What's wrong with me, a mage, loving to farm?

Chapter 209. Wheat's Rice-Making Technique, Level 209 Member

In Kroya's vision, ordinary wheat has virtually no chance of influencing nature, let alone in a magical fantasy world.

Therefore, the wheat he planned to use to create the so-called spectacle was the Sea God Barley and Sea God Wheat that he had researched—the Sea God Wheat was also transformed into a magical plant by him in the same way.

After research, these two crops can now be grown on land, making them amphibious crops.

The wonder he wanted to build was based on these two types of wheat, which would affect the concentration of magic power in a certain area, and in turn affect the evolution of magical beasts and magical plants.

This wasn't a spur-of-the-moment idea; it was just that I suddenly thought of a suitable way to use it.

During his observations of the Northern Territory, he discovered that the magical beasts and plants there showed signs of growth and evolution, which seemed to stem from the sudden surge in magical power in the Northern Territory.

The magic from the ocean has accumulated throughout the North, and has even caused some abnormal changes.

For example, some wolves and tigers became irritable and restless due to the accumulation of magic power, and took the initiative to attack humans.

Magic is indeed a good thing, but excessive and sudden bursts of magic will definitely not bring good results.

He was worried that such changes would affect his farming business, so he inquired with the Terre River in hopes of getting some answers.

As it turned out, the Terre River told him that this change was nature regulating and digesting the magic, and that there was simply too much magic coming from the ocean.

This change will continue until this abnormally increased magical power is completely exhausted or until some magical beasts and plants that can devour this magical power naturally evolve.

When Chloe learned of this, her first thought was whether she should try to obtain some of the magic to help nature digest it.

But after thinking it over carefully, he gave up.

The reason is that he now has far too much magic power: magic crystal mines, magic veins, the regular output from the Ether Wolf, and the overflow from the ocean...

Even the Orpheus Swan Recorder Tree is now saturated, and all the excess magic power has been put into the energy storage tree that Kroya purchased from the Holy Spring Merchant Guild.

Since he didn't intend to take the magic power, he needed to consider how to guide it so that the magical beasts and magical plants could evolve smoothly without affecting himself or nature.

Make sure that all evolution is beneficial.

To ensure he was on the right track, he needed to communicate with nature before officially starting the plan, to see what the most appropriate course of action would be.

"I have an idea..."

He chose to tell Mifein about his plan. Although they had only known each other for a short time, he could sense that Mifein was trustworthy.

Moreover, Milfein's knowledge and experience are indeed what he needs. He urgently needs to learn more about the earth and nature, which will be helpful for his future.

Of course, another reason was that Kroa wanted to test whether Mephiin knew about the curse of the Mother God that was on the barley and wheat of the Sea God.

Therefore, what he said was very ambiguous, and it was just a preliminary plan.

After hearing his plan, Mi Feiyin's expression of surprise grew, even comparable to the one she had when she saw the Mother Goddess's dream in the light screen.

The bishop exclaimed in surprise, "No one has ever cultivated Sea God Barley and Sea God Wheat into magical plants before. If you, my friend, can truly cultivate them successfully..."

I'm willing to apply for a medal from the church for you.

His expression was genuine.

Kroa could sense that he was genuinely expressing his feelings, and probably didn't know about the issue of the sea god's barley and wheat.

Symphonies and orange hymns both prove this point.

This only made Chloe more puzzled. If even the bishops of the church didn't know that barley and wheat were cursed by the Mother Goddess...

Could this matter involve higher levels of the church?

He suppressed these doubts, showing no sign on his face, and continued to ask:

"This is just something I'm planning to try; do you think it's feasible?"

"certainly."

Without hesitation, Miffy replied, "This practice also exists within churches."

"We will proactively intervene in natural changes to ensure that all living things on earth can thrive and multiply freely."

"Mother Earth blesses everything."

"Friends, we humans are also part of nature."

"Only our elven friends would believe... that nature is above all else."

