Chapter 195
(Kyle Calendar Year 510: Age 17)
The Harvest Festival
Translator : PolterGlast
The annual harvest
festival was held in Teigoon. In the beginning, when the farmland was scarce
and harvests outside the experimental farm were poor due to incomplete land
improvement, it felt more like a general festival than a celebration of the
harvest.
But this year was
vastly different.
Firstly, the harvest
collected as tax revenue had increased dramatically.
For the very first
settlers, before land improvements were made, the settlement condition had
promised five years tax-free. However, after land improvements progressed and a
reasonable harvest could be expected even in the first year, this was changed
to two years. And this year marked the third harvest season since the large-scale
settlement of Teigoon's pioneer villages began. The harvest from a total of 20
villages had started contributing to the domain's revenue.
Secondly, the overall
harvest yield had overwhelmingly increased.
Although not counted
as tax revenue, the harvest itself from the pioneer villages of Gaia, Ishtar,
and Aegis, developed in the third phase, had also increased, yielding a large
quantity of agricultural products.
The total harvest from
50 villages was immense.
Normally, pioneering
begins with cultivating wasteland, but in our domain, we hand over the land to
settlers only after completing all such preparations. In the hands of the Earth
Mages, tilling the earth and turning the soil over is child's play, and soil
improvement using oyster shells and horse manure is also done beforehand.
From the early stages
of town building, we had focused on animal husbandry, and we also possessed a
large number of warhorses from captured spoils. These were raised publicly, and
alongside that, compost production was also underway, contributing to improved
harvests.
Therefore, a harvest
could be expected even from the first year, and the farmers were able to sell
the harvest, which they would normally pay as tax, to me. They were able to
save funds for their new life in the new land and for the future.
With this, the
domain's food self-sufficiency rate improved dramatically.
We have now reached
the point where the food we previously purchased from other domains is now
bought from our farmers and then sold to other domains. And in two years, all
of this will be reflected as tax revenue.
The supplies we
released in exchange during the Supreme Tournament could now be fully
replenished from our reserves.
Due to these
circumstances, this year's harvest festival became a festival that celebrated
the harvest in its true sense, on a grand scale.
※
The harvest festival,
including the eve celebration, became a three-day town-wide extravaganza,
including the customary light-up. Of course, as promised and just like before, all
food and drink in town were provided free of charge in a grand display of
generosity.
Perhaps influenced by
this year's Supreme Tournament, the number of people visiting Teigoon for
tourism to see the harvest festival and the influx of merchants who saw
business opportunities had also increased significantly.
Incidentally, the
festival and the grand generosity were held not only in Teigoon but also in
Gaia, Ishtar, and Aegis, albeit for only one day.
In the town of
Teigoon, the eve festival began, and after my address, everyone was enjoying
the festival as they pleased.
"Somehow...
thinking back to when we first built a town in this land, it feels like a
dream."
"Especially for
you, Miseri-san, since you were the very first among us to come here, it must
feel even more so. It feels like such a long time ago that you explained this
place to me."
Miseri and Claire were
talking, looking at the festival scene with deep emotion.
"Takuhir-sama,
you said you would create a settlement here nine years ago, when you turned
eight, didn't you? At that time, I couldn't imagine the town looking like this
at all. Nor that you would take me as your wife."
Anne was also
reminiscing fondly. It was true. At that time, I was desperate to secure the
Commander and probably just listed some plausible reasons, saying I would
create a settlement in Teigoon.
But why Teigoon?
Because it was on the
Empire's invasion route? Because it was a safe, natural fortress? Because it
was where the plague originated? Because I knew there was a mine nearby?
It's true that those
were reasons within my mind, but I felt I had to choose this place. I felt an
irresistible urge to do so. This was from the very beginning when I started
making various plans.
Why, though? I feel
like there was some other reason for my attachment, but I didn't remember it
then, and I don't remember it now.
"I, too, was
first spoken to at this harvest festival. If not for that chance meeting, I
would still be..."
Yes, meeting Yor
(Yorutia/Yoltia) back then was a complete coincidence. If I hadn't spoken with
them at that time, many fates would likely have changed. Surely, for the
worse... I suddenly felt that.
"Right, the first
time I met Yoltia was also here, on a bench next to a stall in the central
plaza. Since it's a special occasion, shall we buy the same things as back then
and eat them on a bench together?"
"Yes!"
"Definitely!" "I'll accompany you!" "I'd love
that!"
My four wives each
agreed with happy expressions.
※
In Teigoon now, the
number of food stalls had increased. Popular spots like the central plaza and
the main street were already full, and stalls now spread out onto the side
streets as well.
