Chapter 61

I was able to create magic tools to assist in magic manipulation for each person. After successfully estimating the mass production of artificial magic stones, today's task is a job commissioned by the Adventurer's Guild.

Actually, with the artificial magic stone business alone, I could have received the patronage of the Betametal Viscount's family and the Betametal Duke's family, which is the main family, so I had intended to take an indefinite break from adventuring. However, I was asked by the Adventurer's Guild and the Alchemist's Guild to sell and disclose the harvesting methods for several items, including Jewel Birds, for which I had fortuitously thought of efficient methods.

Since I won't have much time to continue adventuring, and this is a good opportunity, I readily agreed to sell the harvesting methods.

Therefore, today, I am standing as a lecturer in a room of the Adventurer's Guild, in front of the guild staff and adventurers who have been designated to learn the harvesting methods. This is my first time giving a lecture in front of a large group, so I am a bit nervous. I have experience teaching a few apprentices in my family and at the academy.

All the techniques I will disclose will be compiled into technical books by the guild staff and will be made available to everyone who requests them later. To avoid competition, it's better to diversify the earning methods to prevent trouble.

In the surrounding area of the Lindemen town, there had been quite a few problems because many people had set up large numbers of sticky traps to catch Jewel Birds, thinking that they could easily make a profit if they were lucky. This led to issues such as poaching, conflicts with the forestry industry, and the death of many innocent small animals, including other birds, which affected the ecosystem to some extent. The material needed for the medicine to treat the illness of the lord's son was also a concern, and the Adventurer's Guild had been thinking about improving the situation.

By disclosing a surefire method to catch Jewel Birds and other profitable prey, these problems could be resolved.

"Then... I would like to share the methods I used to harvest several items that I have been delivering."

In a room of the Adventurer's Guild used for lectures for beginners and to educate violators, I stood in front of the blackboard with chalk in hand and bowed. "The hunting knowledge I have is what I learned from my family, and it may differ from general knowledge, so please feel free to ask questions if you have any," I added before starting my talk.

"First, we look for the flowers they like. In the surrounding area of Lindemen during this season, I think the nectar of Wisteria flowers is probably the most favored by them."

I drew a picture of the Wisteria flower on the blackboard, including the shape of the leaves and the color of the petals, to make it easy to find in the forest. I also drew pictures of other flowers that Jewel Birds like during other seasons and their characteristics. The adventurers, who were listening to me as students, whispered, "You're good at drawing" and "It's easy to understand," which made me a bit embarrassed.

Gent, the guild staff member who was present to create the technical book, muttered, "We should ask Riana to do the illustrations for the technical book," which made me feel both happy and a bit embarrassed.

"Please look for these flowers near the territory of the Jewel Birds. In the territory, there should be a water source where they bathe, and feathers should have fallen... so we use beginner-level magic to catch Jewel Birds near the flowers in their territory."

"Such a method... maybe, the sticky traps should have been set up near the water source where the feathers were found?"

"Yes... that's right."

I was surprised by their comments, "You didn't know, you must be the grandchild of a hunter," as it seemed they had been setting traps randomly in the forest without knowing the specific methods to target Jewel Birds. I had thought this was basic knowledge for hunting birds or bird-like monsters. I had learned basic hunting and monster slaying techniques from my brother Wilfred, but perhaps this level of knowledge is not taught unless one specializes in it.

If that's the case, I was very fortunate to have such excellent teachers. The knowledge I took for granted was something that could not be used without specialized education.

After teaching them how to find water sources in the forest where animals and monsters use, I returned to the main topic.

"Also, the residual magic on the feathers that have fallen in the water source can help determine if it is a territory more accurately."

"Residual magic...?"

"Yes, as you know, Jewel Birds use wind attribute innate magic to fly at a speed that is difficult to see with the naked eye... so by looking at the residual magic on the feathers in the water source, you can determine if there is an individual that has made it a territory and if it is a frequently used water source."

