Chapter 149 — The Catalyst That Changed the Leaves
S.C. 1511 — Early March
Foosha Village — Underground Botanical Chamber
The underground botanical chamber smelled like damp soil and fresh leaves—stronger today, because Ren had been grinding plant samples since dawn.
On the wooden table lay:
three beakers of distilled liquid
filtered Compound X concentrate
rosin powder
fermented leaf extract
simple mineral salts
And in the center of the table:
a shallow clay bowl of thick green paste.
Zemo sat on a stool beside Ren, tail curled neatly, ears perked. Kiro leaned against the doorway, watching curiously.
Ren exhaled slowly.
"Today we test something new."
Kiro frowned. "Another fertilizer?"
"No," Ren replied. "A catalyst."
He adjusted the lamp flame under the beaker.
"Something that changes how plants respond… only a little."
Zemo sniffed the bowl, then shook his head rapidly.
Ren sighed. "Don't taste it."
Mixing the Catalyst
Ren worked slowly, adding each ingredient in measured amounts.
A pinch of powdered minerals.
Three drops of Compound X concentrate.
Half a spoon of fermented leaf extract.
A few grains of rosin powder.
The mixture bubbled gently.
Ren watched the surface texture, his mind calculating viscosity, density, absorption rate without effort.
Kiro scratched his cheek.
"Looks like soup."
"This would kill you," Ren said flatly.
Kiro winced. "Right. Not soup."
Zemo sneezed loudly from the fumes.
Ren made a mental note:
Reduce surface fumes in next iteration.
Test Plants Ready
On the side table were three small test plots:
Plot A — Normal soil
Plot B — Forest mineral soil
Plot C — Island nutrient soil
Each held identical small sprouting seedlings.
Ren pointed at them.
"We apply the catalyst only once. Then we watch."
Kiro folded his arms.
"You expect fireworks?"
"No."
Ren dipped a brush into the catalyst and touched the leaves of each sprout lightly.
"I expect… small changes."
Zemo watched attentively, ears twitching.
Ren set down the brush and stepped back.
Minute 1 — Subtle Reaction
At first, nothing happened.
Just quiet, still plants.
Kiro opened his mouth. "Maybe it—"
The sprout in Plot C twitched.
Very slightly.
Ren leaned closer.
The leaf widened by a few millimeters—slow, gentle, natural, not forced.
Plot B followed, deepening in color.
Plot A remained unchanged.
Kiro blinked. "Did it just move?"
"Yes," Ren murmured.
"And that's good?"
"It means the catalyst is working without overreacting."
Ren crouched down, observing tiny veins on the leaf surface.
"They're absorbing it evenly."
Zemo wagged his tail, satisfied.
Minute 10 — The First Signs
The changes became clearer:
Plot A —
unchanged, stable
Plot B —
deeper green, thicker stem
Plot C —
most reaction, stronger leaf spread, more defined stem base
Kiro scratched his head.
"So the island soil wins again?"
Ren nodded. "It has the highest nutrient density. The catalyst enhances what's already there."
He wrote in his notebook:
Plot C → strongest response
Plot B → moderate response
Plot A → unchanged
No negative effects
No discoloration
No excess heat
Zemo nudged the Plot C pot as if claiming responsibility.
Ren patted his head.
"Yes, you found the soil. I know."
Roots Tell the Truth
Ren carefully lifted one sprout from each plot to inspect the roots.
Plot A root: thin, normal
Plot B root: slightly thicker, more branching
Plot C root: thicker, smoother, healthier
Kiro squinted. "So it really works."
Ren nodded again.
"It's not dramatic. But it's stable."
He returned the sprouts gently to their pots and watered them lightly.
What This Catalyst Means
Ren sat on the stool, thinking.
"This catalyst won't make giant plants. That's dangerous."
Kiro shrugged. "But it makes better ones."
"Yes," Ren said softly. "Healthier, stronger, more reliable."
If used on food crops later, this could mean:
faster growth
stronger roots
better survival in poor soil
more nutritious leaves
But only if tested slowly.
Zemo rested his chin on Ren's lap.
Ren scribbled more notes:
Catalyst v1
• subtle enhancement
• improves nutrient absorption
• no mutation
• no rapid growth
• stable with Compound X
• safe for small-scale trials
Evening — Foosha Village Garden
Ren stepped outside with a small vial of diluted catalyst.
The village garden patches near Makino's bar were quiet.
Makino stood with a watering can, humming softly as she tended the herbs.
She spotted Ren instantly.
"You're out late again."
Ren held up the vial. "Just testing something."
Makino raised a brow. "Plant thing?"
He nodded.
"Nothing dangerous?"
"No."
She handed him a small trowel.
"Then you can help me."
Ren knelt beside her, applying one drop to a corner plant—just one.
Makino smiled faintly.
"You always work so seriously. Even with plants."
Ren didn't look up.
"They deserve precision too."
Makino laughed softly.
"You talk like an old scientist."
He didn't deny it.
Zemo curled up near the garden bench, dozing under the warm evening breeze.
Night — Cataloging Success
Back home, Ren updated his notebook one last time:
Catalyst v1: Successful
Next steps:
• test on wider plant varieties
• test dosage differences
• improve stability
• track week-long changes
He placed the notebook aside.
The catalyst wasn't dramatic.
Not magical.
Not monstrous.
Just a useful step in making stronger crops and stronger wood for construction.
Exactly what the island needed.
Ren rested his head on his folded arms for a moment.
Zemo pressed close, warm and steady.
"Tomorrow we test again," Ren whispered.
End of Chapter 149