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

Chapter 239. Friendship Imprint, Banyan Tree Factory

Inside the mage tower on Han Reef Island, Kroya, with a satisfied smile, pointed to the houseboat model spinning not far away and said:

"So this is the assignment you handed in?"

The houseboat had been completely analyzed by the Tower Spirit's analysis system, and the magical plants, materials, and engraved magical patterns used on it were all clearly marked on the side.

Clearly, Kroya had studied it carefully, and judging from his expression, he was quite satisfied with this ingenious idea.

Jamie immediately replied, "Yes."

"I thought that even the strongest foundation could not withstand the impact of a long-term flood, so I came up with this combination method."

In my plan, countless houseboats like these will form a network, normally extending to create channels, and transforming into floating boats when floods occur.

As he spoke, he used the special ability of Rainbow Grass Dream to materialize the scene he was thinking of and displayed it next to him.

This is the advantage of dreams. Compared to dry verbal descriptions and on-the-spot drawings, what you think in your mind can appear directly, and the description will be exceptionally clear.

Judging from the clarity and detail of the drawings, this was not a spur-of-the-moment idea, but rather something that had been memorized during a month of shipbuilding work.

That's why it was able to be shown so quickly now.

"Great, it breaks through the limitations..."

Kroya didn't look closely, just glanced at it a few times and nodded: "I trust you with this, go ahead and do it."

I don't care about the process, as long as the result satisfies me. Just let us know if you need anything here on Hanjiao Island. There's no need to be polite to Lord Gray Sand over there.

We are now his largest food supplier.

Jamie felt a heavy weight in his heart at this trust, considering that this was the first time Han Reef Island had undertaken infrastructure construction work for the outside world, and he was given full authority to make decisions.

It was for this reason that he suddenly mustered up his courage and asked, "Sir, I saw many people selling slaves over there."

"Will abolishing this system within the Northern borders have any impact on you?"

In the eyes of many nobles, the free buying and selling of slaves was their right, and this practice of selling people like livestock was precisely a way for them to prove their superiority.

During his time there, he had heard some things, such as that those who did not buy and sell slaves were not even recognized as nobles.

"Huh?" Chloe asked in surprise, "Why do you think this kind of thing would affect me?"

He chuckled and said, "The Mage Association has already tacitly acknowledged my status and even issued me the Archmage Badge. The royal family is also making every effort to promote Sir Kemoyer to a higher position."

They are afraid that I, a mage, have usurped the power of the nobles. Now it's not that I need to hide it, but that they are actively helping me to cover it up.

He spoke with great confidence.

At the Yavana Holy Mine, he has already tested the battle line composed of magical plants, and the results are excellent.

Especially after the arrival of the Orpheus Oak, a helper with tree-shepherding magic, the weakness of magical plants—being fixed in one place and unable to move—is rapidly fading away.

The elves already had this tactic. However, the magical plants cultivated by the elves cannot be assigned a specific ability, while Kroa can.

He could combine the magical plants into a sophisticated machine, a war machine, and see who would be so blind as to run into it and let him test his war machine to see how it really works.

He's even researching how to counter mages' magical beasts and magical plants. As long as he can suppress mages below level four, higher-level mages are no problem.

He has never lacked the ability to wage war—the Mage Guild and the royal family should both know this, so almost no one dares to set foot in the North.

Having strength gives you confidence.

So he said bluntly, "Don't worry about me, I'm doing what I want to do."

"What you want to do..."

After listening to Chloe's words, Jamie seemed to be deep in thought.

Seeing one of his favorite apprentices deep in thought, Chloe said bluntly, "I'm the one who led you all out of this quagmire. Think about it, what can you do?"

After saying that, he waved his hand to let Jamie leave.

The words have been made so clearly; if Jamie still doesn't understand, then there's really nothing more that can be done.

"I understand! Thank you, teacher!"

Jamie's eyes sparkled as he bowed and left this dreamland that belonged exclusively to Kroya.

After he left, the Orpheus Oak, which had been hiding nearby pretending to be just an ordinary sapling, finally spoke up:

"Human friend, what exactly do you want him to do?"

This convoluted process was still a bit too complicated for it, and it couldn't understand for a moment what Kroya was trying to teach Jamie.

"I just suddenly felt a bit sentimental." Kroya casually waved his hand, changing the scene in front of him to the ongoing Monster and Plant Competition.

Then he explained, "Most things in the world are beyond our control. We should all try to grow and not become like that."

"Hmm?" A small branch resembling a question mark appeared on the head of the Orpheus Oak.

Although it is not human, it can understand that this is the idea that many humans strive to climb.

Is this wrong?

Meeting the curious gaze of the Orpheus Oak, Chloe said slowly, "If that's all, it'll be too boring. Jamie is a kind-hearted boy, and I want him to know..."

The power to gain strength is not about avoiding becoming that kind of person, but about striving to become someone that prevents others from becoming that kind of person.

That might sound a bit convoluted.

Orpheus Oak's eyes flashed with obvious doubt and confusion, but in the end, he did not ask any more questions.

