Chapter 76
Chapter 76
Another World Agricultural Revolution
A method of growing crops in pots supported by wooden frames was included in the explanation.
“So this is how I plan to do hydroponic cultivation.”
“Hydroponics? Why go to such trouble?”
“If you simply sow seeds directly in soil, the eggs of insects or bacteria already in the soil can affect the crops.
To prevent that, if we bake the soil and turn it into small clay balls, wouldn’t that eliminate the insect eggs and
bacteria inside the soil?
If we plant seedlings on these clay balls and grow them by having them absorb water mixed with fertilizer, I think we
can minimize pests and diseases while also ensuring good drainage for the crops.”
Idnia held her blueprint and explained the hydroponic method and its advantages to Bureumhilde and Lachias.
“Why make the workbench and pots elevated?”
“It improves drainage and makes it easier to block access from ants and other insects roaming on the ground.
By adjusting the height of each pot depending on the crop, we can also control sunlight exposure, and since there’s no
need to crouch for weeding or harvesting, we can work standing up, improving efficiency.”
“Hmm? An interesting idea. Is this popular in Betelgeuse?”
“How will you make the nutrient solution and fertilizer?”
Both Ludwig and Lachias began to show interest after seeing Idnia’s design.
“Still, I cannot permit logging. I will prepare wood at the academy store, so purchase and use it.”
“Eh? No, but….”
Other nobles might have been pleased, but Idnia, despite being one of the highest-ranking nobles among the academy
students, had no money.
If she had to buy items from the store using academy coins, it would be troublesome.
“But if you’re going to be watering these, they don’t necessarily have to be made of wood, right? For example….”
Lachias picked up his magic wand and cast a spell.
Stone rose from the soil, forming stone-made frames and pots for hydroponic cultivation.
“Wow? It’s sparkling? It doesn’t even look like glazed ceramics.”
Idnia touched the pot Lachias had created and was surprised.
‘Good heavens. He extracted silicon and aluminum from the earth and gathered them to form this.
It’s practically high-hardness ceramic. It rings like metal when struck and won’t break easily.
To create something like this so effortlessly with magic… impressive.’
Idnia marveled at Lachias’s magical skill.
Seeing this, Ludwig clicked his tongue.
“Lachias….”
“Ah. Since I caused a great inconvenience to Student Idnia, let’s call this compensation.
Ludwig, aren’t you curious? How she will cultivate crops?
Whether her hydroponic theory will actually be effective?”
“Well. I am curious.
Very well.
If this is to compensate for your mistake as a professor, then it is not a problem.”
“And if Student Idnia produces results quickly, we can even build a Wizard Ball team, can’t we? Hahaha.”
Saying this, Lachias swung his wand like a conductor’s baton.
A large wall of flames was created.
And toward that wall of flames, the soil Idnia had excavated poured down in a cascade, passing through the flames and
baking itself.
Beyond the fiery barrier, hardened clay spheres tumbled out in succession.
‘Ah, it looks like marble ice cream….’
Idnia watched the falling clay balls and thought that.
‘Honestly, I was planning to go through quite a lot of trouble to make these, but with the professors actively
helping, this is incredibly easy.
But why are they helping this much? Do they feel guilty about something?’
Idnia had such doubts… but since it was time to begin hydroponics, she obediently accepted Lachias’s help.
“But if we fill the pots with only these clay balls, wouldn’t the water drain too quickly? For some crops, it’s better
if the roots aren’t overly exposed to air.”
“That’s why I plan to mix them with baked soil. The bottom will be filled with gravel, the middle with clay balls, and
the top will be covered with sawdust to prevent moisture from evaporating.”
As soon as Idnia said that, Lachias waved his wand again, extracting gravel from the soil, baking it to eliminate
pests and diseases, and neatly placing it into the pots.
Then he placed the baked clay balls on top, so it seemed that whenever Idnia spoke, Lachias handled everything.
With Lachias’s help, Idnia first prepared the seeds.
“These are turnip seeds I bought when I went out before… For now, we’ll germinate them in a medium. We’ll need some
tree bark or sawdust for that.”
“Tree bark or sawdust? But if you use those, bacteria or pests could breed inside them.”
“Yes. So we need to heat-treat them without burning them—basically bake them using something like the heated irons
used in sawmills to make planks….”
As Idnia explained, Lachias again brought wood, shaved it into thin layers, and baked it to create a germination
medium.
Thin wood shavings, like those planed with a hand plane, were formed.
Idnia placed the seeds on the shavings and took out a potion.
“And then this….”
It was the rapid growth potion she had obtained from the alchemy workshop.
Idnia diluted the potion in water and moistened the medium.
“A rapid growth potion? Using that would be illegal.”
Ludwig was dumbfounded, watching Idnia casually take out an illegal substance right in front of him.
The rapid growth potion could make crops grow quickly, but it was prohibited because it degraded soil and rapidly
spread dangerous pests and diseases.
“Yes. Normally, if used in soil, it would contaminate the soil and spread pests, making it dangerous. But with
hydroponics, we can prevent the potion from reaching the soil.
That’s one of the reasons I chose hydroponics for this.
Otherwise, how long would it take to grow and harvest crops?
Even turnips, which are relatively fast-growing, would still take at least two months if grown normally.”
“Hmm. So you built this hydroponic system with all that in mind?
