Chapter 56 - Episode 55: Days of Trial and Error
Christy's "re-education," the Eld Fever in Noein, and Damian's relocation—several events occurred in quick succession, and once they had settled down, Noein regained the peaceful days of steadily carrying out the land reclamation.
Thanks to the retainers and slaves, many of the chores had been removed from Noein's hands, and the workload had decreased considerably. Currently, his primary duties consisted of clearing forests to expand the flatlands, interviewing those wishing to migrate, and making decisions as the lord regarding reclamation and development.
"Noein-sama, I have come to report on the potato cultivation experiments!"
The person who entered the lord's office that day was Christy, who handled crop cultivation experiments alongside assisting Anna with financial and administrative tasks.
"Thank you, Christy. I'm listening."
"Yes. This time, I divided the cultivation into twelve patterns based on the presence or absence of sprouting inhibition, as well as the amount and frequency of top-dressing—"
Noein had learned about potatoes from a journal introducing the Southern Continent, and while he understood in advance that potatoes were an excellent food source, his knowledge regarding their cultivation was only a rough understanding of "exposing the tubers to sunlight to sprout them, then cutting and planting them."
Therefore, the role Christy played in achieving more efficient cultivation and harvesting was significant.
"—And so, the conclusion was that sprouting inhibition should be performed thoroughly, and that two applications of top-dressing yield better growth than one. Additionally, the farm slaves have suggested that hilling should be performed periodically in accordance with the growth of the potatoes. The specific changes in harvest numbers are as follows."
Noein looked over the table Christy presented along with the explanation, and after confirming that clear results were appearing, he spoke.
"...Yes, I understand. There are clear, visible results. Let's summarize the potato cultivation procedure based on this."
The potatoes, which had started from a single barrel, had increased to an amount sufficient for daily food through last year's spring and autumn plantings, and this year's spring planting.
Noein intended to spread potatoes outside the Arqvist territory in the not-too-distant future, and for that purpose, he had been trying to summarize a systematic cultivation procedure. Thanks to Christy's work this time, that had been realized.
"Wonderful work. As expected of Christy."
"Th-thank you very much! Moving forward, I intend to keep long-term records, such as crop rotation obstacles, based on the experimental results so far. I believe I can summarize the results for the soybean cultivation experiments once the first harvest is complete."
"I see. I'll leave that in your hands. But please don't overdo it, okay? You've been working non-stop lately, haven't you?"
Through "re-education," Christy had become a very loyal slave, but she also had a slightly workaholic side.
Both as a lord who loved and cherished her, and as a master who had made a large investment to purchase her, he could not help but worry that she might ruin her health from overworking.
"T-that is true, my body is also Noein-sama's property... I will make a conscious effort to get plenty of rest and sleep!"
"Yes. Please do."
He smiled at Christy and saw her off as she left the room.
After a while, the next person to arrive was another workaholic... namely, Damian.
Bang bang bang! A knock sounded as if it might break the door, and a voice far too energetic echoed, "Noein-sama! It's me! Damian! May I come in!"
When Noein gave permission to enter with a wry smile, Damian literally leaped into the room.
"Noein-sama! Prototype number four of the Crossbow is finished! I've made the power far stronger than number three, and since I adjusted the angles of each part, the accuracy should be improved as well! Please, a test fire! Right now!"
In the beginning, Damian used to leap in by opening the door without even knocking, so considering that, it could be said that he had become quite capable of behaving like a retainer now.
Anyone watching his restless attitude would likely feel it was rude, and Matilda, waiting by his side, did not have a very pleasant expression, but Noein believed this was fine regarding Damian.
Rather, he would be troubled if he forcibly corrected this unconventional behavior and caused him to lose his enthusiasm and originality as a craftsman.
"I see. Then let's try it out immediately. I was just thinking I wanted to go outside."
Staying cooped up in the office made his brain feel fried. Leaving the mansion for these kinds of experiments or inspections of the territory was a precious diversion for Noein.
...
"Yuri, let's play."
Noein called out while knocking on the door of the house of the Captain of the Retainers, Yuri. Behind him stood Matilda and an excited Damian, who was clutching prototype number four of the Crossbow.
Before long, the door opened, and the master of the house, Yuri, appeared.
"...That way of calling me makes the one being called feel embarrassed. Just call me normally."
"Oh, come on, it's just a bit of playfulness."
Noein answered with a silly grin toward the subtly expressionless Yuri.
