Farming Is Always Enjoyable
Farming was always enjoyable.
“You need a lot of iron, then?”
“Yes.”
“What do you plan to use it for…… Ah, never mind. I asked a pointless question. Looking at the territory right now, it’s obvious you need it.”
Iron had countless uses. Especially in Legrian Territory, which bordered Monster Land, iron was an indispensable resource. Swords and armor required enormous quantities of it.
“Can you obtain it?”
“Getting it isn’t that difficult. But it will take some time.”
“How long?”
“It’ll take more than two months.”
At those words, Albert tilted his head in confusion.
“Two whole months?”
“Yes. To meet the quantity you requested, that much time is necessary.”
This is taking far too long.
In the other world, this quantity could be delivered the same day.
The difference between worlds was stark. The amount of iron Albert had requested could have been ordered at 11 a.m. in the other world and delivered the same day. If payment arrived before 2 p.m., it would reach his doorstep the very next day. The phrase “delivery nation” wasn’t empty praise—Korea’s pride lay in its swift, precise deliveries.
“This is taking far too long.”
“There’s nothing we can do. Mintria Territory and Nokcharia Territory have entered a territorial war, so they’re hoarding all the iron.”
“……”
The territory names were peculiar. The fact that places with such names were fighting a territorial war gave off an odd feeling.
“Iron supply has been difficult lately. Even with my connections, gathering it will take time.”
“Hmm……”
Two months. That was certainly a long time. He wanted to recruit guards to protect the territory, but without iron, he couldn’t forge swords or armor. Other territories might get by with makeshift solutions, but given Legrian Territory’s location, proper equipment was essential.
Why not just have Albert do the grunt work himself?
Honestly, you don’t even need guards.
With Albert’s power, he could guard the place alone.
‘I don’t want that.’
Albert grimaced at the System’s suggestion. It was true—if he used his skills, he could protect the territory by himself. The condition for an impregnable fortress was simply Albert being present. But……
‘It’s a hassle.’
He was tired of it. He had already run around enough in the other world. Did he really have to do the same here? He was stepping up now because it was necessary, but eventually he planned to hand everything over to others and rest.
‘I retired. I should at least get ten years of rest, right?’
We’re short on manpower, so there’s no choice.
‘We still need guards.’
Why?
Is this for show?
The System was sharp as always. It had instantly grasped Albert’s intent.
‘Exactly. We’re nobles. Think of us as politicians. We have no choice but to care about how others see us.’
If other nobles learned that a noble-ruled territory had no guard force, the rumors would spread instantly. People would say the lord lacked the ability to even form a proper guard. A lord who couldn’t earn his guards’ loyalty. Some would even question his qualifications as a ruler.
That wasn’t all. Guards were necessary for the territory’s residents as well.
‘No matter how strong I am, I’m still a noble. I can’t expect every single matter in the territory to be reported directly to me.’
A guard force was essential for maintaining public order. No matter how approachable Albert was, he was still a noble, and commoners would find it difficult to speak freely with him. An ordinary employee couldn’t just complain to the company president about their workload. That was why an intermediary they could comfortably approach was necessary. That intermediary was the guard force.
‘If the guards are made up of commoners, people will speak more freely. And the mere existence of a guard force creates a deterrent effect.’
I see.
To create such a guard force, iron was required. Appearances mattered.
“Is there no other way?”
“Another way……”
Richel stroked her chin, deep in thought. If they wanted a large quantity of iron right now, paying a premium was one option, but……
‘No, that’s far too inefficient.’
It wasn’t efficient. Once they started paying premiums, there was no telling what side effects might arise. More importantly……
‘If I start buying iron at a premium, everyone will assume I’m up to something and start interfering.’
Was there no other method? As she pondered, one idea surfaced in Richel’s mind.
“There is…… a way. Not that there isn’t one.”
“There is a way?”
“There is.”
Richel turned her gaze toward Monster Land in the distance.
“Iron Ants.”
“Iron Ants? What are those?”
“A special species of ant that lives only deep within Monster Land.”
“What does an ant have to do with iron?”
“The Iron Ant’s shell is made of iron.”
“An ant’s shell is made of iron?”
It seems similar to the Steel Ants.
Steel Ants. A type of monster Albert had encountered in gates in the other world. Though they resembled ants, they were vicious A-rank monsters. They couldn’t be underestimated just because they were ants. Hundreds of hunters had fallen victim to their monstrous grip strength, which could even slice through steel. They moved in large numbers, had solid organization, and never traveled alone—always in groups of dozens. But their numbers, grip strength, and organization weren’t the biggest problems.
‘Their shells are the real issue.’
Steel Ant shells are composed of steel, so ordinary attacks don’t work on them.
The first time I fought them, they gave me quite a bit of trouble because of that.
“If we obtain Iron Ant shells, the iron problem will be solved immediately.”
“You seem well-informed about Iron Ants.”
“Ah, well…… I looked into it just in case. The iron extracted from Iron Ant shells has exceptionally high purity.”