It changed the subject, pointing to the ongoing match, "So, human friend, who do you think will win this time?"

"..."

I never expected that someone with such thick eyebrows and big eyes could change the subject so awkwardly.

"I think this guy has a good chance."

Kroya pouted, reverting to her usual lazy demeanor, and leaned back on the comfortable sofa. Immediately, a cursor appeared above the heads of the people competing on the screen.

It was a young man dressed in simple leather armor, running freely with a fiery-tailed hound.

The Flame-Tailed Hound and he were perfectly in sync, whether it was picking fruit along the way, crossing muddy pits, or facing suddenly appearing, menacing monsters...

Every time they worked together, it was seamless, as if the two of them had formed some kind of spiritual connection.

On this track for the Flame-tailed Dogs, they were practically the most dazzling stars, overshadowing everyone else.

They thoroughly enjoyed being watched, their smiles brighter than the sunshine.

Kroya was also very satisfied with what he saw.

"That's really good."

"I remember the Flametail Dog track was the most rigorously designed, testing not only the Flametail Dog's qualities but also the owner's ability to adapt to changing circumstances."

"yes."

Orpheus Oak nodded: "It's already quite an achievement to have done this. He hasn't learned any magic to communicate with magical beasts; it's all thanks to the tacit understanding he's built up over time."

"He definitely deserves a reward," Chloe said thoughtfully.

The competition mainly features several magical beasts and magical plants sold by Kroya. Due to their different functions, they are divided into several different tracks.

For example, the task of thieving rats is to tidy up their homes quickly and efficiently.

Azure Dove, on the other hand, focuses on the precision and amount of healing magic—for example, how much magic power to use for a small wound to achieve the best and fastest recovery.

Bobtail cats are trained to stealth. These cats, which look like tabby cats, actually have a strong ability to infiltrate and are good at assassination.

The situation with the magical plants was a bit more complicated. They couldn't be tested using the abilities of regular magical beasts, but Kroya still managed to come up with a solution.

The calming lily of the valley is tested for its efficacy, especially its calming ability. This magical plant, after being modified, is most capable of detecting changes in a person's emotions. If it is well cared for, its feedback will be very good.

But if you just water it and then leave it alone, it will become wilted and listless.

Impact peas are tested for precision and impact force; lavender is tested for its medicinal properties; and potted pine is tested for the quantity of pine nuts produced...

In short, whether it's magical plants or magical beasts, Kroya has tried his best to arrange competitions that allow them to showcase their abilities.

This competition has been going on for a month, and it's estimated that it will continue for another month before it ends. At that time, Kroya will personally distribute the prizes to the winners and, incidentally, grant their magical plants or beasts new abilities.

Nobody knows why Kroya is holding such a large-scale competition—this strange world, with its huge prize money, is practically free!

But he himself felt a deep sense of joy.

because……

He has already seen initial results—

The young man running alongside the Flame-tailed Hound was experiencing a subtle resonance between the magic emanating from him and the Hound's magic.

This magic intertwines and merges.

In the mind of the Flametail Dog, a bright, luminous mark that looked remarkably similar to that of the young man was slowly taking shape.

Its color is like that faded black and white photograph, gradually being renewed, becoming more colorful and vivid.

The tall, fiery-tailed hound was filled with the shadow of this mark, which had even begun to spread throughout its body.

The power of magic not only affects its mental strength, but also transforms its body.

Through its evolved Celestial Imprinting technique, Kroa was able to perceive its attributes—

[Sean and Robert share a spiritual connection.]

[Composed of spiritual magic, resonating with special magical power.]

[My friend, I will take you running across this land, enjoying the sunshine and rain, braving storms and downpours, until we can neither walk nor jump anymore! —Sean]

[Woof woof woof woof! —Robert]

The seal is not yet complete and needs more nourishment.

This is a rather unique engraving.

It has no clear description of its function, and it is impossible to even see how it was formed or what kind of magic patterns are inside.

But it does exist, and it's very effective.

After observing carefully for a while, Kroya could confirm:

Sean, the young man, and Robert, the Flametail Hound, share an almost telepathic connection, which stems from this wondrous imprint. It's like a resonant melody, their movements perfectly synchronized.

"Let me try and see if I can have any influence."

After discovering this, he tried to perceive and influence it with his mental power, but... the Astral Imprint Technique was not so easy to take effect.

It's not that it can't work, but rather that the magic seems to instinctively resist affecting this wondrous mark—which Kroya could forcefully cast.

He stared at the man and dog running wildly, then asked the Orpheus Oak beside him, "Friend, in elven legends, is it possible to achieve telepathic connection without external force or magic?"

Upon hearing this, Orpheus Oak glanced at the screen and explained, "It is said that such a thing exists, but it requires a very special environment, and one must treat it almost like family."

Over time, living in such harmony will cause their magical and spiritual powers to intertwine, much like how humans can instantly recognize their close relatives.

"Friendship magic?"

"That's one way to understand it."

"Wait, you mean this human and that fiery-tailed hound have developed friendship magic?"

At this moment, Orpheus Oak suddenly realized what was happening and exclaimed in surprise, "How long has it been? When did he buy the Flametail Hound?"

