[WN] Hidden Reincarnated Hero : Chapter 38

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038 Stunned and Speechless

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Translator : PolterGlast

I returned from the 6th floor of the dungeon and exchanged items at the Explorer's Guild. While exchanging, I felt a tickle on my back, so I thought someone was targeting me and turned around, but there were too many people, and I couldn't tell who was giving me unpleasant glances.

 

First of all, all three of us are beauties. Reluctantly, all three of us, including myself, have cute faces. It wouldn't be surprising to be stared at with unpleasant gazes by rough explorers.

 

I waited, keeping an eye on my surroundings, and successfully exchanged my items.

·        Gargoyle (Normal): 32 F-rank magic stones = 19,200 Grill.

·        Gargoyle (Rare): 2 Petrification Daggers = 50,000 Grill.

·        BOSS Sword Gargoyle (Normal): 1 Gargoyle Sword = 16,000 Grill.

※ Total: 85,200 Grill.

 

Two rare drop Petrification Daggers dropped from the Gargoyles, making it a decent amount. Since I already had one, I sold these two.

 

"We came back a bit early today, so how about we grab something to eat before heading home? What do you two want?" I asked. When I said that, their faces immediately brightened. They weren't exactly gloomy before, but it was like their beauty factor went up a notch.

 

"Anything's fine. What do you want to eat?" I pressed.

 

"I'd like the Kuu in Burgan stew from Jold's Tavern," Anneliese said. Kuu is a river fish, but it's light and delicious. Kuu in Burgan stew is simply Kuu stewed in Burgan. I'd never been to Jold's Tavern, but Anneliese said it was quite delicious.

 

"I want grilled pond squid!" Rosalina exclaimed. Grilled pond squid was Rosalina's favorite, but it seemed she loved it enough to choose it even when told anything was fine.

 

"Alright then, let's stop by Jold's Tavern after buying some grilled pond squid."

"Yes," Anneliese replied.

"Yes!" Rosalina chimed in.

 

"Excuse me, may I have a moment?" A stranger's voice interrupted.

 

A man around 40 years old stood behind me, smiling. "I wanted to ask for a moment of your time," he said, stepping closer while maintaining a certain distance. He was quite bold.

 

"What is it?" I asked.

 

"I serve His Excellency Duke Arcaine-Gardland, who governs Kerniff," he stated.

 

"!" He's a subordinate of that Duke, huh? Did he figure out who I am? How did he know?

 

"I heard that Master Toi conquered the 4th floor, so I came here."

 

"4th... floor?" What does he mean? Is it not about the bandits?

 

"Master," Anneliese whispered, tugging lightly on my sleeve. "Conquering the 4th floor usually means you've surpassed Level 10. You're being scouted by the ducal army." Her voice was soft, almost swallowed by the commotion.

 

I recalled hearing about being scouted around Level 10. Oh, so that's what it is. I panicked for nothing.

 

"Sorry. I haven't been an explorer for a while, so I completely forgot."

"No, Anneliese, it's not your fault, don't worry about it," I said. It was I who should have been paying attention to such things. I should have looked around the Explorer's Guild more thoroughly.

 

"How would you feel about having a talk at the government office?" the official suggested.

 

"I appreciate you reaching out, but I don't think I'm suited for public service. And I'm not strong. It's thanks to these two here that I was able to conquer the 4th floor," I replied. My Traveler job doesn't level up in combat, so I wouldn't be suspected at Level 1. However, since that would be suspicious, I presented the stance that I could explore dungeons because of Anneliese and Rosalina.

 

"I see, these two... Excuse me, but would you be willing to transfer them?"

 

"You jest. I wouldn't part with them for any amount of money," I stated.

 

"Is that so? What a pity," the official said.

"If you'll excuse me," I said, trying to walk past the official, but I froze.

 

From the guild's entrance, that monster had entered. It was Barukan, the one who supported the ducal house in military matters. Barukan's presence was unlike anyone else's. He exuded an overwhelming aura. His presence was sharp like a sword, piercing me.

