Kays Translations

Chapter 90: Renovating the Greenhouse

A close inspection of the exposed pipes revealed corrosion in several places. The metalworking techniques available when the greenhouse was built had apparently been unable to prevent rust indefinitely.

“We can’t use these safely,” I said. “We’ll have to remove every pipe. Corroded metal could contaminate the soil.”

The network stretched throughout the greenhouse. Having the knights uncover it by hand would take days.

Magic offered a faster solution.

“Gaia Control! Earth Needle!”

I softened the compacted earth, then raised the buried lines with ridges of stone. Length after length of pipe emerged from the ground.

“The corrosion is worse than it first appeared. Removing them was the right decision.”

The first exposed section had actually been among the best preserved. Other lengths were nearly ruined.

“Big brother, you’re extraordinarily skilled with magic,” Rosalia said. “Why?”

“Because my… instructor taught me well.”

“Kyu…”

Mira stared at me with half-lidded disbelief again. Fortunately, they still couldn’t speak.

The knights stood frozen after witnessing the spell, so I gave them clear instructions.

“Remove all the piping. We’ll heat the greenhouse another way.”

“What method do you have in mind?” Lionel asked.

“I’ll install a modified hot-and-cold air blower.”

Burying another heating network would make future maintenance needlessly difficult. A large air-conditioning device could warm the entire structure while remaining accessible.

“You’re making a new magic tool!” Rosalia exclaimed.

“A modified one, at least.”

Her eyes shone with unmistakable enthusiasm. Rosalia was certainly heading towards a future as a magic-tool craftswoman. That might be useful; perhaps one day she would manufacture the tools I designed.

“Lionel, prepare the soil while I build the heater.”

“Yes, my lord.”

The knights already helped maintain the medicinal herb garden and knew how to improve planting beds. I could safely leave the work to them.

Back at the mansion, I began modifying a familiar blower. In addition to heating and cooling, it needed a water magic circle to regulate humidity.

I didn’t yet know how quickly a sealed greenhouse would dry out under constant warm airflow. Discovering too late that every medicinal herb had withered would be disastrous. Adding humidity control in advance was safer; if it proved unnecessary, I could simply reduce its output.

I built the internal mechanism, then redesigned the casing for ceiling installation. The unit was broad and flat. To circulate air evenly, I added oscillating louvres at the outlet.

“Finished. For something designed in a hurry, it turned out well.”

“Let us test it immediately!” Rosalia said.

She activated the unit. A far stronger current than the household model roared through the room.

“Ah!”

“Kyu!”

Rosalia laughed in the wind while Mira flew against it with their tiny wings. I still didn’t understand how those wings could support them, but they both looked delighted.

We ate lunch after completing the trial. The greenhouse unit was too heavy for my child’s body to carry, so a servant transported it for us.

“Yes, that position near the centre of the ceiling should work,” I said.

“I didn’t expect you to finish it before midday,” Lionel replied.

“It’s only a modified air blower. The basic design was already complete.”

He happily helped secure it. The knights had prepared roughly a quarter of the greenhouse beds, enough to plant medicinal herbs and poison-dispelling herbs before evening.

I would begin with those hardy varieties. This was my first greenhouse cultivation, and I needed reliable observations before risking rare plants.

Once installation was complete, I activated the unit. Warm, gently humid air spread through the greenhouse.

“So far, so good. Now we observe the results.”

“Lord Julius,” Lionel said, “would similar devices not be useful inside the mansion?”

“They would. We should install them in the knights’ quarters as well. That could greatly reduce firewood consumption.”

Firewood prices climbed sharply each winter and could eventually exceed the cost of magic stones. Heating House Heine’s buildings with efficient magic tools might lower expenses substantially.

Once the idea occurred to me, mass production seemed obvious. Rosalia could assist, making the work much easier. I should also develop a compact model for carriages; winter travel would become far more comfortable.

After returning to the mansion, we began making additional units and drafting proper blueprints. I explained each step to Rosalia in detail.

Later, the plans could be sold to the territory’s craftsmen and guilds. I would develop the design, they would spread it, and everyone would profit.

“Kyu…”

Mira was becoming painfully bored.

“What should we do?” I asked. “They can’t help with this work.”

A servant approached before I found an answer.

“Lord Julius, Master Mars has arrived to see you.”

“Perfect timing.”

I hurried to greet him and immediately entrusted Mira to his care.

Mars was overjoyed, and Mira seemed equally pleased to have someone focused entirely on them. He began testing different games—rolling a ball, waving a ribbon like a cat toy, and carefully recording every reaction.

His eventual research report was going to be enormous.

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