Chapter 40: Starting Today I’m The Evil Villainess Who Rules This Town! (2)

“By the way, have you perhaps heard that story?”

“What story might that be?”

“About the colony across the western sea, I mean.”

In the northern part of the Empire.

In a place untouched by the Emperor’s solely decree ordering monster subjugation,

Two men, dressed as monster hunters, were drinking mead and conversing.

“What about it?”

“Good heavens, this fellow. It’s plain to see he truly knows nothing.”

“Ehei, what a quick temper. If I go home, I’ll just get nagged even more by my bear-like wife. Hey, sister over there! Pour this fellow here a large glass!”

“…….”

“What are you doing, my friend? Not sitting back down quickly.”

The man, sneering with an air of informational superiority.

Stopped his companion, who was about to leave, with a glass of alcohol.

Though he was a man who often told tall tales, his companion, finding a glass of free alcohol for a brief chat not too bad, sat down again.

Then, the man leaned over the creaking wooden table.

As if sharing a secret, he lowered his voice, worried someone else might hear.

“Even you must know that the colonial continent across the sea is teeming with monsters, just like this northern region, right?”

His companion accepted a glass of foamy mead from the waitress.

It meant he had no intention of leaving, at least until he emptied that glass.

“Do you know about the Rosegarden family?”

“Aren’t they the historic alchemy family of the West? Lately, rumours are circulating that they have more money than even the Emperor.”

“And, their son-in-law by marriage is none other than the Governor-General who rules the colonial continent.”

His companion took a large gulp of mead.

“The lions of the West are famous for cherishing their families dearly. But a few years ago, an incident occurred where an airship carrying a beloved lion cub crashed from the sky.”

“Hmm, I remember that too.”

“That airship fell into a forest teeming with monsters. Though not as bad as this northern region, of course. The point is, it was by no means an environment where a young Countess’s daughter could survive.”

The man recounted the story of Lin Rosegarden being stranded in the forest but later being safely rescued, reaching a happy ending.

Just as his companion was showing considerable boredom, the man’s eyes gleamed.

“Let me ask you one thing. What do you think happened to the wreckage of that airship?”

“Naturally, they would have recovered it.”

“No, you’re wrong. Satisfied with his daughter’s survival, he didn’t bother to retrieve the airship’s wreckage.”

“…Why is that?”

“How would I know? Well, being the Governor-General ruling the colony, perhaps he didn’t want to expend his army unnecessarily.”

“Hmm.”

“What’s important now is this. All sorts of magestones and floatstones, and the splendid furniture and ornaments owned by the Rosegarden family. Even ceramics from the Eastern Three Empires brought from the other end of the continent….”

If this wasn’t a treasure ship from a fairy tale, then what on earth was it?

The man’s words piqued his companion’s interest.

It was far more realistic than the story of a golden fountain at the westernmost edge of the colony he had told a few months ago.

The reason was simple.

“And this newspaper, which I painstakingly obtained through acquaintances! This is the very proof!”

The man’s story,

Was all true.

His companion picked up a copy of the Lunden Times, which was selling like hotcakes on the Albion continent.

Compared to this northern region, where one could be torn apart and killed by monsters at any moment….

This thing the man before him had brought, wasn’t it a story filled with quite a bit of dreams?

Due to the environment they grew up in, they had fought for survival against monsters their entire lives.

As veteran monster hunters, they quietly imagined they would achieve results incomparable to the other ‘adventurers’ in the colony.

Conveniently setting aside the fact that if they traced their lineage back, their ancestors were childhood friends who lived next door and walked arm in arm.

“Hmph…. It seems your beloved sword too cannot resist the dreams of those days.”

“…Ingrid?”

The man pointed to the sword strapped to his companion’s waist.

His companion, looking at his beloved sword, Ingrid, which showed not even a twitch.

For reference, ‘she’ was an exceedingly ordinary Northern-style sword.

“Such a pathetic warrior, who ignores a lady’s request, has no right to set foot in this North.”

“…Hmph, it can’t be helped.”

If he ignored ‘her’ request, he would have to leave the North.

That’s right.

Whichever he chose, he was ultimately destined to leave for the Albion continent.

“Are you ready? Torfinn ‘Nether Crow’ Ragnarsson.”

“Aye, of course. Halfdan ‘Widow’s Cudgel’ Valdarsson.”

And so.

Two men of the North headed for the Albion continent.

***

“What? You mean there’s no bread for people to eat right now?”

