bdsm-fiction Chapter 22. Alice, where are you?
Chapter 22. Alice, where are you?
"Wait, what is this thing?"
"How can someone do something like this? Threatening a magic gourd vine? Is this a trick a human could come up with?!"
After witnessing Mabel's performance in the illusion, Tian Sha Xing felt his vision go black.
"I do not understand!"
What do you mean you actually had the baby just because she told you to?
Do you think this raw melon will ever ripen? You're just going to leave it raw.
Unfortunately, judging from the magic screen, these magic melons were not only guaranteed to be ripe, but they were also incredibly ripe, each one large and round.
Philip remained silent.
"Could it be... that Mabel is really a genius? Or am I just too stupid to think of this method?"
"See?" Dr. Raven said casually, as if he had known all along that Mabel would succeed:
"That's the difference between you and me, between a genius and a fool."
"Hmph!" Philip sneered.
There was no rebuttal.
After all, he really had nothing to say right now.
……
In the illusion.
Under Mabel's intimidation and nourished by the magic emanating from the black flames, the magic gourd vine kept bearing magic gourds, fearing that it would really be burned to death by Mabel's black flames.
In the end, the magic melons grew to fill an entire melon field.
After selling these magic melons, the old farmer not only paid ten years' worth of taxes in advance, but also moved into a large villa, started a business, and no longer needed to grow magic melons.
The illusion slowly faded away.
Mabel opened her eyes and saw that Starman and Philip were looking at her with extremely complicated expressions and feelings.
After thinking for a moment, he said:
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
Tian Sha Xing: "...Sigh."
Philip: "...Sigh, could she really be a genius?"
The two of them were sighing and lamenting, leaving Mabel completely bewildered.
The Raven Doctor patted her on the shoulder and laughed heartily:
"Because you are a genius and they are mediocre, they are jealous of your performance in the illusion just now, just like they are jealous of me, which is why they are acting like this."
Mabel understood. "I see. But it's one thing if Senior Heavenly Killer Star doesn't know about my extraordinary talent and wisdom, but Uncle Plant, don't you know?"
Uncle Plant Philip: "...I really didn't know."
Mabel roughly understood the current situation, and after exchanging words, she also looked at the magical screen in front of her.
……
"You mean that the landlord named Pete not only monopolized all the melon fields in your Scorched Earth, but also made you pay a heavy quarterly tax every quarter in addition to the portion you have to pay for the melons you grow in the fields on a regular basis?"
After paying taxes, the remaining demonic gourds and vegetables are barely enough to survive? He's usually incredibly arrogant, bullying men and women, and those who ever resisted him were buried alive?
The bull-slaughtering knight looked at the old farmer in front of him, who nodded helplessly:
"Yes, that Mr. Pete is a powerful being in the Lantern Realm. We are not superhumans, so there is no point in resisting."
So, have you thought of any way to help me save the melon patch?
The Bull-Slaughtering Knight laughed heartily, "Of course, I've thought of a way, but it's not to save your melon patch."
Under the old farmer's questioning gaze, he followed the bull-slaughtering knight into the scorched earth town.
On the way, the cattle-slaughtering knight asked the old farmer:
"Do you know where Mr. Pete's armory is?"
The old farmer hesitated for a moment before nodding. "I know."
The bull-slaughtering knight then arrived at the location of the armory of the landlord Pete, as mentioned by the old farmer.
Seeing the bull-slaughtering knight eager to try, the old farmer said fearfully:
"You must not act rashly. Do you see those two gatekeepers from Firefly Realm? They are lackeys hired by Master Pete. They not only eat and dash in town all the time, but also... they even ate at Park Wan's place without paying!"
The most terrifying thing is that when those who defied Mr. Pitt were buried alive, it was they who did it! You absolutely mustn't act impulsively!
"I see," the Bull-Slayer Knight nodded, heading towards the armory. "Then they deserve to be killed even more!"
Under the old farmer's watchful eye, the bull-slaughtering knight quickly killed the two gatekeepers and said:
"Go and inform the residents of the town to come and collect their weapons."
"You...you want to rebel against Mr. Pete?"
After being surprised, the old farmer obediently called over the residents of the town.
The bull-slaughtering knight distributed weapons to the villagers and shouted to them:
"Knife in hand, follow me!"
"Distribute the fertile land, distribute the devil's melons!"
"Kill Pete, kill the lackeys!"
Having said that, without paying any attention to the villagers who were all frozen in place and dared not move, the Bull-Slaying Knight strode toward the landlord Pete's house.
At first, no villagers dared to make a move; some even wanted to return the weapons that the outsider had given them.
Later, as dog heads rolled, the extraordinary beings who were usually high and mighty in their eyes were cut down from their horses by the Bull-Slaying Knight. One villager moved, imitating the Bull-Slaying Knight:
"Knife in hand, follow me!"
"Distribute the fertile land, distribute the devil's melons!"
"Kill Pete, kill the lackeys!"
