Chapter 21: The Proposal for Test Prep to Gather Data Before Selling Fertilizer
* Famine. When food production can't even meet the bare minimum demand, people starve to death. This world had been trapped in chronic food shortages for 50 years. How the hell did they survive? Do people here have insanely efficient metabolisms or something? Anyway, the solution is simple. Just sprinkle some fertilizer. The Gallery is god, and I'm invincible.
But really, is it okay to just dump it everywhere willy-nilly? I couldn't be sure. The fertilizer's effects on crops are a given—history from my world proves it. It's the miracle one scientist gifted to humanity. But what if it affects other things too? Magic beasts, undead, or even the corruption spreading everywhere? Until I confirmed that, no matter what, recklessly scattering anything was absolutely off-limits.
"I'm thinking of selling something, but I don't have enough info."
"Info, you say... What item were you planning to sell?"
His Retired Imperial Majesty seemed intrigued by my words, stroking his chin and adjusting his posture. Sigh, just stay put on the bed already.
"Keep your body still for now. It's this thing."
Compound Fertilizer 10kg
20 Points (x1 purchased)
A sack of fertilizer appeared with a flash right in front of the three of them. If there wasn't corruption, I'd have dumped it already—I'd been dying of frustration holding back until now.
"Sprinkle this on fields, and crops grow like crazy. Seriously, amazingly well."
"...! Is that true?! Then this is..."
I quickly raised a hand to stop him as joy lit up his face. Cutting off imperial family mid-sentence? I had to try it.
"My deepest apologies for interrupting Your Majesty. But we don't know if this affects anything besides crops yet. That's why we need an experiment to secure that info."
Prep for the prep to make the prep. Before starting something big, caution upon caution is key.
"In that case... we should secure a site for the experiment first."
As expected, His Majesty was already sketching out the experiment in his mind.
"Exactly. But from the Gallery, it looks like harvest season right now. I don't have the manpower to do much on my own."
Greenhouse? I saw it in the bunker upgrade tab. Nearly installed it in a blind fervor for the test. But you can't bring corruption into the bunker. Sprinkling it in a corrupted area risks problems I can't handle. That's why the Empire. Biggest land, and the princess's post showed a greenhouse in the palace background. Most people on the continent too, so plenty of talent for the experiment. Plus, conveniently close to my bunker. And that judgment was spot-on.
"But the Empire has ample resources. Land corrupted by corruption where magic beasts appear, a greenhouse in the palace, and more than enough personnel to spare. Rain, you'd like us to handle the experiment, yes?"
"Yes. Without the corruption, I'd have sold it with baguettes right away..."
I trailed off with a wry smile. His Majesty burst into hearty laughter, clearly pleased.
"Hahaha! Excellent! Splendid! Indeed, indeed! Before any great endeavor, caution twice over. Don't worry about the experiment—I'll oversee it personally!"
Was this the same old man coughing blood yesterday? His voice boomed.
"Thank you, Retired Emperor. Since Your Majesty will oversee it, I can hand over the fertilizer right here. It's too soon to sell via the Gallery shop, so once the plan takes shape, tell me the quantities needed. I'll prepare as much as required."
"Thank you! Truly! A lifetime wasted on food woes, hope long abandoned—and today, thanks to you, I feel like we've found the key! Thank you...!"
That thrilled? Suddenly, His Majesty gripped my hand tight, voice choked with gratitude. Sadly, as a commoner who's never known famine, I could only offer a wry smile. Oh, and I should say this upfront.
"Rest until tomorrow. If you dash out in excitement, no fertilizer."
"Heh, tsk tsk. Just two days we've known each other, and you already read my mind."
Truly, an elder as unpredictable as my pups. I silently sent prayers to all loyal to the Empire.
* Land corrupted by corruption. Only priests could purify it. But even purified, it wouldn't yield enough food right away.
"Ha, fuck... Worked our asses off digging all year, and this is the harvest?"
"What can we do? Purified last year, planted right away... But beans this year, so next year should be better."
The soil's fertility depleted, turning it to wasteland.
"Beans this year, beans next, beans forever. But endless beans kill the land. How the hell do we revive it? This shit sucks..."
"At least baguettes keep us fed. Finish harvest first. For now..."
Farmers' grumbles amid the harvest. Reviving corrupted land needed special methods. Years of nonstop beans to improve it somewhat. Or divine power poured like water to remake the soil. Methods existed. But they ground priests' lives to dust. The Empire even banned that. Cause: the previous Saintess, one of the five pillars, died. For the people, she shortened her lifespan reviving soil. The masses cheered her feats. Then found her cold corpse. After reviving a mere handful of land.
The seat only for those with overwhelming divine power: Saintess. Her sudden death brought chaos. People shocked, beasts swarming unpurified lands without her. The Empire urged priests to only remove corruption, and the Church complied. Clearing more land beat reviving a handful.
Riding a plain carriage, current Saintess Elfriede overheard the farmers, hating this reality.
"Why, why don't I have enough divine power to restore soil fertility? Is my faith lacking? Goddess, please give me an answer..."
In her favored humble carriage for simplicity, the Saintess sulked tearfully again.
"Saintess, we've arrived at the holy city. Entering Church grounds soon—please prepare."
"...Yes. Got it. Thanks always, Jane."
"No need. It's my joy."
Jane, her guard, pre-notified to spare the crying Saintess.
Ding—dong—ding—
Bells announcing the Saintess's return. All hearing bowed toward the Church, honoring one of the five pillars upholding the world. No one wanted her sacrificing for fertility. Purification alone was gratitude enough.
"We've arrived. Mind your step."
"Thanks, Jane."
Hand in hand off the carriage, the Pope and cardinals greeted her.
"May the Goddess's blessing be with you. Well done, Saintess."
"May the Goddess's blessing be with you. Have you been well, Your Holiness?"
Eyes red from held tears, she returned greetings. The Pope gave a bitter smile.
"This pilgrimage was tough, it seems. You worked hard, Saintess."
Was burdening this child, young as a granddaughter, too much? He grieved his own powerlessness inwardly. But today, gathered not just routinely—the Pope, knowing her tears best, cut to the chase.
"That said, Saintess? You must prepare and head to the imperial capital at once."
"...Pardon? Another corrupted site? I don't mind leaving right away, but..."
Imagining corruption-flooded land, desperate folk losing homes, she pouted again.
"No, Saintess. Good news, shared urgently—please calm yourself."
She tilted her head at the Pope's words. Pilgrimages for purification were her only departures from the holy city.
"Heh heh. You'll be pleased too, Saintess. Care to see the standout post in the Gallery's featured section?"
"The Gallery featured posts? Understood, Your Holiness."
Good news she'd like too—what could it be? Following his lead into the Gallery, the Saintess's eyes widened, shedding joyful tears for the first time in her life. Endlessly.