Focusing on Territory After Breaking Off the Engagement

Chapter 7: Farming

[System]

Norfolk four-course rotation method discovered.

It can now be learned using Skill Points.

After dividing the cultivated land into four sections, and finishing the sowing, the system notification appeared.

“If it was discovered, can't they just give it as a skill right away?”

Even without the skill, I was already applying the Norfolk four-course rotation method.

But it says I have to use a Skill Point to learn it.

“Still, if there's a silver lining, it's this.”

Land Recovery (Lv 2)

While points were needed to learn skills, they weren't required to level up skills.

It seemed levels increased with frequent use.

Thanks to this, lowering the land contamination level became easier.

“Young Lord! Clearing of B Field is finished.”

With 100 slaves joining, farming progressed rapidly.

First, the clearing of A Field was finished, and barley seeds were planted.

The next place worked on was B Field.

“Shall we sow the seeds right away?”

The plan for B Field is to grow clover and ryegrass.

However,

“Not yet. The prayer isn't finished yet. For now, focus on clearing C Field.”

“Understood.”

[System]

Contaminated Land (Contamination Level: 6%)

It wouldn't be too late to sow after bringing the contamination level of B Field to 0%.

Clover and ryegrass are for livestock anyway.

And River Village doesn't have any livestock yet.

Afterwards, clearing and farming proceeded according to plan.

After lowering the contamination level of B Field, clover and ryegrass seeds were sown.

The slaves were divided; some took care of the barley, and the rest, along with the hired River people, cleared C Field.

And I.

‘Land Recovery’

In a praying posture, I diligently used the Land Recovery skill.

The sun that had risen high hung in the west, and the sky was stained red.

“Is our grandson's prayer finished?”

“I was just about to head in.”

I stood up from my spot and brushed off my knees.

Maintaining a devout posture always tended to dirty the lower part of my pants.

“Isn't it beautiful?”

The crimson sky and the barley field stretching beneath it.

It was like a painting.

But…

Isn't Grandfather anxious?

As the barley grew, worry increased among the people.

It's natural.

We've grown it diligently, but can we eat it?

What if it's contaminated by Demonic Energyand we can't eat it?

Such worries were bound to arise.

Because this is Monster Island.

“Aren't you anxious, Grandfather?”

“Anxious… yes. I am anxious.”

Unlike his words, Grandfather's expression was calm.

“But listen. If there is just one person in the world who will listen to you, it will be me. The person who will help you with what you have thought of will also be me. Whatever you suggested, I would have helped.”

Pang! Pang!

Grandfather slapped my back hard.

“Don't be anxious. If we can't eat that barley, let's hunt monsters together. Just like I did, you become a hunter too. Form a team. Then there will be no problem making a living.”

Grandfather told me not to be anxious, but it actually sounded like words directed at himself.

And mulling over his words, the assumption that the barley couldn't be eaten was underlying.

“Don't worry, Grandfather.”

“…”

He looked at me with a smile playing on his lips.

Accompanied by a gentle eye-smile.

I smiled back.

And ran towards the barley field.

I plucked a handful of the still-immature barley.

“Watch carefully, Grandfather!”

I put the barley in my mouth and chewed crudely.

I plucked another handful of barley and offered it to Grandfather.

“Try it.”

“This? It hasn't fully grown yet?”

“It's okay. Try it.”

Grandfather also tossed it into his mouth at once.

And chewed like me. Roughly.

“How is it?”

“... It's delicious. Really delicious.”

To be honest, it's not delicious.

It's bluish-green barley, not even ripened yet.

Plus, I'm chewing the grains and stems together at once.

It was a situation where it couldn't possibly be delicious.

But I understood Grandfather's words.

Because Magi-contaminated grass and fruit have a taste that's absolutely inedible.

Just the fact that it didn't have that strange... chemical-like taste,

was enough to describe it as delicious.

The next day.

The people of River Village flocked to the barley field.

Then they each broke off a stalk and put it in their mouths.

“Wow! I really don't taste anything strange!”

“Ooh!! This is… real!”

“Long live the Goddess of the Earth!!”

“Long live the Young Lord!!”

After this incident, the people of River Village worked even harder.

‘The slaves still lack motivation.’