That last sentence struck a chord with Chloe, and she suddenly understood.

Yes.

Lately, he's been thinking about how naturally surviving magical plants and beasts are faring, but he's neglected the existence of humans in the natural world.

This could be due to the things he came into contact with.

Both the Orpheus Oak and the Terai River embody a natural consciousness that prioritizes nature, with humans playing a relatively minor role.

However, Miffy's words can only be used as a reference.

Because what this guy said most likely involved the doctrines and creeds of the Church of the Earth Mother Goddess, I need to carefully consider it.

Knowledge needs to be digested and filtered before it can become what he needs and allow him to forge his own path.

But I still want to express my gratitude.

"Thank you for your guidance."

Kroya thanked him very sincerely.

Miffy smiled slightly and changed the subject, inviting, "Would you like to join the church?"

"If you agree to join me, I am willing to personally guide you through the path of the Mother Goddess, to make you a priest... and to make you a bishop when I sit on the Jade Throne."

He looked at Chloe, his golden hair shimmering with a divine light, his eyes filled with expectation.

It's as pure as a child's sincere longing for something, without any impurities.

Kroa: "..."

This is a fairly high price. A priest is a position second only to a bishop, meaning that Kroya could become a high-ranking member of the church as soon as he joined.

He even promised that Kroya would one day sit in the position of bishop—the Jade Throne is the position of archbishop.

This means he's essentially handing over his position to Kroya, and his future looks very promising.

In the mainstream belief of humanity among the seven holy deities, the Earth Mother Goddess is second only to the God of Light, and the status of a bishop is much higher than that of any king or nobleman.

It was very good, but Kroya still chose to refuse.

He shook his head: "I am so engrossed in the study of magic that I would be unable to serve the Mother Goddess."

"That's a real shame." Miffy sensed the firmness in Kroya's tone and didn't continue the conversation.

Smart people don't make things awkward for each other.

"It seems quite late."

"I've already arranged for dinner to be prepared, let's go now."

After glancing at the sky outside, Kroya changed the subject and invited the other person to dinner—it was already night.

The two chatted for most of the day.

Miffy readily accepted.

"OK."

Dinner receptions are considered a very important part of aristocratic hospitality etiquette; basically, upon arriving at a place, one would dine with the host family.

Afterwards, the two went to a clean and tidy restaurant to have their meal.

This time, the food provided by Kroya did not come from the sea, but from various vegetables and fruits that he had been growing over time.

Among them, Miffy's favorite dish was not stir-fried vegetables and mushroom soup, but...

"I never imagined that pine nuts could be used in cooking with corn."

The blond boy, holding a spoon, savored the sweet pine nut corn with a satisfied expression.

These pine nuts were from the dwarf flame pine trees that were originally bought from the Flame Mountain Lord, while the corn was a product of his forced ripening.

The former, once peeled, has a deep red color, which, combined with the pale yellow corn kernels, creates a stunning visual effect.

Of course, the taste is also excellent.

You can tell by how fast Miffy eats.

He seemed to have a particular fondness for sweets, not just pine nuts and corn, but also candied sweet potatoes and fermented rice balls on the side, all of which he consumed visibly.

The meal was eaten at a remarkably fast pace.

The knife, fork, and spoon in his hand were almost blurry.

It's even more exaggerated than a swordsman's sword dance.

Kroya watched him eat at a fast pace and silently instructed the kitchen to continue preparing the dishes—knowing that he was already preparing dishes according to the appetite of a superhuman.

The plates and soup bowls in front of Mi Feiyin were enormous, yet she still ate so quickly.

It can only be said that once extraordinary individuals reach a certain level, they really become somewhat inhuman.

In the end, Miffy ate about 30 kilograms of food by himself, but his stomach still showed no signs of bulging.

Although he ate a lot, he ate very cleanly, leaving not even a drop of soup. The plate was so clean it looked like... a dog had licked it.

Perhaps because he felt a little embarrassed after finishing his meal, he insisted on giving Kroya a few earth crystal ores that could only be found deep in the earth.