 

"Master..." Anneliese murmured.

"I'm scared..." Rosalina whispered.

Both Anneliese and Rosalina were affected by Barukan's abnormal presence.

 

Barukan stopped in front of me, who was frozen in place. He was massive, but he seemed even larger than his actual size. Ugh, this is bad. I have to escape somehow.

 

"E-excuse me..." I stammered, trying to avoid Barukan and gather all my strength in my legs to move.

 

"Wait," Barukan commanded.

"!? W-what is it?" Terrifying! This guy is a walking weapon!

 

"Come with me. You are not permitted to escape." He said, placing a hand on the hilt of his sword. Why me? Did he come to scout me because he thought I was Level 10? I can't imagine him showing up for something like that. Did the Duke find out about me?

 

Escaping wasn't a good idea. At least, I couldn't escape in front of him. "A-Anneliese and Rosalina, go back to the house."

 

"But..." Anneliese started.

"Master..." Rosalina pleaded.

 

"It's fine... You two, go home," I insisted, even though I didn't think it was fine, but I couldn't think of anything else to say.

 

I sent the two of them away and followed Barukan. Around him were six soldiers. The scout from earlier was also there. Was this part of the scouting process? No, it wasn't. The scout was buying time. He was buying time until Barukan arrived. I'd been had...

 

Thinking about that, it was highly probable that Barukan knew my true identity. What was the Duke planning to do with me? Was he going to kill me or capture me?

 

The castle was getting closer and closer. I felt like I could hear the song "Donna Donna" playing in the background.

 

I was ready to escape at any moment. My Item Box contained weapons, food, and money. But escaping was my last resort.

 

I entered the castle silently, but the iron sword I had simply tucked into my waist was taken. It didn't matter since it wasn't my Mithril Two-Handed Sword.

 

"Confirming your record card," a slender civil servant chanted, and my record card emerged from my chest. It was a mysterious sight every time. I was told it was fine, and my record card was returned. A dead person's record card disappears in a year, but a living person's record card disappears naturally in about 10 minutes, so I put it in my pocket. Even if it's stolen, it will disappear naturally, so there's no problem.

 

I continued silently through the castle. If I kept going like this... "Enter," Barukan said.

 

It was the Duke's office. Of course, the Duke was seated at his desk. I wanted to go home.

 

The Duke's facial muscles were as immobile as ever. "This is His Excellency Duke Arcaine-Gardland," Barukan announced, but I didn't know what to do. It couldn't be helped; I'm a commoner. This was my first time formally meeting and speaking with a Duke.

 

"Um... I don't know the proper etiquette..." I began.

 

"It doesn't matter," the Duke said in his deep, mellow voice.

 

"Now, since Barukan brought you, it means it's true, doesn't it?"

 

"Yes. Without a doubt," Barukan confirmed. What are they talking about? What does Barukan mean? What kind of conversation are they having between them!?

 

"Your name is Toi, wasn't it?"

"Yes," I replied.

 

"Let's skip the troublesome formalities. I will bestow a reward upon you. You understand the meaning, don't you?" Troublesome? There's nothing more troublesome than this, even if I ignore it... The fact that he's giving me a reward must mean he already knows who I am.

 

"What are you referring to?" I asked, unwilling to admit anything. I won't admit it, I won't.

 

"The Shardina Bandit Gang. You presented me with this ledger, didn't you?" He picked up the ledger and showed it to me. I decided to make a feeble attempt to resist.

 

"I have no knowledge of that, so I cannot accept a reward."

 

"It doesn't matter. I have repaid my debt. That's all that needs to be. Your feelings and circumstances are secondary," he said bluntly. But I couldn't take his words at face value. This man was convinced that I had given him that ledger. I wanted to ask how he found out, but if I did, it would be the same as admitting it. What to do?

 

"I have no knowledge of that, but you say you'll give me a reward anyway?" I asked. I guessed it was Barukan. Since he brought me here, the Duke was convinced I had given him the ledger.

