Chapter 105
Chapter 105
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 105
Chapter Title: Mad Wizard (5)
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The flowers of the Snow Flower Tree attract living animals. And living animals draw in predators—in other words, monsters. So, if used right, the Snow Flower Tree could make for an excellent lure. Plant one and dig traps all around it... Undead, being mostly mindless, would fall right into decent traps without much trouble.
"Let's improve this one to bloom more flowers and spread its scent farther."
I handed Pew a new seed pouch and examined the next seed.
Snow Lotus. Like its swamp counterparts, it had tough, resilient stems and roots. It had to, burrowing into cold snow and rooting into rock.
If used well, the Snow Lotus would make climbing much easier. Wrap a section of stem around your body, grow it in that state, and let the stem's strength pull you up. It wouldn't work on truly sheer cliffs, but in the early stages of a climb, it would save a ton of stamina.
'It'd be especially helpful for mages like Khalid.'
Khalid left most physical labor to his golems. No wonder his stamina was poor. Typical mage.
Golems were strong but slow and clumsy, making them ill-suited for climbing. That meant Khalid would have to climb under his own power. Whatever magic tools he might have... he'd probably still need help from others.
In any case, saving stamina early on would help us all, so prioritizing stem and root reinforcement for the Snow Lotus seemed wise.
"Make this one stronger. But not so strong it crushes rock."
-Pew~!
I handed Pew the second seed pouch and moved on.
Finally, the star of this improvement session: the Frost Pea.
I wanted to put extra effort into the Frost Pea. Succeed in turning it into a combat plant, and it'd pave the way for doing the same with others.
Naturally, a Frost Pea pod held just one pea. Regular peas had three or four inside the pod, but ones surviving the harsh snowfields usually had one, rarely two.
"First, increase the number of peas per pod. At least five."
The Pews listened intently, faces serious.
"Then, make the peas harder. They're tough enough now, but let's toughen them more."
They weren't for eating or sprouting—just pure "shooting," so hardness was key. Hard enough to pierce wooden planks and deal real damage.
"Finally, speed matters when they're launched."
A hand-throw wouldn't cut it. Not even against squishy zombie flesh. Speed was as crucial as hardness.
"This needs to hit with plank-piercing velocity too. Fill the pod with air, make it swell but not burst easily, then trap the gases from growth and explode them out—that should launch the peas with explosive force."
Improve the pod to puff up without popping prematurely, store growth gases, then boom—peas flying. That should match the image in my head.
'Later, I could evolve it into a full explosive variant...'
Explosives would pack insane punch, but using them now would be idiotic. Trigger an avalanche in the Silver Mountains? We'd wipe out the undead—and ourselves—in the process. Focus on phase one improvements for now.
I gave Pew the Frost Pea seed pouch, plus the silver snowfluff seeds.
"Make the fluff smaller and denser. Like a real fog if possible."
The snowfluff, spewing its cottony tufts, would be perfect for escape in a pinch.
That covered it. I gave the Pews half the harvested fruits and reminded them.
"No need to overdo it. But I want perfect results, kids."
-Pew!!
They replied energetically. I petted each head, then left the Dimensional Garden.
* * *
-Knock knock.
"Khalid, sir? You there?"
The mansion door slid open, and two familiar golems greeted me. I followed the one holding a candle up to the second floor. It stopped before the lab spewing green flames, and the door opened silently.
Khalid sat in a chair, staring into space, lost in thought. He barely registered my entrance. I wasn't fazed anymore; I spread a thin, sturdy hemp cloth over an empty desk in the corner.
"Brought the Black Opium."
"......"
Khalid remained deep in thought. Ugh, this is why I hate mages. I shot him a side-eye, then pulled sorted top-grade Black Opium from my subspatial ring and laid it on the desk. Ungprocessed, the petals and stems glistened with luster.
"Quite the harvest. Next one's bound to be bigger."
"......Good."
Khalid finally spoke. Done thinking, he rose and approached. He plucked a petal, held it to his nose, and sniffed. The pollen was laced with hallucinogens and auditory delusions—dangerous stuff—but he didn't care. Mad bastard.
"I'll return the seeds."
I pulled out a pouch with the exact amount he'd lent me. Khalid shook his head.
"No."
"......"
"Instead, let's keep this deal going."
As expected. Khalid was a mage, not a druid. He couldn't grow Black Opium himself. Better to keep trading with me than reclaim the seeds.
Of course, it benefited me too.
Mad mage or not, Khalid had skills. And money. Ongoing Black Opium trades meant steady, reliable income.
'Plus, I'd gain his favor and endorsement.'
The latter mattered more. Khalid was among Solen's top mages. He shunned politics, but few could match his power. He'd even been offered the Tower Lord position. Everyone trashed him as a lunatic but acknowledged his talent. Aligning with him was risky—but profitable.
'It even got me the dragon meeting, thanks to him.'
I pretended to mull it over, rolling my eyes, then nodded.
"Agreed."
"But you'll have terms."
"......"
How'd he know? He cut me off like he already did. Annoying. I scratched my head awkwardly and grinned.
"Yes, terms."
"Out with them."
"Black Opium trades stay fixed: same schedule, same volume. No more frequent, no less; no more quantity, no less."
"Why? Selling more benefits you, no?"
True. More sales, more profit.
'But who knows what a bulk-supplied Khalid might do.'
Even if he was using it purely for magical curiosity now, prepare for "what ifs." He was the "mad" mage, and Black Opium was the world's most dangerous substance.
'In the game, Khalid just... vanished without explanation.'
Envis focused on the West, South, East, and North Tower Lords. North vanished with Ansgar's fall, sure...
Anyway, Khalid got a brief mention as East Tower Lord Claude's mentor—then nothing. No one knew what became of him.
'A guy that skilled doesn't just fade. Something happened.'
Probably bad.
I didn't want that risk. So I framed growing Black Opium as "tricky," haggled the price—200 gold for two harvests a year, fixed amount—and accepted his extra term: exclusive supply to him. Fewer people knowing I grew it, the better.
"Then, looking forward to more business."
I signed the magic parchment and shook on it. Soon, a golem hauled in a sack brimming with gold coins.
-Thud!
What a sound. I stored the bulging sack in my subspatial ring.
"By the way, climbing prep going well?"
"Modifying climbing golems."
"But the Silver Mountains have intense mana waves. Artificial golems will suffer."
"High chance of body-core separation."
"Any alternatives?"
Khalid, hunched over the Black Opium, looked up with gleaming eyes.
"Alternatives..."
Chills ran down my spine. What's with that look? Ominous!
"Just thought of one. Want to hear?"
"......Well, my party's waiting at the inn."
"A late dinner won't kill them."
"I'm clueless on magic. Think I'll get it?"
"I'll explain simply enough for a druid."
No escaping this vibe. I watched Khalid step to the chalkboard.
"Listen up."