While Finn was busy literally cooking, Syl—as well as every professional among the staff—was figuratively so.
At this time, the blacksmiths and the alchemists were practically sleeping inside their workshops, stocking up on as many creations as they could.
The alchemists focused, naturally, on the lifesaving potions HP and Mana potions. This was except for Athie, who found those things boring. He was also in dire need of distractions, otherwise he'd be depressed watching baby Lily still unconscious.
Finn knew this and indeed wanted to help him out. He, too, had been occupying his time cooking as well in order not to debilitate himself with worry for his sister.
However, they had no use for honesty potions! Fortunately, there was the planting enhancer potion he got from the [Hearth Market] before. He just had to let him taste it, perhaps figure out its contents, and hopefully reproduce it someday.
This potion was really very good! If they could not stock enough food items (which was very possible because every territory in the world was stockpiling), they would have to depend on the inn's farms. To meet the demands, they'd need to further hasten the plants' maturing period.
Speaking of potions from the [Hearth Market], Finn had also bought a lot of the potions he could buy, though those were bound to him and difficult to share unless he was there, so it was still best to rely on others when it came to these things.
They had a small mountain of herbs in the stockroom now and the Finn had sent extra money to their sources (mostly through Arthur) to give them more before the aphelion phase.
A similar case was happening to Syl. With materials on hand (most were from her own space), she created every rune she knew how to do and would be useful against large mobs of monsters.
Many of these were from her own knowledge base and the papyrus in her space, while others were inheritances. The runeshop triggered the basic passive skills, hastening her mastery of the profession.
On the other hand, since she had received the passives and the active skills in her mind, and since she had been studying them a bit even before she came to the inn, then the elf simply hastened her own learning to the point she could even use the skills given by the store's inheritances even outside the territory.
As such, for Syl, the Runeshop merely became a workstation, rather than something she needed to be in to do anything.
Runeshop: "..."
Fortunately, the Runeshop increased the effectiveness and chances of success, so it didn't become obsolete.
Syl made a large variety, all of which were most useful when enemies were dense.
For example, there was a Corrosion Rune that would expose harmful essence to a certain area like an invisible, poisonous smoke. It could slowly chip away the monster's defenses, especially the longer they stayed in its scope.
There was also Drain Rune which could cause small amounts of damage, the Sluggish Rune, which would lower monsters' agility and reaction speed.
There was also an explosive rune that could cause small explosions. The explosions weren't big, however, and could only kill awakened-level monsters, but they could still damage toughened-level monsters, which was convenient when they were in mobs to maximize their effects.
While they were all rushing production, Finn also received another upgrade announcement.
[Achievement Unlocked! 100,000 kilograms of plants harvested in the Gardens!]
Because Finn and the alchemists knew that the ingredients from the garden increased the success rate, they had certainly maximized the plants by harvesting as soon as they were ready.
Tumble and the rest immediately planted replacements for them every year after harvest as well. This was especially so now that they were preparing for their biggest battle yet.
It seemed like their rushed movements the past week triggered something.
[Garden Upgrade Available]
[Garden Upgrade (Final): Hastened Growth Upgrade]
[Information: Increase the speed of growth by 100%.
Cost: 50,000 Hearth Points]
Finn blinked. Awesome!
Inspired, Finn whiffed up dish after dish. Even his old D-Class Dish had leveled up, mostly taking a rank up.
[Created! Hearty Matis-stew with Thornroot and Basilume (C)]
[Created! Sunberry-Veilroot Egg Skillet (C)]
[Created! Seared herbed Gugu Bird with thornroot mash (C)]
He paused to break, stretching his arms. He did not notice he had an audience. Everyone was busy with their task, and he flinched when he saw who it was.
It was his sister, watching him with those large eyes. Athie was there too, but he was more watching over Lily instead.
"Baby Lily!" he gasped, lifting her up. He and the staff took turns looking after the baby. His turn wasn't until a few hours later. It was Athie's turn now, and it seemed like he took her directly to him without making noise.
"How do you feel?"
"Hungwy."
"Oh! Of course, of course!" he said with a smile, giving the two babies a plate each. He knew their preferences, so he knew which food to hand over.
After eating, she stared at him, and even asked where the others are. When he told her they were all creating things, she pouted instead.
He rushed over, carrying her up. "What's wrong, baby Lily?"
"Can Lily help?" She looked at him, touching his face with her little hands. "Lily wanna help."
He shook his head. If it were before, he would just think it was just the baby wanting to be included. Now, it seemed like there was more it.
His eyebrows furrowed. He remembered that Lily, inside the egg, had been inheriting various knowledge. It was why she knew so much even when she literally just hatched.
His jaw clenched. Did those things she inherited somehow tell her something?
He remembered a conversation that felt distant before, but now was fresh in his mind.
No, no. Lily is born to be a hero!
His eyes heated up. If one lived their whole life being 'indoctrinated', he feared that even if he didn't want her sacrificed, she would jump into it herself.
"Bwatha?" Her little voice and her little pinching of his nose pulled him back to reality.
He took a deep breath. "...how does Lily want to help?"
"Lily can make em go away! Shoo! Shoo!
His heart clenched.
He held her small hand, just as big as one of his fingers.
"That would mean leaving brother forever. Does Lily want to leave brother behind?"
Lily blinked, then immediately shook her head. "Nonono."
"Then there's no need for you to make them go away. You can, but you have to be safe and sound. Brother will be very, very sad if Lily leaves."
She blinked, staring at him, as if making sense with what he was talking about. "Giving your life for others is a no-no!" he said. Of course, she could have her free will, but now she was too young and needed to understand her choices and the consequences of each one.
"My sister, you deserve to live as everyone else," he said. "You just have to live well."
As he said this, his sharp eyes looked at the skies.
Whatever you bring in, we will handle it! I swear on it with my life!