The Cornflower Witch Chapter 179

“For your excellent performance in the first half of the year, the Association awarded a ‘superb’ evaluation, and this is the commendation badge.”

Seraph handed Hylial a specially made badge. It was made of metal with a faint blue sheen as its base, engraved with a pure white crescent moon, surrounded by interwoven white and blue wind chimes.

“The badge contains a small amount of Mithril, which is valuable. With this badge, you can receive double supplies until you reach the Fourth Rank,” Seraph told Hylial.

“In addition, a custom Third Rank weapon or equipment will be made for you, along with 1000 Gold Coin worth of free instruction.”

As he spoke, Sophiedina, who was behind him, looked a little envious. Although her evaluation for the first half of the year was ‘excellent’, it was a world apart from ‘superb’.

In each graduating class, about 8%-10% of students receive an ‘excellent’ rating, but fewer than 0.1% receive a ‘superb’ rating, making it exceptionally rare.

It must be understood that those who reach the Woodland are already a selected group, the most outstanding among ordinary people. To then select the most outstanding few from this group means that those who receive this evaluation are truly geniuses among geniuses.

After conveying the commendation, Seraph discussed future arrangements with Hylial.

“Originally, Second Rank students could freely choose their outposts to live and grow, but for you, the Association has greater expectations.”

“You have just entered the Second Rank not long ago and still need to consolidate your foundation and learn many things. In about six months, the Association will assign you a task, most likely to a border outpost, where you will participate in training. I hope you are prepared.”

“A border outpost, does that mean I need to go there to fight?” Hylial asked curiously.

“You do need to learn some combat skills for self-defense, but assigning you there is not for combat, but to allow you to adapt and learn from the experience of pioneering in the Shadow World.”

“There, you will meet elite students from various rear outposts. They are responsible for various tasks, such as maintaining the outpost against attacks from monsters in the Shadow World, crafting weapons, preparing potions, building fortifications, and cultivating land for crops for the members of the outpost, and so on.”

“Years later, when that newly established outpost is operating steadily, you will become the elders of that outpost, enjoying many privileges and benefits.”

“I see, I think I understand.” Hylial nodded.

This process reminded her of the history of opening up new continents on Earth, where colonial ships carried people to unknown continents, established strongholds, produced goods locally, sought resources, and transported them back to the old continent, while also growing stronger in the process.

“Make good preparations during these six months.” After a word of encouragement, their conversation ended.

The next day, Hylial packed her luggage and returned to the valley.

The valley still had a gentle breeze, and the farmland within had been expanded by another 50 mu during Hylial’s month-long absence. Many of the alfalfa plants had also been transplanted to the new fields by the Toads.

When Hylial’s figure appeared in the valley, the Toads living there immediately gathered around her, chirping happily.

“Croak, the boss is back from hunting.”

“Been gone for a long time, croak.”

“The boss is still alive, croak.”

Because she had been away for nearly a month, the Toad croaks, who hadn’t seen her in a long time, missed the girl dearly. Of course, there was another reason: since Hylial wasn’t there, they had only been able to eat dough paste during this time and no longer had delicious alfalfa steamed buns.

“Alright, alright, I’m back,” the girl said with a chuckle, amused by the Toads’ responses. Then, she walked around the valley’s fields with them, bringing the withered alfalfa back to life.

A twisted contamination seems to have spread again. I need to purify it once more, Hylial thought to herself as she inspected the fields.

It’s time to get back to work, but she didn’t dislike this feeling. In fact, she was even looking forward to the next harvest.

After settling down again, Hylial stayed in the valley for five days. During these five days, she led the Toads to clear and harvest 100 mu of alfalfa, preparing to make it into silage.

Silage is made by harvesting fresh plants with moisture, sealing them for fermentation. This process results in feed that is fragrant, soft, juicy, palatable, nutritious, and suitable for long-term storage, making it an excellent source of feed for livestock.

For the next two days, she first directed the Toads to chop the harvested alfalfa and stored stalks, then began ensiling.

“Yes, just like that. For every layer of alfalfa, put a layer of stalk.” In the warehouse, Hylial directed the Toads to store the fodder.

