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Chapter 464: Ripua

Auro and I went to the coastal enclave of Talia Peninsula.

It’s the land that the fief lord handed over because of the problem with the drought. The sun was already originally too strong and there’s too little rainfall over this piece of land, but it’s been especially tough here and the neighboring Marina Peninsula the past three years.

The region is called Ripua, and it’s located on the southern tip of the Talia Peninsula, facing the eastern sea. I’m here today to check out this year’s tomato planting.

The white soil stretched on, and it was relatively flat compared to the other lands of Talia, which are mostly gentle sloping hills and mountainous areas, much like how it is with the area surrounding my 『House』.

「MiLord, I prepared a parasol, would you like to use it? 」
「Nah, I’m good. 」
You think I’m some sort of noble lady?

It’s still spring but it’s already pretty hot. If the island didn’t have waterways then it would probably be the same over there. The sparse grass and pale soil somehow make it feel even more sweltering.

Auro had taken off his coat, but he didn’t have a drop of sweat on him. He’s still the same as always, his lips curled with his usual smile. Maybe I’m just used to seeing him in a coat, but seeing him wearing his shirt with rolled-up sleeves felt a bit novel.

The islanders bring the seedlings and the folks of Ripua plant them. They’ve been growing potatoes until not too long ago, and those were sold as seed potatoes in Nalluahdid. They were big, solid with yellow flesh. They’re made for warmer climates, so the Nalluahdid merchants would first grow them around here and then transport them to the north and west regions.

I’d like to cultivate some potatoes that are suitable for colder regions too. I can grow a small batch in the mountain where my 『House』is, but I’m not sure where to grow them in bulk.

Of course, I had Soleil and a few of the farmers who actually grew them have a taste before selling the seed potatoes. They liked it a lot, so I allowed them to plant some more on the edge of the tomato fields for the villagers. It’s a crop that stores well, so I encouraged them to do it.

The village is named after Ripua too. The actual region known as Ripua is bigger than the land I own, but there’s not much out there, just uninhabited land. There had been three other villages in the area until last year, but they all left the place because of the drought.

Those folks were working cheap labor jobs at the port now, apparently. Their situation isn’t great, but they were so close to starving so it’s better than nothing.

The villagers here were originally packaged with the land when it was sold to me, and there were about 40 of them. Should I assign a governor or something? Or should I establish it as Ripua fief and instate a fief lord or something? Or maybe it’s kinda like a manor?

Anyway, I built a mansion near the village houses. It’ll serve as an assembly hall-slash-residence for the officials. Calling it a ‘mansion’ is probably being generous, but it’s already magnificent compared to the other houses.

It has a fireplace for cooking and an oven for baking bread. They make food here in bulk to save on firewood. If each household baked their own bread and cooked separately, firewood would get very expensive, especially since there aren’t many trees around here.

Technically, there’s also a ‘woods of the fief lord’, but it’s just a grove of trees. If the whole village used it for firewood all year, I’m pretty sure it’d turn into a barren area in no time.

Before I made the oven, the villagers had been boiling their grains then eating it as is. They boiled it in a huge cauldron at the village square then distributed it to the households.

I’m cultivating that grove of trees as of now, so it’s off limits now, entry is banned. The undergrowth is starting to thrive and the branches of the trees are also growing longer, although the growth isn’t as much as expected because it’s too hot. There were also spirits around here, but it’s not the ideal environment for them.

The tomatoes I tasked them to grow were the variety suitable for processing. These tomatoes have thick skin that you have to peel first before eating, and are good for stews and cooking. I didn’t give them the Japanese variety with thin skin and can be eaten raw since it’s better to choose the variety that can keep well, especially when considering food shortage and circulation. It’s a huge plus since it’s easy to grow too.

I watched them work for a bit. Under the guidance of the islanders, the villagers planted the tomatoes without a hitch. The farming would probably be a lot easier if the earth spirits here are livelier.

Ah, come to think of it, there had been a ton of scorching heat spirits, sun ray spirits, dry wind spirits and crumbling dirt spirits here when I first saw this place. After diligently working here, the scorching heat spirits had transformed into warmth spirits, while the crumbling dirt spirits turned into slightly dry soil spirits.

It seems the spirits who respond to climate change also adapt their nature to match. In regions with steady climates such as the place where the dragons live, the spirits there don’t change much over time.

Alrighty, let’s go make some pizza. Gotta show them what sort of veggie they’re growing, after all. Of course we have to make them eat too. I brought lots of canned tomatoes just for this.

Soleil also sent a whole pig ー I’m not literally carrying it, though. The islanders brought it here.

They say a good lord throws a feast and generously bestows meat on festivals and special occasions. Time for the whole roast piggy!