it's like acknowledging that the forest is mine. Perhaps I should say, "I see the trees but not the land." From that point on, the atmosphere in the village began to change, and the area to the north of the village started to be seen as under my jurisdiction.

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