Chapter 159
Chapter 159
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 159
Chapter Title: Even a Treacherous Subject Has His Uses
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Of course, agriculture in the Empire wasn't solely the domain of the Vaniro Count's family and its immediate surroundings.
Outside the walls of the Imperial Capital, which had undergone significant urbanization, there were indeed farming households on the plains, and agriculture was a primary foundational industry for most cities as well.
In fact, agriculture was so crucial it could be called the backbone of civilization. It was safer than hunting and more stable and productive than foraging, enabling population growth and allowing humanity to develop from villages to cities, and from cities to nations.
A common misconception about agriculture arises from imagining the skyrocketing yields of the modern era, with its mechanization, fertilizers to maintain soil quality, and various other developed technologies. However, the old-fashioned agriculture of the past was truly grueling work.
p>First, the basic practice was not to farm all the arable land in a territory at once, but to divide it into two or three parts, leaving fallow fields. This meant the actual usable farmland was only half or one-third of the land held. On top of that, there were no agricultural techniques or seed improvements, and actual yields fluctuated wildly depending on soil quality and the weather that year.
Furthermore, people don't live by food alone. As civilization formed, status and positions were distinguished, occupations and classes emerged. From clothing, medicine, buildings, and weapons—basic tools for living—to luxury goods, countless items were produced and consumed. To obtain these, one had to sell something to earn money... and unless it was a village specializing in a particular product, mining, or fishing, the primary source of income was naturally 'food.'
In that situation, the grain supplied from the fertile southern breadbasket regions, while lowering the value of food, increased population support capacity and helped generate surplus funds. The development fueled by this became the foundation for the birth and maintenance of the 'Empire.'
Considering the fact that the Callem Empire Emperor had been persistently trying to marry off imperial princesses to manage it from the start, its importance needs no further explanation.
However, that foundation had ultimately collapsed. For the Callem Empire, it was a grave miscalculation; for the Garkan Republic, a golden opportunity.
"Y-Your Majesty! As you anticipated... merchants dealing with the southern Vaniro Count's family have sent word that they failed to purchase grain this year as well. This news will likely spread to other territories soon."
"I see. As expected, that damn half-breed elf bitch... acted just as predicted."
Grind.
The Callem Empire Emperor gnashed his teeth, the situation he had dreaded coming to pass.
Having foreseen this crisis, he, like Beonald, had moved early to prepare for the food shortage and achieved some measure of success. However, there was a significant problem different from the Valderian territory.
That problem was the difference in population and city scale between the Imperial Capital and Valderian. The resident population alone was far larger than Valderian's, yet the farmland outside the city walls was not particularly extensive.
Therefore, regarding the food issue, the only methods he could employ were using the national budget and imperial assets to buy in advance when prices were low, informing people of the impending crisis to encourage preparation, promoting alternative food cultivation, and reducing parties and extravagance—measures possible only within the methods he had used to manage the Empire his entire life.
'But it's insufficient. Hopelessly insufficient. I need a way to somehow resolve this plan... Should I issue a special decree to farm even the fallow fields this year? No, if I do that now, it will deplete the land's fertility, leading to an even greater famine later! Absolutely not! Wisdom... I need wisdom!'
So he summoned bureaucrats, the Prime Minister, scholars, and mages from the Academy for continuous discussions. But even they couldn't easily devise a plan to prepare for a famine in less than a year.
Moreover, among such high-ranking individuals, how many would have a deep interest in a field like agriculture, something commoners did? Even if there were, there would have been no resources for such research during these 500 years of constant warfare.
'...A failure, then. So, in the end...'
Thus, for the Emperor, to whom the failure of everything was becoming visible, the next future began to appear.
Naturally skyrocketing food prices, people crying out for bread. Nobles might hold on with food received as taxes from their territories, but the commoners would have no choice but to suffer starvation.
Last year's food shortage was bearable because there was the clear hope that it was only for one year due to the war and things would improve. But without that? The Emperor didn't even want to imagine how things would escalate and spiral out of control.
"...So, in the end, is war the only option?"
Within a complex problem, the easiest and cleanest solution was still war.
It was a perfect solution in that it allowed seizing others' resources, reducing the number of mouths to feed, and redirecting internal dissatisfaction and anger outward.
But its drawbacks were, of course, that it consumed national power and population, and in an already chaotic era of turmoil, it carried the risk of possibly collapsing the Empire. Thus, it wasn't a choice to be made lightly.
"Sigh~ What should I do...?"
"Your Majesty, a report has arrived from the Valderian territory."
"Is that so? Give it here. Let's see... Are they also in chaos now? Or did they listen to that quick-witted fellow and take measures... Huh...?"
The Emperor, reading the submitted report, made an expression of utter disbelief at what he was reading.
It spoke of how Beonald, now a retainer of the Valderian family, used his resourcefulness and magical tool crafting to safely hunt dangerous monster species, obtaining various magical tool materials, and processing the enormous amount of meat gained for food stockpiling. Furthermore, while conducting related businesses, he was rapidly growing the tiny, agriculture-only territory into a small city-level settlement while simultaneously developing new farmland.
"That bastard again, is it? Come to think of it, Duke Kmel also said he was indebted... Wait? Does this even make sense...?"
The report's contents were so fantastical that their very truthfulness was doubtful, making the Emperor's already aching head hurt even more.
However, recalling how Duke Kmel had praised that fellow when they met to celebrate last year's war victory, he couldn't dismiss it as entirely false either.
"This... I need to verify personally. You there! Summon Sir Legion immediately."
"Yes! Understood, Your Majesty!"
'I can't be fooled by him twice.'
