Naming the Farmer
A short while later, a man with hunched shoulders followed the financial officer into the room, his head bowed low.
Chloe felt a pang of guilt seeing him tremble like a criminal when she had been the one to summon him.
“Sorry to have kept you waiting.”
Chloe spoke as kindly as possible to ease the farmer’s tension.
“N-no, my lady. J-just being called here is, is, is already a tremendous honor.”
The man’s voice quivered like a goat’s, and he stuttered even more. Whether that was his natural tone or nerves, it was remarkably effective at stirring pity.
“Come and sit.”
“N-no, I couldn’t possibly. How could I dare⋯⋯”
“Your legs must be tired. Don’t make me repeat myself—come sit.”
The farmer wore an expression that suggested he couldn’t tell whether Chloe’s words were sincere or some kind of test, looking as though he might burst into tears.
Scrooge had said the man had only just turned thirty, yet the hardships he had endured made him look well past forty.
“The lord has given an order. Sit down at once.”
When Scrooge spoke sternly, the farmer hesitantly took the chair across from her.
He perched on the very edge of the seat, looking ready to bolt at the slightest wrong move—even a sneeze from Chloe.
“Relax. I have many questions, and this may take some time.”
“Yes, my lady.”
Chloe gazed at him quietly as he fidgeted, unable to even lift his head.
She had never once imagined anyone would be so flustered because of her, so the situation felt oddly awkward.
No one in Grace Territory treated Chloe disrespectfully. That had been true even back when Chloe Grace had been running around as a reckless troublemaker.
Still, watching their reactions shift from awkwardness to familiarity, she had to admit that the position really did shape the person.
“I hear you’re an exceptionally skilled farmer.”
“You flatter me, my lady.”
The farmer seemed even more tense at the sudden praise.
“Your name is⋯⋯”
Just as she was about to ask, a blue status window popped up in front of her eyes.
Its flashy, blinking appearance was so over-the-top that the mystical feeling she had felt the first time had already faded considerably.
Sudden Mission!
Give a name to the farmer who will be of great help to Grace Territory. If the farmer likes the name, you will receive a certain amount of hidden points.
Oh? Naming someone—how fun.
Last time she had given a name and expanded someone’s activity range; this time it was only hidden points. Expanding activity range was the better reward, but hidden points were still useful. She could do quite a lot with them, so it wasn’t a loss.
Chloe thought for a moment, then recalled the name of a popular actor who had recently gained fame for his flower-like beauty.
“Charnwoo?”
She rolled the syllables with force, creating a name that might actually fit in this world.
How about that? A handsome actor’s name—don’t you like it?
Bzzzt! That name does not suit the farmer at all. Besides, “Charnwoo”? It’s like calling Cheolsu “Charles.”
Points will be deducted for this absurd naming. Oh dear—there are no points left to deduct!
We forgot that you are a walking gag, User. Our apologies.
While the status window rippled like a cartoon butt and vanished as it searched for a nonexistent power button, Chloe told herself not to get worked up over an inanimate object.
She calmly settled her mind, then smiled kindly at the farmer who was watching her with an innocent expression.
“Oh dear, my mistake. Your name is⋯⋯ Farmer, I believe?”
Since the architect’s name was Builder, the farmer’s name had to be Farmer.
Chloe raised her eyebrows expectantly as she looked at him.
“Yes, that is correct.”
Meanwhile, Farmer was both moved and frightened that the lord knew the name of a mere commoner like him.
Of course, Butler Scrooge knew about him, but he had never expected the lord herself to know as well!
Farmer straightened his already stiff body even more and waited for Chloe’s next words.
Facing those clear, cow-like eyes, Chloe quietly waited for the hidden points.
If she received points this time, she resolved to save them diligently and definitely expand her inventory.
The name is so unoriginal that it shows zero creativity, but the kind farmer likes it 85%. You have obtained 85 hidden points as a reward.
It felt like being teased for getting 50 points when the friend who copied answers got 20, but 85 points were still nothing to sneeze at.
Chloe’s heart grew even more benevolent than before.
“I called you here, Farmer, to get your advice on farming.”
“Pardon? Someone as lowly as me⋯⋯?”
