Chapter 96: Paper Paradise (2/2)
”Weave them into a rectangular shape like this. All the strips should be about the same length, so weave them alternatively with approximately fifteen strips vertically and twenty strips horizontally. There might be excess ends, but it doesn't matter.”
As Rino did not have enough strips to demonstrate the full size of paper sheets, he cut the damp fibre sheets in half and wove a smaller rectangle. Once done, Rino pressed the sheet with the sliced upper half of the rock and used heat magic to dry the woven sheet in between the two rock faces.
When he was done, the upper half of the sliced rock was removed carefully without dragging the fragile pressed sheet.
Amazed that the plant fibres no longer seem like separate strips woven into one rectangular shape, the fairies clapped. The plant fibres looked like they were grown together into a white rectangular piece of paper, and Rino trimmed the edges using shadow slicer magic.
The little pressed sheet of reed fibre strips amazed the fairies so much, and Rino told them that he expected hundreds of these sheets to be produced once the paper factory was up.
”We need more reeds than what is currently available in the swamp. However, there aren't enough hands to assist around this area with the potato field expanding.”
Hearing that their king was shorthanded once again, the fairies tried to think of a solution. Everyone had a task already, and even with Erika's efficient labour management, only a handful of them could help with this new reed farm. The newly contracted faes were still learning the ropes at the potato farm. It was a crucial period for everyone.
Rino had to admit, his empire was expanding a little too quickly. However, he had a solution for this. Once the mana web array was established on his farm, Rino could pull some farmers over to help with reed farming. Besides, there wasn't too much sun during the day in the swamp. Some of the tunnel and shelter way construction hands could come over to manage the production here by shifts.
Rino shared his plan with the sylphs and gnomes present for the meeting, and nobody objected.
”Let's work hard to produce wood and paper next. The farm project was a resounding success. I have faith that you can make this new swamp territory as successful as the farm.”
Rino praised himself silently for giving such a sappy appreciation speech. Thankfully, his subordinates loved it, and the reaction was genuinely hyped for the new project. If they pulled faces or filled it with awkward silence, Rino might have to kill them all or wipe their memories to save his pride.
Dismissing the group so that he could concentrate on setting up the complex mana web array for the swamp territory, Rino wondered why the gods were not sending him any side quests yet. It was already coming to the dawn of the fourth day, but the system was silent apart from Rino's daily renewable quest. He constantly bought his sleep reward and turned in whatever potatoes Fronzo set aside for him in the granary.
Rino had forty-eight hours worth of sleep hours, but he had too many things to do before the new daily quest appeared. Not knowing what it was made Rino nervous. Could he finish his swamp project and paper paradise before his hellish quest marathon resumed?