Chapter 486

Chapter 486: Picking and Flying

In a small, unknown village in Clancia,

Jenna sat high up on a wooden ladder, cutting down ripe apples with her scissors and letting them fall onto a soft cushion below. Another girl then picked up the apples and placed them in a basket nearby.

“Over there, Jenna,” Sophie pointed in a direction below.

“Alright.” Jenna turned her head, parted the branches, and searched for the pale yellow apple hidden among them.

After a brief recovery over two days, Jenna could already get out of bed and walk around, though one arm was still healing. However, her other arm could do many things.

She didn’t want to be idle and wanted to do something to repay the Leike Chamber of Commerce’s assistance. Thus, Sophie helped her join the villagers in picking apples. The trade caravan couldn’t stay too long; otherwise, the fruit would spoil if not transported out in time. Therefore, they were short-handed for the picking.

The trade caravan and the villagers agreed that the caravan would help pick the apples in exchange for a portion of the purchase price. This led to the current scene.

On a bright, sunny day, the apple leaves were dense and slightly curled, forming a V-shape when cut. The yellow fruits stood out among the dark green leaves, and some branches were bent under the weight of the apples.

Jenna held the iron scissors and reached into the thick foliage, cutting the fruit stems, allowing the apples to fall and be collected by Sophie.

After finishing a section, she would come down, and together they would move the ladder to another spot to continue picking.

As the sun rose higher, the weather became warmer. While cutting the fruit, she would wipe the sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand.

“Let’s take a break; it’s almost lunchtime,” Sophie said below after another tree was picked.

“Mm-hm.”

Jenna nodded, put down her sore arm, and looked at the full basket of yellow apples under the shade. She felt a slight sense of satisfaction. A gentle breeze blew past, taking away some of the sweat and giving her a cool sensation.

She slowly climbed down the ladder. Sophie approached, slightly supporting her and brushing off the dust on her.

“Are you tired?” asked the sun-kissed girl with light brown hair.

“Not really.”

Jenna sensed her arm was a bit sore, but with the enhancement from the Sequence, her physical condition surpassed that of ordinary people. Plus, with the help of magic, it wasn’t too difficult.

“It’s great. If it were me, I wouldn’t be able to lift my arm after an hour,” Sophie said enviously.

“Do you want to learn? I can teach you,” Jenna smiled, becoming more cheerful over these days.

“But won’t it take a lot of time?”

“If it’s just the basics, it won’t take long,” Jenna shook her head.

“Thank you then.”

“Ha ha, no need to thank me. Actually, I should be thanking you,” Jenna replied happily.

The two girls rested under the apple tree, chatting about interesting topics, their laughter occasionally floating away in the breeze over the lush grass.

—

Nide County, where Lolan Hill lived.

“Wise Lady, are we flying today?” Lolan Hill had just woken up when Mira excitedly pushed open the door. Over the past few days, Mira had become less reserved and acted like family.

“Does Mira enjoy piloting the airship?” The silver-haired girl sat up from her comfortable bed, rubbing her eyes.

“Yes, I love it because I can see so many new sights, and the feeling of moving through the wind is wonderful,” Mira took small steps to Lolan Hill’s bedside, her eyes full of anticipation.

“Alright, alright. Let’s eat something first before we go. We can finish the map today.”

During this period, the two of them had been flying in the airship, with Mira handling the controls while Lolan Hill sketched the map of Nide County.

Maps were very useful tools, needed for development, construction, and military purposes. After recreating the airship, Lolan Hill decided to start mapping one day.

Though they had made considerable progress, Lolan Hill hadn’t expected Mira to grow fond of the high-altitude flying. This surprised her.

But Mira did indeed have a natural talent for it. Her long rabbit ears enhanced her spatial awareness, making her adept at balancing. They also allowed her to keenly sense the flow of the wind, helping her navigate and utilize the high-altitude currents.

Truly a natural-born airship pilot.

Understanding this, Lolan Hill couldn’t help but marvel.

After a simple breakfast of oatmeal, they boarded the somewhat chubby carp-shaped airship. As the levitation device activated, the airship swayed and rose into the sky, then moved forward with the help of the sails.

Under the azure sky, Lolan Hill, dressed in a white dress, sat in the cabin, looking down at the vast world below. Her silver hair fluttered in the wind, and the sound of rushing wind filled her ears.

Holding a silver pen, she sketched lightly on the grid paper, drawing mountains, roads, rivers, and villages. Her pale fingers, even whiter than the paper, left marks on the page.

People on the ground saw the orange-red airship and stopped to wave, expressing their admiration and astonishment.

A river flowed quietly through the mountains, reflecting the clear blue sky and white clouds like a smooth mirror.

Lolan Hill and Mira flew past several peaks and valleys, looking down at the scenery below.

“There seems to be a crowd gathering over there,” Mira pointed with one finger to a spot below, which appeared to be a mountain hollow. It looked like the entrance to a mine, and many people were gathered there, with others riding horses from the distant mountain path.

“Let’s go down,” Lolan Hill seemed to have heard something.

“Alright.”

Mira nodded, gradually reducing the magic input to the levitation device, and the airship landed gently on an empty spot nearby.

The two opened the side door at the bottom and walked towards the gathering crowd, the sound of discussion reaching them.

“What are we going to do? The demonic beast underground has collapsed the mine, and many people are still trapped inside.”

“Wait, the alchemist association will be here soon. They say they’ll send a few golems.”

“Ah, the local alchemists are half-baked and not very strong. Those crude golems might not be able to enter the deep underground tunnels.”

“It’s a shame. We finally found a rich ore deposit, but now it’s having problems again.”

Mira led the way, followed by the girl. An officer on horseback saw Lolan Hill in her white dress and quickly ordered his men to clear a path for her.

“Wise Lady, you’re here,” he dismounted and saluted.

“Yes, I came to check the situation,” the girl nodded, her eyes flashing with a faint light. Her sharp senses extended down into the mine.

(End of Chapter)