Raising the Grand Duke of the North as a Farmer Behind Dad’s Back - Chapter 16

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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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Episode 16
The handwriting was a complete mess…….
“……really, me.”
A helpless laugh burst out. This, this, the handwriting is actually quite adorable…… He sprang to his feet.
“Wait. What is this.”
Why…….
“Why is it gone again!!!”
An empty bed.
He bolted outside like a madman.
Then he stopped short. He met a brilliantly clear spring day and froze reflexively.
He’d half-expected it…… but it was far more…… astonishing than he’d imagined.
“Ah…….”
Basilii stood dazed before the Manor.
All at once, a savage laugh spilled out.
“Sh*t…….”
Is this real.
His red eyes slowly took in his own land.
The sun beating down hot.
Tap-tap, the sound of water dripping from the roof.
Bead by bead, sweat forming on his neck.
Camilla’s bewildered expression as she peeled off her outer robe.
But most of all…….
In the muddy earth, pitter-patter, the small, impudent footprints of a child…….
Seeing that, his eyes went wild.
“……that brat.”
“Yes?”
“Where the hell did that little thing go!”
This is seriously insane!
Without even eating breakfast!
‘Work be damned!’
* * *
I swung the hoe up with a whoosh.
It’s so very heavy, but…… gathering all the strength I’d used eating bread…… down!
“The sound is different!”
Heavens!
[Challenge: Hoeing! (1/5)]
“Kyaaaaaaaa-!”
It finally went up!
I looked down at the shallowly furrowed earth.
“I’m so proud of myself-!”
The glittering morning sunlight!
Warm, gentle wind! Soft, yielding earth!
That’s right. I’d bolted to the Village Farmland the moment I opened my eyes at dawn.
‘To be honest, when I opened my eyes, the Grand Duke was sleeping on the sofa, so I was a bit startled.’
There were wet towels scattered around and everything. Could he have actually nursed me through the night himself?
In any case, I left a polite letter, so it should be fine!
After sleeping so soundly through the night, my body felt remarkably light.
“Lalalalalala~”
“Little one. It’s slippery!”
Ruden, who had been watching me anxiously from behind, was already gone.
“Ruden! Hurry! You need to gather the other supply team members! We have to start work right away!”
“……!!”
That single word from me was the trigger.
“Oh, by the way—did you send that letter I asked you to send?”
“Of course!”
Ruden is a good ally!
‘He’s even going to become a great wealthy man later……!’
This time, he’ll become a happy wealthy man, won’t he?
‘Hmm? Wait a moment.’
But if Ruden doesn’t leave the North…… doesn’t that mean my chances of becoming wealthy are shrinking……?
I blinked quietly.
‘Right, well. I remember exactly how these investments work and how to succeed with them!’
I can help later anyway!
“Hee-hee.”
I hoisted the hoe up again with a grunt. The thawed earth gave way beneath my feet, and I sank deeper with each step.
“I’m hoeing~ earning Performance Points~”
Thunk!
[Challenge! Hoeing! (2/5)]
“Sweet daily earnings~ Performance Point millionaire~ self-made~ that’ll be meeee~”
‘But can I really clear all this farmland with just five hoeing sessions?’
The sprawling expanse of earth hadn’t even been properly divided into plots yet.
Massive boulders rolled about, the soil lay in tangled clumps, and honestly, it looked less like farmland and more like… barren wasteland.
How on earth would I ever finish tilling all of this?
“Will I even be able to earn enough to eat……?”
Independence really isn’t easy.
“Just keep going!”
Moping about won’t produce bread. I lifted the hoe with determination.
Clink!
“Hup!”
Clink!
[Challenge! Hoeing! (3/5)]
[Challenge! Hoeing! (4/5)]
Four hoeing sessions complete!
‘Labor truly is… a beautiful thing!’
That was precisely when it happened.
Thud-thud-thud-thud-thud-thud-thud-thud!
“Huh?”
A cloud of earth billowing in the distance.
Wait—but the ground is wet; dust shouldn’t be rising like that.
‘Must be a monster!’
It wasn’t, of course.
“You—this brat……! How dare you labor without permission!”
It was Grand Duke Basilii, his eyes flashing a vivid crimson as he thundered toward me.
“Get inside at once and stay in bed!”
“But, but! Farming is all about timing! And this is (presumably) my land!”
Seized by sudden panic that he’d snatch away my hoe, I drove it into the ground with a decisive clink!
“This little brat!”
Grand Duke Basilii’s expression grew even darker.
[Challenge! Hoeing! (5/5)]
‘Done!’
Whoosh!
“Who told you to go hoeing…… hand that over this instant!”
The Grand Duke approached with long, heavy strides.
I looked up at him, my eyes widening.
‘Oh, wait a moment.’
Now that the weather had warmed, he wore nothing but a light shirt.
