Farming in the Magical World

Castel Ridge, Castle Study.

Lanny was sitting cross-legged in his study, his eyes slightly closed, meditating on his daily magic.

The castle was very quiet in the early morning, the air was filled with moisture, and a bird song could be heard from afar outside the window.

"Sigh!" After a long while, he sighed, slowly stood up from the ground, his brows furrowed, and stood there in a daze.

Judging from his expression, today will undoubtedly be another fruitless day.

Ever since Tim taught him the method of magical meditation, he has spent an hour meditating every morning.

In his view, this meditation method is very similar to the legendary cultivation of immortality. Both involve visualization and introspection, and both involve controlling the flow and movement of energy within the body through personal thoughts.

One is simply transporting spiritual energy, and the other is transporting magical elements. He even suspects that the so-called magical elements are actually spiritual energy.

Putting aside the speculation about whether they are the same thing, if we consider them all as a form of energy, wouldn't that mean they are the same thing?

Following Tim's instructions, he tried to enter a state of clarity and attempted to sense the subtle traces of magical elements within his body, but after trying for more than half a month, he sensed nothing.

He couldn't help but doubt himself, "Could it be that I really don't have the talent to learn magic?"

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but sigh again.

I thought I'd experience the wonder of magic in my lifetime, but...

but,

Since I can't become a magician, I can only make more money and live a carefree life as a wealthy man... oh no, as a carefree nobleman in this world.

I imagine that as long as you have money, lots of money, you can recruit two magicians as attendants and experience the charm of magic, right?

Indeed, making money is still the only true principle.

Yes, thinking about it this way is much better.

Lanny nodded, straightened his back, and walked out of the study.

"Honey, you're here!"

Upon seeing Lanny appear at the entrance of the hall, Tiffany quickly got up to greet him, gently helping Lanny lay out a napkin and set out the cutlery. After giving him a kiss, she gestured for Candy and Frank to serve breakfast.

During this time, the two were inseparable. Tiffany was exceptionally gentle. Two days ago, she and Tim went to Elfen, but she did not wait for Tim to return to Castel together. Instead, she had Joseph drive her back to the castle alone that night.

When Lanny saw Tiffany return to the castle at night, he was startled. However, seeing that Tiffany's expression was not good, he did not dare to say anything. He guessed that his trip to the Eno family had not gone smoothly.

Sure enough, Tiffany brought up the trip to the castle that evening. According to her, Earl Enno was busy suppressing the roaming Grummans and didn't say much to her. He simply rudely rejected Tiffany's request, demanding that the Wells family repay the debt in one lump sum nine months later, as originally agreed with August. The original agreement with August was for one year.

Tiffany grew up in the Einaud family, so it was impossible for her to have no close relatives. She heard from her close servants that the count's brother-in-law had been pestering the countess, hoping to get him a baronial title, and most likely he had his eye on Castells.

Upon hearing this news, Lanny frowned, feeling anxious and even more pressured to make money.

After all, that's a considerable sum!

He even had a vague suspicion that Count Einaud's initial loan to August might not have been well-intentioned. Judging from Tiffany's words, the Countess hadn't just recently started trying to get a noble title for her brother.

However, Lanny kept all of this to herself and didn't say much. After all, Angus was her father, and if she had any complaints or grievances about him, it would be her who would suffer.

Of course, Tiffany's trip wasn't entirely fruitless; at least she learned the Earl's attitude, which would prevent Lanny from being caught off guard.

As for making money, Lanny explained in detail how valuable the Dark Pattern Sword she helped create last time was, and that one could sell for at least thirty gold.

When Tiffany heard that such a patterned sword could sell for thirty gold, she was overjoyed and immediately stopped worrying about making money. She even said that if needed, she could organize the maids from last time to help again, ensuring that this time it would be done quickly and well.

Lanny laughed and said there was no need for it at the moment, but he smiled bitterly to himself. He didn't say that the Dark Pattern Sword had just been taken to Elfen by Tim, and he wasn't 100% sure whether it could be sold.

So he didn't say anything this morning and happily ate breakfast with Tiffany as usual.

For the past few months, although the two had been married, they were practically no different from strangers. Lenny was recovering from his injury and had not entered her bedroom.

