Chapter 146
Chapter 146
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 146
Chapter Title: 15. Adding Insult to Injury? (7)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
People often think that farming starts with the warm spring.
But farming actually begins in winter.
Barley and wheat are sown just before winter, so to perform the barley trampling and wheat trampling, folks usually have to get busy starting in February—in this village, early March.
Anyone who's ever driven iron stakes into the ground during winter in the army knows this, but winter soil is rock-hard.
Because of that, the barley and wheat can't properly root. If you leave it like that, come spring when they need to grow, they won't get the nutrients they need.
Then the harvest is a total disaster!
To make a living, you have to diligently trample the barley and wheat during this time.
Of course, it also helps with pruning and promotes sturdy growth, so there are plenty of benefits. It's essential.
"Yap!"
Way over there, my daughter was energetically trampling barley and wheat, her cute pink hair hidden under a fur hat.
Her light weight meant she had to jump around diligently to do it, and the sight was pure adorableness.
But I could only watch her from afar.
"Daddy~ Come with me!"
"Ellis is too slow."
Even as she pouted from over twenty meters away, I just calmly trampled the barley and wheat and pressed onward.
Farming isn't even that busy.
No, compared to time spent enjoying it with my daughter, farming is utterly trivial.
I have enough wealth to buy barley and wheat for life without ever growing it myself!
But the reason I work so hard is something else entirely.
"Daddy! Stepmom!"
During a brief break, it was because my daughter was looking for her so-called stepmom again.
"No, like I told you, Ellis. Daddy doesn't need a stepmom."
I'd long passed the age for marriage.
Sure, I wasn't a total celibate, but once I joined the Evil Organization, I'd given up on marriage ages ago.
I'd never seen anyone in the Evil Organization who married and lived happily.
Most ended up with their family taken hostage in some incident, leading to a pathetic demise, or discovering their spouse was a spy, getting backstabbed and brutally killed together.
So that's why I'm single. All because of my long years in the organization.
That's the truth!
Really!
"Daddy, to farm properly, you need plenty of labor. But our house only has you and two girls? At this rate, when you get older, it'll be hard for us to support you! You wouldn't want that, right?"
Even in the brief moment I was thinking, she didn't let up on her marriage assault.
"Having a son solves everything, so Daddy! Little brother! Just have three little brothers and get rich!"
Sweetie. Daddy's richer than you can imagine.
I'm rich now, I'd still be rich if I spent every penny just by digging up my hidden funds under another identity, and if I could access the money I can't touch because of the Empire, I'd be rich beyond dreams.
Ten years in the Evil Organization guarantees better income than a minor noble's estate.
"Is that so?"
But I can't say that honestly.
If she asks where I got the money, I'm in trouble, and besides, getting called rich while half-assing the farm would ruin my cover with the villagers.
Rich and not working? In this remote mountain village?
Anyone would see me as suspicious.
So I have to hide that I'm rich.
I have to hide it...
"So you're in favor too, Daddy? Don't worry about me. Sis probably agrees, right? Even if you start fresh now, we won't mind!"
She clung to me, spouting nonsense, and I wanted to say something.
Oh, and daughter?
Starting fresh for someone who's never started in the first place?
Isn't that a bit much?
"Sis says among the people you like, there are some seriously amazing ones. What do you think?"
"Yeah, that's not it."
I pressed down firmly on my beaming daughter's head.
A bit of dirt got on her fur hat, but she didn't care and clung even closer.
"Why~?"
"Because I'm plenty happy just with our Ellis."
"Ugh... Th-that makes me happy, but still..."
I wanted to keep watching her adorable flustered blush, but miss this timing and she'd latch on again for sure.
Timing is everything for villains and farmers alike!
As a former villain and current farmer, I wouldn't miss it.
"Alright, break's over!"
"Ehh! D-Daddy ran off again!"
My daughter snapped out of her bliss too late, and could only stamp her feet.
"Eek! Just you wait, Daddy!"
"Hey, we gotta hit the smithy after this too? Gotta wrap it up quick!"
She chased after me as I laughed and trampled more barley and wheat, but no matter what, she couldn't match an adult's pace.
"Daddy, slow down!"
"Hahaha! You wanna be a farmer at that speed? You've got a long way to go, sweetie!"
"Eek!"
By lightly shaking off my frustrated daughter, I dodged her nagging once more today.
#7 Their Circumstances: An Old Man's Circumstances.
This is troubling. Very troubling.
"Kaha~! One more!"
"Kaha~! One more for me too!"
The two girls who'd drained their mugs refreshingly held them out to me.
Of course, they were just beer mugs—the contents were only fruit blended with a bit of honey.
But that didn't make it any less troubling.
"Grandpa doesn't think Daddy's being too much?"
"Well, the women he likes probably think the same."
Having refilled their mugs with fresh drinks, the neighbor kids lamented their plight.
