Chapter 31.1

Telling a mage or a witch, “Your magic is fundamentally flawed!” is a daunting and provocative statement.

It’s not just an insult to the mage but also to their master and their entire school of magic.

And in this case, the person responsible for the greenhouse farms was none other than the Spring Archwitch.

In the worst scenario, I might find myself the target of a curse, essentially this world’s equivalent of assassination.

Still, I pressed on.

“The spirits were commanded to make the greenhouse climate warm and fertile to maximize crop yields.”

“……”

“And this command presented a golden opportunity for the spirits themselves.”

Spirits, by Earth’s standards, were akin to natural AI—entities bound by contracts to accomplish their given tasks, often disregarding the methods used to achieve them.

“Every time a spirit fulfills a summoner’s request, their spiritual energy grows stronger.”

Isabelle listened to my explanation with a hardened expression.

“Without needing to fight or struggle, the spirits realized they could grow stronger just by farming in the greenhouses every year. For them, these High Tower greenhouses were a treasure trove beyond measure.”

In that process, competition among spirits likely intensified, with some overstepping their bounds and pulling in magical energy from the surrounding lands.

As a result, the North’s magical reserves were rapidly depleted, creating the foundation for a future regional famine.

“And if the summoner were to discover why the region’s magical reserves are weakening?”

“They’d lose this precious goldmine.”

“Spirits are both pure and cunning. At times, their actions approach pure malice.”

“You’re right. That’s nature for you.”

Isabelle murmured bitterly as she fully grasped my explanation.

“We’ll need to shut down the greenhouses.”

The voice of the old witch was resolute.

“We can temporarily shut them down and rebuild them. I’ll help. But… for the year or two it takes to reconstruct the greenhouses, the food supply will be tight.”

Food was scarce in the North.

The harsh winters left little arable land, and livestock farming was risky due to monsters and wild predators.

Limited farmland, hesitant ranching, dangerous hunting, and imported goods sold by imperial merchants were the North’s primary food sources.

“We’ve quietly stockpiled some food, and I hear the delegation recently negotiated significantly lower prices for wheat and rye from the Empire. We should manage somehow.”

Isabelle shrugged in response to my concerns.

“I’ll need to report to Her Highness before heading to the greenhouses.”

“I’ll also look for additional ways to secure food supplies.”

“Sir Arad, you should focus on the trading company. Producing more items like Arad Salt is far more critical.”

“I’ll help as much as I can without neglecting my primary duties.”

“Really… Sir Arad, you’re truly a blessing to the North.”

Her words brought a deep sense of relief to my heart.

‘Looks like I won’t be cursed after all. Isabelle’s truly magnanimous. She didn’t become an Archwitch for nothing.’

Thankfully, Isabelle showed no signs of displeasure toward my report.

“Oh, by the way, Sir Arad, are you looking to hire staff for the trading company?”

Surprisingly, Isabelle seemed grateful for my findings and tried to help in any way she could.

“Staff? Yes, I definitely need to hire some.”

She offered to recommend someone—a much-appreciated gesture. Given the high illiteracy rate in this world, finding employees who could read, write, and handle calculations had been a challenge.

Security concerns only added to the difficulty.

“The Grand Duchess will assign senior knights for protection, so what you need are clerical staff and manufacturing assistants?”

“Yes! The problem is finding someone with both competence and trustworthiness.”

“I thought as much. Her Highness can be so thoughtless sometimes. What if you collapse from overwork?”

“Hahaha…”

“For manufacturing assistants, you mean those helping with magitech tools? What level of magic proficiency are you looking for?”

“Two-circle mages will suffice. I’m two-circle myself.”

“Oh, that’s wonderful! I happen to know someone who’s skilled in both clerical work and assisting with manufacturing. Would you like to hire them?”

“I’d be delighted. But… is this person a witch by any chance?”

I fidgeted with my collar as I asked. Memories of the frostbite I received from Arina after mingling with younger witches made me wary.

“They’re not a witch, so don’t worry. They’re a low-tier adventurer with two-circle proficiency, quick at calculations, and skilled in administrative tasks.”

Her assurance put me at ease. A non-witch employee meant I’d likely be hiring a man.

Even in the predominantly female Witch Assembly, there didn’t seem to be gender restrictions on handling miscellaneous tasks.

And since the Spring Archwitch herself was vouching for this person, I assumed they might also double as a means to monitor me.

“Oh! I see. I’d like to hire them right away.”

Having no reason to refuse, I accepted Isabelle’s offer.

“However, they do have another primary job.”

“Another job?”

“Yes, but having them is better than not having anyone at all.”

“Hmm… All right. I’m not in a position to be picky right now.”

Though the fact that they had another job concerned me, I brushed it off, assuming it was something like an occasional quest.

***

As spring unfolded outside, the atmosphere within the High Tower grew warmer and cozier, as though the bloody purges had never occurred.

“It can’t be helped. At least we discovered it sooner rather than later.”

Upon hearing Isabelle’s report, Arina nodded and stamped her seal on the documents before her.

“Really… I’m so ashamed, my lady… no, Your Highness! Please, punish me!”

Despite her advanced age and status as an Archwitch, Isabelle humbly lowered herself.

Usually, she treated the Grand Duchess like a kind mother, but in moments like this, her demeanor turned serious and submissive.

It was a trait likely ingrained in witches, who had endured centuries of persecution.

“It’s fine. Even if the greenhouse wasn’t perfect, it’s thanks to it that the North has survived countless crises. If anything, you deserve a reward, not punishment.”

Arina dismissed the old witch’s plea without hesitation.

“Is he… doing well?”n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Instead, she swiftly shifted to another topic.

“He just put up a sign for the official trading company in the High Tower. The opening ceremony is coming soon.”

Isabelle replied with a brightened expression, as if she had anticipated this turn in the conversation.

“Has he… asked about me?”

“Of course he has.”

“What… what did he say?”

Arina’s face noticeably lit up.

“He said he hasn’t seen you lately and misses you.”

“…Oh? Oh!”

Arina’s expression froze completely at Isabelle’s teasing words.

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