Chapter 40.1

“Fantasy worlds are really something. Just a bit of fertilizer, and this happens.”

The Northern magical fertilizer—no, the sacred Mary’s Blessing—had shown its miraculous effects in less than a week.

From the rapid growth of crops to their exceptional health, every aspect surpassed imagination.

“Especially the potatoes. With this fertilizer, it’s possible to grow potatoes in most of the North.”

Mary’s Blessing shone brightest in addressing the North’s most persistent issue: the cold.

Potatoes, in particular, stood out. Even in regions previously too cold to cultivate them, they now grew successfully.

The yields and growth speed weren’t as high as in milder areas, but the mere possibility of cultivation where none existed before was groundbreaking.

“Get to digging over there!”

“Load those sacks onto the carriages!”

“Womenfolk, help the witches mix the blessing over there!”n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

The air buzzed with the sound of lively labor.

At the High Tower’s greenhouse farm, hundreds of carefully selected residents and adventurers toiled away, shoveling fertile black soil.

The soil was transported to an adjacent processing area where it was refined into fertilizer.

Every witch in the High Tower was involved in this task, along with officials, adventurers, and even local women eager to earn a side income.

Their daily wage? A sack of Mary’s Blessing. Demand had skyrocketed, and the fertilizer had become so valuable it was nearly impossible to buy with money alone.

The bustling scene, filled with shouts and the scent of sweat, was strangely satisfying to watch.

Using “site supervision” as an excuse, I often wandered around the area despite having little to do.

It reminded me of the businesses I managed back on Earth and gave me a sense of nostalgia for home.

And no one found it odd that the developer of the fertilizer spent so much time here.

“So, the obelisk stays after all.”

As I strolled through the greenhouse farm, my eyes caught sight of a white obelisk, and I stopped in front of it.

“This obelisk resembles the twenty-six black obelisks found elsewhere. They bore the Imperial Tower’s runes, confirming this was the Empire’s doing. Expected, but still frustrating.”

My thoughts turned to the culprits behind this recent crisis.

“A good number of Northern nobles sided with the Empire. Their justification? Discontent with the High Tower’s tight control over estate and toll taxes. Fools. Those policies are the reason this land can still sustain itself.”

The Empire’s plot to manipulate Northern nobles into rebellion had inadvertently presented the Frost Knights with a chance to prove their loyalty after Doyle’s betrayal.

Like rabid dogs, the Frost Knights had relentlessly pursued and dismantled the holdings of lords who had obelisks on their lands.

“At this rate, industrial espionage won’t be a concern much longer.”

This also meant the North was nearing the day when it could establish factories and magical engineering academies.

The prospect was exhilarating, but it also brought to mind the original timeline—specifically, the Great Northern Famine that wiped out a third of the North’s population.

“Could the famine in the original timeline also have been the Empire’s doing? If that’s true… they’re beyond reprehensible.”

Though my suspicion was only a theory, I was already 70% convinced the Empire had orchestrated the famine.

In the original story, they would have occupied the High Tower’s greenhouse farm, likely using the witches’ obelisks to unleash devastating consequences—the famine’s horrifying results spoke for themselves.

If the Empire wanted to weaken the rebellious and resourceful Northerners, starving them into submission would have been the perfect tactic.

“Boss, there you are!”

Lost in thought, I was startled by Mary’s voice.

I hadn’t noticed her approach. She wore a bright smile, seemingly in high spirits.

“Mary, feeling motivated to come to work today?”

“Yes! I’m always grateful for your consideration.”

“…Right. Very grateful, I’m sure.”

Mary had taken to our flexible work system like a fish to water, to the point that her sudden disappearances and reappearances were now treated as routine.

In truth, it felt like the boss was being manipulated by an employee.

“I have to treat my staff like royalty… though in her case, that’s not far off.”

Despite being an illegitimate child, Mary carried the blue blood of the Grand Duchy and had the potential to become a future Archwitch.

“Without you, Boss, the North might truly have collapsed.”

“Where’s this coming from?”

“What do you mean? From Arad Salt to the detector, to Mary’s Blessing—none of it was ‘sudden.’”

“That’s not quite what I meant, but… fine, if you insist. It’s mostly luck.”

Mary’s cheerful demeanor was infectious, and I found myself smiling as well.

“But, Boss,” she began, tilting her head.

“Yes?”

“If we keep extracting this black soil, won’t it eventually run out?”

“Oh, you don’t need to worry about that,” I replied with a chuckle.

“This black soil extends deep into the earth.”

“But it must have limits.”

“See those old obelisks from the greenhouse? Why do you think we left them untouched even after this crisis ended?”

I gestured toward the obelisks, explaining further.

“Instead of removing them, I modified their runes and spell arrays. Now, instead of raising the temperature, they draw fertility and magical energy exclusively from the Eternal Permafrost beyond the Great Wall.”

The greenhouse farm had been transformed.

The mana previously used to heat the area was redirected into enriching the soil, while the modified arrays summoned both vitality and mana from the permafrost.

“If the soil ever depletes, we can just add any regular dirt. Within five years, it’ll transform into the same black soil.”

In essence, the farm had become a near-permanent resource reservoir.

“…!”

Understanding dawned on Mary, and her face lit up.

“That means… Renslet will never have to worry about food again! No more relying on the Empire for imports!”

Her joy was palpable, as if Renslet’s bright future was a personal triumph.

TL Note: Rate us on NOVEL UPDATES