I Inherited a Beautiful Wife and a Territory - Chapter 54

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Inheriting a Beautiful Wife and Estate Episode 054

54. Agricultural Reform

Cliff had risen to the 3rd Circle in one go through the elixir.

Because of this, while his mana was sufficient, his understanding and comprehension of magic lagged behind. The imbalance that had been created through this.

‘So this is what it was.’

Concepts that had confused him before now made sense.

Taking one step further, he finally felt like he had become a real mage.

‘I think I could succeed now…’

The magic spells he had received from the Count’s house that had felt difficult to handle.

He wanted to try them right away. Cliff eventually left the mountain lodge where he had been staying.

The moment he focused his will, his mana moved and soon activated from his hands.

‘It works.’

He had succeeded up to this point before.

But the feeling was clearly different from usual. It was much easier. It seemed like he could go even further than this now.

“Magic Missile.”

Cliff shot a condensed mana projectile along with the incantation.

The rapidly flying light struck the ground hard.

Bang!

Even though he had deliberately shot it weakly, dust rose up and the ground was lightly carved out.

The corners of Cliff’s mouth turned up. Previously, even when he could activate magic, it had been difficult to hit where he wanted.

Even if it did hit, the magic’s power would often weaken.

Now that weakness had been resolved.

“So you are a mage, my lord.”

As Cliff was satisfied with his magic demonstration, someone spoke to him from a short distance away.

A woman’s voice that felt both cold and benevolent.

It was an unfamiliar tone.

‘The Female Elder!’

One of the five Dark Elf Elders who had visited today.

The only woman among them was standing before Cliff. She examined Cliff and the traces of the magic he had cast.

“It seems you’ve had some achievement?”

And she asked him.

Receiving that question, Cliff shrugged his shoulders.

“It’s just basic magic, but I suppose such things are visible to you, Elder?”

“Usually, whether big or small, only those who have had some realization come out at night like this to try their magic. Still, since it’s late and given the location, you probably deliberately tested it weakly with Magic Missile, right?”

No, he had tested with that because he didn’t know many other spells besides Magic Missile.

Until recently, even hitting the desired target with Magic Missile had been difficult.

“…”

Cliff didn’t correct her misunderstanding.

Instead, he asked something else.

“Are you also… a mage, Elder?”

When the five Elders were together, he hadn’t felt this way. But now that she was alone, he could clearly sense the distinction.

She smiled upon hearing his words.

“Of course.”

His eyes lit up at that answer.

Her appearance was mysteriously without a single wrinkle, but strangely, when facing her, one could feel the depth of her experience – a magical face.

She looked at most like someone in their early forties, but in reality, her inner self was someone who had lived for hundreds of years.

Her magical achievements were probably remarkable too. She seemed to guess his curiosity and spoke with a smile.

“I have learned magic up to the 5th Circle.”

5th Circle?

To be honest, for an Elder of a race, it was a disappointing achievement.

Above all, for someone who had lived hundreds of years to be only 5th Circle. Of course, 5th Circle was still impressive.

But wasn’t she an Elder of a race?

“I know what you’re thinking, but… breaking through barriers isn’t something that can be done with time alone.”

She expressed her achievement in this way.

Living for many years doesn’t mean one can break through barriers. She still hadn’t overcome this wall.

“Also, in case you might misunderstand, the Shadow Races aren’t just our clan alone.”

She wasn’t an Elder of the entire Dark Elf race.

She was merely an Elder of the clan living in this nearby forest.

So simply put, she could be called a minister of one nation. That nation didn’t represent all of humanity.

‘Ah.’

He nodded while listening to her words.

She added.

“Still, I think I can teach you magic, my lord.”

Cliff’s eyes sparkled at what she said this time.

He wasn’t particularly fond of studying or training. But he still only knew four types of magic he could use.

He might be able to learn new magic through her.

“If you would teach me, I would gladly ask for your instruction.”

“I’m pleased that you say so. When I follow you, my lord, it means I’ll have something to do.”

“I could even call you teacher.”

“Hoho. That’s fine. I’m just fulfilling my proper role as your vassal, my lord.”

Come to think of it, they had made such a contract.

‘At first, I was simply happy thinking I could use Dark Elves as my full strength…’

Perhaps the Dark Elves joining would be different from the simple structure he had initially imagined.

Cliff smiled.

The joining of the Dark Elves.

Nigel and others were greatly surprised by this unimaginable event.

Of course, the Dark Elves didn’t all rush into the estate from the beginning.

“We will return to our village. Soon we will prepare warriors and maidens from our clan to send to you, my lord.”

After Anark finished saying this, the Elders went to their forest.

But there were also those who went with Cliff.

“The two of us will go to the estate with you, my lord.”

“I am Gusillon, the ninth Elder.”

7th Elder Mellie.

The woman who had agreed to teach him magic.

And 9th Elder Gusillon.

Gusillon was quite a taciturn person.

And also.

“Ahem. I will faithfully follow as your shadow from now on, my lord. I’m Lin.”

Lin, who had originally come as a guide for the Elders.

The Dark Elf he had met first also ended up going straight to the estate with Cliff. Thus, the work in the mountains ended and they returned to the estate.

With a group incomparably larger than when they first entered the mountains.

