MCFPM 20

chapter 20

The living room fireplace was perfect for zoning out, letting one waste time endlessly.

“…….”
“……Are you alright?”

Cherylotte, sitting in front of the fireplace, turned her head at the voice calling her. It was Mother Mina.

Blinking her eyes slowly, Cherylotte faintly smiled. Mina, in her usual lighthearted way, spoke:

“Oh my, such a pretty face all worn out. Have some water.”
“……Thank you.”
“…….”

The only sound was the crackle of burning logs. How much time had passed? Mina spoke first.

“Are you disappointed?”
“No.”
“Or are you down because there’s nothing to report to His Highness, the Duke?”
“Not at all. He wouldn’t be petty over such things.”
“…….”

Shaking her head, Cherylotte buried her face deep in her knees.

She knew the truth. If she revealed her identity as a duke and told the farmers to plant the crops, there would be no way for the guild master to resist.

But agriculture was the foundation of a territory. Even if subsidies were given to command farmers outside the castle to grow it, there were limits. High-availability gold needed to be preserved.

Moreover, intelligence was already lacking, and everyone had their own harvest conditions. Forcing them to grow crops under an intimidating system would be wrong, no matter how correct her judgment was.

‘Then what should I do now?’

The methods for cultivation had already been researched in a rather harsh environment. Seeing this, the guild master had simply shaken his head.

Feed this only to the duke’s household…? No, that would be a waste. Then give it freely to the farmers? That won’t work either; it’s impossible to know how much they could handle.

And as we’ve seen, even the same farmers intimidate other farmers. Cherylotte, your hometown residents aren’t that kind. If seeds were distributed recklessly, it could lead to even greater crimes later…

Her complicated mind couldn’t continue thinking. Just as she closed her tired eyelids,

“Guildmaster Gelrn thought the guild couldn’t handle the crop.”

“……Eh?”

Cherylotte suddenly lifted her head. A smile appeared on Mina’s wrinkled lips.

“You saw it today, right? What our family suffered from farmers who weren’t part of the guild.”
“……Yes, that’s right.”
“Such incidents have happened many times.”

Mina spoke with a somber expression.

“Gelrn tried to mediate, but failed every time. Life was too hard, so even reasonably capable non-guild members avoided trouble.”
“…….”
“No, in the first place, no one even tried to join the guild. The upper lords—or rather, the attitude of the nobles hadn’t changed, so nothing could be done, they complained.”

A faint glimmer of moisture appeared in Mina’s eyes.

“In any case, Gelrn didn’t view the crop you suggested negatively. I was surprised myself. To bring something so precious from the Academy… Honestly, I’m grateful to His Highness, the Duke, for returning to his hometown this time.”

Cherylotte’s eyes widened.

‘…So the guild master didn’t reject the crop because he didn’t trust it, but because of political influence.’

Even if they planted and grew it, the malicious competitors would simply take it.

Even in this small place, a struggle was happening. So, what should she, as a duke, do?

“Gelrn is simply worried that the valuable crop might be taken and that guild members might get hurt in the process.”

…Ah, so that’s it.

Cherylotte’s gaze refocused. She looked at the axe and longsword hanging above the fireplace.

“……Mina.”
“Yes?”
“Then, would it be enough if the guild members were sufficiently protected?”
“……What do you mean?”

Mina’s small cow ears twitched. Cherylotte stood, her voice firm.

“In my opinion, what you need is a security force.”
“But the security force is already short-handed dealing with monsters…”
“What if the duke’s knights were mobilized?”

Mina’s eyes widened. Cherylotte lifted the corners of her mouth slightly and bowed her waist a little, like a knight to a lady.

“……The duke’s knights would protect you.”
“…….”
“And you, following His Highness’s request, would safely cultivate the crops and distribute them according to ‘my intent’?”

Then what would happen?

At the city’s border, a crop never seen before had been planted in the guild-owned fields.

Force has always attracted human attention. When knights with swords and spears patrolled the area, naturally, eyes were drawn to the field.

“What is His Highness the Duke trying to do? Even a priest blessed it.”
“What kind of crop is in that field… Is there hidden treasure?”
“No, it seems like the guild planted it. Why waste military power there? Shouldn’t they be dealing with monsters instead?”

