Chapter 5

When organizing the information Bartolo had gathered—

The southeastern area was believed to be connected to the northeastern forest. The southern area was a vast, desolate land, with sparse trees and a reddish-brown earth spreading out.

The southwestern area had a cliff that dropped down, with a depth of nearly a hundred meters. It was said that if you fell, you would hardly survive.

Bartolo's face at that moment was so belligerent that it was a bit frightening. Does he want to go to the bottom of the cliff...?

"Thank you both for the exploration. Did you notice any plants or animals?"

"I saw deer and wild boars. I didn't hunt them... but I also discovered a rare yellow-green fruit."

"I also brought back some plants. There was one that particularly caught my attention."

Both of them had made some discoveries. I'm grateful.

"Bartolo, can you show me what you brought back?"

Bartolo nodded and placed his hand on his unkempt beard. I watched him leave.

Rumburk, without waiting for me to ask, had already gone to fetch the yellow-green fruit.

Rumburk, who returned first, spread a cloth on the desk.

There, as he had said, were two yellow-green fruits.

They had vertical stripes and were elongated, shaped like rugby balls, about 10 centimeters long.

What is this? I've never seen this fruit before...

It's more about using the ability, not just looking.

"Guava! I see!"

This yellow-green fruit was a guava!

On Earth, it's tropical, but like cassava, it's a temperate guava here.

Rumburk, who had been watching my delighted expression, cleared his throat dramatically.

"Rumburk, this is a guava, a type of fruit. When you cut it... ah, a knife."

"No, that's not necessary."

Rumburk's arm wavered.

I nodded at him, and when he bowed, I touched the guava, and it split into two halves with a "pokan" sound.

"...What happened?"

"It's a butler's skill."

Is it really a skill to provide fruit to the master without a knife...?

I didn't know because I was rarely at home, but being a butler in this world is tough.

Haha, I can't do that with a hand knife (I didn't see it, but...).

Oh, oh, I can't be daydreaming now.

"Oh, oh."

"Beautiful color, isn't it?"

Rumburk raised his white mustache and eyebrows.

I, too, was taken aback by the opened guava's color.

The inside had a lotus root pattern, with a fluorescent red exterior and a creamy white interior.

Let's try it for dessert tonight. Of course, with everyone!

"Oh, oh. What a beautiful fruit. This one has an interesting shape too."

Bartolo, raising his right hand, held something in his left hand that I recognized immediately.

It was a pineapple.

Kanpaland seems to have a similar flora to Central America, despite the temperate climate.

Other famous plants from Central America include tomatoes, potatoes, and pumpkins.

If we discover them, they will be good crops. Potatoes are especially known as a famine-relief crop, but with cassava, there's nothing better.

Hehe, I feel like I can dominate agriculture in Kanpaland.

"Oh, that face. As expected of King Joshua. Did you already know?"

"I'll check it properly. Please put it there."

"Aye."

The pineapple was placed with a thud. The green leaves and rough skin looked just like the pineapple in my memory.

When I checked, it was indeed a temperate pineapple. However, at the end of the details, it said "preferred by Kiraplants."

"This is a tough decision to make..."

"Do you have any concerns?"

Rumburk asked, and I placed my finger on my chin, frowning.

There's no need to hide it.

"This is a fruit called pineapple, but it seems to attract Kiraplants. From the name, they sound like monsters."

"Let me try it once."

"It might attract danger. Let's do it in the outskirts, and only when we judge that there's no danger of monsters around."

"Understood. My thought was shallow. The safety of the people is the top priority."

"No, I want to try it too."

I stuck out my tongue and playfully showed Rumburk my thumb.

I continued with a soft smile and clapped my hands.

"Let's eat the pineapple too. As a precaution, let's burn the inedible skin and leaves."

"Understood."

The meeting was dismissed.

Hmm. There's a lot to do... We need to divide the tasks and tackle them one by one.

To ensure short-term safety, hunting and extermination in the surrounding areas will do, but without a wall to protect, we need to be on guard in all directions.

We need materials to build the wall and facilities to process them.

Speaking of facilities, we need farming tools too. There's no end to the things to consider.

We just have to do what we can with the right people.

I felt a tear roll down my cheek at the prospect of a busy schedule.

◇◇◇

The next morning.

Bread (wheat), cheese, dates (a sweet dried fruit similar to raisins), and ham were laid out on the table.

"Sir Joshua, I kept you waiting."

"Ah..."

"I'll have water," I said, but it was too late.

Erie had already placed a glass on the table, filled with a bright orange juice.

What about the others?

It seems they were given water, unlike me.

"Only I get to drink this?"

"This will be the last. I would like Sir Joshua to drink it."

Erie's words were met with nods from the others, as if it were natural.

But, Rumburk seemed satisfied when he drank it yesterday.

So, he wants me to drink it too.

Oh, I get it. Don't look at me like that. I'll drink it, I'll drink it.

The orange juice is made from guava and pineapple.

Neither of them is ripe yet...

"Chug chug"

I drank it all at once.

It's sour. Too sour!

But this is the last of the juice. From now on, it's water!

"Did you like it so much? Shall I collect more today?"

Rumburk is being too considerate.

No, my face should show how I feel.

I'm already grimacing as much as I can.

After breakfast, I need to get everyone to work, so I want them to enjoy this peaceful morning for a little while.

It was such a pleasant morning.

Sour... The taste is still on my tongue.

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