Raising the Grand Duke of the North as a Farmer Behind Dad’s Back - Chapter 60

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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 60
“I’ve heard that the Rye Seeds the Holy Temple was holding have been moved to the Eastern Region.”
This was information obtained from someone he’d paid handsomely to acquire.
“……Is that so?”
The Emperor asked languidly. The minister beside him answered.
“Yes. I understand they were seeds that Duke Rowen of the Eastern Region requested additional support for. Because of the crop disease that was prevalent this season…….”
“Ah, actually, those seeds are……!”
Count Redermic paused for a moment, thinking.
‘No matter what, I can’t let my uncle suffer needless harm. If the Eastern Region falters, I’m in trouble too…….’
He decided not to mention the fact that Duke Rowen had visited the Northern Region.
“Those seeds will end up in the Northern Region.”
“Hoo…….”
“When the Northern Region heard that the Eastern Region had received seed support from the Holy Temple, I’m told that mercenary fellow—or rather, the Grand Duke—practically extorted the duchy, demanding they hand them over.”
The Emperor brought his pipe to his lips.
“Of course, as you know, Duke Rowen is a man of considerable pride, so if you inquire directly, there’s a high probability he’ll deny it. Therefore…… I should handle the detailed particulars of this matter.”
“Hmm, that’s really…….”
White smoke filled the air once more.
Count Redermic felt oddly lightheaded.
“Truly fascinating information.”
“…….”
“I’d very much like to hear the details in greater depth.”
The Emperor smiled inscrutably through the white haze.
* * *
Bedel village square.
People exchanged greetings.
“I’m Hans. This is my wife, Eliza.”
“I’m Isaac…….”
“Luster. Thank you for welcoming me on such short notice.”
A tall man with a weathered expression extended his hand.
Village headman Paul enthusiastically shook hands with everyone.
“Well, surely not everyone here joined without warning, eh? Welcome! And what might your name be?”
At that, a man standing quietly among the crowd looked up.
He was a handsome man with cool features and blue hair.
“I’m Bark.”
“Ah! So you’re the one from that mountain village!”
“Yes, well.”
“Perfect timing! We need to go into that mountain and collect something soon, you see.”
Bark’s eyes widened slightly.
“Could you check whether there are any signs of landslides or the like?”
“……Understood.”
“We’ll get into the details soon enough!”
After the round of introductions, a man who appeared to be the leader of the new residents—Hans—stepped forward with a smile.
“Well, thank you so much for welcoming us! I was frankly worried about local hostility, but I never expected such warmth!”
“Hahaha! Local hostility?”
Headman Paul laughed heartily.
“Why would we harbor such things? When you think about it, we’re all settlers on this land. And besides…….”
The old man’s expression turned serious.
“Laborers don’t turn against one another.”
“Pardon?”
“—Laborers don’t turn against one another, as I was saying.”
“……Even if you correct yourself now, we’ve already heard everything.”
Hans looked somewhat afraid.
“Is…… the Grand Duke really that harsh a person?”
Fear rippled through the new residents. Whispers and murmurs spread among them.
“N-now that I think of it, he’s a Grade 0 Dangerous Individual too, isn’t he? Now that you mention it, surely he doesn’t go into rampages, does he?”
“We’re grateful he dealt with the Light Dragon, but I’ve heard he destroyed its personality along with it…….”
“What should we do? I’m scared…… Is the Grand Duke really such a violent person?”
“Ahhhhh!!!!”
At that moment, Headman Paul stomped his foot down hard.
“If anyone insults my Grand Duke, I won’t forgive them!”
The existing residents nodded vigorously, their heads bobbing with fervor.
“Just thinking about him……*sniff*.”
Uncle Paul wiped roughly beneath his eyes.
“*Hic*.”
“……??”
The others were no different.
“Grade 0 Dangerous Individual—our lord, please eat well and rest well…….”
“How can anyone work fifteen hours straight? His eyes are hollow from exhaustion, and I just wept watching him.”
“He must be suffering so much, in body and heart. We need to work harder.”
“Until the day we stop burdening his heart…….”
