Chapter 44: Dier’s Transformation
Owen opened the Plants vs. Zombies picture book and exchanged Lantern Grass to use as wall lamps, replacing the luminous moss, ghost fire torches, and other lighting sources in the Underground City’s buildings. He also planned to build a small garden every certain distance within the maze to improve the harsh environment.
The core of each small garden would be a fountain, surrounded by greenery. With Sunflowers generating sunlight and Sun-shrooms releasing it, plant growth wouldn’t be an issue.
However, due to a lingering obsession from his previous life, Owen felt it was a waste to have a plot of land only growing grass. He decided to exchange for various seeds from Super Farm, intending to plant a different type of fruit or vegetable in each garden. This way, they could serve as markers to prevent getting lost and also meet the castle’s needs throughout the year.
As for guards, Peashooters and other plants would suffice for now. Although plants couldn’t move, they excelled in positional warfare. Moreover, there were no enemies in the Underground City at present, so it was enough.
Taking the Slime Maid with him, Owen returned to the castle. Thanks to the improved sealing and the torch stumps in the corners, the internal temperature was maintained at a cool level that wouldn’t freeze people, but it still wasn’t comfortable. Therefore, Maya usually worked in the greenhouse. Dier didn’t dare to have any objections to this; instead, she served tea and water every day and baked cookies to show respect to the territory’s grand steward.
Owen strolled through the castle with the Slime Maid. Beautiful porcelain and oil paintings lined the corridors, along with exquisite weapons, shields, and the full armor of magnificent knights. The expanded windows were inlaid with large pieces of glass, allowing the somewhat dim winter sunlight to shine in, draping these decorations with a veil of time and adding a sense of historical depth.
These items were all carefully selected by Owen from the games, and even in the Empire, they would be considered valuable. However, the Progress Value required to exchange for them wasn’t much, and he had exchanged for many similar things to enhance the castle’s prestige.
Arriving at the greenhouse, Dier was using Cooking Magic. As her wand waved, ingredients and cookware danced nimbly in the air without colliding. It was clear that her talent as a witch was gradually being unlocked by Hogwarts magic.
Looking closely, Dier’s attributes were displayed.
Name: Dier, Age: 22, Profession: Witch, Magic Power: 280/300.
Leadership: 5, Combat Power: 5, Intelligence: 30, Politics: 5, Charm: 85.
Special Talent: Witch Bloodline +10, Potion Making +5, Transformation +3, Curse +1, Summoning +1.
Her Intelligence attribute had increased by ten points in one go, and her already outstanding Charm attribute had also increased by five points. Most importantly, her Magic Power was finally displayed. Even without a wand, Dier could still use witch magic.
However, compared to the complex rituals, potions, and strong emotions required for witches to cast their spells, simply waving a wand gracefully to achieve the desired result obviously appealed more to Dier’s aesthetics and preferences. So, let the evil witch magic go to h*ll; elegance was the eternal beauty.
“Master, I just baked some blueberry cookies, and the milk tea is at the perfect temperature. Would you like to try some?” Seeing Owen enter, Dier’s eyes lit up, and she asked with a smile, holding a plate of blueberry cookies and milk tea.
“Give me a cup of milk tea. Also, you’ve changed a lot. It seems you’re doing well here.” Owen’s gaze instinctively moved down and took a glance. They were indeed b*gger, causing him to swallow. He then spoke to Dier.
“Yes, Master. This is all thanks to your grace.” Dier, like Maya, had started addressing Owen as “Master” at some point. This also meant that she had completely accepted her current life and identity. Compared to her previous life, she had nothing to complain about. Moreover, Master had also solved the hidden danger of her witch bloodline. She had heard that if a witch’s bloodline went out of control, it would distort her appearance, making her uglier and uglier, more and more like a monster.
Therefore, Dier’s initial obedience to Owen was only due to the difference in their strength and status, but now it was completely voluntary.
Faced with this address, Owen naturally wouldn’t correct her. After drinking a cup of milk tea, he asked Dier to take him to Maya’s office.
Walking along the path in the greenhouse, Owen noticed that it was well maintained. Some herbs had been planted and were now thriving. It wouldn’t be long before they could be harvested, and Dier had been diligently studying potion making recently.
Fortunately, witches were skilled at potion making, and Dier had a talent for it. Therefore, progress was good, and Owen would soon have batches of Essence of Dittany.
One of the two rooms in the greenhouse was now occupied by Maya, transformed into her study, where she usually handled the territory’s affairs. Dier, who had nothing to do every day except for gardening, became her exclusive maid. It seemed she had been well-trained, and her clothes were more like maid outfits, with a low neckline. It seemed Maya understood his preferences very well.
Owen glanced at the bouncing rabbits that followed Dier’s every step, pretending to be indifferent, but inwardly praising Maya. He was becoming more and more reliant on this capable Head Maid.
Opening the door, he saw Maya diligently working at her desk, wearing the Psychic Power Headband he had given her. It helped her focus and work more efficiently.
The metal headband didn’t detract from Maya’s beauty but added a unique touch. However, under the Lantern Grass’s light, Owen noticed faint crow’s feet at the corners of her eyes.
Just as he was lamenting the passage of time, a noise beside him caught his attention. It was Ram.
The mechanical puppet maid, whom he hadn’t used much, was organizing the bookshelves on both sides of the room according to Maya’s instructions. Many of the books on the shelves were gifts from Owen. Some were novels and travelogues for leisure, but most were professional books on management, economics, psychology, architecture, and other subjects.
These hefty books had been translated into this world’s language by Owen through the System, but he still couldn’t bring himself to read them, even though he knew they would be immensely helpful for territory management. After exchanging for them, they had been sitting on the bookshelves in his study as decorations. Upon discovering Maya’s interest in these books, he simply gave them all to her.
“Master.” Maya noticed someone entering. Looking up and seeing Owen, she immediately put down her quill, stood up from behind her desk, curtsied, and then turned her attention to the Slime Maid at the back. She knew that Master’s visit this time was most likely because of these strange maids.
In fact, Dier was also very interested in the jelly-like Slime Maid and was secretly poking it with her fingers, an action that didn’t match her mature appearance at all, but it was rather cute.
When one didn’t have to worry about food and clothing, a silly and cute maid brought joy to life, otherwise, it would be a disaster. Fortunately, Owen was qualified to enjoy these joys of life.
