CHAPTER 76
Farming Revolution in Another World
Idnia explained how she wanted to grow plants in pots held by wooden frames.
“I plan to do hydroponic farming like this.”
“Hydroponics? Why do something so troublesome?”
“If you plant seeds directly in soil, bugs or bacteria in the dirt can harm the plants. But if you bake the soil into small clay balls, it removes bugs and germs. Then, you can plant seedlings on top and water them with fertilized water. It helps avoid plant diseases and drains water better.”
Idnia showed her blueprint and explained the method and benefits to Professors Buremhyde and Rakias.
“Why are the pots raised high like that?”
“It helps with drainage and keeps out ants and other bugs. Also, adjusting the pot height gives the right amount of sunlight for each plant. It’s easier to work while standing too—no need to crouch.”
“Huh? Interesting idea. Is this popular in Betelgeuse?”
“What about nutrients and fertilizer?”
Professors Ludwig and Rakias got curious about her design.
“But you can’t cut trees. I’ll prepare wood at the school shop—buy it from there.”
“Huh? Oh….”
Most nobles would be fine, but Idnia, even though she was from a top noble family, had no money. She couldn’t afford to buy materials.
“But if we’re just pouring water, does it really have to be wood? For example….”
Rakias used magic to create stone pots and frames directly from the soil.
“Wow, they shine! Even though they’re not glazed pottery.”
Idnia touched the stone pot and was amazed.
‘He gathered silicon and aluminum from the ground to make this. It’s like hard ceramic. It even sounds like metal when tapped! Magic is amazing.’
She was truly impressed.
Ludwig clicked his tongue.
“Rakias…”
“I’m helping as an apology. Don’t you want to see how her farming method works? If her hydroponics theory really works?”
“Well, I do want to see that. If this makes up for your mistake as a professor, then fine.”
“Besides, if she succeeds, she can start the Wizard Ball team too. Haha!”
Rakias waved his magic wand like a conductor’s baton. A curtain of fire appeared.
Idnia’s dug-up dirt poured into the flames and baked into clay balls.
‘Looks like ice cream beads….’
Idnia was amazed and thankful.
‘This is so much easier than doing it all by hand. But why is he helping me so much? Does he feel guilty?’
She decided to just accept the help and focus on hydroponics.
“But won’t these clay balls drain water too fast? Some plants need their roots to stay moist.”
“That’s why I’ll mix the clay balls with baked soil. I’ll put pebbles at the bottom, clay balls in the middle, and sawdust on top to stop water from drying too fast.”
Rakias again used magic to gather and bake pebbles from the soil, then layered them into pots, just like Idnia said.
Now with Rakias helping, Idnia prepared seeds.
“I bought these turnip seeds when I went outside earlier. Let’s sprout them first. I’ll need bark or sawdust for the seedbed.”
“But bark or sawdust might carry pests.”
“Yes. So I planned to lightly burn them using heat, like how wood planks are made.”
Rakias shaved wood thinly, burned it lightly, and made seedbeds for her.
Idnia placed the seeds and took out a potion.
“This is….”
It was a rapid-growth potion she got from the alchemy lab.
She diluted the potion in water and soaked the seedbed.
“Isn’t that potion illegal?”
Ludwig was shocked she was using banned potions so casually.
Rapid-growth potions are banned because they ruin the soil and spread pests fast.
“Yes, but in hydroponics, the potion won’t touch the soil. I chose hydroponics partly to use this potion. Otherwise, how would I grow and harvest fast enough? Even fast-growing turnips take at least two months.”
“You built this whole system just to safely use that potion? That’s impressive. Not something a normal student would think of. Is it because she’s from Betelgeuse?”
Betelgeuse had become barren after the Demon King’s attack. Maybe that’s why Idnia—Duke Betelgeuse’s daughter—learned to think like this.
‘Or maybe, because she’s half-demon, she received wisdom from another world?’
Even if that was true, her actions and ideas were still amazing.
‘She’s not just a spoiled noble girl. How much is she carrying on her shoulders… Or maybe all students today are like this?’
Ludwig thought of how many students in the academy carried heavy responsibilities despite being so young.
“Well then, let’s extract nutrients from the soil.”
She poured water on the soil and prepared a spell.
‘Okay, time to use extraction magic. I’ll pull out key elements like phosphate, potassium salts, calcium, iron oxide, and nitrogen. Let’s avoid organic matter and only get what plants need.’
Idnia cast the spell, pulling out a liquid filled with nutrients from the soil.
Ludwig and Rakias were amazed.
“This isn’t the work of a beginner.”
“She really is good at extraction. But…”
Rakias had a question.
“Usually, people use compost, ash, or dead animals for fertilizer. Can just this small amount of liquid grow plants?”
“It’s okay. Plants don’t absorb all that stuff directly. Microbes break them down first, and the plants take in the end products. I’ve already extracted those useful elements.”
Idnia was surprised, too.
“If we can get this much from a small pile of soil, then the soil is really rich. Probably because no one farms near the professors’ building.”
She noticed the professors staring at her strangely.
“Did I say something weird?”
“How did you know that?”
“We should be the ones learning from you.”
They were shocked by how much she knew about farming.
“Well… Betelgeuse is harsh. I had to learn to survive. Anyway, I’ll store this nutrient water, and stack the leftover soil in a well-ventilated spot. Rain and microbes will naturally turn it into more fertilizer.”
She moved to the seedbed soaked with the potion.
“If I add some nutrients here… Oh, wait. The seeds have already sprouted! So fast!”
The seeds had already grown into little plants.
“Good thing I was quick with the nutrients. Now, let’s set up watering pipes to deliver water and nutrients evenly.”
She showed Rakias a sketch.
“Please make it like this pot—using aluminum oxide and silicon ceramic so water doesn’t leak.”
“…Yes, okay.”
Rakias was flustered but obeyed. He had already helped so much, and he was curious to see the end.
He used magic to make pipes and a watering system just like her drawing.
There was a big water tank with a pump that automatically delivered water to each pot.
Idnia mixed the nutrient water, adjusted it, and added it to the tank.
The turnip seedlings had all sprouted and grown so fast that now they were ready to be called “seedlings.”
“These seedlings look really healthy, even though I used the rapid-growth potion.”
“Let’s transplant them.”
Idnia used telekinesis to move the seedlings into the pots, but could only do one or two at a time.
Ludwig folded his arms and tapped his foot while watching, clearly bored.
‘We’re not supposed to help students too much in this academy… but I’m too curious. I can’t take it anymore.’
He gave in, cleared his throat, and grabbed his wand.
“I’ll help too.”
With his magic, the seedlings were quickly transplanted into the pots.
Rakias laughed quietly.
“Don’t laugh.”
“We professors are too weak against boredom. Once we stayed here, we had already lost.”
“Then why don’t you set the example and leave?”
“I admit I lost to curiosity. What about you, Principal?”
“I can’t leave a professor who once harmed a student alone with her. I must supervise.”
“Yes, yes. It’s all my fault.”
