Chapter 10: Turning Crops into Gold

I picked a handful of wild strawberries and brought them to the Red Dragon.

It was a tiny amount for her, but enough to taste.

“Here, it’s not much, but try it.”

The dragon lowered her head and opened her mouth wide, revealing sharp fangs. 

She extended her long, lizard-like tongue.

I gently placed the strawberries on her tongue.

Who would believe I’m feeding a dragon wild strawberries?

She closed her mouth and chewed slowly.

“How is it?”

Her expressionless face gave no hint of enjoyment.

After a moment, she stopped chewing and spoke.

“Grrr.”

“More? Yeah, it’s a bit small, huh? Wait a few days. When they grow again, I’ll bring more.”

“Grrr.”

The dragon seemed to like the strawberries, saying she’d wait. 

Then she rested her long neck on her front legs and closed her eyes.

I quietly stepped away to avoid disturbing her rest.

“Did Vivita like them?”

“Yeah, she said she’ll wait for more to grow. It’s just a handful for her, though.”

“Dragons live long. Waiting is nothing to her, so don’t worry.”

“Yeah… Oh!”

“Yikes, what’s with the sudden shout?”

“If I feed her a ton, won’t she… you know, produce more?”

“Back to the dung talk? You’re obsessed.”

“No, if I give her too much at once, she might get bored. I’ll give her just enough to keep her hooked.”

“You’re downright devious.”

Elenia looked at me, dumbfounded.

“It’s all for the Floating Island’s growth. Don’t you want it to thrive like it used to?”

“Tch. You and your silver tongue.”

“Call it great persuasion. So, we’re agreed?”

I shook hands with Elenia, sealing our plan to keep the dragon tied to the Floating Island.

“Dorori, let’s go!”

“Where are you off to now?”

“Our family’s grown. If we’re feeding the dragon and trading with the elves, six bushes won’t cut it. I’m going to dig up every strawberry bush I see in the forest.”

I slung a shovel over my shoulder and climbed onto Dorori’s back. 

Knowing strawberries thrived here, there was no reason to hesitate.

Dorori flew over forests and fields, landing me whenever it spotted a strawberry bush.

By the time we returned to the Floating Island, Dorori’s claws held five more bushes.

***

“Ah, hot, hot!”

Everything was going smoothly, but one problem arose.

The sunlight was getting stronger each day. Summer was approaching fast.

“Chirp!”

“Come rest in the shade already.”

Elenia and Dorori called me from under a tree’s shadow.

Unable to endure the scorching sun, I stopped working the fields and retreated to the shade.

“My skin’s burning.”

Days of working under intense sunlight had left my skin red and stinging.

On the Floating Island, with no clouds to block the sun, I was constantly exposed to harsh rays.

I wore a straw hat, long sleeves, pants, and even a towel wrapped around me, but it wasn’t enough.

“Human skin is so delicate.”

Elenia’s skin, far from reddening, glowed porcelain-white under the sun. 

I was just jealous.

“At this rate, my skin will cook. Look, it’s already peeling.”

Small blisters on my ears and neck had started to peel.

“We can’t leave it like that. Follow me.”

Elenia led me to the southern part of the Floating Island and stopped in front of a plant.

“Cut a leaf with your dagger.”

“What’s this?”

“Aloe, a herb that soothes skin.”

“There’s such a plant?”

“It’s one of the few native plants left on the Floating Island.”

“What? It’s precious, then. Is it okay to cut it?”

“You’ve been tossing and turning at night from the stinging, haven’t you? If you leave it, you’ll get burns.”

“Hmm, true. It’s an emergency, so no choice.”

I cut a green leaf with spiky edges. 

A sticky, clear liquid oozed from the exposed flesh.

“Do I eat this?”

“Rub that liquid on your skin. It’ll cool the heat.”

“Rub it on?”

I sliced the leaf thinly and rubbed it on my reddened arm.

“How is it?”

“Cool and slick. Amazing. The stinging faded right away. This is really good, isn’t it?”

The aloe juice soothed my heated skin instantly, bringing relief.

“Aloe is so effective that even elves use it for skincare. Keep applying it, and your skin will transform.”

So aloe was the secret to the elves’ glowing skin?

“Hehe… If that’s the case…”

If I kept using aloe, maybe I’d have fair, healthy skin like a noble someday?