The resentment that had been building up under Mr. Pete's control over them all day long erupted at this moment.
Like a pebble falling into water, creating a thousand waves.
More and more villagers followed behind the cattle-slaughtering knight, finishing off the arrogant lords and their lackeys.
"Knife in hand, follow me!"
"Distribute the fertile land, distribute the devil's melons!"
"Kill Pete, kill the lackeys!"
The Bull-Slaying Knight led a group of villagers to break down the gate of the landlord Pete's house.
The chubby landlord was about to take advantage of a woman he had forcibly taken.
A villager glared angrily:
"Damn it, Pete, what are you going to do to my wife?"
Pete ignored him and instead looked at the leading bull-slaughtering knight, saying:
"My friend, I apologize for not being a good host since you've come from afar, but there's no need to do something like this. We can talk things over properly."
The bull-slaughtering knight laughed and asked, "Then tell me, what were you doing just now?"
Pete glanced at the beautiful woman who was already hiding behind the villagers, understood, and burst into laughter:
"My friend, she's just a young lady. If you want, I can give you ten!"
"I'll make you numb!"
The bull-slaughtering knight cursed and slashed at the landlord Pete with his blade. Pete roared:
"You can tell me what you want, why are you cutting me?!"
"You idiot, I'm Arthur the Minotaur, I slay minotaurs!"
With the bull-slaughtering knight having severed the head of landlord Pete, the villagers divided up the landlord's wealth and land, no longer having to worry about exorbitant taxes and the withering of the magic melon fields.
And under the leadership of the Bull-Slaying Knight, a new system was established to prevent the illusion from slowly disappearing after the emergence of landlords like Pete.
……
The Bull-Slaying Knight had just opened his eyes when he saw the Heavenly Killer Star letting out another long sigh.
"After I experienced the illusion, I found the adventurer's diary in the treasure chest he left behind. It contained records of how the landlord Pete exploited the villagers of Scorched Earth."
Tian Sha Xing looked at the Bull Slayer Knight, his expression complex:
"If I were to experience that illusion again, I might do the same thing as you."
Philip: "I never expected you, a knight, to have such a passionate heart."
The bull-slaughtering knight was silent for a moment, then said:
"Heh, I decided to do it as soon as I realized it was an illusion. If I didn't have this kind of passion, I wouldn't have been expelled from the Royal Guard, met my lover, and killed every minotaur I encountered."
Mabel blinked. "The last one is clearly your personal hobby, isn't it?"
"Ahem," the Bull-Slaying Knight looked at Grimm and asked, "Has Grimm still not emerged from the illusion after all this time?"
Mabel shrugged. "The screen's right here. Watch it yourself."
.........
In the illusion.
After listening to the old farmer's words, Green began to ponder.
"The magic melon needs to absorb magic energy from the air to grow, but the magic energy in the air here is almost non-existent... Is there any way to gather all this magic energy together?"
After thinking it over, Green went to the edge of the melon field.
The old farmer asked:
"Outsider, have you come up with any ideas?"
Green nodded and shouted, "Blue Shadow, propel!"
After his heart pounded like a war drum, Greene began running around the melon field at full speed, astonishing the old farmer.
"But what does your speed have to do with saving my melon field?" the old farmer asked, puzzled.
Green smiled slightly.
As the blue shadow was activated, the air-piercing force was also propelled forward at the same time!
Under the influence of the force of breaking through the air, the mana magic in the air continuously surged towards Grimm's body. The faster Grimm moved with the support of the blue shadow, the more magic power surged towards him.
But the magic here was already thin, so no matter how much more was poured in, it was just a drop in the ocean. Feeling unsatisfied, Green took out the Frostflower Thorn he had just gotten from the city hall's storeroom and stabbed it fiercely into his abdomen.
"Drink! Ah!"
Fresh blood gushed out.
With his adrenaline surging, Green sped up even more.
Because Green was running around the melon field, it would take some time for the magic to attach to him. However, he was too fast, causing the surrounding magic to be left behind before it could attach and be absorbed by the melon vines in the field.
Thanks to Green's efforts, the gourd vines have become even greener.
The old farmer exclaimed in surprise, "It actually works!"
Green frowned. "Not enough, still not enough!"
……
Beyond the illusion.
Tian Sha Xing commented:
"Are you trying to use the special nature of your technique to gather magic power to nourish the melon field? How long would that take? It's a drop in the ocean. Even if people run themselves to death, the magic melons that grow on these magic melon vines won't be enough to pay taxes."
.........
Within the illusion.
Green has stopped walking.
Clearly, he had already realized the same problem.
His actions were essentially gathering the sparse magic in the surrounding air and forcibly nourishing the melon field.
Even if he is a sports prodigy and a super endurance runner, once the magic in this air is used up, he will have to go to a more distant place to gather magic and then find a way to bring the gathered magic to this melon field.
That definitely won't work.
