Chapter 545

Magi Craft Meister 545

16 The Demons Mastermind Arc

16-24 Laozis Power-Up

Dealing with the radicals, dealing with Nega-Doll 001, and dealing with the moderates. We need to do those three things at the same time.

The next day, August 22nd, on Hourai Island, Laojun was explaining his plan to Jin.

I understand that. But first, I want to know more about their food situation.

Jin thought that if the food situation of the demons could be improved, that in itself would take care of about 80% of this turmoil.

I see In that case, it would be better to solve this problem while your Subst.i.tute Doll is in the s.h.i.+nra clans abode, My Lord.

After considering it for a few seconds, Laojun agreed.

Okay, Ill see what I can do for a couple of days. Can you see to the other two points?

Yes. I know Ill manage to do this to some extent. However

Laojun then brought the fact that there was no one to lead each team that would take care of all of the work they had to do to Jins attention.

Ah, I see, were shorthanded, arent we?

We have enough in terms of ability to deliver results, but when it comes to leading figures

Should we use Laozi?

However, in its current form, it was clearly lacking in power. Jin wanted it to have a level of performance at least above the Lands.

Okay, its settled. Well power-up Laozi.

Will you do that for me?

For security reasons, Laojun couldnt make any changes on Laozi.Therefore, Jin himself would have to do it.

Thus Jin decided to give Laojuns mobile terminal Laozi a proper remodeling.

However, since it was fundamentally the same he had already done for Reiko and the other Golems, adding new functions to Laozi took Jin slightly less than an hour in total.

The improvements included a complete overhaul of his skeleton and muscle tissue, adding the sense of touch along with all its natural functions, and the capability to use Ether Jammers, Gravity Magic, and most offensive and defensive spells.

The addition of a Mana Tank allowed for sufficient stockpile in terms of energy.

He was also able to use Engineering Magic as well as Healing Magic. The result was a truly almighty Automata.

Reiko could also be considered almighty, but in her case, she had an outstanding level of offensive power. In Laozis case, he was fine-tuned to have him function in a well-balanced manner.

As a unique feature, he had five built-in ultra-small Golems about 5 centimeters tall, aptly named Finger Golems.

They were based on the Mini-Smiths, and had been made especially so that they were half the size of a standard Mini-Smith.

They would be useful for collecting all sorts of information. They were named Fingers 1 through 5.

What do you think of Laozi, Laojun?

My Lord, you have completed yet another wonderful work. There can be no complaints about it. Thank you very much.

As Laojun operated Laozi, his remodeled mobile terminal, he reported to Jin that his workmans.h.i.+p had been on point.

Ill follow Nega-Doll 001s every step.

Got it. Be careful.

Yes. For the time being, Ill be sending the Land Corps to secretly observe the radical clans.

Alright, sounds like a plan. Once the moderates have settled down, well start working on the radicals.

Correct. So in the meantime, I thought wed better keep an eye for any suspicious movements among the radicals.

Okay. Lets send Falcons 8 through 10. Theres plenty of Ether in the air so they will have no problem standing by in mid-air.

In this way, Laojun would handle Nega-Doll 001, the Land Corps would watch over the radicals, while Jin (s Subst.i.tute Doll), Reiko, and Ann would work on the moderates.

Hows our agriculture, you ask?

Jin (s Subst.i.tute Doll) was having a meeting with Bardius, the chief of the s.h.i.+nra clan.

Yes. Of course I can offer you some provisions to aid you, but I think it would be better to ensure your self-sufficiency.

Certainly. Ill ask Lorona to take you for a look around the area. Shes very knowledgeable in that regard.

Thus Jin followed the mother of Istalis and s.h.i.+on, Lorona. Reiko walked silently behind them as well.

Meanwhile, Ann asked Istalis and s.h.i.+on to take her for a walk around the s.h.i.+nra clans abode. Based on what she saw, she would then point out whatever she felt was problematic as well as a potential solution.

Lorona had silver hair, light blue eyes, and white skin that looked exactly like Istalis and s.h.i.+ons. In fact, many of the s.h.i.+nra clan had those features.

The thought that this could mean that there would be many marriages with close relatives in the clan briefly crossed Jins mind, but he quickly brushed it off to concentrate on agriculture.

Most of the wheat variety we produce is barley.

