Once the water was purified, it was time for the soil. This took a bit more time.
"I did what you told me, but is this really going to work?"
"Yes."
In the village downstream from Kikus Village, the one Giedt and I first visited to gather information, the woman who had told us her story and the other villagers stood by the fields while frowning.
I'd had them build ridges around the fields, flood them with river water and leave them waterlogged for about thirty days. The same state as a rice paddy before the seedlings are planted.
Ahh, I really wanna grow rice. This world does have rice, but it's mainly cultivated in the south of Tilney, so there aren't many chances to eat it in Traus.
Well, that's irrelevant right now, so moving on.
I'd explained this once before, but the villagers still seemed sceptical, so I went over it again.
"When you leave the soil like this, the arsenic that's been absorbed into the soil dissolves into the water much more easily. Now I'm going to use magic to collect it."
Put simply, it's like rinsing the soil and was better than stripping away the topsoil entirely.
I placed the specially adjusted magic stones around the field and activated them.
The water began to faintly glow, and silver particles began to float up from the bottom. I gathered the separated arsenic to the surface by manipulating the water and soil together.
"That should do it."
I was satisfied with the nicely formed crystals.
The villagers leaned forward to peer into the field.
"This should significantly reduce the amount of arsenic absorbed into your crops. You said crops didn't wilt in years with heavy rainfall, so as long as you use purified water, grains and such should be fine."
"Really? It really is returning to normal?"
A small cheer rose from the crowd.
As long as they consume healthy crops and purified water, there would be no new patients, and even those who had already developed arsenic poisoning would gradually recover.
This is what magic is.
Every time I witness its possibilities, the things I want to do only keep growing.
"I'd love to develop a way to detect arsenic concentrations in water."
"Huh? What are you going to do next?"
Lux-san responded instantly to what I'd muttered to myself.
His red eyes sparkled with interest under his hood.
I smiled too, and just as I was about to pitch my next plan to him, the thundering sound of hooves reached my ears.
I turned to see a cavalry regiment in the distance. They were rushing past the village for some reason.
Even from afar, I could tell. The large banner fluttering in the wind bore the royal crest, designed after a first-magnitude star.
They weren't Gwen-san's men, they were a royal army cavalry.
"It looks like reinforcements have arrived."
With the feudal lord captured, the fief was effectively without a ruler. Gwen-san was commanding the soldiers and maintaining order, but governing a fief was far too much for a platoon commander.
They needed manpower to temporarily govern the lordless land, as well as enough men to escort the feudal lord to the capital, so a request containing this information was sent to the palace.
I had been helping myself to the mine's magic stones and making everything I needed before anyone important showed up. I figured if I didn't do it now then we'd end up arguing back and forth about what to use them for, so I just went for it.
I have a feeling the Director will be furious with me for doing this once I get back to the palace but whatever. We needed clean water as soon as possible.
I'd been doing as I pleased up until now, but with reinforcements here, I'd need to at least go and greet them... or rather, come up with an excuse or two.
"Lux-san, could I leave the work here to you? I need to pop into town for a bit. I'll be right back."
"Sure. Court life sounds tough. Good luck."
"Thank you."
I left Lux-san in charge and galloped to town on horseback.
I could already see dazzling silver armour everywhere as soon as I arrived. It seemed a large number of people had been sent as reinforcements.
The people on horseback giving orders all looked like they outranked Gwen-san based on their gear.
"Oh, hey."
I entered the feudal lord's estate and ran into Giedt at the stables when I went to leave my horse.
"Good timing. I was just about to come get you."
"Really? I saw the troops passing by and came on my own."
I'm glad we didn't miss each other.
I was about to ask him to take me to the commander, but Giedt had a strange half-smile on his face and said something alarming.
"My hunch was right."
"Huh? About what?"
"He actually came. That man."
I didn't need to ask who. A chill ran down my spine.
No way.
"Where is he right now?!"
