After Retirement, Living a Stud Life in Another World - 83
Chapter 83: Reconstruction After the War
Thus, this war without a righteous cause finally came to an end. I want to hurry back to the capital and relax.
But before that, there are things to be done. Queen Her Majesty has once again left the task of supporting and consoling the devastated northern territories to me. We’ve already released military supplies for immediate relief, but the farmlands, which would have brought abundant harvests, are now in ruins. There’s no hope for this year’s harvest… with meager reserves, we won’t survive this winter if things continue like this.
“Lutz, what should we do?”
The porcelain doll standing next to me muttered bluntly. It seems like the habit of tossing responsibilities from my mother has been passed down to this princess as well. But, I need to think this through properly.
“Fortunately, we have a considerable number of powerful magic users under our command. Since the war is already over, let’s make use of their magic until their mana runs out.”
“Yeah, let’s do as Lutz suggests.”
“But, Beatrice will be the one most exhausted, won’t she?”
“If I collapse from working for the people, that would be my wish fulfilled.”
It’s cool how she naturally says these things. It’s like she’s truly embodying the noblesse oblige… It’s a sense that modern Japanese people don’t possess.
“All right, then…”
—
“Earth mages, forward!”
At Liese’s command, over a hundred women with earth magic abilities lined up.
“Till the soil!”
In front of them lay the wheat fields ravaged by the Imperial Army. The partially grown wheat had been trampled, reduced to mere straw. It would usually take about a week to plow back the field and turn it into fertilizer… under normal circumstances.
But the earth magic wielded by the women of Belzenbruck was formidable. In an instant, the topsoil levitated into the air, flipped over, and dropped back down. Repeating this process for about an hour would render the vast wheat fields ready for sowing.
“All right, sow the seeds simultaneously!”
Joined by residents and soldiers lined up on the side, the sowing began all at once. Although it was a vast field, with thousands of soldiers participating, the task was completed in a very short time.
“Water mages, make it rain!”
At the command, a gentle rain fell only over the fields. It was a rain-summoning magic that water mages excelled in. The soil moistened, and the seeds received the necessary hydration.
“Now, Beatrice, it’s your turn. Show everyone the kindness of your magic.”
“Yeah, I’ll do my best.”
The porcelain doll standing beside me took a deep breath. Then, in a voice barely audible to me, she began to utter long, incomprehensible words from her cherry-colored lips. I heard it’s an ancient magical language… Well, it’s better than my mom’s chuunibyou-like stuff, so it’s not that embarrassing.
Oops, that’s not the issue here. As Beatrice’s body was enveloped in a faint green mist, it slowly spread and began to cover the newly sown wheat fields. And as I watched with bated breath, voices rose from the onlookers.
“Look! The seeds are sprouting!”
“Green is spreading rapidly…”
“Is that Princess Beatrice’s magic? It’s amazing!”
“Will we be able to harvest the wheat? It’s truly… a miracle!”
Yes, from near us, wheat gradually sprouted, grew sturdy stems, and eventually began to bear young ears. For those who had lost everything in the war and couldn’t even imagine living through this winter, Beatrice’s magic unfolding before their eyes was nothing short of hope for tomorrow. Many have already begun to kneel and offer prayers towards Beatrice.
Beatrice continued to concentrate with an expression that seemed unchanged at first glance. However, I noticed a momentary flicker in her exquisite brows. Upon closer inspection, her fair cheeks were becoming even paler—no, they were turning somewhat bluish.
It’s understandable when you think about it. The wheat fields as far as the eye can see are vast, to say the least. Beatrice had said that the consumption of magic would be relatively low if she were merely encouraging plant growth, but there were just too many targets. Even with her S-class magic power, she must be on the verge of running out of magical energy.
It’s quite painful not being able to help at a time like this. In this world, I’m nothing more than a useless stud, and I understand that there’s nothing I can do except watch. But seeing a young girl sacrificing herself for the people in front of me and being unable to do anything about it is just too heartbreaking.
Eventually, Beatrice’s breathing began to falter ever so slightly. The magic spread at an incredible speed, and the wheat, which had already begun to bear ears in her hands, seemed to lose momentum. And in the moment her large eyes narrowed slightly, for some reason, I understood. Her magic, which she had been pushing beyond its limits, was now on the verge of depletion.
And suddenly, Beatrice’s body leaned back slightly.
“Beatrice!”
I instinctively rushed over and supported her back.