Kays Translations

Chapter 96: Plant Nutrient

We returned to the manager’s residence to question him while several knights continued surveying the stripped slopes.

Lionel sat opposite the man with a deep crease between his brows. The manager seemed to shrink beneath his stare.

“What happened here?” Lionel demanded.

“About five years ago, the supply of firewood could no longer meet demand.”

“Then you should have reported it immediately.”

The man sank lower.

House Heine wasn’t blameless. My family had accepted written reports without verifying the mountain’s condition. A careful comparison of logging and firewood sales should have exposed the problem years ago.

Nevertheless, deliberately hiding the damage was malicious.

“I feared the mountain would be confiscated if the truth became known,” the manager admitted.

“We wouldn’t have seized it merely because supply was insufficient,” I said. “We would have developed a solution. Concealing destruction on this scale is another matter. Severe action is unavoidable.”

The manager bowed his head.

Lionel agreed. The final judgement would come later; our immediate concern was preventing the ecosystem from collapsing and the exposed slopes from becoming permanently barren.

We would need to import firewood temporarily while reforesting Mount Claire.

“The survey team will return soon,” I said. “We’ll decide our next steps after hearing their report.”

During the wait, we discussed the manager’s provisional punishment. House Heine would take direct control of the mountain. The manager’s family and existing workers would remain employed because their knowledge and labour were still necessary. Father would determine the final disposition; I couldn’t replace an entire workforce on my own authority.

The knights returned with worse news than expected.

Saplings had been planted, but far too late in the year. They were small and weak, and winter was approaching. Most would probably die before spring.

“Why were they planted so late?” I asked.

“The saplings didn’t grow well enough to transplant sooner.”

“Then why not wait until spring?”

No one answered.

This management couldn’t continue. I would recommend replacing the man in charge.

I prohibited all further logging and began the journey home.

Several problems now demanded attention. We had to secure firewood from other territories before winter, when every region would already be protecting its own supply.

The struggling saplings were equally urgent.

Fortunately, true winter hadn’t yet begun. Perhaps I could strengthen them in time.

“Then I’ll make Plant Nutrient.”

“Plant Nutrient?” Lionel asked. “What’s that?”

The name made it obvious that I meant a potion.

“It accelerates plant growth. If the saplings become larger and stronger, more of them should survive the winter.”

“Does such a potion truly exist?”

“Yes. It was described in the potion book I inherited from Grandmother.”

That was a lie. Margaret’s book contained nothing of the kind.

However, once I added the recipe to its pages, it would appear that the potion had always existed. The book was an excellent shield for knowledge I couldn’t otherwise explain.

“Amazing,” Lionel said. “Lady Margaret anticipated even this?”

“Perhaps.”

He looked at me with shining eyes, and guilt stabbed me.

The necessary ingredients were ordinary medicinal herbs, Chigo berries, and distilled water. I ordered the knights to collect every ripe Chigo berry they could find along the route.

“Big brother, welcome home!”

“Kyu!”

Rosalia and Mira leapt at me when we reached the mansion. We had been separated for only half a day, yet both behaved as though I had returned from a long expedition.

After reassuring them, I arranged the emergency firewood purchases and wrote a detailed report to Father in the royal capital.

By mid-afternoon, the knights delivered a large quantity of Chigo berries. There was enough for the Plant Nutrient and probably an elementary mana-recovery potion as well.

“Rosalia, I’m going to work in the compounding room. What will you do?”

“I’ll continue making my magic tool.”

She had produced several prototypes while I was away. The design was nearly settled; now she needed repeated testing and revision.

“And Mira?”

“Kyu.”

Mira chose Rosalia too.

Had Rosalia told them that potion-making smelled terrible and stung the eyes? I was grateful to work without distractions, but their immediate rejection still hurt.

I began by producing a large supply of distilled water.

Grandmother’s compounding room contained excellent equipment, yet the distillation apparatus lacked a proper condenser.

“Of course,” I muttered. “Most magic pharmacists use well water directly. Why would they develop efficient condensation if they hardly distil anything?”

I would have to add one myself.

The principle was simple: circulate chilled water through a narrow tube wrapped around the glass vapour pipe, cooling the steam until it condensed.

I used Laboratory and Craft to form the thin glass tubing. That wasn’t a manufacturing method ordinary craftsmen could reproduce, so I would have to conceal this version until I developed a practical alternative.

For now, however, the improved condenser would let me make the large amount of high-quality distilled water the Plant Nutrient required.

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