 

How did Barukan identify me? Even with Detailed Appraisal, he didn't have Appraisal or similar skills. What did that mean...?! Could it be that!? Looking at Barukan's description, I realized he had a "wild intuition." Was he saying he identified me with his wild intuition!?

 

"That's right," the Duke said. Even if I denied it, he would forcibly give me a reward. That was his stance, so he wouldn't accept a refusal. Perhaps I should deny it while accepting the reward. That might satisfy the Duke. If he's satisfied, he won't bother me. I hoped so, but what would happen?

 

"I have no knowledge of this, but since Your Excellency says so, I will accept it. However, if you later say it was a mistake, I can do nothing," I stated.

 

"Hmm. Then, for the contents of the reward..." The Duke said. I had received 500,000 Grill from Golteo-san for helping with the bandit extermination. How much would the Duke give me? I'd laugh if it was too little, but I'd also be put off if it was too much. It was originally tax money, not the Duke's personal funds, so I hoped he wouldn't waste it.

 

Come to think of it, what was inside that safe in the Shardina Bandit Gang's mansion? If I asked that, it would be a foolish self-incrimination. I was curious, but I decided not to ask.

 

"Explorer Toi," the Duke said.

 

"Yes," I replied, straightening my back.

 

"I hereby bestow upon you the title of Honorary Baron."

 

"H-huh!?" I stammered.

 

"Did you not hear me? I said I bestow upon you the title of Honorary Baron."

 

"...Is the reward not money?" I asked.

 

"Who said such a thing?"

 

"...No one did," I admitted. Come on! No one would normally think something like that!

 

"Zaigen. Begin the procedures immediately. And teach him the mindset of a noble."

 

"Understood!" Zaigen replied.

 

Did I just get screwed over? Ugh, if it comes to this, I'll use my noble authority!

 

"From now on, if anything comes up, consult Zaigen there."

 

"Y-yes..." Seriously...? Did I become a noble? This wasn't in the plans. What should I do?

 

I stood there, dumbfounded.

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[WN] Jitsuwa 3-Domedatta : Chapter 47

Chapter 47

(Kyle Calendar Year 505: Age 12)

Teigun Development Project ②: Agricultural Production

Translator : PolterGlast

Shortly after my arrival, a full-fledged spring came to Mount Teigun.

 

Snowmelt created numerous small streams, flowing gently down the slopes of the flatland.

New green shoots sprouted everywhere in the grassland on the slopes, and flowers began to bloom.

 

The town was still under construction everywhere, and it was a pity that we couldn't secure enough snowmelt. Still, it was fortunate that we were able to store water in at least a part of the completed dry moat.

 

Alongside the construction of the town and defense facilities, we had to look towards agricultural production for the future.

Therefore, we established a department specifically overseeing farmland development and related matters.

 

We recruited about 50 experienced individuals from the settlers who had originally been engaged in agriculture.

With them as the core, we hired more people and entrusted them with the operation of public experimental farms, grazing, and dairy farming.

 

"Today, as our first task, I would like you to install beehives," I said, explaining how to install them and requesting their placement in various locations.

 

"You, as the Lord, don't have to sweat installing them yourself..."

Such words reached my ears from somewhere, but I pretended not to hear them.

 

『Show them how, tell them, let them do it, and praise them; only then will people move. (Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto)』

These were words I liked. To be precise, they were the favorite words of Nishida Takuhir from my [previous-previous life].

 

With enough manpower, the installation of the beehives was completed in a single day.

If only at least 20% of them took hold... all I could do was pray.

 

The installation of 100 locations (it would have been a tremendous task if I had done it alone) was completed, and from the next day, I began working on the experimental farm.

 

"The results of the cultivation experiments at the experimental farm will be reflected in the farmland of the settlement in the future.

This is the purpose of this work, so please follow the instructions."

