The Miracle of Multiplying Rice
A certain city that had been abandoned after its people fled. It was too small to really call a city, but until recently, monsters had been its undisputed owners. Fitting for this era, humans had been utterly defeated and driven out by those monsters. But now, the place was teeming with people. Well, only in one building on the outskirts and the surrounding area, that is.
A large hospital stained with blood, and the commercial district around it. Currently, a thousand people were living together here. A handful of humans who had nearly died after being turned into vampire thralls but somehow survived. There were enough hospital beds and sofas to house them all. Of course, most people were just spreading out mats and sleeping on those, but they were grateful to be alive.
But reality was far from kind. Kwon Sua, the lieutenant tasked with managing these survivors, clutched her throbbing head.
"There's nothing. Nothing at all…."
Supplies were depleting faster than expected. Well, she'd anticipated that when rescuing them. She'd hoped that as the numbers grew, people could pitch in and help. But that idealistic scenario hadn't panned out.
"Most of them have such severe PTSD they can't function, and their bodies are in bad shape too."
Shortest was a week, longest two or three months. From what she'd heard, the vampires had been secretly turning people into thralls since the early gate incidents. They even used their ability to speak to trick and lure entire groups.
"We heard an evacuation broadcast and headed there, and that damn vampire stabbed me!"
"The government official was already a thrall. That's how they got everyone from our school…."
And since they'd been toyed with while fully conscious from the start, it made sense they couldn't keep their sanity. Time wouldn't heal it easily, and with most unable to contribute, it was a real headache.
Still, there was some good news.
"We have one more awakener today."
"Really? What ability?"
"Pyromancer."
"Oh!! That's huge!"
A few awakeners were emerging among the rescued survivors.
"But there's something a bit concerning."
"What?"
"Only people without mental trauma, or those improving enough to help out, are awakening."
"…Seriously?"
"It's early days, so stats are iffy, but maybe mental health or mindset factors into awakening."
"Yeah, keep logging it."
If true, prioritizing survivors' physical and mental health would pay off long-term. The question was how. She tabled it and moved on.
"We're using up combat rations and perishables from the base, but they'll run out in a few days."
"Yeah. Completely overlooked food."
They'd been so focused on slaying monsters and saving people that they'd neglected the basics. Unavoidable, really—the unit here was all in their twenties. Private Jeong Seunghwa was the eldest. And the only one with higher education? Also Jeong Seunghwa, a private first class.
"…Ugh."
Kwon Sua was exhausted. She'd only joined officer training because she couldn't find a job after college and followed her parents for a short stint. Now she was leading all these people. Way above her pay grade.
"Sigh…. The potatoes from the Druid aren't cutting it. Should we try farming ourselves?"
"Right now, we're just raiding monster-overrun empty villages for supplies."
"Like that's easy…."
Sua fiddled with her companion bird, barely holding onto her fraying sanity.
"Worse, what about water?"
"Gotta hit empty convenience stores for bottled water again."
"Feeding a thousand means raiding a big mart."
The mood sank. They avoided eye contact in heavy silence until—
The conference room door burst open. Salvation had arrived.
"Sir!! Private First Class Jeong Seunghwa reporting back after receiving goods from the Druid!"
"At ease. Goods? More potatoes?"
"I've brought a new plant from the Druid."
New plant. Five simple words, no cheers, but everyone's pupils started quaking. Magnitude 9.0.
Sua shot to her feet. "Let's see it!!"
"Right here!"
Jeong Seunghwa plunked a sack of rice on the table.
"…Rice?"
"Yes! Didn't the Druid say she needed a rice mill last time?"
"Oh, she made this with it?"
Sua and the soldiers inspected the sack closely. Just plain old rice, nothing special.
"So, what's the effect?"
"No special effects this time. But…."
"But?"
"When you cook it into rice, it multiplies several times over."
"…What?"
She'd heard it clear as day, but it didn't compute. Sua cleaned her ears and asked again. Same answer.
"With this…?!"
"Yes! We won't starve, at least. And she'll keep supplying it."
"Test it now."
The meeting ended fast. Next stop: cook rice. They grabbed two sacks and headed to the kitchen.
"Cook!!!"
Calling the cook's name, they rushed over, but he scowled at the sudden crowd. His workload had ballooned tenfold lately; what now?
