Ch.13Necessary Things

In this world without chemical fertilizers or agricultural machinery, increasing agricultural production was an extremely difficult task.

High-level technological advancements like seed improvement were only attempted sporadically by large nations with populations exceeding 10 million.

Even those powerful nations regularly experienced famines due to weather or natural disasters, resulting in hundreds of thousands of deaths as a common occurrence.

Nevertheless, there were quite a few methods to dramatically increase agricultural production, with the best approach being the elimination of fallow land.

This fallowing refers to the practice where people in the past, unaware of concepts like soil fertility or toxic soil elements, would leave farmland unused to restore the land’s vitality and purify accumulated toxic substances.

Obviously, this was far less efficient than planting crops on all available land, but since farming wasn’t just a one or two-year endeavor—people needed to live off the land for decades at minimum—if the soil became barren, they would literally starve to death.

That’s why at the start of the game, the three-field rotation system, which regularly included fallow periods to restore soil fertility, was the established norm. However, by purchasing a few crop seeds, one could implement the four-field rotation system.

The four-field rotation system was essentially an agricultural method focused on eliminating fallow land. Simply put, it involved rotating beans, rye grass, wheat, and turnips over a four-year cycle.

Among these, beans were responsible for livestock feed and soil fertility restoration. Rye grass, a grass-like plant growing to about one meter in length, was also used as livestock feed. Wheat was, well, wheat, and turnips served as a side dish with bread or, like the others, as livestock feed.

Even at a glance, since three-quarters of the crops served as animal feed, conditions were perfect for large-scale livestock farming, and agricultural production itself increased dramatically.

It would be right to obtain those seeds immediately, but the problem was that merchant groups generally didn’t deal in plant seeds.

Ungerminated seeds were extremely fragile and spoiled quickly when exposed to cold or heat. From the merchants’ perspective, there was no particular reason to handle seeds since providing them would increase food production and reduce the demand for the food they sold.

Carrying one more bag of flour instead of a bag of seeds would earn them more money, making it a perfectly rational decision according to capitalist logic.

But right now, when we needed to increase our food supply, we needed more seeds, and we needed a way to obtain them.

And now, that method was shimmering before my eyes, and as the ruler, I had to seize the opportunity with all my might.

What was that method?

It was the elves.

*

“Have you gathered all the food?”

“Yes, Captain.”

The elven scout team, draped in grass-woven cloaks, was preparing to return home.

While the forest produced abundant vegetation, the amount of “edible” food was quite scarce. Thus, the main mission of scout teams sent by the elven community was to roam around collecting food, rare items, and information.

“We must remain vigilant on our return journey. Now that humans have entered this forest…”

The scout captain cautioned her team.

In truth, elves and humans had no particular reason to fight except for conflicts over forest resources. However, because forests were such attractive resources, humans typically regarded elves with suspicion, even calling them “forest witches.”

“We avoided conflict last time because Lily was injured, but now everyone is at full strength, aren’t we? I think we should at least give those Illius a warning.”

“That’s right. Isn’t that the Illius way?”

Illius was the elven word for “human” or “humanity.”

However, several young elves—by elven standards, still children—grumbled at the captain’s words.

In human terms, they were roughly at the age of puberty, just beginning their secondary sexual characteristics, so naturally, their youthful vigor led them to suggest a preemptive strike.

“Enough! Didn’t the Council of Elders tell us to avoid unnecessary conflicts? With so many hands already lost in the recent landslide… If we take casualties here, it would directly contradict Elfium’s policy.”

Elfium was the collective term for the elven community, which could be appropriately translated as “city.”

“But if we don’t drive the Illius away now, humans will eventually occupy this forest. That would mean the loss of a major food source for our Elfium. Wouldn’t it be better to at least give them a warning?”

“That’s right, Captain. From what we saw last time, they were already trying to build structures in the heart of the forest. At that pace, they must have erected one or two crude buildings by now. That would surely expand their range of activity. We’ll be short on food and firewood needed to survive the coming winter.”

“Shouldn’t we avoid dying from starvation rather than cold at all costs?”

“Hmm…”

As the objections continued, the captain, who led about thirty elves, let out a sigh. Her subordinates had valid points.

Their Elfium had suffered a landslide last summer that killed many elves, and they somehow had to tighten their belts to get through the difficult winter.

As a result, even if they scraped their storehouses clean, they could hardly call their situation comfortable. To survive the coming winter without casualties, they needed to gather as much food and materials as possible.

“Very well. But if the atmosphere turns threatening, we must flee immediately. Understood?”

“What constitutes ‘threatening’?”

“If they reach for weapons, or subtly try to surround us, things like that.”

“Understood.”

In the end, the captain yielded to the majority.

But she also calculated that if they lost this forest, their Elfium would starve and might not survive the harsh winter cold. So while she didn’t expect the humans to yield, she felt they should at least make their presence known. She wasn’t particularly worried—if anything happened, her arrows would speak for her.

*

“Is that it?”

“Without a doubt. It’s the same place as before.”

“They’ve already built such a proper building…”

“Well, Illius are as skilled as dwarves when it comes to craftsmanship. What will you do now?”

“…”

The situation was worse than expected.

The scouts, unfamiliar with human professions like forest keepers, had assumed any building would be just a simple logging camp that could barely keep out rain. Instead, they found a solid outpost capable of withstanding not just rain but even stone projectiles.

“Let’s observe for a while. We need to know their exact numbers.”

“We’ll keep watch from the trees.”

“Good.”

After an hour of reconnaissance, the results were grim.

They had counted over 100 people in just that hour, and large wagons had recently been coming and going from the outpost.

With only about thirty elves, they could inflict damage but couldn’t mount an attack strong enough to make the humans abandon their position.

“What should we do? Retreat?”

“…No, I’ll step forward myself.”

“Step forward?”

“I’ll try to talk with the Illius.”

“!”

The elves were startled by the captain’s words.

They had occasionally seen human merchants enter their Elfium to sell various goods, but these people were not merchants. Though they didn’t wear unified attire, they carried swords, bows, and quivers—evidence they possessed at least some military capability.

“Keep your arrows nocked just in case. If I signal, shoot. Understood?”

“…Understood.”

“Good… then…”

The captain removed her grass-woven cloak.

It was a desperate attempt to gain some favor, as humans tended to admire elven appearances.

Gulp!

Rustle! Rustle!

Swallowing hard, she deliberately made noise by stepping on twigs as she approached the outpost. Soon, forest keepers who noticed her approach gathered.

At first, they approached with casual postures, thinking she was a human woman who had lost her way. But when they saw her pointed ears, they immediately adjusted their stance.

The only reason they didn’t reach for their sword hilts or bows was that she was walking toward them with both hands raised.

“…”

“…”

In a strange silence, the captain approached the building and spoke to the archers standing guard.

“My name is Titania. I am the scout captain from Blumen Elfium. I wish to… talk.”

Creeeeak…

As she spoke, a small door opened, and a man in elegant clothing emerged.

“I am Franz, the administrator of this forest outpost. Would you like to come inside?”

She nodded, and she and the administrator went through the door.