Chapter 40

"Is this it?"

"Yes, I think we can ask the villagers for the rest."

We, who had defeated the Bio Plant, which was actually Mototada's failure, were gathering seeds. I collected the fist-sized glowing seeds and tried to have the shield absorb the withered plants.

The conditions for the Bio Plant Shield have been unlocked!

The conditions for the Plant Rew Shield have been unlocked!

The conditions for the Mandragora Shield have been unlocked!

Bio Plant Shield

Ability not unlocked... Equipment bonus, plant modification

Special effect: Hook

Plant Rew Shield

Ability not unlocked... Equipment bonus, intermediate synthesis recipe 2

Mandragora Shield

Ability not unlocked... Equipment bonus, plant analysis

These shields were part of a tree that connected to plant-based shields. It seems there are more to unlock, but I don't have enough trees.

"Plant modification?"

I changed to the Bio Plant Shield and experimented to see what plant modification was. An icon appeared in my vision, instructing me to use it on a plant seed to imbue it with magic. I tried it on the Bio Plant seed I had picked up earlier. The seed floated gently in the air.

Reproductive power: 9

Productivity: 9

Vitality: 9

Immunity: 4

Intelligence: 1

Growth rate: 9

Mutability: 9

Special ability

What could this be?

I tried lowering the stats. The numbers decreased with a beeping sound. I experimented by lowering the other stats and increasing one.

Reproductive power: 1

Productivity: 1

Vitality: 1

Immunity: 1

Intelligence: 1

Growth rate: 43

Mutability: 1

Special ability

Hmm... I don't understand.

Ah, I'll just increase the growth rate.

Oh, using this skill drains a lot of MP.

"Master Naofumi?"

I dropped the Bio Plant seed, which I had specialized in growth rate, on a withered spot.

"Oh!"

Greenery sprouted on the ground.

However...

"Huh?"

The greenery grew about three meters and then withered instantly.

"What are you doing?"

"Well, I got this plant modification skill, so I was experimenting with this seed."

"Don't do dangerous things!"

Raphatal scolded me.

I would probably scold someone else too if they did this.

But this skill seems interesting.

If I figure out how to use it, it could become a new source of income.

"Master Naofumi, you have a really creepy smile."

Oops, it showed on my face.

"Anyway, let's head back to the village."

"Okay."

We returned to the camp from the silent, brown plant area.

"Thank you, hero!"

Humans are so fickle.

When I saved the village, they welcomed me warmly.

However, they still had a lot of work to do to clean up the village. That day ended with clearing the withered plants.

It seems that even though the main plant withered, the fruits and roots remained, so they wouldn't have food problems for a while.

But... I'm a bit worried about the land withering.

"Will we go back to famine?"

"Well... that's the case."

In the near future, this village might have to move to another place.

While thinking about this, I continued to work on plant modification.

I still didn't know what the special ability was.

When I checked, an icon appeared saying that plant analysis was required.

Since the Mandragora Shield had this, I waited for it to unlock.

The Mandragora Shield seemed to unlock faster, so I changed to it and slept.

The next morning, it was unlocked, so I changed back to the Bio Plant Shield and continued the modification.

Reproductive power: 9

Productivity: 9

Vitality: 9

Immunity: 4

Intelligence: 1

Growth rate: 9

Mutability: 9

Special ability: Seed production when withered, expanded mutation range

I see... So this was the ability of the Bio Plant.

It was originally intended for food production, but it had the problem of high mutability, which caused it to become a monster.

This means that the ancient alchemist might not have been a complete villain.

The low immunity is why herbicides work.

I checked the special ability icon, and various options appeared.

Similarly, various special instructions appeared.

It seems I can choose abilities and instructions by sacrificing stats.

If this village continues as it is, they will face famine again.

So I decided to experimentally modify the plant.

Reproductive power: 4 - This is simply the ability to reproduce. It's a bit too much, so I'll lower it.

Productivity: 15 - This is the ability to bear fruit. I want it to be enough to prevent famine.

Vitality: 6 - This is the ability to sprout in any soil. I'll lower it a bit.

Immunity: 4 - This is the ability to resist disease. I'll keep it as is because herbicides work.

Intelligence: 1 - What is this? The intelligence of a monster? I don't see the point in increasing it.

Growth rate: 15 - This is the ability to grow quickly after planting. I'll increase it.

Mutability: 1 - This is probably the cause of monsterization.

Special ability: I removed the expanded mutation range and added crop quality improvement with the points I got.

Seed production when withered, quality improvement

"Done."

"What happened?"

Raphatal, who looked sleepy, asked me as she looked in my direction.

Yesterday, the villagers kept calling us "saint" and "divine bird," so we stayed in the village for the night.

The food was decent... actually, it was the tubers and fruits of the Bio Plant.

It's a troublesome plant, but it tastes good.

If the modification is successful, it could become a specialty of the village.

"Yeah, I continued from yesterday."

"You were still working on it..."

"Don't you understand that this can't go on?"

Famine will eventually come to this place. We need to stop it somehow.

Some might think that buying food from other regions is a solution, but that's not feasible with the population.

I think it's difficult for people who have lived here for a long time to easily move.

"Well..."

I slowly got off the carriage and dropped the seed on the withered land.

The seed grew into a plant, covering a corner of the village that was dyed brown.

"What's happening!"

The people who were resting at the camp ran over in surprise.

"Sorry, I was just experimenting."

"What are you doing?"

Out of fear of plants, the villagers asked with trepidation.

"Experimenting to make a safe plant... I guess."

The plant has low reproductive power, so it stops growing after reaching a certain range.

And then...

It bore red, juicy fruits, similar to tomatoes. The main plant seemed to be a tomato-like plant.

"I think it's a success."

"Oh..."

"The problem is that it's only one type. Whether to use it is up to you. If it doesn't work, take action before it gets to this point."

The expanded mutation range and mutability meant that while it could produce various fruits, it also had the risk of becoming a monster.

I sprayed herbicides to wither the plants and return them to seeds, and then gave the seeds to a man who seemed to be the lord of the area.

"So, we're leaving. See you."

Philo, who had woken up, was munching on the tomato-like fruit and pulling the carriage.

"Wait!"

"Huh? What is it?"

"I haven't finished thanking you. Please—"

"Maybe they were just trying to get rid of their excess stock by pushing it onto me?"

"How... about that..."

Currently, my carriage has four vehicles.

Three cargo wagons loaded with the crops from the Bio Plant are attached to the lead carriage.

They were given to me along with the wagons.

I reluctantly accepted them with a smile, but I suspect it was a convenient way to dispose of them.

Despite the long train, Philo is happily pulling the carriage.

"Heavy, but so easy!"

Philo is a strange monster.

The carriage jolted as the journey continued.

By the way, it was discovered that herbicides can be used as a weapon. When I tried to use them on a Tren, they were deflected.

...It seems they only work on parasitic plants.

The criteria are unclear.

Or perhaps the Bio Plant was just a plant, not a monster.

Anyway, it's fine. Now that I have Raphatal and Philo, I don't need to attack unnecessarily.

For now, I just need to think about how to dispose of this excess food.

By the way, I heard there's a famine in the north. I'll sell it there.

"Let's head north."

"Okay!"

The carriage jolted as the journey continued.