‘The wolves seem to have increased too much… I wonder if the rabbits have increased their population sufficiently?’

Cliff looked around once.

Countless wolves.

They occasionally found food on their own, but this was only possible because there were few wolves.

Now the Shadow Wolves numbered over a hundred. It would be difficult to obtain food for them through hunting in the existing Elimis Domain.

The only thing he could rely on was rabbits.

“We were worried because you didn’t come back for so long. We were waiting for you, my lord.”

Thus, with Cliff’s return came the joining of the Dark Elves.

Though there were only three, those three would certainly be helpful to Cliff.

Lin hadn’t properly fulfilled that role yet, but the two elders were different.

“…They are truly remarkable people.”

This was what Nigel said when he came.

With even Anton gone, his burdensome workload had clearly decreased. The two elders, who had lived much longer and worked as great adults of their clan, possessed such wisdom of life.

Among them, Mellie guided Cliff’s magic, and with Cliff’s permission, taught simple arithmetic to the village children.

She had become this domain’s teacher.

‘The children also seem to like Elder Mellie more, who looks pretty and elegant…’

And 9th Elder Gusillon.

He was active in a place that was truly unexpected.

It started when touring the domain together with Gusillon and Nigel, the three of them.

“Rejoice, my lord. It’s a good harvest.”

Nigel said with a bright expression.

“Since this old man came to this domain, this is the first harvest of this magnitude. The domain residents are all rejoicing and praising that this is God’s blessing upon your lordship’s inauguration.”

Nigel spoke as if delighted.

Though he wasn’t sure if what he was seeing was that impressive.

“That’s wonderful news indeed. Then this time we can be self-sufficient, right?”

“Hmm. That would still be difficult.”

“Eh? We can’t?”

“That… is correct.”

Nigel answered with an embarrassed face.

“No, old man. If we can’t even be self-sufficient, what kind of good harvest is that? It’s a poor harvest.”

Surely the Nigel he first met wasn’t this kind of image.

Perhaps due to age, the old man’s image was gradually changing. The one who seemed strict was now flattering him by calling this poor harvest a good harvest.

‘No. God’s blessing?’

For that to be true, self-sufficiency should be possible.

Nigel answered Cliff’s questioning with a bitter expression.

“Still, we harvested half more compared to last year.”

Actually, God’s blessing might be correct.

Though he hadn’t paid much attention to it, he had still invested skill points in farming.

The result was a yield that increased by as much as 50%.

‘But still, we can’t be self-sufficient.’

Since the original yield was small, the 50% growth probably didn’t feel significant.

And one more thing.

“Actually, compared to last year… the number of farming households has also decreased significantly.”

This was the problem.

It was largely due to Cliff starting various businesses.

With handicrafts, charcoal kilns, and soldiers.

The area of cultivated land had no choice but to decrease compared to before.

‘Still, this won’t do.’

The farming work he had continuously postponed.

Now he really needed to seriously address agriculture first. Cliff was having this thought.

“Harvesting at this time… seems a bit late. Did you perhaps do the sowing in spring?”

It was Gusillon who asked the question.

At those words, Cliff made a strange expression.

“Originally… isn’t spring when you sow seeds?”

“Hmm. Sowing seeds in spring and harvesting in autumn is called spring wheat. Also, sowing seeds in autumn and harvesting in early summer of the following year is called winter wheat.”

Gusillon’s story negated Cliff’s common sense.

‘Was there such a thing?’

He had always thought farming was sowing in spring and harvesting in autumn.

But rather, sowing during harvest time meant.

“Then you have to endure winter after sowing the seeds?”

Nigel asked on behalf of what he was curious about.

Gusillon nodded.

“That’s right. I also know the climate around here. Winter is about a month longer than other regions. This delays spring sowing and makes it difficult to grow sufficiently.”

Cliff’s eyes lit up.

The issue of new seeds was something Cliff had been thinking about for a while.

‘Surely there must be seeds that grow well specifically in our domain.’

Each grain has different soil and climate conditions where it grows well.

He hadn’t had time to investigate specifically what suited this domain until now.

‘Does Elder Gusillon know this well?’

The dark elf who had lived for hundreds of years seemed to be a master of farming.

“However, winter wheat is also difficult to call a definite alternative. This land retains water too well and doesn’t drain easily.”

This might seem good, but it’s not necessarily so.

“If it were a region that doesn’t get much rain, this could be good, but here it rains sufficiently.”

Too much of a good thing.

Too much water could actually cause the roots to rot.

“Then what should we do?”

Now Nigel asked Gusillon more enthusiastically than Cliff.

Gusillon opened his mouth.

“We’ve made ridges, but they’re too low. I think it would be good to make the ridges a bit higher. Also, we need to plow the fields deeper than now. And also… it would be good to have horses or sheep, but if we don’t have them, we should go to the mountains and gather fallen leaves and such…”

Gusillon explained how to make compost.

“We have winter wheat seeds in our village. Send Lin. Since it’s difficult to change all the domain’s fields right away anyway, we’ll cultivate winter wheat experimentally in only some fields.”

Winter wheat sowing needed to be done as quickly as possible.

Cliff’s eyes lit up.

“Let’s do it.”

The lands that were harvested first.

Or the lands that rested this year due to reduced farming households.

They decided to plant winter wheat there first.

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