Chapter 6
Chapter 6
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: Farming
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Grandfather returned only after another week had passed.
"Grandfather!!!"
A path cut through the forest.
Over a hundred people were approaching along it.
The procession arrived at the village entrance,
and I called out to Grandfather once more.
"Ho ho ho! Did I keep you waiting long?"
"Why were you so late? I was worried."
Grandfather pointed to the people at the rear.
My gaze followed his.
Tattered clothes.
Gloomy expressions.
They hardly looked like proper laborers.
"They're slaves."
"Slaves? But we don't have the money..."
I had considered buying slaves to farm with.
But it was a plan scrapped due to lack of funds.
So how...?
"Alensia helped out."
"Lady Alensia!?"
"Ho ho! Is that how you address your fiancée? Call her by name."
"Did Lady Alensia really help us?"
Grandfather crossed his arms and put on a stern face.
He clearly didn't like the formal title.
"Uh... Alensia... helped us?"
"Hahaha! Music to my ears. Yes, that's right. I stopped by to see our lovely Alensia while I was in the Vampire Duke's territory after so long. And so..."
Grandfather explained everything.
From the conversation he'd had with Alensia,
to how she'd provided a large sum of money,
and how he'd gone all the way to the continent to buy slaves with it.
'Alensia?'
I recalled Alensia's cold demeanor.
The emotionless voice she'd used to discuss breaking off the engagement.
The icy refusal when I'd begged for help with the farming.
'So why help now? Or rather...'
"Grandfather, did you happen to hear anything else?"
"What do you mean?"
"About the enga—"
The words "break off the engagement" wouldn't come out easily while Grandfather looked so pleased.
"Are you embarrassed that your beloved had to help you out?"
"Pardon?"
"No need for that. You're going to marry her anyway. She's helping you now, but someday you'll be the one helping her. So don't feel burdened."
Pang!Pang!
Grandfather slapped my back.
The hard hits snapped me back to reality.
Whatever the reason, Alensia had helped,
and thanks to her, we'd saved a whole year.
'Good is good. Like Grandfather said, I can repay her later.'
These were tough times now,
but once the farming succeeded, we'd have some breathing room.
I could repay her then.
"Grandfather! Gather everyone in the village hall! Time to start farming in earnest!"
River Village. Village hall.
The hall was packed.
Not just Grandfather and Uncle,
but most of the adults in River Village had gathered.
Even a few of the slaves had joined.
I sat in a chair, observing the crowd.
Especially focusing on the relationship between the River villagers and the slaves.
'That's unexpected.'
The River villagers weren't treating the slaves any differently.
They were going beyond that, treating them like guests.
"Surprised?"
"Huh?"
"By how we treat the slaves?"
"Ah... a little."
Grandfather ruffled my hair.
"Once they're in River Village, slave or not makes no difference. They're just comrades who'll protect each other."
I vaguely understood the reason.
The Monster Island we lived on was a frontier region.
The heart of humanity lay on the continent, while Monster Island was an island off the northwest coast.
River Village was on the very edge even within Monster Island.
It bordered monster territory directly—the front lines.
'With a massive enemy out there, everyone else is a friend, huh?'
In the face of monsters, humanity's common foe,
there was no room for internal divisions.
Especially not for the people of River Village.
When monsters attacked,
what mattered was having people to protect your family together.
It didn't matter if they were commoners or slaves.
'One worry less.'
"Alright, everyone, quiet down! Quiet!"
Thud.Thud.
Grandfather quieted the room.
Then he called one man to his feet.
"This man will oversee the farming from now on. Introduce yourself."
A middle-aged man stood.
Or rather, somewhere between middle-aged and elderly.
"Greetings. I'm Isaac, a farmer from the continent."
Clap. Clap. Clap. Clap.
The crowd applauded enthusiastically.
Isaac looked flustered by it.
"Ho ho! Calm down now! Go on, tell them what we discussed."
Isaac bowed to Grandfather and spoke again.
"Typically, farming is divided into three fields."
Isaac introduced the empire's farming method.
The fields were split into spring field, fall field, and fallow field.
The spring field for spring crops,
fall field for autumn crops,
and the fallow field left to rest.
"This is to restore soil fertility and prevent pests and diseases."
"Pests and diseases?"
Isaac looked troubled at Grandfather's question.
