Chapter 140

Discovery
Having completed our business in the royal capital, we returned to Westland.

Now I could finally go back to normal life. I’ve been working too much lately—even though I’m only eight years old—so it’s time to take it easy.

I pulled out my slate to read a book while lying on my usual greenhouse sofa, but then—ding, ding—a stream of messages started pouring in.

What is this? It’s scary…

[Thank you for purifying the land of the forest. The Blessing of the Earth God has also been changed to a rank-up system.] [Congratulations on cleansing the dragon’s curse. The Blessing of the Plant God has also been changed to a rank-up system.] [The dragon’s rebirth is near. Please provide more slime liquid.] [A special benefit will be granted after the dragon’s rebirth.] [Use up the World Tree fruit.] [Check the slate more regularly.]

Every message made me sigh. I just want to relax…

Two new buttons had appeared on the slate: [Growth Boost] and [Hot Spring].

I tapped the Growth Boost button.

[Blessing: Growth Boost] – Current Rank: E

1. Can accelerate the growth of plants.
2. Can freely control trees and plants.
3. By imagining it, you can make plants take on that form.

Items 1 and 2 are granted to anyone with the Growth Boost Blessing. Whether one can make full use of it depends on the individual.
Item 3 was unlocked due to achieving Healing Magic level 15, Water Magic level 25, and mana amount over 10,000.

So that’s why I was able to double the power of the World Tree leaves and instantly ripen the rice to the point of harvest. It was thanks to the rank-up.

Next, I checked the Hot Spring Blessing.

[Blessing: Hot Spring] – Current Rank: G

1. When walking around potential locations, suitable sites will be indicated.

Note: The rank increases once the hot spring seeds have been fully used.

Looks like walking around the estate wasn’t a waste after all. But what does a hot spring rank-up even entail?

I also needed to check my magic levels.

Magic Levels: Water: 27 | Healing: 18
Mana Capacity: 11,268

Over 11,000 in such a short time—wow.

It was all so overwhelming, I was starting to feel confused. I decided to tell my family so I could calm down.

“I’ve now got Growth Boost and Hot Spring Blessings ranking up along with the Library one. Also, my mana exceeds 11,000, the dragon’s rebirth is near, and I’ve been told to increase the amount of slime liquid,” I reported that night when I gathered everyone.

“That benefit after the dragon’s rebirth—what do you think it’ll be?” Father asked.

“And it seems like the slate is directing Hardt, or at least trying to prompt him for more than just that,” Brother Chris added.

“You think so too, right, Brother Chris?”

“Yeah, lately I’ve started to feel like it’s trying to pass on as much as possible to Hardt—whatever it can influence in this world.”

“Well, first things first: let’s get that dragon reborn and use the hot spring seeds,” Brother Gerald said.

I glanced nervously at my parents.

“Brother Gerald, that’s easy to say, but where exactly am I supposed to use the hot spring seeds?”

“Hardt, you already have a plan in mind, don’t you?”

“Hardt, don’t worry, we won’t be angry—let’s hear your idea,” Mother said with a face like she’d braced herself for something huge.

She was being a bit dramatic, but I started describing what had come to mind.

A regular hot spring. A herbal hot spring. A floral-scented bath. A sauna. A stone sauna. Waterfalls. Open-air baths. Family baths. Foot baths. Steam rooms. With a rest area and places to eat so you could spend the whole day there without leaving the facility.

Ideally, a location reachable for a day trip or overnight stay from either the territory capital or Eminira.

Outside, there would be free footbaths and separate buildings for regular baths or herbal baths. You could tour each bathhouse with a hot spring hopping pass, or buy a pass that lets you enter only two or three specific baths, based on your preferences.

“You’re thinking of building an entire hot spring town.”

“Yes. A place that’s both fun and relaxing, and also serves as a health retreat where people can stay long-term to heal injuries through bathing.”

“And you’re thinking people might use their consecutive vacation days to go there?” Father asked.

Exactly. Even if only our household staff can take such leave at first, word will spread, and eventually some places might allow two-day breaks. And to encourage that, there should be somewhere fun and easy to visit.

I also mentioned my idea of hiring retired knights and adventurers to maintain order.

“Hot spring towns don’t usually need that much patrolling, do they?”

“But I was thinking about including the coachmen and guards for the carriage shuttles between the capital and Eminira.”

Even if it’s relatively close, you could still run into bandits or goblins on the way. We’d need to ensure safe travel.

To start, I want to build open-air baths, and eventually gather them all into a hot spring theme park right in the center of the town.