Chapter 13

The Bazel Great Forest, which separates the Kingdom of Roadberg from the western Kingdom of Lancer, is vast in both width and length, but it does not cover the entire border between the two countries.

As one moves south, the forest narrows, eventually becoming an area dotted with small forests and low mountains. Such places are easily passable by armies and have become the sites of conflicts between the two countries, whose relations have deteriorated over the past few years.

Edgar's village was located near such a place. The small village, carved out at the southern edge of the Bazel Great Forest, was one day attacked by the Lancer Kingdom's army, which had forced its way through the forest.

The peasants resisted, but their opponents were regular troops. Eventually, the disparity in strength led to the men being killed and the women and children being sold.

Amidst this, Edgar, at the command of his father, the village chief, led a group of villagers to escape from the village.

Days of moving north along the Bazel Great Forest. Edgar and the other refugees, who had fled the village with almost nothing, began to run out of strength, starting with those who were physically weaker.

However, no town or village would accept dozens of refugees. Edgar and his group were mostly turned away at the gates. Finally, they ended up in Letvik, a town at the northern end of the western part of the kingdom.

......

"Alright, it's finally the first harvest ceremony in the Arquvist territory!"

Noein gathered the residents in front of the field he had first cultivated in this settlement and said this with a cheerful tone.

It had been two months since Yurii and the others arrived in this territory, and about three months since Noein and Matilda entered the forest. The day had finally come to harvest the first potatoes they had planted.

"Wow, this is a joyous occasion."

"Hey, you could be a bit more enthusiastic. It's a special day, you know?"

"Lord Noein, I am truly happy. This is a day that will be recorded in the history of the Arquvist territory."

"Thank you, Matilda. It's been three months since we entered the forest, and finally, this day has come. It's a wonderful feeling."

"Yes, Lord Noein. It really is wonderful."

While Yurii and the others were left out, Noein began to talk with Matilda, deeply moved.

Indeed, it was a joyous occasion, and as a resident, he felt like celebrating, but the field being harvested belonged to Noein.

If it were their own field, they would have been more moved, but it was hard to share the same level of excitement as Noein and Matilda.

Yurii was also curious about how potatoes grew underground and wanted to see the harvest without the long preamble.

"I do think it's a joyous occasion, and I'll celebrate it properly, so can you just get on with the digging?"

"Alright. Then watch closely, okay?"

Saying this, Noein, unusually, dug the soil with his own hands instead of using a golem.

Under the soil he removed, several plump potatoes appeared.

After clearing the surrounding soil and grabbing the base of the stem, he pulled it out, revealing about seven or eight potatoes hanging from it.

Noein looked at them with a sense of accomplishment and let out a strange laugh.

"Heheh."

"Can't you come up with a more proper expression of joy?"

"Let me enjoy it my way."

"Well, do as you please... but this is how they grow, huh? Quite different from the green lumps we planted."

The green lumps with sprouts looked unappetizing, but these could be accepted as food.

"If you leave these in the sun, they turn green and sprout, making them suitable for planting. Conversely, if you keep them in the shade, they can be stored for a long time."

"I see. They feel like big beans, somehow."

"They look like that, but apparently, they are a type of plant where the stem stores nutrients and swells."

Noein, who planted them, said this, so it must be true, though Yurii had never seen a vegetable like this before.

"If they can multiply so easily and serve as a staple food like bread, I can understand why they are called 'crops that save the country.'"

"Right? If we keep increasing them, we won't have to worry about famine in our territory. It's really exciting. This is the first crop harvested in the Arquvist territory."

Noein, looking entranced, brushed the soil off the potatoes. He looked like a child admiring his treasure.

Despite his quirks, Yurii thought, he does have a childlike charm when you look at him this way, though he wouldn't say it out loud.

Even after the harvest ceremony, Noein continued to harvest the grown potatoes with Matilda, making strange sounds like "hehe" and "hohoh."

......

That night, Noein suggested they actually eat the harvested potatoes.

"You can cook them like any other vegetable, right?"

"Apparently. Just remove the sprouts, which can cause stomach upset, and then boil or bake them."

Pence, holding a knife, asked, and Noein answered.

"Understood. Bart, Mai, help me out."

"Sure."

"Okay."

The three efficiently removed the sprouts from the potatoes and, following Noein's instructions, placed them in a pot of water.

They then placed the pot over a fire and waited for the water to boil and the potatoes to cook.

They planned to eat two potatoes per person, a total of 14. The majority of the rest would be used for the next planting.

At what seemed to be the right time—though Noein wasn't sure of the exact cooking time—they lifted the potatoes out of the pot, divided them among the plates, and cut them in half.

"Wow, they look delicious."

"Right? They look delicious, don't they?"

"Considering you've never eaten them, you're pretty excited."

"Hehe, well, yeah."

The hard potatoes had become soft and fluffy when cooked, and a fragrant steam rose from the cut surfaces.

"Lord Noein, the grilled Gratony rabbit is ready."

Matilda, who had been grilling the rabbit meat on a skillet, cut it into portions for everyone.

The potatoes alone would be bland and insufficient in quantity, so Noein had asked Matilda to grill some meat.

"Thank you, Matilda. Let's eat."

Each plate was filled with boiled potatoes, grilled Gratony rabbit, and pickled vegetables they had bought in Letvik.

"Lord Noein, please go first."

Sitting next to Noein, Matilda said, and Noein nodded, reaching for a potato.

To celebrate the first harvest, he bit into the boiled potato, which had been generously sprinkled with the expensive pepper.

"Ha... ha... ha..."

"Instead of making creepy sounds, why don't you give us your opinion?"

"They're delicious. Amazing. It's... warm and dense, a feeling I've never experienced before. Everyone, try them."

Encouraged by Noein, everyone reached for the potatoes on their plates.

"Lord Noein, this is my first time eating them, but they are very delicious."

"Indeed, the texture is interesting."

"They're different from bread and meat."

"Never tasted anything like it, but it's delicious."

Though their words varied, the overall impression was "delicious."

"Also, they are filling and seem to keep you full for a long time."

Bart was right; the potatoes were packed with substance, making them a satisfying meal. It was clear why they could serve as a staple food.

"Are there other ways to cook them besides boiling?"

Mai asked, and Noein answered.

"In the books from the south, they say you can mash the boiled potatoes into a paste and eat them that way."

"Interesting. It seems easier to eat than biting into them whole. Adding some ingredients would probably be delicious."

"Sounds good. Let's try it next time. Another method is to slice them thinly and fry them until crispy."

Yurii thought this would go well with alcohol.

As they savored the potatoes and discussed cooking methods and future planting plans, the night passed.