Then, the two went their separate ways.

Milfein and the other children of the harvest went to rest at the accommodations arranged by Kroya, while Kroya himself returned to the laboratory.

He was about to begin his own experiments.

……

Inside the laboratory.

Inside a closed room that is about half an acre in size.

Warm sunlight streamed down from the pristine white ceiling, illuminating the barley and wheat growing vigorously in the earth below, their surfaces displaying a blend of golden and azure hues.

Their leaves and straws are somewhat translucent, and at first glance, they even have a bit of an emerald-like texture, making them look exquisite.

"How's the data?"

He stared at the carefully planted barley and wheat and asked a question.

"They're almost ripe; each stalk of wheat contains about one-tenth the magic power of a standard level-one magic crystal..."

The Shark Tower immediately displayed a set of data to Kroa, which included the magic fluctuation curves and required magic data for the wheat from planting to maturity.

After carefully reading through it, Kroya nodded thoughtfully and then asked, "Has the planting location been chosen?"

"After surveying and comparing the environment with the mushroom experts led by the apprentices, planting them here may be the best choice."

The map next to it showed a territory called Wheatfield Territory.

As its name suggests, this place is a valley surrounded by mountains, with a total area of ​​only about three hectares.

Previously, the people living here did not communicate much with the outside world, but simply supplied the lord of Wheatfield with crops on a regular basis.

The crop they grow most often is wheat.

Of course, it's just the most ordinary wheat.

After taking over the area, Kroya ordered the Earth Stealing Rat team to take the Wind Erosion Sandworms and drill a hole directly through the mountain to create a passage.

This makes it easier for him to manage his territory.

The environmental changes here are relatively significant compared to the rest of the North.

The native sheep and cattle there are mutating, and the magical beasts are changing at an alarming rate—in size, personality, and magical attributes…

That valley seemed to be undergoing rapid changes, as if it had a super-fast cheat code, making it completely unsuitable for human habitation.

The angel had once hinted to him: the ice and snow would melt, magic would be restored, and mutations would occur.

After extreme cold, it seems that the earth and nature will adjust certain areas and locations, but the changes in Wheatfield are particularly rapid.

Therefore, the wheat field is also the best experimental site.

"...Let's begin."

After going through the idea in his mind, he looked at the vast expanse of barley and wheat before him, squinted slightly, and began to imprint.

He chose to inscribe two carefully selected types of magic.

One is the "Rice Making Technique" within the Food Making Technique, while the other is the "Tranquil Deer" elven magic given by the Orpheus Oak Tree, which I learned through the Four Elements Summoning Technique not long ago.

The former's ability is to gather magic into cooked rice, ensuring sufficient satiety and regulation of its own magic as long as there is a supply of magic.

Although it may seem unremarkable, it is actually a fairly advanced form of magic within the category of food creation techniques.

As for why wheat is used to make rice...

It can only be described as a bit of a perverse sense of humor on Kroya's part; he wanted to see what this kind of magical mutation would look like.

If magic rice becomes a thing in the future, I'll also make magic bread.

The latter is a special elemental creature called "Tranquil Tree Deer" that can be summoned from the natural plane. This elemental creature has virtually no offensive capabilities; its only ability is to unleash a special magic called "Tranquil Rain."

While the area covered by the Tranquil Rain cannot guarantee the complete absence of conflict, it is relatively more peaceful.

This was an idea that Kroya had after seeing the effect of the tranquil area inside the Beaver Dam—perhaps nature itself doesn't want monsters to fight, and regulation and balance should be very important.

"In my opinion, after the transformation is successful, all that will remain is... the recognition of nature's consciousness."

As he carved the marks, he pondered how to do it. These barley and wheat plants had been cultivated by him from seed, waiting to be carved at any moment.

It can multitask and is incredibly fast.

Soon, the engraving was completed.

