The Cornflower Witch

Originally, Sylutia had planned to rest for just one night before leaving. But after she lay down in the residence arranged by the City Lord, all the fatigue accumulated over these days exploded at once. The result was that she slept straight from the evening all the way until the next afternoon before waking up with sleepy eyes.

Still in her pajamas, Sylutia slowly sat up, still yawning. Leaning against the headboard, her eyelids would occasionally close for a short nap, then open again. This continued for about half an hour before she mustered enough spirit to throw off the covers and sit up properly.

It took her half an hour to wash up and comb her hair. Afterward, Sylutia changed into a predominantly blue long dress with a fresh style. The cuffs were decorated with white ties that gathered them, and the collar and hem were adorned with white lace accents. Compared to the powerful and dazzling image she had shown during the battle that day, today she looked like a neighbor girl out on a spring outing—somewhat adorable.

It was three in the afternoon. Sylutia walked out of her room, greeted a servant in the residence, and then went outside for a stroll.

The streets were still somewhat busy at this hour. Quite a few beastman laborers were pushing carts loaded with goods and bricks, repairing the damage caused by the fight two days ago.

Most of the city's workshops had resumed operations. As she walked along the street, she could even hear the sound of hammers striking anvils from afar.

With a touch of curiosity, Sylutia came to the city's market and shops to browse, observing the local specialties and prices.

"Green pomelo fruit, 10 copper coins per Jin."

"Flatbread, 8 copper coins each."

"Thick hemp clothing, 82 copper coins per piece."

"Honey wine, 20 copper coins per bottle."

"Black Forest fruit wine, 48 copper coins per bottle."

...

"Iron knife, 4 silver coins each."

"Ash-wood longbow, 8 silver coins each."

"High-quality iron chainmail, 47 silver coins per piece."

"Styptic wound medicine, 30 silver coins per vial."

"Fine steel battle-axe, 170 silver coins each."

...

"Black steel spear, 7 gold coins each."

"Hundred-forged steel knight armor, 8 gold coins each."

"Healing potion, 2 gold coins per vial."

Overall, the prices here were comparable to those in Scorchstone City where she had lived back then, except that weapons and armor were about 20% to 30% more expensive. However, Purple Fern Rampart was already one of the top nine most prosperous large cities in the Western Mountain Range, whereas Scorchstone City was merely a border town in Regas.

Currently, the Western Mountain Range was still in the early stages of development. Various ores were not being mined in sufficient quantities, skilled craftsmen were relatively few, and the locals' purchasing power was limited. Most of their income came from hunting, and the meat and materials obtained from hunting had to be transported through expensive airship routes to be sold inside the Mage Alliance.

Although the start was somewhat difficult, with the establishment of the City Alliance of the West, the resources across the entire Western Mountain Range were gradually being consolidated. The scenes of trade routes frequently breaking down and causing prices to spike and plummet were beginning to disappear. Now that prices and various daily necessities could be stably supplied, the scattered mountain tribes were gradually coming to appreciate this stable supplier-purchaser relationship.

Although the Mage Alliance was somewhat suppressing the purchase prices of local materials—far lower than what they would fetch in the heartlands—even so, this stable source of income had stabilized many previously precarious tribes. Scarce items like salt, medicine, iron tools, and alcohol could now be obtained conveniently.

Trade was a behavior that could gradually break down hostility and build friendly relations. Although many mountain tribes initially rejected human governance, under the drive of economic activity—whether for a better life or to obtain their own resources—they would gradually draw closer to the cities under the jurisdiction of the City Alliance and establish trade relations.

After touring the market and shops, Sylutia came to the city walls. By then it was already dusk, and a gentle evening breeze was blowing. The wilderness that had once been covered with monsters had been cleared. Some beastman laborers were being directed to cultivate the land and learn the most basic planting techniques.

If it were farming... the young girl recalled, after a long time, the days she had spent in the valley.

She surveyed the mountain wilderness with the eyes of a gardener. Although it was somewhat desolate, if it were cultivated and planted with orchards, it would actually be a very good choice. Rice required a lot of water and was difficult to grow here. Wheat, however, could be planted, though there was not much flat land.

Large-scale plain farming was probably out of the question. But if terraced fields could be developed, it should be possible—yet that would also require a great deal of manpower to cultivate, as well as technical guidance. Otherwise, given the beastmen's nature, they would probably fail to grow anything well.

