Chapter 95

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I plan to update every Monday and Friday.

The first day of April has arrived.

Here, the first day of the fourth month is called "watanuki," which means the time when it gets warm enough to take the cotton out of clothes, symbolizing the beginning of spring.

"It has been implemented, hasn't it?"

"Yes. I hope this will change the position of craftsmen a bit..."

"Compared to before, it will change significantly, but it will be difficult for the nobles' mindset to change drastically."

"That's true. But we have to take the first step."

On this day, the Kikunoi residence had a slightly more lively atmosphere from morning.

The law recognizing the rights and patents of craftsmen, which was issued throughout the empire, was officially implemented today. My tsunagi-zukuri technique was recognized as the first patent, and the details of the technique were to be revealed.

That's not all.

The basic recipe for curry powder will also be disclosed. Furthermore, the Effet Papillon curry powder will be granted the royal warrant.

However, what will be disclosed is just the basics. The Effet Papillon curry powder has been improved upon with the head chef, so the taste is different and cannot be replicated easily.

The same goes for tsunagi-zukuri. In business, it's common to keep such black boxes.

I'm not so kind as to level everything.

Since the law was issued, I have managed to establish a plan for training craftsmen.

It's an orphanage introduced by Mr. Laurent. We have the older children take on part of the work, and I or Elise will handle the finishing touches.

The payment goes to the orphanage, but I have also incorporated reading, writing, and arithmetic into the work.

Counting and organizing parts, as well as managing them, require reading, writing, and arithmetic.

Lara-san is even supervising the orphanage.

Currently, there are three imperial recognized heroes at Kikunoi: Mr. Romanov, Mr. Viktor, and Lara-san. Mr. Viktor is in charge of training choir members, Mr. Romanov is responsible for maintaining public order, and Lara-san is handling personnel development.

However, I'm not giving them any compensation. This makes me a bit uncomfortable.

But when I mention it, they laugh and say, "We'll take our payment in success."

"Teachers, I know I can only offer limited things, but if there's anything you want, please don't hesitate to let me know."

"Thank you. But for me, Vicha, and Lara, we've lived long lives, so there's not much we want. As long as we have a place to stay and food to eat, we're mostly satisfied."

"But you're helping us with so much more than that..."

"That's the thing. If we have to say, the work itself is a reward. We live long lives and get bored easily. So we travel the world and don't stay in one place for too long. But Kikunoi is clearly changing in a tumultuous way. Being a part of that is very interesting."

Hmm, I don't quite understand.

I don't understand, but if it's fun, that's the most important thing.

As we walked together along the path leading to the vegetable garden, Regulus, Kousuke, and Gensan were already there with their tools.

After a brief greeting, Kousuke opened his mouth with a serious look.

"Hey, young master. I want you to see something."

"Sure, what is it?"

Tilting my head, I nodded, and Kousuke extended his hands towards the rows of the field.

Then, with a sound like the ground caving in or rising, the soil of the rows was mixed and turned over.

It looked as if he was plowing the field with an invisible hoe, and my mouth dropped open in amazement.

"What is this!?"

"Kana! Is this what Kana did!?"

"Wow... I just thought about it, and something happened!"

No, I don't understand.

Not only me and Regulus, but Gensan also had his eyes wide open.

However, Mr. Romanov, with his years of experience, clapped for Kousuke.

"Kousuke, well done. This is an application of the magic to raise and lower the soil that I taught you last week."

"Yeah, that's right! I thought if I could make it sink and rise, and repeat that, I could plow the field."

Just thinking about it and it happens!?

Is he a genius!?

While my mouth was still open, Kousuke had already plowed all the rows with magic and then proposed a hypothesis.

It was about the difference in crop yields.

"Last year, we grew cabbages in Grandpa's field and here, right?"

"Yeah, they grew differently and tasted different, didn't they?"

"Right."

According to Gensan, the cabbages grown at his house and here were from the same seedlings that Gensan had grown.

However, the cabbages grown at Gensan's house and here were significantly different in size and taste, with the ones grown here being better.

The fertilizer was the same, made by Gensan.

Thinking it might be the soil, he filled a planter with soil from this field and took it home to grow cabbages, but they turned out the same size and taste as the ones grown at his house.

He tried to make the conditions as similar as possible, paying attention to the location and other factors.

"So, I thought it might be the person growing them. But Grandpa also has the 'Green Hand.'"

"The conditions were almost the same, yet there was still a difference..."

"Right. So I thought, what's different between this house and Grandpa's house? It's whether or not the young master's singing can be heard."

Apparently, my voice can be heard even in this garden.

I was surprised, but Kousuke and Gensan shook their heads.

"No, we can't hear it. But it seems the elves can."

"If the elf teachers can hear it, it wouldn't be strange for the spirits to hear it too."

Why do spirits come into this?

I had a puzzled look, and Mr. Romanov snapped his fingers.

"Oh, I see. A gift from the spirits, huh?"

"A gift from the spirits?"

Regulus tilted his head, and Mr. Romanov smiled gently.

According to Mr. Romanov, spirits love beautiful things.

They like those with the "Green Hand" or "Blue Hand" because the things they produce are beautiful.

And beauty is not just about what can be seen; it also includes music and songs.

"So, the spirits who liked Kousuke's singing helped the plants in Kousuke's garden grow bigger and tastier as a reward."

"I see."

"Then I thought, spirits also like magic. If they like magic, they might also like soil plowed with magic."

When magic is cast, the light that is reduced to magical power is also something spirits like.

Plowing the soil with magic is like scattering the light that spirits like into the soil.

Kousuke's hypothesis is that the spirits might give the same reward as when they hear a song.

"Even if it doesn't work, I think plowing the soil with magic will make farming easier than it is now."

"Ah, that's true..."

"Then, I think everyone will want to study and learn how to use magic."

I couldn't help but grip Kousuke's hand tightly as he smiled and rubbed his nose.

"Thank you, Kousuke. For thinking about things with me."

"I said I would help, didn't I? I always keep my word!"

What should I do?

I'm troubled by having such a cool friend.

I held Kousuke's hand even tighter, and then someone tugged on the hem of my shirt from behind.

Regulus clung to me tightly.

"Brother, if you can do that too, it would be amazing, right?"

"Yeah, it would be amazing."

"Wow, I think the young master can do it too!"

"Sure, I'll try my best."

"Yay!" Regulus raised his arm, and he's so cute.

My little brother is so cute.

Kousuke smiled brightly and patted Regulus's fluffy bangs.

The warm atmosphere under the sun was suddenly disrupted by rhythmic footsteps coming from the house.

I turned around in surprise to see Lara-san with a serious look on her face.

"Manmaru, their report has arrived!"

Their.

At that word, the smiles disappeared from everyone's faces except Regulus and Kousuke.

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