She offered an awkward smile. The Flower Merchant Group had no flagship product yet. Richel had first set her sights on Iron Ant shells. Even at the same weight, iron from Iron Ants could be sold for twice the price. Demand was high, and equipment made from Iron Ant iron fetched high prices at auction houses. The commercial potential was clear. If they made it their main product, the Flower Merchant Group could rise to a level other merchant groups couldn’t ignore.
But……
“To make it our flagship product, we need a steady supply. I found their habitat, but……”
“You couldn’t hunt the monsters.”
“Yes. Iron Ants are swarm monsters that move in groups. Even if I hired mercenaries, reaching that far would be dangerous……”
“So you had no choice but to give up.”
“Sniff…… When I think about the money I spent gathering information and hiring mercenaries……”
Tears welled in Richel’s eyes. As a merchant, she had gained nothing and only suffered losses. The pain must have been heartbreaking.
“Oh…… So there are Steel Ants in Monster Land as well.”
That was news to him.
“Are there many?”
“There are plenty. They live in a dungeon-like burrow. There were at least several hundred…… maybe even thousands.”
“That’s perfect.”
“Huh? Don’t tell me…… you’re planning to go there?”
“Is there any reason not to?”
“You can’t! It’s far too dangerous! I only mentioned it because I thought you should know such a method exists. Monster Land is truly dangerous!”
Richel was horrified and tried to stop him. She had experienced just how dangerous Monster Land was when she followed mercenaries inside. Endless hordes of monsters swarming from every direction. Moreover, the monsters in Monster Land were twice as strong as those elsewhere. Deeper in, there were monsters three or four times stronger.
Iron Ants inhabited an area slightly below the middle of Monster Land.
“The mercenary company I went with back then was an A-rank group. Two hundred mercenaries—renowned even among the guilds. Even they gave up on that location.”
“Ah, it’s fine.”
“Really! I’m telling you it’s dangerous!”
Seeing Albert answer so calmly, Richel felt her heart burn with worry. She regretted bringing it up.
“I know you’re strong—I saw you kill that orc. But Monster Land isn’t just orcs. There are beings inside far more powerful than orcs!”
Albert understood that Richel was speaking out of concern. She knew nothing about him. He had never told her. He had no intention of explaining himself or the other world to her either. Still, for the sake of smooth business dealings, he needed to show her something—his strength. That the monsters of Monster Land posed no threat to him.
‘I can’t resist iron farming.’
That Monster Land was nothing more than a farming ground to him.
* * *
Iron Ants were a formidable presence even within Monster Land. Their sturdy shells mixed with steel granted them absolute defense that could shrug off most attacks. Their grip strength, capable of casually chewing through steel, possessed enough offensive power to tear apart even an ogre’s sturdy arms. A monster that combined offense and defense—that was the Iron Ant.
Though their size was only about that of a child’s head, making them seem small, the real problem was their numbers. Even one was terrifying, but since they lived in colonies, if you found one, you could assume at least dozens were nearby. Because of this, even the vicious monsters of Monster Land avoided Iron Ant habitats. Even an ogre, if unlucky enough to encounter Iron Ants, could have its flesh and bones stripped clean on the spot. As such a dangerous existence, Iron Ants reigned supreme in Monster Land.
‘We are strong.’
‘Hungry.’
‘Food for the Queen……’
‘Hunt……’
‘We are the strongest.’
The Iron Ants had emerged to find food. As these threatening creatures appeared, nearby monsters scattered in all directions. The Iron Ants knew how fearsome they were.
‘We are the strongest.’
‘Other monsters flee at the sight of us.’
‘Top-tier predators.’
‘Hungry.’
‘No one can stand against us.’
‘Let’s find food.’
The Iron Ants searched their surroundings for prey. Then one Iron Ant’s antennae twitched. It seemed to have found something.
‘Humans detected.’
‘Humans!’
‘Human meat is delicious.’
‘The Queen likes it too.’
Human meat was one of the rare delicacies in Monster Land. Especially favored by the Queen. Obtaining such meat felt like a stroke of luck.
‘Hunt them.’
‘We are strong.’
‘Humans are no match for us.’
‘They’re just prey.’
To them, both monsters and humans were nothing more than prey.
‘Hunt them before they flee.’
The Iron Ants had to chase down their prey before it could escape. Once prey noticed them, it would flee immediately, so they had to act fast.
‘Let’s go.’
The Iron Ants moved quickly. Then the antennae of the lead Iron Ant twitched again.
‘Something’s strange.’
‘What’s strange?’
‘That prey……’
The Iron Ant spoke as if it couldn’t believe what it was sensing.
‘It’s coming this way.’
That was impossible. Normally, prey that noticed them would flee without looking back. Every single time, without exception. Yet this one was coming toward them?
Rustle.
“Oh! There they are. Whoa, this is a goldmine!”
At that moment, the prey pushed through the bushes and revealed itself. Usually, prey that spotted them would be filled with terror or despair. But this prey, despite being human, was different. Its sparkling eyes showed no trace of despair or fear.
‘That human……’
“I came to farm some steel, you bastards!!!”
‘It came to hunt us……’
‘It’s a hunter!’
That day, the Iron Ants realized something. Before that wicked human, they were nothing more than prey meant to surrender their steel shells.
“Antennae are expensive too!”
“Hand over the antennae too!!”
Even the antennae.