Deadline Is Raining in the Status Window - Chapter 112

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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“Are you truly the Lord of Territory?”
“I am.”
“Really?”
“You don’t trust people much, do you?”
“No, it’s just… normally, things like this don’t happen, you know?”
That was fair enough. Who would chase all the way to a village to share rations after discovering a starving child during a march and rest break? It was a reasonable point. As I chuckled, the green-haired youth struggled with his words before finally speaking.
“The Village Chief… passed away a few days ago. He was advanced in years, and prolonged malnutrition took its toll.”
“So the Youth Association leader came as the representative. Why is the village in such a state?”
“The surrounding areas are likely similar. It’s not as though our village alone had its taxes raised.”
A common reason. Since I had anticipated this, I spoke first to the man.
“Did the Lord of Territory attach himself to the Crown Princess?”
“Yes! After that, he kept going on about laying railroad tracks and all sorts of things!”
Right—the cost of attracting a train station was substantial, and from a famine-stricken land, what could be squeezed but people? He was raising taxes and confiscating the very food people needed to survive, inflating the budget with it. And with that money, he’d be fawning over the Crown Princess.
“The famine itself stems from exhausted soil. The farmland needs to lie fallow, but he keeps insisting on planting and harvesting crops continuously.”
Hmm, even I, ignorant of agriculture, knew about crop rotation and alternating grain varieties. Farming was the foundation of any nation, yet one incompetent lord was systematically ruining it all.
“Gerth!”
Since farming was a domain Gerth understood better than I did, I called upon the Serpent King. The man handed the ladle to Hubert and approached me. The way he washed his hands and dried them on his apron with practiced ease looked remarkably professional—quite impressive.
“Does the Tower have any famine-resistant crop seeds?”
“We do. We have substantial quantities of buckwheat and potato seeds.”
When I heard that we’d stockpiled plenty while researching alternatives to feed Hubert, I quickly made an offer to the green-haired man.
“If you follow my instructions, I will provide seeds of crops that thrive even in poor soil, along with essential supplies and weapons.”
“Seeds and weapons?”
“Yes.”
“Well, I suppose the other things make sense, but why weapons…?”
“I want you to serve as my instrument and bring me the head of the Lord of Laga.”
“…Pardon?”
“And I intend to absorb Laga into the Integrated Market.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“If the rebellious peasants willingly come under my rule, those above will have no way to stop it.”
“W-what kind of blasphemy are you speaking! A rebellion?!”
“If you refuse, I’ll find another village.”
Judging by how quickly he was considering it, there were probably plenty of people eager to take the lord’s head. And while your lord clings to the very tail of the Crown Princess’s faction, I can be said to be close to the Third Princess.
For the people of Laga, it would be wiser to attach themselves to a promising Lord of Territory who would open a racing track and attract a train station, rather than a lord of no particular merit.
“Wait!”
Whether as Youth Association leader or as a mere villager, the offer of famine-resistant seeds and essential supplies was tempting enough that the man grabbed my arm as I tried to stand, and spoke carefully.
“If things improve, I will surely repay you. If you would show mercy and provide us with seeds and food…”
“Nonsense. I am a Lord of Territory, not a charity worker.”
I’m not Gerth, so I wasn’t about to sit around doing charity work for free. I bolted upright again, and the green-haired man pushed me back down into my seat.
“But a rebellion carries enormous risk. Everyone would have to stake their lives.”
“You’ll starve to death if you stay as you are.”
“That is….”
My words this time seemed to strike a chord, for the man clenched his fists tightly. And Gerth, who had been listening quietly to our exchange, glanced around before adding his thoughts.
“Evan. The soil quality in these mountains is quite good.”
“If you declare your participation now, I’ll personally oversee the development of slash-and-burn fields as my contribution.”
How reassuring to have Gerth’s support. Truly, he lived up to his reputation as an agricultural master. I hadn’t even considered it, yet Gerth had already grasped the concept of slash-and-burn farming through Reina Letem. Remarkable.
“Understood!”
Had he finally made his decision? The man spoke with renewed conviction and closed his eyes firmly as he looked at me.
“If other villages participate as well, then perhaps we too could add our support in that manner….”
The beginning was promising, but the ending lacked substance. Still, I couldn’t expect instant results. Now that I’d found a new method to increase the odds of attracting a train station, I could have the Information Chief from House Neftis gather people and rally them, and the work would progress accordingly. Since this would be a long-term endeavor, I simply needed to select capable individuals from among the participating villagers and appoint them as coordinators.
“I understand your intent. I’ll record this in the ledger. What is the name of this region and your Youth Association leader?”
“This is Green Village. My name is Gram.”
“….”
Green’s… Gram?
I felt something numerologically fateful in that coincidence and closed my eyes slowly. This was it. I could only describe it as an overwhelming current of inevitability that I dared not resist.
“Gram of Green Village.”
“Yes.”
“You will become the vanguard of the peasant movement.”
“Pardon?”
“Give up. There are destinies in this world that cannot be refused.”
“Wait, hold on! Didn’t you say I was just adding my support?”
“Accept it. Some fates in this world are inescapable.”
I stood up and announced the newly decided matters to everyone. The people, initially stunned, began clapping along when Hubert and Kanna started applauding, and soon erupted into cheers.
“That Evan is going to cause real trouble one of these days.”
“Seems like she’s already causing it in real time.”
Of course, Reina Letem and Eugene, being upper-class nobility, showed reluctant expressions, having sided with the Lord’s interests. But there was nothing to be done about it. Nobility and the guillotine were practically synonymous.
“Evan.”
“Hmm?”
“I’ve prepared food for you as well.”
“Yes! Mapo tofu!”
I devoured the mapo tofu Gerth had made, took a brief rest, then shouldered my pack once more. I’d need to head to the next village and convince them to join the peasant movement as well.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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