There were also stalls
offering Empire-style cuisine and Imperial Kingdom-style cuisine, and there was
even an authentic Empire-style restaurant in the dining district.
These were initially
started by immigrants from their respective countries, but they had been
accepted by the residents of Teigoon and had become quite popular.
Empire-style cuisine
often featured spicy dishes using various spices, while Imperial Kingdom-style
cuisine centered around potatoes, which were not commonly eaten in the Kyle
Kingdom.
Some spices were
fundamentally imported, but they also circulated through routes other than the
Empire, so their prices were not particularly high. It hadn't become like
spices in medieval Europe, but sugar was the exception.
As for potatoes, they
were eaten in the northern regions of the Kyle Kingdom but were unfamiliar in
the southern regions. However, Teigoon was different.
I had encouraged the
cultivation of potatoes since the early days of the town's development as a
crop that could grow even in poor soil, and both the harvest and demand were
considerable.
For a time, my father
had been called the "Potato Baron" and held his head in his hands,
but I called the potato-like tuber that grew well even in Teigoon's soil the
"Baron Potato" and actively cultivated it.
My father, upon learning
this previously, had looked at me with a slightly resentful expression, but now
it was apparently being actively cultivated in his domain as well.
Right now, I am in the
process of developing a new specialty using crops harvested in Aegis, imported
spices, and Baron Potatoes. It's still trial and error, but I plan to conduct
test sales at restaurants in Teigoon eventually.
※
After the five of us
had enjoyed our meal at the food stall for a while, I remembered something.
"By the way, Miseri,
what happened with that trade caravan?"
"Yes, a fast
horse arrived from the town of Est in the evening as an advance messenger. It
seems they are departing the town of Est today, so they are likely spending the
night in Fran right about now. Their arrival will probably be tomorrow."
"I see. It takes
a fair amount of time from the southern border, doesn't it. Are the reception
preparations in order?"
"Yes, we have
sent a guide to Fran, so I believe they will be able to get there without any
problems. Furthermore, notifications have been issued to the gate guards,
soldiers, and the self-defense force, and the administration has also completed
preparations for their reception and lodging arrangements."
"Thank you,
that's perfect."
Yes, currently there are
only two routes to get from the southern border to Teigoon.
One is to cut through
the demon territory side. However, that path is fraught with danger, and while
possible for cavalry alone, the road is not maintained well enough for a trade
caravan to pass. This is deliberate, also considering defense.
The other route is to
pass through the Southern Gate fortress from the border, turn left onto the
highway at the city of Burg, pass through Viscount Cornell's domain into Est,
and then head south through Fran.
This road is
maintained as a trade route, and the road from Est to Gaia, in particular, is
quite well-maintained.
There is also a road
that goes from Margrave Hastburg's domain through the central part of the
former Viscount Hiyorimi's domain, now Viscount Cornell's domain, but this
mountain pass side road remains undeveloped. It is considered a difficult
passage for carriages and pack animals and is hardly used.
Viscount Cornell, who
holds the territory, is apparently leaving it as a difficult passage
deliberately, in preparation for an Imperial army invasion.
In my domain as well,
the route from the former Hiyorimi domain, now Viscount Cornell's domain, to
Fran is deliberately left undeveloped. Of course, for cavalry or infantry
alone, it is possible to take the undeveloped road to Dimos and then move on to
Fran, but...
Except for the roads
connecting Ishtar and Dimos, and Dimos and Gaia, the others are deliberately
left undeveloped.
I remember reading in
some book that even in Japan's Warring States period, highways were often
deliberately left undeveloped. A road convenient for trade and the movement of
one's own army could also become a convenient invasion route for an invading
army.
Especially now, with
the Empire's invasion looming, we have decided on a policy of deliberately not
developing any roads other than those convenient for our defense and the
minimum necessary for trade.
"Well, it's a
hassle for them, but having them come via the official route is the best
option. In the future, we'll probably need to construct some sort of defensive
points along that route as well."
"Indeed. The
stewards of the various domains will proceed with discussions on that
matter."
"Thank you. Well
then, let's just relax and enjoy the festival together today."
With important tasks
awaiting us the next day and beyond, we decided to enjoy a brief moment of
respite.
-----
Thank you for my Patrons !!
[Platinum]
Gabriel Flores
[Gold]
B random
DavidA
Nepheos
ShitaiNoKootoRyuu
[Silver]
Creris
Frédéric Bertrand-Hudon
Good or Hype
Matthew Fraser
Xavier O'Donoghue
Anton Lim
aviel zaken
Ctdela
Curious Panda
Didntpassit
nick nasca
openope
rads
SD Fox
Read Advanced Chapters only on my Patreon
-----