 

Unlike the central part of the Estol territory, the vicinity of Mount Teigun, perhaps due to the influence of the border mountain range and Mount Teigun itself, had relatively adequate rainfall suitable for farming. I suspected the problem probably lay in the soil.

 

Therefore, at the experimental farm, we first spread oyster shell lime and then began soil improvement by plowing fermented horse manure into the soil.

 

Fortunately, there were many horses, so there was no shortage of horse manure.

In [this world], livestock manure was also used in farmland, so this task could be left to others.

 

"Is it alright to spread something like this... on the fields?"

Only the oyster shell lime was something even experienced farmers had never seen before, causing them to be bewildered.

 

We used the oyster shells that Bart had collected previously, sun-dried, and crushed at the watermill near the town of Est.

 

Some were used as fertilizer after being crushed as they were, and some were used as fertilizer after being calcined and then crushed.

Furthermore, some were left as whole shells and submerged in various locations in the sewer system.

 

The ones submerged in the sewer system were intended to purify and improve the water quality through the oyster shells.

I didn't know the effect, but I thought it was worth trying.

 

The oyster shells that Bart had newly brought back on his recent peddling trip were currently being desalinated and would be sun-dried in the future.

 

Once the soil improvement work on the experimental farm and the town's vacant land (temporary farmland) was completed, we began planting.

 

Experimental Farm

• The right section cultivated grains, the left section cultivated several types of vegetables.
• Since the appropriate amount of oyster shell lime was unknown, the amount was varied for each section.
• A four-field crop rotation system (wheat → root vegetables → barley → forage crops) was adopted.

 

We began experimenting in this way and decided to observe the progress.

 

Utilization of Undeveloped Land in the Town

Besides the experimental farm, there was still a lot of vacant land in the town. Some of it was decided to be used for agriculture for the time being.

• Four sections of 200 m² were used as pastureland.
• Poultry and livestock were raised in the pastureland, and grazing and dairy farming were carried out.
• Four sections of 50 m² around the lord's mansion branch were made into fields to cultivate potatoes and turnips.
• Other vacant land in sections where there were no residents for the time being was also utilized.
• Potatoes and turnips, which have a fast harvest, were mainly cultivated and utilized in the temporary cultivated land.

 

We proceeded in this way.

 

If the results of the soil improvement were successful, we planned to implement them in the settlement land outside the town.

Or rather, I just hoped it would go well.

 

The cultivation of vacant land was entrusted to the orphans of the orphanage, and the children attending school also cultivated potatoes as part of their lessons.

 

As a result, other citizens also came forward wanting to cultivate vacant land.

Similar to the experimental farm, we also conducted trial operations of oyster shell lime and experiments using fermented compost made from livestock manure on these plots.

 

Land Outside the Town

Several preferential measures were prepared for those who moved to the settlement land outside the town.

• Several safe settlement areas designated by the government office were prepared in advance.
• Settlers who moved in would have their harvests tax-free for the first five years.
• Subsidies would be provided on the condition of periodically engaging in corvée labor.

 

※

 

The agricultural plan progressed steadily, and issues were discussed at a regular meeting held at the Teigun government office.

 

"We have a complete lack of livestock in the pastureland. To meet demand, we need several times the current number."

 

"Yeah... is the cause of Claire's point transportation?"

 

"Yes, because the roads are not developed, there are transportation costs and other issues, so procurement is not progressing.

In the town of Teigun, the proportion of construction workers is abnormally high compared to the population, and meat consumption is also high, so the current situation is that we cannot keep up with demand."

 

"Bart, can the town of Fran meet the demand? ... No, it's impossible, right?"

 

"With the current number of people, Fran is already beyond its limits.

Considering the increase in laborers from now on... it will be difficult."

 

"I see. Even if it takes some time and money, could you go as far as the town of Est to procure meat and spread information to the traveling merchants that 'Fran is buying livestock at a higher price than the market price'?"

 

"Also, for the time being, the only option might be to drastically increase the number of poultry, which are easier to transport... right?"