Jin was led to a barley field that was being grown on a hill that faced the sea. Although they had lots of ears, it seemed that they werent producing as well as the ones seen in Kaina Village.

Incidentally, barley was said to be more resistant to being damaged by salt than wheat. So it was reasonable to have barley grow on a field close to the coastal edge.

Umm, so what do you do to prevent damaging the soil due to repeated cultivation?

Well, we normally try to add mulch during the seasons when were not growing anything.

Damage due to repeated cultivation is basically the natural reduction of a crops yield due to the increase of specific diseases and pests that appear as a result of producing the same crop in a consecutive manner, as well as the deprivation of minerals in the soil.

Hmm, so is this insufficient, or is it simply a local breed?

Jins knowledge in this area only allowed him to think that, without growing two different crops or even the same kind of crop in the same arable land semi-annually over the course of the same year, the demons would have to allow the plot of land to rest for half a year while adding some kind of organic fertilizer.

How about other crops?

So he decided to take a look around to get a general idea.

Here we are. Heres where we grow what we call summer beans.

At first glance, they looked very similar to green peas. Certainly, they would be one of the most cold-resistant types of legumes.

However, it also seemed that their growth wasnt going so well.

This is how we sweeten our meals. We call it

vietra.

No matter how Jin looked at it, it was sugar beet to him.

We grate it, squeeze the juice out of it, and simmer it to make sugar. Then we use the draff to feed our livestock.

It seemed to be used to feed their Capri, which was a livestock animal of this world that looked like a mix between a cow and a sheep.

So far it all matched what Jin already knew.

And this is the last thing we have here to show you.

Huh?

It was a field with white flowers all over. Jin was familiar with these flowers.

Soba?

Looking closer, the base of its stem was red. It had to be buckwheat, which was used to make soba. Though not all buckwheat was like that, in Jins memory, the base of the buckwheats stem was red.

Its called rye. We sow it in May after the snow melts, and we harvest it in September.

It was true that buckwheat pips were dark-brown, but it was a different type of plant from barley. But thats not where Jin saw a problem.

How do you eat this buck this rye?

Well, we grind the pips skin and all into a fine flour, then we make dough with it by adding hot water.

This preparation method reminded Jin of

sobagaki

buckwheat dumplings.

Unlike barley, buckwheat could be made into

hikigurumi

, a flour made by mixing each grind from the first to the third all together which is prized for its aroma.

If only I had some broth to go with this soba

For Jin, there werent many options for eating soba without having soy sauce available.

Buckwheat cookies, steamed buns

Since Jin had spent several years during his time in the orphanage making soba noodles for everyone during New Years Eve as is tradition to have a bowl during that night, he was very adept at making soba noodles, even if he wasnt an actual expert at it. However, there was no way for him to make soba soup in the land of the demons, so he quickly gave up on the idea.

Even without baking powder, they still had baking soda, so they could still make steamed bread.

After inspecting all the crops and fields, Jin (s Subst.i.tute Doll) returned to s.h.i.+nra clans abode.

He then took a seat in the drawing room and started thinking (though the actual thinking was made by both Laojun and the real Jin on Hourai Island). Then he voiced his final conclusion.

First well have to secure manpower, then probably review the crops and methods for agriculture.

What do you mean, Mr. Jin?

Both Lorona and her husband Radeus looked like they werent following Jins words. Bardius was even worse.

Lets make some farmer Golems. Then you can grow potatoes. And build greenhouses.

Jin revealed the idea he had been thinking about.

I understand what you mean by farmer Golems, but what are these potatoes and greenhouses you speak of?

Jin gave them a short answer to their questions.

Potatoes, which are also known as topopo, are a type of tuber that can be grown even in very harsh environments. They can be prepared into all sorts of delicious meals. And greenhouses are basically structures made out of transparent plates that allow for safe growing of crops even in cold regions. The temperature inside is higher than outside.

That sounds great!

Being quite familiar with agriculture herself, Lorona seemed to have understood quite a bit just by listening to Jins vague explanation.

I would like it if you could help with the production of the farmer Golems, as well as provide the materials well need.

Of course. Ill go get everything ready.

Radeus quickly left the room, saying he would prepare the materials.

So, Mr. Jin, we need to talk about your remuneration for your help in this matter. What would be okay for you?

Chief Bardius said so with a worried expression on his face.

And Jins reply was:

Well, Id like some of that buckI mean, rye and some

vietra

seeds.