Chapter 5
Chapter 5
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: A New Beginning
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As I stepped into the reception room,
there was Alensia.
Blue hair
and
blue eyes. White skin.
And red lips.
Even after parting ways with me, she was still beautiful.
"It's been a long time. Lady Alensia."
Alensia pointed to the chair in front of her.
"Sit."
There was no emotion in her voice.
A flat, commanding tone.
What had I been expecting?
When I heard she had come, had I thought we'd get engaged again or something?
'No need to be disappointed.'
That was what I thought, but my heart felt empty.
"What brings you all the way here?"
She looked at me silently.
I didn't avert my eyes either.
One second. Five seconds. Ten seconds.
We often locked eyes in silence like this.
Just like now.
"I heard you died."
How could she say something like that without any emotion?
Impressive skill.
Hadn't we spent four years together?
Didn't we even get engaged?
"I see. Fortunately, I'm fine now."
"Yeah, you seem okay."
The conversation cut off again.
This time too, we didn't look away.
We met each other's gaze,
and a long silence followed.
"What are you going to do from now on? Got any plans?"
Plans...
I did have plans.
Something I'd pondered over the past few days.
And there was something I needed to ask her.
I told the maid to leave.
Of course, Marie, Alensia's personal maid, stayed.
"Why send the maid out? What are you going to talk about?"
"Actually..."
I explained my farming plans.
Of course, I embellished it.
I couldn't mention the system or skills.
"So, you're saying you really came back to life, and when you died, you met the Goddess of Earth? And thanks to that, you can farm now?"
"Yes."
Alensia rose from her chair.
"Your wild imaginations haven't changed. I'm disappointed."
Wild imaginations.
During our time together, I'd suggested a few ideas.
She dismissed them as fanciful.
Back then, and now.
Of course, I could see why.
Even in this world with gods, dying suddenly, meeting a goddess, and suddenly being able to farm? Yeah, it doesn't make sense. My lie fell apart logically.
Even so.
A spark of defiance ignited in me.
Seems like dying really changed my personality.
"Disappointed? Were you expecting something from me?"
No expectations, no disappointment.
How could she use the word "disappointed" when she had no hopes for me at all?
"..."
Alensia looked at me silently.
"You've changed."
With those words, she opened the reception room door.
I bowed toward her retreating figure.
"Take care on your way. I won't see you off."
"Do whatever you want."
I stood by the reception room window.
I could see Alensia boarding her carriage.
The coachman cracked his whip.
The carriage departed.
It gradually receded, disappearing into the forest.
"Hoo..."
I let out a deep sigh,
shaking off the tickling feeling in my chest.
Alensia had already abandoned me.
She must have sorted it out long ago.
I couldn't cling to the past.
I had to let go of lingering attachments and move forward.
"I have people to ask too. I'm not a guy who hangs on you alone anymore."
Two people who could help with farming were crossed off.
Brilda was gone,
and now Alensia too.
.
.
A few days later,
I left South Castle.
And headed south.
Toward the southern coastal region of Frontier Viscounty.
To River Village.
River Village.
A place belonging to Frontier Viscounty.
South is the sea.
West is monster territory.
East is Vampire Duke territory.
And Grandfather lives there.
'First time meeting him.'
I only knew of his existence.
I'd never actually visited.
I'd been too busy, in my own way.
Early on in this world, grasping the situation.
And the last four years, staying with the Vampire Duke Family.
As I exited the forest, the sea came into view.
The village formed in the middle of the forest,
and the river passing west of the village.
I arrived at the entrance to River Village.
And there was a welcoming party.
I recognized Grandfather at a glance.
He had black hair like me, like Mother.
"Welcome. My grandson."
"It's been a long time. Grandfather."
Like with Brilda, I knelt on one knee in greeting.
At that moment,
Grab.
Grandfather hugged me.
I relaxed and leaned into his embrace.
On the southern coast of Frontier territory.
There, I met someone who was truly on my side.
After greeting the welcoming group,
we moved to the village hall.
Grandfather was the mayor of River City.
River included not just current East River,
but the area west of the river as one city.
When Frontier territory weakened, the west side was taken by monsters.
"So, there's a reason you came here?"
"Yes, because..."
Like with Alensia.
I told Grandfather too.
I died fighting a Black Orc,
met the Goddess of Earth upon death,
and gained the ability to remove Demonic Energy from the island.
So, I want to farm, I said.
The core was the same as what I told Alensia, but this time I refined it to sound more plausible.
After I finished speaking,
Grandfather burst into loud laughter.
"Kuhahaha! Hahaha!!!"
Why was he laughing?
There was nothing funny in what I said.
"Hahaha!!! I knew it. The grandson who inherited Campbell's blood wouldn't pretend to be dead. Exactly. Yesss!!!"
Grandfather was an outstanding hunter.
Everyone from Monster Island is a hunter.
The main income here is from monster byproducts, and to get them, you hunt monsters.
Grandfather wasn't just an outstanding hunter.
He gathered people and formed professional hunting teams.
He caught many monsters and earned a lot of money.
