Chapter 375
**"This is...!!"**
**"...... I had heard about it from Esmeralda, but I never imagined it was on this scale."**
The reactions of the two who arrived at the vertical farm were different.
Maddeto was surprised because he didn't know, while Duke Edelgard, who knew and whose surprise was already halved, still opened his eyes wide in astonishment.
"All of this is medicinal herbs for potion ingredients! How on earth...? Cultivating these herbs requires a massive amount of magic stones!"
Unable to contain himself, Maddeto dashed towards the herb garden. Not caring about his clothes getting dirty or his gloves becoming caked with soil, he knelt in the field, tore off his gloves, and gently touched the herbs with his bare hands.
As Maddeto said, medicinal herbs used for potions only grow wild in places with abundant magical power.
That's why they are only found in places like dungeons or deep mountains where magical power is rich.
It's possible to cultivate them, but it requires specialized equipment and is costly.
That's why potions are expensive.
The inevitable costs include the labor fees for hiring adventurers to gather the herbs, and the high-cost artificial cultivation requiring significant capital investment.
Either way, because the material costs are high, potions become expensive.
"This one too! No, this is an herb used for high-grade potions as well!? Artificial cultivation of this shouldn't be successful yet..."
However, by creating this vertical farm and modifying it for herbs, it becomes possible to cultivate them at a surprisingly low cost.
So much so, that we can even prepare the materials that Maddeto is staring at in shock.
"What kind of mechanism is this?"
"Trade secret. Given the current situation where we haven't signed a contract or established a cooperative framework, I can't very well tell you."
"...... I suppose you're right."
While watching Maddeto, whose excitement wouldn't cease at the variety and quantity of herbs, the Duke asked about the cultivation method, but this is one thing I can't easily divulge.
"At the very least, consider this proof that I can provide a certain amount of the herbs here, and please accept them for now."
"So anything beyond that depends on us, is that it?"
"That's right."
However, I have no intention of holding back for the sake of saving lives.
I'll keep the prices down to just the necessary expenses, and I won't take a profit from this.
Just the fact that I can provide a stable supply of these herbs would be a huge help to Maddeto.
Even if I were to teach them the cultivation method, I doubt the two of them could secure land suitable for herb cultivation.
"The neighboring farm produces food as well. I can provide the surplus at cost."
I take out a piece of paper and hand it to the Duke.
It lists the herbs and food I can provide, along with their prices.
I had Jinx and the others from the shopping district set the prices, so I'm really only charging for the expenses.
Therefore, the pricing is set quite cheaply.
"...... This is a great help. It's not a poor harvest, but even so, it's never enough to distribute to the people across my vast lands. Moreover, the merchants are trying to take advantage of the situation..."
After glancing over it, he hands it to Lotus.
The fact that he doesn't try to negotiate means he's noticed the cheap pricing and isn't going to ask for it to be lowered.
"Though I should say, it's not always at this price, you know? This is a special case because of the emergency. Normally, given the quality, it would be much higher."
"I understand. I will convey that clearly to His Majesty as well. And I will also impress upon him that this is a debt to you, and he should not make casual demands."
"Please do. I'd really rather not have debts or obligations, but this time is truly special."
So for now, it's better to prioritize handing over the actual goods rather than sharing knowledge.
It would be counterproductive to raise prices here and have supplies not arrive because the national treasury is stingy.
"This farmland is wonderful! If we could build this in the royal capital, we could make affordable potions and save many more lives!"
Maddeto returned just as my exchange with the Duke settled down.
His knees were covered in mud, his hands caked with dirt.
It's a good thing he has no aversion to getting dirty with soil, which is unusual for a noble, but isn't he a bit too excited?
"It was originally designed as farmland for self-sufficiency in a limited environment, so yes, you could build it in the royal capital if you wanted. Well, I wouldn't recommend building it rapidly, though."
"Indeed. If we prepared a large number of these farms, we would be taking away one source of income from adventurers who earn money by gathering herbs. Furthermore, if potions flood the market, who knows how many craftsmen who make a living from them would be left destitute."
"It's unfortunate, but it's certainly true that building them would be better in the future. However, for now..."
I thought he might start demanding we provide the farmland itself, but Lotus smoothly handed Maddeto the earlier price list. He skimmed through it.
"I offer my deepest gratitude for your generous support. I swear upon the name of Cazes to save many people."
His cheeks relaxed in relief at the amount of support, and he bowed deeply.
"I must repay this favor, though... unfortunately, my house's finances are not so ample due to our medical support work. I wonder if I can prepare something that would satisfy you..."
He raised his face with an apologetic expression.
"Let's just consider it a loan for the sake of helping people this time."
"But..."
"It's really fine. Oh, and don't worry about the money. I'll study hard and keep it cheap. But as I told the Duke, please understand that this price is truly special. If anyone says 'we can do this from now on too' or the like, please keep those nobles firmly in check. I'll have the Duke drive a big warning to His Majesty, so that part shouldn't be a problem, I think."
"I thank you for your conscience. And I promise you. If there are any who complain about these relief supplies, I will stop them in the name of my responsibility, even if I must threaten a complete halt to all medical support."