Impressive. This is not the thinking of an ordinary student.
Is it because she is from Betelgeuse?”
It was well known that the Principality of Betelgeuse had been devastated in the aftermath of the Demon King’s
descent.
Perhaps that is why Idnia, the ducal daughter of Betelgeuse, had found ways to utilize even prohibited substances
despite her young age.
Thinking this way, her ideas seemed beyond that of a mere student.
‘Or perhaps divine knowledge from another world has flowed into her as a half-demon.
But even if such knowledge had entered her, the fact that she can design and act like this is truly astonishing.
She is not just an immature noble lady.
How heavy a burden she must be carrying on her shoulders…
No, are all students these days like this?’
Ludwig recalled that all the students from the Elector families enrolled at the academy carried burdens too heavy for
boys and girls of their age.
“Now then, let’s extract fertilizer from the soil.
Fortunately, the soil we just excavated is well aerated….”
Idnia poured water into the soil and prepared her spell.
‘Alright. Time to use extraction magic.
The main nutrients of fertilizer—phosphorus likely exists in nature as phosphate rather than pure form, potassium as
potassium salts, calcium in small amounts, iron as iron oxides, and nitrogen as urea or uric acid forms.
Let’s extract only these, minimizing organic matter.’
Idnia selected the target elements and cast extraction magic with their properties in mind.
A liquid was drawn out from the soil along with water.
Seeing this, Ludwig and Lachias were impressed.
“This is not the skill of a beginner.”
“I had heard the rumors, but she is truly skilled at extraction. However….”
Lachias raised a question.
“Normally, fertilizer is made from compost, ash, or biological remains, isn’t it?
Without any of that, can crops really grow with just this liquid… with such a small amount?”
Lachias expressed his doubt.
“That’s fine. Ordinary farmers use manure or biological remains as fertilizer, but plants don’t directly absorb those.
They absorb the products after microorganisms decompose them.
What I’m extracting are precisely those decomposed elements that plants can readily absorb.
In fact, I’m surprised.
From this amount of soil, extracting this much means the soil is quite fertile.
As expected of the professors’ residence, where the land hasn’t been cultivated much and nutrients have accumulated….”
As Idnia said that, she suddenly felt an odd gaze directed at her.
Lachias and Ludwig seemed surprised by her statement.
“Did I say something strange?”
“How did you know that?”
“This is surprising.
We may be the ones who should be asking you for guidance.”
Lachias and Ludwig were astonished that Idnia possessed such agricultural knowledge.
“Ah, well… living in harsh Betelgeuse and trying to survive somehow led me to this.
Now then, I’ll store this extracted nutrient solution separately…
And leave the soil in a well-ventilated area so microorganisms can continue breaking down organic matter, and when it
rains, natural fertilizer will form….”
Idnia moved to the germination medium soaked with diluted rapid growth potion.
“Now, if I add some nutrient solution here… huh? It’s already sprouted. Wow, that’s fast.
Is this the effect of the rapid growth potion?”
The reputation of the rapid growth potion was not for nothing—the seeds had already germinated and were growing
rapidly.
“We would have been in trouble if we hadn’t provided nutrients quickly.
Now, while that’s happening, let’s install a water supply system so that nutrients and water are evenly distributed to
the top of the pots.
Professor Lachias, this.”
Idnia quickly drew a diagram on paper and showed it.
“Yes?”
“Please make this out of aluminum oxide and silicon ceramics so that it is waterproof like these pots.”
“…Ah, yes.”
Lachias looked at Idnia, who was now shamelessly making demands after already being helped, and felt flustered.
Should he refuse?
But he had already helped her.
And he was also curious about what Idnia was trying to do.
Lachias glanced at Ludwig and waved his wand.
Following Idnia’s blueprint, a water supply system was created.
There was a large water tank, and when a pump was operated, water would automatically be drawn up and distributed to
all the pots.
Idnia added nutrient solution into the tank and adjusted the concentration by mixing in water from a fountain.
Meanwhile, the turnip seeds had not only sprouted but had absorbed nutrients and grown rapidly into seedlings.
“The turnip seeds have become seedlings.
The nutrient solution must really be effective. Even with the rapid growth potion, the seedlings look healthy.”
“Then let’s transplant them.”
Using telekinesis magic, Idnia began lifting the seedlings and transplanting them into the pots, though she could only
move one or two at a time.
Watching this, Ludwig stood with his arms crossed, tapping his foot as he observed, seemingly enduring boredom.
‘The academy’s principle is not to overly interfere with students’ work.
But… I’m really curious. I can’t resist this….’
In the end, Ludwig could not hold back. He cleared his throat and raised his wand.
“I’ll lend a hand as well.”
Even Ludwig, defeated by curiosity, cast his magic, and the many seedlings were automatically planted neatly into the
pots one by one.
Seeing this, Lachias smiled faintly at Ludwig.
“Don’t laugh.”
“As expected, we prisoners of the academy are too weak against boredom.
From the start, this is a battle we are bound to lose. If you weren’t going to help her anyway, you should have left
immediately.”
“That’s true. Then how about you set an example, Professor Lachias, and leave?”
“I have decided to humbly accept defeat to boredom and curiosity. What about you, Headmaster?”
“As the administrator, I cannot leave someone who once assaulted a student. I must supervise.”
“Very well. It’s all my fault, then.”