Lately, the twin angels Suarliu and Suarkou had been assigned to guard me quite frequently. I suspected this was a result of job specialization, now that the population of the Angel Race in the village had grown. Since Kuro’s children and Zabuton’s children were usually with me as well, I didn't particularly mind the addition of the twins.
What actually concerned me, however, was their tendency to perform comedy routines that exploited the fact they were identical. While I thought their execution was impressive for a pair of twins, the routines were all things I had seen on TV in my previous life, so they weren't exactly new to me. It felt wrong to treat them with mere nostalgia, yet I found myself at a loss for any other response.
Putting those thoughts aside, I made my way to Village Two, accompanied by the twins. My purpose was to construct a pool there. The Minotaurs of Village Two had approached me with a large stack of Reward Medals to make the request.
While they could have simply used the pool in the Village of the Great Tree, the Minotaurs were physically imposing. They were concerned that if they swam as freely as they liked, they would become a nuisance to the smaller residents. This led to the request for a pool in Village Two where they could swim to their hearts' content.
Since they had offered Reward Medals, I had no reason to refuse. The plan was to use it as a pool during the summer and as a reservoir during other seasons. That way, the effort wouldn't go to waste. I used the Universal Farming Tool to excavate the area in short order. It was a substantial pool, with its longest side measuring forty meters. I could have made it even larger, but I was told that if it were too big, it would be difficult for the lifeguards to monitor, so we settled on these dimensions. Since it was designed for Minotaurs, it was quite deep. I made sure to emphasize that they needed to have lifeguards strictly stationed whenever children were swimming.
With the work in Village Two finished, I moved on to Village Three. As expected, I was slated to build a pool there as well. The Centaur Race living there also had large bodies, and their reason for wanting a pool was the same: they didn't want to cause trouble for others. However, rather than a place to swim laps, the Centaurs primarily wanted a bathing area.
"Centaurs can swim, but if you were to ask if we are particularly good at it, I'm afraid I couldn't honestly nod in agreement," Gluewald, the Acting Village Head of Village Three, offered a bashful explanation.
Apparently, if Centaurs remained submerged in water for long periods, their hooves would soften and suffer damage, so they didn't actually enjoy swimming much. It was a skill those going to the battlefield learned reluctantly just to survive. Even so, the summer heat was hard on them. It seemed they still felt the desire to soak in a pool, even if they didn't plan on being active.
"But, to be in a pool when one isn't actually swimming is a bit..."
I didn't think she needed to worry about that. After all, there were plenty of people who did nothing but float around in swim rings. Besides, when someone brought Reward Medals and asked for a pool they could use freely, I couldn't very well say no. I dug it out quickly with the Universal Farming Tool, and the project was done. I just hoped they would be careful to avoid accidents.
On the way back from Village Three, I spoke with Jack, the Acting Village Head of Village One. I asked him if his village needed a pool. It wasn't that I felt obligated to build one; I was just curious.
"We are allowed to use the pool in the Village of the Great Tree, after all," he replied. "Besides, the children here are still small."
It seemed he was afraid of accidents occurring if there were a pool right in the village. I understood his caution. Even Kuro’s children and Zabuton’s children, who acted as the village guards, focused primarily on threats from the outside. While the children were watched by whoever was available in the village, letting them play in a deep pool was a frightening prospect.
Hmm. What Village One needed wasn't a proper, large pool, but something like a vinyl pool. Since I couldn't get my hands on vinyl, perhaps a pool constructed of wooden boards? No, that wasn't quite right. Then I remembered the small Floating Gardens I’d intended for use as water tanks. I decided to ask Lu to distribute the ones meant for the water tanks in Shashato City—one for each village.
Yes, every village. Since Village Two and Village Three had paid in Reward Medals, I couldn't very well give the tanks to Village One for free. Besides, it wasn't as if they absolutely had to be used as pools. I looked forward to seeing the creative ways each village would put them to use.
When I went to ask Lu for the water tanks, she had already prepared more than I’d requested.
"I thought they might be necessary," she said.
"As expected of Lu," I praised.
She offered a smug little chuckle. "Heh heh."
"So, why did you think we'd need more?" I asked.
"Those water tanks of yours that you're using as fish preserves—the maids wanted more of those."
"Ah, I see. In that case, would it be all right to give a few to the High Ogre maids as well?"
"I prepared them with that in mind," she said.
"That’s a big help. Thank you."
"It’s fine. You can pay me back with that herb field."
I laughed. "Leave it to me. Anticipating such a thing, I've already prepared a new herb field."
"Eh?"
"When I went to the Royal Capital to encourage the people at the auction, I was shown a rare medicinal herb."
