Chapter 45: Dwarves
“My lord jests well. How could we harvest crops in just a week?”
“Does it sound like a joke?”
“Of course. No grain in this world grows that fast.”
“Not a week—four days would do it.”
“……”
Speaking in dead earnest, I watched old man Kane stare at me with a look that screamed, what kind of lunatic is this? Any normal human would react the same. Even sprouting takes a week after sowing, so claiming a harvest in four days? I'd sound stark raving mad.
Of course, words alone wouldn't sell it. After repaying that million-gold loan, we'd be broke again until the war spoils rolled in. So the first crop had to be sold off entirely. Then replant to feed the giants.
I gathered thousands of territory folk, paid them wages, and had them sow the divine wheat seeds. Time to check the buffs.
Wave of Abundance perk activated.
Territory grain production +50%.
Farmland regeneration perk activated.
Soil fertility in subordinate territories +50%.
Grain production +20%.
Divine wheat seeds, personally refined by the goddess of abundance Demeter. They promise bountiful yields even in harsh conditions, with growth speed double that of normal wheat. The divine growth agent ensures any seed matures fully within a week for harvest. Applies to all land within 10㎦.
The well-tended fields were sown with the divine wheat seeds. Not every seed sprouts, but these promised abundance from a single grain. So we spaced them out wide, one by one, and showered the sown areas with healing rain.
Plop-plop-plop!
Whoosh!
Rumors spread that the healing rain cured muscle aches, drawing crowds of territory folk to every spot it fell. Old man Kane gaped at the sight.
“What in the world is……”
“You lacked faith, old timer. Didn't hear I became leader of the Vivian Church?”
“N-not a word.”
“It's possible with Lady Vivian's and the gods' blessings.”
“Hohoho.”
Full buffs, alright. Less than an hour after sowing, sprouts poked up to ankle height. At this freakish sight, the farmers dropped to their knees and offered sacrifices to the goddess of abundance, Demeter. Pleased, she blessed the fields.
Grain growth speed +20%.
“Three days to full growth now?”
“……”
With the fields infused in holy power, even old man Kane couldn't deny it. He switched gears instantly.
“Hohoho! I've always believed you'd succeed, my lord. Knew deep down your faith ran strong. That pure heart must've moved the gods!”
Pure bullshit. Faith in me? I was just thrashing to survive, using the gods however I could to advance. I faked piety, sure, but actual belief? Fat chance. Listening to those drugged-out god chats would've killed any faith I had.
“Harvest in three days, sell immediately—best value. Where's Sharel?”
“Out on merchant business to nearby territories. Back in three days or so.”
“Perfect. She can handle sales. Oh, and old timer.”
“Yes?”
“Send an envoy to the dwarf tribe.”
“An envoy……?”
Kane furrowed his brow. Like in every novel, dwarves were involved somehow. Same in Knight of Herculean Strength. A dwarf tribe of about three thousand lived near the Forbidden Zone. The Empire had begged them repeatedly, always rejected. They traded dwarf-made goods sporadically to scrape by. They only dealt when they needed something. Show up uninvited? Door in your face. Hence Kane's frown.
“They won't sell goods.”
“Who said buy? Invite them. Say I have words.”
“Hm…… kill them?”
“How do you jump to murdering guests?”
“From your actions so far, my lord—easy to predict.”
“Fine, say I kill 'em. One tribe enough?”
“Then……?”
“Time to drag in that arrogant tribe.”
“Hohoho! You have a plan, my lord?”
“Obviously.”
“I'll send someone at once.”
Next morning. Last night, Aria nearly stormed my bedroom—averted disaster, barely. Not a saint; even I have limits. Woman troubles brewing, no doubt.
Entering the territory, I'd deactivated the synergy blessing Fantastic Charm. No need for maids with glazed eyes trailing me. Still, most women lost their wits—probably Savitri's blessing at work.
Anyway. At dawn, I climbed the walls.
“Hail!”
“At ease.”
Soldiers stood watch, knights patrolled—security tight. Now a count, commanding three knight orders. Good thing I'd pre-selected candidates.
From the walls, the territory sprawled. Progress plain as day. Main castle had smooth roads and rails, even steam locomotives running. Massive leap.
“Eh, more than that.”
The gods were getting bored. Wheat shot up to knee height at insane speed, but build-up bored them. No helping it—territory growth essential. Plus, new lands after dwarves. Busy days ahead, gods pleased or not.
Watching sunrise, Kane yawned his way up.
“Hoho, my lord's gotten diligent.”
“Me?”
“Old days, sun high noon before you'd stir.”
“Ah, back then.”
Past memories? Sigh. Dropped into the novel world, figured I'd slack off easy. Now? Hustling nonstop. No choice—sloth could kill me. Gods quiet only 'cause I schemed nonstop. Hope crushing dwarves gets 'em riled.
Thud-thud-thud!
“Courier!”
“Expected by morning.”
The messenger escorting the letter to the dwarves galloped back. Sent a knight squad just in case—back already? As planned.
Second Knight Order Captain Rocks saluted.
“Hail! Reporting, my lord! Dwarf chieftain refused the invitation!”
“Dismissed.”
“Yes!”
Crack, pop. Limbering up. Kane eyed me puzzled.
“What madness now……?”
“Dwarves too comfy, ignoring us? Forgot who I am?”
“Knight of Herculean Strength……”
“Heh, time to relocate some monsters.”
“N-no way?”
“That way exactly.”
Boom! Leapt from the wall. My territory bordered the Forbidden Zone—convenient. Raided it before, but east side spawned endless monsters and magic beasts. No full purge? They overflowed.
Plan: Mass relocation.
Riding wind and mana, I soared to a red orc village near—but not too near—the dwarf tribe. Crashed dead center.
Rumble-rumble-boom!
“Kreeek?”
God-gifted gear on, dropping from the sky—orks blinked, confused. Then realized: lone human. Eyes rolled back, charged.
“Kreek! Human! Kreek!”
“Kreek! Human invasion!”
Challenged myths recently—orcs felt underwhelming. Light fist-wind blast. Tiny spark exploded into massive force, fanning out a crater, obliterating ahead.
Kaboom!
“Greeeek!”
“Monster! Kreееk!”
Third of the village vaporized. Corpses shredded. Approaching the chieftain, the red orc trembled.
“S-spare me, kreek!”
“Spare you? Cheeky bastard.”
Smack!
“Greeeek!”
Whap! Whap!
Casual education for the orc chief. Spared the pope trouble; orcs? Who cares. Hulking brute cowered like a beaten dog, enduring. Teeth gone, face swollen, blood streaming, puking crimson.
“Gek! Cough! Hack!”
“Chief, your name?”
“Ke, Kerk. Cough!”
“Name or pain noise?”
“Kerk! Kerk it is! Cough!”
“Fine. This land's mine—move east! Not north, not south—east. Elsewhere……?”
Arm to nearby hill.
Kaboom! Massive pressure wave—hill pulverized. Whirlwind shredded rock. Even I was shocked. Gods tinkered with the armor? Felt stronger.
“Kreek!”
“Kreееk!”
Freaking out over the monster. Chief nodded frantically, blood trailing.
“Move! We flee the monster, kreek!”
“Calling me monster?”
“F-flee the mighty monster!”
“Ugh, scram! Now.”
“Kreееk!”
Red orcs evicted. Destination: dwarf village.
Yeah, you'd never settle for this. Gods wouldn't be gods.
Boom! Kicked the ground. Ogres, trolls—hurl 'em all at the dwarf village.