 

"Understood. I will gather as much as possible."

 

Bart understood. For the laborers doing physical work, the presence and quantity of meat also affected morale.

This was something I wanted to avoid at all costs.

 

Living creatures such as livestock and poultry cannot be stored in spatial storage.

Therefore, since mass transportation by Bart was not possible, we had no choice but to increase their numbers steadily over time.

 

"Any other problems?"

 

"Well, perhaps the fact that the settlement land outside the town remains unpopular."

 

"Miseri-san, I think it's unavoidable at this point that immigration to the settlement land outside the town is not progressing."

 

Yes, due to its location close to the Demon Realm, there was a world of difference between inside the town walls and outside the town walls.

Frankly, as the construction of the safe town enclosed by walls progressed, it was expected that immigration to the land outside the town, which was not popular from the beginning, would not proceed.

 

Once the town development and castle wall construction were completed, we planned to develop settlement land enclosed by safe partition walls, but construction had not yet begun. And there were concerns about the soil and agricultural water, even in agricultural production.

 

In the future, if the operation results of the experimental farm progressed well, we could deploy that know-how, or so I thought.

 

"For the time being, we won't actively solicit immigration to the settlement land outside the town, and we'll provide guidance once preparations are somewhat complete. Can we handle it that way?"

 

"Understood. I will provide that guidance at the reception office.

Um... is it alright to accept reservations from those wishing to immigrate?"

 

"If Claire can manage it, it would be helpful to know the number of applicants... but can you handle it?"

 

"It's alright. First, we will post that we have started accepting reservations and will provide guidance in the future."

 

I was relieved by the reply of my capable right-hand woman (Claire).

 

※

 

Some time later, a troublesome problem arose.

Even with the additions, the oyster shells, which should have been a vast quantity, were likely to become insufficient in the future if consumption continued at the current pace.

 

Moreover, there were multiple issues.

• Traveling back and forth to the coastline of a distant neighboring country.
• The subsequent processes of desalination and sun-drying were necessary.
• Preparation time was required, and even if obtained, they could not be used immediately.
• The trouble of stopping by the town of Est once for the crushing work.

 

Yes, the crushing work done near the town of Est also involved the trouble of unloading the cargo once, processing it, and then transporting it back to Teigun after crushing.

 

Moreover, it was a waste of Bart's time to be tied up during that period, and manpower was also needed to manage the processing and crushing.

 

Bart was running around transporting ore and goods, and it was practically impossible for him to be away from transportation duties for about half a year.

 

When I was racking my brains, two helping hands reached out.

 

First was Bart's proposal.

Considering the future hassle, he had paid the price locally and requested the collection, desalination, and sun-drying of the oyster shells.

 

"I apologize for acting on my own initiative."

 

I almost hugged him, who was prostrating himself.

 

With this, if we hurried using horses, we could make a round trip to the coastline of the neighboring country in about a month and a half.

 

We could have him head out to collect oyster shells while keeping an eye on the stockpiling of food and other daily necessities, and the transportation status of iron ore to the town of Fran.

 

I told him he could use the funds and asked him to continue collecting oyster shells and carrying out local processing for the time being.

 

And then there was Foreman Karl, who had newly opened a workshop in the town of the settlement (Teigun).

He had received permission to branch out from Workshop Head Geld and had immigrated to the town of Teigun with his disciples.

 

"In Teigun too, although on a smaller scale, I think we can build a watermill utilizing the height difference of the upper water channel."

 

"Karl-san! Please, by all means!"

 

I jumped at this proposal.

 

With this, not only could we crush oyster shells, but we could also process the wheat harvested in Teigun into flour.

I immediately adopted Karl-san's proposal and placed an order.

 

After the watermill was completed, I also incidentally requested the development of a windmill utilizing the wind blowing down from Mount Teigun.

 

In this way, while still facing many challenges, the agricultural production improvement plan that had begun with the experimental farm was set to move forward step by step.

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