Chapter 174: Ah, You're Saying You Couldn't Eat It Because It Wasn't There (10) "Ah, well… it would probably be better if I showed you directly."
Since Beryllus clearly knew nothing about agriculture, Lee Jinseo entered the Additional Trailer and came back out with a sack of fertilizer slung over his left shoulder.
He tore open the end of the sack, scooped some of the contents into his palm, and held it out for Beryllus to see.
"This is the magical reagent called fertilizer that nurtures plants?"
"It's not magic—it's made through science. But it is definitely effective for cultivation."
"Is that so? Then why not try it?"
"Would that be all right?"
Lee Jinseo looked up at the World Tree with hesitation.
The chemical fertilizer he had brought out was the same kind he had used in the greenhouses installed near Falstead Castle. Its effectiveness had already been proven.
But this was not just any plant—it was the World Tree, the very symbol of the Keinua Continent. He was reluctant to use it recklessly.
"What could possibly go wrong? Even if something happens, I'll take responsibility. Go ahead and spread it."
Beryllus answered confidently, but trusting someone who knew nothing about farming was hardly reassuring.
This was a situation that required expert verification, so Lee Jinseo called the AI.
'AI, is it all right to use the fertilizer I brought on the World Tree?'
{If the chemical fertilizer mentioned by Lee Jinseo is used on the World Tree, it is judged that it will aid the World Tree's growth and life maintenance, just as it does with other plants.}
'Really? I thought it would be different since it's the World Tree. There won't be any side effects?'
{If an excessive amount of chemical fertilizer is used, there is a possibility of side effects.}
'How much would count as excessive?'
{If more than 100 tons of chemical fertilizer are applied per day—}
'All right, I get it.'
After hearing the AI's response, Lee Jinseo felt reassured and prepared to spread the fertilizer.
"I've never fertilized a tree this large before, so I'm not sure how to go about it."
Proper fertilizer use normally required considering the type of crop, its growth stage, and selecting the appropriate variety. But since this was his first time seeing the World Tree itself, he had no idea what approach to take.
In the end, he simply chose one type at random and began digging around the base of the World Tree with a shovel.
The tree was so enormous and thick that digging even a quarter of the circumference took considerable time.
"Phew. All right, I'll spread it now. But one sack won't be nearly enough."
Lee Jinseo brought out ten additional sacks of fertilizer, tore open their bottoms, and shook them out into the deeply dug soil.
Beryllus, watching the process, stared at him with anticipation.
"So now that this fertilizer has been applied, the World Tree will regain its vitality?"
"Yes. It will probably take some time, though."
"A year? No, is that too short? Should we wait ten years?"
"Haha, it won't take that long. Roughly—"
Flaaash.
"Wow! That's incredibly fast! The effect's already showing! Humans may not live long, but you're truly skilled at making things grow quickly!"
"Uh…"
A sudden intense light burst from the softly glowing World Tree, and Lee Jinseo was left speechless.
"W-what is happening?"
"What's going on with the World Tree?"
"I've stood guard for a hundred years and never seen it shine this brightly!"
The guards stationed at a distance were drawn by the powerful radiance and began gathering beside Beryllus one by one.
After more than ten minutes, the intense light gradually subsided and returned to roughly its former brightness.
"Didn't it just go back to how it was before?"
"No. It's not the same. Compared to before, the World Tree's energy has clearly strengthened. The density of mana surrounding it has changed considerably. Can't you feel it?"
At Beryllus's explanation, Lee Jinseo shook his head.
"I can't really tell. But it's certain that the fertilizer helped the World Tree, right?"
"Of course! That being the case, do you have more of that fertilizer? Since we've started, let's do this properly."
"Just a moment."
Lee Jinseo pulled out thirty additional sacks of chemical fertilizer from Interspatial Storage, regardless of type.
"Hey! Don't just stand there staring—help Jinseo! You lot! Can you hear me?"
At Beryllus's shout, the guards who had been blankly staring at the World Tree snapped back to their senses.
"Will you help? I'll dig—just spread the fertilizer into the trenches."
Lee Jinseo dug a semicircle around about half the circumference of the World Tree, and the elves followed behind him, scattering fertilizer from the sacks.
Flaaash.
With a total of thirty sacks applied, the World Tree emitted an even more intense light than before.
The area around it turned from night into day, and the satisfied expression on Beryllus's face gradually became serious.
"Wait… isn't this effect a bit too strong?"
He cautiously placed his right hand against the trunk of the World Tree.
"This is… surely not!"
"Side effects shouldn't occur unless far more fertilizer is used… did something go wrong?"
"No! Quite the opposite! Look up there!"
Flap-flap.
In an instant, Beryllus transformed into a swarm of bats and flew swiftly toward the top of the World Tree.
"I knew it was there! This is it! This!"
"What? What is?"
"Ah, you can't see it from down there. Wait a moment!"
He hurried back down, returning to his original form before Lee Jinseo, holding a golden apple-shaped fruit glowing in his right hand.
"The World Tree has borne fruit! For the first time since a thousand years ago! Look at this! Isn't it magnificent?"
