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52. Dark Clouds

「Marge-sama, another paddy field has once again…」

「……I see.」

The paddy field that the werewolf was pointing at didn’t have the ripe rice-plant that it should have.

We have divided the rice field into seven parts. This was to test out various conditions and to prevent them from being wiped out all at once for some reason.

Two of them had twisted stems and did not bear fruit, and two were eaten by insects and most of them withered. The remaining three were supposed to be growing smoothly, but in one of them the rice-plants began to fall over and wither at the same time. It was probably some kind of disease.

「Pick as many rice-plants needed for research, and burn the rest.」

「B-But there are still a few stems which haven’t withered!」

「If it’s a disease, it might spread to other rice fields. Let’s contain it in this field.」

「Understood……」

The werewolves’ walked over with a heavy heart. Still, they understood that it was necessary and started a fire. All of them stared at the slowly burning rice plants.

「Master, don’t be discouraged.」

「Yeah, I know.」

Koe-san snuggled close to console me, but she personally was not bothered by it. With this, there are only two paddy fields left. If even just one of them does not produce rice, the village’s food supply will be in trouble.

Shizuku, who had worked hard to procure rice seeds and farming tools, was just staring at the rice-plants as it turned to ashes. Her flaxen ears, which are always perked up, had no strength.

「Marge.」

「What’s wrong, Shizuku?」

「It will go well, right?」

「It’s going to be fine. It’s our job to say that no matter what happens.」

「I-I see. You’re right.」

Behind Shizuku, who was smacking herself on the cheek to get some energy, Angelina was holding a withered rice plant in her hand, staring at it intently.

「Angelina, how do you see the current situation? Have you learned anything?」

「This is a disease caused by something which looks like mold. Geli also thinks that the only option was incineration. Since the waterways are separated, there is little risk of it spreading to other rice fields.」

「Do you think we can avoid the worst case scenario? Any countermeasures?」

「It seems that mold was growing from around the water surface and weakening the rice plants. We should carefully observe the remaining rice fields and remove them as soon as we find them.」

It’s a pain, but if we can figure out the cause and countermeasures, it’s steady progress. All I have to think about right now is how to protect the remaining two rice paddies.

「…Marge, look over there.」

Shizuku was looking around the village when she suddenly noticed a werewolf running towards us. To not rely solely on my sensing skills alone, I set up scouts around the village. Judging by the panicked look on the young man’s face, it seems to be a serious matter.

Apparently, there are still things that require my attention other than the paddy fields.

「Marge-sama, I have a report!」

「Give him some water.」

「L-Let me submit the report first! That’s why I hurried here! T-To the east!」

「I want you to submit the report accurately exactly because you rushed over here.」

We still use the drinking water from the well. After giving him a drink of water that a villager had fetched, the young werewolf took a deep breath, then knelt on the ground and began to speak.

「Okay, report it.」

「An army is heading towards us from the eastern grassland beyond the mountains! There are over 500 of them!」

The village suddenly broke into a commotion.

「Army? What’s their affiliation? Did you see the flag?」

「Although they were far away, I saw a similar emblem painted on the equipment worn by Bellman. I think it is the same as that one.」

Bellman and his team use their original equipment for the dungeon exploration. If it’s the same at that–.

「Lord Abik!」

The great lord who rules this territory. It means that his army was heading towards us.

「Marge-dono, how should we proceed?」

「Shizuku, call back Bellman’s unit from the Farthest Ends of Blue. Those who have tasks that cannot be interrupted, borrow Angelina’s golem and finish it up quickly. The rest of you, arm themselves up as much as possible. My house will be a temporary command post. So, Koe-san, Asagi, please prepare the place.」

I gave out instructions in front of the rice fields that have turned to ashes. It seems that even in our times of hardship, the enemy will not wait for us.

I made sure that everyone had received the instructions, and finally I told them – and myself – this–

「–Prepare for battle.」