Perhaps because they were from the continent, they weren't greatly impressed by the fact that grain grown from the ground could be eaten.

The slaves were like emotionless machines.

They woke up in the morning, worked, and slept when night came.

Work efficiency didn't increase much either.

It wasn't that they weren't working or slacking off, but progress felt somehow slow.

‘Is it because they have no hope.’

They are slaves.

Slaves today, slaves tomorrow.

They will likely be slaves until the day they die.

They can't even own private property.

Working hard doesn't mean they get paid more either.

Thinking from the slaves' perspective, that appearance seemed natural.

Rather, it would be strange if slaves worked with motivation.

‘At this rate, we won't be able to cultivate properly?’

We are clearing land of a size suitable for 100 people to cultivate.

Since A Field and B Field are complete, C and D must also be made the same size.

But looking at the work efficiency, it seemed difficult to cultivate the planned area.

‘This isn't something that can be solved just by telling them to work hard. Then what should I do...’

I pondered for several days.

Organized my thoughts and discussed them with Grandfather.

And the conclusion reached was, to pay a certain portion of the harvest as wages.

In other words, we decided to recognize private property.

I gathered the slaves and conveyed the decision.

After the story ended, one young slave raised his hand.

“Does the money we receive increase as the harvest amount increases?”

“That's right.”

We deliberately decided to give a certain percentage of the harvest, not a fixed amount.

To make them work harder.

The young slave raised his hand again.

Emotion flickered in his eyes.

Different from the dead eyes until now.

“Then… then can I save that money and buy myself?”

“Correct. There is a price we bought you for. If you pay that amount, we will release you from slavery.”

The slaves clenched their fists tightly.

They didn't cheer out loud, but just looking at their eyes, one could tell they were different from usual.

While they were cheering silently,

Isaac stepped forward.

He was currently acting as the leader of the slaves.

Because he was older and knew many things.

“What percentage of the income will we receive?”

“10% of the production.”

10%.

An ambiguous number.

No, a small number.

Farming in this other world is done entirely by humans from start to finish.

From sowing the seeds, to harvesting.

Humans do it all.

Besides, the 10% has to be divided again among 100 people.

Meaning, the amount an individual receives is only 0.1% of the harvest.

“The amount you receive will be larger than you think. Because…”

I explained why 10% was not a small amount.

First, the price of grain on Monster Island.

The Kallas Viscounty collects a 30% passage toll.

Adding transportation costs to this is the price of grain on Monster Island.

Even when low, it's 1.5 times the continental market price.

When expensive, it sometimes exceeds 2 times.

Second, the price of livestock.

Livestock are even more expensive than grain.

At least 3 times. During expensive periods, they are sometimes traded at 10 times the continental market price.

The slaves were surprised once by the grain prices, and surprised again by the livestock prices.

“I repeat, 10% is definitely not a small amount. If you just work hard, you will be able to free yourselves from slavery within a few years. I promise this on the honor of my family, Frontier.”

After the events of this day, the look in the slaves' eyes changed.

When clearing land, they tilled the ground deeper, and their handling of the barley became more meticulous.

Isaac even came to find me separately.

“You want to increase the cultivated area?”

“That's right. If we just work hard, we can cultivate a much larger area than now.”

Before, even the current cultivated area seemed difficult, but adding the two words 'hope', they were clamoring that it was actually too small.

“That can't be done. For now, we stick to the plan.”

Isaac bowed his head with a disappointed expression.

“And there was something I couldn't say that day, but even after being freed from slavery, if you want to continue farming, you may do so. To them, I will pay 15% of the harvest.”

A 50% wage increase.

I want these people to settle down and live on Monster Island.

Because population will not only strengthen the Frontier territory, but also strengthen my political power.

‘Anyway, since I freed them from slavery, they'll be loyal to me, right?’

“Thank you. I will convey this to the slaves, Master.”

Until this point, I thought everything would work out well.

Until I heard the bell ringing, breaking the dawn.

.

.

Ding. Ding. Ding. Ding.

Ding. Ding. Ding. Ding.

“What? What's that sound?”

The loudly ringing bell.

At that sound, I hastily sat up.

Then I grabbed my sword and went outside.

Other people also ran out of buildings.

I ran with the people.

Towards the source of the bell sound.