During this time, as the two spent more time together, Lanny's behavior gradually changed Tiffany's opinion of him. In addition, since the two had just gotten married, it was only natural for him to be gentle.

As a woman, and with a husband she was deeply in love with, Tiffany was naturally observant. Although Lanny's expression remained normal, she still noticed the frown between his brows.

She stood up from her seat, and under Lanny's puzzled gaze, she walked behind Lanny, gently leaned against his back, and softly stroked his eyebrows with both hands, whispering in his ear, "Was today's meditation still not going well?"

Tiffany had initially thought it might be a problem with the debt, but after Lanny explained the Dark Pattern Sword to her last night, she really didn't think it was a big deal anymore, and just assumed it was because her meditation wasn't going well.

During this time, Lanny got up before dawn every day to meditate magically, which she had seen and naturally knew how much Lanny valued this matter.

She knew a little about magic, but only about the existence of magic and magicians. As for learning magic, that was a different story. After all, finding a magic tutor would cost at least several hundred gold coins, and her father was unwilling to spend that money on her.

Although she was quite anxious for her husband, she couldn't really help him with this matter, and she felt somewhat guilty and worried. She could only try to use her gentleness to ease her husband's frustration.

Feeling the soft mound behind him and smelling Tiffany's sweet fragrance, Lanny comfortably squinted his eyes, put down the spoon in his hand, and stroked Tiffany's fair and soft little hand. For a moment, he just wanted to stay like this, not caring about debts or the Dark Pattern Sword. He didn't want to do anything or think about anything. He just wanted to take this gentle beauty upstairs and talk about life.

But he's not really a young man, and he can't just ignore everything and indulge in his own pleasures.

Tiffany's behavior made him feel like a loser who needed comforting.

"Alright, alright, let's go have breakfast. I'm heading out soon too."

He forced himself to open his eyes, clapped his hands, signaled Tiffany to return to her seat, ate his breakfast in a few bites, and hurriedly left the hall.

He didn't notice that after he left, Tiffany's originally cheerful face immediately lost its smile and even turned pale. She gripped the soup spoon tightly in both hands, and the veins on her hands were faintly visible.

Does Lenny hate me? He's probably annoyed with me, thinks I'm stupid, finds me annoying, and thinks I'm useless.

For a moment, Tiffany lowered her pretty face, almost bursting into tears, leaving Candy, who was standing beside her serving her, completely bewildered.

"What's wrong, Madam? You and the young master were getting along so well just now."

It has to be said that women in love are prone to overthinking.

Lanny, of course, knew nothing about these things.

He came out of the hall and went straight into the backyard. There wasn't much going on at the castle lately, and the only thing that could concern him was the situation in the backyard.

The backyard has changed dramatically since then; it's almost completely transformed.

The place where the blacksmith's workbench was originally built was renovated by Jimmy under his supervision. The construction is now complete. Several walls were built and a roof was added to the original location of the blacksmith's workbench, turning it into a separate hut.

In Lanny's plan, he will most likely still manufacture a small number of Dark Pattern Swords in the future. Although the business of mass-producing longswords is monopolized by the nobles, this is not a world with a highly developed commodity economy. A few high-end weapons will not be completely wiped out by the nobles.

After all, he was also a member of the nobility, albeit only a minor baron, but at least he had the right to engage in dialogue and participate.

Even if you don't make the Dark Pattern Sword, you still need a place to do some experiments. You can't really set up a laboratory in the basement of the castle, like an evil wizard in a movie, can you?

Although the castle does have a basement, he hasn't been to see it since he woke up. He'd heard that some of August's relics were kept inside, which was kind of creepy. No way he was going.

Then the issues of shelter from the wind and rain, and confidentiality and security need to be resolved. It just so happens that this training ground is not used by anyone right now, so it's perfect to use it as a small workshop.

Moreover, he only occupied a very small area, so Tim probably doesn't mind.

As for Hammer, he didn't participate in the house renovation work. Instead, he used the broken longsword that Tim had taken out earlier to help Jimmy make some carpentry tools.

In the past few days, we have been building the actual plane, chisel, wood saw, handsaw, and other tools according to the design drawings provided by Lanny.

The manufacturing process still employs repeated forging and high-temperature quenching techniques.

