NOVEL NEXT Chapter 6
Chapter 6: Farming
Grandfather returned only after another week had passed.
“Grandfather!!!”
The path cut through the forest.
Along that path, over a hundred people approached.
The procession arrived at the village entrance, and I called out to Grandfather once more.
“Ohoho! Have you been waiting long!”
“Why were you so late? I was worried.”
Grandfather pointed towards the people behind him.
My gaze also turned that way.
Shabby clothes.
Dark expressions.
Their appearance was too meager for workers.
“They are slaves.”
“Slaves? But we don't have the money…”
I had considered the method of buying slaves for farming.
But that plan was cancelled due to lack of funds.
So how…?
“Alencia helped.”
“Lady Alencia!?”
“Ahem! How can you call your fiancée like that? Call her comfortably.”
“Are you really saying Lady Alencia helped?”
Grandfather crossed his arms and put on a stern expression.
It seemed he didn't like the form of address.
“That… Alencia… helped?”
“Hahaha! Isn't that nice? Yes, that's right. Since I was visiting the Vampiars Duchy after a long time, I went to see our pretty Alencia. So…”
Grandfather recounted everything.
From what he discussed with Alencia.
To her providing a large sum of money.
To using that money to go all the way to the continent and purchase slaves.
He told the whole story.
‘Alencia?’
The image of the cold Alencia came to mind.
Her talking about the broken engagement in an emotionless voice.
Her refusing the request for farming support with a cold face.
‘But why did she help? No, more than that…’
“Grandfather, did you happen to hear anything else?”
“What story are you talking about?”
“That pa…”
Seeing Grandfather's happy face, the word broken engagement didn't readily come out.
“Are you perhaps hurt in your pride for receiving help from the woman you love?”
“Pardon?”
“There's no need for that. Aren't you going to marry anyway? Right now, Alencia helped you, but later, there will be times you help her. So don't feel burdened.”
Pang! Pang!
Grandfather slapped my back.
Getting hit hard like that jolted my senses.
Whatever the reason, Alencia helped,and thanks to that, I was able to save a year's time.
‘Good is good. Like Grandfather said, I can just repay her later.’
Right now is a difficult time, but once farming succeeds, there will be leeway.
I can repay her then.
“Grandfather! Please gather people at the village hall! We're going to start farming in earnest!”
River Village. Village Hall.
The village hall was packed.
Not just Grandfather and Uncle, but most of the adults in River Village had gathered.
Even some of the slaves attended.
I sat in a chair and observed the people.
Especially focusing on the relationship between the River people and the slaves.
‘Unexpected?’
The River people didn't particularly discriminate against the slaves.
Beyond that, they treated them like guests.
“Find it strange?”
“Pardon?”
“Find it strange that we treat slaves well.”
“Ah… a little.”
Grandfather ruffled my hair.
“Once they're in River Village, being a slave doesn't make a difference. They are just comrades who will protect each other.”
I could vaguely understand the reason.
Monster Island, where we live, is a border region.
The center of humanity is the continent, and Monster Island is an island northwest of the continent.
River Village is a border region even within Monster Island.
It could be called the very front line, bordering the monster territory.
‘Since there's a huge enemy, the rest are friends?’
Facing the enemy of mankind, monsters,there was no room for internal division.
Especially for the people of River Village.
When monsters invade,what's important is the people who will protect families together.
Whether that person is a commoner or a slave wouldn't matter.
‘One less worry.’
“Alright, alright. Everyone quiet! Quiet!”
Bang. Bang.
Grandfather brought order to the hall.
Then he had one person stand up.
“This man will manage the farming from now on. Introduce yourself.”
A middle-aged man stood up.
More accurately, he looked to be between middle-aged and elderly.
“Greetings. I am Isaac, and I used to farm on the continent.”
Clap. Clap. Clap. Clap.
People clapped loudly.
Isaac was flustered by their reaction.
“Ahem! Calm down, I said! Alright. Tell them what we discussed.”
Isaac bowed his head to Grandfather and opened his mouth again.
“Generally, farming is done by dividing the land into three fields.”
Isaac introduced the Empire's farming method.
The land is divided into spring fields, autumn fields, and fallow fields.
Spring fields are for spring farming, autumn fields for autumn farming, and finally, fallow fields are literally left to rest.
“The reason for doing this is to restore soil fertility and prevent pests and diseases.”
“Pests and diseases?”
At Grandfather's question, Isaac wore a troubled expression.
“I don't know the details either. However, crops don't get sick if they are farmed after resting sufficiently.”
Isaac glanced around cautiously and continued speaking.
“There is another advantage. It allows for efficient use of manpower.”
“That... I suppose so.”
This time, no separate question was asked.
Because it was common sense.
Since the farming times are different, two fields can be cultivated with fewer people.
