Chapter 19 – New House, Servants, Wives, and two female Wizards.
Not knowing he unjustly offended someone and made an enemy, Ewan stood on a hill overlooking a massive field with over a thousand acres, stretching over two kilometers in width and length. At the side was a sort of village with four dozen large houses.
"Didn't we agree on 300?" Ewan curiously asked Fladrinne, who stood beside him.
He wasn't complaining. On the contrary, it worked in his favor! He just wondered why they would do this.
"This is the entire Magic Land of our Clan's territory, around 1,050 acres. Every three years of being tended to, we can promote the soil to Grade 2 and grow a batch of Grade 2 crops. We usually do it in a three-year cycle rotation with three 300-acre areas, with 150 acres having permanent fruit-bearing trees planted. But now, we don't need to do that anymore. You will receive the 900 acres and can farm on 300 every year, but we would appreciate it if you could tend the additional 150 acres at your leisure. This area has a Grade 4 barrier, but we will reinforce it to Grade 5 to increase the protection. Also, every patch of 30 acres has an independent weather control formation, so you can adjust them to whatever you need." Fladrinne said.
"Weather control?" Ewan's eyes glinted.
"Yes. Think about it as a large-scale greenhouse." Fladrinne replied.
"Oh... And what about this big-ass mansion? Is that my new house?" Ewan asked, pointing at the four-story fancy mansion behind them, fit to house a king.
"It is the mansion prepared for Earth-Blessed Farmers like you. After the previous owner, Iveus, passed away 20 years ago, the mansion was vacated and remained vacant until today, save for several on-duty protectors and servants who maintained it. But now, it found a new owner. We had the top builders of the Clan fix the place up for you." Fladrinne said.
"So it belonged to another Earth-Blessed Farmer?" Ewan curiously asked.
"Yes, Iveus was an Earth-Blessed Farmer. But unfortunately, Iveus was only a Grand Knight, not a Wizard. He died in his early 100s thanks to life-prolonging medications, but it was not enough to extend his life to the Wizard standard, and the soil he farmed was only Grade 3 in his later life. We hoped one of his family members could replace him, but they didn't show much promise, with the best of them only becoming a Grand Knight and Advanced Farmer in his late 30s. At most, he can become another Earth-Blessed Farmer in twenty years." Fladrinne regretfully shook her head.
"Were the conditions Iveus received the same as mine?" Ewan curiously asked.
"No. You are getting far better treatment since you are young and would likely be promoted to a Wizard within the next decade if you are not lazy. For example, we took a 70% cut from his produce instead of 25%." Fladrinne said.
"That much of a difference?!" Ewan was shocked.
"I am afraid so. For one, Iveus's situation was far more disadvantageous than yours and had little prospects. Iveus became an Earth-Blessed Farmer in his mid-50s but could only produce Grade 2 Crops due to his relatively low Earth Affinity and Spirit, at most doubling our yield. When Iveus was in his mid-70s, he could produce Grade 3 Crops, but the land he could cultivate was only 170 acres due to his declining body. By the time he was 90, he could barely tend a field of 50 acres. In his last years, he barely tended 30 acres. He was the typical Earth-Blessed Farmer." Fladrinne said before smiling, "But you, on the other hand, can directly cultivate 300 acres of Grade 3 Crops in your early 30s and should become a Wizard before turning 40. Your situation is as different as day and night."
"I see..." Ewan muttered.
"Well, I will be off now. We will prepare you a list of crops to grow and the seeds. Oh, and see you soon~." Fladrinne said with a flirtatious tone and gave a wink.
Ewan suddenly had a shiver.
"Why do I have a bad feeling about this?" Ewan thought.
A minute later, Ewan saw her off before entering the mansion, where two rows of servants, farmers, and guards were waiting, standing at attention. At a glance, Ewan found they were all at least Knights in their physique! Eight of them were even Grand Knights!
"Welcome home, Master Ewan!" They bowed, full of emotion.
Finally, this mansion that had been vacant for 20 years had a new Master!
"Rise," Ewan said and evaluated them.
Twenty servants, twenty farmers, and six guards in full armor stared at him, memorizing his appearance.
"Are you all originally from here?" Ewan curiously asked.
"Reporting to the Master." An elderly servant in a black and white uniform, who Ewan sensed as a Grand Knight past his prime, bowed. "I am Chester, the late Master's son. I and the other servants and farmers are all Iveus's descendants or their spouses. We also have children, but they are in the village. However, the Clan and the Academy would send elite guards, including two Lord Wizards, to bolster the defenses."
"Two Wizards. They mean business." Ewan thought.
"Where is my family?" Ewan asked.
"The Master's family retired to their rooms and will go downstairs for dinner soon," Chester said. "Would you like me to call them?"
"There is no need for that. Let my family rest. They had a long journey." Ewan smiled. "Have the others return to their duties. Also, have someone show me around."