The Mage Alliance's sphere of influence was in the center of the continent, where there were vast plains. Grain was not scarce there, but the cost of transporting it to the mountains was very high. The area also lacked large rivers. If it were transported overland, the roads would wind and twist endlessly, making it highly inconvenient.

Without proper means of transportation, it would be difficult for this place to develop, the young girl mused.

However, it wasn't a matter of comparison. If compared to the core regions of the Mage Alliance, this place might never catch up even in several hundred years. But compared to the original chaotic and barbaric environment of the various tribes, the existence of the City Alliance had greatly improved local order and stability. Even if it couldn't achieve the prosperity of the Mage Alliance's heartlands, there was still great hope for a stable life.

For the Mage Alliance, the truly important parts of the Western Mountain Range should be the mineral resources and the resources of the Shadow World. Improving the lives of the locals was merely a byproduct of these two major goals.

If she were a high-ranking officer of the Mage Alliance, how would she view and arrange things here...

After thinking about it for a moment, Sylutia shook her head. It was still too early to think about this. She hadn't yet managed to come into contact with the truly high-ranking officers of the Mage Alliance, and her understanding of many things was still one-sided. Trying to think from that perspective under these conditions would make it impossible to deduce the real situation.

Before she knew it, the sky had darkened.

After the sun set, many jobs could no longer continue. The laborers in the city began to knock off work, and quite a few called out to their companions, heading toward the taverns in the city.

For many beastmen, the concept of saving money did not exist. They would spend most of what they earned on food and drink. In particular, the high-quality beer and fruit wine provided by the City Alliance after its establishment were favorites among many beastmen.

The alcohol brewed by the tribes in the past mostly contained fusel oils, giving it a poor taste—nowhere near as refined as the brewing techniques of the Mage Alliance.

Now, every airship of the Mage Alliance heading to the Western Mountain Range carried a considerable amount of alcohol. This was the product that never lacked sales in the Western Mountain Range. Through the sale of alcohol and taxation, the City Alliance was able to recover most of the wages it paid out.

Sitting in a corner of a tavern, Sylutia wore a black hooded cloak over her blue dress, concealing her beautiful features. She enjoyed her dinner while listening to the residents chat about everything under the sun, recording the local customs and conditions.

After learning about the local situation, a sudden idea struck her. Perhaps she could get those guys from the Asra District involved in the construction of the City Alliance of the West. Many of them were beastmen and could integrate into the local environment more easily. Moreover, they were familiar with the Mage Alliance's system and knew many key procedures.

This place should be very short of certain medicines and basic alchemical products, of which the Asra District had a surplus—since many students had to practice their craft. But the items they made as practice were difficult to sell in the Asra District, and handing them directly to the guild would result in severe markdowns.

Let's write to them and give it a try, she thought. Even if there's no huge success, they should be able to make a small profit and improve the organization's financial situation. Besides, the Western region was still in the development phase, and there was a shortage of manpower everywhere. Within the Mage Alliance, those with real strength and talent were generally unwilling to come here.

After all, resources were scarce here, and the locals were mostly barbaric and ignorant beastmen. There were none of the resources needed for mages to grow.

Having made her decision, Sylutia began to write a long letter. She explained to them how to conduct the trade, what supplies to prepare and bring, and so on. Since the cities in the Western Mountain Range had only recently been established, setting up a shop here would have very low costs. They could also purchase some real estate in advance, etc.

After finishing writing, Sylutia bound the pages into a small booklet, sealed it in a thick envelope, and handed it over to the Alliance guild in the city. She entrusted them to mail the letter to the Asra District via the airships making the round trips.

After mailing the letter, Sylutia let out a sigh of relief. She felt a bit of anticipation for what was to come. She wondered what the City Alliance of this Western Mountain Range would look like in a few years.

Would it become a new growth point for the Mage Alliance, or would it merely serve as a transit station for exploring the local Shadow World?

Although she didn't know what the future would look like, she was still quite curious and hopeful about this newly established City Alliance. Perhaps when she returned to the Hidden Grove Alliance, she could create a similar organization, gradually uniting the southern nations to form an entity capable of coordinating resources.

If that happened, it might solve the Hidden Grove Alliance's predicament. On that basis, she could build a new talent cultivation system and slowly strengthen the entire alliance. And at that time, she would be able to leave with peace of mind, travel to other places, and head to the First Continent to find answers to her family and her origins.