Farmer flinched as though he had been shocked. Unable to grasp how to process this surreal situation, he kept glancing nervously at Scrooge.
But Scrooge was just as shocked, so he could only stare back and forth between the lord and the farmer with the same bewildered look.
“You’re an expert in farming, aren’t you? So it’s only natural that I, who knows nothing, would seek your advice.”
“W-what could I possibly help with⋯⋯”
Farmer’s voice trembled less than before; the tension seemed to be easing. The goat-like voice had probably come from extreme nervousness. He listened intently, as though determined not to miss a single word.
Chloe continued while lightly patting Farmer’s shoulder in encouragement.
“I plan to reclaim the wasteland near Grace Castle.”
Farmer’s expression instantly turned sour.
He had tried countless times to reclaim the wasteland out of sheer desperation to make a living, but had failed every time and despaired. He had not only wasted time and effort back then—he had also abandoned all hope.
Though Farmer’s face changed in an instant, Chloe was not discouraged. After all, she had the confidence to turn his disappointment into hope.
“Of course, I know the wasteland isn’t suitable for farming. But there is a way to make that land useful.”
“⋯⋯Is that true?”
Farmer replied belatedly, as though he couldn’t believe it.
The shocking news had restored composure to his once-stuttering, trembling voice.
He, too, had felt great regret seeing the neglected land around the territory.
Chloe leaned in as though about to share a tremendous secret. Farmer’s body leaned forward as well.
Satisfied with his reaction, Chloe began to whisper in a voice as secretive as her gaze.
“We’ll need a very special kind of fertilizer. I’ve already prepared it, so take it and turn the wasteland into fertile soil.”
Farmer’s face was filled with disbelief.
He couldn’t understand how a noble who had grown up sheltered inside the castle and knew nothing about farming could have figured out how to make fertilizer.
Seeing his confused expression, Chloe racked her brain to come up with a plausible explanation.
She couldn’t exactly tell pure-eyed Farmer about status windows.
“I read about it in a book. There are many excellent books in the library inside Grace Castle. I happened to find it there.”
Farmer nodded slowly, though his head tilted slightly to the side.
Before he could harbor any more doubts, Chloe rattled off terms about terrain and climate she had picked up from the geography advice, mixing in short English words.
“Farming isn’t something you can do with experience alone. You need professional technology, skills, feeling, and passion—and above all, the dream of never giving up. You know what I mean?”
As she spoke rapidly while rolling her tongue as though it were buttered, Farmer’s eyes widened and he nodded quickly.
“I will do my utmost to follow your orders, my lady.”
Before long, Farmer’s eyes were filled with trust as he looked at Chloe.
Chloe smiled contentedly at the successful conversation. Just recalling that many English words with her limited vocabulary had been enough to give her a headache.
“Do your best. If the reclamation succeeds, I’ll give you a generous reward.”
“I will do my very best.”
Farmer’s voice was now brimming with confidence.
“I’ve already selected workers to assist you. I’m appointing you as the chief in charge of the reclamation project, so I expect your full dedication.”
While Farmer was answering, Anna—who had stepped out briefly—returned carrying a tray laden with food.
Steam rose from the Dural bread and warm soup.
“Put it here.”
Anna set the food on the table.
At the savory, slightly sweet aroma, Farmer unconsciously swallowed hard.
The hunger he hadn’t felt due to tension now fiercely clawed at his stomach the moment he smelled the food.
Worried he might let out a growl in front of the lord, Farmer wrapped his arms around his stomach and squeezed his eyes shut.
It was better not to look at food he couldn’t eat.
Just as he was wondering how nice it would be if he could plug his nose too, he heard Chloe’s kind voice.
“You probably haven’t had breakfast, so eat this first.”
“My lady⋯⋯”
Farmer’s large eyes grew moist. Feeling somehow embarrassed, Chloe stood up.
“It’ll be uncomfortable if I sit here, so eat comfortably. If it’s not enough, ask for more.”
Chloe spoke as though it were nothing.
Finally, a tear fell from Farmer’s wide eyes as he stared helplessly at the food before him.
Welcome to your first time meeting such a kind lord, isn’t it?