“Yes, Young Lady.”

A village near Abel Forest.

Several days had already passed since we arrived in Abel Town.

At first, I intended to just help adventurers through the potion business and enchanting….

“No… Governor Lin.”

Dad suddenly appointed me as the local governor of Abel Town, and things got incredibly complicated.

‘Um… Dad?’

‘I’m still just a thirteen-year-old child, you know?’

‘Is it really okay to suddenly give me such a high-ranking position…?’

“……Just call me Young Lady as usual.”

“Yes, yes…!”

Our Dad, Edwin Rosegarden, is not just a simple Governor-General.

Excluding Lunden, which he manages directly, he possesses the right to appoint local governors in each provincial city or town.

“Somehow, things have gotten incredibly big….”

“Lady Lin….”

From being the Company Head overseeing and managing Raphael Inc.

To becoming the local governor ruling an entire village—though, considering the scale, I was practically closer to a neighbourhood chief—that was me.

Heine, as if understanding my throbbing headache, stroked me with a warm hand and a smile.

…Wait a minute.

A local governor who suddenly appears in a peaceful village and wields power ruthlessly…?
…

I sound incredibly like a villainess…!!

“Yes…! I am the proper villainess of the Rosegarden family! I must properly take responsibility and rule the people!”

I kick off Heine’s lap pillow and stand up.

Setting aside the villainess aspect, the lack of bread to eat was a serious situation.

Bread was a staple food recognized and consumed daily by everyone, commoners and nobles alike.

In other words, it was as good as saying everyone was starving with rumbling stomachs.

“Heine. Prepare to go out immediately.”

“Yes!”

Heine, responding loyally with a bright smile.

However, that smile lasted only for a very short moment.

“Lady Lin wishes to go out. Prepare at once.”

“Yes! Understood!”

Heine, turning her back to relay my order to her subordinate, wore a very cold, business-like expression.

Well, even in the original story, she treated everyone except the protagonist Cain with this kind of demeanour.

‘It’s not particularly surprising.’

Rather, I was very satisfied because she was a loyal maid who perfectly displayed the dignity of a villainess.

Moreover, perhaps thanks to Heine’s meticulous and thorough personality.

The escorts were assembled very quickly again today.

“Mm-hmm, good. Then let’s head out to the village….”

“My apologies, Lady Lin. Would you mind waiting for just a moment?”

Just then, Heine bowed her head as if extremely sorry.

Heine approached one of the escorts with clicking steps.

As she looked up at the soldier with incredibly cold eyes, he automatically knelt, lowering his posture.

“Soldier.”

“Yes, Lady Heine.”

“Are you planning to escort Lady Lin in such disheveled attire?”

Heine pointed out the guard’s attire.

‘To me, it just looks like his usual neat uniform….’

“Who you serve. Whose honor that disheveled attire will tarnish. You still don’t seem to understand.”

“…My apologies!”

The soldier, still kneeling, bowed his head deeply in apology.

Heine neatly adjusted the soldier’s collar with her small hand.

“There will be no next time.”

“Yes!”

Heine, hearing the soldier’s reply, turned around sharply.

Her black maid skirt promptly twirled after her.

“Preparations for outing, complete, Lady Lin.”

“U-Uh-huh….”

That characteristic smiling-eyed look she only showed me, today it felt a little scary.

***

“That is correct, Young Lady. So many people have flocked here that the amount of wheat is far too insufficient to feed them all.”

“That is a big problem…. What are the villagers and adventurers eating for sustenance now?”

“Don’t even mention it. Since people can’t eat bread.

They’re trying to at least get a taste by wrapping thinly rolled wheat dough around large, thick pieces of beef…. Phew, they’re barely managing to get by on snacks, that’s the situation.”

‘……It seems like they’re eating their fill just fine?’

Asking the villagers and adventurers, the report about not being able to eat bread meant literally not being able to eat actual bread.

It was somewhat baffling, but the level of dissatisfaction itself was surprisingly high.

I suppose it’s like always eating ramen with kimchi and then suddenly the kimchi disappears.

“I roughly understand the situation. First, we need to put out the urgent fire, so let’s purchase surplus food from other nearby villages for now.”

“Yes. I will look into it right away.”

For now, the wheat shortage is resolved by throwing my precious gold coins at it.

However, considering the situation of the village with adventurers increasing day by day, a more fundamental solution would also have to be prepared.

“What is the current scale of farmland in the village?”

“That is….”