Towering frame. Rippling muscle. A man who possessed the martial prowess to suppress and slay a five-hundred-year-old dragon in a single breath. And yet?
‘Honestly, he’s practically unemployed right now, isn’t he?’
Why hadn’t I thought of that sooner?
‘No matter how independent I am, I can’t till all this land alone.’
Besides, this would benefit the Grand Duke as well!
I hurried toward him. His expression darkened further.
“Trip over your own feet like that and you’ll break your nose……!”
“Your Highness, Your Highness! Listen!”
I bashfully held out the hoe to him.
“Do you happen to… enjoy digging?”
“……?”
“Would you work the fields with me on my land?”
Though he was a Grand Duke of the highest rank.
Though he was the fearsome warrior of the North!
“To make a living, you have to work… don’t you?”
Before the need to survive, everyone stands on equal ground.
“Are you seriously trying to hire me as a farmhand for your pitiful little plot right now?”
Well, not quite that far…
That’s when white letters blazed across my vision.
[Quest Complete!]
[Will you accept your reward?]
“Yes, yes yes!”
“…….”
[Haniel’s Sticker Book (Children’s Edition)]
Performance Stickers in Collection: 200
‘Wow wow wow!’
A tiny sprouting seedling sticker slid straight into the sticker book.
* Collected Stickers: Thumbs Up, Footprint Bang!, (Not Acquired),
[New] Fresh Little Sprout
, (Not Acquired), (Not Acquired), (Not Acquired)…
I’m rich!
I’m rich rich rich!
Grinning from ear to ear, I looked ahead and saw an expression of utter disbelief.
‘Why does his face look so terrifying again?’
Basilii snatched the hoe right out of my hand.
“What exactly is this six-year-old doing?”
“A six-year-old who hoes!”
I decided it was better to keep quiet about the connection between farming and Performance Points.
‘If I explained that, I’d have to start with my one-on-one conversation with God, then spill out everything about my past life… and all about my father, like a string of candies.’
“I swear, I’m about to fold this into paper and…….”
Oh no, not that routine again.
I quickly latched onto Basilii’s leg.
“Don’t kick me out!!”
“Maybe I’ll just shove you in my pocket instead.”
“…….”
Huh?
“Huh?”
I looked up at him and blinked.
Basilii set me down and leaned awkwardly on one leg.
“……Make me a promise.”
“A promise? What kind?”
“You speak before you act.”
“To whom?”
“To whom? To me, that’s to whom.”
He poked my cheek.
“This is a small territory where the lord receives direct reports on everything — good communication, you see.”
I blinked and asked, “You’re really giving me this house? And the land too?”
“Leave if you don’t like it.”
“No! I’m not leaving! I’m staying here!”
I couldn’t hide my joy. I bounced around like a spring.
“Wow! I have a house! I have land! I’m living here! I’m living in the North!”
Hop, skip, and bounce!
“Is that really something to be so happy about……”
Basilii regarded me with a somewhat complicated expression for a moment, then his gaze shifted to the distant horizon.
“So what are we going to do to make a living now.”
In the distance, Ruden, Camilla, and three supply knights were hauling an enormous cart toward us at breakneck speed.
Bags overflowing with lime-based fertilizer, water absorption magical tools, various farming implements, and bundles of crop straw……
“Since this land has a Dragon Vein running through it, crops should grow better than on ordinary land.”
“Oh, that’s……!”
I stopped mid-sentence.
Quests were flooding in as if on cue.
Pop!
[A Quest from the Earth God has arrived!]

[Challenge! Harvest Nutritious Barley from the North! (0/5)]
[Reward: 200 Pure, Pesticide-Free Performance Stickers]
Pop!
[A quest from the Goddess of the Earth has arrived!]
[Challenge! Harvest Plump Wheat from the North! (0/5)]
[Reward: 200 Pure, Pesticide-Free Performance Stickers]
Pop-pop!
[A quest from the Goddess of the Earth has arrived!]
[Challenge! Harvest Royal Potatoes from the North! (0/5)]
[Reward: 200 Pure, Pesticide-Free Performance Stickers]
.
.
.
A true windfall.
Among these, what needed to be done immediately was…….
‘Obviously that one!’
In fact, there really was no other choice.
‘More than anything, if I’m to prepare for what’s coming soon, I must harvest this crop no matter how difficult.’
I pressed my lips together tightly.
“Grand Duke, the first crop is that one!”
I tugged at his sleeve and pointed ahead with my hand.
Clatter-clatter-clatter—carts rolling in.
Creak!
Just then, a sack loaded on one of the carts came open with a swoosh.
And the contents inside peeked out shyly, as if bashful.

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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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