「Then, I’m off!」
Well, if he trusted in Norman’s judgement, nothing bad will happen – convincing himself with that, as a change of pace, he decided to start his sword training, which was about to become a daily routine.
This was the world of an RPG. Outside the range of humans’ livelihood, normally, monsters were strutting about. To survive in this extremely dangerous world, it went without saying that a certain level of strength was required. Much less, when Kazuki needed to jump in and live within a vortex of violent battles as Harold Stokes.
When he went to the backyard, holding the sword purchased by Zen in Lietze, after confirming that nobody was present in the surroundings, he started implementing the training menu that he himself had thought up.
Grasping the hilt in both hands, he raised it overhead and brought it down in one swing. From that state, switching his grip to the left, he moved his right hand by 1 unit to the upper-right side. From there, making the right foot on which he had stepped forward as the axis, he rotated in clockwise direction, and using centrifugal force, he cut in a straight line from the left.
This was the basic combination which Harold used in the game. This was of the type of serial barrage which appeared when the attack button of the controlled character was spammed thrice.
(If I thought of it like that, my tension rises up a little!)
With determination and excitement as the source of encouragement, Kazuki silently continued swinging his sword. A small boy lightly brandishing an adult-sized sword – if seen from an outsider’s perspective, it was quite a bizarre scene.
Thus, providing assistance in the cultivation of crops, sword training, and humoring his parents – after these became his routine, about a month and a half passed by. Around the time when all the potted plants in the balcony grew lush and thick, at last, the preparations for the next move were completed.
There were totally 3 people in the room. The owner of the room, Harold, the veteran servant, Norman, and Zen.
「Sit」
「Read that」
「Ok」
What on earth is this about – Jake’s bewilderment kept growing.
「Are there any large mistakes in the entry?」
「………No, there aren’t」
「Right?」
「From the past few years, the finances of the Stokes house has been in the red. The prime cause is the pointless extravagance due to my parents wanting to put on airs. The reserves from up until the previous generation and the heavy taxation is compensating for it but even that won’t last long, and the burden on the populace only keeps increasing. Any objections to this opinion?」
「I have awareness that it is heading towards that direction」
「Even though the situation isn’t urgent, as it is, someday, both the Stokes house and the populace won’t be able to maintain their livelihood. Well, for you bastards, it would be better if the Stokes house collapses」
「Please don’t say things like that. If anybody heard it, they would misunderstand and think that you are rebelling」
「Hn. At any rate, the populace, particularly, if the agricultural district’s proceeds aren’t increased, it’s very clear that in the near future, we’ll go bankrupt」
(Has Harold-sama comprehended that………?)
「That is why I called you. I’ll leave the inspection of the agricultural district to you」
「What do you mean」
「Zen」
「Hai Hai!」
「Um, This is……?」
「Now, now, without saying anything here, relish in Harold-sama’s handmade red groot」
「You are the one who’s talking too much. Do you want to become fertilizer?」
「Sorry!」
「By Harold-sama…..?」
「……! S, sweet?」
「Right?」
「Why the hell are you proud……..」
Watching Zen show no sign of respect to Harold, Jake’s innards went cold, but without even rebuking him, Harold just held his temples as though he was amazed by Zen.
「Anyways, the thing you ate just now was something I raised with my own method. Lend me your power to spread that method」
「Why me?」
「To implement this farming method, naturally, there will be some costs, and depending on the situation, exclusive equipment might be necessary. Since you have thorough knowledge of Stokes’ finances and as an inspection official, since you also know the situation well, I judged that you would be suitable」
「It seems like you can think」
「If it could improve the present condition, I would help as much as possible. But……..」
「You can’t readily agree since you just heard the talk, right? If it were father, he would have angrily told you to not talk back or in the worst case, thrown you into the dungeon」
「……..Well, that is the natural reaction. If it was readily consented for without even asking for detailed explanation, there would be another Zen and so, my anxiety would only increase」
「What does that mean?」
「It means that you should also use your head a bit more」
「You’re awful…….」
「Well then, as you wished, let me inform you. This will become the key」
Even if the LP farming method went well, the growth of disparity between farmhouses which have some financial leeway and those that don’t, must be held back as much as possible, and after bunching up a few of the farmhouses, it would be ideal if the Life Potions about to be discarded, among the ones stored in the Stokes house, would be enough to deal with the situation. If this was done, even the initial costs wouldn’t be much.
Anyway, with this rotation like speed, Kazuki estimated that even small fields would create profits.
「Harvesting is possible in just 5 days!?」
「But, due to that speed, care should be taken to not overdo it」
「Why?」
「If cheap and high-quality goods appeared in large quantities, the market might crash. As a result, there are chances of farmhouses outside the Stokes territory getting crushed」
「Normally, it would start out by assembling a team of experts, but…….」
「Do you bastards have a hobby of exposing such idiotic looking faces?」
「F, forgive me. It was just that I was astonished by the contents of the talks………」
「Though I had heard about it to some extent before, I am in admiration that you have given it so much thought」
(Admiring the idea of an amateur to such an extent, inversely this makes me uneasy………)
「I’ll tell this first. I don’t need a yes-man. If you find any odd points, without exceptions, give proposals. Alright?」
(Discovering a ground-breaking cultivation method which could overturn history at that age and yet, having the intellect to come out with a realistic political plan. Besides, not being proud and being strict on oneself, and has an insatiable desire to improve oneself)
(Not even looking at the easily obtainable money or honor, having strong feelings and deep affection to earnestly try to save the people)
–Harold is a person born with the caliber to stand above people.
「Well then, the final confirmation. Jake, will you act as my hands and feet?」
To that question, the intent to shake his head horizontally didn’t even remain.
「I will use all the power that I possess for the sake of Harold-sama」
「If you want to be useful for me, work for the populace instead of working for me. They are the weak, who wouldn’t even survive if something like that isn’t done」
