Chapter 70

What is this inexplicable tension?

Eli is not particularly talkative to begin with. So, I can understand that it’s difficult for her to initiate conversation with Charlotte, the noble lady.

On the other hand, Charlotte, who usually seems to talk a lot, is walking straight ahead of me without looking back.

She often talks a lot, but in fact, she’s not really that chatty. The constant stream of conversation is all about work-related matters.

We have left the mansion to check on the farm. Charlotte is leading the way.

I’m sure once we arrive at the farm, she will become more talkative.

“Eli.”

“Yes, I’m here for you, sir.”

“Can you walk beside me instead of behind? It feels a bit strange with three of us in a line.”

So, the strange tension isn’t just because we’re silent. It’s about our positioning.

Charlotte is leading the way, and Eli is guarding the rear.

I understand that, but can’t you consider how I feel being sandwiched between you two?

We’re in the uncharted land of Cumberland, so a guard is necessary. I get that.

But this place is no longer uncharted; it’s a frontier.

There’s no way a monster will suddenly attack. If one did, someone would notice before it reached me.

That’s why the guards are patrolling.

When I called out, Eli must have decided that my request outweighed her judgment, because she moved to my side without hesitation, her footsteps silent.

What did you just do?

“Is something wrong?”

“No, nothing. Peace is a good thing. The guards are doing a great job.”

“Yes, perhaps we don’t need such a heavy guard.”

“Right. We don’t need to stick so close anymore.”

“Perhaps. While a heavy guard isn’t necessary, I believe a security detail is still needed.”

“Is that so…?”

“I may not be reliable, but… I’m sorry.”

“No, no, eventually we’ll be able to walk together like a picnic or a stroll.”

“I would be honored to be invited then!”

Eli’s face lit up with a smile like a blooming flower, and my lips curved into a smile as well.

I think safety is similar to health. The best state is when you don’t even notice it.

Just as you only realize the value of health when you fall ill, you only realize the value of safety when you face danger.

But in this world, “danger” often means life-threatening situations.

If you get scratched by a cat, you can be more careful next time, but if you get hit by a dragon’s breath, there’s no next time.

Scary, this world is scary.

It’s easy to forget in such peace, but I saw it not long ago.

The terrifying power of monsters that surpass human understanding.

Complacency is not good. We should be grateful to the guards.

As I was silently praying, we reached the central square.

I could see Alu waving a large flag, trying to get attention.

That’s quick, Alu. When did you make such a flag?

“Is that a flag? Alu and I took turns making it on the days when I wasn’t guarding Joshua-sama.”

“Wow. To find people?”

Eli, who noticed my reaction, added.

“Yes, as you said. We wove reeds into fabric and used dye to write the words.”

“Amazing. It’s a great piece of work.”

“Speaking of which, every time I see it, I can only sigh in admiration. That dignified appearance.”

Eli was saying something, but I wasn’t going to stop here. I just waved to Alu and walked through the square without looking at a certain point.

Charlotte, who was walking ahead, saluted, but I pretended not to see it. I didn’t see anything. I didn’t see anything.

◇◇◇

“Wow. This is beyond what I expected!”

I had heard that the reclamation was progressing, but seeing it with my own eyes, it’s incredible!

Right behind where I’m standing, a white line marks the road that will connect to the town. In front of me, it’s all farmland!

The reclamation has probably advanced about 500 meters.

On the right, it will be the town, but on the opposite side, the farmland stretches on.

What spreads out before me… are branches with leaves starting to grow.

Yes, cassava branches.

A middle-aged man in a straw hat appeared, perhaps having heard of my arrival. He seems to know Charlotte and Eli, as Charlotte was calling out to him.

“Mr. Thomas. Good morning!”

“Good morning, Charlotte-sama. And Eli-sama.”

Thomas, with a friendly smile, waved and swayed his body. His arms, visible from his short-sleeved shirt, were thick and sunburned, showing that he worked outdoors. He had a bit of a belly, but it just made him seem more approachable. My first impression was that he was a warm person.

After exchanging greetings with Charlotte, Thomas seemed to want her to introduce me. He subtly turned his face toward me and froze.

What’s wrong?

Am I dressed strangely? I hope the only strange thing is the square.

“Oh, oh, oh. Hyaah!”

“Eh, eh, eh? Is there something behind me?”

“There’s nothing to worry about. There are no monsters, not even small animals like snakes.”

I looked around because Thomas let out a strange scream and sat down on the ground, but Eli assured me there was no problem. I got a bit nervous.

“Charlotte, who is this?”

“This is Mr. Thomas. He has been mediating between the farmers and Eli and Alu.”

Charlotte stepped aside and introduced Thomas with a flourish.

“I see. So you’ve been acting as a mediator for the farmers. Thank you, Thomas.”

“Y-Yes. Y-You must be Joshua-sama!”

Thomas finally stood up, took off his straw hat, and showed his surprise.

“A, a, ah, yes.”

“Hyaah! Joshua-sama! A, can I shake your hand?”

Since there was no reason to refuse, I shook hands with Thomas. He looked at his hand with great emotion and squeezed it tightly.

“Right. Mr. Thomas, I’m sorry for initially giving Eli and Alu incorrect information about cassava.”

“N-No, no, no. It’s not a problem at all. I’m in awe of your keen eye, Joshua-sama. To find a substitute for wheat on the first day, no less.”

At first, I told them that to increase cassava, you just needed to bury the roots. After a thorough investigation, I found out that to increase cassava, you just need to cut the branches into 5 to 7 centimeters and stick them in the ground. The resilience of cassava is truly remarkable.

For the fields, you don’t need to till the soil as meticulously as you would for wheat. You just need to remove weeds that compete for nutrients and dig up large stones that might hinder root growth. I gave these instructions later.

However, it’s not just about tilling. The experts quickly determined the appropriate level of tilling by observing the natural environment where cassava grows.

Of course, we can’t just grow cassava. It’s important to adjust the fields based on the crops being grown. This is beyond my expertise, and it’s up to the farmers to do their best.

My role is to discover new crops and provide a general overview of what they are.