The air in the scorched earth is thin with magic because of that wisp of black flame that fell years ago...
He asked the old farmer:
"Old man, may I ask which hero fought the Demon King here back then?"
The old farmer replied, "It was indeed the third hero. His black flame magic was incredibly powerful. With just a wisp of black flame, he changed the environment here, evaporating magic power day and night, causing us great suffering."
The Third Hero...
Green thought to himself that the Frostthorn he had just obtained from the city hall was the weapon once used by the Third Hero. Although the one he had was a replica, he thought that using it to find that wisp of black flame might lead to a solution.
Green then asked, "Old man, may I ask where that wisp of black flame fell back then?"
The old farmer glanced at him and said, "It fell into the back mountain of our village. Our back mountain used to be lush and green, but ever since that wisp of black flame fell, it has become barren and is always burning with raging fire. We call it 'Flaming Mountain'. If you want to go to Flaming Mountain, you can come with me."
Green nodded and followed the old farmer to the Flaming Mountain.
He drew his Frostthorn, shouted, and said:
"Black Flame, do you recognize this?"
The flames that had been dancing all over the Flaming Mountain subsided for a moment.
This black flame usually shows no intelligence and has been living in a daze for many years. When it saw the Frostthorn in Green's hand, it thought that a hero had returned and wanted to come back.
"Do you remember you were the Black Flame, the hero who fought the Demon King and was scattered here? You perished protecting Therra, and look at what you've protected now?!"
Reprimanded by Green, Black Flame was brought back to its senses from its dazed state, filled with self-reproach.
The flames that had covered the mountains and fields ceased to flicker, transforming into a spark that fell into Green's hand.
From then on, the black flames that had plagued the scorched earth for many years disappeared, the climate returned to normal, and water sources began to flow again.
……
Beyond the illusion.
Tian Sha Xing shook his head again, "Although it was a coincidence, I guess he can barely pass the test."
Just as Tian Sha Xing was about to close the illusion, he saw Green inside the illusion make another move.
.........
In the illusion.
Although the scorched earth's climate is gradually recovering, the mana magic in the air is difficult to regenerate, and it is unknown how many years it will take to recover.
Green always remembered that he wanted to help the old farmer revitalize his melon field.
Then he thought, the air in the scorched earth is indeed thin and difficult to restore.
But it's normal for the air outside the scorched earth to contain magical power!
As the saying goes, when one place is in trouble, help comes from all sides. Could he also follow the example of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project from his previous world and create a South-to-East Water Diversion Project?
Green thought the plan was feasible.
The scorched earth was surrounded by mountains, and the air was stagnant all year round, resulting in very little fresh magic from the outside flowing in, so the mountains were blasted.
After the old farmer spread the word about Grimm subduing the black flame, the residents of the scorched earth regarded Grimm as a living hero.
Hearing that the brave warrior was going to blast the mountain, I unconditionally supported him without hesitation!
With the combined efforts of the local people and Green, a mountain surrounded by scorched earth was blasted open.
The air flows, and a constant stream of fresh magic flows in.
Green thought again that the old farmer's melon field was saved because of this, but the scorched earth was impoverished because of the black flames. If they wanted to get rid of poverty, they would have to plant magic melons and other specialty vegetables on a large scale for foreign trade.
With the current magic power level, that's definitely not enough.
So, how do we borrow "air" from other places on a large scale?
Green thought that the ancient Eastern wisdom had already given him the answer.
Therefore, under Green's advocacy, dozens or even hundreds of kilometers away from the scorched earth, structures resembling solar windmills sprang up.
The principle behind the ability of the Breaking Force to gather magical energy from the surrounding air is mainly due to Grimm's extremely high speed, which causes his body to resonate with the magical energy, thus attracting it.
Subsequently, Green spent a large sum of money to hire a magician to install a special magic circle on the windmill.
The windmill converts solar energy into electricity, which drives the blades to rotate, and in conjunction with the magic array, it resonates with the magic in the air.
Under the influence of another magic circle, the windmills acted like "ventilators," continuously gathering and transmitting magic power to the scorched earth.
"Heh, I didn't learn physics for nothing. Do you know how valuable second place in the province is, kid?"
The windmill patent and the large-scale cultivation and sale of scorched earth magic melons and magic vegetables have brought huge economic benefits.
Green was thus forced to become the lord of Scorched Earth, and under his rule, Scorched Earth prospered.
As for the wicked landlord Pete, Green had killed him long ago.
Subsequently, Green not only led the special fruits and vegetables of the scorched earth to Teraira, but also brought a missing person notice for Alice to the world.
And that is also the ultimate purpose of all his busy work.
After all, if he wasn't looking for Alice, why would he bother with all this unnecessary trouble?
Unfortunately, even with an exorbitant reward offered, he still received no information about Alice.
"Alice, where are you?"
Because this world is an illusion, and there is no Waste Abyss in the illusion.
As he realized this, Green's vision slowly shifted, and he returned to reality.