After the long explanation finished, Grandfather turned his head towards me.
“How about it? Think it will work if we proceed like this?”
I pondered while listening to Isaac's explanation.
Even though I had never farmed myself, I had experienced it indirectly.
Through games.
A game set in the medieval era.
That game featured the ‘three-field system’.
It was almost the same as what Isaac explained.
And as technology advances, the ‘Norfolk four-course rotation’ is unlocked.
In short, the Norfolk four-course rotation was a more advanced method than the three-field system.
I debated whether to start with the three-field system first, or begin with the Norfolk four-course rotation from the start.
And the conclusion was the Norfolk four-course rotation.
Because the advantages of this method were too clear.
Organizing my thoughts, I stood up from my seat.
“I would prefer to divide the cultivated land into four sections.”
I introduced the Norfolk four-course rotation method.
Unlike the three-field system, the land is divided into four.
A Field: Barley (Spring~Autumn)
B Field: Clover, Ryegrass
C Field: Wheat (Autumn~Summer)
D Field: Turnips
Unlike the three-field system, there is no fallow land.
Instead, livestock feed is grown in 2 of the 4 fields.
Not only does clover, a legume, restore soil fertility, but livestock manure also helps restore fertility.
It was a very innovative method that eliminated fallowing.
Especially, being able to raise many livestock is a huge advantage.
‘This will later…’
I stopped my thoughts.
One step further, there is another huge advantage.
But since it's a matter for the future, I finished the explanation for now.
This much should be enough to persuade them.
Grandfather nodded his head greatly.
Then he turned his head towards Isaac.
“Isaac, what do you think? Is my grandson's suggestion worth trying?”
“I can't say for sure either… but it's certain that livestock manure helps restore soil fertility.”
“Good! Then let's do as my grandson says!”
.
.
The land was divided into four sections.
And manpower was concentrated intensively in one section.
The section where barley would be planted.
Because barley needed to be planted quickly to be harvested in the autumn.
I also became busy.
Kneeling on the ground, I used the Land Recovery skill.
Because the Demonic Energyneeded to be removed before sowing the seeds.
***
Frontier Territory.
South Castle.
Frontier Lord's Estate, 3rd Floor.
Today too, Brilda managed internal affairs on behalf of the Lord.
Because the Frontier Viscount was busy fending off monsters.
“Do this one like this. Put that one on hold…”
While engrossed in the papers,a maid entered.
She took a piece of paper from her bosom and placed it on the desk.
The paper contained information about Elwin.
Arrival at River Village.
Contact with grandfather Campbell.
Liquidation of Campbell's assets.
Purchase of land and slaves.
As Brilda read through the contents, her expression grew serious.
Purchasing land and slaves?
Because it wasn't trivial.
Where does power come from?
There could be many opinions.
Among those opinions, there would be common elements.
Like land and people.
‘What is he thinking?’
Brilda's eyes quickly scanned the paper.
The moment she confirmed the contents below, she burst into a hearty laugh.
“Ha! Farming? He intends to farm on Monster Island?”
First, he said he'd build a blacksmith workshop.
Now he says he'll farm.
“What does it mean?”
Farming must just be a smokescreen.
Another ploy must be hidden behind it.
“Whether it's a blacksmith or farming. In the end, he wants to build his own faction, right? But. Farming? Tsk tsk.”
A blacksmith workshop would have been better.
Battles occur daily on Monster Island.
Thus, many weapons are needed.
But farming instead of a blacksmith?
“No. It's strange. Simply farming to build a faction? Something that's obviously bound to fail?”
It was something even the first Vampiars Duke, hailed as a hero, couldn't do.
There's no way someone like Elwin could do such a thing.
The deliberation grew longer, and the answer converged into one.
“He's gone mad.”
Elwin died twice.
The moment Brilda had this thought, she bit her lip.
‘He was definitely dead.’
6 years ago.
Elwin died.
She confirmed it herself.
But he came back to life.
And his personality changed.
It was the same this time too.
Elwin died to the Black Orcs.
Sir Wilson confirmed it. She confirmed it herself too.
But he came back to life.
And his personality changed.
What happened in the conference room comes to mind.
Elwin's appearance, directly refuting her words.
His appearance, cornering Sir Wilson.
It wasn't the usual gentle Elwin.
“His personality was erratic, and now he's finally gone mad.”
She picked up the paper containing Elwin's information.
And held it over the candle flame.
The fire starting from the edge engulfed the entire paper.
“This isn't bad in its own way.”
If Elwin dies, there will be talk afterwards.
The arrow would point towards herself and her son, who benefit the most.
It looked better if the Young Lord went mad, and was ousted from his position because of it.
“I look forward to when the barley is fully grown. How he'll deal with the Magi-contaminated grain.”