"He went to Kikus Village. Took off so fast there was no stopping him."
You're kidding me. That guy, seriously.
I bolted out of town and raced my horse towards Kikus Village.
And there he was.
In the village where the fence had been taken down, General Owen was whipping his golden head left and right on his horse without an attendant.
"General!!"
He turned around when I called out from behind. It was really him!!!
"Aime? Are you sa..."
I ignored whatever he was saying, rode straight past him, leaped off my horse and rolled into the infirmary. Inside, Jed-san and Rille-nee were tending to patients.
"Rille-nee, hide! Jed-san, block the door!"
"Aime? What's wrong?"
I grabbed a confused Rille-nee's hand and shoved her behind a partitioning screen.
Seeing me in such a panic, Jed-san grimaced and muttered, "...Don't tell me."
The very next moment.
"Ridill! Are you alright!!!"
General Owen burst in before the door could be blocked, and Rille-nee, peeked out from behind the screen in reaction to his voice.
"...So he really came."
Jed-san shot an exasperated look, but the General didn't notice. He strode towards Rille-nee as if she was the only person in his vision.
"Owen-sama...?"
Rille-nee covered her mouth with her hand, unable to move, as if she was looking at something unbelievable... or like a frog caught in a snake's gaze.
Yes, I did request reinforcements from the capital. I requested reinforcements, but you didn't need to come yourself, General!!! He definitely forced his way here just to see Rille-nee.
Isn't this basically stalking at this point?!
I desperately tried to shield Rille-nee while filled with a sense of dread. But the General's stride didn't falter as if he hadn't seen me, and he hugged Rille-nee in one fluid movement.
"...!!"
"Ridill, thank goodness... you're safe."
Hold on a moment! Don't just go feeling relieved by yourself! I'm right here in between you two! And the screen too, for that matter!
"Gaaah!!"
I braced both arms against him and pushed back with all my might but he barely stumbled. Still, I managed to pull them apart.
Ahh, that hurt.
It was only now that the General finally noticed my existence.
"O-oh, you were there, Aime."
"I've been here the whole time!"
I snapped back angrily.
What is wrong with this guy. Maybe I should have kicked him in the groin again.
"U-um, Owen-sama, why are you here?"
Rille-nee came out from behind the screen and asked in confusion. She's just going to ignore the hug?
The General, who had been making a strained face at me, softened his expression and told her in the gentlest voice that he had come in response to the request for reinforcements.
Rille-nee didn't seem to find it particularly odd that a son of a noble house would come all the way out to the frontier. She smiled happily after hearing the explanation
"Is that so? You must be tired from such a long journey. I never expected you to come in person."
"I just happened to be free."
Liar. He definitely forced his way here.
"I've been worried about you all this time. I've been regretting, day and night, that I let someone as lovely and kind-hearted as you go to a plague-ridden village. And then I heard you were attacked by rioters. When I learned of that, I wanted to drive a sword through my own heart."
"Huh? No, the one who was attacked was Aime..."
"But I'm so glad that you're safe."
He wasn't listening at all. This guy's hopeless.
I would have brushed him off, but sincere Rille-nee kept politely engaging with him despite her confusion.
"... Oh, I should return this to you, Owen-sama."
Rille-nee removed the necklace she'd been wearing and held it out to the General.
"Thank you so much. I'm sure Aime was safe thanks to the stone's protection."
"I see. Then keep it a while longer."
As expected, the General refused to take the necklace back.
"Things aren't over yet, are they? You can return it once you're safely back in the capital."
The General said to Rille-nee as she kept trying to give the necklace back... which is obviously just an excuse to see her again. How should I get in the way of this?
"By the way, Aime, Director Rain has asked me to have you return to the capital at once."
"Absolutely not!!"
No way am I going home! Not while you're here at least! I'm absolutely staying!
It seems like I have to rack my brains to deal with the arsenic poisoning and this stalker.
...Seriously, I can't stand this guy.