Chapter 101 – Field Development Team
I held Hippolius in my arms while I walked.
Pii was riding on my shoulder.
‘Hippolius is not heavy?’
“I wouldn’t say you aren’t heavy, but I don’t mind.”
After all, I had carried people’s luggage for many years.
I was used to walking while carrying something heavy.
‘I see!’
We walked a little longer and then Victor and the others came into view.
It was about a minute walk from the base.
Roughly sixty meters, I suppose.
If you shouted very loudly, they would be able to hear you.
“Ah, Theo! What is it?”
Victor said as he noticed me.
“I came to call you because it is lunch time. Was there any problem here?”
“No, no problem at all. Ms. Ije says that with this land, we can grow some crops and harvest them before winter.”
“Oh? That would really help. Ije, what will you plant?”
I asked Ije, who was pulling out weeds with the Adventurers.
“Ah, Mr. Theo. Beans can be planted.”
“Beans, eh? Beans are quite delicious.”
‘Delicious? Hippolius wants to eat!’
Hippolius said while wagging its tail.
“There are many types of beans.”
The village I was born in also grew beans.
However, they planted them in the spring and harvested them in autumn.
But it is currently summer.
So they must be a different kind of bean.
“But there is so much to do to prepare field first.”
“Cutting trees, removing the roots and weeds, and stones.”
“Yes. As you say, Mr. Theo. And so, Hippolius. Help?”
“Kyuo?”
Hippolius wagged its tail as I held it.
‘Hippolius help? Help?’
“It would make a big difference.”
‘Help!’
“Hippolius has agreed to help.”
I told Ije.
“Thank you.”
“Ohh! If Hippolius helps, then the work will finish very quickly!”
“Thank you, Hippolius!”
The other Adventurers said enthusiastically, and Hippolius looked smug.
I petted Hippolius and then suddenly noticed something.
“Huh? Where is Kelly, by the way?”
Kelly had gone out with Victor and Ije, but she was nowhere to be found now.
“Ah, the biologist went…”
One of the Adventurers pointed across the field.
Towards the dense bushes.
“Nature calls?”
I muttered, and then I heard some rustling coming from the bushes.
“…But the base is so close by, why do it over there?”
However, when Kelly came out, she was holding giant, snake-like earthworms in each hand.
An Adventurer shrieked.
“Ahhh!”
“Calm down. They are just earthworms. And they will make the soil softer.”
Apparently, Kelly had been catching these monster worms.
Kelly then put them inside of a barrel.
“Remember, Theo? When we were walking before, and I caught a worm monster?”
“…Yes. Something like that did happen.”
It was when I was walking with Fio, Shiro and Hippolius.
Kelly had suddenly caught a monster worm.
“Ever since them, I have been studying them.”
“Huh… I had no idea.”
“Compared to the earthworms on the old continent, these have ten times the effect on the soil. No, twenty or thirty times as much.”
“That’s amazing.”
That being said, since they were at least ten times longer than normal worms, it should not be too surprising.
They were practically different creatures.
“Also, they have great vitality. And so if we unleashed them in the earth, only good things will happen.”
Kelly said with shining eyes.
However, since the monster worms are so big, I was worried that they might eat the beans.
“Ah, do not worry. They will not eat the beans.”
Kelly must have detected my concern.
“In that case, we can cultivate the soil with Hippolius in the afternoon, and then unleash the worms when we are finished. What do you think, Ije?”
“Good idea! Worms are friends of fields.”
Ije, who had experience with farming on this continent, also recognized the worms as being creatures who would have a good effect on the field.
That was reassuring.
“So it’s settled then. But first, let’s go and eat lunch!”
“Aye! We’ll go back and eat!”
Victor led the way back to the base, and the Adventurers followed after him.
I went as well, while carrying Hippolius and with Pii on my shoulder.
And then Kelly walked next to me.
“Theo. Where is Shiro?”
“Hmm? She is watching the cubs in the dining hall.”
“…I’m sure it’s not the case, but… I hope you haven’t forgotten her morning walk?”
“Ah.”
It seems that I had forgotten something very important.
Thanks for the treat.
Thanks!