Ch.231Crop Rotation (2)

As the mass fainting incident in the village, which had been concluded to be caused by cultists, was coming to a peaceful resolution.

At this point, as spring in the village was gradually ending and summer approaching, the village naturally entered the process of preparing for the harvest of autumn crops that were nearly ripened after a long growing period.

The faster-growing rye had already been harvested long ago during the height of spring, so the crops currently being prepared for harvest in the village were autumn wheat and barley.

Both are grains used as staple foods and fetch a decent price, making them excellent export products. Besides, isn’t barley an almost essential grain in brewing quality beer?

Especially this year, thanks to the magical fertilizer created by the village witch, each ear had more grains than usual, so even though the climate suggested an average harvest, the actual yield would be comparable to a bountiful year.

Moreover, the lands that had adopted the new sowing method—starting with the lord’s (deputy’s) personal land and somehow spreading throughout—had even more sprouts emerging, with wheat growing in abundant clusters.

With an average harvest but more grains per ear than other territories or villages during normal times, this was an opportunity to make a substantial profit. So it wasn’t particularly strange that a sense of excitement permeated the entire village.

Consequently, although slightly early, a harvest festival was held in the village to celebrate the bountiful year.

These preparations might seem like counting chickens before they hatch, but when the village’s crop yield was already confirmed to be bountiful, how was that any different from seeing the results?

Thus, the harvest festival, held with unanimous agreement from the entire village, was celebrated magnificently.

Work was distributed in advance so that everyone could enjoy themselves without exception on the day of the festival. Lord Alzar spent his personal funds on alcohol, and preserved foods that had been stored in warehouses were transformed into meals and freely distributed.

Bean oil-fried hardtack (ship biscuits). Pies stuffed with various wild animal organs. Palm-sized fish grilled whole over a blazing fire, or skewers of meat interspersed with vegetables and mushrooms.

Additionally, finely shredded jerky and dried fish served with various cheeses were provided as appetizers with beer, while on one side, sausages on skewers and whole roast pig were slowly cooking.

Particularly, the various desserts and foods that Gretel had created using her “candy-making magic,” which she had dedicated an entire day to, were an incredible stimulation for people who had only known honey and fruits as sweeteners their entire lives.

Luxurious confections laden with butter and desserts filled with sugar were truly revolutionary for people who had never experienced such things before.

Amid this abundance of luxurious dishes delighting people’s palates, unlike before, the now more prosperous village had also invited proper minstrels to take their places.

Minstrels—these medieval fantasy era entertainers and influencers, sometimes excellent singers or actors, are, as mentioned earlier, the entertainers of this age.

Most unknown minstrels spend their time performing street shows similar to busking, or they might work as adventurers or mercenaries based on their “music magic” or rapier swordsmanship.

And those who are moderately famous, like influencers or entertainers invited to college festivals, are paid to attend festivals like this one in villages to play music and sing songs.

In particular, formal minstrels were experts at elevating the festive atmosphere through their “music magic,” and consequently, the already heated atmosphere inevitably loosened people’s tongues…

“…Hey, have you heard that rumor?

Among the groups of people merrily drinking, someone unidentifiable began to spread “gossip.”

Lord Alzar, they say….”

“…that’s what I heard.”

“Ah, that truly manly lord?”

The content of such “gossip” typically revolved around the personal life of Lord Alzar, the highest ruler of the territory and thus naturally a subject of interest.

Normally, such talk could be grounds for punishment under charges of blasphemy or insulting nobility, but the situation wasn’t so rigid as to control such matters in this context.

Well, even apart from that, most people had quite a high regard for him as a benevolent and excellent ruler, so there wasn’t much malicious gossip in these casual conversations.

Anyway, amid these light conversations filled with sudden praises and constant adoration, accompanied by chuckles, from somewhere—no one knew who started it—a very curious story gradually spread.

“Hey, have you heard?”

“Heard what…?”

“Lord Alzar is planning to introduce a new farming method on his land!”

So—the story was that the village ruler, Lord Alzar, was attempting to try a new farming method on his land that had never been attempted before—a truly remarkable tale.

In a situation where people who were already bored to death occasionally appeared… and for such a story to emerge in this context, especially during a drinking session, the atmosphere at the scene heated up accordingly.

More precisely, it created a strange atmosphere of criticizing “agricultural ignorance.”

Everyone tends to have some pride in fields they consider their specialty, and this tendency is no different for farmers.

Especially for people who mostly come from farming backgrounds, introducing a new farming method and ruining that year’s harvest is a regular occurrence, so there seems to be no reason for them to view Lord Alzar’s attempt favorably, but…

“Hmm….”

“But, of all people, him?”

If the man who has decided to take on this seemingly foolish challenge has some achievements to his name, wouldn’t that change the story?

The sowing method that spread from Lord Alzar’s land to all farmlands—the technique of planting seeds at regular intervals in the soil rather than just scattering them, and furthermore, the introduction of fertilizer, had turned an average harvest into a bountiful one.

Moreover, since he had been somewhat supportive—if not actively—in introducing such farming methods, others couldn’t help but feel intrigued…

“I heard that this technique… is an elven farming method?”

“What?! Elves!”

Especially when someone—who knows who started it—mixed in the rumor that elves were involved with this technique, the villagers, who knew at least one thing for certain—that elven technology was truly impressive—became even more intrigued.

In general society, elves are commonly perceived as smug slackers who act arrogantly based on their advanced technology, and thus, while most people might not trust elves’ character, they do trust elven equipment and technology.

Of course, in reality, it was just a patchwork farming method that some reincarnated person had modified based on memories from their previous life, but once the farming method was somehow introduced as being related to elves, the story changed in many ways.

The proactive drive of people who had been deeply interested in the farming method circulating in the village at that time, even after the harvest festival ended, led them to appoint a representative to directly question Lord Alzar…

“Hmm? Ah, it’s not elven technology. It is a farming method used in a foreign country with a similar climate and environment.”

Despite the fact that he could have simply ignored the question without it being strange, surprisingly, after the answer to that question was willingly provided, the interest of the village farmers, rather than diminishing after learning it wasn’t of elven origin, actually deepened.

While the suddenly emerged “elven farming method” might be an interesting story but not a serious consideration, a farming method used in a foreign country with very similar climate and environment was worth practical consideration.

Especially since this method had grounds to entice even experienced farmers, and educated farmers didn’t strongly oppose its introduction, it really seemed like there might be something to it.

Of course, despite these underlying circumstances, it was inevitable that some reluctance remained, but still, the introduction of this new farming method called the four-field rotation system became a popular topic among people.

And then, around the time when the village’s harvest season ended and preparations for next year’s farming began in earnest.

The opinions of farmers within the village became divided into two main camps.