He's so decent. I wish I could make the other nobles drink a decoction made from the dirt under his fingernails. Having his cooperation would undoubtedly make things much easier in the future.
Ideally, I'd like him to quit being a noble and come to my territory, but the chances of someone as responsible as him doing that are pretty low.
I know how to recruit him as an ally in FBO, but since he hasn't quit being a noble, recruiting him would inevitably come with noble connections as a package deal.
If not for that, I'd want him on my side no matter what.
Elixirs are practically mandatory recovery items in the latter half of the FBO story.
Even in reality, I've managed to get this far without taking any life-threatening damage, but I think it's nearly impossible to clear future dungeons without taking any damage from now on.
The danger from here on out is on a different level.
The strength of the Class 9 monster, Azidahaka, is the real deal.
Even if we become equals, we cannot let our guard down.
And while I won't say future dungeons use Azidahaka as the standard, they become environments teeming with monsters possessing stats close to it.
Robust stats, diverse skills.
No matter how perfectly we level up, a single mistake could be fatal in the battles to come.
Given that we'll be placing ourselves in such an environment, you can never have too many recovery items.
Moreover, if we have a large quantity of the famed complete recovery medicine, Elixir, we can prevent accidents.
As long as you aren't instantly killed, you can be saved.
You could say it's an item that guarantees life, surpassing any lifeline.
"However, that and repaying your kindness are separate matters. If there is anything I can do for you, please allow me."
Gratitude from a person with the potential to create such an item with maximum efficiency.
I feel a slight conflict about whether it's right to take advantage of this.
"Liberta. Disregarding his words here would wound his pride as a noble. It is better to accept his goodwill here."
"...... I understand."
The Duke dispelled that conflict for me, so my hesitation vanished.
"Maddeto-san."
"Yes?"
"Would you make Elixirs with me?"
So, I face him anew.
Thanks to the Duke pushing my back, Maddeto-san, who had steeled himself for some kind of request, was looking at me with a serious gaze.
However.
"Huh?"
His expression crumbled at my words, transforming into a face of utter shock.
"Liberta, did you say Elixir?"
And perhaps because she spends a lot of time with me, Lady Esmeralda, who has some tolerance for my statements, held her forehead and confirmed what I just said.
"Yeah, mm-hmm. I said it. Would you make Elixirs with me or not?"
"It wasn't a mishearing..."
"Given it's Liberta-sama, I didn't think it was a joke, but..."
"Wh-what!? Did you just say Elixir!? That Elixir, the pinnacle of recovery medicine produced on the western continent!?"
Next, the Duke, and then Lotus, regained their senses in turn. Maddeto, with the least tolerance, was the last to recover.
"Yes, that Elixir."
In FBO, using them daily was standard, and depending on how you used them, you could even do low-level power leveling.
That Elixir can be made.
It's a rare item in many games, but this is FBO where anything goes.
The hardcore players' investigative abilities first pinpointed the Elixir recipe on the western continent. From there, through repeated improvements and refinements, if you acquired the techniques, you could create an environment to make Elixirs.
If the finished product exists, then a process to make it must exist.
That was the creed, and the result of the analysis team's tenacity.
"Can Elixirs be made here?"
"No, not right now. The equipment isn't in place, and we lack personnel with the dedicated skill composition."
The method for making Elixirs is extremely stringent.
To make them, you need dedicated skills and tools, and furthermore, a sense capable of confirming their state.
At the very least, with my current skill composition, I absolutely cannot make them.
Amina, who has Alchemy, probably can't do it either. Likely, even the spirits in the spirit world would find it extremely difficult to make Elixirs, and even if they could, mass production would be far beyond reach.
"Then why are you asking me? It sounds as if they can be made if I'm there."
"That's right. Maddeto-san, you're a Gifted, aren't you?"
However, Maddeto can accomplish what the long-lived spirits cannot.
The reason lies in the unique skill he was born with.
Among all NPCs, he is the only one who possesses this Gifted skill.
"Well, yes, that's true. But my skill isn't anything great, you know? It just lets me vaguely grasp the condition of plants."
Plant Sensitive.
As a skill, it truly only lets you grasp the condition of plants.
Or rather, it's closer to a dialogue.
Unlike common Appraisal skills, it doesn't display a status screen with detailed numerical values.
It just lets you vaguely sense something like the plant's health.
When he came to this herb garden earlier, knowing which herbs were of good quality was partly due to his daily experience, but also because he was using this skill.
Since this skill's only real use is checking quality, it's not dangerous, and he nodded honestly without particularly hiding it.
"That Gifted skill is crucial for making Elixirs."
"This skill is?"
"You don't believe me?"
"To be honest, yes, that's right."
I tell him I understand that feeling, as he lacks a real sense of it.
In fact, in FBO too, until the use of this skill was understood, he was just a slightly skilled potion maker.
"Then I'll tell you. What I want you to do..."
But as I speak of the action that will drastically change that, I find myself looking forward a little to just what kind of reaction Maddeto will show.