The one they called Daddy, Melrn, had gone to the smithy to check this year's farming tools.
So I guess I was the only one around to hear their woes.
"Grandpa, it's not weird for a dad Daddy's age to remarry, right?"
The neighbor's Ellis pouted cutely with her lips, but she looked no different from someone drunk.
'Did I mistake fruit wine for fruit juice?'
For a second, I wondered and sipped some—it was just plain fruit juice.
"Urgh... Yeah. If he just gave up and lived with a woman who likes him, life would be easier."
"Right? It'd even make farming better!"
"Well, the problem is none of the women he likes are the farming type..."
"Farming? Why?"
"Because they all have plenty of people to handle it for them."
With no kid-friendly snacks, I gave them my jerky meant for drinks, and as they munched it with their juice, sighs poured out.
"Haa... So all the stepmom candidates look down on farming?"
"Hmm... Well, they wouldn't outright oppose if he proposed."
"Phew, that's a relief."
Chewing jerky, swigging juice, then going "Kya~!"—it was so bizarrely adult.
That's why they say to watch your behavior around kids.
"Grandpa, wanna join us?"
She offered her mug with a grin, making me ashamed of my past self.
"No, I'm good."
"It's tasty, though."
Her sipping from the mug should've looked awkward, but it matched my usual self and Melrn's so perfectly.
No choice with only beer mugs at home...
The moment these kids leave, I'll buy normal cups in the village.
"Grandpa, how can we get Daddy to find a stepmom?"
Lost in silly thoughts, Ellis blindsided me with a question.
"Hmm... Well..."
My life was one where I abandoned even family for the sword.
In other words, "wife" was never in my vocabulary.
And now they want remarriage advice.
For a second marriage, no less.
From me, who's never married once!
"Hmm... Mutual feelings are key, I think..."
Marriage binds two people's fates.
Nobles do political marriages as a matter of course, but they often end badly.
Since it's for life, love is essential.
That's my view, but...
Bang!
"Grandpa, that's way too naive!"
"I-Is it?"
I got shot down hard by a girl just past ten.
"Feelings matter! Without love, the family falls apart over time!"
"R-Right..."
"But that's not all a family needs! There are tons more factors! How much living expenses you can get yearly! If farming, taxes to the lord, how much to survive on! And reserves for bad harvests!"
"R-Right..."
"'Right'? Grandpa, you're taking marriage too lightly! Plus kids—how many, how to raise them. Inheritance after death! All of it!"
"Sorry. I guess I underestimated marriage..."
Even as I apologized, Ellis's lecture raged on.
The more I heard, the more I praised my past self for not marrying naively—her critique was that sharp.
"Got it? Marriage is a huge deal!"
"Loud and clear."
Thoroughly scolded and deflated, Ar—Ellis's sister—handed me a mug.
"Here, old timer."
"Thanks."
Bitter. It's sweet fruit juice—why so bitter?
I chewed the jerky Ar passed, the spice of life's bitterness robbing the juice of its sweetness.
Bitter. The world's bitterness is too much.
"Grandpa's no help either..."
"Sorry."
Seeing Ellis's downcast face, an apology slipped out.
I had no clue what for!
"We gotta marry Daddy off quick for everyone to be happy."
"Means something else from little sis, but I agree hard. Shortcut to world peace."
We vented, clinked mugs.
Gulped the drinks heartily, went "Kya~!" in unison.
"One more!"
"One more, please!"
Out came the mugs again.
"Go ahead, drink up."
Refilling them naturally, the talk resumed.
Same plan: get Melrn remarried.
Since my earlier answer sucked, Ellis ignored me and drove it forward—I just played barkeep, pouring juice.
"Kuh... I'm definitely getting Daddy remarried!"
"But what if stepmom steals him?"
"Ugh... That's bad, but... I can handle it! Sis'll help, right?"
"Hmm? Depending on how well little sis does?"
"Here, a humble token—take it, Sis."
"Ahem. I'm not usually one to take bribes, but..."
"Put plenty in."
"Whoa, little sis... Well, alright..."
Watching Ellis slip jerky into Ar's pocket, Ar feigning refusal before pocketing it—I was speechless.
"Ellis, Ar? What on earth is this? This old man can't understand—care to explain?"
"This? Our usual game: Briber and Natural Receiver!"
Her brazen admission made me think of all the tales I'd tell Melrn when he got back.
"Eheh, no helping it."
Ar, now with jerky tucked away, got sparkling eyes from Ellis.
"You'll handle it great, right, Sis?"
"Ahem, trust me! Even if stepmom shows, big sis has it covered!"
"Sis is the best!"
Come on already. Melrn.
I seriously needed to chew him out, or I'd die of frustration before my time.
"Alright, to Daddy's remarriage!"
"Cheers!"
Clack!
As wooden mugs clinked, I could only sigh watching the cute kids down more juice.
Melrn... Hurry back!
Please!