For other ordinary matters, he might have sent someone else to thoroughly verify this unbelievable report. But having already been tricked by that bastard once, and knowing his capabilities exceeded his appearance and age, the Emperor decided he must check everything personally and act accordingly.
When Sir Legion arrived, the Emperor immediately instructed preparations to secretly travel to the Valderian territory.
Valderian Territory, Grand Temple of the Goddess.
"We have arrived, Lord Beonald."
"Mmm... Pfft!"
Beonald, who had finally come to the largest Grand Temple in the Valderian territory for the long-awaited dealings with the religious order, couldn't help but let out a stifled laugh as he gazed upon the place built 500 years ago, still maintained, momentarily lost in emotion. The reason was the statue of the Goddess, which was highly accentuated with feminine design elements he had created, also present here in the Grand Temple, constituting both blasphemy and personal amusement.
'They managed to create that design. Hah. Well, the bishops of the Grand Temple are like feudal lords under the king. They must have had some discretion. Since they made it in the Benofis Grand Temple too... They probably made it here and there.'
"You have arrived, Lord Beonald. We have been expecting you. I am Priest Paul, in charge of guiding you."
"I see. Pleased to meet you."
The priest who came out to greet Beonald was a bald man in his late forties. Judging by the white priestly robes adorned with golden decorations, he seemed to be a priest of considerable standing.
Well, Beonald was a person marked as the right-hand man of the Valderian territory heir, and recently very famous for conducting large-scale business right next to the Valderian territory, bringing prosperity to a small fief.
Guided by Priest Paul, Beonald walked through the temple interior and soon arrived at a private room.
"The Archbishop is here."
"Thank you."
Perhaps because it was a place for receiving guests of noble rank or higher, the private room had a splendid carpet laid out, teacups prepared on the table, and in one corner, a female priest was boiling water to brew tea.
And in the chair arranged beside the table sat a man who appeared to be the Archbishop, in more ornate priestly robes than Priest Paul. The man in his fifties stood up to greet Beonald.
"Hehe, welcome, Lord Beonald. We received the communication through the Count already. I am Archbishop Harun, leading the brothers and sisters of this temple."
"Thank you for making time amidst your busy schedule."
"Hehehe, not at all. The tea will be ready soon, please have a seat."
Archbishop Harun, stroking his snow-white beard as he greeted Beonald. With pure white hair and a long beard, he overall had the kind and benevolent appearance of a grandfather from a fairy tale.
From the information gathered beforehand, he was known for decades of residence in this Valderian Count's territory, performing numerous good deeds like caring for the sick and poor, and inspiring people with deep piety—exemplifying a respected clergyman.
'Indeed, his impression is the benevolent atmosphere one would find in a storybook.'
"So, what business brings you here?"
"First, this... an offering to contribute to the temple's finances."
Beonald first subtly placed a single platinum coin he had received from Lara on the table.
A platinum coin. Worth one hundred gold coins, the highest value currency currently on the continent.
Seeing its shiny gleam would normally startle and astonish an ordinary person, but the Archbishop remained completely unmoved and composed.
'Hmm, his self-restraint is impressive indeed. In every sense of the word.'
"Hehe, Lord Beonald, in following the Goddess, faith and a steadfast heart are more important than the amount. A platinum coin is too much; please put it away. A single gold coin and prayers will suffice. Hehehe."
'...A type without greed? Or accustomed to large sums? Hmm...'
Clatter!
Beonald pretended to listen to him while feigning a mistake, pouring out all the platinum coins from his pocket.
A total of fifty platinum coins, equivalent to five thousand gold coins. Seeing such an amount, any human would inevitably be shaken. Beonald observed the Archbishop's reaction, but he still showed not a hint of movement.
"Oh dear, look at my mind. My sincere apologies. Well then, let's see... here is one gold coin as an offering......"
"Hehehe, thank you. I will not forget prayers of gratitude to the Goddess as well."
'It seems his faith is truly formidable. Seeing such a sum, most people would show agitation... Unless his ambitions are so great that even this amount is insufficient.'
In any case, having confirmed he was dealing with no ordinary person, Beonald quickly finished his mental calculations and got straight to the point.
After all, there wasn't much small talk to share with a priest, and their spheres of thought likely didn't overlap.
"Then let's speak directly. Currently, I am planning to develop the western forest and build a road to the sea. For that, I need the land containing the ancient ruins. I intend to build a proper city centered around that area."
"Hmm, I have heard of Lord Beonald's recent deeds and achievements, so I thought it might be something like this. In that case, we can open all the land except the core part of the ruins for you. If you build a temple over the ruins' entrance and proceed with development, that should be acceptable. Hehehe."
'Hmm, wise. And sensible too. Seeing his deep faith and lack of fascination with wealth, he seems a proper Archbishop.'
Beonald was inwardly surprised, having not expected permission to develop the forbidden area so easily.
Moreover, the compromise he offered wasn't bad at all, a condition that could resolve things smoothly, showing that this Archbishop Harun was a sensible person.
Normally, Beonald would have thanked him for these terms and withdrawn. But knowing what lay within those ruins, Beonald could not back down like this.
"Hmm, you seem like someone I can reason with. May I take one step further, then?"
"One step, you say?"
"I wish to investigate those ruins."
"Hehehe, that is impossible. That place has long been designated a 'Forbidden Zone' by the Holy Kingdom, and we are charged with guarding it."
'...As expected. This is where the real contest begins. Trying to obstruct me from reclaiming my own belongings...!'
He could consider having the request accepted and then intruding, but Beonald needed to enter the ruins containing his possessions as quickly as possible! He had to activate the teleportation magic circle to also retrieve the items in the 'Shedding Tomb.'
The real negotiation was just beginning.