Previously, Yuri had been tied up in the Lestio mountains for more than half the month to supervise the mining of lapis lazuli raw stones.
However, by deploying slaves into the mining work, Noein had greatly improved the labor shortage, making it possible to dig the monthly quota in a short, concentrated burst, and as a result, the time Yuri spent in the capital city of Noeina had increased.
"Today is your day off, right? I'm going to test fire the new Crossbow, so help me out a bit."
Noein was strong if he manipulated golems, but as an individual, his body was frail, and he lacked both muscular strength and combat technique. He was insufficient as personnel to test the handling of a new weapon.
Therefore, when conducting a test fire of the Crossbow, he left it to the Captain of the Retainers, Yuri, like this.
"A new one is already finished. I don't mind, of course, but..."
As Yuri said this and looked back into the house, Mai, who was also a retainer serving Noein and had now become Yuri's wife, showed her face.
"Hi, Mai. May I borrow Yuri for a little bit?"
"Yes, I don't mind. Please use him as you like."
"Thank you. By the way, is everything progressing smoothly?"
The stomach of Mai, to whom Noein spoke, had grown large enough to be noticeable even through her clothes.
It was early spring when he received the report of Mai's pregnancy from Yuri.
"Fufu, thanks to you, both mother and child are in perfect health."
"That's the most important thing. I'm looking forward to a few months from now. Right, Yuri?"
"I guess. To think I'd become a parent... I don't know how many times I've muttered that already."
Yuri, who said this while frowning to hide his embarrassment, told Mai "I'll be right back" and left the house, closing the door.
The four of them—Noein, Yuri, Matilda, and Damian—headed to the shooting range created in the backyard of the mansion... though it was a simple thing consisting of nothing more than piled earth and a target.
Upon arriving at this hastily made shooting range, as if urged by Damian, Yuri pulled the string of the prototype Crossbow, nocked an arrow, aimed straight at the target, and pulled the trigger.
With a sharp bashu sound, the arrow was released and pierced the area slightly to the right of the center of the target.
"How was it!? How was it!?"
"...First, the accuracy has improved considerably. This part where the arrow is nocked. I think it would be better to make this just a little narrower."
"I see! I'll try that next! How was the power!?"
"The power is more than enough... or rather, it's a bit excessive. The string is too stiff. Even I struggled a bit to pull it. At this rate, it would be quite an ordeal for someone with a slender build to handle."
Yuri was a powerhouse who was not inferior to large beastmen such as lion-folk or tiger-folk. The fact that even he struggled to some extent to pull the string meant that those of small stature would certainly struggle with loading.
"Is that so... last time the power was too weak, so I was conscious of making it stronger and stronger, but it seems I went a bit too far."
"Also, regarding this part, with this way of fastening, it'll probably start rattling after firing about twenty shots. Then the arrow won't fly straight properly. Wouldn't it be better to attach it so that it's embedded in the base?"
"There were problems with durability too... I understand, next time I'll make one that improves those things! Thank you very much!"
As Damian attempted to run back to the workshop saying this, Noein hurriedly called out to stop him.
"Wait a moment, Damian."
Previously, Damian would have started running without listening, but the fact that he had come to stop his feet in response to a call was a major point of growth.
"W-what is it!?"
"I heard from the maids that you haven't been returning to the mansion properly, apparently?"
"No, I return and sleep properly! Once every two days! And the maids bring me food!"
Hearing that, Noein sighed.
"That's not good enough. If you collapse, the development of the Crossbow will stop, and if you die of overwork, you yourself won't be able to see the completion of the Crossbow. You wouldn't want that, right?"
"I-I wouldn't! It's my invention, so I have to see it through!"
"Right? Therefore, you must return to the mansion every day and sleep every day. If you don't follow this, I'll reduce your budget and take away your freedom of development to force you to rest, okay?"
"T-that would be a problem! I understand! I will absolutely return every day!"
"Good. Then you may go."
Watching Damian run off clatteringly while clutching prototype number four of the Crossbow, Noein wore a wry smile.
"...Honestly. I've never dealt with someone with a stronger personality than my own until now, so it's exhausting."
"He's certainly a strange fellow, but his skill as a craftsman is quite something. The Crossbow is only a few steps away from practical application."
"Well, that's true."
The improvement of agricultural techniques, and the development of new weapons.
The industries of the Arqvist territory were evolving little by little in this way, through repeated trial and error.