Chapter 44

"Man... This is no joke."

"Yeah. It's quite a shock to see it in person."

"I didn't expect it to be this much either."

Upon arriving at the enormous experimental farm, we were speechless at the sight.

"Huh? Is there something strange about it?"

Only Jitaro, who didn't understand the situation, tilted his head in confusion, a question mark floating above it.

"Well, first of all, this farm hasn't been operational for very long."

"Of course I know that. I even lent the Super Jet and helped to move the rocks around here."

Jitaro patted the pony he was riding, which was happily munching on weeds.

"If you know that, why didn't you notice? Look at this scene carefully."

"Hmm... It's just a normal wheat field, isn't it?"

"That's not right! The wheat is growing way too fast!"

"Oh!"

That's right. According to the schedule, the wheat should just be spreading its green leaves, but it has already reached the peak of the harvest season. This is no joke.

Leafan gave me a cold stare.

No, I didn't do anything this time! I probably didn't!

"Still, even though the soil hasn't been fully prepared, the yield is twice the normal amount."

"Yeah. It's quite a sight. I didn't expect a proper harvest in the first year."

"This must be thanks to the alchemical fertilizer that Craft made."

"Hmm?"

Something is definitely off.

As we moved along the edge of the vast field, I couldn't figure out what was wrong.

A little further ahead, the farm manager was waiting with a bow.

"Thank you for coming all the way here! Mr. Kyle! Mr. Craft!"

"Don't be so formal. Please feel free to talk to us."

"Really?"

"Kyle doesn't like to see you strain yourself. It's fine to act naturally."

Alphard added, as Kyle genuinely wanted a natural interaction.

"Then, I'll be a bit rude... "

"Yes, it's fine. From the report, I read that the crops are growing too much, and indeed, this is impressive."

The wheat stalks were densely packed with abundant grains. It was more than just a bountiful harvest.

While it was a problem, it was a good problem.

"Huh? No, that's not it."

"Not it?"

I blurted it out without thinking. What exactly was wrong?

"It's better to show you directly. It's a bit further ahead..."

"Got it. Let's move on."

The manager walked quickly, and we followed slowly on horses, lizards, birds, and ponies.

From the back of a horse, I could see far ahead, but there was a clear abnormality in the direction we were heading.

"Hey, that!"

Even without Leafan shouting, something incredible was visible in the direction she pointed.

"Is that... not a forest?"

"A wheat-colored forest... hahaha."

I was certain.

I knew where the alchemical fertilizer I gave had been used.

In one corner of the field, there was abnormally large wheat... to put it simply, it had grown to my height.

"This is..."

I didn't need to ask, but I had to.

"Yes. After receiving the special fertilizer from Mr. Craft, I spread it in this corner, and this happened..."

It seemed that the area of this ghost wheat, which had grown ten times the normal size... no, definitely more, was due to my alchemical fertilizer.

Leafan squinted at me.

"No, no, no! I admit my alchemical fertilizer is good, but isn't this a bit too much!?"

"Well, it seems that the soil here is of very high quality."

"I heard that. That's why we cultivated this area where dragons used to live."

"Yes. So, I think the result is due to the very nutrient-rich soil combined with Mr. Craft's fertilizer..."

"Still... I don't know much about agriculture, but..."

"By the way, has the safety been confirmed?"

"I tried eating it, and apart from the excellent taste and quality, there were no issues. It has also been appraised."

"Craft."

"Yeah."

I also appraised the harvested wheat and the ground wheat, but there were no problems.

"Here, this is baked bread. Please try it."

I, Jitaro, and Persia tried it first.

Even if we got sick, we could cure it immediately.

It was probably baked early in the morning, and we bit into the cooled bread.

"Delicious!"

"Yummy!"

"Hmm, this is amazing. It looks hard but is soft and elastic. The inside is not hollow but dense. When you chew, the aroma of wheat spreads through your nose, and the rich taste of the bread fills your mouth, making you feel happy. Unlike the hard military bread, it goes down smoothly and doesn't feel light. It will probably keep you full for a long time."

"...Persia?"

Somehow, Persia's evaluation was...

"I want to try it too."

"Hold on. I don't think it's poisonous, but it's clearly abnormal. Please wait and see for a bit."

Abnormal, indeed.

Alphard stopped Kyle with a stern expression, but her eyes were fixed on the bread. Being an attendant is tough.

"Since there's only a small amount, we ground it with a hand mill. The flour is finer than what's available in the market, which might be why it tastes good, but the fundamental quality is excellent. At first, I was afraid to eat it."

"Delicious."

"Oh!? Myuna!?"

"When did you..."

Myuna was secretly eating the bread that was piled on the table. I didn't notice because there was no killing intent.

"It's fine. We have healing potions."

"Hmm."

"Alphard."

"No! At least wait until dinner!"

Since any delayed-action poison is said to have a six-hour limit, Alphard's advice is correct, but it's a bit pitiful.

"It's fine. It's safe."

"Craft. Don't make baseless statements."

"The farm workers have been eating it for a few days, right?"

"Of course! We wouldn't serve anything bad!"

Given Kyle's popularity, the answer was as expected.

"Trust them."

"Ugh..."

Alphard is right. We have healing potions, and in the worst case, we could beg the king for an elixir or find a dragon to make medicine. But I think the worst case would just be a stomachache.

Alphard knows this too. It's more like I'm being mean to Alphard.

"...Right. Even in the worst case, we can handle it, and I don't think this is dangerous."

"I know you have to say that, but let them try it. It's delicious."

"Craft. I'll make you work hard if something happens."

"Sure, sure."

I handed the basket of bread to Kyle.

"This! It could pass for bread served at a royal party. It's very delicious."

"Isn't it? It's delicious, right?"

"Is this taste only from the larger wheat?"

"Yes. But the regular... I'm not sure if I can call it that, but the shorter wheat also tastes good."

The farm manager offered another basket he had prepared.

I, Leafan, and Persia tasted it.

"This is also very delicious."

"Yeah. Delicious!"

"Indeed, compared to the previous bread, it's slightly inferior, but it still offers a rich wheat flavor and aroma. I can guarantee that it would be served at a noble's party. If a skilled baker made it, it would be even more delicious, considering the potential of this wheat..."

"Enough, Persia. That's enough."

"Hmm? Is it?"

Good. Alphard stopped her.

Lately, Persia's strange side seems to be surfacing...

"I'll try it too. Yes, it's very delicious. If such good wheat can be grown, we should have expanded the farm scale. Let's prepare for next year."

"Mr. Kyle, in this growth rate, we can plant again."

"Huh?"

"The soil hasn't weakened at all, so there's no need to let it rest. If we plant seeds within a month, we can definitely get another harvest."

"That's impressive. Understood. Let's expand the cultivated land immediately and finish harvesting the current fields."

"Mr. Craft, if the scale increases several times, can you provide the alchemical fertilizer?"

"Even a hundred times is easy."

This time, I didn't put in much effort.

"Wow! Then let's spread the alchemical fertilizer everywhere next time!"

"In that case, what's the expected yield? Can we stop importing wheat?"

"Not just stop importing, we can export in large quantities. Whether we store it or sell it, considering the quality, merchants will flock to buy it, even with transportation costs."

"Is it that good? Understood. I'll arrange it as soon as we get back."

Thus, with the full effort of Golden Dawn, the cultivated land was expanded, and a granary that could support the country was completed.

The wheat grown with the alchemical fertilizer I made sold like hotcakes.

That's good, but please don't call it Craft Wheat... I beg you...

Oops. I forgot to write Jitaro's food review.