First, three layers of stalk were laid on the floor of the semi-underground warehouse to absorb water. Then, layers of alfalfa and wheat stalks were continuously stacked on top. Each layer was compacted with a stone roller, before the next layer was added, layer after layer. Finally, the top was covered with a thick cloth, compacted. Wheat stalks can neutralize excess moisture from alfalfa and are also excellent dry fodder that can participate in fermentation, bringing the silage to its optimal semi-dry state. The lactic acid and fatty acids produced during fermentation will kill pathogens, insect eggs, and destroy weed seeds in the fodder, preventing them from germinating again.

At the same time, compared to dry fodder, silage is soft, juicy, fresh, and delicious. After fermentation and decomposition, its nutrients are more easily absorbed, and the fermentation process also produces aromatic substances that animals love even more.

After all the harvested alfalfa and previously stored stalks were ensiled, the next step was to sow new wheat in the fields.

When the wheat seeds had been watered and were waiting to sprout, Hylial finally had some leisure time.

That evening, she made many alfalfa steamed buns for the Toad croaks in the valley as a reward for their hard work during this period.

“Croak, delicious!”

“Boss made steamed buns again, croak!”

“Last time I ate some, I fell straight asleep, croak.”

“Croak, croak, I want to eat steamed buns.”

In the valley square at night, Hylial sat by the bonfire, uncovered the steamed buns, took them out, and handed them one by one to the queuing Toads.

“One per croak, eating too many will be too much.” This time, she used rare quality flour, processed with her newly learned ‘Baking Method’, making them far superior to previous ones.

[Alfalfa Steamed Bun] (Tier 1 Emerald Honey): A special steamed bun made from rare quality wheat flour and ‘Tier 1 Emerald Honey’ alfalfa flowers. Its nutritional value is about sixty times that of ordinary steamed buns, and with the effect of alfalfa, even ordinary creatures can digest and absorb it. (Nutrition +4, Stamina Recovery +2, Aspect Condensation +2)

To prevent the nutritional effects from being too strong, she even cut the buns into smaller pieces this time, but judging by the results of the Toads eating them, they couldn’t last long. Due to the excessive blood sugar and nutrition, they quickly felt dizzy and soon fell asleep in their houses.

“Croak, so delicious.”

One toad staggered into the hut where they lived, and before it reached its sleeping room, it leaned against the hallway and fell asleep.

“Full, croak.”

Another toad was slightly better; it managed to walk a few more steps, reaching the sleeping room before leaning against the door and falling asleep.

By the time Hylial finished feeding them, Toad croaks were lying strewn about inside and outside the house. Only a few still conscious ones were the Toads who had already condensed their Aspects and entered the First Rank.

“Do you still want some?” Although the other Toads couldn’t have any more, these few should still be able to eat.

With the thought of ‘if it doesn’t kill them, feed them more’ and knowing there were still buns left, Hylial beckoned to these few croaks.

Looking at the silver-haired girl by the fire, and then at the steamed buns in her hand, a croak slowly walked over, remembering the taste. But halfway there, the continuous surge of nutritional energy in its belly told it that it really couldn’t eat any more.

“Croak, so sad.”

“Clearly, there’s still a steamed bun waiting, croak.”

It walked a few more steps, but unfortunately, the overwhelming fullness finally forced the toad to give up.

“Croak, can’t eat anymore, croak, or I’ll explode, croak!” It patted its belly, turned around and squatted down, afraid it couldn’t resist the temptation.

“Oh, you can’t eat anymore?” Hylial pondered, then took a small bite of the bun in her hand, tasting it slowly.

She had already entered the Second Rank, so she wouldn’t fall asleep as easily as before, but after just a small bite, her stomach was full.

“Hmm, that’s only one-third of it, I guess.” After thinking for a moment, she put away the remaining buns, packed them, and took them back to her hut for storage.

As night deepened, Hylial sat at her small desk in the bedroom, summarizing and recording her adventures during this period, and finally writing down her recent goals.

Cultivate a new batch of crops to earn money, learn intermediate secret history knowledge, and understand her future advancement direction.