[Inscription successful, Sea God Barley and Sea God Wheat (Rice Making Technique)]

[As the magical plant grows, it gradually combines its fruit with the magic of rice-making techniques, transforming it into edible rice that is cooked by steaming upon maturity.]

[Consuming the fruit of this magical plant will grant the user the effect of harmonizing their magical power and achieving absolute satiety.]

After the engraving was completed, visible mist, like steam, suddenly rose from the surface of the wheat and barley that had previously appeared normal.

Furthermore, the ears of wheat had grown significantly larger.

A unique aroma, a blend of wheat and rice, wafted through the air.

"They're cooked," Shark Tower Spirit prompted.

This means not only that the wheat is ripe, but also that... "the rice is cooked."

If it weren't for the other engraving, Kroya probably would have directly tasted what this barley-based rice-making technique tasted like.

While he waited, the other mark finally came into play—

The mist emanating from the barley and wheat was clearly distinct, swirling and turning in mid-air, eventually transforming into two... deer, each about half a person's height.

Their body color is a very peculiar combination of golden yellow and off-white, specifically a golden yellow base with off-white stripes.

The same applies to deer antlers.

"Wow, Milu!" Kroa's eyes lit up.

As soon as the two deer appeared, their intertwined antlers shimmered with light, and they raised their heads high.

It let out a long, drawn-out deer cry—

"Yo yo~~~~~"

Amidst their cries, the once plump ears of ripe wheat suddenly shriveled, and the mist intertwined and became even denser, eventually connecting to form clouds.

Suddenly, raindrops began to fall all around.

Kroa opened her eyes slightly and reached out to catch the "raindrop" in front of her.

Those were rice grains, about the size of a soybean, with a golden-yellow base and off-white stripes on the surface.

It exudes the aroma of wheat and rice, which doesn't seem abrupt or strange at all; in fact, the combination of these aromas makes one feel more hungry.

"This smells absolutely amazing!"

Kroya licked his lips, deciding to taste what it was like, so he simply popped a grain of rice into his mouth.

With a little chewing, the initial taste is the soft and fragrant texture of rice grains, followed by the aroma of wheat. Overall, the texture and flavor are dominated by rice grains.

But it must be said that the combination of these two textures creates an indescribable pleasure—the satisfaction of carbohydrates plus carbohydrates?

"Take this rice to the monsters," Kroya instructed the shark spirit to take some rice and feed it to the monsters.

"Okay, I'll go right away," Shark Tower Spirit agreed.

It will carefully observe the magical beasts after feeding them to see if there will be any changes in those beasts that are restless and agitated due to the abundant magic power.

If, as Kroya thinks, this rice can indeed work on magical beasts, possessing the ability to regulate chaotic magic and calm emotions.

So, only one last step remains.

He had already inquired with the angel beforehand and learned that the sphere given by Mifein was actually an ancient magical artifact capable of communicating with nature, and did not point to the faith of the Earth Mother Goddess.

And he had already set his sights on a treasure at the Holy Spring Chamber of Commerce—

"Natural Divination Crystal Ball"

Its function is to predict certain natural changes; the combination of the two should produce some amazing results.

"Buy it."

Kroya looked at the treasure she had already set her sights on, and then at its price of 20,000 magic crystals. After a brief hesitation, she decided to buy it.

There was a clear expectation in his eyes.

After purchasing this, my spending exceeded 100,000 magic crystals, which allowed me to be promoted to a Level 3 member of the Holy Spring Merchant Guild.

After he confirmed his purchase, the holy spring paused for a moment before resuming its flow.

The female voice coming from inside was filled with joy.

"Congratulations! You are now a Level 3 member of the Holy Spring Chamber of Commerce. You will receive the following benefits and a chance to win a prize in a dimensional shopping event."

Accompanied by a female voice, a light screen slowly unfolded in front of Kroya, and what was on it made his eyes widen.

Thank you so much for the monthly tickets and recommendation votes! I'm back to normal and won't be taking any more breaks QAQ

(End of this chapter)