"Of course, Master." Chester bowed, and the servants dispersed to their various duties.
Chester then showed Ewan around the mansion. Aside from the main hall, there was the family dining room, servant's dining room, kitchen, study room, practice room, several meditation rooms, massive wine cellars and ice refrigerators, lavish bathrooms with strange flushing toilets, sinks, and porcelain-like white bathtubs with running water and drainage, and bedrooms with king-sized beds so luxurious that it made Ewan almost too embarrassed to sleep on, and every room had air conditioning.
As for how it all worked? Magic. It could either passively regenerate or actively use Magic Stones or Magic Infusion to recharge each month.
"Are you sure this is the accommodation of a Farmer and not that of a Wizard?" Ewan mentally retorted after the tour.
"Master, it is already time for dinner." Chester reminded.
"Ah, right." Ewan nodded and went to the dining area, where his family sat along a long table, including two new members.
"Husband, welcome back!" Valli and Theli, the non-identical twin wives, smiled brightly at Ewan while wearing beautiful dresses.
In the Wizard World, marrying is just a formality. He was already married to them in practice the moment he said yes.
"Husband, did the discussions go well?" Shiri, who also wore a beautiful dress, asked, shyly sitting at one of two seats at the head of the table, with the adjacent seat saved for Ewan.
On both sides next to the head, Valli and Theli sat, followed by Ewan's parents and children, and his siblings and extended family last. It appeared they understood the hierarchy in the house and tacitly picked their spots. It was common in noble society, and even Wizard Clans followed such rules.
"Yes, everything went well. We don't need to worry anymore." Ewan smiled and sat beside Shiri. He then looked at everyone at the table and asked, "Was the trip alright?"
"Yes, brother. The trip was so smooth I could hardly believe it, without the usual bumps on the road. And we were treated very well." Aldern, Ewan's eldest brother, said.
"Yes. I slept like a baby along the way." Ewan's mother joked.
"It was peaceful, and everyone was hospitable." Ewan's father added.
The others also nodded, having bright expressions despite being in a foreign land. Ewan couldn't help but smile.
"That's good. Everyone, let's eat. You must be all starving." Ewan said.
On cue, the servants brought fancy dinner plates, serving luxurious food that Ewan had never seen or tasted. Freshly baked soft bread, rich soups filled with meat and vegetables, fine meat cuts covered in gravy, nuts, herbs, exotic salads, and more.
And that smell they let out, that delectable smell-
Gurgle*
Ewan's mouth was wet with saliva, and his appetite peaked. His body sensed that this was not ordinary food. It was magical food, literally. And the same went for everyone else.
"This is food made from Grade 1 Ingredients, right?" Ewan asked Valli.
"Yes, Husband. All Inner Members can enjoy Grade 1 food." Valli replied.
"Nice!" Ewan's eyes lit up.
Eating Magical Food for a long time can increase stats, partially making up for deficiencies. To Ewan, this meant little, but for his family, especially his children, it would greatly benefit their future training.
Except for Valli and Theli, the others ravenously ate the food, especially the children, their growing bodies demanding the nutrients.
After a hearty meal, Ewan spent time with his family before heading to the training room, where he practiced his newly acquired stances to digest his food. With his vast experience, Intelligence at 136, and Grand Knight's Physique, getting initiated in them was almost too easy. In a two-hour session, he reached level 2 despite never practicing them, earning him a wave of 10 stat points, slightly reinforcing his already powerful body and boosting his Warrior and Knight classes.
Incidentally, Ewan already allocated his Stats and Skill Points, placing everything in Intelligence and Blessing of the Land. It was to improve the soil quality more quickly, earning him resources that he could then use to improve his strength, creating a beneficial cycle. By leveling his four classes, Ewan could earn back the Skill Points to invest in Spellcasting Proficiency.
After training, Ewan had a quick shower with soap before retiring to his room, where fertile fields were ready to be sown.
"Husband, let us service you today." Valli and Theli said, kneeling on his bed, wearing erotic silk lingerie.
"Husband, go ahead. I feel a bit sick from the pregnancy, so enjoy them." Shiri said from behind Ewan, disrobing him.
Ewan's work as a diligent farmer never stopped.
.
.
.
The following morning-
Ewan's lips twitched as he saw the ones who came to bolster the guard.
Ten Grand Knights, ten Pseudo Wizards, and-
"Hi, Ewan! I told you I will be back soon!" Fladrinne said with a wink with her scarlet eyes, pushing back her silky black hair behind her ear.
"Hello, I am Efora, a recently-promoted 1st-order Earth Wizard of Gaxarths specializing in Golems and Construction. It is nice to be working with you, Sir Ewan." A bookish beauty with curly nut-colored hair and warm brown eyes said with a gentle smile as if trying to build a good rapport in front of a prospective husband.
"Those old, sly bastards..." Ewan mentally cried.