With that money, he built an arrow shaft workshop in River.
Jobs attracted people naturally.
Grandfather's contributions were great to River growing to city level.
"Everyone hear that! Don't ever call my grandson a coward again! If I see anyone like that, I'll snap their necks!!"
Grandfather mimed choking someone.
It didn't look like a joke.
His arm muscles were bulging fiercely.
"Oh dear. Sir Campbell, who dared insult the Heir?"
"Indeed. There are no such people in River."
After the small commotion,
Grandfather spoke again.
"You want to farm?"
"Yes, Grandfather."
"Brilda refused, I suppose."
"...Yes."
"Figures. That woman can't stand seeing you succeed. She'd rather kill you?"
"..."
Grandfather stood from his seat again.
He flexed his upper body muscles.
"As long as I'm alive, no way. You want to farm? Don't worry. I'll help you."
.
.
Grandfather sorted out his lifelong savings.
With that money, he bought land.
It was riverside land in River Village.
Unlike other land, all trees had been cut down.
I heard it was to monitor across the river.
"Grandfather, isn't it dangerous?"
"Hahaha!!"
Grandfather patted my back firmly.
His expression showed friendliness, but it hurt quite a bit.
"East River is safe. The river protects it, and besides..."
He pointed to the bridge connecting East River and West River.
There used to be more bridges, but only one was left, he said.
"Monsters cross the bridge. So we just need to guard the bridge."
"You left it on purpose for this?"
"Right. Hunters call it a Kill Zone trap."
Kill Zone.
A method to force monsters' movement paths and gather them in one place.
This way, even many monsters can be hunted easily.
It was like kiting in games.
"No monsters have crossed the river so far?"
"None. As you see, it's not a small river."
Listening to Grandfather, it didn't sound bad.
Quite good, actually.
With the river, we can get water.
Monster Island is full of dense trees, but here they're all cleared.
And safe from monsters thanks to the river and bridge.
"Perfect. Just right."
"But, how are you going to farm? The people here have no farming experience."
With land secured, another problem arose.
Lack of farmers.
My job is farmer, but only in name.
No farming skills, just Earth Restoration.
"We need to find people?"
"The best way is buying slaves... but we don't have that much money."
Grandfather had a lot of money,
but by commoner standards.
We'd already bought vast land,
and needed seeds too.
Not enough for slaves on top.
"How about hiring some?"
"Hiring?"
"Yes. There might not be here, but in Vampire Duke territory, there are people with farming experience. Hire them. Once farming succeeds, money won't be an issue after."
Grain prices on Monster Island are insanely high.
Not for other reasons.
All imported from the continent.
Consumed grain prices include transport and tolls from each territory.
Especially Callas Viscouty's 30% toll.
If we farm in River Village, those costs become profit.
Low transport, no tolls.
"Guess I need to go to Vampire Duke territory. You clear the land with the people."
"Take care, Grandfather."
Grandfather departed for Vampire Duke territory.
I stayed and focused on clearing the fields.
"Uncle, this must be tough?"
My uncle, Miller.
Mother's younger brother.
Uncle originally inherited the arrow shaft workshop.
But sold it when I arrived.
Now he was helping with farm work under the sun.
Not just Uncle.
His children, my cousins, were all pulling weeds and turning soil.
"Haha. Think the workshop was easy? It's all people's work."
He patted my back firmly.
Just like Grandfather.
Did Uncle have a bright personality because he took after Grandfather?
Then, what about Mother's personality, whom I never met?
I'd never missed Mother here.
She'd passed when I possessed this body.
But meeting Grandfather and Uncle made me miss her.
"What're you thinking so hard about? I told you it's fine. And farming on Monster Island is everyone's dream. Gotta show those Callas bastards!"
Uncle mimed choking a person.
Island folk hate Callas Viscount.
Because of his high tolls making islanders poor.
"Don't worry. I'll definitely succeed in farming."
"Of course! The nephew who met the Goddess of Earth!"
Smack! Smack!
Uncle slapped my back hard and returned to work.
I continued too.
Kneeling on the ground.
Clasping my hands.
I didn't need this pose for Earth Restoration.
But I did it.
Because of the lie I'd told.
Couldn't explain system or skills, so I blamed the Goddess of Earth.
I activated Earth Restoration in a praying pose.
From what I'd checked,
contamination in River Village is all 100%.
Probably the whole Monster Island.
Eroded by Demonic Energy for hundreds, no, thousands of years.
"Using it this much reduces it by 2%?"
I poured out all my mana,
recovered,
and repeated.
Thus, a day passed.
.
.
A day passed,
a week passed.
And a month flowed by.
'Why?'
Doubt and worry filled my head while praying.
'Grandfather should be back by now? Why hasn't he returned?'
I told Uncle out of worry.
He said not to worry.
Vampire Duke territory is safe from monsters.
Even if he met monsters, Grandfather would be fine.
But why hasn't he come? I asked again.
He didn't know.
Anyway, no need to worry.
It happened often before,
all unnecessary worries.
And another day passed.