Although the number of forgings was not high, its hardness was several levels higher than the previous flimsy chisels, and the workmanship was much more exquisite, giving it a beautiful appearance.

When Hammer handed the tools to Jimmy, Jimmy was overjoyed. He hugged the tools, which had been polished to a gleaming white, to his chest, almost bursting into tears again. Hammer and Lenny, watching from the side, were on tenterhooks, afraid that he might accidentally hurt himself.

Although Jimmy wasn't a particularly skilled carpenter, the renovation requirements were quite simple: just erect four pillars and then add wooden planks inside.

With the addition of a new batch of tools, the speed has increased again, and it was actually completed today. Only some minor internal adjustments are needed.

"Young master, young master, look, what should be written on this sign?" When Lanny arrived, only Hammer was busy in the yard and he didn't see Jimmy. Just as he was about to ask, he saw Jimmy rush out of the house, holding a long wooden plank in his hand.

The front of the wooden board was polished very smooth, and the edges were cut very neatly, somewhat like a small blackboard that a primary school student brings to school, except that it was not painted black and the wood was still in its natural color.

Looking at the wooden plank, Lanny's lips twitched, and he was at a loss for words, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

It was his fault, too. That day, when he was instructing Jimmy on how to set up the small workshop, he suddenly lost his mind, put one hand on his hip, pointed to the approximate location where the door panels would be installed, and shouted, "Iron Hammer, Jimmy, do you believe that this place will continuously produce all sorts of amazing things? I believe it won't be long before this place becomes the kingdom's number one research and development center!"

"Then I'll hang a sign here that says 'Laboratory Number One,' and all researchers in the kingdom will regard this place as a pilgrimage center, a sacred site in their hearts. And you will become the kingdom's most famous blacksmiths and builders, hahahahaha..."

Unexpectedly, what was said in jest was taken to heart. Lenny casually made a silly remark, but Jimmy took it to heart and actually brought over a sign, looking at Lenny with anticipation.

This... left Lenny somewhat at a loss.

He can only be considered as someone who can write the language of this world; as for whether it looks good or not, that's not for him to judge.

During this period, he almost always used blueprints to solve problems. The only time he spent writing was when he was compiling his own novel. Although his handwriting was steadily improving, it still took time.

If someone were to hang their own name here, it would probably become a laughing stock rather than a sacred place.

Seeing the slight twitch on Lenny's face, Jimmy's heart skipped a beat. "Damn it, did I just flatter him too much?"

In the end, however, Lanny still dipped his finger into the ink in the inkwell and wrote the words "Workshop No. 1" directly on the wooden board.

Well, the wooden board is too small, and I don't have a calligraphy brush. My fingers are too thick to write on, so I'll just leave it like this.

"This is Lab One? Something seems off about the number of characters." Hammer circled the sign a few times and asked Jimmy in a low voice.

Jimmy couldn't read either, so he naturally couldn't answer him. Seeing this, Lanny said irritably, "This is Workshop Number One. I'm saying, shouldn't you guys start learning to read? Otherwise, you won't be able to understand the blueprints, and I'll have to keep explaining them to you."

Iron Hammer chuckled but didn't answer, ignoring Lanny's reprimand and instead seeming puzzled by the name.

"Young Master, why is it called Workshop Number One? Wasn't it supposed to be a laboratory?"

Counting on his fingers, Iron Hammer muttered and gestured, "Will there be a second workshop, a third...?"

If it were before, Jimmy would probably have jumped up and started yelling at Hammer, "What are you talking about? The young master says how much it is, so what? You think you can do that?"

But remembering that the young master had just scolded him for being illiterate, he didn't dare to speak. He wasn't as simple-minded as Iron Hammer, who would dare to disregard the young master's words. Instead, he secretly resolved to go back to the village and learn to read and write from Cora.

Cora was the only literate person in their village, but she was a woman, a widow, and had a "good" relationship with him.

"Yes, that's right. Jimmy, when you have some free time in a couple of days, build an even bigger one next to it, consider it Workshop Number Two."

Looking around, with drafts coming through the walls, Lanny felt embarrassed to call it a laboratory; it was more like a workshop. So he decided to just call it Workshop Number One!