CH 205

Farmland Reclamation

「Master (Husband), that’s a nice smile you have.」

「Stress had just been piling on recently, you see.」

As Sophia and Marnie watched me work on reclaiming farmland using Earth Magic with a smile on my whole face, I played around with earth for the first time in a while.

I was clearing the fields and building a waterway through the wall.

Nearby, Kaede rode Tsubaki and was hunting the surrounding monsters.

As expected, rather than dealing with strife, it’s more fun for me to create things.

Since the fort construction had more or less been going well, I started on the next project.

Thinking we’re in need of reserve force besides the soldiers that would be stationed in the forts, I asked by way of Margrave Volton if it’s possible to cultivate the farmland with agricultural soldiers (shortened: agrisoldiers).

Agrisoldiers, people ordinarily working the fields that become soldiers in times of emergency were possible to gather easily. I was told that by providing the nearly retired adventurers and soldiers reclaimed land, they would cultivate it while continuing to train. Requests like that are plenty, apparently.

Even as adventurers, after retiring, the number of individuals that were capable of living a life of leisure are but a small handful. This also applies to those besides the noble knights and soldiers, many of whom want but can’t have families.

After I suggested the agrisoldiers, things started moving terrifyingly fast. So far, several families had already begun to immigrate. Because of that, I hurried to make houses close to the field for them.

A wall will be built for the village not far from the six forts, and if there comes a time, they can evacuate to the fort or Valor.

The soldiers of the trination that occupy Valor, the soldiers stationed in the forts, adventurers based in Valor, and if the agricultural soldiers are added to this, then in a time of emergency, they would be able to defend themselves until reinforcements from the three countries arrive.

「Undine, tell me the location of a groundwater vein.」

「This area is away from the groundwater vein. There is a vein with an abundant volume of water a bit more to the north. It would be best to draw from there for waterway .」

「Understood, tell me where it is.」

I learned from Undine that the water source to the agricultural land would correspond on a case-by-case basis according to the forts’ locations, by either drawing water from a groundwater vein or a river and letting it flow through an aqueduct

Dryas and Gnome were also helping out with cultivation of the farmland. Crops would not grow even if barren land is reclaimed and made into fields. As such, Gnome adjusted the condition of the soil, and Dryas provided the fallen leaves of the forest that would turn into fertilizer.

We roughly completed the reclamation of the land surrounding the forts we were in charge of.

The immigration of the agrisoldiers and their families was going well, and they brought their liveliness with them to Valor.

Even in the inner side of the forts that the three countries are constructing, the establishment of a settlement for the agrisoldiers and the land reclamation are progressing at a quick pace.

If these hadn’t been in preparation for a conflict, I could have wholeheartedly been glad…….

◇　◇

In a room inside the royal castle of Valkyra Kingdom, King Lobos Valkyra, Prime Minister Simon, and Royal Knight Order Commander Galahad were discussing the ongoing agrisoldier operation in the report from Margrave Volton.

「Iruma-dono’s suggestion is the best that not only our country, but all three countries could ask for, isn’t it?」

「Yes, Your Majesty. Especially to the lower class soldiers and nearly retiring adventurers, they will gain land and have a job to support their families.」

「Galahad-dono, that is not all, reclaimed land will be acquired free of charge, as such, the crops produced will be consumed by towns such as Valor and the taxes will be paid to the country.」

For King Lobos, he was worried for the future of the third sons and illegitimate children who would not succeed their noble family’s peerage, soldiers and knights close to retirement, as well as adventurers who have retired. It’s much harder than they could have imagined. There have been instances where said soldiers, knights, and adventurers fall to thieves.

King Lobos asked Simon about the matter that the Great Spirits was warning them of.

「Were you able to grasp the movements of Triaria Kingdom and the Divine Empire Sydnia?」

「Yes sir, the influence of the Light God Church has diminished, but in my humblest opinion, it makes them more dangerous.」

「The fewer they are, the more radical they become, is it?」

「That is how it is.」

「Around how long before they have an outburst?」

「Perhaps from half a year to a year.」

Simon’s prediction is that it wouldn’t be strange for those two countries to explode soon.

Then Knight Commander Galahad gave his report regarding their defense plan.

「The defense around our domestic borders have no issues. However, their invasion would undoubtedly be aimed towards the Sanctuary from the direction of the savage lands. In order to respond, the neighboring towns, Valor and Wedgefort, must increase the number of their soldiers.」

「Umu, let us appeal to the nobles with territories in the north to dispatch their troops.」

「By your will.」

Saying so, Galahad promptly left to organize troops.

King Lobos and Simon steered the discussion towards the transportation of goods and emergency reserves. In addition, they’ll immediately approach Lomaria Kingdom and Yggurle Kingdom about opening an assembly with regards to the defense around Valor.