Chapter 232: Small Harvest

For the next few days, Ronin remained immersed in the heart of the marshlands.

Each evening, he would seek out an elevated ridge, channeling a few pillars of blazing magical flame to purge the persistent dampness from the earth before retrieving a tent from his spatial ring to pitch camp for the night.

With Carlos by his side, the threat of sudden ambush by magical beasts ceased to be a concern.

Yet, the quest for wild rice was not merely tedious and grueling; it carried its own perils.

Searching through wetlands required constant vigilance, as a single misstep could plunge one into a treacherous mire.

It was only by virtue of Ronin’s formidable prowess, coupled with Carlos’s steadfast presence, that disaster was averted.

Four days slipped by in a blur, and Ronin’s initial fruitlessness gradually gave way to discovery.

The parchment now held within his grasp was marked with over a dozen locales suspected of harboring wild rice.

These spots clustered primarily along the riverbanks and within the shallows, amidst expanses of reeds and cattails, interspersed with these unfamiliar green shoots.

Why merely suspected?

Though Ronin could recognize rice once it had headed, he could not claim absolute certainty when it came to the youthful seedlings.

Thus, he could only chronicle the distinct features of these regions upon his map, ensuring Carlos committed the coordinates to memory so they might return to inspect them come July or August.

By then, the rice would have headed and matured, rendering identification effortless.

Sailing through the firmament upon Carlos's back, Ronin arrived at the outermost boundary of Marsh Town, where a short distance further yielded to the expanse of the open sea.

The marshlands, it seemed, merged directly into the ocean.

The winds and waves here appeared remarkably fierce, battering the offshore waters with brine and rendering the coastal hydrology exceptionally complex.

Ronin had initially presumed this estuary might suit the construction of a harbor, but the current vista suggested otherwise; he would need to chart a course northward along this eastern coastline to continue his search.

"Today is already the nineteenth; my birthday arrives in just a few days, and it is time I departed for Wushan Castle."

He cast a lingering gaze across the sea, repressing the fleeting urge to venture out into the deep waters.

"Let us go, Carlos. It is time to return."

The dragon let out a low rumble, merrily sweeping its tail as it wheeled around for the journey home.

Though the past few days had been mundane, Carlos had seized the opportunity to diversify its palate.

The crocodiles, pythons, and marsh deer of the wetlands proved quite delectable, particularly the second-rank magical python captured two days prior, whose flesh was extraordinarily savory.

It resolved to slip back to this region whenever leisure permitted.

After all, the master had decreed that so long as it abstained from human flesh and avoided wanton destruction, these magical beasts were its to dispose of as it pleased.

Galloping through the skies, Ronin returned to Marsh Castle, where he was reunited with Irene after a long absence.

The young girl had reached fourteen this year and was growing rapidly; standing now at over one and a half meters tall and clad in a well-fitting gown, she appeared far more graceful than before.

Having not seen Ronin for an age, Irene’s spirits were understandably jubilant. "Brother, how have you found the time to come here?"

Ronin offered a warm smile. "Business brought me past this way. How have things been lately?"

At the mention of this, Irene’s countenance fell into a mournful pout.

Ever since she and her mother began following Elrond to study magical potions and herbal lore, her daily scholarly burdens had grown immensely heavy.

Should she betray the slightest inclination to slacken, even if Elrond held his tongue, Jenny would chide her immediately, driven by a sharper clarity of understanding—to study such lore under Elrond was a privilege of immense rarity.

The art of magical potioneering was inherently profound; a mage seeking its mastery had to invest vast reserves of vitality and coin, often with nothing to show for it in the end.

For ordinary folk, even catching a glimpse of this discipline was a monumental task; without lineage or fortune, one could scarce expect an experienced mage to impart their secrets.

A mentor like Elrond, possessed of great expertise, charging no fee, and pouring out his knowledge unstintingly, was virtually nonexistent in the wider world.

"Hehe, I have acquired so much useful knowledge lately. I even used my new herbal skills to heal a middle-aged aunt's fall injury!"

The shadow of Irene's pout vanished in an instant, as she preferred to share only her triumphs with Ronin.

Ronin could not help but raise a thumb in approval, gently ruffling her long golden tresses. "It seems the North Wu Territory will boast another grand physician in the days to come."