But Sua smiled warmly. "How's it going?"
"Not easy. But some survivors have restaurant experience and are helping, so we'll hold out till they recover."
"Good. I've got great news for a guy like you."
"What is it?"
"The Druid sent rice."
"Not potatoes, rice? What's the effect?"
The cook eyed it skeptically. No big expectations—Druid was amazing by rumor, but quantities weren't enough for a thousand to eat their fill. Better than nothing, though. As he leaned in—
Sua grinned. "Get this: it multiplies several times when cooked into rice!!"
Crash!! Something shattered in the cook's mind.
"…I'll test it right now."
They added a bit to a massive pot—just enough to cover the bottom.
"Water… let's go generous."
If it multiplied, maybe water too? But water was scarce, so minimal test. The result? Jaw-dropping.
The pot brimmed with rice.
"Th-this is like ten times more?!!"
The cook forgot decorum in shock, but Sua just nodded.
Now, taste. Steamed pot rice was usually meh, low expectations—
"…Maybe 'cause it's unhulled? Tastes good?"
"Could compete with the fancy white rice places from before the gates."
Hunger as side dish, or just delicious? Slurped right down solo.
"Another miracle item."
"Make onigiri fast and distribute to everyone."
Cooks scrambled, faces shedding fatigue for hope. Others cleared out.
Time passed. People lined up at the kitchen.
"Gonna be gruel again…."
"Heard they foraged wild greens from the back hill last time?"
"Someone caught a wild boar, right?"
"More like, hot soup with rice for once."
"Totally. Month-plus of blood; I miss gukbap."
Chatting, they entered—and spotted massive onigiri piled high. Dinner, obviously. Grateful enough. Lunch was just a quarter ration. These would fill a bit?
Then the cook's shout stunned them.
"Take as many onigiri as you want!!!"
Eat your fill? A total 180 from lunch's "Save some for others" scolding hours ago.
"For real?"
"Weren't we out of food?!"
"Where'd all this come from?"
As questions flew, Sua beside the cook smiled.
"Everyone. This is from a benefactor who's always helping our unit."
"A benefactor?"
"Who is it?"
Sua couldn't spill details. She knew Hayun Seong's name, location, powers—but Hayun wanted secrecy for safety.
"Food prepared by a great Druid."
All she could say: the job title.
"Druid? What's that?"
"Like, turning into bears and wolves?"
"That devil game thing? Can it make rice?"
Speculation buzzed, but consensus: thank the daily-bread Druid. They feasted on overflowing food for the first time in ages. Laughter filled the kitchen that day, they say.
* * *
"Mm, nice."
Surveying the vast rice paddy, I couldn't help smiling. No need for a separate field thanks to rapid growth; the bright yellow stalks sprouting from damp soil made a novel sight.
Harvest all that, mill it, bag it roughly: Druid-brand rice complete.
Steady shipments to the military base and Haven should prevent starvation, at least.
"Haven's been a while, huh?"
"I've scouted a few times, but hauling goods like this? Long time."
Vampire crisis had me all-in there, neglecting Haven beyond potato drops. A bit worried; sending an extra this time.
"Turtle. You'll be okay?"
"Worry not!! I'll make a great lake there!"
"No need for that much."
Turtle could mass-produce water, so handy for spares. Plus, check their vibe.
"Have a safe trip!!!"
"I'll bring back treasures!!"
Watching them go, I didn't head home. Mana still plentiful.
"…Level up?"
Used rapid growth a ton, but mana held steady. Tree of Life regen helped, but not this much.
"Pace it right, and I can feed two thousand easy."
Plus test new plants en route. Grabbed seeds on hand: sweet potatoes, green onions, radishes, cabbage, peppers.
Whoa, that's a lot. Plant 'em all?
"……?!!"
Now available.
My head buzzed. Something whispered to me.
I cupped my hands and shouted.
"Seed creation!!"
Mana drained in a rush, nearly dizzying. It coalesced into a small seed.
"…What the heck is this?"
Bigger than a 500-won coin for a seed. Deep brown, with twisty root-like protrusions. Like a shard from a warped nether tree?
◈ A tree that emits mysterious mana to delude enemies.
A screen popped up as I stared.
What? That's the whole description?