Chapter 23
Chapter 23
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: Credit
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"Lady Alensia is going to get engaged to Clan Kent, isn't she?"
Russell said.
The way to soothe those burning with jealousy was to show jealousy in return.
"Lady Alensia chose Clan over me."
I clenched my fist in tension.
If Russell was wrong, my relationship with Alensia could sour.
Right now, I was in a precarious spot, with one foot in each camp with the two duke's daughters.
The tightly strung thread of tension unraveled pathetically.
A third party had intervened.
"Oh my..."
Marie, Alensia's personal maid, covered her mouth with her hand and glanced back and forth between me and Alensia.
Her eyes sparkled with amusement.
"Oh my, oh my. Is this... what I think it is?"
"Marie, enough."
Alensia scolded her maid in a low tone, maintaining the tension.
But.
"Lord Elwin, this is jea..."
"Marie! I said enough!"
"Hee hee hee. My apologies, Lady."
Marie's laughter completely dissolved the tension.
Alensia let go of her annoyed expression, as if she had no choice.
"So, it's not because of me, but because of Clan Kent?"
"That's right."
"If that's the case, it doesn't matter. Build a cultivated field for the Kent barony too. I'm... not proceeding with the engagement to Clan Kent just yet."
"Hee hee hee. They were pushing for it within the faction, but you halted it, Lady."
Marie chimed in again.
Alensia, unable to hold back any longer, shooed her away.
Silence returned to the room with just the two of us.
Alensia broke it first.
"Shall we proceed with the contract then? How much did you settle on with Benia?"
"A 10-year contract for 30% of the profits. Paid as a lump sum once the demonic energy removal is complete."
"Then for me, it's 10 years at 40% of the profits. Cash upfront."
It was far better terms than with Benia.
Alensia was the tougher negotiator.
Yet after dealing with Benia first, Alensia offered even better conditions.
Russell had hit the mark.
"Thank you for the great deal, Lady Alensia."
"If you have something like this again, bring it to me first."
"Understood. Then."
.
.
The negotiations ended, and I returned to the inn.
My body, tense from meeting the two duke's daughters, went limp.
"Master, how did it go?"
Russell asked with a tense expression.
I raised one hand and gave him a thumbs up.
"It went well! Could you share the details of the negotiations?"
"With Lady Alensia, payment right away. With Lady Benia, after the demonic energy removal."
"I see. Will you use that money to buy more slaves?"
"Of course. You go buy slaves with the money from Lady Alensia. Have them clear more land. Before winter wheat planting."
.
.
I parted ways with Russell in the Vampire Duke's territory.
Russell headed to the continent with the money from Alensia.
To buy slaves.
I moved to the Aquano barony, one of the three baronies.
"Elwin, you've arrived."
The heir, Unter Aquano, came out to greet me.
"Unter."
Was it because of our long-standing rivalry?
The atmosphere felt awkward.
We had always seen each other from behind the two duke's daughters.
Unter silently guided me.
"The land you're seeing now is the cultivated field. You can stay next to it."
He explained, then glanced back at me.
And continued.
"If you want, you can stay in the lord's manor even now. No matter our past enmity, there's no need to stay in a place like that."
He said that, but.
It wasn't a bad place to live.
Of course, it was lacking for a noble.
"It's fine. This way is better. Easier to pray."
"Hmph, do as you like. Let me know if you need anything."
Unter finished guiding me and left.
And I immediately began work.
I knelt at the edge of the cultivated field.
To others, I'd look like a devout priest.
Of course, inside, I wasn't.
I continuously used the Earth Restoration skill.
'I need to finish quickly.'
I'd go around the three baronies, removing demonic energy from the lands.
Once done, straight to West River to clear the demonic energy from the newly made fields.
All this had to be finished before winter wheat planting.
That way, I could harvest wheat next spring and sell it.
And expand again with that money.
Using the skill, night fell before I knew it.
I didn't rest even after dark.
It continued into the early morning.
"Wake me at the time I specified."
"Of course, sir."
To not waste even 1 mana. I adjusted my sleep time too.
I had to wake up and use the skill before mana fully regenerated.
I woke several times during sleep to use the skill.
Like that, two months passed.
And I cleared the demonic energy from the three baronies' farmlands.
I returned to River Village after two months.
"Welcome back, Heir."
"Welcome back, Master."
"Welcome back, Master."
After greeting Grandfather, I crossed to West River, and Hans, Russell, and Isaac came to see me.
"Status report?"
"We bought 4,000 slaves with the funds from the two ladies. Currently, 4,000 at West River and 2,000 at East River."
Pulling in the funds tripled our scale in one go.
"We also bought blacksmith slaves."
"Blacksmiths?"
"Yes. With the increased numbers, demand for farming tools and weapons has risen. For now, focus on repairs to gain experience, then move to full production."
Buying Russell on a whim was the right call.
He didn't just do as told; he thought ahead and handled what was needed.
"Well done. Isaac, farm situation?"
"We deployed large numbers and added two fields at East River and five at West River."
"Already? Seven in total?"
"We selected the sites first and only finished clearing the wheat sections."
The Norfolk Four-Course Rotation divides each field into four sections.
They'd only cleared the wheat sections first.
Autumn was coming soon, time to plant winter wheat.
"Good work, Isaac."
"Thank you, Master."
Finally, I turned to Hans.
"Militia status?"
"Total forces: 1,200. Phalanx soldiers: 500. Shield soldiers: 200. Crossbowmen: 500."
"Shield soldiers?"
"Operating the phalanx showed weaknesses in situational response. So, plan to attach 100 shield soldiers to each flank."
I nodded and praised Hans.
After all reports, I shared my thoughts.
"As you all know, I have two years."
"..."
"..."
"I need to prove my ability as heir within two years."
"..."
"..."
Short time compared to what needs doing.
The room's mood grew heavy.
"As you know, I have no magic talent. That's why they're doubting me. Whether I can defend Frontier territory."
"..."
"..."
"So, I'll show them."
I pulled out the prepared map.
It showed the southern coastal area of Monster Island.
Starting from West River, I drew a square along the southern coast.
"Reclaim this within a year. Expansion starts late autumn. Prepare accordingly."
Even with time tight, I set it for late autumn.
Because we'd harvest barley in autumn and plant winter wheat.
Only after key farming was done would we start full combat.
As the meeting wrapped up, Hans spoke.
"Heir."
"Something to say?"
"Total slaves now at 6,000. With this number, we can train professional soldiers."
Hans's opinion was to select some for professional soldiers instead of arming all peasants.
"May I say something too?"
Russell stepped up this time.
"What is it?"
"Considering Sir Hans's words, I calculated the profits. Training professionals lets more focus on farming. Total revenue should increase."
Russell backed Hans.
Isaac seemed to agree too.
But.
I had three ways to control many slaves.
System. Hope. Hostages.
Following Hans would mean giving up the system method.
Respected Farm Lord (Lv 2)
Increases loyalty of affiliated farmers.
The Respected Farm Lord skill targeted affiliated farmers.
Not slaves or subordinates.
So farming was essential.
Especially for weapon-handling soldiers.
"Good idea, but the root is farming. We can't abandon that."
They immediately accepted my words.
It embarrassed me, who'd been pondering the reasoning.
"Then prepare thoroughly by late autumn."
"Understood."
"Understood."
The three headed to their posts.
I went to the new fields.
Seven new fields added this time.
'Clear demonic energy from the wheat sections first, then the rest.'
Arriving at the field, I knelt.
The prayer pose no longer felt uncomfortable.
Habit made it feel natural.
'Earth Restoration.'