Chapter 11 - Chapter 11: Let's Go Earn Some Cash
"Damn it, my back hurts."
Muttering such complaints, Yuri was planting a strange crop called potatoes in the farmland that the Lord, Noein, had newly tilled.
According to Noein, this was a "crop for saving the nation," but it was hard to believe that something with squiggly sprouts growing from these yellowish-green lumps could produce a convenient food that was "less labor-intensive than wheat, could be harvested in large quantities, and was rich in nutrition." Still, it was the Lord's instruction, so he obeyed.
Around Yuri, the other four were also engaged in farm work, sweating in their respective fields.
It had been a little over a week since Yuri and the others were accepted into this settlement. They, who had carved out their lives with their own arms and swords until now, were currently working with hoes and plows in their hands.
For Yuri, this was his first time doing farm work in a full 20 years, since the days he helped with farm work at his parents' home as a child. Bending his waist to face the soil brought a different kind of fatigue than running around as a mercenary or a bandit.
"You're working hard. Good job, everyone."
The one who approached them with a silly grin was their Lord, Baronet Noein Arqvist.
"You've got a lot of nerve saying that without getting your clothes dirty."
"Saying I'm not working just because I'm not dirty is cruel. I'm producing more results than anyone else in this territory."
Certainly, Noein did not get his clothes or hands dirty with soil, nor did he shed any sweat; at a glance, it looked as if he alone was playing.
However, in reality, he was the one doing the most work in this settlement. The golems he controlled performed the heaviest labor—digging deep into the earth to create arable land—with several times the efficiency of a human, and were currently felling forest trees with ease to further expand the flat land.
They knew of that overwhelming productivity, but when they were looked down upon with a smirk while they were covered in dirt and groveling on the ground, they felt like spitting out a few bitter words.
"Your hands were clumsy at first, but you've really started to look like a proper farmer, Yuri."
"Well, I've been away from farm work for 20 years. I'm gradually remembering how to do it, but I'm still worse than when I was a kid."
Ever since leaving home, he had held nothing but swords and spears. He had half-forgotten how to grip farming tools.
It was the same for Pence and Radley, and as for Bart and Mai, who had been picked up by a mercenary group as orphans, they had no experience with farm work in their entire lives.
Every one of them likely had a clumsiness that a veteran farmer would laugh at.
"You can just get used to it gradually. As for me, the growth of the residents is a joy."
"Is that so... still, I never thought I'd return to being a tenant farmer at this age."
From the moment he joined the group, he had lived with the resolve to spend his life as a mercenary, and after falling into banditry, he thought he would be subjugated and die somewhere before long.
To think he would now be in a position to live by doing farm work in a noble's field—life is unpredictable.
As he was thinking that,
"Eh? What are you talking about? You are independent farmers,"
Noein said.
"...Huh? Isn't this Noein-sama's farmland, and aren't we working here as tenant farmers to receive wages?"
"No, no, I only did the initial work of digging up the soil. I gave this farmland to you. If you grow crops and harvest them here, they belong to you. Though, I will have you pay taxes."
"Is that okay?"
"Of course. I mean, I have no intention of letting you end up as mere farmers in the first place. Since you are former mercenaries, I intend for you to eventually serve as my direct retainers. I'm having you do farm work now because there aren't enough people... but eventually, please plan to leave that farmland to tenant farmers or serfs and work under me."
"...Oh. I am grateful."
Yuri answered, taken aback. The other four, who had been listening to the conversation, also wore expressions of surprise.
They had assumed they were being made into tenant farmers hired by the landowner to do farm work, but they had been unofficially appointed as land-owning retainers.
This was an extraordinary thing. They would work under the Lord as retainers and receive a salary, and furthermore, income would be generated from the land they owned. As a bonus, the retainer's family status and land could be passed down to their children and grandchildren.
As a destination for mercenaries living hand-to-mouth, it could be called exceptional treatment. There was no way they wouldn't be happy.
Yuri and the others resumed their farm work with more strength than before, and with brighter expressions than before.
.....
"Well then, I'm going to go earn the first cash income in the history of the Arqvist territory. Matilda, Mai, please look after the place."
"Please be careful, Noein-sama. Have a safe trip."
"Please leave the house to us."
After exchanging words with the two, Noein departed for Retovik, taking the remaining men with him.
Until now, the purpose of heading to Retovik had been to buy supplies, but this time, the purpose of "selling things obtained in the Arqvist territory" was finally included.
What they were selling this time were monster pelts, meat, and magic stones. In the shallow parts of the Bezel Great Forest, only weak monsters appear—the kind that a single adult farmer could somehow handle—but if hunted, pelts can be obtained and dried meat can be made. Magic stones, which are crystals of magical power, can also be extracted from their bodies.
For a territory with a population of only seven people, these would be a non-negligible source of income.
"With this much, it should be a decent amount. I wonder if it'll cover future food expenses?"
"It's a big deal that we have Plump Deer pelts, not just Gluttony Rabbits."
The Plump Deer was a monster that looked like a deer made plump, and its pelt was highly popular as a material for coats and such for the wealthy.
It was a rare monster in the shallow parts of the forest, but they had luckily hunted one. It would likely fetch a good price.
Upon arriving at Retovik in about half a day, they immediately converted the brought pelts and dried meat into cash.
"Noein-sama, have you decided where to sell them?"
"As for the dried meat, I've already consulted with Eliza-san so that her shop will buy it, so that's fine. For the pelts and magic stones... I'm thinking of taking them to a place called the 'Miles Company'."
"Is there a deciding factor for choosing that place?"
"Of course. I researched the main companies in Retovik as much as possible and heard detailed stories from Eliza-san before, and among them, this Miles Company seems to be the most trustworthy. I thought there would be no worry of being ripped off."
While exchanging such conversation with everyone, Noein headed toward the Miles Company building.
Noein technically held a Baronet title, but he was a petty noble who owned nothing more than a forest that was a territory in name only. There was a possibility he would be looked down upon as someone struggling for money and have his pelts bought for a pittance.
Therefore, in order to show that "development is proceeding smoothly and there is a prospect for future growth," he had come with a large party of four attendants. To improve the appearance, he had specifically made them wash their bodies with soap in the morning and wear freshly laundered clothes.
He wanted to trade with a company that had enough wisdom to understand that intention and think, "I should establish a sincere relationship now with a noble who has potential and is progressing with development smoothly." If the reputation of the Miles Company was any indication, he could be at ease regarding that.
The Miles Company was a large store with three floors. There was no doubt it was one of the largest companies in Retovik.
"Excuse me, I am Baronet Noein Arqvist. I would like to request the purchase of monster pelts and magic stones hunted in my territory."
When Noein, having entered the shop, spoke to a young employee, the employee said, "Please wait a moment," and stepped back into the interior.
If the company president, who was the person in charge, came to greet them here, he could judge that they were willing to get along with them.
As Noein waited thinking this, a slightly plump man in his 40s with a likable smile emerged.
"Baronet Arqvist, welcome. I am Benedict Miles, the president of this Miles Company."
As Noein had hoped, it seemed the company president himself had come out to attend to them.