I turned to seek agreement and looked around at everyone's faces, but no one responded.

"Riana... being able to sense the residual magic of monsters in such detail... there are only a few scouts or top-notch mages who can do that..."

"Huh? Is that so? I'm sorry... um... my master taught me that it was a necessary skill for hunting, so I thought..."

Pointed out by the guild staff member who was listening to create the technical book, I tried to adjust my explanation without panicking. Craftsmen and other technical professions often pass down special knowledge from generation to generation, so this could be explained as "her master was such a hunter."

It was a close call. I almost drew too much attention to myself again.

I had to change the topic before they asked too many questions about my past.

"So... about the method to capture Jewel Birds. I use beginner-level wind magic. The one that makes the wind blow."

"Wait, with beginner-level magic?! Half of our party can use beginner-level wind magic."

"Can you really capture Jewel Birds with just the way you use it?"

"But they are very sensitive to magic, so they would notice and escape if you use it normally."

"Come on, she's going to teach us the method, so just listen."

I continued, relieved that I wasn't being questioned on the wrong points, to the interested audience.

"I use this beginner-level magic... I set it up just before activation and wait for the Jewel Birds to come to the flowers to drink nectar, then I create a vacuum around the flowers to capture them."

...?

I tilted my head in confusion because I didn't get the reaction I expected. I thought they would say, "Oh, I see, that's a good idea" or "I never thought of that," but...

"Um... Jewel Birds are very sensitive to magic, but if you set up the magic in advance and wait, they will approach without suspicion and can be caught. When they stay still, animals often mistake them for trees or rocks and come closer, just like that..."

I added more explanation, but there was no response. I looked at Gent, the guild staff member, who just had a troubled look on his face. Why...

"Riana... that's not it. Normal people can't create a vacuum with beginner-level magic. Even though it's beginner-level, maintaining it for a long time at a distance just before activation is quite difficult."

"Really?!"

"How many adventurers even know what a vacuum is... I know because my family runs a hardware store, and I know that cooling bottles are double-layered to create a vacuum..."

Gent looked around at the others for confirmation. The responses were, "I don't understand what you're saying" and "I don't know what a vacuum is."

Completely unexpected, I was at a loss for what to say or do for a while.

"I'm sorry... I couldn't be of any help at all..."

I had shared information with the Adventurer's Guild about the methods to capture Jewel Birds and other content to be disclosed today. However, the guild had only been told that "beginner-level wind magic is used, and there is a trick in the usage," and the conversation had progressed to "Can you teach this to the people who want to learn it?" before the guild and I had a misunderstanding. This was entirely my fault for being overly optimistic and thinking that others could do it.

I was also told that the other methods I had were difficult for others to reproduce... I was so eager to be a teacher that I ended up feeling so embarrassed that I wanted to bury myself in a hole. I covered my face in the room after the others had left.

"No, the methods to find water sources in the forest, and how to find the habitats of high-value monsters and plants in this area, were very useful to me... It's not like that at all."

He was trying to comfort me, but his kindness was painful right now. The only saving grace was that I had said, "Since I'm not sure if the information I provide is actually usable, can we discuss and decide the information fee after it's over?" If not, I would have been unable to bear it and would have returned the reward.

I had reflected on not being able to provide a manufacturing method that everyone could use with artificial magic stones. I had been wary of making a similar mistake, but it turned out to be useful. It was not a happy realization.

"No, Riana, you're a genius who can use such difficult techniques without even thinking about it. It's more of a shame that no one could learn from what you taught."

"No... I really lack common sense... I'm so embarrassed and causing trouble."

"Even though you're a beginner, you've invented something that can make a lot of money... The guild is really grateful, so don't worry about it."

"That's a different matter... Anyway, thank you very much for all the support today."

I bowed deeply in gratitude, with a sincere apology in my heart.

I felt guilty for causing so much trouble and not being able to do much, so I asked for more requests to buy the scrap magic stones used to make artificial magic stones and left the Adventurer's Guild.