“……???”
As the new arrivals sank deeper into confusion,
I, who had been watching from the side, broke into a soft smile.
‘Hmm, I’m not sure what they’re saying, but they all seem to be getting along—that’s wonderful!’
With a hop, I jumped down from the Fertilizer Sack.
The Duke had stayed at the Manor with some remaining business, and I’d arrived ahead of him.
I was simply too curious! About the new residents!
‘Finally……!’
[God of Etiquette’s Errand has arrived!]
[Fame is My Power! Greet new neighbors (+14) (0/14)]
[Reward: 50 Clean Unpolluted Sacred Force Stickers]
‘Time to fill my empty Sacred Force wallet~’
I quickly folded myself in half at the waist.
“Hello everyone!”
Pop!
“Oh my, what an adorable little one!”
“I’m Haniel! I’m six years old!”
Pop! Pop! Pop!
[Fame is My Power! Greet new neighbors (+14) (9/14)]
This was it!
With just one bow, I’d completed greetings with nine people.
‘Good. I won’t miss a single one.’
When I asked around, the missing residents seemed to be either unpacking their things or taking a tour of the village.
I was slightly disappointed not to complete all fourteen at once, but…….
Wait, hold on.
‘Fourteen people?’
I blinked blankly.
Camilla said there would be eleven residents, not thirteen.
I’m sure that’s what the head butler said.
I counted the numbers again.
Including the people far off looking at the cottages.
One, two, three, four…… thirteen.
‘Uh…… uh…… uh……?’
Could it be broken?
I was standing there dumbly when Uncle Hans caught my eye.
“Oh, what a pretty thing. Whose daughter are you, hmm? When my child is born, you two should become friends, yes?”
“Yes……?”
I blinked.
“You have a baby?”
“Yes. My wife is pregnant.”
Ah……!
‘Oh! Oh! Oh!’
Only then did I understand.
‘There was a child in his wife’s belly!’
……But I’m not really sure how to greet a baby that hasn’t been born yet. I didn’t even know fetuses counted toward the total in the first place.
Well, I’ll just make sure to greet Uncle Hans’s wife properly later!
“So, where does our little one live?”
Uncle Hans asked with a generous smile.
“Oh, I live up on that hill!”
“On the hill……?”
He tilted his head in confusion.
“That place…… I was told the Grand Duke has a manor there.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
It was in that moment.
Just as I was nodding slowly, someone’s gaze—
“It just so happened that I ended up living with the Grand Duke!”
—seemed to turn toward me and pierce right through.
“Huh…… Ah, I see?”
‘What was that?’
For some reason, the back of my head tingled with an odd sensation.
So I spun around quickly, but when I looked, there was no one whose eyes met mine. Had I imagined it?
“Um, but where are the new residents living?”
“Ah, some have agreed to rent the remaining cottages in the village, and the rest are planning to establish themselves in the Bail River region over there.”
“Wow!”
New settlers in the Bail River region!
Just as I was about to add something more, I heard people drawing in their breath sharply.
“Th-the Grand Duke……!”
I turned to see Basil, the Grand Duke, sauntering casually toward us.
Unexpectedly—though he wore no noble finery whatsoever—his presence was remarkable. His stern expression commanded an almost overwhelming pressure.
It was only natural that the people shrank back in apprehension.
“Enough with the bowing. Formalities are unnecessary.”
“Yes? Yes…….”
Basil surveyed the residents one by one. Then, with a listless expression, he extended his hand.
“Well…… welcome to the Northern Region.”
“……!”
Hans was nearly overcome with emotion as he shook the Grand Duke’s hand.
It was already rare for a lord to personally receive new settlers, and to actually shake their hands was rarer still.
‘Of course…….’
The Grand Duke’s behavior was less a greeting than a process of verifying whether there were any ‘suspicious individuals’ present.
“By shaking hands, you can learn a great deal about a person.”
The temperature of the hand. Trembling. The pattern of calluses. The flow of Mana, and so forth.
The Grand Duke possessed surprisingly keen senses; simply grasping a hand allowed him to discern many things.

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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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