Starting with the defeated female knight

As for how much suffering there is, and why that suffering is...

The answer is to collect information.

To restore the Pokémon to normal, you need to at least know what a normal 'standard Pokémon' should look like.

Although they do look similar to humans, given their distorted environment, they might be different from humans not only in spirit but also in body.

If he doesn't figure these things out, let alone things going normally, he might end up modifying the elves to be even more insane than they are now.

Subsequent events proved that Tentacles' concerns were correct.

Although they look similar, the internal structure of elves is indeed different from that of humans.

While they are generally similar, the location and size of various organs, the structure of blood vessels and nerves, and some unfamiliar things...

If it weren't for his experience in the capital, Green would have had a real chance of finding out these things.

Even so, even with his experience in the capital and Melia's cooperation in letting him investigate.

However, due to the differences in physical structure between elves and humans, and the need for further exploration and investigation at the levels of 'cognition' and 'spirit', this is the only precious sample we have at hand.

As a result, although the event started quite early, Melia was still 'suffering' underground in the Tentacle Dungeon until the end of the Great Battle of Gods and Humans in the Imperial Capital.

Even the elves who had been captured with her before gradually reappeared around her.

But don't get me wrong, Green didn't restrict her or the elves' freedom.

Apart from regular investigations and research, especially after we got to know each other well, there are now basically no restrictions on their activities.

The problem is that even without any restrictions, these humanoid AI sprites don't like to go out.

Rather than going outside to breathe fresh air, they prefer to stay in the tentacle dungeon and AFK.

[What kind of innate prison-going physique?]

But despite his complaints, after venting, Green started thinking about what to do for them.

It wasn't that he didn't want to waste labor, but after understanding the situation, he realized that leaving it like this would indeed save him a lot of trouble.

However, the spirits' mental state is already very abstract. If they are left like this, their physical bodies may be well taken care of, but their souls and consciousness will probably die completely.

The problem is that, due to the mental suppression and modification, as well as the reason of the Elf God, these elves are definitely not allowed to touch art, at least not in the short term.

So what can they possibly do?

Afterwards, through further conversations with Melia and Dolores, Green obtained a piece of information.

That means the elves also farm.

After all, it was a fully-fledged civilization with habits similar to humans, so the elves also needed to eat and farm.

Moreover, perhaps because they were born from the mother tree, these elves are exceptionally talented in farming. In addition to various cultivation techniques, they even possess related, almost magical, abilities.

Unlike human mages, who manipulate reality with their will and then trigger a chain of magical reactions through meticulous calculations to achieve their desired effect.

As for the elves, they rely on organs in their bodies that are different from those of humans to directly release similar substances.

In fact, because of their exceptional skill in farming, a very peculiar form of entertainment was once popular in the ancient elven kingdom.

That means buying seeds of longevity trees, planting them, marking them, and then competing with those trees to see who lives the longest...

All I can say is that she's really clever.

But even though this was clear, there wasn't anything particularly good to grow in the Tentacle Dungeon.

Moreover, these humanoid elves don't like to go out. In fact, if it weren't for the tentacles dragging them out to bask in the sun every day, they might grow mushrooms on their bodies if they stayed in the dark and damp dungeon for a long time.

So in the end, after much thought and reflection, I finally...

The tentacles seemed to realize something.

Okay then.

Here's a plot of land, help me grow tentacles.

Anyway, tentacles are a kind of plant, and they're just idling around anyway.

The elves had no objections—or rather, they had no objections to anything.

Let alone farming, even when Green deliberately scared and teased them during his research, they didn't react at all, which made the tentacles a bit embarrassing.

[...Never mind, let's just consider them as large-scale figurines.]

However, neither the investigation nor the teasing went very smoothly.

But the tentacles that I conceived on a whim actually had an unexpected effect.

As it turns out, the elves are indeed quite good at farming. Even when faced with tentacles, they can quickly figure out the situation and make targeted adjustments.

Moreover, due to the special abilities of his race, even though he had only recently started, the production of tentacles in his area had increased significantly under the care of these elves.

Even with their meticulous care, although the degree of improvement is minimal, the quality has indeed increased.

And this was all achieved by just a few elves in a short period of time.

After realizing this, the way Tentacle looked at the elves, and even at Dolores, truly changed.

What great labor! It would be such a waste not to use it to help him proliferate his little tentacles...

But it wasn't just the tentacles that changed their expressions.

Although the tentacles were indeed planted as Green requested at the beginning, things changed after the actual operation started.

Perhaps it was because they had been suppressing their feelings for too long, perhaps it was because the racial talent brought about by the hatching of plants was coming into play, or perhaps it was for some other reason.