"Seven months."

"...Can it really be like this in seven months?"

Now even the Oak of Orpheus is a little uncertain.

Even the elves, who are naturally inclined to be friendly, need to spend a long time together to achieve this kind of friendship magic.

The fact that a human who had just become a level one warrior had actually succeeded was indeed beyond its expectations.

"Perhaps this is fate." Kroya smiled. "It looks like first place shouldn't be a problem. After this competition, I'll formally invite him to join the Reef Island."

"Since he's so destined to be with the Flametail Dog, how about we call him King Sean?"

"My friend, so it's already decided?" Orpheus Oak teased. "Then help me see if this one can be decided beforehand too?"

It waved its trunk, and the surrounding scenery immediately began to change, revealing an extremely fantastical scene—

It was a banyan tree that didn't look very big, but its leaves were as clear as jade, and its drooping aerial roots were all formed from elemental magic.

The banyan tree grows directly on the water surface, and this single tree covers about twenty acres of water, making it as lush as a forest.

Countless tulips grow on the ground where the roots of the banyan tree converge, their roots having become one with those of the banyan tree.

The sunlight filtering through the banyan tree leaves enveloped the tulips, allowing them to grow freely in the sunshine.

The tulips, blooming in fiery red like a sunset, are filled with nectar, and bees fly around them, occasionally collecting the nectar and carrying it to the top of the banyan tree canopy.

In the first layer of the canopy, the flowing magic is like test tubes and crystal bottles in a laboratory, refining the nectar collected by bees into honey crystals.

Finally, the little fairies, fluttering their butterfly wings, transported the honey crystals away to the top of the tree canopy to receive their final blessing.

The blessing bestowed upon these honey crystals was a dust resembling the glow of sunset, which was carefully and evenly sprinkled into the honey crystals by the butterfly fairies, giving the already fiery red honey crystals an even more magnificent glow.

It is absolutely gorgeous.

Overall, this banyan tree looks like a giant factory, continuously producing this special "Sunset Honey Crystal".

Kroya immediately spotted the massive magical inscription inside the banyan tree, an inscription he had made for it during its seed stage.

Now, as it has taken root, sprouted, and grown, it has gradually spread throughout the entire tree trunk—

【The Banyan Tree Factory in Kroya.】

[This is currently a combination spell; the current spell combination is: -]

Leaves: Kroa's sunlight refraction, magical plant soothing spell, magical connection spell.

-

Tree roots: magical tentacles and magical plants nurture symbiotic magic.

-

Tree trunk: Magic layering, Seven Stars Separation, and Basic Spirit Summoning.

-

Tree Canopy: Powerful magical purification spells and liquid crystallization magic.

The magic is not yet fully integrated.

[After complete fusion, the magical plant's form will change.]

"You want me to pre-select you as number one?" Kroya asked with a half-smile.

This wasn't the only attempt he made to create a magical plant factory; however, this one was personally overseen by Orpheus Oak.

The rest are groups formed spontaneously by the apprentices and are still in their initial stages.

After all, making some low-level mages compete against such a powerful chosen one of the gods... to be honest, it's a bit of bullying.

Seeing Kroa's ambiguous smile, Orpheus Oak gave an awkward laugh and promptly changed the subject:

"I don't know how you cultivated it. This banyan tree was originally intended for a water town, but it turned out like this."

It exclaimed with great emotion, "Now it is able to be self-sufficient, cultivating tulips and having nectar made by butterfly fairies and bees."

"Didn't that little girl, Ellie, already place your first order?"

Morning dew and evening glow hold extremely special significance in the civilization of the Elves. The Elves are also more artistic and cultured than nobles, and they have almost no resistance to honey, which is both beautiful and delicious.

Kroya gave her just a little bit, and she placed an order without hesitation, wanting as much as she could, and quoting an exorbitant price of one level-one magic crystal per milliliter of honey.

If the quality is exceptionally good, you can double the amount.

"Of course I have special methods for cultivating them. If you want to learn, then work hard at it."

After saying this in a serious tone, he continued:

"The price is high, but I don't really care about it." Kroya leaned back. "What I care about is being able to trade directly with the elves."

"After all, when it comes to the entire continent of Zemuria, the elves are the most skilled at cultivating magical plants."

Orpheus Oak was still pondering Kroa's words—could they really enable it to learn?

However, it didn't ask any questions, but continued, "After this batch of honey is delivered, the other party should loosen their stance, and there might even be elves coming to visit and negotiate with you."

"Isn't that perfect?"

"This batch of honey is expected to be completely processed in another month, and the Gray Desert and the competition should also end in a month."

A month later, it'll be busy harvesting again!

The monk's words sounded like a complaint, but the satisfaction in his tone was unmistakable, and he even had a smile on his face.

Orpheus Oak is also looking forward to seeing how things turn out a month from now.

The two people and the tree smiled at each other and decided to stay here for another month before going out to harvest the bountiful harvest together.

Time has always been very generous to them.

Thank you everyone for your monthly tickets and recommendation votes! Thank you so much, everyone!

(End of this chapter)