Miss Witch Doesn't Want to be a Diva

"Right now, the food is definitely not enough. If we want to survive, we must quickly find a way to obtain food." Flan scanned the data on the cardboard.

"Hexia said she is figuring out a way to handle the water and soil pollution problem, but she needs some time to prepare." Although Sura didn't understand how she planned to accomplish this, that young girl had already done so many incredible things. Even if she claimed to be the reincarnation of the Holy Sun, Sura would find it quite possible.

"If the water and soil pollution problem can be solved, then this vast grassland would indeed be an enticing fertile land for cultivation." Flan glanced at the rough hand-drawn map beside him.

"Currently, within the camp, combining the original settlers and the members of the Rescue Association, there are about 1600 people. The daily food consumption is a massive number."

"When we migrated previously, we exchanged food with many settlement outposts along the way using weapons. Now, I fear we can't do things the same way." A member of the Rescue Association shook his head.

Just as everyone was at their wits' end, a nimble figure descended from the night sky, landing among them.

"Good evening everyone, this is Loloria, fully charged and full of energy~" With slight jets of air still emitting from her heels and palms, the adorable mechanical girl greeted them.

"Uh... hello." The people present responded to her with some hesitation.

Although they knew this mechanical girl was not one of those war machines that only knew slaughter, the traditional impression and memories of the past thousand years still made it hard for them to adapt immediately.

"You are looking for food, right? Hexia mentioned it to me this morning." Loloria replied with a slightly cheerful tone.

As a creation of the Mechanical Council, helping native humans brought her a great sense of satisfaction and accomplishment, translating to happiness in her coded emotional layers.

"Loloria flew around the territory within a hundred-mile radius at supersonic speed, and tada~ here is the map." After speaking, her verdant eyes blinked, projecting a three-dimensional map image showing the state of the grassland and the surrounding lands.

The grassland appeared in an irregular shape, with the eastern and parts of the northern sections covered in barren deserts. Directly north, as the elevation rises, vegetation and trees start to appear, pointing towards the direction of Shilin Mountain Castle.

To the west is the endless grassland. It's said that there is a large river there, with many savage settlements residing along it, led by the Wolf Blood Species. Southward is the jungle where Hexia and Sura became acquainted, which seems lush but is filled with mosquitoes, snakes, and ants. A slight misstep could lead to contracting various diseases, a risk not many are willing to take in this antibiotic-scarce era.

"Shilin Mountain Castle was recently devastated by an insect infestation. Although most of the swarm has been eliminated, the local soil and many hidden corners harbor dormant insect eggs. If we go there, we never know when these insects might erupt. Based on past records, it would take at least several years under such conditions before the insects spontaneously die out due to food shortage after hatching." A technical member of the Heshan Rescue Association analyzed.

"It's best not to return the way we came from, as the situation there is even more dire. Currently, my suggestion is to head west and trade with the scattered settlements on the grasslands. Though a single settlement might not be enough, if we visit enough, we can gather a quarter's worth of food."

"That might be a bit difficult," Sura replied, resting her head on her hand.

"The food on the grasslands has always been in a delicate balance. They often have conflicts due to food issues. Small trades are fine, but large-scale operations will surely be noticed by local settlements, especially the Wolf Blood Species there. They all follow the orders of the Wolf Blood Queen, and knowing her nature, if discovered, she will certainly think about how to annex you, gaining various coveted technologies and equipment."

"A few years ago, I went there with a companion, and the impression left wasn't good. Compared to the settlements managed by the Grey Feather Species, they are terribly savage. Even trade caravans can be robbed, and it's common to kill a few passerby with no background."

In this world, robbing a caravan is very serious because resource scarcity means many settlements rely on caravans to bring invaluable medicines, supplies, and external information. If a caravan disappears in a location, others will also avoid those places, making future life difficult for the local settlements.

"For these reasons, although there are many settlements on the grasslands, few caravans dare to do business there. Even if they do go, whether selling or buying will be more demanding than in other places. For example, while ten pounds of meat could trade for a can of rice elsewhere, there it would roughly require twenty pounds."

"Caravan traders have their reasons; after all, what sort of place is that? I wouldn't dare go without a group of bodyguards. Do these bodyguards not eat or cost money?" Sura imitated the eloquent tone of caravan bosses.

After speaking, the people present laughed, breaking away from the heavy atmosphere that had enveloped them for some time.

After dinner, in an environment short on entertainment, many went to bed early while a few continued to gather around the bonfire, sharing and venting the emotions accumulated over this time.

In a room inside the cave, Hexia looked at the gleaming 'Rhythmic Crystal' on the table and let out a sigh of relief.

It was finally done. She hadn't expected creating it by hand to be so troublesome, having to adjust each parameter separately, unlike using the numerous instruments and equipment available in the Grey Dust Crystal realm for assistance.