"I don't know the details myself. But the crops stay healthy if the fields rest long enough before replanting."
Isaac glanced around cautiously before continuing.
"There are other benefits too. It allows more efficient use of labor."
"That makes sense."
No further questions this time.
It was common sense.
With different planting seasons, a small workforce could manage two fields.
After the long explanation,
Grandfather turned to me.
"What do you think? Shall we go with this?"
I pondered while listening to Isaac.
I'd never farmed myself,
but I'd experienced it indirectly.
Through games.
Games set in medieval times.
They featured the "three-field system."
Just like what Isaac described.
And with technological advances, the "Norfolk Four-Course Rotation" unlocked.
In short, the Norfolk system was an evolution of the three-field method.
Should we start with the three-field,
or jump straight to Norfolk Four-Course?
I decided on Norfolk.
Its advantages were too clear.
I organized my thoughts and stood.
"I'd like to divide the fields into four."
I introduced the Norfolk Four-Course Rotation.
Unlike the three-field system, it used four fields.
A Field: Barley (spring to autumn)
B Field: Clover, ryegrass
C Field: Wheat (autumn to summer)
D Field: Turnips
No fallow field, unlike the three-field.
Instead, two fields grew fodder crops for livestock.
Legumes like clover restored soil fertility,
and livestock manure helped too.
It was revolutionary, eliminating fallow periods.
Especially since it allowed raising more livestock—a huge plus.
'And later on...'
I halted my thoughts.
One step further, there was another massive benefit.
But that was for the future, so I wrapped up.
This much was enough to convince them.
Grandfather nodded vigorously.
Then he turned to Isaac.
"Isaac, what do you think? Worth trying my grandson's idea?"
"I don't know the details, but... livestock manure definitely restores soil."
"Good! Then we'll do as my grandson says!"
.
.
We divided the land into four sections.
And concentrated our manpower on one section.
The one for barley.
We had to plant barley quickly to harvest in autumn.
I was busy too.
On my knees in the soil, I used Earth Restoration.
To purge the demonic energy before sowing seeds.
Frontier Viscounty.
South Castle.
Frontier Viscount's mansion, third floor.
Today too, Brilda handled internal affairs in the Lord's stead.
The Frontier Viscount was too busy fending off monsters.
"Handle this one like so. Put that on hold..."
While poring over papers,
a maid entered.
She pulled a sheet from her bosom and placed it on the desk.
It contained information on Elwin.
Arrival in River Village.
Contact with Grandfather Campbell.
Campbell liquidating assets.
Purchasing land and slaves.
Brilda's expression grew grave as she read on.
Buying land and slaves?
It didn't bode well.
Where does power come from?
Opinions vary.
But one common thread: land and people.
'What is he planning?'
Brilda's eyes quickly scanned the paper.
At the bottom, she burst into laughter.
"Ha! Farming? Gonna farm on Monster Island?"
He'd talked about a smithy before.
Now it was farming.
"What's he really after?"
Farming had to be a smokescreen.
Something else lurked behind it.
"Smithy or farm, it's all about building his own faction. But farming? Tsk tsk."
A smithy would have made more sense.
Monster Island saw battles every day.
Weapons were always in demand.
But farming instead?
"No, this is off. Just building a faction through farming? When failure's obvious?"
Even the legendary first Vampire Duke couldn't do it.
Elwin couldn't possibly.
Her deliberations led to one conclusion.
"He's gone mad."
Elwin had died twice.
The thought made Brilda bite her lip.
'He definitely died.'
Six years ago.
Elwin died.
She'd confirmed it herself.
Yet he came back.
And his personality changed.
This time too.
Elwin died to a Black Orc.
Sir Wilson confirmed it. She did too.
Yet he returned.
Personality changed again.
She recalled the meeting.
Elwin directly contradicting her.
Pressuring Sir Wilson.
Not the mild Elwin she knew.
"Personality flipping back and forth... he's finally snapped."
She picked up the paper with Elwin's info.
Held it over a candle.
Flames started at the end, consuming the whole sheet.
"This isn't so bad."
If Elwin died, rumors would fly.
She and her son, the biggest beneficiaries, would take the heat.
Better if the heir went mad
and got booted from his position.
"Can't wait till the barley's grown. Wonder how he'll handle demonic-tainted grain."