The answer that came back was a much smaller figure than expected.

However, considering the original scale of Abel Town, it wasn’t entirely incomprehensible.

Even after the planned vaccination operation ends,

I wanted to develop the village, which had advanced alchemy utilizing medicinal herbs and monster materials from Abel Forest.

“…It can’t be helped.”

Since Dad conveniently gave me the governorship.

I decide to completely overhaul the village at my discretion and bring it entirely under my control.

“Let’s plant crops for people to eat in a part of Raphael Inc.’s cultivated land, created by clearing Abel Forest. Then, by autumn, we should be able to supply food ourselves.”

“Y-Young Lady…. How could you….”

“Fufu, it’s no use begging with such tearful eyes. I am the governor of this village, that is, the ruler!”

Planting the village’s public crops on my company’s cultivated land.

This means only one thing.

It is a declaration that I will make this village my personal property!

Even I had to admit, I was an incredibly ruthless villainess.

“Yes, Lady Lin. In that case, shall we plant wheat in a part of the cultivated land?”

“Hmm…. That’s right. Considering nutritional balance, it would be good to plant other crops besides wheat as well, for now.”

There’s no guarantee that farming will definitely succeed, so it would be good to plant potatoes, a famine relief crop.

Corn, a colonial specialty crop, is also a very efficient crop.

And so, I list the efficient crops and nutritious vegetables that come to mind.

Heine, nodding and diligently writing them down one by one in a small notebook.

“And… tomatoes?”

“……Pardon?”

She makes an incredibly horrified expression at the word ‘tomato.’

“…Huh? Miss Heine, perhaps you dislike tomatoes?”

“I believe it’s not a matter of dislike…”

Looking around, it wasn’t just Heine.

My escorts, even some villagers who were listening to me.

They all have expressions of extreme aversion, as if they collectively have a tomato allergy.

‘No, how much must they dislike tomatoes to make such faces….’

‘Perhaps in this world, tomatoes are like pineapple pizza?’

“With all due respect, Young Lady. Tomatoes are the devil’s fruit; they are poisonous and can cause death if eaten.”

“…Pardon?”

First of all, I have eaten tomatoes.

That is, I ate wild tomatoes from this world when I was stranded.

I still remember being happy to see them and, upon biting into one, the taste was exactly as I remembered.

Wait a minute….

Then perhaps the reason why fries always came with mayonnaise instead of ketchup was… no way…?

“I will state it clearly. Tomatoes do not contain poison.”

“No, Young Lady. Even the doctors in Lunden say tomatoes are a dangerous fruit….”

“Haa….”

Tomatoes are a blessed food, packed with nutrition and vitamins.

They are so good for health that there’s even a saying that they are the vegetable doctors dislike the most.

Above all, a world without ketchup is not a rightly ordered world.

This twisted reality, had to be corrected somehow.

“Tomorrow, gather all the people in the village square.”

“Lady Lin…!”

The surrounding soldiers try to stop me.

Heine is even tearfully and desperately trying to persuade me.

But the next morning sun rose brightly.

And so, in front of all the gathered people in the square,

I held a tomato I had found in Abel Forest beforehand.

“Th-That’s…a tomato!?”

“Don’t tell me she’s going to eat that poisonous lump!?”

“Keukkeuk…. Do those foolish nobles not even know the simple common sense that eating tomatoes can kill you?”

“No! Young Lady! That fruit called tomato has poison…!”

The people gathered in the square murmured amongst themselves.

People worrying.

People sneering, calling her foolish.

People wondering if it was really true, half-believing, half-doubting.

And, there were a few who, like me, knew the truth and quietly nodded.

“Tomatoes are….”

“No!”

“Fresher when just picked!”

As I took a large bite of the tomato, everyone screamed in horror.

The characteristic mushiness and tartness of the tomato spread in my mouth.

Simultaneously, Heine, who had been sniffling beside me, fainted and collapsed.

Munch…

Me, perfectly fine even after eating a tomato.

People are shocked by such an incredibly natural phenomenon.

In the flowing silence, only the sound of me diligently munching on the tomato quietly fills the square.

…Gulp.

After swallowing the last bite, I wipe my mouth with a handkerchief.

Soon, a thunderous cheer erupts, filling the square.

“Lady Lin has vanquished the tomato demon!!!”

“From now on, we too can eat tomatoes without worry!”

……This is really driving me crazy.

And so.

Tomatoes were safely planted in the cultivated land.