In any case, after getting the hang of it, not only Melia, but even the original human-machine sprites' movements became less stiff.

Furthermore, after becoming familiar with them, Green could clearly sense that the elves' resistance to the tentacles was steadily decreasing. In subsequent investigations, especially when using the tentacles they had cultivated themselves, they even showed signs of affinity...

Very subtle.

But it's always a good thing.

Meanwhile, the green worm, which was munching on a biscuit on the shoulder of the active armor, suddenly sensed something and looked at the armor next to it suspiciously.

"By the way, speaking of which, where are my children?"

"I haven't seen them for several days. You're not doing anything strange to them, are you?"

【No】

The armored warrior answered calmly.

It's nothing strange.

I'm just trying to get them to help me grow some small tentacles.

pat.

Half a cookie fell to the ground.

After regaining her senses, the little elf angrily pulled out her staff.

"I told you not to touch my children, and you promised you'd treat them well... I... I..."

"I'll fight you—"

Paji.

A tentacle popped out from under the mask and wrapped around the little sprite that was baring its teeth and claws.

After swallowing it, he patted his chest, making a clanging sound.

He even simulated burping and then nodded.

【fine】

Why don't you come along too?

Then, after everything was settled, time continued to pass.

Amidst the hustle and bustle of Dawn Territory, and the little sprite's disgruntled complaints, "You should have told me earlier that this is the propagation method!"

The epic battle between gods and humans in the capital city has gradually come to an end.

The monstrous steel behemoth roared over the ruins, carrying with it a chilling aura, as well as endless cargo and hope, all thanks to the preparations made beforehand.

This brought an end to the farce that caused so much turmoil and so many deaths.

everything is over.

But everything is just beginning.

Even though the conflict had been temporarily set aside because of the previous struggles.

But the capital city, now a ruin, and the empire, nearly half-destroyed, not only await repair and reconstruction, but also have a host of unresolved issues.

If not handled properly, not only could things not be restored, but new troubles might arise, and it's even possible that the empire could be completely destroyed.

And that also means...

Autumn is here.

It's time to harvest the韭菜 (a metaphor for exploited investors).

Yes, Green has been waiting for this moment.

The reason they were so keen on developing education, even suspending the development of Dawn City, and unusually asking others to work overtime to expand the business, was that they were willing to do so.

The goal is to seize the moment when the empire falls and reap a huge harvest.

After briefly calming the crowd and making them understand that this was a 'truck' from Dawn City.

The black and gold steel behemoth roared once more, its massive jaws opening as steam billowed out.

Or rather, the car door.

Then, after the car door was fully opened.

Rows and columns of people wearing black robes with gold trim walked out from there.

Their steps were synchronized, their demeanor calm, and when they raised their heads, their cold gaze sent chills down one's spine.

Some even carried obvious malice.

I'm carsick and feel like throwing up.

'Why is the second half of the journey so bumpy? My butt is going to go numb!'

'Is this the capital? It looks like ruins...'

Although they all had their own agendas, Green had specifically instructed them before they set off to be a little more reserved when they arrived, so as not to embarrass Dawn City.

So despite their different thoughts, they didn't show it.

After getting off the bus, they began to carry things down as Green had instructed.

Building materials, machinery and equipment, production tools...

Large bags of grain, simple clothing, and various household items...

These are the things that the capital city, and even the empire, needs most right now.

As the men in black robes carried the items one by one, the onlookers from the capital were first puzzled, then shocked, and finally completely stunned.

Although the popularity of the Chronicles of Dawn City meant that even those who had never been there knew that Dawn City had many wondrous things and that the production of various items was quite substantial.

Especially after personally experiencing the wonders of 'industrialization', they gained a new understanding of the quantity of various products.

Even so, looking at the various things that the men in black robes were unloading from the car...

Both the quantity and the quality exceeded their expectations.

As for tentacles?

In the past, people might have been a little nervous if they saw an ancient god appear in the capital.

Having just experienced a chaotic battle between gods and humans, let alone the opposing side, the monsters and demons that have emerged on their own side alone are enough to keep them busy for a long time.

But now, it's just a mere tentacle ancient god, and it seems to be here to help.

In this situation, even the nobles who were most hostile to the ancient gods could not muster the slightest bit of enthusiasm.

Commonly known as "bai le".

Of course, although he brought a lot of things, Green did not provide them for free; in fact, he charged a very high price.

However, compared to the prices in the capital, which even Green had tried to raise several times and still found a bit outrageous, these prices here could only be considered average.