Chapter 465: Breaktime before the Next Step
The pig from the island was roasted.
A shallow pit was dug on the ground and filled with white and black charcoal. The fire flickered with the wind. While the other villagers were working on the fields, the elderly turned the spit round and round until the pig was roasted well, although the skin was charred.
Auro used a huge knife to remove the charred surface from the back, then it was my turn to cut up the first few portions.
First was for the village chief, then next was for the officials ー one was appointed by the villagers, while the other one occasionally visited from the island. It was a small village so it was enough; they only had to direct the farming work, after all.
Fundamentally, everything within the fief is owned by the fief lord, although depending on the region, some folks also own lands that weren’t under direct management of the lord. It’s similar to how kings bestow lands on the nobles, with the scope shrunk to a much smaller scale.
This world has different sorts of government institutions, such as kingdoms with sovereigns and aristocrats as well as independent fiefs like mine.
For now, I’m opening plots on the fields for everyone to use freely, but everything technically belongs to me! Yeah, sounds a bit greedy, but I did re-dig the well in the dried up square, and since this land is pretty worn out, I’m also helping out with the firewood and some food for the time being. So far, I’m putting in more than I’m getting out.
「Oh, thank you very much. It is delicious. 」
The village chief was obviously in a good mood, his face breaking into a huge grin.
I’m relieved to see that the other folks are also all smiles. After all, I’m asking them to grow a strange crop they hadn’t seen before ー or should I say rumored to be toxic, after all. It’s just plain old tomato, though.
「It’s all thanks to you that we don’t have to see another one of us starve to death. 」
Ack, why suddenly say those heavy words!
After giving the important folks their share, I left the rest to the village chief and the officials to manage. After cutting the cooked parts, they turned the spit over and over again to roast the exposed meat, then cut it again, repeat.
「The food I’m going to give you now is actually the vegetables that you guys planted today. It’s called tomato, but it’s not poisonous. Depending on the season, you can either grill it or stew it as is, but what I’m showing you now is tomato dried and preserved in oil. Have a taste of the crop that you guys planted. 」
I cut corners and simply gave an explanation about a tomato in lieu of a speech. It’s a hassle, so I kept it short. While I spoke, they distributed the pizza that I baked in the meeting hall. It’s a simple one made with cheese and tomatoes.
The spirits didn’t have a hand in it, the tomatoes were harvested from the island, and the wheat and other ingredients were purchased in Nalluahdid. There was buzzing among the villagers as they curiously took a slice each.
「This red thing here? 」
「You’re saying we planted this today? 」
「Smells nice. 」
「This cheese thing tastes great! 」
Hey, that last one, that’s not the point, okay.
Seems like this place is so rural that they didn’t even know about the rumors of tomatoes being poisonous? Is it because these tomatoes look pretty different from the ones people say are toxic, so maybe they don’t even see them as the same thing? Which is it, I wonder?
Oh, right, once there’s a bit more greenery in this place, I’m gonna hire some herders and start raising cattle or sheep. We can keep more animals here than on the island, so that should really help things along.
The spirits are working hard, so it probably won’t be long before this land is covered in greenery. I’d like to set up a 『Fae’s Bough』as a resting spot somewhere around here.
But then, it’s a small village after all, and the well is right smack in the middle of the square, so finding a suitable location might be a bit tricky. The square is surrounded by the villagers’ houses, and it’s not the kind of village that usually has a 『Fae’s Bough』in the first place.
「Milord, is something troubling you? 」
My expression must’ve been quite troubled, so Auro asked.
「Nah, I’m just thinking of building a 『Fae’s Bough』. I’m not gonna put a genuine bough there, but it’s gonna be a hangout spot for the spirits. Yup, I should add it to the assembly hall, huh? 」
It’s a place where the water flows and there’s lots of flowers too.
「It’s a splendid idea. 」
Auro answered me with a smile.
『Fae’s Bough』are usually built separately from the fief lord’s residence, but I think it’s better to do that instead of building it away from the village. Once the forest becomes more dense, it can also become a resting area too.
Anyway, both the whole roast pig and pizza were received favorably. The villagers were fired up when they learned that tomatoes keep well.
「Milord, you have quite the talent for winning the hearts of your people. 」
Auro’s eyes were sparkling.
Uh, can you please tone down your expectations? Even if I win them over with food, it’s not like getting along well meant the fief lord’s job was already done. I know that much. Oh well, I can directly employ folks to do the work, though.
After all, I just express what I want, and Soleil and the others would handle the hard stuff such as coordination and the like.
Let’s bring something to Soleil as thanks for her hard work. The Earthkin can probably make a work of art out of the dragon scales. I didn’t ask what they’re gonna make, but based on Hauron’s story, whatever they make, it would surely be a topnotch tool or a work of art.
At any rate, the work in the enclave is going well, and the azure island is also doing great, so I guess the fief lord’s job has settled down?
I already did the things I’m supposed to do, and I already went to the southernmost area in search of dragons, so from tomorrow onwards, I’m gonna set off to explore the east.
NEXT CHAPTER
RELEASE RATE
I Got Transferred in the Middle of a Mountain
Speed up schedule by 10 hours
Current schedule: Every 80 hours
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