In an uncharacteristically excited voice, Beryllus thrust the fruit—formed from densely condensed mana—close to Lee Jinseo's face.
"I'm not sure, but it certainly feels mystical. Does it hold special significance?"
"Special significance? Of course it does! It means the World Tree has fully regained its former power!"
{Hidden Quest: 'Restore the Vitality of the World Tree' has been completed.}
{Rewards: 200,000 Experience, 200,000 Mileage, 200,000 Mana.}
{Congratulations! The Mobile Cooking Facility has reached Level 85.}
'What? Was it that incredible of a quest?'
The message granting far more experience, mileage, and mana than any quest he had completed before left Lee Jinseo stunned.
On top of that, he had leapt past Level 80—a wall that had seemed difficult to overcome—and reached Level 85. It was hard to regain his composure.
"Jinseo! What exactly is this mysterious magical reagent called fertilizer? How can one obtain it?"
"It's just ordinary fertilizer…"
Still dazed, he could only give a flat answer to the overjoyed Beryllus.
The fertilizer itself was easily purchased from a related shop and was extremely common in Korea, which made the situation all the more surreal.
"How… how is this possible?"
"The World Tree, the very life of our people… shining so brilliantly… I can hardly believe it."
As the World Tree radiated an even more splendid light after fully recovering its vitality, not only the elves of the village but even the elven elders gathered around it.
Eventually, all members of the allied delegation, who had been sound asleep, arrived before the World Tree with groggy faces and approached Lee Jinseo.
"Yawn… Lee Jinseo, what happened?"
"Jinseo, the entire village was flooded with light like midday. What occurred at the World Tree?"
Fedora Artran and Angelica Crudian, wearing pajamas with a teddy bear design, rubbed their eyes as they asked.
"The World Tree has fully regained its original strength."
"R-really? That's wonderful! Was it restored by Lord Beryllus's power?"
Fedora Artran pointed to Beryllus, the strongest being present, but he smiled and lifted an empty fertilizer sack.
"No. It's thanks to the chemical fertilizer Jinseo brought."
Thanks to the chemical fertilizer Lee Jinseo had brought, the World Tree regained its former power.
The elves, who had guarded the World Tree for ages, gazed at the brilliant light they believed they would never see again and wept openly in overwhelming emotion.
Not a single elf who had gathered around the World Tree left until sunrise. Lee Jinseo, unintentionally deprived of rest, continued serving late-night snacks.
They spent the entire night awake—witnessing the radiant light pouring from the World Tree with their eyes while enjoying Jinseo's food—and slept late the next day, waking only in the evening.
"Jinseo, thank you truly! You are the benefactor of all elves!"
"Thanks to you, the World Tree has completely regained its former power. Truly… thank you!"
Elder Keras expressed his gratitude repeatedly alongside his son Reus.
Due to the unexpected restoration of the World Tree, the originally scheduled meeting between the allied delegation and the elven elders was postponed.
Instead, the elves held a private meeting with Lee Jinseo.
"Restoring the power of the World Tree alone is a debt we can never repay, yet you even promise to continue supplying this chemical fertilizer… Now we elves can live alongside the World Tree indefinitely! You are the benefactor of all elves!"
Though the World Tree had regained its strength, they worried it might be temporary and requested a steady supply of chemical fertilizer. Lee Jinseo readily agreed.
The power of modern chemistry is impressive.
For Lee Jinseo, fertilizer was easy to obtain, so supply posed no issue. In return, he was promised compensation far exceeding its cost.
Of course, as before, unless it was food, selling it for large sums held little meaning to him. So he chose another form of benefit.
"You asked to borrow land—how much do you require?"
"About this much will suffice."
Pointing to the map of the Keinua Continent displayed on the large TV screen, Lee Jinseo indicated the area he needed.
If greenhouses were installed on the Keinua Continent—where mana filled the land thanks to the World Tree—the harvest would be even greater.
He had originally planned to install a small number of greenhouses on the elves' continent. But thanks to this unexpected fortune, he easily secured enough land to even cultivate rice.
Additionally, the vast mileage gained from clearing the Hidden Quest meant he could install greenhouses across a much larger area than before.
"Is there nothing else you require besides land? You're not even asking for ownership, merely to borrow it free of charge—it feels insufficient on our part."
"In Korea, where I live, owning or renting land of this scale would cost an enormous amount. Considering that, this alone feels burdensome enough."
"Burdensome? What are you saying? You are the Guardian of the World Tree! We elves are a race that repays the grace we receive. Do not feel burdened!"
"Haha… there's no need to call me that. I merely spread fertilizer I already had."
Smiling awkwardly, Lee Jinseo glanced alternately at Painfolt Artran and Fedora Artran seated at his right and left.
"In that case, in addition to borrowing the land, I would like your assistance in searching for Lord Painfolt's younger brother."
"Understood! As soon as our discussion with you concludes, we will gather every elf in this village and question them about the events of that time without omission!"
"And I would like to farm the borrowed land directly—by installing greenhouses. Additionally, I hope to receive the cooperation of elves experienced in agriculture."
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