"Eh? Eh? Rare? W-What kind of herb?"
"I don't remember the name; it was something strange. Someone from the Dalfon Company mentioned it was a rare herb that blooms in summer. The leaves and roots are used for medicine, and while the flowers are beautiful, they’re actually poisonous."
"Summer? Rare? Leaves and roots for medicine? Could it—could it possibly be Eligunjer?"
"I think it was a name like that."
"I-I-I'm going to have high expectations!"
"Well, when you get that happy, it makes me nervous. I'd hate to be wrong."
"Y-You're right. I shouldn't rush." She took a breath. "So, where is this new herb field?"
"Actually, the flowers are already blooming."
"We're going!"
Since I had heard the flowers were poisonous, I had placed the twenty-meter square herb field a short distance away from the village. It was currently in full bloom. It appeared the herb was indeed the Eligunjer Lu had been pining for, and she was ecstatic. She practically danced a little jig on the spot. I was just glad she was pleased.
"By the way, what kind of effects does this herb have?" I asked.
Her movements stopped abruptly. "..."
"Hmm? What’s wrong?"
"Eligunjer is multipurpose," she said flatly.
"Is that so? That sounds amazing."
"Yes, it’s amazing. But... it can't compete with the leaves of the World Tree. That’s why it’s often called a substitute or an inferior version."
"Really?"
"It’s true. The leaves of the World Tree are superior in every single category. Furthermore, while the leaves of the World Tree are effective just as they are, this one requires a tedious preparation and compounding process to be used as medicine. On top of that, it takes at least a hundred days to finish the medicine."
"Ah. I see. I'm sorry. Was it a mediocre herb after all...?"
"That isn't true at all!" she snapped. "In the era after the World Tree withered, this herb was considered absolutely vital!"
"O-Oh?"
"If you had everything from the flowers to the roots in a fresh state, it was worth five gold coins. Even in a dried state, it was a luxury item worth two! There were people who spent their entire lives trying to figure out how to cultivate Eligunjer."
"I see. Did their cultivation go well?"
"If it had gone well, it wouldn't have been worth five gold coins."
That made sense. At the auction, they said it was scheduled to start at four gold coins in its dried state. I looked at the herb field once more. It was a sea of Eligunjer flowers. I suppose this was the sight those ancient researchers had longed to see.
"It’s inferior compared to the leaves of the World Tree, but that’s only because the opponent it’s being compared to is so formidable! From a pharmacological standpoint, this Eligunjer is an incredibly important herb. Because it’s rare, there hasn't been much research on it, but with this much available, even the dream of surpassing the leaves of the World Tree isn't impossible! Thank you, Husband!"
"I'm glad you're happy. But you can't keep it all to yourself. If Tia or Flora want some, make sure to share."
"I know. Oh, would it be all right if I gave some to the Ifuls Academy in Shashato City?"
"Of course, I don't mind."
"Thank you! Hehehe, to have a medicine that surpasses the World Tree in my own hands... the history of pharmacy is about to take a massive leap forward!"
Seeing Lu so happy made the effort worthwhile. Before I forgot, I decided to head out and distribute the Floating Gardens to each village. If I stayed and talked about medicinal herbs much longer, I felt like the task would slip my mind entirely.
Beside me as I watched the joyful Lu, Suarliu and Suarkou sent me looks that seemed to say, "Is there nothing for us? We're working hard too."
I supposed they were right. I decided to teach them some twin comedy routines I remembered from TV. They were bits that the two of them hadn't thought of. Since they were quite popular back then, I figured they wouldn't fall flat here. And so, Suarliu and Suarkou acquired some new material.
A few days later, I heard there was uproarious laughter among the Angel Race. I was glad to see the satisfied smiles on the twins' faces.
Suarliu and Suarkou later said, "The people we respect most are the twin comedians the Village Head told us about."
Their mother, Suarlou, could only lament, "...The day I get to hold a grandchild of my own is still far off."
Razmaria asked her, "Do you want to hold Rosemaria for a bit?"
Suarlou replied instantly, "...I do."
Lu: "With Eligunjer, you have to go through steps A, B, and so on, all the way to Z, before it finally becomes a recovery medicine."
Village Head: "Right."
Lu: "With a World Tree leaf, it’s a recovery medicine the moment you pick it."
Village Head: "I... I see..."
Lu: "And on top of that, the effect of the World Tree leaf is even stronger. It's cheating, isn't it?"
Village Head: "It... it is cheating. Yeah, definitely cheating."
Guronde: "Whenever the topic of the World Tree comes up, my heart aches..."
Giral: "Stay positive, now. Just stay positive."
Ol: "Woof! (Who’s the one picking on Mama?!)"