Irene balled her hands into small fists. "Rest assured, I certainly will be!"

"Haha, then you must strive diligently. I look forward to the swift arrival of that day."

Ronin shared a few more lighthearted words with Irene before going to inspect the ever-growing Black Tiger, a creature whose strength now neared that of a first-rank magical beast.

Once it reached maturity, he wondered if a Storm Magic Wolf might be found to sire a litter of purebred Storm Magic Wolf pups with it.

This task could well be entrusted to Carlos, to see if a living specimen might be captured.

If none could be found, he would have to seek out large domestic hounds for breeding, though he remained uncertain whether reproductive isolation would bar the way.

Parting from Irene, Ronin walked directly into Elrond's sanctuary.

At that moment, the grand physician sat hunched over his desk, writing intently; Ronin surmised he was recording his insights on the synthesis of magical potions.

Catching the sound of footsteps, Elrond lifted his gaze and, seeing Ronin, instantly laid down his quill. "My Lord, you have arrived."

"I trust I am not interrupting your labors."

Ronin inquired with a smile, "How fared the task I entrusted to you last time?"

"It has been fully accomplished."

As he spoke, he withdrew five scrolls of Purification Magic from a drawer.

Ronin accepted them, tucking them safely into his spatial ring.

Since Natalia's witch-soul energy bore a striking resemblance to the Soul-Devouring Surge within Rulance, Ronin had wondered whether the Purification spell might afford his grandfather some relief.

He had originally intended to bring the physician along to Wushan Castle, but abandoned the notion upon considering the mountain of work demanding the man's attention.

In any case, a magical scroll mirrored the efficacy of a personal casting; bringing several scrolls of Purification would serve just as well.

"Elrond, there is a matter I require your counsel upon," Ronin began.

"Whatever Your Lordship commands, I am at your disposal."

Elrond smiled, wondering when his lord had become so courteous.

"Would you harbor any interest in serving as the financial officer of the North Wu Territory?"

Ronin continued, "A vast portion of our territory's revenue derives from magical scrolls, and in the future, your magical potions will undoubtedly find a thriving market. It seems most fitting that you should oversee our coffers."

As the fiefdom expanded and its various industries found their footing, projects of investment and revenue multiplied daily; executing every transaction personally had become an intolerable burden.

Ronin required a financial officer to shoulder these affairs.

Yet, the smile upon Elrond's face visibly crumbled.

"By the God of Light, my lord, I beg your indulgence, for this is a burden I truly cannot lift for you!"

He gestured toward the array of vials and jars nearby, all newly acquired for his research.

"Magical potions, herbalism, and the scribing of scrolls already consume the vast entirety of my hours. If the management of the territory’s finances were thrust upon me as well, I fear I should possess no spirit left for it!"

Ronin rubbed his temples.

Though Elrond had declined the mantle, his reasoning was entirely sound.

These three disciplines did indeed demand an immense expenditure of focus, whereas managing the territory's coin required not only vast energy but also constant commerce with all manner of souls, a distraction bound to disrupt his research.

"My Lord, it seems to me that Chahar would be far better suited to the task."

Elrond pondered for a moment, then offered his suggestion.

“During this period, he has been tallying everyone’s wages in the domain, and no errors have occurred—he clearly has the ability.”

Ronin nodded.

He had indeed considered Chahar, but compared to Elrond, Chahar’s background was far too weak.

And the treasurer sometimes had to handle management and decision-making—could Chahar, a man of common origins, truly possess such capability?

Besides Chahar, Jennie was also quite suitable.

But she had mentioned she was on the verge of a breakthrough; Ronin preferred to have one more high-level mage in his domain rather than another treasurer.

“In that case, I’ll speak with Chahar. A pity his dream of becoming steward won’t come to pass.”

Elrond smiled. “Even a steward must manage the castle’s finances. If he can handle the castle’s accounts, managing the domain’s shouldn’t be any different.”

He would rather Ronin asked him to craft a few more spell scrolls than burden him with financial duties.

“Alright, then it’s settled.”

Ronin rose to his feet. “I’ll be traveling to Wushan Castle tomorrow. While I’m away, you and Riedal and Macken will handle any matters that arise.” (End of chapter)