I’d always seen my tanned skin as a badge of honor. But looking back, I’d been too busy surviving to care for myself.

A smile crept onto my face.

Slice slice.

I cut three or four large leaves, scooped out the flesh, and chopped it finely into a glass jar.

Not a drop could be wasted.

“Done!”

“What’s that?”

Elenia flew over and asked.

“Aloe juice, as you can see.”

“Why bottle it? Just cut and apply it when needed.”

“I’ll carry it and apply it regularly. Who knows? Maybe my hidden handsomeness will shine through my dark skin.”

I spread the leftover aloe juice from the skin onto my face.

As expected from a Floating Island herb, the effect was exceptional. 

My skin felt moisturized and elastic immediately.

***

The next morning.

“Slept like a baby.”

The stinging that kept me up at night was gone, letting me rest peacefully.

I went to the well to wash, filling a basin with water.

Splash splash.

As I scrubbed my face, it felt oddly smooth and soft.

Was my skin always this nice?

My hands, rough from years of farmwork, looked noticeably brighter.

“Elenia! Check this out!”

“What’s the big deal?”

Elenia, her face smeared with honey as usual, looked around with wide, rabbit-like eyes.

“My skin’s gotten so much better!”

“I thought it was something serious!”

Elenia brushed it off. She probably never worried about her skin, so she wouldn’t get it.

I stared at my reflection in the basin’s water.

“I think I got a bit handsomer.”

My once-dark, dry skin looked slightly softer and clearer.

“Oh! I’m late. Gotta deliver to the inn!”

I hurried to the Village entrance.

***

Entering the Village, I noticed people’s gazes were different.

“Look over there.”

“Oh? Since when did we have such a young lord in the Village?”

“Must be an outsider.”

I’d visited the Village many times, but this reaction was new.

My shoulders squared with pride. 

My hidden handsomeness was finally showing!

Basking in the attention, I headed to the inn.

“Ma’am, delivery’s here.”

“Oh my!”

The inn lady looked at me, shocked.

“I almost didn’t recognize you! Your face has changed. What happened in just a few days?”

“Haha, I got sunburned working in the heat, so I applied some herbs. Turns out, my skin got better.”

I scratched my head, embarrassed.

Suddenly, she leaned in close.

“Up close, your skin’s smoother than mine! What herb is this effective?”

“It’s called aloe. The juice cools and soothes when applied.”

“You applied it, and it worked this well? Even alchemists’ cosmetics can’t compare.”

“I didn’t expect it to be this good either. Haha.”

“Don’t hold out on me, sell me some~”

“Uh, I didn’t make it to sell…”

“Look at my dry face. With all these customers, I’ve got dark circles down to my cheeks. Please, I’m begging you~”

She grabbed my hand, pleading with a pout.

The once-tough lady now cooed at me, showing how comfortable she felt around me.

I hesitated but agreed, considering our bond. She wasn’t asking for it free, after all.

“Alright. I made this for myself, but I’ll give it to you.”

“Really? Oh, thank you! I’ll cook whatever you want today! Just name it!”

In exchange for the aloe juice, she gave me a silver coin. 

One jar of aloe juice earned more than a sack of Potatoes.

…This could be a great business.

I rushed to a glass workshop, bought several small glass bottles, and returned to the Floating Island.

“Why so many glass bottles?”

“Starting today, I’m going into processing.”

Elenia tilted her head.

“Processing?”

“Turning crops into more valuable products.”

Sadly, I didn’t have enough aloe juice to sell, but I had something better.

I harvested wild strawberries, placed them in a clean cloth, and squeezed. 

Red juice poured into a bowl.

“Making strawberry juice?”

“Not just juice. A vitality drink.”

“Vitality drink?”

“Crops grown on the Floating Island are packed with nutrients. One bottle will make you burst with energy. It’s a natural health food.”

The inn lady was right.

My crops had effects rivaling alchemists’ potions—a natural health food.

Selling them as mere ingredients was a waste.

Highlighting their benefits and selling them as health products would add value.

I turned the leftover strawberry pulp into jam.

Lick.

I tasted the jam on my finger.

“Oh! Delicious!”

It was sweet enough without sugar.

In the end, I made 20 bottles of vitality drink.

“Should I sell these at the market?”

One bottle packed with vitamins and energy!

It’s bound to be a hit.