章 22: White devil
With the girl staring at him silently, Rafael decided to break the ice. "Good morning, little girl. What is that basket for?" he asked, pointing at it. The girl held the basket in front of her as if it were a shield.
She averted her gaze and remained silent. "Hey, what's the problem? Let's start with our names first, okay? My name is Rafael," he said, placing his hand on his chest and then waving gently. "And you?"
The girl glanced at him briefly but still didn't respond. Where have I seen her before?... Rafael wondered, trying to recall where he might have encountered her. Focus, Rafael! This is my reality now!
He knew his memory had suffered from the trauma and panic of being stranded in another timeline, but over time, he had felt more stable, and his memory had gradually improved.
As he was on the verge of remembering, the girl finally spoke. "You, white devil, I won't allow you to do anything bad to us!" she declared with a firm voice before turning and running toward the people harvesting the crops.
What?! Why am I a devil? Rafael thought, shocked. But then it hit him. I know her! He finally remembered. She was one of the two kids who had seen him in the forest and ran away. "But why did she call me a devil?" he muttered to himself as he watched her join the others, filling her basket with crops.
Relieved that the girl hadn't incited anyone against him, Rafael walked to the edge of the forest to relieve himself, still pondering her words.
Afterward, he went to Richar's workshop, finding that the items he had requested weren't finished yet. "What about those wooden bowls and frames you agreed to make? Are any of them ready?"
Rafael decided to wait there until the ruler and protractor were completed. He sat down on a chair inside the workshop, causing the carpenter to click his tongue in mild irritation.
"I'm just one man, and we agreed on this last night! If you're in such a hurry, then come help me," Richar grumbled, carefully scribing the measurements on the ruler, just as Rafael had drawn.
"Okay, okay, I'm sorry. I can't help because I don't have any experience in woodworking," Rafael apologized. His gaze fell on a canvas—a wooden frame with cloth stretched across it—hanging on the wall.
"Oh, at least you managed to craft one of those," Rafael remarked, pointing at it.
"Yes, because those aren't hard to make. The large wooden bowls are the tough ones. Well, not tough, just time-consuming," Richar explained.
They exchanged small talk until the ruler and protractor were finished. After paying one silver coin and receiving 65 coppers in change, Rafael took the completed items and headed off to buy the fruits he had wanted.
As he walked back to his house, now somewhat accustomed to the foul smells of the streets, he estimated that it was about three hours until midday.
At home, he washed an apple, ate it, and stored the rest of the fruit. In just two or three hours, the people from Floutt will arrive to collect the grain. By then, I should have my answer about the magnets, he thought.
After drinking some water from his new cup, he decided to continue reading his book. He had stopped halfway through chapter 10 but chose to revisit chapter 5 instead.
"This chapter has intrigued me from the start... Actually, this whole book has," he mused.
The chapter began with a striking statement:
[5. Now we are become farmers, the devourer of worlds. How you too can be outstanding in your field.]
It started by discussing the benefits of not just harvesting plants and seeds from nature but using them to produce more and better products.
[This is called 'selective breeding,' by the way, and you just invented it.]
The book provided a brief explanation of how it works: You select a plant or animal with desirable traits and, rather than using the others, you plant only the seeds from that plant. Then, you simply repeat the process.
[By doing this over successive seasons, you will produce crops that emphasize whatever properties you choose, almost by accident.]
Wow, this could completely change the way people see plants and animals. With this knowledge, they can produce better crops, Rafael thought, impressed.
Just as he was about to continue reading, someone knocked on the door. "Mr. Rafael? Sir Cenric wants to speak with you."
Goddammit, what now? Rafael grumbled internally. Before opening the door, he replaced his annoyed expression with a neutral one. The guard who delivered the message was unfamiliar to him, dressed in commoner's clothes but with an added layer of protection and a thick cloak. His weapon was like the others Rafael had seen—a metal point attached to a two-meter wooden handle.
"No problem, lead the way," Rafael said.
As they walked, Rafael mulled over what the village chief might want to discuss, mentally organizing what he needed to say to Cenric. He was so deep in thought that he didn't realize they were heading not to Cenric's house, but to the fields where the crops were being harvested.
"Oh, Mr. Rafael, good morning to you," Cenric greeted him cheerfully, snapping Rafael out of his thoughts. Only then did Rafael notice they were on the outskirts of the village, where Cenric stood among the workers.
"Wha... Why are you here? I thought you'd be at home," Rafael asked, surprised.
"To answer your question, I'm here overseeing the harvest. It needs to be coordinated and quick. I'm here to ensure they keep working," Cenric explained.
The guard had already left, leaving Rafael to stand beside Cenric as they both looked out over the fields, watching the villagers labor under the morning sun.
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