CH 141

"Okay, that's pretty much it, huh?"

I took a rest as I used wood magic to grow a few sawtooth oak trees from acorns at regular spacing.

While I was using the magic, Deanna, who had been standing next to me the whole time, looked at the sawtooth oak I had grown and muttered to herself in dismay

"...... just a meadow turned into a sawgrass forest in the blink of an eye."

'Yes, it did. But I'm going to have everyone cut everything down to make black charcoal, so all that will be left is the cut stumps."

Capella, who heard my words, asked me if I had something on my mind.

"What are you going to do with the stumps after we cut them down, Master Rid?　If you leave it as it is, it will indeed look bad, won't it?""

"　The stump will grow back once you invoke the magic of "tree growth" on it. I'm going to leave it as it is.'

" What a tremendous boost in productivity."

Capella murmured in amazement.

Yes, that's actually why I chose sawtooth oak.

"Since sawtooth oak grows quickly, it should be possible to harvest timber again as soon as "tree growth" is done on the stumps after cutting".

I plan to try that this time.

Also, when I consulted with Ellen and Alex in advance about the charcoal production, they pointed out the "type of wood.

The way wood burns differs according to the type of wood.

"For general use, we recommend hard charcoal made from hard wood, such as sawtooth oak, because it is literally hard and burns well,"

I have also received requests from both of them to make "pine charcoal," which is the charcoal they most want in the manufacture of armory at some point in the future.

When I told them that it would depend on the quality of the black charcoal, they both became very eager to do it, which surprised me.

As I was thinking back to my conversations with Ellen , Nels approached me with a fearful look on his face.

, "...... Rid-sama, before we cut down this tree, may I ask you something?"

'Yes?　What's wrong?"

Nels had a somewhat uneasy or worried look on his face.

What's wrong?　

I was making a curious face at Nels.

He continued speaking while looking at me.

"No, this tree has grown by using the magic power of Master Rid as a food source. In other words, cutting down such a tree is, in a sense, like reaping the life of Rid-sama. ...... Don't tell me that if we damage the tree, Rid-sama will be harmed as well?

"......There's no way that's true."

I responded to the words I had never thought of with a look of dismay on my face as I lost my strength.

I was probably looking at him with an apologetic expression.

Nelles must have been worried in his own way.

Probably, no one here had ever done such a thing as trimming a tree that had been magically made to grow rapidly.

Perhaps I should be a little worried.

At that thought, I smiled as an idea occurred to me.

"......, but yes, that's true. I can see why you might be a little anxious, since this will be your first time doing this work. Then let's have Rubens cut down the first tree first."

"What? ......?　me⁉?"

Rubens looked a little surprised when he was suddenly called by name, but he quickly tightened his expression and said, "I understand.

"I understand. Then, I will cut down the first tree first."

'Yes, please."

He received the "special axe" from Ellen without any of the anxiety that Nels had mentioned, and swung it over his shoulder as if carrying it on his back.

He swung the axe as hard as he could at the sawtooth oak.

The dull sound of the axe clashing with a tree echoed all around me, and I let out a shrill cry, clutching my side.

'Oh!"

."......⁉ is Master Rid okay?"

"Master Rid⁉"

"Ah"

Deanna and Capella, who had heard my grief-stricken voice, screamed out loud with a change in their blood.

Ellen and the others also shouted in surprise.

I fell down on the spot and watched the scene as I heard everyone's voices, and everyone here was panicking.

Especially Rubens' expression turned pale and he seemed to be covering his face with his hands, saying, "Oh, what have I done ......."

I looked at everyone and immediately stood up quickly, thinking, "Oh, I may have overdone it ......."

Then, as if nothing had happened, I smiled a cute smile.

'I'm just kidding, folks, I'm fine , so don't worry, I'm not in any danger".

"......."

Everyone who heard my voice as I stood up rolled their eyes and were stunned.

I could not hide my confusion, and my voice came out involuntarily.

'Oh, is that ......?"

At that moment, I felt a tremendous sense of pressure from behind me.

I turned around fearfully and saw Deanna standing there, enveloped in a pitch-black aura, not trying to hide her anger.

I was horrified at this sight, and faltered as I uttered a few words.

"Deana , what's wrong?It's just a joke. ...... okey ?"　I'm sorry, but I'm not going to let you get away with this," , I'm just joking."　It's just a joke. ...... right?"

"Rid-sama, even if it is a joke, this is too much of a prank. ......Reiner has given his permission, so as your follower, I will give you an admonition in this matter. ...... "

'....I'm sorry."

After this, the prank I had played was of too poor a quality, and I was scolded by everyone, including Capella, Rubens, and Ellen, with Deanna at the center, who warned me vehemently against it.

Rubens was so angry that he started to cry for my safety.

I am truly sorry.

"I will be careful not to play tricks on people's fears in the future."

I muttered to myself in remorse, but everyone's lectures continued for some time after that. ......