Third Outer World Story Series: Pumpkin Sorcerer - Chapter 94

Translator: MadHatter Editor: MadHatter

“First off, the crops are the same as they always are. Due to the impending winter, all animals are active, but since we always have a high safety margin, there is no issue when it comes to hunting.”

“Hmm. What about the Spalpkin fields?”

Following Gorky’s report and confirmation that no particular problems were encountered, Pumpkin asked him about the special… Spalpkin fields that have been set up in addition to the normal fields.

Before explaining what a Spalpkin field was, shall an outline of how Spalpkin can grow be given?

Early in the summer, a yellow flower on a Spalpkin bloomed at the chest; when this flower was pollinated by attaching it to another Spalpkin flower, a pumpkin with a single seed was produced in mid-summer.

This pumpkin will then be stored in a dark room during the fall and winter, and in the subsequent spring, it will be planted and grown in a special field… Spalpkin field where it will be maintained so that it will not be mixed with other crops. During the following summer, this pumpkin produced fruits without flowering, which were not harvested and continued to grow until the following spring to become Spalpkins.

The state in which they were planted in the field would be deemed to be their youth, and the state in which they took on a human form would be considered to be their adulthood, notwithstanding the highly unique method in which they mature.

Along with being separated from other fields, the Spalpkin field was further properly protected and temperature-controlled. It was decided to plant in the spring since it seemed unlikely that the plants, if put in the summer and allowed to flourish, would survive the winter.

“Since the Spalpkin field is in good order, I guess they should be able to survive the winter without any problems, right?”

“Mm-hmm.”

“Oh, and Denley also informed me that the ones growing in the town are still growing slowly. So it will be much longer than next spring before they reach adulthood.”

“Ah, I knew it.”

Pumpkin questioned… why the one growing on the streets of Kunukihappy was not developing properly as he watched Gorky exhale as if to indicate that he had finished speaking.

The conclusion that was drawn was that the difference in the amount of magic power contained in the surrounding environment between Kunukihappy and Samsara Egg Village was more than just the nutrients and water in the soil.

In fact, even the first generation of Spalpkin seemed to have grown at once by absorbing Pumpkin’s magic power that was scattered in the atmosphere.

“In that case, the only way is to grow them in Lean Forest.”

“I guess so.”

Pumpkin turned to Mizuki at this point.

Mizuki’s responsibilities were related to water and sanitation, but of course she was also concerned with crops.

“Hmm? Oh, I see no issue on my end. Thanks to your assistance, I was able to gather all of the village’s excrement in one location and utilize it as fertilizer, which improved the sanitary situation. The magic power is also flowing without a hitch.”

Perhaps sensing the gaze directed at her, Mizuki offered a report on the part she was involved in.

But, well, from what I’ve heard, there doesn’t seem to be any problem.

“It seems that Crave and the others have been receptive to my previous opinions.”

“Well, as someone who is being taken care of, I have no choice but to accept it, and there was no point in rejecting it in the first place.”

“Hmm.”

Crave responded to Mizuki’s words as if they were nothing, but in fact, both Mizuki and Pumpkin were aware that there had been some conflict with the other adventurers.

In the end, Mizuki’s opinion, “Put all the garbage in one place!” was the opinion that was fully supported by the adventurers. Anyone would rather have clean facilities than dirty ones.

“As long as there’s no problem, it doesn’t matter. What about your side, leader?”

“Bunbubu? (Me?)”

The leader began to respond to Pumpkin’s words with a report using buzzing sounds, a dial, and then telepathy.

“Bunbubu, bububunbu, bubububu. Bunbu, bububunbububu, bububun. (We already have enough housing and facilities, and sufficient numbers of various building materials for maintenance and repairs, so there is no issue. Preparations for the hibernation have already been completed, so we can endure even if the winter is harsher than average.)”

“If there are no obstacles, that’s a blessing.”

Everyone present at the meeting agreed that it was all for the good, hearing the leader’s words.

The majority of the buildings in Samsara Egg Village were in fact erected by combining beeswax from Hunting Bee with wood and stone recovered from Lean Forest, so the status of Hunting Bee was no different from humans in the village.

Furthermore, the leader’s daughter and sons have recently departed from the village in the form of subsidiary bees, but their whereabouts were unknown. That being said, it was not at all worrisome since they were capable of hunting boars even without the support of Spalpkin.

You know what? After a few years, they may get adapted to the high-magic environment of Lean Forest and develop into a different kind of bee from the Hunting Bee.

“Well, then, the next one is Tax-san.”

“There is no particular change on my part. The Count’s instructions are the same as usual, and the taxes for this year have already been paid without any complications. Well, if I may say so, the newcomer who came in the spring is still underdeveloped, so I am having some trouble with that, but I will slowly educate this newcomer along with Spalpkin and the other newcomers. I mean, don’t you know more about the heart of the matter than I do, Pumpkin-san? After all, you have been to Senkonoto.”

“Yeah. I understand. Regarding the heart of the matter… to tell you the truth, I couldn’t figure it out with my mind. Well, with Count Kunuki around, things probably won’t get too unpleasant too soon.”

“That’s true, isn’t it?”

Yeah. Even Tax-san’s side doesn’t have any problem.

For now, I hope that there will be more children who are adept at politics and negotiations at the earliest opportunity. As a magic enthusiast, politics is not a fitting place for me to be, with all the other sly old dogs from all over the world.

“Well, that leaves only me, then.”

“Yeah? Do you have anything to share?”

After the other members had finished their reports, Crave pulled out a few sheets of parchment from his pocket and stared intently.

“Ah, the research team from Lean Forest has reported that they found something a little strange, and I would like to hear the opinions of everyone here.”

Then Crave proceeded with his report.