Even a non-guild farmer, staggering back from a night of drinking at the inn, wasn’t much different. Half drunk, he scanned the field, seeing the fully grown crops being harvested by knights and guild members.

“Wow……”

The farmer was impressed. From this view, the field was fairly large, and the crops didn’t look bad. They looked a bit strange, but it was not the first time he had gone hungry. A crop resembling lumpy potatoes could even be eaten raw if needed.

But he had never seen a crop shaped like that before…

“What on earth is that, and why is it being so heavily guarded?”

A hint of irritation crept into the farmer’s tone.

“Herbs? No… Since it has tubers like potatoes, it seems it’s meant as a staple food.”

His household had a wife and children who were literally like rabbits.

Rabbit humanoids breed quickly. The same went for northern snow rabbits. Having had multiple children early, he and his wife had to work tirelessly to feed the young.

If he could grow this emergency crop, it would be very useful in times of need…

“……Could it be only for guild members?”

Then should I join the guild?

The farmer observing the duke’s field shook his head. Joining required a contribution fee, and judging by the skill of the guild members working in the field, he didn’t stand a chance. He wouldn’t get access to that crop.

“Ah, well… can’t be helped.”

Swallowing his disappointment, he turned homeward.

But curiosity within him only grew. The crop from that field had been seen by many, and some were talkative types. Exaggerated rumors spread further with the help of merchants and dancers:

There was treasure there.

The next event was a theft in the duke’s fields and warehouse.

A few weeks later.

“……Huh?”

Guildmaster Gelrn was walking along the spring roadside, surveying the fields, when he was shocked. Forgetting his aching joints, he leapt into the furrows.

Examining the stems and leaves, his hands trembled.

“No… isn’t this the ‘crop’ from before?”

Mandrake-potatoes. Mina had once brought them to the guild headquarters with a priest’s help, grown quickly. Even their lush appearance had impressed him back then…

‘Why are these planted in non-guild members’ fields?’

Duke Chartreuse temporarily assigned a detachment of knights to the guild. He had already refused the formal introduction of the crop, but Cherylotte, in her generosity, gave them another chance.

Thanks to that, the guild could safely cultivate this new emergency crop, and all that remained was figuring out how to distribute it without conflict…

Just then, the field’s owner came out of the warehouse. Gelrn approached him at terrifying speed.

“Where did you get this crop?”
“Guildmaster Gelrn… why are you so curious?”
“Where did you get it?”

Despite Gelrn’s insistence, the farmer refused to answer. Even someone he usually regarded kindly, the refusal made sparks fly in Gelrn’s eyes.

“……You stole it.”

They took what his people had grown with blood and sweat and used it as seeds.

Gelrn’s small frame was about to erupt with rage when

“Guildmaster Gelrn.”

A familiar voice stopped his anger.

A short-haired cat humanoid with golden hair. One of the duke’s heralds recognized him and called.

Slowly letting go of the farmer’s collar, Gelrn turned sharply. The farmer dusted off his coat and hurried away.

“……Herald. Long time no see.”
“Same here.”

Gelrn avoided the herald’s gaze. After a long silence, he spoke with difficulty.

“……I suppose I was a coward.”

He felt some guilt toward the herald. Not only did she introduce the valuable crop, but she also insisted on pursuing it even after he had initially backed down. The decision might have been the duke’s, but the herald’s insight played a decisive role.

Watching her sprout-like eyes, the guildmaster removed his hat and placed it over his chest.

“……Thank you.”

A gesture of respect.

Then a smile appeared on the usually indifferent herald’s face.

“So the urgent matter is resolved?”
“Yes. I don’t know how to repay this favor.”
“Really?”

The herald tilted her head.

“Weren’t you just angry that non-guild members stole the crops?”
“Of course I was.”
“And that was what I intended?”
“……What?”

Gelrn’s needle-like eyes widened.

The herald’s golden hair fluttered in the wind. She spoke softly:

“I deliberately let non-guild members steal the crops. Of course, I gave adequate rewards to guild members including Mina… but why do you think I did that?”

“…….”

Gelrn felt something off in her unusually brief tone, but more than that, he was shocked that this was exactly what she intended.

He looked around in a daze.

‘Come to think of it… every field we’ve passed had mandrake-potatoes planted.’

Even the small home gardens had this crop.

Gelrn asked,

“……Could it be to raise the food self-sufficiency rate of the entire territory?”